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.

Dave Troy, publisher of "America 2.0," joins Joe and Alex to look under the surface at what Elon and Trump are doing. What's Elon's endgame - and is there any way to stop it? How Project 2025 is just a small piece of the puzzle - what's "Project Russia" and why is it a MUCH bigger threat? And why do the crypto-bros keep attacking the dollar? And what should the pro-democracy movement do about all of this? Read Dave's work at America 2.0 at https://america2.news/.

Kristin Brey and Maya May ask "What will it take for us to survive the next four years?" Asking yourself the same question? Catch up now on their conversation about the broligarchy, Wisconsin's hugely consequential upcoming Supreme Court election, and why the SAFE Act proposes to do anything but keep women in America safe.

NEW EPISODE! Special guest, author and Economic Sociologist Brooke Harrington joined the Strategy Session to draw back the curtain on the Broligarchy that has taken over Washington. And it’s unimaginably bad, not just for our economy or the widening wealth gap, but for our democracy. Brooke's new book, Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism, investigates how offshore financial systems enable the ultra-wealthy to evade taxes, bypass regulations, and consolidate power, all while undermining democracy, capitalism, and environmental protections. Sound familiar?

Last week the folks at Fox twisted themselves into knots to defend the actions of a maniacal corrupt billionaire hellbent on destroying entire government agencies without congressional oversight. They would never admit that their glorious leader, Donald J. Trump, was just a puppet for Elon Musk, a South African immigrant with extremist political leanings.

USAID being dismantled before our eyes is just the beginning. In this episode Rick is joined by Josh Rogin, Lead Global Security Analyst for Washington Post Intelligence, to discuss the shocking dismantlement of USAID by Elon Musk and Donald Trump. They explore the broader implications of this decision, including the erosion of America’s global influence, the potential humanitarian crisis, and how adversaries like China and Russia stand to benefit. The conversation also delves into Trump’s complicated relationship with Xi Jinping, the future of Taiwan, and the geopolitical risks of a second Trump presidency—particularly regarding Ukraine, where Vladimir Putin is poised to take advantage.

The question isn't just how we got here - it's what we do next. Joe and Alex are re-joined by Katherine Stewart for a special guest episode. Katherine has been researching the far right- from Christian nationalists to MAGA - for over 15 years, and her new book, "Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy" is a powerful look at how we got here - and what we have to do to defeat MAGA and restore American democracy long-term. What single lesson do pro-democracy advocates need to learn from the past decade? And what are the six reasons Katherine is hopeful for the future? Order "Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy" now: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Lies-God-Movement-Democracy/dp/163557854X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Alex discuss how everything you've probably read about this week was a distraction from Trump's endgame. We all have to pay very, very close attention to what's happening behind the curtain. Why Trump's crypto capture scheme could be the biggest story in our lifetimes. And how social media is quickly becoming an arm of the state. TikTok, X, and now even Facebook... and why in the face of all Trump's distractions this week and beyond, Joe explains why we have to be more vigilant than ever.

Last week the folks on Fox were angrier than ever that Joe Biden lasted until the end of his term and that Vice President Kamala Harris declared it was not in her nature to go “quietly into the night.” Fox News personalities claimed that Trump negotiated the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Sean Hannity and others declared that the FDA’s decision to ban a food dye. The network also bolstered Melania Trump’s false claim that the Obama administration impeded her move into the White House during her husband’s first term even though Mrs. Trump lived in Manhattan for the first five months of her husband’s presidency.

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.