Elon Musk’s Friday Pentagon visit, initially reported as a top-secret briefing on China war plans by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, was refuted by both Musk and Secretary of Defense Hegseth. Musk denounced the NYT report as “pure propaganda” and threatened legal action against Pentagon leakers. Hegseth clarified the meeting’s focus as innovation and efficiency in production, while President Trump echoed this denial. The conflicting reports highlight Musk’s complex relationship with both the U.S. and Chinese governments, given his business interests and SpaceX’s substantial defense contracts.
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Following recent arson attacks and other violence targeting Tesla, President Trump advocated for imprisoning perpetrators, referencing a deal with El Salvador to house Venezuelan gang members. He specifically mentioned lengthy sentences and praised El Salvador’s prison conditions, despite criticism of the deal from human rights organizations. This action comes amid a broader backlash against Tesla and Elon Musk, fueled by political opposition and concerns among some shareholders. The Trump administration has classified the attacks as domestic terrorism and is pursuing aggressive legal action against those involved.
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Following President Trump’s executive orders restricting transgender rights, Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its U.S. travel advice. The revision highlights that U.S. visa applications only offer male or female gender options, advising transgender individuals with non-binary passport designations or gender changes to contact the American embassy beforehand. This action mirrors similar updates from Britain and Germany, reflecting concerns about potential U.S. entry denials for transgender travelers. The change follows advocacy from LGBT+ Denmark, prompted by worries of airport detention and mistreatment.
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Record high Tesla trade-ins are being reported by Edmunds, coinciding with Elon Musk’s controversial tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. This surge in trade-ins follows a 42% drop in Tesla’s stock price this year, fueled by public protests and increased competition from other EV manufacturers. The decline in Tesla sales and brand value is attributed, in part, to negative consumer sentiment surrounding Musk’s political activities. Edmunds data suggests a significant shift in consumer preference away from Tesla, creating a market opportunity for competitors.
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Acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek threatened to shut down the agency’s IT systems, potentially halting Social Security payments, in response to a court order restricting Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive personal data. The order, issued after the SSA’s granting of “unbridled access” to DOGE violated privacy laws, prohibits access to non-anonymized data. Dudek claims compliance with this order, which allows access only to redacted information, is impossible and necessitates a system shutdown. This action jeopardizes the benefits of 71 million Americans and follows DOGE’s plans to close SSA offices and limit services.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall affecting over 46,000 Cybertrucks due to a potential detachment of exterior side panels, posing a road hazard. This eighth recall since deliveries began involves replacing the faulty cant rail assembly with a reinforced design using an improved adhesive resistant to environmental factors. Tesla will conduct the repairs free of charge, with owner notifications mailed on May 19, 2025. The recall encompasses all 2024 and 2025 model years.
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The Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants based on flimsy evidence, primarily misinterpretations of their tattoos. ICE agents falsely linked innocuous tattoos—a soccer ball crown, a “I love you” hand gesture, and religious or family-themed imagery—to alleged Tren de Aragua gang membership. Many deportees were asylum seekers fleeing the very gang they were accused of joining, highlighting the arbitrary and unlawful nature of the deportations. This action circumvents due process, relying on the Alien Enemies Act to justify expulsions without judicial oversight, a tactic previously employed and challenged in court. The government’s actions raise serious concerns about the abuse of power and the erosion of immigrants’ constitutional rights.
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A proposed privatization of the United States Postal Service (USPS), spearheaded by the Trump administration and facilitated by Elon Musk’s involvement, threatens to generate $81 billion in profit for Wall Street while significantly increasing postage prices for consumers. This plan, revealed in a Wells Fargo Securities study, would involve selling off USPS assets and potentially jeopardizing the jobs of 640,000 unionized workers. The APWU and other postal worker unions are organizing nationwide rallies and actively fighting against this privatization effort, citing the detrimental impact on both workers and the public. The unions are prepared to take legal action to prevent the release of sensitive employee data.
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A French scientist was denied entry into the U.S. after immigration officers discovered messages critical of the Trump administration on his phone. The scientist, employed by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), was reportedly accused of “hateful and conspiratorial messages” and a potential FBI investigation, though charges were later dropped. The incident prompted France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research to publicly defend academic freedom and criticize recent cuts to scientific research in the U.S. US Customs and Border Protection stated that all arriving persons are subject to inspection and that such searches are standard procedure.
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Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders launched their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, targeting working-class voters and criticizing both the Trump administration and the Democratic Party’s perceived inaction. The tour, featuring rallies in Nevada and Arizona, directly addressed voter frustration with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent compromise with Republicans on government funding. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the need for Democrats to adopt a more aggressive stance against conservative policies and mobilize voters to counteract the influence of wealthy individuals and corporations. The event generated significant enthusiasm, with calls for Ocasio-Cortez to primary Schumer in 2028.
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John Q. Hosedrinker