Yeah. I’m so over palace intrigue stuff along with using ego and personality quirks to explain this administration’s actions. It’s ALL about money. Trump can be bought (hellllllooooo Russia). Period. Yes, he has an ego. And he may even have a little teeny tiny bit of ideology that’s fuels him. But mostly? This man is pretty genius at making (and losing, and then making again) a buck. So for me, when I follow the money, I am able to understand these relationships way better than when I get caught up in questions like “Will Trump start to resent Elon?”. The quid pro quo is pretty clear here. Elon (all the Tech Bros actually) want a). NO govt regulation and b). a brilliant but compliant work force which they’re pissed off they can’t find anymore from the elite universities who are turning out “radicals”. That’s it. In return, they donate BIG dollars.
The other frame that’s helped me with understanding the craziness of this administration is the WWE. Watch the Netflix documentary. It’s testosterone laden soap opera for adult men. It helps explain the chain saw prop that Elon used. It explains how Trump has mastered using visuals so effectively. He is a performer extraordinaire and that skill is something we must take seriously. He’s the National Enquirer but in human form. And he’s super good at it.
Use your wallets as your weapons. It’s working. The 50% who didn’t vote for T have triple the spending power than those who did. Own and use your power every single day.
I have been thinking of Trump as “DT Barnum” lately, because he’s turned our federal government into a three ring circus.
I also have come to LOATHE our current era of Jerry Springer politics…and cannot wait for the pendulum to return to more of the center after Jerry whacked it with his metal folding chair.
I completely agree. Once you 1) Figure out what the motives for himself and anyone he surrounds himself with are (always money and power for themselves), and 2) follow the money, everything makes perfect sense and also becomes easily predictable.
The Economic Blackouts have been the only real way I've felt useful in all of this mess. It's been a pleasure to redirect my dollars in every way I can. I hope it marks the beginning of the collective using their money to turn the tide towards good things. I'd been hoping to see it for years, but it felt lonely being the only one while the world went crazy with mindless consumerism. I got lazy and gave up. I'm happy to be reunited with my own values.
I also completely agree with your comparison to the WWE. I saw it in 2016 when the debates were previewed exactly as a wrestling match would be, and I couldn't believe we'd turned THAT corner. It was grotesque then, and it wasn't even the tip of the snowflake on the tip of the iceberg!
That White House Tesla showcase was a blatant abuse of presidential power. Using government property to promote a private company owned by a presidential adviser/donor is exactly what ethics rules are designed to prevent. But what are ethics rules now, anyway?
Remember the Goya incident in 2020? After boycotts hit Goya when their CEO praised Trump, Ivanka posted herself holding Goya products with "If it's Goya, it has to be good." Walter Shaub, who was the Director of the Office of Government Ethics under Obama and briefly under Trump before resigning in protest, immediately called it what it was: "an ethics violation" and "misuse of position." The rule (5 CFR § 2635.702) clearly prohibits federal employees from using their position to endorse products.
Why did Ivanka face zero consequences? Because the Trump administration essentially neutralized the ethics office, and the Department of Justice under Barr wasn't going to pursue it. Plus, the President has the authority to exempt White House staff from ethics rules - which is exactly what happened.
And therein lies the fundamental problem: White House ethics rules are essentially enforced by the White House itself. This circular arrangement means that when an administration decides to ignore ethics standards, there's almost no immediate recourse. The Office of Government Ethics can make recommendations, but it has no real enforcement power. Congress could theoretically act through oversight, but that depends on the branches of our government holding checks against each others’ powers (RIP). It's a system that relies almost entirely on norms and good faith, which have also died prematurely (thoughts and prayers).
This Tesla showcase is far worse than Goya, though. It wasn't just a social media post but an official White House event where Trump openly admitted he was doing it to help Musk's stock price. It's a government-sponsored, taxpayer-funded infomercial for a company that's facing legitimate consumer concerns.
And Tesla is a terrible purchase right now anyway - their quality control is abysmal (bottom tier in Consumer Reports for most of its history), service centers are overwhelmed with weeks-long waits, resale values keep crashing with Musk's erratic price cuts, their self-driving tech remains perpetually "almost ready" despite years of false promises, and out-of-warranty battery replacements can cost as much as a decent used car. Now that every major manufacturer offers EVs with better build quality and proper dealer networks, Tesla's main advantage is evaporating.
