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Elon Musk Weekly News Update: Tesla, SpaceX, X, Neuralink, and More · Elon Musk Podcast

0:01
Hey everybody, welcome. Back to the.
0:03
Elon Musk podcast. This is a show where we discuss.
0:07
The Critical. Crossroads that shape SpaceX.
0:09
Tesla X, The Boring Company and Neurolink.
0:13
I'm your host, Will Walden. Elon Musk's $1 million a day.
0:18
Giveaway to voters. In swing states will continue
0:21
through Election Day following a Pennsylvania judge's ruling on
0:24
Monday. This decision raises several.
0:26
Key questions. 1st is the promotion legal?
0:29
Second, why are critics calling it an attempt to sway the
0:32
election? Finally, what exactly qualifies
0:35
someone to receive the money now?
0:37
The ruling comes amid intense criticism from Philadelphia
0:41
District Attorney Larry Krasner. Who called the giveaway?
0:44
A scam aimed at influencing the election.
0:48
Judge Angelo Foglietta of Pennsylvania's Common Pleas
0:52
Court declined Krasner's request to halt Musk's giveaway.
0:56
Though Foglietta didn't provide an immediate written explanation
0:59
for this ruling, his decision permits Musk's America PAC to
1:03
continue awarding $1,000,000 each day to selected voters who
1:07
endorsed the PAC's pro Trump petition the contest.
1:10
However, is set to. End on Election Day, so no
1:13
additional payments are scheduled for Pennsylvania now.
1:16
The promotional campaign is run by America PAC, a pro Trump
1:20
group founded by Elon Musk, and since its launch on October
1:24
19th, the giveaway has awarded $1,000,000 daily to voters in
1:27
battleground states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan,
1:31
Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and
1:35
Musk. A public supporter.
1:36
Of Former President Donald Trump has funded America PAC with
1:40
nearly $120 million, according. To federal disclosures, his.
1:44
Support comes during a critical moment in the election where
1:47
Pennsylvania's 19 electoral. Votes are likely to.
1:51
Play a decisive. Role.
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Now America PAC. Officials.
1:55
Claim the recipients of the $1 million awards are preselected
2:00
based on their suitability to serve as spokespeople for the
2:04
group's values, not chosen at random and according to Chris.
2:08
Gober 1 of Musk. 'S attorneys, the recipients.
2:11
Are not chosen by. Chance He explained that the
2:14
organization selects individuals who views aligned with America's
2:18
PAC's pro Trump agenda and who have agreed to sign a petition
2:23
endorsing constitutional rights, specifically free speech and gun
2:27
rights. Chris Young, America PAC's
2:30
director and treasurer, testified.
2:32
That the group. Carefully reviews each.
2:35
Recipient before awarding the. Funds.
2:37
He described a process that evaluates potential.
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Spokespeople. Based on their.
2:41
Personalities and their values. Winners are vetted through
2:44
social media checks and in person meetings outside event
2:48
venues. Young indicated the purpose of
2:51
this review process was to ensure recipients are aligned
2:54
with the group's messaging and capable of.
2:56
Presenting its agenda publicly. Now, despite America PAC's
3:00
claims, Krasner and his legal team.
3:02
Argue that the giveaway is effectively an illegal lottery.
3:05
And an attempt to mislead voters.
3:08
Pennsylvania law prohibits lotteries unless they're
3:10
operated by the state, and Krasner asserts that the daily
3:13
$1,000,000 payouts constituted a lottery since they're marked as
3:16
prizes for signing the petition now.
3:19
Krasner's attorney, John Summers, argued in court that
3:21
calling the giveaway a salary for spokespeople was one of the
3:24
greatest scams of the last 50 years.
3:28
Now Elon Musk's legal team, however, insisted that the
3:30
program does not meet the criteria for a lottery.
3:34
Since it lacks the. Element of chance Instead, they
3:37
say the winners are selected in advance based on their potential
3:40
to advocate for America Packs values.
3:42
Musk's lawyer, Matt Haverstick, criticized the lawsuit as a
3:47
political circus and argued that the payment should be seen as
3:50
compensation rather than prizes. According to Haverstick,
3:54
Pennsylvania law doesn't apply in its context because the
3:58
winners are essentially being hired for promotional purposes
4:01
now. In an attempt to further support
4:03
their argument, Musk's lawyers highlighted that participants
4:06
sign a petition in support of the 1st and. 2nd Amendments
4:09
before they. Qualify for the.
4:10
Program. They intended that signing this
4:12
petition is an exercise of free speech, making the giveaway a
4:16
form of core political speech, and as such, they argued that
4:21
preventing the promotion would infringe on Pennsylvanians
4:24
rights to. Freely express their political
4:27
beliefs. District Attorney Krasner's
4:29
legal team challenged the PAC's defense, maintaining that the.
4:33
Structure of the giveaway is a cover.
4:35
For a lottery system and that its promotional tactics are
4:38
misleading. Summers showed the court of
4:40
video from October 10th or 19th Trump rally where Musk stated
4:44
the America PAC would randomly select recipients from those who
4:48
signed the petition. He argued that Musk's statements
4:51
at the rally created a false impression that the winners
4:53
would be chosen by chance. Young, who was America Pack's
4:56
director, admitted he was surprised when he heard Musk.
4:59
Describe the giveaway. As random at the rally,
5:02
according to Young America, Pack had never intended the selection
5:05
process to be random. The organization, he explained,
5:08
always approached. The giveaway as a.
5:10
Structured recruitment of spokespeople, with the winners
5:13
chosen specifically for their alignment with the.
5:15
Pack's values. Young also confirmed that
5:18
winners had to sign non disclosure agreements, which
5:21
prevented them from publicly discussing the details of their
5:23
contracts with America Pack. Now, in a statement to the
5:28
court, Krezner's accused Musk's team of crafting a deliberately
5:31
misleading narrative. He stated.
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They know what they're doing is illegal and they're doing
5:36
everything. Under the sun.
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To cover it up. Krasner's office also discussed
5:40
that PAC selective criteria combined with the non disclosure
5:45
agreements concealed the true nature of the program from the
5:47
public. This, Krasner argued, prevented
5:50
voters from understanding that recipients were not randomly
5:53
chosen as Musk had said, suggested and stated.
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And Musk's giveaway program operates in a legal Gray area
6:00
regarding election laws, as it may be seen as an indirect
6:04
attempt to P people to register to vote or to influence their
6:07
political choices. Federal law prohibits payments
6:10
for voter registration, and the US Department of Justice has
6:14
issued a warning to America PAC regarding potential violations.
6:18
However, federal prosecutors have not yet taken formal action
6:22
against Musk or his organization.
6:24
Now, the contested legality of Musk's promotion has significant
6:28
implications for voter mobilization efforts, especially
6:31
since the Trump campaign relies heavily on external groups like
6:34
America PAC to canvas and engage voters.
6:38
Now, the PAC's daily giveaways are part of a broader effort to
6:40
motivate voters in swing states where the race between Vice
6:44
President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump
6:46
remains close. With Election Day approaching,
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Musk's Funding for America PAC has positioned his organization
6:53
as a influential player in these battleground states.
6:57
Now Monday's. Court hearing was one of the
6:59
last attempts by Krasner to halt the program before it concludes.
7:03
Haverstick argued that Krasner's request was moot, noting that
7:07
the remaining 2 winners from Monday and Tuesday had already
7:09
been chosen. Neither recipient, he pointed
7:11
out, was from Philly, making an immediate court intervention
7:15
ineffective. Haverstick assured the court
7:17
that there was no risk of any further Pennsylvania residents
7:20
receiving the money through America PAC's program.
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Now Judge Fuglietta briefly. Addressed the limited time frame
7:26
of the program, asking both sides to confirm that the
7:29
promotion would end on Election Day.
7:31
Haverstick's response highlighted that the final two
7:34
recipients had already been notified, thus precluding any
7:37
further participation from. Pennsylvania voters.
7:40
And despite Krezner's objections, Fuglietta issued a.
7:44
Brief order. Allowing the giveaway to
7:46
continue stating he would clarify his reasoning at a later
7:49
date. Now, the controversy surrounding
7:52
the program highlights Musk's increasing involvement in
7:54
political activities. Elon has openly supported Trump
7:58
throughout the campaign, and he has used his social media
8:00
platform X to endorse Trump's policies and events.
8:04
Musk's deep financial Support for America PAC also reflects
8:07
his recent ideology alignment with conservative causes,
8:10
including free speech and gun rights.
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Which the PAC's. Petition prominently endorses
8:16
America PAC's efforts in swing states have drawn attention not
8:19
only for the sizeable payments, but also for PAC's high profile
8:23
endorsement by one of the world's wealthiest individuals.
