One must-read delivered daily to your inbox

Trump’s Trump

Member Newsletter

December 18, 2024 10:43 p.m.

BUTLER, PA - OCT. 5: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks with former president Donald Trump during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. This is the first time former pres... BUTLER, PA - OCT. 5: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks with former president Donald Trump during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. This is the first time former president Donald Trump has returned to Butler since he was injured during an attempted assassination on July 13. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) MORE LESS

As you’ve likely seen, things kind of went off the rails on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson had assembled one of those big spending packages to avoid a government shutdown. Then Elon Musk went off on the bill and started a stampede for the exits among House Republicans. Then Trump turned against it too. Then JD Vance. By the end of the day, it was clear not only that the bill was dead, there was a real question about whether Johnson’s speakership will survive the vote for speaker coming up on January 3rd.

But none of those points are the critical ones. This is about Elon Musk.

Want to keep reading?

Join TPM and get The Backchannel member newsletter along with unlimited access to all TPM articles and member features.

JOIN TPM

Confirmation Theater and Press Credulity
Don’t Blame Libs or Progs for Driving Silicon Valley to the Right
Down the Rabbit Hole of the Greenland Tech-Bro State
Greenland, Panama, Canada … None of that is Going to Happen
Zuck’s ‘Content Moderation’ Was Always A Crock

Thinking About the Confirmations
Three Cheers for Blue Origin … No Really
It Won’t Age Well
Listen To This: Goodbye, Jimmy