It’s hard to tell if this should be called a boycott, or are people just starting to realize they were shelling out tons of money for an inferior product that supports fascism…
Meanwhile, the 18 year olds are still poking around in our data, the Republican Congress is trying to figure out how to cut social security and Medicaid, and the US is blowing up alliances all over the world. While we are being distracted with a Tesla car show on the White House front lawn the wheels to dismantle the government are turning away.
This is so frustrating and exhausting. I hate to say it but the plan to “flood the zone” with as much nonsense as possible is working. We can’t focus on everything, so we lean towards the most ridiculous while in the background small but horrible things are happening.
“Flood the zone with nonsense” is perfect! This is also why so many people are asking what the Dems are doing. There are Dems out there holding town halls, going on podcasts etc, but media is so focused on the circus that the sane Dems aren’t as newsworthy.
I agree. While some claim they have this mastermind scheme, all I see is impulsivity and the sheer inability to be accountable for any actions. Yes, Trump cares about “public opinion”, but really only for the MAGA base. Anyone else is labeled a “left radical lunatic” (which demonstrates more child-like traits of name-calling).
I think the subtext of this article is that it will be a public “breakup”. Elon will happily go to the background once he has all our data. However he will maintain a good relationship afterwards for the next 4 years.
It all comes back to a President who is inherently untrustworthy. Trump has no moral integrity and is willing to hurt anyone for perceived gain to himself. What I don’t understand is why the Republican Congress continue to bend the knee. Trump is destroying our country. He needs to go. They have the power to do it and apparently don’t have the patriotic spine to do so.
Congressional Republicans have been threatened to be Primaried with Musk's funding if they go against the President, meaning they lose their "power" in 2026 with defiant action.
And unless ALL Republicans in Congress acted together, they would need to work WITH Democrats --bipartisan work has been unpopular for some time now. They likely fear that working with Dems would also lose them favor in reelection, and this their "power."
In the face of this, Congressional Republicans only have power if they are in lock step with the President.
So, you are correct that Republicans have the numbers if they all banded together, but it doesn't seem that there is much unity for that kind of action. The secretary confirmations were a good showing of that-- only Senators who have traditionally been more centrist or who are not running again took the chance to vote against confirmation.
Do you know what other threats besides primaries hold weight? My own senator (Curtis, R-UT, Mitt Romney's new replacement) has bowed to Trump at every turn so far—yet he has a full 6 years left in office, having just been elected. A lot of the cabinet nominations were clearly distasteful for him, a look at his social media shows that, yet he voted for them.
I'm still hoping to understand *why.*
I've said it for the past 8 years, but if most Republicans would band together they could defeat Trump and find a better replacement.
In your case, it probably has more to do with the second point around party unity.
With a Republican-controlled Senate, there is a sense of obligation to back the President's decisions, as he represents the party's leadership. Dissenting senators could lose important committee positions or influence in shaping legislation if they go against the party’s leadership. Without the support of the other Republican representatives, dissenting could lead to isolation within the party, making it harder to pass legislation or gain support for personal initiatives.
Some senators may disagree privately but prefer to wait for a more opportune time to challenge the President, such as when public opinion shifts or political costs decrease--Which is why it's important for constituents to voice their dissenting opinions to their Congressional Representatives
Thank you—this is kind of what I assumed (losing committee, status, relationships, support for personal priorities).
But shucks, the "time" for Mr. Curtis to take a stand was when his vote could have sunk the candidacy of Pete Hegseth, and preserved some degree of U.S. national security and loyalty to the Constitution.
I have a hard time believing the logic proposed here, that the President only actions on items with broad popular appeal-- specifically citing that DST is a 50/50 issue in the polls and so he won't touch it.
Emerson college published polling on American voters approval if dismantling USAID and Dept of Edu Feb 15-17; 36% favored abolishing USAID, while 44% opposed, and 20% were unsure; 30% favored abolishing the department of education, while 58% opposed, and 12% were unsure. Yet, the mission to abolish these programs continues on. Same goes for the tariff actions, they don't appear to have any popularity among the public.
