Elon Musk's Pay-To-Play Scheme To Get Trump Elected
Oct 22, 2024
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This discussion features Sarah McCammon, an NPR National Correspondent and author focusing on White Evangelical voters, and Nicole Sidman, a Democratic candidate advocating for reproductive rights in North Carolina. They dive into Elon Musk's controversial $1 million incentive for swing state voters linked to Republican support, sparking legal debate. Sarah reveals shifts in evangelical voting post-Roe v. Wade, while Nicole highlights critical local issues like education and community advocacy in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Elon Musk's initiative to financially incentivize voter registration in swing states raises serious legal and ethical concerns, according to legal experts.
The shifting dynamics of white evangelical voters after Roe v. Wade's overturn highlight internal conflicts regarding support for Trump amidst changing priorities.
Deep dives
Elon Musk's Controversial Voting Scheme
Elon Musk has initiated a program offering a million dollars to individuals in swing states who sign a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This initiative raises legal concerns, as experts, including election law professor Rick Hassan, state that paying individuals to vote or register is against federal law. The requirement to be a registered voter in order to claim the prize puts participants in a precarious legal position. Critics argue that this scheme reflects a broader strategy employed by the Republican party and highlight the lack of substantive policy proposals behind such gimmicks.
The Shift in Evangelical Voter Dynamics Post-Roe
The political influence of white evangelicals has evolved significantly following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Historically, abortion has acted as a unifying issue for this voter block, as evidenced by the overwhelming support for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. However, as restrictive abortion laws have become reality, many voters perceive these changes as overly harsh, leading to internal conflict within the evangelical community. While some leaders remain steadfast in their support for Trump, there are voices expressing concern about how these policies align with the values they once championed.
Key Issues for North Carolina's Upcoming Elections
In North Carolina, the political landscape is marked by significant concerns regarding reproductive rights, public school funding, and healthcare access as voters prepare for the upcoming election. The recent party switch of incumbent representative Tricia Cotham has fueled Democratic challengers, who emphasize the ramifications of her actions on abortion access and education funding. Local candidates are mobilizing efforts to engage voters, highlighting personal stories that reflect the immediate impacts of GOP policies. This election cycle also underscores the urgency to address not just the reproductive rights issue but broader economic concerns and the need for fair representation in gerrymandered districts.
It's officially two weeks until Election Day, and SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants you to vote — for former President Donald Trump, obviously. In fact, Musk wants you to vote so badly that he says he’s giving out $1 million a day to people in swing states who sign his petition supporting the rights to free speech and to bear arms. It’s part of an effort to get more Republicans registered to vote. Except legal experts we spoke with — like Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin and UCLA election law professor Rick Hasen — say the whole scheme is likely illegal.
Later in the show, NPR National Correspondent Sarah McCammon talks about where the white Evangelical vote stands after Roe. v. Wade was overturned.
And in headlines: A major election watcher says Pennsylvania’s Senate race is now a ‘tossup,’ the group of men formerly known as the Central Park Five filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, and the Biden Administration says it’s proposing a new rule to make private health insurers cover more contraceptives.