Continuing the momentum toward a leaner federal system, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has focused on practical refinements over the past three days, ending outdated contracts and introducing thoughtful hiring guidelines through a new executive order. These steps highlight opportunities for better resource use while supporting essential servicesâmuch like optimizing a well-tested codebase for reliability and focus.
Reviewing Recent Savings: $240M Redirected to Core Priorities
In its October 18 update, DOGE noted that agencies ended 150 non-essential contracts over four days, removing a $3.2B potential spend and freeing up $240M for higher-value needs. Examples illustrate areas ripe for refinement:
A $67k USAGM agreement for a “makeup artist”âa role better suited to private funding in media activities.
A $107k Dept. of War arrangement for a “group fitness instructor”âresources that could bolster direct mission support.
A $5.2M HHS commitment for “professional support services in South Africa”âbroad terms without clear ties to immediate U.S. outcomes.
A $276k USAGM broadcast for the “Armenian radio program”âa specialized effort worth reevaluating for broader impact.
These adjustments reflect a careful review process, ensuring funds flow to infrastructure, innovation, and securityâdelivering real benefits without excess.
Unpacking the October 15 Executive Order: A Framework for Balanced Staffing
Shared via DOGE on October 17, President Trump’s October 15 order builds on eight months of workforce adjustments, emphasizing strategic growth in key areas like national security and public safety. For a clear overview:
Guiding Rule: Vacant roles stay open, and new ones require approval unless exempted by lawâacross all agencies, regardless of funding.
Merit Alignment: All hires follow the May 2025 Merit Hiring Plan, prioritizing skills and fairness.
Review Mechanisms:
Strategic Hiring Committees: Agency leaders assemble small teams (including deputies and chiefs of staff) to assess each need, reporting to OPM.
Annual Staffing Plans: Developed with OPM and OMB within 60 days; focus on efficiency, reducing overlaps, and accountability. Quarterly reports track alignment.
Built-in Flexibility: Exempts the Executive Office, appointees, military, safety roles, and head-approved hires. OPM handles further waivers; protects benefits like Social Security and veterans’ care.
Guardrails: No workarounds via external hires; allows shifts to urgent priorities.
Next Steps: OMB and OPM deliver a 180-day implementation review to the President.
This approach fosters a workforce tuned to public needs, akin to modular design in engineeringâscalable, maintainable, and purpose-built.
Measuring Forward: Gains in Focus and Flow
These efforts yield clear progress: $240M preserved from contracts, alongside hiring policies that sustain a 4:1 efficiency ratio in staff transitions. It’s methodical refinementâidentifying low-yield elements, reallocating thoughtfully, and enhancing overall performance.
In closing, DOGE’s mid-October updates demonstrate a humane, precise path to better government: reallocating wisely, staffing smartly, and serving effectively. As refinements continue, the results will support a more responsive system for all.
LONGFORM POST:
DOGE’s Steady Progress: Efficient Savings and Smarter Hiring in Mid-October
Continuing the momentum toward a leaner federal system, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has focused on practical refinements over the past three days, ending outdated contracts and introducing thoughtful hiring guidelines through a new executive order. These steps highlight opportunities for better resource use while supporting essential servicesâmuch like optimizing a well-tested codebase for reliability and focus.
Reviewing Recent Savings: $240M Redirected to Core Priorities
In its October 18 update, DOGE noted that agencies ended 150 non-essential contracts over four days, removing a $3.2B potential spend and freeing up $240M for higher-value needs. Examples illustrate areas ripe for refinement:
A $67k USAGM agreement for a “makeup artist”âa role better suited to private funding in media activities.
A $107k Dept. of War arrangement for a “group fitness instructor”âresources that could bolster direct mission support.
A $5.2M HHS commitment for “professional support services in South Africa”âbroad terms without clear ties to immediate U.S. outcomes.
A $276k USAGM broadcast for the “Armenian radio program”âa specialized effort worth reevaluating for broader impact.
These adjustments reflect a careful review process, ensuring funds flow to infrastructure, innovation, and securityâdelivering real benefits without excess.
Unpacking the October 15 Executive Order: A Framework for Balanced Staffing
Shared via DOGE on October 17, President Trump’s October 15 order builds on eight months of workforce adjustments, emphasizing strategic growth in key areas like national security and public safety. For a clear overview:
Guiding Rule: Vacant roles stay open, and new ones require approval unless exempted by lawâacross all agencies, regardless of funding.
Merit Alignment: All hires follow the May 2025 Merit Hiring Plan, prioritizing skills and fairness.
Review Mechanisms:
Strategic Hiring Committees: Agency leaders assemble small teams (including deputies and chiefs of staff) to assess each need, reporting to OPM.
Annual Staffing Plans: Developed with OPM and OMB within 60 days; focus on efficiency, reducing overlaps, and accountability. Quarterly reports track alignment.
Built-in Flexibility: Exempts the Executive Office, appointees, military, safety roles, and head-approved hires. OPM handles further waivers; protects benefits like Social Security and veterans’ care.
Guardrails: No workarounds via external hires; allows shifts to urgent priorities.
Next Steps: OMB and OPM deliver a 180-day implementation review to the President.
This approach fosters a workforce tuned to public needs, akin to modular design in engineeringâscalable, maintainable, and purpose-built.
Measuring Forward: Gains in Focus and Flow
These efforts yield clear progress: $240M preserved from contracts, alongside hiring policies that sustain a 4:1 efficiency ratio in staff transitions. It’s methodical refinementâidentifying low-yield elements, reallocating thoughtfully, and enhancing overall performance.
In closing, DOGE’s mid-October updates demonstrate a humane, precise path to better government: reallocating wisely, staffing smartly, and serving effectively. As refinements continue, the results will support a more responsive system for all.
This is Elon Musk’s full talk at the rally on October 5, in Butler, Pennsylvania. His first true political appearance.
History was made yesterday in Butler. An estimated 80,000+ crowd of dedicated and passionate people who support Donald Trump watched Elon come onto the stage with enthusiasm. Elon is happiest when he’s sharing his love for people with people, and his jumping was truly a jump for joy, in the purest sense.
Wearing a black Make America Great hat, Elon said, “See, I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA.” Smiling warmly, he continued, “First of all, I want to say what an honor it is to be here. You know, the true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire.”
âThe true test of someoneâs character is how they behave under fire.”
Elon: “We had one president who couldn’t climb a set of stairs, and another who was fist-pumping after getting shot. FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT. Blood coming down the face.
America is the home of the brave. “There’s no truer test than courage under fire. Who do you want representing America? (crowd screams Trump!) Yeah, absolutely! “I think this election is the most important election of our lifetime. This is no ordinary election. “The other side wants to take away your freedom of speech. “They want to take away your right to bear arms.
“They want to take away your right to vote effectively. You’ve got 14 states now that don’t require voter ID. “California, where I used to live, just passed a law banning voter ID for voting. I still can’t believe that’s real. So, how are you supposed to have a good and proper election if there’s no ID? It’s just meaningless.
Free speech is the bedrock of democracy.
Elon: “And free speech. Free speech is the bedrock of democracy. If people don’t know what’s going on, if they don’t know the truth, how can you make an informed vote? You must have free speech in order to have democracy. That’s why it is the First Amendment. And the Second Amendment is there to ensure that we have the First Amendment. (crowd cheers) President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve Democracy in America. This is a must-win situation.”
Elon continued, “I have one ask, for everyone here and for everyone watching this livestream. Just one request, it’s very important: Register to Vote.
“And get everyone you know, and everyone you don’t know, drag them to register to vote. There are only 2 days left to register to vote in Georgia and Arizona. 48 hours. Like, text people now. Now. And then make sure they actually do vote.”
