Next Comes What: Keeping Musk Rattled — Don't Stop. It's Working!
Host: Andrea Pitzer
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Podcast: Next Comes What
1. Overview
In the April 3, 2025 episode of Next Comes What, host Andrea Pitzer delves into the burgeoning movement against Elon Musk and his influence over Tesla and broader governmental affairs. The episode, titled "Keeping Musk Rattled — Don't Stop. It's Working!", explores the rise of grassroots protests, their impact on Musk's enterprises, and the broader implications for democracy and political resistance in the United States and globally.
2. The Tesla Takedown Protests
Andrea Pitzer begins by outlining the scope and objectives of the Tesla Takedown protests, a coordinated global movement aiming to curtail Elon Musk's influence over government entities and reverse federal budget cuts. These protests, which peaked on March 29 with simultaneous actions worldwide, have seen demonstrations not only across major U.S. cities like New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco but also internationally in at least a dozen countries.
Notable Quote:
"Tesla Takedown, a global day of peaceful action demanding an end to Elon Musk's influence over Doge, the Department of Government Efficiency, and its sweeping federal cuts." [04:10]
3. On the Ground: Tyson's Corner Demonstration
Pitzer recounts her firsthand experience attending a Tesla protest in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. Despite logistical challenges, including limited parking, over 200 participants gathered to express their dissent against Musk. The demonstration featured passionate speeches, music from local musicians, and widespread public support, including honking drivers and mixed reactions from Tesla owners.
Notable Quote:
"What you're seeing here is a blowout. Elon Musk and his $26 million got wrecked tonight in a state that Donald Trump won just a couple of months ago." [12:45]
4. Demographics and Motivations of Protesters
The protest attracts a diverse crowd, predominantly comprising retirees and veterans, though some college-aged individuals are present. Pitzer highlights conversations with participants like Julie, a Navy veteran and longtime activist, who emphasizes the perceived incompetence of government officials and Musk's undue influence.
Notable Quote:
"If I had done what they did. Elon Musk has offered to put his technical experts on this to figure out how this number was inadvertently added to the chat." [18:30]
5. Impact of Protests on Tesla and Elon Musk
Pitzer discusses the tangible effects of the protests on Tesla's business, including widespread vehicle recalls and declining stock prices. She cites shareholder Ross Gerber's assertion that Chinese EV companies are outpacing Tesla by leveraging their local advantages.
Notable Quote:
"China had a plan when they let Tesla have a fully owned factory. They wanted the technology and the knowledge and experience. That's exactly what they're doing." [25:50]
Pitzer argues that the sustained protests not only tarnish Musk's public image but also directly impact Tesla’s sales and financial stability.
6. The Role of Public Protests in a Broader Political Context
Expanding beyond Tesla, Pitzer connects the protests to a larger national struggle against what she describes as an extreme concentration of power and corruption undermining democratic institutions. She stresses the importance of continuous public resistance to prevent authoritarian drift, highlighting the necessity of building a widespread movement to counteract figures like Trump and Musk.
Notable Quote:
"An extreme concentration of power and corruption is taking over this country like never before. But we are also here because we know that a better world is possible." [39:20]
7. International Comparisons and Global Protest Movements
Pitzer draws parallels between domestic protests and international movements resisting authoritarianism. She cites Hungary's LGBTQ rights protests against Viktor Orban and mass demonstrations in Turkey against President Erdogan's repressive policies, underscoring that resistance against corruption and authoritarianism is a global phenomenon.
Notable Quote:
"Thousands of LGBTQ Hungarians and their supporters have taken to the streets to demand that their annual June Pride march takes place as usual." [48:15]
8. Economic Non-Cooperation and Historical Examples
The episode touches on the power of economic non-cooperation, referencing historical movements like the Delano grape strike led by Filipino and Mexican workers. Pitzer also discusses the Target boycott initiated by Black faith groups and civil rights organizations in response to the company's termination of DEI initiatives, illustrating the effectiveness of coordinated economic actions.
Notable Quote:
"Black people spend $12 million a day. Yeah, you should be paying for the whole NAACP convention period." [57:40]
9. Street Protests and Their Effectiveness
Pitzer emphasizes the resurgence of street protests, noting a significant increase in the number of demonstrations compared to the early Trump administration years. She argues that visible, on-the-ground protests are crucial for maintaining public pressure and shaping political outcomes.
Notable Quote:
"By the end of February, we had tallied twice as many protests in the United States as had happened at this time in 2017." [1:05:30]
10. Future of Political Resistance and Call to Action
Concluding the episode, Pitzer urges listeners to participate in upcoming protests and emphasizes the collective power of organized action. She highlights ongoing coordinated efforts like Indivisible 50:51 and the Women's March, advocating for sustained commitment to protect social programs and democratic institutions.
Notable Quote:
"We're stronger when we take action. And that is what Saturday is about, is all of us that have been standing up for our communities ever since Trump and Musk started getting their grubby little hands all over our services, all over our democracy, all over our rights, all of us have been taking action." [1:15:55]
11. Conclusion
Andrea Pitzer wraps up the episode by reinforcing the necessity of ongoing resistance against concentrated power and corruption. She underscores that while challenges remain formidable, the collective efforts of protesters, both domestically and internationally, are pivotal in striving toward a more equitable and democratic future.
End of Summary