The clip from Greg Casar that Betty posted yesterday, where he pointed out that Musk makes $8 million a day when a senior on Social Security gets $65/day is great. I want to keep going down that road.
First, Elon has a $400 million deal to sell “armored” (lol) Teslas (perhaps IncelCaminos?) to the State Department. That’s not wasteful. The State Department removed “Tesla” from the contract announcement after the news got out, by the way.
That deal is in addition to the “at least” $18 billion that Musk’s SpaceX has received from government contracts, $3.7 billion of which was for fiscal year 2024.
I don’t know how we’re going to rid ourselves of this nazi foreign influencer, but tanking his meme stock sure wouldn’t hurt. A Tesla boycott, along with 100% tariffs on Teslas in Canada, Mexico and the EU would be one fine way to hit them. Another is picketing Tesla showrooms, which TeslaTakedown.com is trying to organize. (Yes, that’s Bill from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.). The WankPanzer is a piece of shit and laughingstock already, even before Elon sieg heil’d.
Edit: So much going on that I forgot that Elon got rid of the CFPB just as he’s going to launch his new payment platform.
Elon Musk is developing a new payment platform called “X Money.”
Guess which agency would be making sure that Elon’s new project couldn’t scam you or steal your sensitive personal data? The CFPB.
— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) February 13, 2025 at 8:44 AM
trollhattan
Just posted downstairs but this fits better here.
Suzanne
@trollhattan: I think it’s effective messaging. Not just because it’s true, either.
Old School
Aziz, light!
Wake up and smell the more expensive coffee. From electoral-vote.com:
lowtechcyclist
Apparently TeslaTakedown’s ‘tool for finding nearby events thinks the DC area is located in the South Atlantic somewhere off of Africa. I’ve tried zip codes for southern Maryland, where I live; northern Virginia, where I grew up; and DC. And their map always takes me to that same bit of ocean.
I’m sure there’s a Tesla dealer somewhere closer than that.
Old Man Shadow
Let me guess… all future government payments will go through X-money with a healthy finance fee added and passed along to the recipient. No X-money account, no social security money for grandma.
Spanky
@lowtechcyclist: White Oak. Search Google Maps for “tesla service”.
Belafon
About the only one that is pointless in Alex’s list is selling your car. That’s like burning your copies of Harry Potter. You won’t make much off of them if you try. Just put one of those “I didn’t know who he was when I bought the car” stickers on.
Leto
Yeah, they simply reworded it. They’re still going to try to line his pockets.
A Ghost to Most
I intend to buy exactly as many Tesla/Starlink products (0) as I ever did Apple products. I don’t like cults.
@mistermix.bsky.social
@Belafon:
I think it’s effective but expensive — if you sell your Tesla now, you further depress the market for used Teslas because there’s a glut and people who sell them lose money. People who are willing to lose money on their Tesla and post to social media about how much they lost are damaging the brand. I see some of it on reddit.
Ruckus
@Old Man Shadow:
There are a more than a few citizens that live on social security monthly payments. Take those away and there is a very large group of humans that have nothing left to lose and will likely be just a tad pissed off. We paid into social security for decades, first because it’s the law and second to have that retirement payment. Now the world’s richest ASSHOLE is trying to take that away so that he has MORE? I’m thinking this will not go over well. Ask me why I believe/know this……
cmorenc
At some point, Musk will cross the line in Trump’s mind from helping enhance Donnie’s swaggering dick to stepping on it and causing EDF. You’d think hitting this crossover point would be a perverse sort of improvement if it results in sidelining Elon. However, if/when Trump downsizes Elon, Trump will transfer the role to Russell Vought, who is equally ruthless and sociopathic, but Vought’s M.O. is that of an extremist ideologue who seeks the high of achieving his ideological dreams, not the high of swaggering in the spotlight.
Emily B.
My general investment strategy has been to put my retirement funds into broad-based index funds and—increasingly—ESG funds. Unfortunately, both of those options usually mean holding TSLA. Sometimes a LOT of it. 4.5 percent of Green Century Equity is TSLA.
