It Could Happen Here Elon Musk and the Rebirth of Company Towns feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips
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Aug 19, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, investigative reporter Steven Monacelli and historian Dr. Michael Phillips delve into the controversial rise of company towns, notably through Elon Musk's ventures in Texas. They explore the dark history of corporate control, touching on the oppressive nature of these towns and significant labor struggles in U.S. history. The guests also reflect on the broader implications for workers’ rights and democracy in a landscape increasingly dominated by billionaire power. Join them as they unravel the past and present of this unsettling phenomenon.
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Corporate Control Beyond The Workplace
- Company towns were engineered to control workers' lives on and off the clock through housing, stores, churches, and surveillance.
- This created paternalistic mini-police states that crushed dissent and union organizing.
Pullman's Utopian Façade Cracked
- George Pullman built a "utopian" company town with amenities but strict rules and high rents.
- During the 1893 depression Pullman cut wages but not rents, triggering a nationwide strike crushed by federal troops.
Ludlow's Deadly Company Militia
- The Ludlow Massacre saw company-aligned militia attack striking miners' tent colonies, killing many including women and children.
- The violence exposed private armies used by companies and sparked national outrage and reforms.
