Bloomberg Businessweek The Undeniable Impact of Elon Musk's Influence on the US Presidential Election
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Dec 20, 2024 In this discussion, Margaret Talev, Founding Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, dives into the significant implications of Elon Musk’s influence on U.S. politics. She explores the transformation of Twitter to X and its effects on election communication. Talev also examines Musk's role in government negotiations and campaign financing, highlighting concerns over misinformation. The dialogue underscores the urgent need for informed voter engagement in a landscape heavily influenced by social media.
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Trump and Musk's Influence
- President-elect Trump's influence on the debt ceiling debate is significant.
- His partnership with Elon Musk has amplified this influence, with Musk providing leverage and a platform.
Musk's Social Media Spending
- Elon Musk's significant spending on political ads on social media platforms amplified his influence during the election.
- Despite the seemingly small amount, $6 million can buy substantial ad impressions on these platforms.
Musk's Influence on X
- Measuring Elon Musk's influence on X (formerly Twitter) is challenging due to limited data access for researchers.
- However, his ownership has led to noticeable shifts in users, ideology, and content moderation.