On with Kara Swisher How Elon Broke Twitter — and Twitter Broke Elon — with Ben Mezrich
15 snips
Nov 2, 2023 Join Ben Mezrich, author of "Breaking Twitter" and the mind behind hits like "The Social Network," as he dives into the chaotic world of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover. He explores the delicate dance of blending hard facts with fiction while dissecting Musk's influence on social media and free speech. The conversation takes a playful turn when the trio brainstorms ideal actors to portray Musk in film, weighing in on options from Vince Vaughn to a surprise character from 'Succession.' Expect sharp insights and entertaining banter!
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Babylon Bee Incident
- Elon Musk's Twitter purchase was partly motivated by the Babylon Bee's suspension.
- The Babylon Bee's trans joke suspension angered Musk, fueling his "woke mind virus" narrative.
Tesla Stockholder Backlash
- Backlash from Tesla stockholders made Musk nervous about the Twitter acquisition.
- He had to sell Tesla stock and faced negative responses.
Free Speech Hypocrisy
- Musk's free speech ideology disappears when his personal interests are threatened.
- He suspends journalists and throttles links when they criticize him.
