Welcome To Hell, Elon

[Bobcat]

I find it humorous that MAQA yahoos like to call trump's male opponents "betas" when trump is such an insecure twat that he requires his supporters to surrender their balls and spines and swear absolute loyalty. Can't allow dissenting opinions or anything that might make the fragile snowflake look bad.

We all are well too informed on your "half man substitute" routine. Until you can step up as a real man, stand aside.

Nailed it

[UNI88]

[UNI88]

Nearly $1 billion of DOGE ‘savings’ vanish overnight

The Department of Government Efficiency’s website quietly removed nearly one billion dollars in what it claims to have “saved” through canceled contracts, grants or leases this past week.

In the latest example of altering figures on the agency’s website, staffers at DOGE seemingly updated its claimed savings overnight on Tuesday, erasing approximately $962 million, according to NOTUS.

Why should anyone believe the figures that doge publishes?

[Bobcat]

Why shouldn't they?

I believe the numbers because the media isn't reporting on it. That's how you know its real

[BDKJMU]

Touche. I grabbed a quick one.

Still the new Chancellor is anti Putin and anti MuskTrump. And that’s a good thing.

You mean this guy?

The red is the center left.
The black is the center right.
The blue is AFD.


And when the Center Right CDU/CSU doesn’t get anything done towards stopping mass migration and ramping up deportations because they refuse to work with the AFD because of some antiquated nonsense taboo, and migrant crime keeps running rampant, the AFD will continue to increase and have a bigger share in 2029. Heck, they might even be a majority...

Germany's far-right AfD tops poll for first time in blow to chancellor-in-waiting Merz

BERLIN, April 9 - Germany's far-right AfD party topped a major poll for the first time on Wednesday in a sign of growing dissatisfaction with mainstream parties as chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz seeks to seal a coalition government deal.

Support for Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, which won the February 23 election, fell by five percentage points to 24% while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained three points to land on 25%, according to the Ipsos institute's poll.

The AfD came second in the election, the best performance by a far-right party since World War Two.

Its polling strength is a setback for Merz's conservative alliance, which wanted to win back voters from the party.

The Ipsos poll showed support for outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) unchanged at 15%.
The centre-left SPD are in talks with the CDU/CSU to form Germany's next government, with the two sides forced to iron out their differences in policy areas such as tax and migration to keep the far right out of power.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ge ... 025-04-09/

[BDKJMU]

This guy?

Merz warns Europe should seek ‘independence’ from US



Seems like an old school conservative. Someone that trump and MAQA yahoos would call a RINO.

If he follows through, we could see a Europe that spends more on it's own defense, is less reliant on the US, steps up to replace any support for Ukraine that the US pulls and stands up to threats of aggression from russia (Ukraine) or the US (Greenland). That would be bad news for putin and trump.

None of that will matter if he doesn‘t stop the mass migration/balkanization of Germany which he has given lip service to so far. And the getting away from the economy killing Green energy, which has left them reliant on Russia. And the Orwellian clamp down on freedom speech.

He won’t be able to achieve that with any support from the SPD. And the CDU has so far ruled out passing anything with just the support of the AFD. Which leaves the CDU in a pickle, and maybe no better off than the SPD in 4 years.

Although that did show a crack recently in late Jan.
https://amp.dw.com/en/german-migration- ... a-71477742

And just like that, the firewall crumbles..
4/17

Germany's parties to end 'firewall', engage with far-right AfD in parliament

https://www.firstpost.com/world/germany ... 7.html/amp

[UNI88]

DOGE isn't saving much money. So what is Elon Musk really up to?

One thing is clear: There were never many savings to be found. Last year, Musk predicted he could cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. (That was always going to be tough, mathematically, given that the government's entire discretionary budget is $1.7 trillion.) In January, Musk revised his estimate down to $1 trillion. Earlier this month, he revised the revision down to $150 billion.
...
Here are four possible explanations for what DOGE is actually up to. Maybe none of them are right. Or perhaps they're all accurate, to varying degrees. But one thing is certain: Each of them provides a more plausible insight into what DOGE is doing than the official explanation of saving taxpayers money.

