Elon, Inc.

Tensions flare as the feud between Elon Musk and Trump escalates, sparking explosive posts across social media. High-profile figures like Steve Bannon and Kanye West jump into the fray, adding their voices to the chaos. The discussion highlights the impact of their rivalry on Tesla's leadership and stock, while also digging into the broader implications for politics and innovation. With a touch of humor, the hosts dissect the whirlwind of recent events, offering insights into the volatile intersection of business and politics.

Join Josh Green, a Bloomberg Businessweek political reporter and author of The Devil's Bargain, as he dissects the public split between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The discussion unveils the tensions rising from Trump's sharp remarks and Musk's fierce retorts. Can they reconcile over political strategies like tax reforms? Will Musk make a swing back to the Democrats? Green explores the implications of their fallout on both the political and business landscapes, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of their once-strong alliance.

Max Chafkin, a Bloomberg Businessweek superstar, and Sarah Frier, a big tech coverage leader at Bloomberg, delve into Elon Musk's turbulent political journey and its fallout. They discuss Musk's high-profile ties with Trump, including controversial funding and public behavior linked to drug allegations. The duo analyzes Musk's attempts to shift back to business amidst political backlash, while also hilariously recounting bizarre personal anecdotes and navigating the complexities of his ambitious ventures and shifting public perceptions.

Stacey Vanek Smith, Bloomberg's executive editor overseeing crypto and fintech, dives into the intriguing intersection of Donald Trump's administration and the cryptocurrency world. She discusses how Trump’s unique approach to crypto created a stir in both political and investment circles. Their conversation touches on the emergence of political coins, the risks in a swiftly changing regulatory landscape, and the surprising support the crypto industry has shown for Trump. It's a fascinating take on a dynamic relationship that challenges traditional finance.

Kurt Wagner, Bloomberg's social media reporter and author of "Battle for the Bird," joins Dana Hull, Bloomberg's dedicated Elon Musk reporter. They dive into Musk's surprising announcement of scaling back political contributions and explore the implications for his business empire. The duo discusses Musk's ambitious plans for Twitter as a banking platform, the challenges surrounding his Mars mission, and the prospects of innovative projects like robo-taxis and the humanoid robot Optimus. They even rank Musk's ventures by their likelihood of success.

Check out the feed of our sister podcast Everybody's Business in any podcast app of your choice. After several week's of cross publishing, in the future you're going to have to head to that feed to enjoy the show. But for now...---All the economy is a stage this week, as the “big beautiful” tax bill passed the House in the wee hours of Thursday morning, and millions of college graduates got their diplomas and set off into the  the job market, competing with an ever growing army of robot workers.   In the second episode of Everybody’s Business from Bloomberg Businessweek, hosts Stacey Vanek Smith and Max Chafkin dive into the tax bill, the AI job threat, and the turning of (actual) lead into (actual) gold.  The tax cut extension still has to pass the Senate, but the House version would add roughly $4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, and would be, by far, the most expensive policy the Trump administration has enacted. In spite of this, the tax bill has not gotten nearly the attention of other policies, including the Department of Government Efficiency (its cuts have not amounted to even 1% of the federal budget). But all the sound and fury signifying a rounding error is by design according to author and economic journalist Kyla Scanlon. Scanlon says you can learn a lot about the Trump Administration’s economic policies by watching Wrestlemania. Then Bloomberg reporter Sarah Frier joins to talk about AI and jobs. Fears are growing in the US workforce that jobs are being lost to artificial intelligence, and a new study estimates up to ⅓ of jobs in developed countries will be “transformed” by AI.  Frier looks at what jobs might be under threat and how real the worries are. Finally, Stacey and Max talk about a major development in commodities markets. Scientists were able to turn lead into gold! Stacey thinks this could be a turning point for the gold market and all mankind. Max has doubts…after all, all that glitters is not gold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk opens up about his political contributions and the backlash from protests against Tesla. Tension rises as he reflects on vandalism affecting the brand. The podcast also dives into the chaotic week of Grok, an AI chatbot with some controversial bloopers, including unsettling responses about sensitive topics. Meanwhile, discussions unfold on tech rivalries and Musk's strategies amidst financial hurdles. It's a wild mix of politics, AI mishaps, and the challenges of modern technology.

In an engaging conversation, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shares intriguing insights alongside BBC journalist Mishal Husain. They discuss his perspectives on the volatile public sentiment regarding Tesla and his decision to scale back political donations. Elon also delves into SpaceX's mission for global internet access via Starlink, its significance for education, and commerce. Their lively exchange touches on the challenges of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of AI regulation and the transformative potential of technology in society.

Amanda Mull, a Business Week columnist and consumer spending expert, discusses how tariffs might soon impact your holiday shopping, potentially ruining Christmas. She demystifies why we haven't felt inflation like expected yet. Joining her is Randall Williams, a Bloomberg Businessweek sports columnist, who delves into the world of private equity buying sports teams, revealing the vast increase in team valuations driven by media deals. Their conversation explores the intriguing intersection of consumer behavior, sports economics, and cultural trends.

Matthew LaBrot, a former Tesla sales manager and author of the 'Tesla Employees Against Elon' letter, shares his bold insights about the company's internal struggles. He explains why he criticized Elon Musk's leadership and how his controversial views reflect growing unrest among employees. LaBrot discusses the plummeting sales juxtaposed with Musk's controversial political stance. The conversation also touches on Musk's recent feuds and the challenges of navigating Tesla’s culture amid leadership critiques and a turbulent work environment.