On with Kara Swisher Dissecting Elon Musk’s Hostile Takeover with Anne Applebaum, Eoin Higgins & Ryan Mac
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Feb 6, 2025 
In this insightful conversation, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum, IT Brew reporter Eoin Higgins, and New York Times journalist Ryan Mac analyze Elon Musk's aggressive takeover of key government operations. They discuss the troubling implications of tech billionaires influencing democracy and governance, drawing parallels to historical regimes. The guests explore how Musk's actions challenge accountability in the digital age, as well as the potential for corporate tactics to undermine democratic values. Expect a captivating dive into the intersection of technology and politics.
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Accountability Concerns
- Lack of accountability in Musk's takeover is concerning, with staff cuts creating confusion.
- AI recording software is used in meetings, raising fears of sensitive information leaks and political attacks.
Ideological Takeover
- Musk's takeover is an ideological one, aiming to impose his views on government function.
- He disregards the rule of law, the Constitution, and established democratic processes.
Musk's Playbook
- Elon Musk is applying his Twitter takeover playbook to the federal government, prioritizing engineering and cost-cutting.
- He's using a similar approach, demonstrating a high level of confidence despite limited knowledge of government operations.