8:26
And as Bus continues to fund the organization, his involvement in
8:30
voter mobilization efforts is usual among CE OS of major tech
8:34
companies. And this is a unique approach to
8:36
political engagement by Elon. This convolvement has, however,
8:40
attracted legal scrutiny and public criticism.
8:43
For various political. Leaders and election officials.
8:46
Now already. The program has distributed a
8:49
total of $17 million to registered voters across 7
8:52
battleground states, according to America PAC, and its posts on
8:56
X and the PAC's last recipient before Election Day is expected
9:00
to be announced on Tuesday from Michigan.
9:03
With Election Day marking the conclusion of the program, the
9:05
PAC has emphasized that it will not extend the giveaway beyond
9:09
this date, in line with the judge's inquiry during the
9:12
hearing. And the ongoing legal disputes
9:15
may continue even after Election Day, though, as officials assess
9:19
the program's compliance with federal and state election laws.
9:22
And as of now, the Justice Department's Cautionary Message
9:24
to America PAC signals potential legal challenges down the line.
9:28
However, the outcome of the scrutiny and whether it will
9:31
impact Musk or the PAC directly remains uncertain.
9:38
How are election officials handling Elon Musk's social
9:41
media influence, especially when it spreads misleading
9:45
information? And why is it challenging for
9:47
states like Michigan and Arizona to Fact Check him directly on X?
9:52
And also, what strategy are these officials using to counter
9:56
Elon Musk's reach, and how is Musk himself responding to them?
10:00
Election officials in key battleground states, including
10:03
Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona are expressing concerns
10:06
about Elon Musk's influence in spreading false information on
10:10
X, with some officials going to great lengths to reach Elon Musk
10:14
directly. Steven Richer, an election
10:17
official in Arizona's Maricopa County, shared that he even
10:21
tried getting messages hand delivered to Elon Musk urging
10:25
him to stop amplifying unsubstantiated claims.
10:29
Reicher, who's faced serious threats for defending the 2020
10:33
election results, says that despite persistent efforts to
10:36
correct the record, Elon Musk's massive online following makes
10:40
it nearly impossible to curb the spread of misinformation.
10:44
Now, the need to counter falsehoods around elections has
10:47
become a full second time job for many election officials, a
10:51
situation that arose in response to misinformation that spread
10:54
widely after Donald Trump's 2020 election loss.
10:57
However, Musk's ownership of X and his high profile support for
11:01
Trump have introduced new hurdles.
11:04
The X platform's influential reach means that any falsehood
11:08
that Musk shares can spread really quickly like wildfire
11:11
over often overwhelming a local election of officials to provide
11:16
verification information. Now, Michigan Secretary of State
11:20
Jocelyn Benson has been particularly vocal in countering
11:23
Musk's misinformation. Recently, she fact checked a
11:26
claim that Musk made about Michigan's registered voters
11:29
directly responding on X. Her post gained over 33 million
11:33
views, reflecting substantial interest.
11:35
But Musk maintained his position, accusing Benson of
11:38
blatantly lying to the public. Benson, frustrated with by
11:41
Musk's response, lamented the missing opportunity for Musk to
11:45
use his resources to help us restore and ensure people can
11:49
have rightly placed faith in our election outcomes, whatever they
11:53
may be. Now, Elon Musk's influence on
11:57
election decisions across X has left election officials 6 days
12:01
before Election Day, scrambling to find a strategy to counter
12:05
the spread of misinformation. Efforts by officials in
12:08
Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania to set the record
12:10
straight are often overshadowed by.
12:12
Musk's massive online. Following with his post quickly
12:15
gaining visibility and without effective controls on X's
12:19
algorithm, which frequently promotes high profile accounts,
12:22
election authorities say they face a structural disadvantage
12:26
in ensuring accurate election information is widely seen.
12:30
Now, the social media platform known as X has provided minimal
12:33
response to Musk's election. Related.
12:35
Posts though a platform. Spokesperson indicated that X
12:38
enforces policies on election interference and misleading
12:42
content. Now.
12:43
This response, however, stops short of addressing Musk's own
12:46
posts, leaving election officials without direct
12:49
intervention to prevent the spread of unverified claims.
12:53
Now CN Ms. attempts to contact Musk and also the Washington
12:57
Post and all of the other major media outlets.
13:01
They can't get a hold of the guy.
13:02
They take it to X and they make comments on his posts and they
13:07
refute him. But most of the time it doesn't
13:10
work. Nade de Resto, a disinformation
13:13
said that election officials are simply unequipped to counter the
13:17
reach of high profile accounts like Musk.
13:19
Because of that, election officials have a very hard job.
13:22
The job is to be election officials, not be tweeters.
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That's what they said. She asked.
13:28
If prominent figures are allowed to amplify unverified claims
13:31
without equivalent promotion of accurate information, it creates
13:35
a structural disadvantage and that election authorities can
13:38
rarely overcome this. Now this week, Elon Musk
13:41
encouraged his followers on Next to report supposed election
13:44
irregularities to an election integrity community on the
13:47
platform, which is administrator by his America Pack, an
13:51
organization supporting Trump's campaign.
13:54
And election officials quickly noticed that some of the claims
13:57
appearing on this community feed had already been debunked by
14:00
state authorities, further complicating their task of
14:03
promoting factual information. The CEO of American Sunlight
14:08
Project called the situation staggering with Musk's role at
14:12
the helm of XI. Don't know if anything can Fact
14:15
Check him now. Benson, who has faced security
14:18
threats in the past for responding to Musk, acknowledges
14:20
the personal risks associated with fact checking the tech
14:23
billionaire. They said the.
14:24
First time he. Attacked our election system.
14:27
I had to take a beat and realize that if I were to respond as I
14:30
did, ultimately I'd have to check to make sure my family was
14:34
safe first. Benson says she now alerts her
14:37
security team whenever she respond to Musk's posts to
14:40
prepare for an uptick in threats.
14:43
Now, to mitigate these security risks, Benson has broadened her
14:46
approach to disseminate accurate election misinformation.
14:50
Her office has gathered leaders from business and labor sectors
14:54
to brief them on Michigan's election process and the state's
14:57
commitment to counting every legitimate vote.
15:00
And by empowering these local leaders as messengers, she hopes
15:03
to reach more residents with verified information before
15:07
misinformation can spread widely on platforms like X.
15:10
Now, officials in Pennsylvania are pursuing similar strategies
15:14
to Fact Check Musk's claims, though they acknowledged
15:17
limitations. And one election official in the
15:19
state referred to Musk as a huge problem and said current fact
15:22
checking efforts are largely about establishing a paper trail
15:26
to document the accuracy of their statements.
15:28
That Musk's influence in Pennsylvania is not just limited
15:31
to his social media activity, though.
15:32
He's also involved in a legal matter regarding the $1 million
15:36
giveaway that his America PAC is conducting daily.
15:39
Sweepstakes they offer to registered voters in
15:42
battleground states has led to a lawsuit that Musk is attempting
15:45
to move to federal court now. His lawyers filed a motion of
15:49
removal late Wednesday night, a procedural move that would pause
15:53
the case in state court and shift the decision to a federal
15:56
judge. Now, down in Georgia, election
15:59
officials have decided the direct engagement with Musk on X
16:02
is unlikely to yield any results.
16:04
Instead, they're relying on press.
16:05
Conferences. A method they successfully used
16:07
in 2020 to dispel misinformation.
16:10
By presenting officials who openly refute the latest
16:13
election related falsehoods and by using scheduled public
16:16
updates, they hope to present clear and consistent information
16:20
without engaging with Elon Musk directly.
16:23
Now, the backlash against social media monitoring for election
16:26
misinformation has affected platforms beyond X, making it
16:29
increasingly difficult for election officials to counteract
16:32
falsehoods. One official from the
16:34
battleground states noted that the unlike other companies such
16:38
as Meta, X lacks a clear line of communication, complicating
16:41
attempts to address misinformation directly on a
16:44
platform. Jankowicz, a disinformation
16:47
expert who has been a. Target of criticism.
16:50
From Some conservative lawmakers pointed to the contrasting
16:53
silence surrounding Musk's influence on X.
16:56
They said what Elon Musk is doing, the campaigning that he's
16:59
doing, the donation that he's making, the way he has
17:01
engineered Twitter to be a maelstrom of conservative
17:04
disinformation is far closer to election interference than any
17:08
of the allegations that conservatives have made against
17:11
social media platforms from 2016 to 2022.
17:15
Now, Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns about social
17:18
media companies preparedness to manage election related
17:21
misinformation. Senator Mark Warner, chair of
17:25
the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed frustration
17:28
about the platform's lack of transparency on their plans to
17:31
address misleading content before and after Election Day.
