The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: ‘How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter’ with Kate Conger and Ryan Mac
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Sep 19, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, technology reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mac from the New York Times dive into the chaotic aftermath of Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter. They unveil the cloak-and-dagger dealings leading up to Musk's bold offer. The pair contrasts Musk's leadership with that of past CEOs, exploring Twitter's troubled content moderation history. They also reflect on the cultural and political impacts of Musk's management style, as well as the platform's pivotal role in shaping public dialogue. Their insights come from their new book, ‘Character Limit’.
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Conger's Surprise
- Kate Conger was surprised by Elon Musk's offer to buy Twitter, as she had briefly left the tech beat.
- She juggled covering the war in Ukraine and the Twitter acquisition, initially skeptical of Musk's seriousness.
Unbelievable yet Inevitable
- Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition was an "unbelievable but inevitable" event.
- It represented the culmination of two intertwined storylines followed by tech reporters for a decade.
CEOs' Contrasting Views
- Jack Dorsey, Twitter's founder, returned as CEO but grew to despise the role due to content moderation challenges and political scrutiny.
- Parag Agrawal, his successor, was an idealistic insider who aimed to implement changes but was disrupted by Musk's takeover.