Looking for alternatives. Someone on Bluesky suggested Parnassus funds. I looked at a couple of Parnassus funds, and yes, they don’t list TSLA in their top holdings. So that’s one possibility I’m considering. Any other suggestions?
Old School
@Leto:
Quite possibly, but the program is a Biden initiative.
trollhattan
@Belafon:
It’s basically shooting yourself in the junk. Presuming you own your car and not leasing, a cloud of them hitting the used market will plunge resale prices and if my area is any indicator, they don’t hold their value particularly well as it is. It could be a quick journey from $30,000 to $15,000.
TBone
Be still my beating heart (and blood pressure).
TBone
On topic over at Atrios today
Ruckus
@cmorenc:
Do not think that elon doesn’t want, love the spotlight.
He already has more money than anyone else, what he wants is POWER. And that spotlight shows him off as the most powerful human because as we all know – money is EVERYTHING.
MomSense
@cmorenc:
I don’t know. Trump had already suffered indignities from being Musk’s co president. I think Trump is completely bought and paid for. He has no choice. If it weren’t for Musk’s assistance (and I’m not convinced that cheating wasn’t part of it) Trump would be facing protracted legal battles with the threat of jail time.
Soapdish
X Money just means Money You No Longer Have.
TBone
@trollhattan: succinct and to the point. I like it (the entire video).
I’m really glad that man is on our side.
Ruckus
@MomSense:
And he should be in any event. shitforbrains was elected to office and yet the world’s richest man is effectively the president. shitforbrains is doing doodly squat and the worlds richest man has bought the US government for nothing.
How’s that for democracy?
Sister Golden Bear
@@mistermix.bsky.social: Some of us can’t afford to lose money by selling our Tesla (and bought it years ago back when we trying to help the planet and we didn’t know how awful Elon was). Just saying.
TBone
A deguello in honor of Rep. Robert Garcia
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QwGROBljaKQ
Sister Golden Bear
@Sister Golden Bear: I hate doing the #NotAllTeslaOwners but I’m getting tired of the presumption by some quarters (not you) that owning a Tesla automatically means you’re a right-wing asshole (with the obvious exception of Wankpanzer owners). And that if you don’t immediately sell your Tesla — or better yet burn it — you’re a right wing asshole. Purity pony lefties shooting potential allies ain’t a winning strategy.
Yes, I’m cranky this morning.
lou
@trollhatten:
Someone told me, and I don’t know if this is true, that Teslas don’t hold their resale value because you basically have to get Tesla’s permission to sell. They hold the rights to the software that operates the vehicle so all you’re selling is the shell.
MomSense
@Ruckus:
We are in a constitutional crisis and have been for some time with several of SCOTUS’ decisions.
Sister Golden Bear
@lou: Not true. Traditionally Teslas held their value extremely well. The exception came with the Wankpanzers, which do have a restrictIon on how long you had to own it before selling (don’t remember how long). When they came out the purported reason was to prevent speculators from scarfing them up and flipping them for exorbitant mark ups.
Geminid
@Leto: Maybe the idea is that the terrorists will be laughing so hard they can’t shoot straight.
eclare
@Sister Golden Bear:
A woman I know bought a Tesla sedan early last year as part of converting her house and car to electric. She is very liberal, strong D. The last thing I would do is harass her over this, I have no doubt she feels bad enough driving around.
I hope your heart rate and BP are doing better, or are under control, today.
Geminid
@Sister Golden Bear: I’ll make a general observation based on following Middle East social media: the world is full of people who want other people to fight their wars for them.
Sure Lurkalot
@Sister Golden Bear:
I’m not particularly tied into the tech bro zeitgeist but it did seem that they were propped as “egalitarians”…all the cute Google quips on their search page celebrating diversity that went viral, for just one small example. Faking it and true colors coming out? Obscene overload of money change their perspective? (Cindi Lauper song lyrics were spot on). Maybe the meme that people turn “conservative” (reactionary a better word) the more they have is true?
PS I have been late to threads where you’ve discussed your stresses and health issues, please accept my hopes that you receive good care for your health issues to resolution and find work that uses your skill set the best way they translate.
call_me_ishmael
After a few State Dept officials (hopefully the appointed ones) get stuck in their burning incel camino/wankpanzer/rhodesian ridgeline and have to be rescued, perhaps that will change their thinking a bit..
