SpaceX's latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion

Fiscal year 2024 was the largest on record for SpaceX, aided by at least $3.8 billion in U.S. government contracts.

Empathy

Seth Abramson (on BSky): How Elon Musk betrayed America: a (loooong) thread from a Musk biographer and former federal criminal investigator.

New Orleans Boos a Cybertruck Off a Mardi Gras Parade, Breaks One of Its Windows
People are showing their displeasure at Elon Musk by destroying Teslas and Tesla infrastructure across the country.

 haresfur wrote:
Of course, it's evil collectivism.

 R_P wrote:
So completely break it rather than fixing it

"Also in DOGE’s crosshairs is Social Security. Today the administration announced a major “organizational restructuring” of the Social Security Administration. This restructuring appears to mean large cuts to the agency, even though staffing is already at a 50-year low. It is not clear exactly how many positions will be cut; multiple outlets say half of the agency’s 57,000 employees will be let go, while an executive at the agency told Erich Wagner and Natalie Alms of Government Executive that the initial number of firings will be 7,000. At least five of the eight regional commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving, and former Social Security administrator Martin O’Malley warned: “Social Security is being driven to a total system collapse.” "   â€” Heather Cox Richardson/Feb 27, 2025

They've had their eye on this one for decades. Now it will be excoriated and the Magas won't believe it until they don't get their payments. By then, the military will tamp down on any 'rebellious' ideas any Americans may have. The firings of experienced, military leaders have seen to that.

Hyberbole? Not after what we all witnessed yesterday.

Now where have I heard that before?

 R_P wrote:
Non-paywall version.

Run-of-the-mill corporate tyranny

Elon Musk: "We will make mistakes. We won't be perfect ... so for example, with USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was ebola prevention."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 26 February 2025 at 17:56

So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID.This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.

— Jeremy Konyndyk (@jeremykonyndyk.bsky.social) 26 February 2025 at 23:41

Looking good... Musk losing a few zeroes would be a net win for humanity.
Tesla stock sinks as Europe sales tank on rival offerings, Musk blowback

We asked 41 Tesla drivers what they think of Elon Musk

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Don’t Tread on Me—Unless You’re a Billionaire with a Ketamine Addiction, in Which Case I Enthusiastically Support It

Joe Rogan’s Elon Musk Love Affair
The most prominent podcaster in the world used to forgo politics. Musk’s entry into government has him singing a different tune.

 R_P wrote: