Techdirt The Elonification Of Government
May 13, 2025
Ryan Mac and Kate Conger, New York Times journalists and co-authors of 'Character Limit,' delve into Elon Musk's influence over both Twitter and U.S. governance. They analyze Musk's dubious management tactics, drawing unsettling parallels between his Twitter takeover and broader governmental practices. The discussion covers the challenges of misinformation, the evolving power dynamics in tech and politics, and the potential dangers of oversimplifying complex systems using Musk's approach. Their insights probe the implications of AI in governance and the shifting alignments of Silicon Valley with political power.
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Elon's Playbook Reused in Government
- Elon Musk applies the same dismissal of staff competency from Twitter to the US government.
- He believes bureaucrats are wasteful and is cutting government programs without regard for legal constraints.
Twitter Success Defined Ideologically
- Elon views his Twitter takeover as an ideological success despite financial losses.
- He proved critics wrong by keeping Twitter operational with fewer resources, boosting his confidence for government actions.
Paranoia Shapes Musk's Narrative
- Elon Musk's increasing paranoia shapes his interpretation of business setbacks.
- He alleges conspiracies against him as explanations rather than admitting internal issues.