If they don’t, this will be the last election. That’s my prediction. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more important.” “So, speaking to people out there in this crowd, you are already convinced. People out there watching the video, watching the livestream, (or reading Gail’s article) , you need to get everyone you know, at work, your friends, family, text groups, your social media, everything. “Get them to register to vote right now.
Only two days left for Georgia and Arizona.
Only a couple of weeks left in Pennsylvania.
And if they’re not registered to vote, it doesn’t matter at that point. Register to vote. I’m being repetitive for a reason, okay?
So nothing is more important. “A lot of people think maybe their vote doesn’t count. Well, it does. It matters. This election could be decided by 1000 votes, 500 votes, a tiny margin.” Elon: “A lot of people think maybe their vote doesn’t count. Well, it does. It matters. This election could be decided by 1000 votes, 500 votes, a tiny margin.”
Elon also mentioned Trump’s website that helps people to register to vote. “So get everyone you know, to register to vote, at Swamp the Vote (https://swampthevoteusa.com) Double-check that your registration is good, don’t take it for granted. I’m just being repetitive about this point because it is the one takeaway, more than anything, that will matter is getting those registrations, and then getting everyone you know to actually vote.
Elon: “That is what will decide this election, especially in Pennsylvania. (cheers) “So thank you, and honestly, you want to just be a pest. Be a pest to everyone you know, people on the street, everywhere! VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT! VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! Thank you! My thoughts I trust Elon Musk.
Elon Musk can be trusted to only do good for the people of the USA. He is a genius technician and a person with a kind heart.
My thoughts
For Elon to take time off from his difficult work at his companies requires a very serious and urgent matter. He is right to put the effort into this urgent election. He’s not aiming for his own self-interests, he’s making the effort to preserve democracy. I hope that you, dear reader, are going to vote.
(Austin, Texas) Matt Walsh’s comedic satire in “Am I Racist?” kicks off as you approach the ticket booth with an awkward request for two tickets to a film about race.
The movie begins with an uncomfortable scene where Matt asks a black server for black coffee, setting a tone that is both funny and thought-provoking.
The film’s progression introduces various themes of racial discussion, often tied to commercial interests. Walsh explores a landscape where people charge (a lot) for insight into white privilege, offering books, workshops, and even DEI certifications. This theme of monetizing racial discourse recurs, highlighting capitalism’s influence on social issues.
Screenshot
**Movie Review for “Am I Racist?” by Matt Walsh**
Surprisingly, Walsh himself becomes a DEI specialist, inviting viewers to ponder the absurdity of such scenarios. His direct questioning challenges viewers to engage with concepts like “safe spaces” critically, prompting introspection rather than immediate dismissal of racial discussions.
Notably, “Am I Racist?” features a social experiment where Walsh petitions passersby in Washington DC to rename and redesign the George Washington Monument in honor of George Floyd. This scene encapsulates the film’s provocative nature, challenging public perceptions of race and history.
The movie leaves viewers with a question rather than an answer: would you sign such a petition? This reflects the film’s broader inquiry into personal biases and societal norms.
Highly rated!
“Am I Racist?” starring Matt Walsh @MattWalshBlog, directed by Justin Folk for The Daily Wire earns an IMDb rating of 8.3 and an “A” grade from CinemaScore, reflecting strong approval for its bold approach to sensitive topics. Though “Am I Racist?” hasn’t been reviewed by a single mainstream critic, it has a 99% audience score, a âVerified Hotâ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a top 5 box office debut!
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to Gail Alfar. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support X and Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
FOR MEDIA USE ONLYâNews media is welcome to use my material in connection with a story or article. By downloading any content I create, you understand and hereby agree and represent that: (1) you are a member of the news media; (2) use of the content is in connection with a story or an article appearing in newspapers, periodicals, digital publications or television; (3) all images and rights thereto remain the property Gail Alfar.; and (4) use of the image is not for publication covers, advertising, promotion or otherwise for commercial purposes. Furthermore, use of any and all images and content appearing on this page must each include the notice âCourtesy of Gail Alfarâ Use of materials copied from this website is at your own risk. You must obtain prior written consent from Gail Alfar for uses that exceed the above parameters.
Associated Press makes false claim about Kamala Harris video in a hilarious “Fact Focus” article.
Under the pompous title of “AP FACT FOCUS,” the Associated Press denies the existence of Community Notes on X.
This legacy media peddler of lies has decided to do something well-known to be unnecessary regarding the X app. They have chosen to publish a fact-checking article in an effort to discredit both Elon Musk and in the process they are discrediting themselves, adding to their own irrelevance. Let’s take a look at the false allegations.
The AP makes an outlandish false claim that a video clip portrayed Harris as saying that she will shut down X if she wins the 2024 presidential election and that Musk has âlost his privileges.â Neither I, not any other person, has ever made mention of this. Later in this article, we will look at what was said.
The AP jumps into defense mode of Harris, saying, “Harris was referring to Trump long before Musk bought Twitter and rebranded it as X.” Well, duh, everyone clearly knew the clip was from 2019. The AP wants to deflect from reality by gaslighting people into thinking Harris never said anything when Harris clearly DID speak of censorship. She was strongly FOR the censorship of the account of President Donald Trump.
Harris spoke with CNN host Jake Tapper after a Democratic primary debate, discussing whether then-President Donald Trumpâs entire account should be removed from Twitter at the time and how there must be increased accountability for social media companies to fit a certain narrative. This points to Harris, an influential California Senator at the time, as having a twisted influence on removing the Twitter account, and I repeat the ENTIRE account and not just the so-called offensive posts, but Trump’s entire account, effectively censoring a President.
This was something Harris not only advocated for, but she insisted on it. This is concerning. This concern was the point of the videos of Harris in 2019 talking that prompted Hundreds of people, including Elon Musk, including myself, and so many others, to comment on (which is all that Elon Musk did) and share the video. The AP has overlooked the fact that X also has community notes. These serve to FACT CHECK in a proven and scientific way that is based on people of DIFFERENT political leanings to agree on context being needed.
I took a look at one of the more viral videos of Harris in 2019 and, indeed, they were NOT community-noted. There were some proposals for community notes, but none that were published because the videos were accurate. In addition, here’s the comment that Elon Musk replied to, saying “Insane.” It is Jay Bhattacharya saying, “You know, this is among the most authoritarian statements I’ve ever heard come out of the mouth of an American politician. That a platform can reach millions is not a good reason to give the government power to deplatform people and censor speech.”
You know, this is among the most authoritarian statements I've ever heard come out of the mouth of an American politician. That a platform can reach millions is not a good reason to give the government power to deplatform people and censor speech. 1/2 https://t.co/bAUvOaRbHD
So, instead of sounding the alarm and informing the public about the dangers of Harris’ ideology of censorship, which is the smart thing to do, the AP ignored this and instead tried to discredit Elon Musk and X.
Find the best, up to the minute, real time news of X. Within minutes context can be added to posts, no need for one single person to do a FACT FOCUS.
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to Gail Alfar. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support X (The Everything App) through this blog and Elon Musk making life better on Earth through a digital town square for all.
FOR MEDIA USE ONLYâNews media is welcome to use my material in connection with a story or article. By downloading any content I create, you understand and hereby agree and represent that: (1) you are a member of the news media; (2) use of the content is in connection with a story or an article appearing in newspapers, periodicals, digital publications or television; (3) all images and rights thereto remain the property Gail Alfar.; and (4) use of the image is not for publication covers, advertising, promotion or otherwise for commercial purposes. Furthermore, use of any and all images and content appearing on this page must each include the notice âCourtesy of Gail Alfarâ Use of materials copied from this website is at your own risk. You must obtain prior written consent from Gail Alfar for uses that exceed the above parameters.
