A victim of child sexual abuse, identified as Zora, is pleading with Elon Musk to remove links to her abusive images on X. The BBC’s investigation uncovered the presence of these images within a global trade of child sex abuse material, with an X account offering them for sale and linking to a trader in Indonesia. Despite X’s claims of zero tolerance, Zora and other victims are still suffering, as images of their abuse circulate online. The investigation also revealed the difficulty in stopping the traders from creating new accounts to replace those that get taken down.
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A federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk must face a lawsuit alleging he defrauded voters in a petition drive tied to his political action committee, America PAC. The lawsuit claims Musk enticed voters with the promise of a $1 million giveaway in exchange for signing a petition, requiring them to provide personal information. The judge found the plaintiff plausibly alleged she relied on statements suggesting the giveaway was a random lottery, despite Musk’s arguments that recipients were “selected to earn” the money. This legal action marks the first over the America PAC sweepstakes, which offered $1 million daily until November 5, 2024, and was filed on election day.
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Elon Musk must face lawsuit claiming he ran illegal $1 million election lottery. This whole situation is, to put it mildly, a mess. The core issue, as I understand it, is that Elon Musk is being sued over a lottery he allegedly ran that offered a million dollars to participants. The catch? It was tied to an election, and the accusations are that it was illegal. The initial reactions are a mixed bag, ranging from outright condemnation to a shrug of the shoulders. Some folks are immediately calling for his head, demanding everything from criminal charges to deportation. They view this as a blatant attempt to “buy votes” or, at the very least, a serious breach of ethical conduct and possibly the law.… Continue reading
Grok, the AI assistant developed by xAI, identified former President Donald Trump as “the most notorious criminal” in Washington, D.C., citing his 34 felony convictions in New York. This response was provided in answer to a user’s query about crime in the capital. This incident follows previous instances where Grok has generated controversial and potentially offensive responses, leading to scrutiny and apologies from xAI. The former president is expected to reveal more details on plans for D.C. on Monday.
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Tesla’s German car sales more than halved in July, and that’s definitely something to unpack. It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of the brand in a country known for its discerning car buyers. The numbers are striking – a significant drop in sales suggests something’s not quite clicking. And it’s interesting, because at the same time, other brands, particularly Chinese EV maker BYD, are seeing their sales in Germany jump, nearly quintupling in July. It’s a stark contrast that raises questions about Tesla’s appeal, or perhaps the perception of its appeal, in this crucial European market.
This dramatic drop in sales prompts a lot of thought, almost like watching a slow-motion car crash.… Continue reading
Tesla’s board has approved a new compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, potentially worth $29 billion, despite ongoing legal challenges to his 2018 performance award. The package, consisting of 96 million shares at a discounted price, acknowledges Musk’s contributions despite his not receiving meaningful compensation in years. This decision comes as Tesla navigates challenges including falling sales, political backlash due to Musk’s involvement in politics, and a shift towards AI and robotics under his leadership. While Tesla shares have declined this year, the board believes Musk’s focus on AI and robotics will drive future growth.
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Tesla has awarded Elon Musk $29 billion in shares to incentivize him to remain at the company, particularly amidst the intensifying competition for AI talent. This move comes as the company faces a court decision regarding Musk’s 2018 pay package. The board emphasized Musk’s crucial role in leading Tesla’s transformation into an AI and robotics-focused company. The carmaker says if Musk’s 2018 pay deal is reinstated, he will forfeit the latest share award to avoid a double-dip.
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In a recent trial, a federal jury found Tesla partially liable for a 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system, awarding the plaintiffs $43 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. The jury determined that Tesla was one-third responsible for the fatal crash, which occurred when the driver and the Autopilot software failed to brake at an intersection. This verdict is a setback for the company, as they are attempting to convince the public and regulators that their self-driving technology is safe. Tesla plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that the driver was solely at fault.
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Tennessee has approved a no-cost lease of a parking lot near the Capitol to The Boring Company, allowing them to begin the Music City Loop project. The decision, approved unanimously by the State Building Commission Executive Subcommittee, faced public criticism and concerns from Democratic lawmakers regarding transparency and the benefits for Nashville residents. The public and lawmakers questioned the process, the impact on landowners, and the appropriateness of providing public land to a private company, particularly as The Boring Company had already begun site preparation before the vote. Despite these concerns, the lease was approved, prompting further criticism and discussion of potential legal action.
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A U.S. Senate investigations subcommittee report revealed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), implemented by Elon Musk, wasted over $21 billion in its first six months. The report highlighted significant waste from mass layoffs of federal employees, resulting in $14.8 billion spent on early retirement packages and $6.1 billion on severance. Furthermore, DOGE’s funding freezes led to lost interest payments, spoiled goods, and cuts to programs that generated more revenue than they cost to operate. This included the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and public health research cuts. Long-term projections suggest that the DOGE initiatives could cost taxpayers significantly more in the future.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood