Some work exists only because nobody removed yesterday’s requirement.

A great deal of work is inherited. Something was needed once, the requirement passed, and nobody was responsible for noticing, so the work continues indefinitely under its own momentum. Nobody defends it because nobody has thought about it in years.

Ask about one regular obligation why it exists and who needs the output. If nobody can answer, propose stopping it for a month. That is usually a faster route to the truth than a discussion.