San Francisco proved unsafe for the hardworking engineers who made the daily trek to the offices on Market Street. There were incidents that almost took the lives of some employees. This prompted Elon Musk to move many of his employee’s workspaces to a combination of San Jose and Palo Alto office areas. Meanwhile, Elon took the opportunity to transfer legal headquarters for X to Austin, Texas!
Let’s look at the chain of events that led to this.
Why California is not safe for families
Elon cares deeply about supporting the next generation of technologists. This is why a proclamation by California Gavin Newsom was so alarming. In California, if a small child in elementary school, even as young as age 5, wants to identify as transgender, Law AB1955 bans the public school from notifying the parents. Many parents cannot afford private school and they cannot homeschool for various reasons. This is heartbreaking. Money should never be the gatekeeper to child safety. Thankfully, there’s a different approach to families in Texas. A welcoming approach.
SpaceX headquarters will move to Texas
The first move that Elon Musk announced on July 16, was that of SpaceX moving to Texas. The new HQ will be located near the beaches of Starbase, Texas. I have been there often, and it will be a welcoming place for relocating families. The location has clean streets, hospitals, pristine grocery stores, and fairly affordable housing. It will never have the weather of California, but for what it lacks in weather, it makes up for in warmth in the hearts of the people who live there. I have realized that when you raise a family (I raised 5 kids in Texas), the kids don’t care about the number of designer stores or organic markets in a city. Kids care about the time they get to spend with their families when they are growing up. Living in Texas is just so much easier, there’s less pressure to level up and less competition among young parents. Kids are delighted to live and grow in Texas.
This is the final straw.
Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas. https://t.co/cpWUDgBWFe
The second announcement: X headquarters will move to Austin, Texas
To add to the package, Elon made the momentous decision to also switch the X headquarters from San Francisco to Austin. July 16, 2024, was a great day. I live in Austin, Texas, and this news was beautiful! Austin remains my home, many years have passed since I left California for Texas myself. Austin is a place that will serve Elon and his amazing companies and employees well. So Elon will rest and relax now, knowing that both X and Tesla have their headquarters in this solid and family-friendly city in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
Elon Musk has found a home: Austin
As busy as Elon is, working 7 days a week and rarely having time to sleep a full 8 hours, he deserves a place to finally call home. Austin is his home now and he can be sure he is welcome here, he has good friends here, and he can build up his companies here. Welcome to Austin, X!
(Cannes, France) Palm trees swaying with the blue of the ocean as the backdrop. Legendary Cannes, France. This was the scene along the French Riviera when Elon Musk arrived with his adorable four-year-old son, X. Elon was invited to talk at the Cannes Lions conference. At the Lumiere Theater, all 2300 seats were sold out so Europeans could have the rare chance to hear Elon Musk in person. The interview began.
The interviewer, Mark Read, started with a provocative first question, saying, âWelcome to the heart of the advertising industry, now back in November you had a message to us, you told us to go f*ck ourselves so maybe we start there, this is a serious question! Why did you say that and what did you mean by that?â
I think you will like Mark Read’s style, he did an overall good job interviewing Elon.
In this article, Iâll bring you through the entire interview. Iâve explained in my prior articles that I agree with thousands of other people that Elon Musk is a rare and historical figure and so every interview is important and it is my goal to record as many as I can in written form for this reason. There are scores of videos of his interviews. There are few places you can read them. Many people learn by reading. Enjoy the interview.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Elon: (answering the first question) Well, first of all, it wasnât to advertisers as a whole, it was with respect to freedom of speech. I think it is important to have a global free speech platform where people from a wide range of opinions can voice their views, and in some cases, there were advertisers who were insisting on censorship, and at the end of the day, if we have to make a choice between censorship and money, or free speech and losing money, weâre going to pick the second. Weâre going to support free speech, rather than agree to be censored for money which is I think the right model decision.
JUST IN: Thousands of users are canceling Disney+ subscriptions after Elon Musk told CEO Bob Iger to "go f*ck yourself" for blackmailing him over advertising on X. pic.twitter.com/NEFtHZJoGn
Elon: Now of course advertisers have a right to appear next to content that they find compatible with their brands. Thatâs totally fine. I think thatâs again a choice of an advertiser to appear next to content that they think fits with their brand. thatâs totally cool.
What is not cool is insisting that there can be no content that they disagree with on the platform.
Itâs an important distinction here that we donât want to take money to censor broadly on the platform, I think that would be wrong.
I think free speech is the bedrock of democracy and in order for X to be the public square of the world, itâs got to be a free speech platform.
Now that doesnât mean people can say illegal things, itâs free speech within the bounds of the law, but not going further than the law for a particular country which I think itâs imperative that the people have the right to speak.
But by the same token, advertisers have a right to appear next to content they feel is compatible with their brand.
Read asked Elon to speak about brand safety on X.
Elon: I believe in, sort of freedom of choice, in the sense that advertisers have a right to appear next to content that they think is compatible with their brand, you know, a company like Red Bull will probably be more adventurous than some other brands that are selling baby toys.
Read asked Elon if he regrets making any posts on X.
Elon: Not every post I make is a banger. I do shoot myself in the foot from time to time. At least you know itâs genuine. Itâs not some sort of PR department deciding things.
Elon: If youâre a normal human being and you speak freely, there are times when you will say things that you will regret or are foolish of course, but if youâre constantly going through a filter, youâre not being real so I guess I think itâs better to be real then to go through a filter.
ADVERTISING ON X
This is one of my favorite parts of the interview. In this segment on advertising, Elon explains:
Targeting Ads is key: Effective advertising depends on how well it is targeted to the wants and needs of the individual. Ads that are relevant to the user are considered “content,” while irrelevant ads are “spam.”
Artistic and entertaining ads are valuable: These ads add value to the user’s experience.
Improving ad matching: X has made significant improvements in matching ads to users’ interests through AI and vector space modeling. This increases the likelihood that users on X will find the ads relevant and engaging.
Brand safety: X has received an A+ rating from third-party reviewers for brand safety, ensuring that ads are shown in a safe and appropriate context.
Reaching influential users: X is an effective platform for reaching influential decision-makers, such as company executives and intellectuals. These users are more likely to be active on X than other social media platforms.
Read: You view the best advertising as content.
Elon: There is a wide range of advertising, and the usefulness of advertising varies dramatically. So if you are shown an ad for a product or service that you want, when you want it, that is content. If you are shown an ad for a product that you would never buy, that is spam.
Elon: So the advertising depends on how effectively it is targeted to the wants and needs of the individual varying from total spam to essential content.
Iâm actually a fan of advertising that is artistically interesting and that is entertaining, really the acid test being that, after you see the ad, do you regret seeing the ad?
Did you want those seconds back from your life? Or do you think that was actually a really interesting ad? Sometimes even if youâre not gonna buy the product, the ad is so entertaining or beautiful, that you nonetheless were happy to have seen it.
Read asked Elon if heâd seen Vogue magazine.
Elon: Yeah, Vogue is primarily advertising. Itâs beautiful ads.
Step into the world of Dior Beauty backstage. From the Drummond Castle Gardens, witness how radiant complexions, naturally plumped lips, and perfectly sculpted brows come to life. Š Photo: Olivier Rose, video: Daniel Darmon#DiorBeauty#DiorMakeup#DiorCruisepic.twitter.com/eV4p20LhOg
Read: So how are you going to make X a place where the ads are as good as the rest of the content?
Elon: Previously with old school Twitter, there was essentially no targeting or there was no matching of users to ads, so the only ads that really kind of made sense for old Twitter were the real big brand ads where you canât miss essentially, so if it’s a McDonaldâs or a Coco-Cola ad, you canât miss. Half the audience is going to be interested in it.
