Elon Musk

Each generation has a social platform they're more disposed toward, and pro-democracy activist and active Twitter member Victor Shi gives his perspective on what makes Gen Z's perspective on Elon Musk's Twitter takeover unique.

Molly Jong-Fast shares her thoughts on whether Elon Musk is playing 3D chess or a melting down with his actions and policies following the Twitter acquisition.

This is one the best encapsulations of what it's like to experience the wild ride that has been dealing with Elon Musk, delivered with Rick's typical directness.

This might be the scariest fact we've ever seen about social media. You know it's bad, but this bad? And it explains a lot about how crazy political discussions have gotten online. 0.1% of users? No really. The amount of disinformation is staggering. And what does it do to our brains? Plus: What people miss when Trump lies. When we roll our eyes, we miss the point. And - despite the challenges in front of us - why is Joe optimistic about how we can break out of the funhouse? Read "Inside the funhouse mirror factory" here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X24001313 Read the Atlantic article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/01/january-6-justification-machine/681215/?gift=bcL26f46jRxbKrUp1kTCRFgu6En8nVf7xwPsSYEqCiU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share And visit getrealnews.org.

We are entering a new chapter where the children are taking the wheel. In this episode Rick speaks with journalist and author David Corn to discuss the chaotic implications of a Trump administration return, the rise of figures like Elon Musk and RFK Jr., and the dangerous erosion of government institutions. They dive into concerns about unqualified leadership, the dismantling of public health systems, and the weaponization of agencies like the FBI under Trump loyalists.

Trump's going off the rails. And there's nobody left to stop him. Why his lawsuits against ABC and Ann Selzer aren't only ridiculous - they're really dangerous. And those tax cuts? Why Joe and Alex aren't holding their breaths. And how about all those tariffs bringing down inflation and gas prices? Joe thinks this might be Trump's biggest lie of all time - and that's saying something. Finally - handing Elon the keys to the government - what could go wrong? Read Dan Gilmor's newsletter, Cornerstone of Democracy, here: https://cornerstone.ghost.io/essentials-december-17-2024/

LP Co-founder George Conway refuses to be quiet as he joins Rick to dissect Trump's cabinet nominees and his administration's deterrence of actual "good talent." Follow George Conway on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile//gtconway.bsky.social. Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X or at https://bsky.app/profile/therickwilson.bsky.social at Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.

How can we hold Trump accountable? That work starts now. What can we do about some of these insane nominees? Plus - Joe explains why the Trump coalition is much more fragile than many people realize. Why the next two years are a huge opportunity for yet another realignment - and why Democrats have to take advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the first pieces Resolute Square published was this by Dr. Jen Mercieca in Dec. 2022. It's essential reading today with Trump poised to return to the White House because right-wing framing is dangerous to democracy - and it's becoming more intense.

In a classic Rick rant, he breaks down the politicization of Hurricane Helene, criticizing the usual suspects (Trump, Elon Musk, etc) for spreading misinformation about FEMA's response. He highlights the coordinated, bipartisan efforts of federal and state governments in addressing the disaster and condemns the use of tragedies for political gain.

We're at the point where the avalanche of good polls for Kamala Harris are just impossible to ignore. What should we really be paying attention to? Joe has his eye on a few of the more eye-popping numbers out there - and why they're real. Plus - Trump's back on Twitter. Why we aren't exactly shaking in our boots after another "perfect" conversation. And what should we be looking for at the Democratic convention next week? Plus - if you're sick of all the BS on Twitter... Sez.us is coming. Check it out and sign up now.

In this episode, a classic Rick rant taking aim at three primary figures wreaking havoc on democracy: Elon Musk, Nicolás Maduro, and Donald Trump. He critiques Musk's dissemination of deep fake videos, denounces Maduro's fraudulent election claims in Venezuela, and exposes Trump's alarming rhetoric suggesting an end to voting. Additionally, he addresses listener questions about disinformation, Bitcoin, and the political implications of RFK Jr.'s candidacy.

Truth in politics has become an oxymoron. In this episode Rick is joined by veteran journalist and author Steven Brill to discuss his latest book, "The Death of Truth." Brill, the founder of NewsGuard, dives into how social media and the internet have become powerful tools for spreading disinformation, influencing politics, and polarizing society. The conversation covers the impact of generative AI, programmatic advertising, and the role of bad actors like Russia, China, and Iran in propagating falsehoods. Brill shares insights on combating these issues, including potential regulatory measures and political reforms. Steven's book, "The Death of Truth," available now.

Feel like someone's watching you? You're probably right. Rick Wilson and Byron Tau, author of "Means of Control" talk Big Tech's big data collection. Is there an alliance between tech companies and government agencies? Get ready - Rick and Byron discuss the birth of a new American surveillance state.

Rick is joined by tech journalism powerhouse Kara Swisher. Together, they discuss her much anticipated upcoming book, "Burn Book." She dives deep into the heart of the tech industry, shedding light on the colossal impact of titans like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. The conversation is a journey through the intersection of technology, politics, and culture, peppered with Kara's own anecdotes and insights. Pre-order Kara's upcoming book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.

This week on The Enemies List, Rick is joined by prolific author and film producer Jonathan Taplin. Together, they unpack a dystopian reality orchestrated by tech moguls Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk.

From Claire Atkin of CheckMyAds.org: Elon Musk's recent attack on the ADL is a desperate attempt to shift blame from his own incompetence in managing Twitter/X

Rick Wilson and Congressman Ro Khana discuss the need for regulation of the AI and tech industry. They explore the need for an Internet Bill of Rights, antitrust measures, and the need to re-industrialize America. They also discuss the power of lobbyists and the lack of urgency from leadership when it comes to regulating tech.

Teri Kanefield writes, "Right wingers don’t merely want their own platforms. If they did, they would all congregate on Truth Social or Parler. What they want is to dominate all platforms, which is why the Plaintiffs in Biden v. Missouri want to remove any possibility of legitimate criticism from official sources."

We've been promising another AI episode, and we're really excited about this one. Our friend Bart Myers, founder of Countable, joins the show to talk about the latest developments in AI and what it means for campaigns -- especially in the current social media environment.

Victor Shi writes, "Everything that Elon Musk has done to the app, every decision he has made, has stood to benefit the extreme voices on the right – making it unbearable for everyone else."

You know "The Gift" when you see it. Politicians with The Gift connect and engage with humans with comfort and ease. They walk into the room as a stranger and walk out with people considering them friends. Rick Wilson writes that not all politicians have it.

As the GOP field expands (DeSantis? Youngkin? Scott? 🙄), Trump continues his grip on the GOP base. Can DeSantis appear human? What's Elon's angle? Is Tim Scott looking for a VP slot? Rick, Stuart, and Joe discuss that and more!