I agree that the President is driven by ego, but that his ego is tied to general popular opinion seems inaccurate --perhaps he cares about the opinion of specific groups? I dunno, it just feels like this analysis might be cherry picking examples to fit a narrative.
The firing of federal workers has been unpopular. Trump doesn’t care. Instead, he doubles down and states “they weren’t showing up for work” which is untrue.
Citizens in the US and worldwide are boycotting Tesla because of their disagreements with how DOGE is making frivolous cuts and Musk’s egregious actions. For anyone else, this would make them stop and think, “Oh, I need to find out what the problem is and fix it.” But not Trump. No, we get a Truth Social post telling us it is “illegal” and a hokey sales pitch for Teslas on the White House lawn.
I'd like to be optimistic, but the reality is that DOGE is still leading the staff cuts everywhere. Leadership at all levels at agencies are not included in any talks and are just communicated a list of people to fire. Leadership knows absolutely nothing about how the cuts are being planned, using what criteria, how far they'll go, or when they will end. Each agency has had DOHE staff assigned to pretty much fire people. That is the on-the-ground reality. So I find it hard to believe secretaries are leading the charge or DOGE is having more of an advisory role now. It's all a facade for the media and we're falling for it while people within the federal government getting fired as I type this message are still played around with like we're toys. And the world is watching and pretty much nothing has been changing since this all started. We're treated like trash with no end in sight other than your own firing, I suppose.
This is the dumbest timeline in history. Our most powerful leaders are unfollowing each other on social media because they got in a fight? Seriously? This sounds like 7th grade drama between the popular girls. Honestly, if there’s one thing I’m learning through all of this it’s to never quit something because I don’t feel qualified. You can apparently be a narcissistic petulant child with a chainsaw and a love for nazis and still make it in the world I guess.
I am curious to see how this will play out against Donald's competing desires. He likes polling numbers and wants them to be favorable. He wants to be the biggest and the best.. He also like money. A breakup with Musk seems unlikely given how much money Musk has infused into first the campaign and now the latest promise of more to come.
One of the absolute best things about Trump is how desperate he is to be loved. Even though he loves to say “good morning to everyone but the haters and losers,” it makes him BANANAS that haters and losers exist. We’re in a bad spot, but we’re in a way better spot than we’d be in if the president was driven by anything other than applause. All people have to say to get under his skin is that his crowd sizes are small, or mention his hair or tan, or heaven forbid, his teeny tiny handsies, and he loses it. I’m glad that in this round, we’re seeing activists and other countries’ leaders utilize his desperate need to be part of the club to keep him somewhat in check.
Musk’s involvement is infuriating. The fact that he’s throwing money at things to further his own interest is so anger inducing. I hope this bromance does not last
Ha, ha, there’s no putting the Musk genie back in the bottle. I hope they are painful, irritating thorns in each other’s sides for the foreseeable future.
I keep wishing a really cool country would invade us and take over during our vulnerable time. Like, come on Canada! I'm so ready for politeness and good medical care and Maple leaves are beautiful. New Zealand?! Flightless birds are cute as heck. But those are the countries that wouldn't, so my wish turns into a nightmare.
Just thinking , Honestly Elon can’t afford much more public attention at the White House, he’s losing money on all of his business ventures , trouble for him was other democratic countries did not put up with his election shenanigans. Now the US is propping up his business ventures with contracts worth billions of dollars, there are so many conflicts of interests. I don’t see this as a breakup, rather Trump just protecting Elon. His Tesla stock has dropped more than 50%, contracts for his satellite services have been canceled in Europe and Canada. If our government was on the up and up, we would be doing the same.
Yeah. I’m so over palace intrigue stuff along with using ego and personality quirks to explain this administration’s actions. It’s ALL about money. Trump can be bought (hellllllooooo Russia). Period. Yes, he has an ego. And he may even have a little teeny tiny bit of ideology that’s fuels him. But mostly? This man is pretty genius at making (and losing, and then making again) a buck. So for me, when I follow the money, I am able to understand these relationships way better than when I get caught up in questions like “Will Trump start to resent Elon?”. The quid pro quo is pretty clear here. Elon (all the Tech Bros actually) want a). NO govt regulation and b). a brilliant but compliant work force which they’re pissed off they can’t find anymore from the elite universities who are turning out “radicals”. That’s it. In return, they donate BIG dollars.