Geminid
@call_me_ishmael: I think the State Department would have to rewrite their specifications to use a Cybertruck for an armored limo. They’re deficient in so many ways just for normal civilian use.
Baud
@Geminid:
That’s this administration’s motto.
Ruckus
@MomSense:
Yep.
Ruckus
@Baud:
I think they had this tattooed on when they were 12 and decided to be pompous arrogant assholes as a life long career. In reverse so that they could see it in a mirror.
Jay
@Sister Golden Bear:
Just slap an anti Musk sticker on the back and drive it into the ground, the battery fails or when software updates are no longer available
By doing that, you will be making multiple statements.
When do you get your heart monitor?
Marc
This Tesla discussion reminds me of one of the “rules” that applied in the wealthy Jewish neighborhood I grew up in during the 60s. Absolutely no one owned an German or Italian car and Fords were pretty rare. The cool kid car when we reached high school was a Camaro or Toyota Celica, not a Mustang.
FelonyGovt
@Sister Golden Bear: You have every right to be cranky. I hope you are doing better and getting your health issues under control. Take care of yourself.
Elizabelle
@Geminid: Cybertrucks are uninsurable in Germany, and thus banned.
Germany knows a thing or two about cars. And dictators.
Elizabelle
@Sister Golden Bear: What Jay said.
And hope your health and heartbeat are returning to normal.
Sister Golden Bear
@eclare: @Sure Lurkalot: @Jay: @Elizabelle: @FelonyGovt:
Heart palpitations and BP are a bit better, but still extremely high. I just got a heart monitor installed that I’ll be wearing for the next two weeks. Another follow up tomorrow and seeing the cardiologist early next week. My life is becoming a be a series of doctor’s appointments.
Stress test found that the lower part of my heart is inserting extra beats, but they’re don’t really know why, hence the monitor. But stress and anxiety can be one cause.
@Jay: Already had an anti-Elon sticker on the Tesla. Adding another.
MomSense
@Sister Golden Bear:
My son’s in-laws bought a Tesla at the beginning and now they are horrified by Musk. It all depends how far back we go. I drive a subaru and they were the major manufacturer of war planes in Japan during WWII. My grandmother was horrified when I bought my first Japanese car.
TBone
@Sister Golden Bear: I had two heart attacks (late 30s, early 40s) and had the 2 week heart monitor – be sure to follow instructions for communicating any additional symptoms. I was also prescribed beta blockers to use, and instructed to “bear down” like pushing out a bowel movement if I felt the elephant coming back to sit on my chest. These episodes were the result of a herxheimer (too much dead Lyme bacteria poison at once) that was diagnosed as an “electrical” issue. I did get some damage discovered by subsequent imaging, but not enough to worry about.
I hope the monitor helps you get a prompt diagnosis and proper treatment ASAP!
AM in NC
@Belafon: Not good for the individual seller, but flooding the market with slightly used vehicles will depress the market for new vehicles, thus harming Elon.
Sister Golden Bear
@TBone: I definitely have been, and will be, alert for any of the classic stroke or heart attack symptoms — will definitely call 911 if needed.
Part of my challenge is that aside from feeling like I’m been in flight or fight mode since Jan. 20, I’m not feeling any of the usual symptoms of high BP or heart palpitations, I just feel like I’m either adrenaline wired, or (periodically) having an adrenaline crash. I’ve had the latter in other benign contexts, so I recognize when that happens.
I asked the tech who installed the Zio patch monitor about this and she said to only log things if I feel the actual symptoms (e.g. feeling like my heart is racing, dizziness, elephant on my chest, etc.).
Sister Golden Bear
@AM in NC: Honestly, even though much of Elon’s wealth is tied up in Tesla stock, selling one’s Tesla in protest won’t make much of a dent in his wealth. So it’s more of a performative thing being demanded by purity ponies who want others to fight their battles and won’t be affected by the costs.