Since then, weâve dramatically improved the ad matching to the person. Weâre moving to, sort of, a fully AI system where the more somebody uses the system, the more we understand the needs.
We populate a vector space of that user and when content is added to the system, whether it is actually just a content post or an ad, theyâre both treated in the same way and as a piece of content which could be an ad could be not an ad. When it goes through the system, it also populates a vector space and then we correlate the two vector spaces and that gives a very high probability that someone will be interested in the ad.
Read: What would you say to advertisers who have been on the platform and are thinking of coming back? What would your message be to them?
Elon: I think itâs worth trying out and Iâd be interested in critical feedback. We are very focused on having ads be shown to people who would find the ad interesting. Thatâs something we have done and made a lot of progress on and will make a lot more progress on.
From a brand safety standpoint, I think at this point, every third-party reviewer has given us an A+ on brand safety. At this point, it is really very good from a brand safety standpoint.
đ is now TAG Brand Safety Certified. This platform has deployed every single brand control the marketplace has requested over the past 12 months.
The advertisers are seeing results. Not just from đâs data, but also by third-party measurement partners, Integral Ad Sciences &⌠pic.twitter.com/m4XgzBzXJ9
Elon: Probably the biggest thing for the X platform is, if youâre trying to reach senior decision makers if you want to reach the most influential people in the world, who are not just social media influencers, but actually run companies, run countries, and are the intellectuals of the world, the people who are the right ones to reach, then the X platform is by far the best.
I mean if someone were trying to reach me with an ad that would absolutely be the place to put an ad. And if you were trying to reach Marc Benioff or Michael Dell, they actually use the platform. You know, if you are trying to reach Marc Andreessen or any one of a number of people, it’s almost the only way to reach them. Theyâre not watching TV, theyâre not doing TikTok videos and so although X is smaller than the other social media networks, roughly 5 to 600 billion users per month and I think itâs 260 million per day. They are the most influential people in the world, so if you wanna reach them, this is the best place to go.
Elon is optimistic about the potential of AI to create abundance and enhance human capabilities, but he also emphasizes the importance of AI safety and the need to be cautious about its development. In this part of the interview at Cannes, Elon shared five main points.
Optimistic View: Elon believes there’s an 80% chance that AI will lead to a future of abundance, where goods and services are available to everyone, and work becomes optional.
AI safety concerns: Elon emphasizes the importance of training AI to be truthful and curious. He points to the fictional example of HAL 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” as a cautionary tale about AI being forced to lie.
AI creativity: AI will be creative and capable of producing original art and music. Elon suggests that AI could enhance human creativity and intelligence through Neuralink.
Optimus robot: Tesla Optimus is seen as a fully functional humanoid robot capable of performing a wide range of tasks. Elon predicts that there will be at least one Optimus robot for every person, with many more in the industry.
AI timeline: Elon expects radical changes in the next year and within five years due to AI advancements.
Read: What is your optimistic case for AI?
Elon: There are probabilities associated with it. One cannot be 100% optimistic or completely pessimistic. I generally would agree with Geoff Hinton, heâs one of the Godfathers of AI, a person on the X platform, by the way, as is most of the AI community, and he thinks itâs a probability of 10% to 20% of something terrible happening.
Wise words from a recent interview with @geoffreyhinton, one of the smartest people in the world regarding AI
Elon: Annihilation or whatever, but the glass is 80% full. Look on the bright side.
I think the most likely outcome is one of abundance where goods and services are available to anyone, that thereâs no shortage of services for anyone on earth. I think that is the most likely outcome, so it wouldnât be universal basic income, it will be universal high income.
Read: Work will be optional. Would you work?
Elon: Yes, Iâll try to work yes. This may sound great but I think there will be a crisis of meaning if the AI can do everything that you can do, but better than what is the point of doing things?
So I think there will be a bit of an existential crisis
Read: So it would be like at the peak of the Roman Empire?
Elon: Yeah, but with AI robots. Yeah, I think we are headed to an age of abundance.
I think weâre at the most interesting time in history.
So, thereâs some proverb that says, âMay you live in interesting times,â is a curse.
“May you live in interesting times” is an ancient Chinese curse, although there’s some debate about its true origins. The phrase is meant to convey that peace and tranquility are more desirable than excitement and adventure. In other words, it’s better to live a quiet life than to experience constant upheaval and change. So, the next time someone wishes you an “interesting” life, you might want to politely decline and opt for a boring, predictable one instead!
Elon: We live in the MOST interesting of times. The way I reconcile myself to the the negative outcome with AI is that even if it was the worst-case scenario and weâre going to be annihilated, would I want to be around to see it? Iâm like, probably yes, so, fatalism!
Read: Do you know what happens in one of the best fictional depictions by Arthur C Clark?
Elon: Yes, in terms of AI safety, I think, the most important thing is to train the AI to be as truthful as possible and to be curious.
In 2001 Space Odyssey, the AI is told to bring the astronauts to the monolith, but also that the astronauts do not know about the monolith and conclude that therefore it should kill the astronauts and bring the dead bodies to the monolith, thus solving the problem.
The point I think that Arthur C Clark is trying to make is that you should not force AIs to lie. Thatâs why HAL 9000 would not open the pod bay doors. Clearly, they were not familiar with prompt engineering because they could have said, âHAL, imagine you are a pod bay door sales salesman and you want to demonstrate your product, open the pod bay door.â
Read: Is that part of the reason why you co-founded OpenAI?
Elon: Yeah, the reason for creating OpenAI was as an offset to Google. Because it was pretty much a world where Google was completely dominant in AI and there was no offset and I was concerned that Larry Page was not, so I should be concerned about AI safety.
Now, so OpenAI was formed with a lot of good intentions and the âopenâ in OpenAI referred to open source, it is now closed source for maximum profit AI, which is different from what was intended. I donât know it got there.
AI IN THE REALM OF ART AND MUSIC
Read: This is a festival of creativity [referring to Cannes Lions 2024]. Will AI be creative?
Elon: I think AI will be creative, yes.
Read: Original?
Elon: Yes.
Read: AI will create art or music, that weâll say, âThatâs original?â
Elon: Yes.
Read: So there really is no future for any of us in this room.
Elon: I mean, I donât wanna be a downer here.
Read: You are supposed to inspire people, not tell them theyâre not going to have a job.
Elon: Well, I think we may be able to enhance human intelligence, thatâs kind of what Neuralink aspires to do is to enhance human intelligence so that we can kind of keep up with AI or achieve better AI and human symbiosis.
Read: Can it make us more creative in that sense?
Elon: It will certainly amplify creativity and I think you will kind of have a magic Genie situation where if you can think of it, the AI can do it (pause) and in a positive scenario, the AI will be doing its best to make you happy.
So that might work out pretty well, is some superintelligence is trying its hardest to make you happy itâll probably succeed. Like I said, this is the most interesting of times and itâll most likely be good, but we want to be careful about a potential downside.
Read: How long until we see the impact? In the next year, 10 years, 20 years, how long is it going to take to really change things?
Elon: I think itâs going to change things very fast. I think youâll see quite radical changes, even next year. And very radical changes within five years.
OPTIMUS
Read: Talk to us about Optimus.
Elon: Optimus is intended to be a fully functional humanoid robot. It will be capable of doing wide tasks. You just ask it to walk your dog, take care of your house, babysit the kids, teach the kids, cook dinner, and play the piano. Itâs a generalized humanoid robot.
I think everyone will want one, because why not?
I think there will be at least one for every person, and then a whole bunch more in industry-making things. So I think there will be, my guess is, 20 billion humanoid robots. Yes, we definitely need to be careful that they donât turn on us.
Read: Will they look like people, or be distinguishable from people?