17:35
Warner noted that he's still wanting on a full answer or of
17:39
what they're going to do to surge capabilities.
17:43
Now that's of course, it's a a huge concern.
17:47
An OX's absence at a recent Senate Intelligence Committee
17:50
hearing on foreign influence and social media has also
17:53
intensified. Lawmaker Warner mentioned that
17:55
Nick Pickles X's. Head of global affairs.
17:59
Had been invited but resigned on September 6th and the company
18:02
did not send a replacement. An X spokesperson confirmed that
18:05
Pickles departure, but did not explain the decision to forgo
18:08
representation at the hearing. Now, Elon Musk's America PAC has
18:13
received judicial permission to proceed with cash giveaways to
18:16
registered voters, at least temporarily, following a ruling
18:20
from a Pennsylvania State judge. And Musk's PAC has been offering
18:24
daily $1 million prizes to voters in key swing states
18:27
contingent upon their signing a petition.
18:30
Now, the petition reportedly includes a pledge to support the
18:33
US Constitution, though some officials are concerned that the
18:36
cash for petition format may conflict with US electoral laws.
18:41
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner filed a lawsuit
18:44
against Musk earlier this week, calling on the courts to halt
18:46
the giveaways. Krasner's suit urges that Musk
18:50
must be stopped immediately before the upcoming presidential
18:53
election. Determined that Krasner's case
18:55
would be paused while a federal court decides if it will hear
18:58
the case, a delay that makes it unlikely any financial decision
19:02
will be reached before the November 7th election.
19:04
The court hearing featured remarks from John Summers, an
19:08
attorney working with District Attorney Krasner, who told
19:11
reporters they would push to have the matter returned to
19:14
state court. That the federal court declines
19:15
to take it up. Summers argued the case centers
19:18
on state laws, adding after all, this is a case that involves
19:21
state law issues. Musk, who was required to.
19:24
Attend the Philadelphia court. Hearing did not appear this
19:27
month. Offering daily $1 million awards
19:30
for registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada,
19:33
Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina until November
19:36
5th. And these 7 battleground states
19:39
are considered crucial in the 2024 election, with polls
19:42
indicating a tight race between President Donald Trump, who Musk
19:45
supports, and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
19:49
Eligibility for Musk's $1,000,000 giveaway requires
19:52
participants to provide personal information, including phone
19:55
numbers and addresses. And to sign a.
19:57
Statement affirming their commitment to the Constitution.
20:00
Krasner's lawsuit describes the structure as a lottery and
20:04
alleges that it constitutes an unlawful lottery.
20:07
And according to Krasner, the sweepstakes Lowell's
20:09
Philadelphia citizens to give up their personal identification
20:13
information and make a political pledge in exchange for the
20:16
chance to win $1,000,000. The lawsuit also accuses Musk
20:20
and his pack of using deceptive, vague or misleading statements
20:24
that could mislead voters under consumer protection laws.
20:27
This warning could qualify as false advertising, which Musk's
20:31
attorney has strongly refuted. In a federal court filing,
20:35
Musk's lawyers argued the lawsuit's actual purpose was to
20:38
curb Musk's influence on the election.
20:40
They said the complaint, in truth, has little to do with
20:43
state law claims of nuisance and consumer protection.
20:47
Now, Musk's legal team stated, adding that it aims to prevent
20:50
any supposed interference by Musk's PAC in the upcoming
20:53
election. Now, Musk's PAC received prior
20:56
warning from the Department of Justice, which noted that the
20:59
cash giveaways could breach federal election regulations.
21:02
Musk has, however, assured potential participants they do
21:06
not need to. Identify as Republican.
21:08
Or even vote to qualify for the prize.
21:10
As Musk continues to press forward with his PAC's campaign,
21:13
the legal proceedings and official scrutiny reflect
21:17
ongoing concerns about the potential influence of his
21:20
platform on the 2024 election. How would?
21:28
A Trump presidency potentially benefit Elon Musk, and also
21:32
could Musk gain even greater influence over U.S. policy?
21:36
And what specific? Impact might Musk.
21:38
'S alliance with Trump have on Tesla, SpaceX and his other
21:43
ventures now Elon Musk, who spent election night alongside
21:47
Donald Trump at Mar a Lago, has expressed clear.
21:49
Enthusiasm about. The former president's return to
21:51
the White House after Trump's victory.