The other frame that’s helped me with understanding the craziness of this administration is the WWE. Watch the Netflix documentary. It’s testosterone laden soap opera for adult men. It helps explain the chain saw prop that Elon used. It explains how Trump has mastered using visuals so effectively. He is a performer extraordinaire and that skill is something we must take seriously. He’s the National Enquirer but in human form. And he’s super good at it.
Use your wallets as your weapons. It’s working. The 50% who didn’t vote for T have triple the spending power than those who did. Own and use your power every single day.
I have been thinking of Trump as “DT Barnum” lately, because he’s turned our federal government into a three ring circus.
I also have come to LOATHE our current era of Jerry Springer politics…and cannot wait for the pendulum to return to more of the center after Jerry whacked it with his metal folding chair.
I completely agree. Once you 1) Figure out what the motives for himself and anyone he surrounds himself with are (always money and power for themselves), and 2) follow the money, everything makes perfect sense and also becomes easily predictable.
The Economic Blackouts have been the only real way I've felt useful in all of this mess. It's been a pleasure to redirect my dollars in every way I can. I hope it marks the beginning of the collective using their money to turn the tide towards good things. I'd been hoping to see it for years, but it felt lonely being the only one while the world went crazy with mindless consumerism. I got lazy and gave up. I'm happy to be reunited with my own values.
I also completely agree with your comparison to the WWE. I saw it in 2016 when the debates were previewed exactly as a wrestling match would be, and I couldn't believe we'd turned THAT corner. It was grotesque then, and it wasn't even the tip of the snowflake on the tip of the iceberg!
That White House Tesla showcase was a blatant abuse of presidential power. Using government property to promote a private company owned by a presidential adviser/donor is exactly what ethics rules are designed to prevent. But what are ethics rules now, anyway?
Remember the Goya incident in 2020? After boycotts hit Goya when their CEO praised Trump, Ivanka posted herself holding Goya products with "If it's Goya, it has to be good." Walter Shaub, who was the Director of the Office of Government Ethics under Obama and briefly under Trump before resigning in protest, immediately called it what it was: "an ethics violation" and "misuse of position." The rule (5 CFR § 2635.702) clearly prohibits federal employees from using their position to endorse products.
Why did Ivanka face zero consequences? Because the Trump administration essentially neutralized the ethics office, and the Department of Justice under Barr wasn't going to pursue it. Plus, the President has the authority to exempt White House staff from ethics rules - which is exactly what happened.
And therein lies the fundamental problem: White House ethics rules are essentially enforced by the White House itself. This circular arrangement means that when an administration decides to ignore ethics standards, there's almost no immediate recourse. The Office of Government Ethics can make recommendations, but it has no real enforcement power. Congress could theoretically act through oversight, but that depends on the branches of our government holding checks against each others’ powers (RIP). It's a system that relies almost entirely on norms and good faith, which have also died prematurely (thoughts and prayers).
This Tesla showcase is far worse than Goya, though. It wasn't just a social media post but an official White House event where Trump openly admitted he was doing it to help Musk's stock price. It's a government-sponsored, taxpayer-funded infomercial for a company that's facing legitimate consumer concerns.
And Tesla is a terrible purchase right now anyway - their quality control is abysmal (bottom tier in Consumer Reports for most of its history), service centers are overwhelmed with weeks-long waits, resale values keep crashing with Musk's erratic price cuts, their self-driving tech remains perpetually "almost ready" despite years of false promises, and out-of-warranty battery replacements can cost as much as a decent used car. Now that every major manufacturer offers EVs with better build quality and proper dealer networks, Tesla's main advantage is evaporating.
It’s hard to tell if this should be called a boycott, or are people just starting to realize they were shelling out tons of money for an inferior product that supports fascism…
THIS
Meanwhile, the 18 year olds are still poking around in our data, the Republican Congress is trying to figure out how to cut social security and Medicaid, and the US is blowing up alliances all over the world. While we are being distracted with a Tesla car show on the White House front lawn the wheels to dismantle the government are turning away.