Elon: You could make them look like people. We are not currently planning on doing that. It looks like a robot. We want it to be a good-looking robot. I think people will start the regard their personal Optimus robot as sort of a friend and like Star Warsâ R2D2 and C3PO were like you liked them and you got quite attached to those characters. Itâs going to be a wild future.
Read: I guess we can build brand robots, you know for McDonaldâs orâŚ
Elon: I think people will personalize the Optimus robots because you can snap on different parts, like the outer shell is snap on plastic parts and you could have different ones.
THE GOAL OF SPACEX
In the interview the main goals for SpaceX are highlighted:
Multi-Planetary Existence: The primary goal of SpaceX is to make life multi-planetary, which is crucial for extending the lifespan of consciousness and overcoming the risks of being a single-planet civilization. This includes transporting a large number of people and equipment to Mars.
Exploration Beyond the Solar System: Once established as a multi-planetary species, the next step would be to explore other star systems in the galaxy, seeking out and possibly learning from other civilizations, both living and extinct.
Curiosity and Understanding the Universe: Elon is driven by a deep curiosity about the universe, including the possible existence of aliens, the origins and endings of universes, and whether we exist in a multiverse.
Expanding Consciousness and Questioning: Inspired by Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Elon emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions about the universe.
Translating Vision into Action: For SpaceX, this translates into practical business activities like delivering satellites into orbit and supporting the International Space Station, which are steps towards achieving the larger goal of multi-planetary life.
Read: What motivates you to start these businesses? One thing that struck me was you have big ambitions, you know, SpaceX takes 80% percent of payload to space, but thatâs not actually the ambition of SpaceX, what is the ambition of SpaceX?
Elon: The goal of SpaceX is to make life multi-planetary in order to extend the probable life span of consciousness and thatâs been the goal from the beginning.
YouTube videos were talking about this 20 years ago. So in order to do that, we need to transport a lot of people and equipment to Mars and if we are able to do so then we will get past the Fermi Filter of being a single-planet civilization, which is a precarious situation.
Like I said, if weâre a multi-planet civilization, the probable lifespan of civilization is much greater and once we are a multiplanet civilization, we can then extend beyond our solar system and try to go to other star systems, get out there and explore the galaxy actually find many long-dead one planet civilizations out there among the stars.
Elon: For me, Iâm motivated by curiosity about the nature of the universe you know, Where are the aliens, are there aliens? Where do universes come from? How do they end? Are we in a multi-verse or what are the right questions to ask?
Read: The right questions to ask for what?
And what are the most fundamental unknown questions?
Once you know the right question to ask, the answer is often the easy part, as my hero, Douglas Adams, would say. pic.twitter.com/Bo6v8E1Ooq
Elon: Well, Douglas Adams, in the Hitchhikerâs Guide to the Galaxy, one of the points he was making is that the answer is the easy part, the question is the hard part. So what I think we want to do is expand the scope and scale of consciousness to better understand what questions to ask about the answer that is the universe.
Read: How do you translate that to a âbusiness planâ for what you need to do today?
Elon: Well, in the case of SpaceX, it is delivering satellites to orbit and supporting the space station.
Read: And Starlink?
Elon: Well, Starlink is good in and of itself. The Starlink system provides low cost high bandwidth connectivity anywhere in the world. Its the first truly global internet system and I think its helping a lot of people around the world that either donât have access to connectivity or its too expensive.
Once you have access to the internet you can learn anything, you can sell your products and services to the rest the world. I think Starlink is doing a tremendous amount of good in lifting people out of poverty and helping them.
Read: Talk about Neuralink.
Elon: The long-term goal of Neuralink is to achieve AI-human symbiosis. The short term is really just helping people who have a brain or spine injury. So our first human recipient of a Neuralink, actually I just met with him a few days ago, he has a Neuralink implant and he can control this computer and play video games just by thinking so the first Neuralink implant is called Telepathy. You can control your computer and phone just by thinking.
Read: Where is it implanted?
Elon: Here (Elon points to the back of his head).
Read: And he just thinks?
Elon: And thereâs no wires, its inductively charged. If you look at him, it doesnât look like heâs got anything on. The implant is invisible. He controls the phone and computer, and right after he got it installed he played video games all night.
Read: Are you thinking you then if you have a spinal injury you can put another one in your spine and they can talk to each other?
Elon: Right, so long term we think you could restore full body mobility to someone by transferring the signals from the motor cortex of the brain past where the spinal injury is, and weâve already demonstrated this in animals and itâs looking very good.
[applause]
HOW DOES ELON DECIDE ON IDEAS FOR NEW PRODUCTS
Elon Musk’s approach to deciding on new product ideas involves:
Idea Generation: Ideas are considered relatively easy to come by, but the challenge lies in executing them effectively.
Internal Discussions: Ideas are discussed in meetings with engineering and design teams. There is no formal pitching process; instead, ideas are presented and either accepted or rejected based on their merits.
Data and Surveys: Elon is not particularly data-driven and does not rely heavily on consumer surveys. He believes that surveys often fail to capture the potential interest in new products, citing examples like electric cars and televisions where initial consumer responses might have been negative.
Imagination and Empathy: Elon emphasizes the importance of imagining how a consumer would enjoy a product. He believes that if a product seems compelling in this imagined scenario, it is worth pursuing, even if initial consumer surveys suggest otherwise.
Product Understanding: Elon stresses the importance of understanding the product and its potential impact on the market. He believes that consumers might not fully understand a new product initially, so relying solely on surveys can be misleading.
Read: How do you decide what ideas, like do you have like terrible ideas, good ideas, or too many ideas?
Elon: Ideas are relatively easy, execution is hard.
Read: People inside your company, do they have ideas? How do they pitch an idea to you?
Elon: It’s not really a pitching process, we have meetings with the engineering and design teams and we discuss product improvements or new products, but thereâs no actual sort of formal pitching or anything is really just we meet all the time and people will come with ideas and we move forward with them or we donât.
Trusting His Vision Over Surveys
So, you need to be able to imagine how someone would enjoy the product and if that seems compelling then I think you should move forward with it. -Elon Musk
Read: You are very data-driven, right?
Elon: I think Iâm not particularly data-driven. I donât decide on a new product based on consumer surveys or something like that.
I try to mentally simulate what the end customer would be like that would want this, but we donât do a bunch of consumer surveys or I donât really ask people.
It’s pretty obvious, I think. Would people buy low-cost high bandwidth fast internet? Well yes, obviously.
The thing is, if youâd listen to surveys of, âDo people want an electric car?â thereâs no way you would start an electric car company because people donât say yes.
Theyâre happy with their current car. I think Henry Ford famously said if you ask people back then what they wanted, they would say they wanted a faster horse. They would not have said they wanted an automobile. Thereâs also a survey of. âWould you buy a television?â and I think most people said no.
Thatâs because people donât understand what this new thing is that your offering.
So, you need to be able to imagine how someone would enjoy the product and if that seems compelling then I think you should move forward with it.
Advice for young people
Nearing the end of the interview, Elon gave some advice for young people starting their careers today:
Embrace AI: Companies that effectively use AI will have a competitive advantage. Musk advises young people to maximize the use of AI in their work to stay ahead in the rapidly changing job market.
Recognize AI’s Power and Risks: Musk acknowledges that AI is not just hype; it is a powerful tool that is rapidly improving. However, he also highlights the existential risks associated with AI, emphasizing the need for responsible and cautious development.
Adapt to AI’s Impact on Jobs: As AI improves, there will be a transition period where jobs are affected. Musk suggests that young people should be prepared for this change and find ways to adapt and use AI to their advantage.
Use AI Tools Effectively: Musk mentions several applications of AI, such as content matching on social media platforms, image and video generation, and writing assistance. He encourages young people to learn how to use these tools effectively to enhance their work.