21:53
Musk took to X writing. The people of America gave at
21:57
Real Donald Trump a clear, crystal clear mandate for
22:01
change. Tonight, Now, Musk's endorsement
22:03
of Trump. Reflects a major shift.
22:04
For the billionaire entrepreneur, who had previously
22:07
described himself as a politically moderate, now in his
22:11
victory speech, Trump signaled that.
22:13
Musk had spent. A lot of time with him and he
22:18
talked about his achievements, especially with SpaceX, and as a
22:21
result, Tesla's stock saw a significant.
22:24
Jump with its price rising by over. 12% the day after Trump's
22:28
victory was confirmed. Now, the game boosted Musk's net
22:32
worth, which now stands at an estimated $290 billion,
22:35
highlighting the immediate financial impact of Musk's
22:38
alliance with Trump. Now, Musk's financial support
22:41
for Trump's campaign has been extensive, though We donated
22:45
more than $119,000,000 to a pro Trump super PAC in a direct
22:50
attempt to sway voters in Trump's favor.
22:52
Now. In addition, Musk funded a large
22:55
Get Out the Vote campaign across key battleground states,
22:58
offering daily giveaways of $1,000,000 to incentivize
23:01
participation, a tactic that eventually survived a legal
23:05
challenge. Now Musk's alliance with Trump,
23:08
however, extends beyond monetary contributions.
23:11
Trump announced he would consider appointing Musk as head
23:14
of a newly imagined Department of Government Efficiency if he
23:18
takes office now. Musk has expressed a vision for
23:21
this role as a streamline agency to cut down bureaucratic waste,
23:26
and he. Jokingly dubbed it.
23:27
Doge, referencing a popular meme and cryptocurrency he's
23:31
promoted. Now, SpaceX stands as one of the
23:34
biggest potential beneficiaries of Musk's strength and ties.
23:37
With Trump. Already a dominant player in
23:39
U.S. government contracts for space projects, SpaceX could
23:42
further expand its hold on contracts for defense and
23:45
intelligence satellites. With Trump in office, SpaceX
23:48
could deepen its connections to government agencies like NASA
23:51
and the Pentagon, which already rely heavily on SpaceX for
23:55
critical missions. Now Musk.
23:57
Has openly criticized competitors, particularly.
24:00
Boeing for their reliance on traditional government contract
24:03
structures that he claims led to budget overruns and delayed
24:07
project completions. And if Trump implements a more
24:10
streamlined government contract system, Musk SpaceX, known for
24:14
faster, more cost effective projects, could see even more
24:18
opportunities to increase its market share.
24:21
Now Tesla is another Musk LED enterprise positioned to benefit
24:25
under Trump's potential administration.
24:27
In campaign promises, Trump has outlined the goal of reducing
24:30
regulatory constraints on corporations, which could have
24:33
direct implications for Tesla's operations.
24:36
With Trump's support, Musk may have to leverage.
24:39
To. Secure a lowest regulatory
24:42
burden environment that he argues could accelerate Tesla's
24:45
innovation. Now, shortly before the
24:47
election. The National Hwy.
24:49
Traffic Safety Administration began investigating Tesla's self
24:52
driving software, which Musk has touted as the future of
24:55
autonomous vehicles. And if Trump takes office, Musk
24:59
may push for a reduction in regulatory scrutiny over Tesla's
25:03
driving assistance systems, including Autopilot and Full
25:06
Self Driving, now a single federal standard for autonomous
25:10
vehicles. Could offer.
25:11
Tesla an advantage in rapidly deploying this technology
25:15
currently. Regulations vary widely.
25:17
From state to state, which Musk has criticized as an obstacle to
25:20
the widespread adoption of autonomous technology.
25:23
And a Trump LED government that sets a unified framework would
25:27
reduce compliance hurdles and simplify Tesla's rollout process
25:31
across multiple states. Now, Elon Musk's latest project,
25:36
the Cyber Cab has no steering wheel or pedals, may require
25:39
federal waivers to proceed with production.
25:43
By aligning himself with Trump, Musk could gain the.
25:45
Influence needed to secure. Favorable policies for
25:48
autonomous vehicle production, potentially allowing Tesla to
25:51
introduce innovations ahead of his competition.
25:54
Now Musk's Neuralink focused on developing brain implants, could
25:58
also stand to gain under Trump. Musk has frequently criticized
26:01
the FDA for what he describes as its overly slow approval
26:06
process. In a Trump administration, Musk
26:08
may seek to influence the FDA to expedite approvals, which he
26:12
argues would accelerate the pace of innovation for technologies
26:15
like Neurolink's brain interfaces.