This is so frustrating and exhausting. I hate to say it but the plan to “flood the zone” with as much nonsense as possible is working. We can’t focus on everything, so we lean towards the most ridiculous while in the background small but horrible things are happening.
“Flood the zone with nonsense” is perfect! This is also why so many people are asking what the Dems are doing. There are Dems out there holding town halls, going on podcasts etc, but media is so focused on the circus that the sane Dems aren’t as newsworthy.
And meanwhile, every liberal influencer is saying "where are the Dems?" They're there, but they're invisible in the 3 ring circus full of clowns.
Exactly ^^
Our country is being run by men with the emotional intelligence of 2 year olds and, worse, the actions of middle schoolers.
I teach middle schoolers, and they have vastly better manners and actions than these two. 😂
I agree. While some claim they have this mastermind scheme, all I see is impulsivity and the sheer inability to be accountable for any actions. Yes, Trump cares about “public opinion”, but really only for the MAGA base. Anyone else is labeled a “left radical lunatic” (which demonstrates more child-like traits of name-calling).
Yes it’s the mojo dojo casa house!
This is actually a very spot on description unfortunately. lol
I think the subtext of this article is that it will be a public “breakup”. Elon will happily go to the background once he has all our data. However he will maintain a good relationship afterwards for the next 4 years.
Yes, this is what I think too. "Public" as in, for show. No way is Trump breaking up with Musk's billions funding whatever he deems he needs.
It all comes back to a President who is inherently untrustworthy. Trump has no moral integrity and is willing to hurt anyone for perceived gain to himself. What I don’t understand is why the Republican Congress continue to bend the knee. Trump is destroying our country. He needs to go. They have the power to do it and apparently don’t have the patriotic spine to do so.
It all depends how to characterize "power."
Congressional Republicans have been threatened to be Primaried with Musk's funding if they go against the President, meaning they lose their "power" in 2026 with defiant action.
And unless ALL Republicans in Congress acted together, they would need to work WITH Democrats --bipartisan work has been unpopular for some time now. They likely fear that working with Dems would also lose them favor in reelection, and this their "power."
In the face of this, Congressional Republicans only have power if they are in lock step with the President.
So, you are correct that Republicans have the numbers if they all banded together, but it doesn't seem that there is much unity for that kind of action. The secretary confirmations were a good showing of that-- only Senators who have traditionally been more centrist or who are not running again took the chance to vote against confirmation.
A fascinating take, thanks for this Amanda.
Do you know what other threats besides primaries hold weight? My own senator (Curtis, R-UT, Mitt Romney's new replacement) has bowed to Trump at every turn so far—yet he has a full 6 years left in office, having just been elected. A lot of the cabinet nominations were clearly distasteful for him, a look at his social media shows that, yet he voted for them.
I'm still hoping to understand *why.*
I've said it for the past 8 years, but if most Republicans would band together they could defeat Trump and find a better replacement.
In your case, it probably has more to do with the second point around party unity.
With a Republican-controlled Senate, there is a sense of obligation to back the President's decisions, as he represents the party's leadership. Dissenting senators could lose important committee positions or influence in shaping legislation if they go against the party’s leadership. Without the support of the other Republican representatives, dissenting could lead to isolation within the party, making it harder to pass legislation or gain support for personal initiatives.
Some senators may disagree privately but prefer to wait for a more opportune time to challenge the President, such as when public opinion shifts or political costs decrease--Which is why it's important for constituents to voice their dissenting opinions to their Congressional Representatives
Thank you—this is kind of what I assumed (losing committee, status, relationships, support for personal priorities).
But shucks, the "time" for Mr. Curtis to take a stand was when his vote could have sunk the candidacy of Pete Hegseth, and preserved some degree of U.S. national security and loyalty to the Constitution.
Thanks for the great article, Gabe. I think a Trump/Musk breakup is inevitable.
I've been wondering when cracks in the bromance would begin to show!
I’ve been wondering how long our constitution will survive.
I do too. They both have huge egos. Ultimately, not a good match, they both vie for control. We shall see.
Agree!!
