X owner Elon Musk (it’s easy to forget he’s also media owner role as he builds his space empire) spent at least $47m backing Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton and $158m into the Republican cause in Texas – now his HQ – only to see Democrat James Talarico take Texas blue for the first time in 38 years.
Not only that but he ran an ad campaign plumbing new depths of nastiness even by American standards. He even spent $10m on AI-powered so-called “robocalls.”
Musk, never lost for words, said: “Guess my election-interfering space lasers didn’t work this time.”
Media, as with seemingly everything else in the US, has become the plaything of the tech bros (Jeff Bezos owns the once-flagship Washington Post) and Musk’s brazen attempt to buy the election in Texas is just the most extreme example.
It’s to be hoped the Democrats, who now largely control the domestic agenda after wins in both Houses, now try to act to rein in the over-mighty tech bros.
Mind you it wouldn’t entirely be a surprise if some of them rediscover their Democrat roots. A bit late for Musk maybe.
