The Rachel Maddow Show

Making a mockery of Musk: Backlash against dismantling U.S. government focuses on hatchet man

67 snips
Apr 15, 2025
Sherrilyn Ifill, a pivotal civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, joins to discuss the innovative protests against Elon Musk amid growing concerns about his influence on government and society. Activists blend humor with activism through AI-generated pranks featuring Musk, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with his actions. The conversation also covers grassroots movements focused on civic rights, the repercussions of harsh deportation policies, and the alarming misuse of legal classifications by the Social Security Administration.
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ANECDOTE

Crosswalk Hacks

  • Hackers replaced crosswalk audio in Silicon Valley towns with AI-generated Elon Musk impersonations.
  • The fake messages range from Musk expressing loneliness to claiming cancer is "effing awesome."
ANECDOTE

Tesla Regret

  • A "free debadging station" appeared at a Seattle Tesla protest, helping owners remove Tesla emblems.
  • A "Tesla Regret Syndrome" hotline offers comical advice for coping with owning a Musk-branded car.
ANECDOTE

Nationwide Protests

  • Protests against Trump and Musk occurred nationwide, including Columbus, Tucson, and smaller towns.
  • Memphis protesters focused on Musk's XAI company, citing unpermitted gas turbines and air pollution.
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