Though obviously I understand if some Tesla owners want to do it for their own reasons, i.e. not being associated with Elon. I probably would if I were in a position to do so.
rikyrah
@trollhattan:
Awe, so quaint that she feels the need to tone police 😡😡
lynno
This 4th of July…Tesla armored what ever driving down Pennsylvania Avenue DC.
Ruckus
@MomSense:
Living is the important part.
The concept is the same for all of us and the results are often how we deal with the crap that life can-does hand us – or piles on. I’ve been hit literally head on by a pickup truck. Me, not in a car. Walked away. I’ve been high above the ocean out on the yardarm of a USN vessel, the safety line was a rope I tied around my waist. Which really didn’t matter because there was no one else to pull me up if I fell. The list goes on. Life is what we make of it – or what is made up for us. We share as much as we can with someone else to make life easier. And better. And sometimes we go it mostly alone. It’s there to enjoy, or not. Enjoyment is better. Go for a walk if you can, watch the stars, be the bit of life that you are given. I have a friend my age who got polio at one year old. If she isn’t giving up neither should anyone else. Know another woman who also had polio and the last time I saw her she walked into a room with no crutches and no evidence she’d had polio. Life is life. For some it’s grand. For some it sucks donkey parts. We get what we get and if we can, we make it good if we can. There’s no guarantee whatsoever, good/bad/indifferent.
Me, I’m having a decent, normal life as a 75 yr old. Life is what it is, what you make of it, and what it makes of you. You control maybe 10% of any of it. ENJOY what you get, it’s a much better experience than being pissed off at what you can’t change.
sab
I never read Harry Potter. I was waiting to buy the books with British spelling. Then my husband bought me a boxed set. I read it and didn’t like it at all.
But the boxed set makes a great footrest, so I still have it in my bedroom.
I hated boarding school. And all those kids lied every time they opened their mouths. To the school officials and to each other.
ETA I will confess I like the Cormoron Strike series. Very few lying children there.
Jay
@Sister Golden Bear:
Used Tesla’s prices took a big hit in January 2024, when Hertz and other rental car companies started “dumping” them from their rental fleets because of high maintenance costs and low demand.
The absence of charging stations in industrial, suburban and rural areas probably had an impact on demand.
trollhattan
@Jay:
They canned the CEO because he had backed a big EV fleet play but resale did not pan out. This is like the biggest corporate cardinal sin there is. Splash a couple airplanes? No biggie. Mistaken capital investment. Heretic!
sab
@Jay: My hairdresser has a Tesla and is very embarrassed by it but he can’t affored to dump it. I worry about his safety although he is a good driver. His politics are typical black small business owner: slightly left of center.
Geminid
@trollhattan: I’m glad Republican Rep. Mike Garcia lost to George Whitehurst last November. I no longer get the good Rep. Garcia from California mixed up with the bad one.
Ruckus
@lynno:
A bazooka would take that right out.
Now I don’t recommend that as innocent people will likely be affected negatively but just the thought of it brightens the day.
Elon is not as special as he thinks he is, it’s not even close. He has money but he started with a lot of family money from South Africa, seemingly gained at the cost of a lot of South African humanity. Which he very likely doesn’t give even one shit about. He’s the latest case of “My money makes me great!” Except it really, really, really doesn’t, not in any way, shape or form. (Not sure if 3 is enough…)
Jay
@trollhattan:
Enterprise here, rents EV’s, but not Tesla’s.
Rental staff walk you through the vehicle, discuss your destination, and provide you with a city map, a Canada wide mapbook or a BC Hydro app, so that at all times, you can find the nearest charging station(s). Currently, most highway rest stop areas, have charging stations, (and washrooms, a covered picnic area, picnic tables, an area for kids and dogs to run around, BBQ’s, etc.)
Jay
@sab:
Bring him a “I bought this before we all knew he was a Nazi.” bumper sticker, $1.25 on Esty, embarrassment over, new pithy message added on to the original messages conveyed by a Tesla.
sab
@Jay: I think I will buy that before my next hair appointment. He can use it or not.
JoyceH
@sab: What’s funny about that is that there’s a real market for boarding school stories – set a series in a boarding school and it’s almost a guaranteed sale.
