#RRF on Elon Musk's Election Interference
Added 2024-10-23 20:37:43 +0000 UTCHi all, we'll be covering the Elon Musk PAC story this week as our main topic. Put your questions about this (or honestly on other batsh*t Elon nonsense too) down below and we'll look into addressing them on the show!
Also be sure to heart the ones you love from the thread!
Comments
He’s admitted to using drugs while taking calls from world leaders & influencing GeoPolitics/Nat Sec, and still gets your tax $$$ for most of the foundation of his wealth for companies he’s funded but never engineered a dang thing. All hat/no cattle, I think in Texan? But America doesn’t arrest the wealthy or white collar criminals (might get real prison reform if we actually did!!) over some fear of accountability for the corrupt, or embarrassment of exposure? No excuse is a just one.
GenXNerd_Eli.is.Keats_AnnaFrogs_SmithVictory
2024-10-25 04:47:31 +0000 UTCCan we sue him for discrimination as voters who were registered but not awarded $1 million each and ask the court to force him to pay $1 million to every registered voter in America?
GenXNerd_Eli.is.Keats_AnnaFrogs_SmithVictory
2024-10-25 04:38:32 +0000 UTCUm can we talk about that WSJ article about how Musk has been chatting with Putin for a couple years now?
She Purple
2024-10-25 03:30:56 +0000 UTC*New block policy 😂
Babel Fish
2024-10-24 16:51:56 +0000 UTCThe US space program currently is heavily relying on SpaceX. If Elon gets in trouble with all this, what happens with SpaceX? Would he be forced to step down? Would he be forced to sell it? What are the options, and what shenanigans can he try to pull at this point. Or is the US space program somewhat stuck here
Alex Recuenco
2024-10-24 11:25:14 +0000 UTCOmg yes please!!!!
Jess C
2024-10-24 06:27:27 +0000 UTCYes we call them democracy sausages, lol. Good times 😊
Jess C
2024-10-24 06:25:08 +0000 UTCIn addition to the $1 million giveaways to voters, isn't he basically doing what Jack Wohl was convicted of w his Progress 2028 mailers?
Gmork
2024-10-24 01:18:33 +0000 UTCIn addition to his money, he clearly is privy to military secrets. What options does the U.S. have to prevent him from taking everything to Russia before the hammer falls?
Gmork
2024-10-24 00:37:31 +0000 UTCI do see reporting on CNN claiming Musk's PAC was sent a letter from the DoJ suggesting the prize may be illegal, although it doesn't seem like CNN has seen the letter so no language is quoted. I suspect the DoJ is sending a letter (rather than bringing charges) because it's the best way to actually address the problem before the election, but in theory it could also be because the DoJ is less than 100% certain Musk is committing a crime.
Why do podcasters say moron that later
2024-10-23 23:39:08 +0000 UTCWhat sort of liability could twitter face under the jew block policy where the people you block can still see your posts but just cant respond to them. Like worst cast theres irl harassment/stalking involved and they use this now visible content.
David Bax (Spinobreaker)
2024-10-23 23:24:12 +0000 UTCCan we use the corrupt immigration system to our advantage here and somehow deport Elon?
Mike Poland
2024-10-23 23:03:38 +0000 UTCGreat stuff so far everyone, thanks! I just wanted to add that I plan to get into some other Musk-related legal issues, so questions are welcome on anything else that has come up in the last few months
Matt Cameron
2024-10-23 22:54:27 +0000 UTCIf he was prosecuted, what would be charges, likely sentence and who brings the charges? Are there state as well as federal rules anywhere in US?
Fiasco!
2024-10-23 22:32:23 +0000 UTCI'm hoping Matt can either explain what exactly Musk is doing that's illegal, or finally put to bed this nonsense argument that paying people to sign up for a petition is somehow buying votes. I get the arguments, but I unfortunately don't think there's a 'there' there that will actually get him in any actual trouble. I mean, the simple fact that the registration doesn't have to be Republican alone is going to make making this a partisan issue an uphill battle. TBH, I was even tempted to sign the stupid 'I support the first and second amendment' petition for easy cash (because big surprise, I actually do support the constitution for the most part), but I fortunately do have morals, and as Matt said Monday, legitimizing stupid bullshit like this is not the right way to deal with it, even if this particular bit of bullshit is basically harmless to anyone other than Musk's bank account.