(1) It's an "exit" plan
...
This, in essence, is the new Exit: Don't secede from the government — absorb the government, digest it, and excrete a new one. A few groups have even met with the Trump administration to get his support for launching what they're calling "Freedom Cities." Like a Thiel-backed prototype in Honduras, these enclaves would be economically autonomous zones, free from government limits on Exit passion projects like longevity treatments or nuclear fusion research. Srinivasan has proposed making the area around Musk's SpaceX facility in Texas into one, and other folks have proposed building one in Greenland — after it's acquired by the United States, of course. The move is supported by Ken Howery, a college pal of Thiel's who is Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to Denmark.
...
(2) It's techno-libertarianism for all
...
Perhaps that techno-libertarian vision — of a digitized world without government — is the entire point of DOGE. "You strip government down to remove all the parts of it that are resisting you," says David Lewis, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University, "and rebuild it in a way that makes it, in your view, more efficient and responsive to you." That's actually more authoritarian than libertarian. But it does make government smaller — and weaker. And the weaker government is, the more the powerful can call the shots.
...
(3) It's a heist
...
But what if Musk's libertarian vice is actually plain old greed? Consider some of the specific agencies DOGE has slashed. Why cut NASA, a broadly popular and relatively inexpensive operation? Well, without NASA to launch rockets, it would be left to private companies like SpaceX to get stuff into outer space. The same is true of DOGE's cuts to the Office of Vehicle Automation Safety, which has ordered dozens of Tesla recalls and delayed the rollout of self-driving software. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have collected a dozen examples of DOGE targeting agencies that are trying to regulate Musk. One thing DOGE hasn't gone after? SpaceX's contracts for military space launches — jobs worth $5.9 billion to the world's richest man.
...
(4) It's a confederacy of dunces
Maybe DOGE is just really, really bad at its job. I mean, why would anyone cause this much chaos for so little demonstrable gain?

[SeattleGriz]

DOGE isn't saving much money. So what is Elon Musk really up to?

One thing is clear: There were never many savings to be found. Last year, Musk predicted he could cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. (That was always going to be tough, mathematically, given that the government's entire discretionary budget is $1.7 trillion.) In January, Musk revised his estimate down to $1 trillion. Earlier this month, he revised the revision down to $150 billion.
...
Here are four possible explanations for what DOGE is actually up to. Maybe none of them are right. Or perhaps they're all accurate, to varying degrees. But one thing is certain: Each of them provides a more plausible insight into what DOGE is doing than the official explanation of saving taxpayers money.

(1) It's an "exit" plan
...
This, in essence, is the new Exit: Don't secede from the government — absorb the government, digest it, and excrete a new one. A few groups have even met with the Trump administration to get his support for launching what they're calling "Freedom Cities." Like a Thiel-backed prototype in Honduras, these enclaves would be economically autonomous zones, free from government limits on Exit passion projects like longevity treatments or nuclear fusion research. Srinivasan has proposed making the area around Musk's SpaceX facility in Texas into one, and other folks have proposed building one in Greenland — after it's acquired by the United States, of course. The move is supported by Ken Howery, a college pal of Thiel's who is Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to Denmark.
...
(2) It's techno-libertarianism for all
...
Perhaps that techno-libertarian vision — of a digitized world without government — is the entire point of DOGE. "You strip government down to remove all the parts of it that are resisting you," says David Lewis, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University, "and rebuild it in a way that makes it, in your view, more efficient and responsive to you." That's actually more authoritarian than libertarian. But it does make government smaller — and weaker. And the weaker government is, the more the powerful can call the shots.
...
(3) It's a heist
...
But what if Musk's libertarian vice is actually plain old greed? Consider some of the specific agencies DOGE has slashed. Why cut NASA, a broadly popular and relatively inexpensive operation? Well, without NASA to launch rockets, it would be left to private companies like SpaceX to get stuff into outer space. The same is true of DOGE's cuts to the Office of Vehicle Automation Safety, which has ordered dozens of Tesla recalls and delayed the rollout of self-driving software. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have collected a dozen examples of DOGE targeting agencies that are trying to regulate Musk. One thing DOGE hasn't gone after? SpaceX's contracts for military space launches — jobs worth $5.9 billion to the world's richest man.
...
(4) It's a confederacy of dunces
Maybe DOGE is just really, really bad at its job. I mean, why would anyone cause this much chaos for so little demonstrable gain?

Nice opinion article. Not one person cited. Jesus are you a hack.

[Caribbean Hen]

Thank you Elon!

Several more censorship organizations will be deleted <a href="https://t.co/SWQyamkXwY">https://t.co/S ... </p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="">

[kalm]

Thank you Elon!

Several more censorship organizations will be deleted <a href="https://t.co/SWQyamkXwY">https://t.co/S ... </p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="">

The amount of disinformation Elon allows and promotes on his Nazi infested platform is suspicious.

1). Where is the evidence of censorship? Is it being applied to verifiable facts and research?

2). I may have missed it but where is the evidence that USAID was applying domestically?

The massive amount of disinformation out there should be addressed and educating people how to consume information and verify sources and legitimacy at least on the surface seems like a good idea.

[Caribbean Hen]

Thank you Elon!

Several more censorship organizations will be deleted <a href="https://t.co/SWQyamkXwY">https://t.co/S ... </p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="">

The amount of disinformation Elon allows and promotes on his Nazi infested platform is suspicious.

1). Where is the evidence of censorship? Is it being applied to verifiable facts and research?

2). I may have missed it but where is the evidence that USAID was applying domestically?

The massive amount of disinformation out there should be addressed and educating people how to consume information and verify sources and legitimacy at least on the surface seems like a good idea.

