Musk’s wealth isn’t the best indicator of his intelligence. It’s more circumstantial evidence at best.

“corporations with those who own them.”

This veers towards been an non sequitur. The claim isn’t that Musk is the corporation or that he is responsible for every decision. However, he is one of the (and probably THE) prominent voices in his companies and his decisions can massively impact the company’s trajectory. One success is luck, multiple successes suggests there’s a lot more than luck at play.

you’re not getting into UPENN being a complete idiot. Whoever started the company, Musk oversaw periods of the growth in SpaceX, Tesla, Paypal etc.

Musk is (edit: not) the smartest person in the world like he thinks he is. But it’s nearly an objective fact that he’s not stupid.

This is such a dumb hill to die on, and more importantly it benefits Musk.

edit: and as for failed programs, welcome to the world of business. Google, Amazon, Microsoft Apple, etc. constantly launch ideas that don’t pan out. Are their leaders and engineers and everyone else dumb because a project failed?

Eh, I despise Musk and believe he is a grave threat.

But this “Musk isn’t smart” narrative is a waste of time and underestimating Musk makes him more dangerous.

Tesla was a nothing burger company before he acquired it. SpaceX has been highly successful under his leadership. Musk may not have provided much technical knowledge, but he’s accomplished too much for it to be random luck, and steering such companies, even if not on a daily basis, is going to require applied intellectual skill.

Great write up. The Fairness Doctrine on its own definitely wouldn’t solve everything. It’d be a step in the right direction, but the journey would be far from over. edit: and there’s probably no “perfect” solution.

Interesting. Well I stand corrected. I’ve seen people, including in the media and the like, apply it to cable. Can’t help but wonder if some of the misinformation was deliberate and meant to manipulate.

In this case, A I think fairness doctrine should be reinstated and B should apply to more forms of media.

I never really looked into the guy tbh. Pretty sure I saw the wife release some statement about how shocked and sad she was and that was as deep as I got.

“It is irrevocable, but it includes a provision that gives Rupert the ability to make changes as long as he is acting solely in the best interests of his beneficiaries.”

:D

Outside of blatant corruption Murdoch probably isn’t getting out of that.

I’m not a lawyer, but the penalties alone over the 2020 election BS among many other things, arguably prove the the current editorial environment and management is bad for both the kids personally and the company as a whole. Damage to the company is ultimately damage to the kids, and Murdoch dug his own grave with that.

Reagan removing the fairness doctrine and Murdoch setting up Fox News rank among the biggest blows in democracy and prosperity IMO.

I acknowledge that many left and center-left news organizations will also push agendas, tell partial truths, etc. (Fairness doctrine would help reign them in as well).

edit: Fairness doctrine didn’t cover cable only radio. That’d still help cut down some misinformation but in an ideal world IMO it’d apply to most forms of media.

Didn’t realize he was estranged with his family. Not surprised to hear that tho because yeah a lot of these guys psychos/sociopaths

Screw it, I’m down for Luigi Mangione 2028.

Actually I doubt even the rich would take a shot at him. It’d make him a martyr.

If someone did take a shot, it’d probably be a fame seeker or someone with personal connections to the CEO.

Despise? Disgusted by? Hmmm…

“Don’t tread on me, unless you’re a cop. If so, I will gladly lick the soles of your feet.”

The fact that we are entering a time when a coup in the USA is a legitimate threat is so utterly terrifying.

From at least Reagan to now diehard conservatives have laid the foundation for all of this over the course of decades and Mitch McConnell and many of the other conservatives now in dismay at this shift absolutely played a crucial role in making it all possible.

I’ve always wondered what people in Germany felt in the 1930s. Well, now I know. I’m not saying Trump/Republicans are literal nazis and authoritarianism is inevitable but the utter chaos unfolding is reminiscent.

not sure if you deserve the downvotes lol. Whatcha mean?

Top “generals,” plural I believe.

edit 1: just remembered different services use different ranks, the other confirmed fire was an admiral.

edit 2: Another general was indeed fired: Gen. James Slife

And they’re likely getting replaced with diehard loyalists. The Joint Chiefs is already going to a MAGA if I heard correctly.

Quoting Lenin: “There are decades where nothing happens and there are weeks where decades happen.”

And it’s starting to feel like there are days when centuries happen.

If Trump genuinely, fully wants to drive the United States into authoritarianism, forcefully installing diehard loyalists in the military is one of the most crucial early steps.

I rarely lean into conspiracy theories and we’re living in insanely complex times but this move has me genuinely worried. Hopefully, my fears turn out to be a figment of imagination.

That’s drill American oil. But, his decision making process at least during his first term often came down to who made the last halfway decent argument lol.

America for a long time wanted cheap oil, so we (USA, I’m American) invade Iraq, Iraq pumps out cheap oil and we win.

Now, with fracking and national insulation high oil prices aren’t as high of a concern. And if the right money has trump’s ear, well… high oil prices might be “good” from his POV.

I’m sorry but we really really need to be realistic here. Trump absolutely has leverage over Zelenskyy. I want Zelenskyy to win this war and Trump and his ilk straight up suck, but we can’t disregard reality just because we don’t like a certain group. Zelenskyy is in no position to “turn around and tell them “okay, here’s my offer.””

Maybe domestic pressure, some concessions, international pressure, blah blah blah can convince trump to stop being an idiot, but if Trump walks, it’s not really going to hurt his administration and agenda (it’ll hurt USA long term, but he DGAF).