26:18
Now, inside Musk's companies, employees are already discussing
26:21
how a Trump administration could impact regulatory processes,
26:24
sources familiar with Neurolink's operations say some
26:27
employees. Believe that.
26:28
Musk could push. For a looser regulatory.
26:30
Framework within the FDA, even to the extent of seeking to
26:33
remove FDA officials he deems inefficient, a move that would
26:37
likely be controversial. Now.
26:39
The Trump administration can also have wider implication from
26:43
Musk's overall regulatory landscape.
26:46
Sources from within Musk companies describe a de
26:49
enforcement strategy aiming to reduce federal oversights on all
26:52
of Elon Musk's operations. For example, Musk's emphasis on
26:57
efficiency aligns with Trump's intent to reduce regulatory
27:00
friction, which could ultimately reduce oversight on companies
27:04
like Tesla and SpaceX. Now SpaceX, despite its
27:07
prominence in federal contracts, has at times faced scrutiny over
27:11
workplace safety practices, now an investigation that happened
27:15
last year by Reuters with 600 worker injuries at SpaceX
27:20
facilities. The federal agencies have
27:23
refrained from significant enforcements of these actions,
27:26
though, so ministry and signers attribute this to the
27:28
government's dependence on SpaceX for critical operations,
27:32
which is a reliance that could deepen if Musk's influence grows
27:36
under Trump. Spacex's contracts with NASA
27:40
represent a substantial investment from the US
27:42
government, estimated to about $15 billion or over.
27:46
And this interdependence has led to a dynamic where, as one
27:50
federal official put it, NASA needs SpaceX more than SpaceX
27:53
needs NASA. With Musk's expanded influence,
27:56
government agencies may become more inclined to favor SpaceX
27:59
over its competitors, particularly in high stakes
28:02
projects like intelligence and defense, satellite networks and
28:06
Musk. 'S ventures collectively hold.
28:08
A prominent position in areas where government contracts,
28:11
subsidies and regulation intersect, his vocal opposition
28:15
to what he considers stifling regulations has made him a
28:18
natural ally to Trump's regulatory agenda.
28:21
And if Trump wins, Musk's power in sectors ranging from autos to
28:25
space to biotech could set a precedent reminiscent of
28:29
America's Gilded Age, where industry leaders exerted
28:32
considerable control over public policy.
28:36
Now a supporter of Musk's strategy believe his
28:38
relationship with Trump could transform the US government to
28:41
operate with the agility. Of a start up.
28:44
Now there's this venture capitalist from Silicon Valley.
28:47
Shervin Pishvar, also a SpaceX investor, sees Musk's potential
28:52
influence. As a pathway to.
28:54
Scale Spacex's mission of reaching Mars and beyond.
28:58
They describe Musk as someone who could make America function
29:01
like a startup, viewing Musk's potential government role as.
29:04
Pivotal for a streamlined. Regulatory environment and with
29:08
Musk's alliance with Trump, it's seen as advantageous for his
29:12
businesses there's concerns about the potential risks of
29:15
easing oversight in industries with high stakes safety risks.
29:20
A former SpaceX official cautioned that regulatory laxity
29:24
in the high risk sector of rocket building could lead to
29:27
severe consequences, potentially sending back.
29:29
Industry progress. And such risks under score the
29:33
potential trade-offs in Musk's push for deregulation.
29:37
Now Elon Musk's aligned with Trump suggests a clear departure
29:40
from his prior image as an environmental innovator focused
29:44
on clean energy. Once seen as a key advocate for
29:47
fighting climate change, Musk now leads a new class of Silicon
29:50
Valley entrepreneurs pushing for a libertarian approach to
29:53
governance. Critical of what he calls.
29:56
The woke mind virus, and he associates with the traditional
29:59
liberal ideas of the region. The broader trend of Musk's
30:03
political involvement points to a rising class of tech
30:06
billionaires with increasing influence over policy.
30:09
Musk's advocacy for deregulation, combined with his
30:13
substantial campaign funding, signals an era where the
30:16
interests of tech giants are more aligned with government
30:19
power than ever before. Now, if Trump's promises
30:22
materialize, Musk's empire may grow to hold an unprecedented
30:27
level of sway over U.S. government policy and economic.
30:32
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