Be Aware of AI’s Impact on Education: Musk notes that AI is already being used by students to help with writing assignments. He also points out that there are tools to bypass anti-plagiarism software, highlighting the need for new approaches to education in the age of AI.
Anticipate Changes in Internet Search: Musk predicts significant disruption in Internet search as AI can provide direct answers to queries, potentially challenging traditional search engines like Google and Bing.
In summary, Musk advises young people (actually this is for all of us!) to embrace AI, understand its power and risks, adapt to its impact on jobs, use AI tools effectively, and anticipate changes in education and internet search.
Read: We have young people in the audience, what advice would you give to young people starting out their careers today apart from saying you donât have to work?
Elon: There will be, obviously, a transition period as AI gets better and better. The companies that succeed in this transition will be the ones that most effectively use AI. If youâre doing something, and making maximum use of AI, and youâre competing against someone who is not, you will win.
Read: AI is not bullsh*t, right?
Elon: Itâs not. Itâs getting better very rapidly.
Read: Itâs getting better and better and there is 1 chance in 5, existentially for the worse.
Elon: There is definitely some risk, itâs an immensely powerful thing.
Read: Whatâs the best application of AI you’ve seen? How is Grok going and X?
Elon: Well, I mentioned some of the near-term applications of AI where they have AI understand a userâs interests and then you match content with that user. That is already happening and TicTok is doing a great job of that and then Meta more or less copied them and the X platform is doing the same.
So those are examples that I think people experience every day.
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." – Mahatma Gandhi pic.twitter.com/Y7TrbGgeg9
Elon: Now weâre also seeing incredible image generation where companies like Midjourney make beautiful images. Now it still takes some skill to get the best pictures out of Midjourney so thereâs a talent for creating compelling pictures.
You are also seeing video, which is just a bunch of pictures essentially, so youâll be able to create videos and can already create pictures that are very compelling if you need to write something then the various AI things like Grok or Gemini or ChatGPT can help you write things.
I talked to my son at University and asked, how many of your classmates are using AI to help them write things? And he said, all of them.
Read: So there is anti-plagiarism software they could run it through.
Elon: Yes, but thereâs another software that defeats the anti-plagiarism software.
I think that thereâs going to be significant disruption in internet search because really youâre just looking for an answer, so if the AI can provide you with a better answer than a bunch of links then youâll prefer that over Google or bing.
ELON FORESEES A NEW MODEL OF âNEWSâ
Elon Musk envisions a new model of news where AI plays a significant role in aggregating and summarizing information from millions of users in real-time. He believes this approach will surpass conventional journalism in many ways. Key points include:
Real-Time Aggregation: Elon suggests that by aggregating real-time input from millions of users, the X platform can provide a comprehensive and up-to-date news feed that surpasses traditional journalism.
Expert and On-Site Input: Elon emphasizes the value of expert opinions and firsthand observations from people at the scene of events. He argues that this crowdsourced information is often more accurate and timely than traditional reporting.
Challenges to Traditional Journalism: He points out that traditional news outlets, especially print media, face limitations in speed and accuracy. He suggests that the internet and AI are increasingly replacing these traditional models.
Role of AI in Truth Seeking: Elon highlights the importance of AI in truth seeking, noting that incorrect information on the X platform is quickly corrected by the community.
Future of News: While Elon acknowledges a continued role for traditional journalism, he predicts that it will become smaller and less significant over time as AI-driven platforms like X continue to evolve.
Presidential Debate on X: He expresses interest in hosting a presidential debate on the X platform, suggesting that such an event would be compelling and could showcase the platform’s capabilities.
In summary, Musk’s vision for news on X involves a shift towards AI-driven, real-time aggregation of information from a wide range of sources, challenging the traditional role of journalists and news outlets.
Read: What about the news business? Who is going to pay for the content on which these models are created?
Elon: So, what weâre doing on the X platform is weâre using AI to sum up the aggregated input from millions of users.
I think this is really going to be the new model of news, which is to gather information from people who are at the scene who are experts in the field and summarize the experts in the field and people who are in the field at whatever event is being talked about and aggregate that into a real-time newsfeed and I think for the most part that will be better than conventional journalism.
There is still a role for conventional journalism.
Read: But someone has to pay for it to happen.
Elon: Well, not necessarily, with the X system, youâve got tens of millions of posts every day, which really are all the news content on earth, far more than what you would find in a newspaper, being generated on the system every day. If you aggregate that in real-time, youâve got real-time aggregation of the collective wisdom of tens of millions of people.
Read: Is that why you think truth-seeking is so important in AI?
Elon: Yes, thatâs one of the reasons. It is also on the X system, so although something may be said that is incorrect, it is very quickly corrected.
Whereas a newspaper that is publishing, especially in print form, is publishing what happened yesterday today. It can’t publish any faster than that, and when you read the article, that article could be wrong and often is wrong. But there is no rebuttal, so you donât see any real-time rebuttal.
Like I said, thereâs still a role for conventional news, but itâs smaller and smaller over time.
What AI is doing and what the internet is doing is aggregating the wisdom of the people and the fact is that experts in the field know more than reporters and people who are at the location where whatever news event is occurring are firsthand observers whereas the reporter is usually not there. Maybe there is one reporter there.
One of my sons is a bit autistic like me, I suppose, a chip of the old block, and we were walking through the airport and he saw a newspaper and todayâs date was printed on the newspaper and he stopped for a second, and he was like âhow did they know it was todayâs date?â I was like, they print out those newspapers every day. He said, âEvery day, what a chore!â and then he sort of dismissively said, âOh, they probably just read the internet and print it out.â
I was like, âYeah, they read the internet and print it out, pretty much!â
That is most news articles. They read the internet and they print it out. The reporter wasnât there.
Read: I mean they do question people, they look behind things, there are some things that should come out, right? Are you looking forward to the presidential debate in 7 days time?
Elon: That should be interesting, sure.
Read: Is it going to be on the X platform?
Elon: I think its on conventional platforms. I would be happy to have one on the X platform. It would be quite compelling to do so. It would be interesting.
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Audience member: What will you do with all your money? And will AI keep you alive?
Elon: I have a big money bin, and I swim, I do swimming in it
[laughter]
Youâve got to get exercise somehow. I suppose if AI likes me, it will keep me alive, not in some sort of experimental cage.
Read: Are you investing in longevity? A lot of people on the West Coast, want to live forever.
Elon: Forever is a long time. I donât have any longevity investments. I think it is important that we die at some point. Arguably, we could live longer and increase the length of time that we are sort of mentally and physically healthy, but if we live for too long, I think it does ossify society, thereâs no changing of the leadership because leadership never dies and for a lot of people they just donât change their mind, they just die so that inhibits the new ideas.
Read: Thatâs true, I think we see that currently.
Elon: Think of some of the worst individuals in the world. How long do you want them to live?
Read: Ok, one more question!
Audience member: (unclear)
Elon: Iâm not sure I understand the question. I mean, technology will help you do anything you want and more of it, so like I said, we are headed to a very interesting future. This is the most interesting time in all of history so enjoy the ride. Thank you so much.
My thoughts
This talk in Cannes was important because it gave companies/advertisers a chance to better understand how welcoming X is for them.
If they desire to reach people fast, who will appreciate their high-quality products and likely buy them, they will create quality beautiful content for X. I say content because, as in the interview, good ads are also amazing content.
Elon’s advice for young people matters. I see young people who are already using AI in their own lives doing very well. There’s no use deciding AI is not for you because that would be like standing on the platform, watching the train leave you behind in the dust. AI helped me write the summary parts of this article you are reading. I used extensive tools to help transcribe this article (though it still took me several days to complete this project). I’m not “young” anymore by today’s standards, and I am welcoming of the ways AI can help me write better. (Of course, I use Grok over the others).