Ruckus
@sab:
I used to know a guy who bought an early Tesla and really liked not having to stop at gas stations on a regular basis. The build quality was not bad but the production numbers weren’t as high then so who knows what today’s versions are like.
If I was in the market for a new car I might look at an electric, not a tesla for sure but there are many others on the market. But my 8 yr old car has less than 17,000 miles on it so it’s my last one. And I take the local electric transit train for long distances, it’s far cheaper and often takes less time to cross the county.
JoyceH
Teslas used to have the reputation as a liberal car, but that’s when they were the only EVs on the market. I really like the protests at dealerships, which started out organically. Hit these MFers where they live, in their wallets. I’d like to see the value of Musk’s holdings decline to the point where he’s no longer the world’s richest man. That would break his puny little heart.
MomSense
@Ruckus:
I’m very lucky! I have great relationships with all three of my sons and their SOs and friends. I have good friends and so many interests that I never feel bored. Sometimes money and regrets cause me problems, but they are temporary. For the most part life is just being and hopefully finding connection with other humans and nature.
TBone
@Sister Golden Bear: you’re getting good advice. You’re being watchful. I’m thinking you might need some chemical balance blood checks (like thyroid, etc.) for what you’re describing, please consider seeing a hematologist/endocrinologist to see what is making too much and then not enough adrenaline. That’s weird stuff and adrenaline is a powerful, kickass substance!
If you haven’t already!
Professor Bigfoot
Just back from a two-store grocery run; and man, I saw a LOT of swastikars.
Almost like this post brought them out.
TBone
@trollhattan:
@Suzanne:
That entire, short video clip is worth the few moments – his message about getting an attention platform to then use to tell the truth in non-obscene language is spot on.
TBone
@Professor Bigfoot: crikey!
Professor Bigfoot
@MomSense: I’d go at least to the Senatortoise from Kentucky’s machinations around Supreme Court nominations.
Old School
jimmiraybob
My plan at this point is simply to give $$ to organizations that send lawyers to the front lines who will fight for our liberal democracy and our natural and civil rights. Also to Democrats since there is no other viable political Party in America. Has anybody published such a list that anyone can point me toward?
Kay
She’s a conservative and apparently the only one of them with any integrity. Well done.
Served
@Kay: Looks like it’s a full-on purge right now. They’re resigning one after the other. And these are the ‘actings’ that the administration chose!
Jay
When Trump was sworn in, Elon Musk’s corporations were under more than 32 investigations conducted by at least 11 federal agencies.
Most of the cases are now closed or likely to be closed soon, and the federal agencies are being defanged by DOGE.
Funny how that works, huh?- Robert Reich
Kay
@Served:
Finally. Someone stands up.
AnnaN
Space Ex was just (2/10/25) awarded a brand new $38 million contract this week. This is NOT a task order written off already place IDIQ contract and is coded as a supplemental agreement for work within scope. Hrrrrrmmmmm. My guess is that this won’t be audited by Doge.
Also, I work contracting for the VA. This week DOGE requested detailed explanation on two contracts from our team alone as to why the VA should offer these services. The contracts are for: National Veteran Suicide Hotline, and Joint Commission Readiness Surveys. The first is obvious. The second one is to show that the VA is providing healthcare services in accordance with the law.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@AnnaN:
sEeMs ToTaLlY lOgIcAl ThAt ThE vA sHoUlD qUeStIoN aNy SuPpOrT fOr SuIcIdAl VeTeRaNs.
Sister Golden Bear
@TBone:
I believe they ran those tests when I was at the ER, but I’ll ask about it during tomorrow’s follow-up.
Obviously they need to make sure they examine all the possibilities, but to me stress/anxiety still seems like the most likely cause.
Bill Arnold
@Sister Golden Bear:
Very much so. The mind (brain/CNS) has significant influence over parts of the autonomic nervous system.
Meditation can help, with a focus on the deep-relaxation precursors. Finer-grained (conscious) control is also possible with practice.
(And of course other methods for reducing anxiety, e.g. exercise, medication and certain herbs.)
Also, look at the reports/research literature about BP weirdnesses and tachycardia after COVID-19 infection. That (in research literature at least) seems to resolve after several weeks up to months.