Joe Biden "won" an election .... what more evidence do you need sonny

[kalm]

The amount of disinformation Elon allows and promotes on his Nazi infested platform is suspicious.

1). Where is the evidence of censorship? Is it being applied to verifiable facts and research?

2). I may have missed it but where is the evidence that USAID was applying domestically?

The massive amount of disinformation out there should be addressed and educating people how to consume information and verify sources and legitimacy at least on the surface seems like a good idea.

Joe Biden "won" an election .... what more evidence do you need sonny

No…that would be a perfect example.

[UNI88]

Thank you Elon!

Several more censorship organizations will be deleted <a href="https://t.co/SWQyamkXwY">https://t.co/S ... </p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="">

The amount of disinformation Elon allows and promotes on his Nazi infested platform is suspicious.

1). Where is the evidence of censorship? Is it being applied to verifiable facts and research?

2). I may have missed it but where is the evidence that USAID was applying domestically?

The massive amount of disinformation out there should be addressed and educating people how to consume information and verify sources and legitimacy at least on the surface seems like a good idea.

This kind of censorship?

How Laura Loomer and other far-right users saw their X engagements plummet as soon as they criticized Musk

Now, new analysis from The Times shows three users who targeted Musk over his views on visas in December 2024 subsequently saw a significant drop in their reach.
...
After her feud with Musk, she also lost access to X Premium for a short period, which may have contributed to her declining popularity on the platform. However, there was no obvious connection between the reach of her posts and her access to the program, according to The Times. Losing access to the premium program also meant losing access to the platform’s revenue-sharing program, which distributes advertising funds to premium users.

As with any social network, the algorithms X use to control a post’s distribution are not public.

Loomer told The Times that she estimates that she lost $50,000 from X during the suppression of her account.

“I think it’s wrong to say it’s a free speech platform and then shut off people’s ability to monetize,” she told the paper.

[kalm]

The amount of disinformation Elon allows and promotes on his Nazi infested platform is suspicious.

1). Where is the evidence of censorship? Is it being applied to verifiable facts and research?

2). I may have missed it but where is the evidence that USAID was applying domestically?

The massive amount of disinformation out there should be addressed and educating people how to consume information and verify sources and legitimacy at least on the surface seems like a good idea.

This kind of censorship?

How Laura Loomer and other far-right users saw their X engagements plummet as soon as they criticized Musk

Now, new analysis from The Times shows three users who targeted Musk over his views on visas in December 2024 subsequently saw a significant drop in their reach.
...
After her feud with Musk, she also lost access to X Premium for a short period, which may have contributed to her declining popularity on the platform. However, there was no obvious connection between the reach of her posts and her access to the program, according to The Times. Losing access to the premium program also meant losing access to the platform’s revenue-sharing program, which distributes advertising funds to premium users.

As with any social network, the algorithms X use to control a post’s distribution are not public.

Loomer told The Times that she estimates that she lost $50,000 from X during the suppression of her account.

“I think it’s wrong to say it’s a free speech platform and then shut off people’s ability to monetize,” she told the paper.

And she’s not alone. He’s a petulant child. But it’s his sand box so he has the right to kick out who ever he wants I suppose. He’s just a giant insecure and hypocritical twat for doing so. Not that he cares. He says he’s for free speech and that’s enough to satisfy his fan club.

[Bobcat]

I quit reading Loomer, Musk didnt tell me to do it.

[UNI88]

Elon Musk’s European crisis deepens—initial April sales numbers prove devastating for Tesla

Tesla’s European business appears to be in full-blown meltdown. In France, its volume sank 59% to 863 cars for the month. Sweden, where there is a labor dispute between Tesla and the local IF Metall trade union, saw its sales plummet 81% to just 203 vehicles in an otherwise growing market.

In the Netherlands, Tesla sold just 382 cars in April, a 74% dropoff. Switzerland was also a disaster—down 50% to 227 cars.

All these markets are relatively wealthy, have a sizeable EV public charging network and enjoy a penetration rate for EVs far higher than Spain, Italy or most of Eastern Europe. In other words, they tend to be where conditions for Tesla are most favorable.

[Caribbean Hen]

TSLA 287.21

[UNI88]

[Caribbean Hen]

Big buying opportunity

TSLA up 8 % this morning .... Cha Ching

TSLA up 18% today at 302 dollars per share

Some people here didn’t take advantage of that dip

[Bobcat]

I did

[Caribbean Hen]

I did

but you don't count as you are not triggered by Elon Musk

[Bobcat]

I did

but you don't count as you are not triggered by Elon Musk

But I just want to fit in :sadface:

[UNI88]

US pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk's Starlink

The United States has pushed some nations facing tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump to approve Elon Musk's Starlink, the Washington Post reported, opens new tab on Wednesday, citing State Department cables.
...
The documents do not show that the Trump administration has demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs, the newspaper reported. But they indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk's satellite firm, it reported.

No favoritism here ...

[UNI88]

[BDKJMU]