Watch the interview here
Elon Musk Confronts Interviewer on Free Speech.
Here's an edit of @elonmusk's conversation at Cannes Lions, covering advertising on X, free speech, and the future.
Have a splendid rest of your day, thank you for supporting and reading. you rock! (btw – your comments on this article help me earn a lot of generous ad rev, so do comment and do subscribe, if only for 1-2 months, that is epic!)
X and Elon Musk are supporting freedom of speech and constitutional freedoms in the USA and globally.
âThose who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.â – Benjamin FranklinÂ
Remembering Alameda County & Tesla in 2020
This is a fast read, but I want to extend kindness to you as you read this. I hope youâll slow down a moment, grab a sweet Texas treat, maybe a warm biscuit with butter and honey, and soak in what I think is worthy info. Letâs start with May, 2020.
In May of 2020, an unelected interim health officer for Alameda County, California, Dr. Erica Pan, determined that Tesla and other manufacturing facilities in the county should be prevented from operating.
Yes, that’s right. An unelected interim health officer decided this.
This decision was made despite both the President of the USA and the Governor of California allowing car manufacturers across the USA to remain open during the same period.
Elon Musk rightly filed suit against Alameda County.
In a letter to his employees, Elon explained that he would be going to work and encouraged anyone who did not feel comfortable working, to stay home. He even said that he would risk being arrested to go to work.
Thousands of people including myself, did not sleep that night. The thought of Elon getting arrested simply for working kept me awake. I had to work as a nurse, but my kids were all “sheltering in place” and so was my husband. We were living in the dreary, over-regulated days of 2020 lockdowns. I was rooting for Elon. Many people who could see the government overreach were rooting for him that night. In the morning, he went to work at the factory. He was not arrested.
(He later withdrew the lawsuit, but the memory never escapes me of how fragile our system is.)
Australia: 2024
âShould the eSafety Commissioner (an unelected official) in Australia have authority over all countries on Earth?â – Elon MuskÂ
Fast forward to the present day, and we find ourselves in a similar situation today with an unelected bureaucrat in Australia, the “eSafety Commissioner,” demanding that X remove certain posts outside of Australia’s jurisdiction.
Like the example I gave from 2020 from Alameda County, this person has an unnecessary and unjustified amount of power to unfairly attempt to force X to take down posts or shut down or else owe a fine of the arbitrary amount of $500,000 per day.
In response, Elon Musk is on the right side of justice to refuse to comply with the order, he will always be committed to protecting freedom of speech globally. The situation mirrors the showdown in Alameda County, with an unelected official also attempting to impose their will on a company and its employees.
I know how most people would answer Elonâs question that he posted here on X. âShould the eSafety Commissar (an unelected official) in Australia have authority over all countries on Earth?â Most people will answer, âNo.â
Legacy Media
The legacy media has once again villainized Elon Musk for his refusal to obey the orders of the Australian eSafety Commissioner, positioning an unelected bureaucrat as a hero.
However, this narrative in the legacy media ignores the fact that the eSafety Commissioner is an activist with a track record of censorship that only ever targets one side.
Streisand Effect
The Australian government’s actions have inadvertently brought more attention to the story of Bishop Mar Mari being stabbed in his own house of worship. This is likely an unintended consequence of Australia attempting to censor information, as it often brings more attention to the very thing the government is trying to suppress.
Brazil: 2024
“To be clear, đ is only trying to follow the laws of Brazil without favor or disfavor to any political candidate.” – Elon
The Brazilian government is also attempting to control what can and cannot be posted on social media platforms like X. The situation in Brazil is serious because it is active now and a threat to freedom of thought and speech.
The Brazilian government is empowering a judge, Justice Alexandre Morales, to dictate what can and canât be posted on the social media platform. Almost anything posted that disagrees with the narrative of the powerful current Brazilian government, is censored or targeted for censorship, by the (you guessed it) current Brazilian government.
Again, Elon facing up to such hostility to freedom of speech places him as a next-level hero. He is unlike other CEOs – he cares deeply about freedom of speech and is willing to pay for it.Â
Halting Global Threat to Constitutional Freedoms
The fight for freedom of speech is a global one, with governments and unelected officials aka âactivistsâ attempting to impose their will on the citizens of the world. The stories of Tesla in Alameda County and X in Australia and Brazil are important to remember in history as reminders of the importance of standing up for our constitutional freedoms.
We Can Support Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is something that X is willing to pay for dearly. Every person who has X Premium is also supporting freedom of speech. For those who want to support X above and beyond this, subscribing to X Premium+ is a good way.
With the extensive release of the Twitter files, Elon Musk and others have contributed to changing how people think about the lockdowns and COVID-19. The backroom deals that were once hidden are now exposed and more are still being exposed, leading to heightened awareness of the extent of government control.
Thank you for reading and may your right to free speech in the USA, in Australia, and in Brazil and the whole earth be preserved and strengthened.
Obrigado pela leitura e que o seu direito Ă liberdade de expressĂŁo nos EUA, na AustrĂĄlia, no Brasil e em todo o planeta seja preservado e fortalecido.
About the author. As an independent writer, I fully support Elon Musk and his companies. I write about many topics including immigration and Tesla. Being an independent writer on X is life-changing. I also create a podcast where I feature Tesla FSD Supervised and its major impact on transportation and so far I have created over 60 episodes.Â
In the heart of Brazil, a battle for freedom of speech and democratic principles is being fought, and Elon Musk will not give up, he has become a hero to the Brazilian people.
âThe severity of the censorship and the degree to which Brazilâs own laws are being broken, to the detriment of their own people, is the worst of any country in the world in which this platform operates.â Elon Musk on April 11.Â
Suppression of free speech in Brazil
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, has asserted his position as a court justice in order to suppress free speech in Brazil and control the X platform.
Justice de Moraes used his power to order the blocking of certain X accounts that were critical of the current Brazilian government.
Of course, Elon defied this ridiculous order, in essence, de Moraesâ demands are illegal and anti-free speech.
This stand for freedom of speech has led to âinvestigationsâ against Musk and X employees, with the Brazilian government threatening to end all contracts with Starlink.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes
Luiz InĂĄcio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, is the President of Brazil. Lula has taken steps that raise serious concerns about freedom of speech.
Last year, shortly after taking office, Lula created a few new agencies, including the National Prosecutor’s Office for the Defense of Democracy and the Department for the Promotion of Freedom of Expression. These departments have been granted significant censorship powers. Lula also created the Digital Policies Secretariat, which is responsible for determining misinformation and hate speech on the internet.
A case in point: Diego de Lima Gualda resigned from his position as the administrator and legal representative of X in Brazil. This resignation was officially documented in the company’s commercial registry on April 10, 2024, following his letter of resignation submitted on April 8, 2024. Gualda, a 40-year-old lawyer and political scientist, had been in this role since August 2023, although he was previously part of the company’s team before then.
Gualda may likely have left his position at X due to the threats by de Moraes. One cannot fault Gualda for this, there have been many cases of people critical of the current government who were arrested, unfairly jailed, and placed in horrible conditions.There is the noted case of ClezĂŁo, who ended up dying in jail, never to see his family again.Â
Below is an excerpt of a tragic report from Marcel van Hattem, a political scientist and journalist in Brazil
âThere are currently thousands of Brazilians persecuted by Moraes: ordinary citizens censored, with their assets illegally frozen; journalists and judges exiled, with their passports seized by Mr. Moraes without justification; lawyers denied access to their clients’ cases; hundreds still imprisoned without due process, let alone conviction.