Also, be super careful about home-cuff measurements; placement of the cuff on the arm is critical; best to compare in the doctors office with the doctor/nurse doing auscultatory with a stethoscope, then the automated cuff (oscillometric), then auscultatory again.
Professor Bigfoot
I wish we could stop talking about defending “our democracy” and start defending the Constitution.
Shalimar
@Professor Bigfoot: The elected president just delegated the entire government by executive order to the guy who gave him the most money. Unless the Supreme Court fights back and also hires an army, I’m not sure we still have a Constitution.
Bill Arnold
@Sister Golden Bear:
Ah, just saw this. Your anxiety must be at pounding levels. (Mind full of vibrating bees, for me.)
I played with several herbs after the Nov 2024 election; tulsi/holy basil, lavender, passion flower, ashwagandha. They all have real effects (there is research literature) on various receptors. (Also RDA (at least) of magnesium.) A prescribed SSRI might help, too.
Meditation, exercise and sleep are the gotos.
Sister Golden Bear
@Bill Arnold:
Been doing all that. Obviously they haven’t solved things. But hopefully they’ve helped prevent things from being even worse.
I had Long Covid for most of 2023, so that’s definitely something I plan to ask about.
Yeah, I was warned about this during yesterday’s video follow-up. I’m going in person tomorrow so that’ll be a chance to check both cuffs. I have a wrist cuff, one of the expensive Omron ones, but was told they’re less accurate, so I’ve just bought an arm cuff, also one of the expensive Omron ones,* which is coming this afternoon. Plan to use the arm cuff at home for most of the readings, but have the wrist cuff in the car in case it’s needed.
*Both are supposed to be pretty accurate, but I’ll ask the doctor to make sure I’m placing each of them properly.
Sister Golden Bear
@Bill Arnold:
Those are possibilities, but I’m holding off 1) until we have a better idea of what’s going on, and 2) so that we’re not changing too many variables at once.
Professor Bigfoot
@Shalimar: exactly.
The thing is— if the Constitution is dead, what are we doing? Who are we? What is America?
Is it suddenly the Confederacy?
Baud
@Shalimar:
Blue states just filed suit against the delegation.
Bill Arnold
@Sister Golden Bear:
Yeah, one variable at a time is best, agreed, ideally with on-off-on experiments. (or off/on/off, if eliminating something e.g. dietary.)
WTFGhost
@Ruckus: In my experience, if you can’t stop at three, the desire to make physical contact (really (smash) really (smash) REALLY (SMASH)) might become hard to resist.
(I didn’t say *don’t* do that, just… fair warning.)
@Sister Golden Bear: if you had/have long covid, don’t be surprised if orthostatic intolerance(OI) crops up. All I’ve read of long covid sounds like me/CFS, and OI is a symptom of me/CFS. (Or just “CFS” if that’s what you’re used to.)
OI is when being upright – sitting or standing – your brain doesn’t get enough blood supply (or the body doesn’t think it does), so it raises your BP. It can also cause syncope (fainting) when changing position; lying down would then restore you to your “baseline”, which includes whatever lasting BP suppressants you might be using. It’s annoying as heck, but, having a cardiologist go over it with you will be a big bonus – it’s a complicated thingie (some people swear they can tell when language processing falls apart), but “complicated” doesn’t mean it has to be scary.
Aziz, light!
@Professor Bigfoot: If Trump ignores court rulings against him, including the Supremes, and the repubs do nothing to reclaim their power, then autocracy has won. The only solution then will be to disunite the states.
And leave Canada out of it.
YY_Sima Qian
Well, it sure would be nice if there are more choices for EVs in the U.S., or that PHEVs are available to serve as a stepping stone from ICEs to BEVs, so that one is not faced with/ the choice or sending money to Elon Musk, or continue to subsidize the laggards in legacy automakers (not just in Detroit) w/ their subpar & still expensive EVs, or subsidize the legacy automakers & hurt the environment by buying their ICEs.
However, a series of decisions by corporate America & USG Administrations going back a decade have removed that choice, & affordability, for EVs.