Mr. Wilt
2024-10-23 22:20:48 +0000 UTCIt's just the most beautiful example of a dumb billionaire doing something that he thinks nobody ever thought of before.
Dr. Clerk
2024-10-23 22:11:54 +0000 UTCDoes it matter that the prize isn’t for registering per se, it’s just a required pre requisite?
127dot0dot0dot1
2024-10-23 21:31:36 +0000 UTCPlease can we celebrate Rudy having to give up his apartment and watches to the 2 Georgia election workers??? It’s so delicious!!! Woooo
KeepingThePlatesSpinning
2024-10-23 21:16:01 +0000 UTCWhat more could the FEC, DOJ & congress be doing to combat Elon’s election interference?
Brendan O'Brien
2024-10-23 20:58:13 +0000 UTCAlso -- suggestion for a crossover episode: Tom reads sovereign citizen letters, and Thomas and Matt try to decipher them
Mike Lazzaro
2024-10-23 20:57:51 +0000 UTCDo we know if Musk has actually given one the specified amount of money each day? If he hasn't or if the winners aren't actually random, is that a potential avenue for investigation/prosecution?
YakkoWarner
2024-10-23 20:56:52 +0000 UTConly sausages (with money going to charities). and it's always on a saturday.
lauren
2024-10-23 20:54:11 +0000 UTCI've heard Australia has a tradition of doing BBQs when you go to vote (also, voting is mandatory there), which I've always thought sounded awesome. Do your civic duty? Great, thanks! Have a burger!
Mike Lazzaro
2024-10-23 20:52:44 +0000 UTCThis whole Elon thing (and most of his shenanigans) seems like a perfect example of how, if you have money, the law is more suggestion than rule. (Also thinking about the "Do you have $100,000? No? Then sorry, the law can't help you" conversation on Dear Old Dads the other day.) I know this is a much larger question, but does Matt have any thoughts on realistic ways this stuff could be made better? Other than just electing people who actually want to fix things (e.g. Democrats)? Shifting money back to investigation and prosecution of regulatory violations and financial crime? (As I understand it, a lot of the resources went from "white collar crime" to stuff like counter terrorism after 9/11, and hasnt really gone back.) Anti-SLAPP laws? Changes in awarding of court costs, etc? I consider myself fairly well-informed on legal matters, and the discussion the other day about the set of cases from the "don't have to pay for all the special book binding stuff" pile at SCOTUS was totally new to me, so I've been thinking a lot about other specific ways the legal system is broken and unfair, and where there are places it can be improved, etc.
Mike Lazzaro
2024-10-23 20:50:58 +0000 UTCI know that there are laws against 3rd parties paying people to vote. Would it be a good incentive if the state government random selected people that voted and awarded them a cash prize? Would that actually incentive people to vote instead of stay home?
YakkoWarner
2024-10-23 20:47:28 +0000 UTCIs there any law against paying millions of dollars to get a candidate elected who won't prosecute you?
Victor Kareh
2024-10-23 20:45:01 +0000 UTCI will never understand peoples like desire to follow him, as if he is some sort of tech God when he literally is a silver spooned thief, who tries to make it seem as if everything under his corporation's name is somehow or another of his making! He's not a genius, his cars are pieces of crap that have absolutely zero visual appeal and yet people are continuously buying into his crap it's baffling. And worse, I know people who love him and actually hate Trump so that just makes it so much worse
NSaneAtheist
2024-10-23 20:44:38 +0000 UTCIt seems like it might not be illegal for what he’s doing, but it should be. I’m curious what Matt thinks about the $1million payment.
Michael Rops
2024-10-23 20:43:46 +0000 UTCCan president Harris send him to jail, pretty please
ToddTheOdd
2024-10-23 20:39:41 +0000 UTC