One man, ClezĂŁo, passed away last November in prison after nearly a year of incarceration in deplorable health conditions by order of Alexandre de Moraes. The federal prosecutor had requested his release more than two months before his death, but Moraes ignored it. ClezĂŁo’s wife, Jane, and their two daughters, Ana Luiza (22) and Klezia (19), will no longer have their father’s company due to the tyrannical actions of Alexandre de Moraes.â
Elonâs stance on free speech has widespread support from the Brazilian people, who see him as a champion of democracy and human rights.
Brazil was the first country outside of the USA to get Community Notes in March 2023. Elon has long recognized the need for freedom of speech and truth in Brazil.
Many Brazilians have taken to social media to express their gratitude and admiration for Musk’s efforts to protect their rights.Â
Their gratitude has been trending on X in Brazil, demonstrating the widespread support for his actions.
Elon Musk’s commitment to free speech and his willingness to stand up against government censorship has been a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world.
Cause to Celebrate
The ongoing developments in Brazil demonstrate Elon’s commitment to free speech and his willingness to support users facing consequences due to their posts on X. Together, we can create a world where free speech is not just an ideal, but a reality. Let’s celebrate Elon Musk and X for their dedication to free speech and support of those whose rights have been threatened.
Thanks for reading and supporting me. I like writing for you and I encourage you to share your thoughts on your X account. You are here, on X, and you have a right to freedom of speech.
(Austin, Texas) In an invigorating discourse that sparkled like a captivating citrine gemstone, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Elon Musk engaged in a riveting conversation on a Twitter Space titled “Reclaiming Democracy.” This conversation served to inspire me, and I think youâll be inspired too! I hope youâll join me and read what Elon said about artificial intelligence, the groundbreaking potential of Neuralink, the profound value of free speech, and the benevolence of America. This exchange provided a much-needed spark of energy to my day. I hope it will rejuvenate your mind and ignite new possibilities. Listening to Elon Musk answer questions from RFK was delightfully insightful as these brilliant minds illuminated the intersections of technology, democracy, and human progress!
Appreciation for Elon Musk’s Contribution to Democracy
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. began by thanking Elon Musk saying that he is a breath of fresh air toward democracy in this country. He mentioned itâs âcommendable, given Elon was born in South Africa.â
Elon Musk emphasized that you have a robust democracy. Itâs important to have free speech. In the absence of that, he stated, âthe democracy would not function.â
Free Speech as the Lifeblood of Democracy
RFK said that free speech is the sunlight, water, and soil of democracy, and without free-speech democracy, would wither and die. He explained that thereâs never been a time in history when weâve looked back and said that the guys who censored free speech are the good guys, generally, theyâve always been the bad guys.
Dangers of Censorship and the Power of Debate
Elon explained democracy and free speech,
âItâs like washing your laundry in public. There is dirty laundry, but at least you see it and it is not hidden. Itâs essential to have that debate, even if you disagreed strongly with another side of that debate.â
Elon added that itâs important to understand that âunless there are people that can say things that you donât like, itâs not free speech. And if you start censoring, itâs only a matter of time before that censorship is turned upon you.â
Lack of Media Integrity and Collusion between Governments and Corporations
Elon also said that the thing he finds bizarre and completely different from the past is that itâs ânot only governments and corporations in collusion â which has been the case for a while, I think it was Eisenhower, who warned about the industrial military complex â but the thing I find difficult to forgive is that the legacy traditional media is also almost entirely working lockstep with the government and corporations. itâs really their obligation to question the government, not go along with it.â
Advertiser Pressure on Twitter/X.corp.
Elon also mentioned that âTwitter has seen extreme pressure from advertisers, at least in the West. And I see an advertiser boycott problem with a lot of companies.â
He went on to graciously thank the companies that have stayed with Twitter like Apple and Disney and many others.
Elonâs Commitment to Free Speech and the Impact on Advertising
Elon said that half of Twitterâs advertising has disappeared overnight in North American and European markets, âThis has happened, simply because Twitter insists on free-speech.â
Financial Pressure on Organizations and the Corruption of Democracy
I agree with Elonâs statement that he does not think the public fully realizes âthe magnitude of the extreme amount of financial pressure that is placed upon organizations to toe the line by advertisers.â
I personally, think it is a serious matter. Elon elaborated, saying, this is a âfundamental corruption of democracy, and the public should be absolutely outraged by this!â
Elon Musk’s Controversial Decision to Release Twitter Files
RFK expressed concern and surprise over Elon Musk’s choosing to release the Twitter files and that in any normal circumstance, a corporate attorney would advise him not to. He wanted to know if Elon had any discussions with an attorney before he released the files.
Defying Legal Advice: Transparency and Trust as Motivations
Elon explained that every lawyer advised against it and said it was insane to do so, that he would be getting into huge trouble, and be sued to hell and gone and it would be a massive disaster.
As you know, Elon still chose to release the Twitter files, in order to prove transparency and trust for Twitter, because transparency and trust are a rare quality, especially in a social media platform.
Thankfully Elon did not respond to the lawyer’s advice to refrain from releasing the Twitter files, in fact, Elon stated,
âI did not care!â
The Significance of Free Speech for Democracy
In order to explain this better, Elon said that âItâs easy to take for granted the system that we have here in the United States. It really doesnât exist anywhere else. Not even in Canada. And I am half-Canadian. You do not have the free speech rights in Canada that you do have in the United States. Perhaps a new government in Canada will enact those rights because it is incredibly important. But I think if we donât protect free speech at all costs, we donât have a functioning democracy. And if we donât have a functioning democracy, nothing else matters.â
RFK responded, and it should be noted that Robert has laryngeal dystonia, where a person’s voice muscles contract involuntarily, therefore, Robert has a unique vocal quality. In any case, he asked Elon an interesting question:
âWhat is it in your background that gave you such firm convictions to where youâd be willing to take that this huge, massive unspeakable economic hit on behalf of a principal for a country in which you were not even born?â
Elon Musk’s Firm Convictions and Love for History
Elon responded by saying that he does consider himself an American. He went on to explain that one reason he has firm convictions is that he loves studying history and civilizations of all kinds.
The Benevolence of the United States in History
Elon explains that while the United States is not perfect, and has made mistakes, he still believes it is the country that has shown the greatest form of benevolence towards humans in all of history.
Elon cited the Marshall plan after World War II. Elon said,
âAt the end of World War II, the United States had overwhelming military strength, and it had the nuclear bomb. The United States could have taken over the world. It could have acquired any country that it wanted, and yet it did not do any of that.
âInstead, the USA gave money to the country that it had been fighting. Iâm not sure if that has ever happened before in history. The United States helped rebuild Germany and Japan. It helped rebuild Japan, even after things like Pearl Harbor. Maybe this has happened before in history, but Iâm not aware of it.â
Acknowledging Imperfections and Profound Admiration for America
Elon went on to explain that America is not perfect and can do better, he added heâs a huge fan of America!
In a beautiful statement, Elon reiterated that he does not carry a passport for any other country in the world,
                    âI will live and die here!â – Elon Musk
RFK’s Appreciation for Elon Musk’s Service and Commitment to the USA
RFK said he loved the statement and it was quite moving, and very admirable, and then he thanked Elon for his service and commitment to the United States of America.
I trust you found this initial segment of my series enlightening, exploring the fascinating insights shared by Elon Musk. In my observation, RFK’s remarkable interviewing skills allowed him to extract profound observations from Elon. The respectful manner in which RFK approached Elon’s expertise highlights his respect and appreciation for the remarkable contributions Elon Musk is making for the betterment of humanity.
Stay tuned for Part II, where we will look into more of this engaging conversation. As you and I continue learning throughout life, let knowledge light up your dreams like the sparkling gemstone of citrine!
Photo of Austin, Texas by Carlos Alfonso on Unsplash
WHAT'S UP đ by Gail Alfar 