I have a hard time believing the logic proposed here, that the President only actions on items with broad popular appeal-- specifically citing that DST is a 50/50 issue in the polls and so he won't touch it.
Emerson college published polling on American voters approval if dismantling USAID and Dept of Edu Feb 15-17; 36% favored abolishing USAID, while 44% opposed, and 20% were unsure; 30% favored abolishing the department of education, while 58% opposed, and 12% were unsure. Yet, the mission to abolish these programs continues on. Same goes for the tariff actions, they don't appear to have any popularity among the public.
I agree that the President is driven by ego, but that his ego is tied to general popular opinion seems inaccurate --perhaps he cares about the opinion of specific groups? I dunno, it just feels like this analysis might be cherry picking examples to fit a narrative.
I agree, Amanda.
The firing of federal workers has been unpopular. Trump doesn’t care. Instead, he doubles down and states “they weren’t showing up for work” which is untrue.
Citizens in the US and worldwide are boycotting Tesla because of their disagreements with how DOGE is making frivolous cuts and Musk’s egregious actions. For anyone else, this would make them stop and think, “Oh, I need to find out what the problem is and fix it.” But not Trump. No, we get a Truth Social post telling us it is “illegal” and a hokey sales pitch for Teslas on the White House lawn.
I'd like to be optimistic, but the reality is that DOGE is still leading the staff cuts everywhere. Leadership at all levels at agencies are not included in any talks and are just communicated a list of people to fire. Leadership knows absolutely nothing about how the cuts are being planned, using what criteria, how far they'll go, or when they will end. Each agency has had DOHE staff assigned to pretty much fire people. That is the on-the-ground reality. So I find it hard to believe secretaries are leading the charge or DOGE is having more of an advisory role now. It's all a facade for the media and we're falling for it while people within the federal government getting fired as I type this message are still played around with like we're toys. And the world is watching and pretty much nothing has been changing since this all started. We're treated like trash with no end in sight other than your own firing, I suppose.
This is the dumbest timeline in history. Our most powerful leaders are unfollowing each other on social media because they got in a fight? Seriously? This sounds like 7th grade drama between the popular girls. Honestly, if there’s one thing I’m learning through all of this it’s to never quit something because I don’t feel qualified. You can apparently be a narcissistic petulant child with a chainsaw and a love for nazis and still make it in the world I guess.
I am curious to see how this will play out against Donald's competing desires. He likes polling numbers and wants them to be favorable. He wants to be the biggest and the best.. He also like money. A breakup with Musk seems unlikely given how much money Musk has infused into first the campaign and now the latest promise of more to come.
One of the absolute best things about Trump is how desperate he is to be loved. Even though he loves to say “good morning to everyone but the haters and losers,” it makes him BANANAS that haters and losers exist. We’re in a bad spot, but we’re in a way better spot than we’d be in if the president was driven by anything other than applause. All people have to say to get under his skin is that his crowd sizes are small, or mention his hair or tan, or heaven forbid, his teeny tiny handsies, and he loses it. I’m glad that in this round, we’re seeing activists and other countries’ leaders utilize his desperate need to be part of the club to keep him somewhat in check.
Musk’s involvement is infuriating. The fact that he’s throwing money at things to further his own interest is so anger inducing. I hope this bromance does not last
Ha, ha, there’s no putting the Musk genie back in the bottle. I hope they are painful, irritating thorns in each other’s sides for the foreseeable future.
We are f*cked and will be lucky if we have a country to save in 2 years, let alone 4😢
I keep wishing a really cool country would invade us and take over during our vulnerable time. Like, come on Canada! I'm so ready for politeness and good medical care and Maple leaves are beautiful. New Zealand?! Flightless birds are cute as heck. But those are the countries that wouldn't, so my wish turns into a nightmare.
Just thinking , Honestly Elon can’t afford much more public attention at the White House, he’s losing money on all of his business ventures , trouble for him was other democratic countries did not put up with his election shenanigans. Now the US is propping up his business ventures with contracts worth billions of dollars, there are so many conflicts of interests. I don’t see this as a breakup, rather Trump just protecting Elon. His Tesla stock has dropped more than 50%, contracts for his satellite services have been canceled in Europe and Canada. If our government was on the up and up, we would be doing the same.