Today, Explained: Elon's Party in the USA

Episode Release Date: July 14, 2025
Hosts: Sean Rameswaram and Noel King
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

In this episode of Today, Explained, Vox hosts Noel King and Joshua Green delve into Elon Musk's recent announcement about his intention to establish a new political party in the United States. The discussion explores Musk's motivations, the feasibility of a third party in the entrenched two-party system, investor reactions, and the broader implications for American politics.

Elon Musk's Proposal to Start a New Political Party

Noel King kicks off the conversation by highlighting Elon Musk's declaration of wanting to form a new political party. Musk's frustrations with "excessive government spending and waste and graft" and his interest in the "Epstein files" are cited as primary motivators. Despite initial public interest from his Twitter polls, Musk has seemingly shifted focus, leading to questions about the sincerity and viability of his political ambitions.

• Notable Quote:
  "Elon Musk wants to create a new political party. He's fed up with excessive government spending and waste and graft and he's mad about the Epstein files."
  — Noel King [00:03]

Joshua Green provides context on the rigidity of the American two-party system, emphasizing its historical dominance and the challenges a third party would face.

Lee Drutman, a senior fellow at the New America Think Tank and author of Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop, concurs, stating, "Third parties have never worked."
— Lee Drutman [00:40]

Musk's Motivations and Political Maneuvering

Lee Drutman speculates on Musk's true intentions behind his erratic social media behavior and political statements. He suggests that Musk seeks political power and attention, noting Musk's substantial financial backing of Donald Trump in previous elections.

• Notable Quote:
  "I think he's doing this because what he really wants is political power and attention."
  — Lee Drutman [02:30]

The discussion touches upon Musk's fallout with Trump, including loss of EV tax credits and public disagreements, which may have propelled him towards considering alternative political avenues.

Feasibility and Challenges of a Third Party

The hosts examine the practical challenges of establishing a new political party in the U.S.:

1. Structural Barriers:
   Forming a party requires extensive paperwork, signature collection, and establishing a coherent platform—all demanding significant time and resources.

2. Platform Consistency:
   Drutman expresses skepticism about the stability of Musk's proposed platform, citing his propensity for shifting interests and conspiracy theories.

   • Notable Quote:
     "The America Party will very much be up in the air and, you know, might not even be the kind of thing that you could, like, put down on paper and expect to last for any degree of time."
     — Lee Drutman [05:28]

3. Public Reception:
   Currently, there appears to be little serious support for Musk's political ambitions, with most observers viewing it as another of his unpredictable ventures.

   • Notable Quote:
     "Most people are kind of scoffing at the idea, thinking it's just a periodic whim because Elon has a long track record of saying things and then not following through."
     — Lee Drutman [07:41]

Investor Reaction and Business Implications

Musk's political activities have begun to impact his core businesses, particularly Tesla. Investor concerns are rising as Musk's attention shifts from his companies to political endeavors.

• Notable Quote:
  "Tesla stocks are down 8% this morning after Elon Musk announced a new political party. This is not what investors want."
  — Joshua Green [09:03]

Investors worry that Musk's political focus may detract from his responsibilities at Tesla and SpaceX, leading to stock volatility and diminished confidence.

Public Sentiment and the Two-Party System

Transitioning to a broader analysis, Lee Drutman discusses the limitations of the two-party system in representing America's diverse electorate. He advocates for proportional representation as a potential solution to the entrenched bipartisan divide.

• Notable Quote:
  "Electoral reform is the most powerful tool we have."
  — Joshua Green [25:14]

Joshua Green elaborates on how proportional representation could allow for a more accurate reflection of voter preferences, reducing the spoiler effect that hinders third-party candidates under the current system.

Public Support and Electoral Challenges

Polling data suggests significant public interest in a multi-party system, with approximately 60-70% of Americans favoring more than two parties. However, support for a centrist third party remains limited, partly due to the spoiler effect inherent in the single-winner electoral system.

• Notable Quote:
  "In a single winner election, third parties become spoilers and wasted votes because one of the two major parties is going to win every election."
  — Joshua Green [20:05]

Historical instances, such as Ross Perot's 1990s presidential campaigns, demonstrate the formidable barriers third parties face in gaining substantive political traction.

Solutions: Electoral Reform and Proportional Representation

Joshua Green advocates for adopting proportional representation with multi-member districts to mitigate issues like gerrymandering and to ensure that all votes have meaningful impact. This system would allocate legislative seats in proportion to the percentage of votes each party receives, fostering a more inclusive and representative political landscape.

• Notable Quote:
  "If you move to five member proportional districts, gerrymandering becomes irrelevant."
  — Joshua Green [24:06]

Implementing such reforms could pave the way for new political voices and reduce the polarization endemic to the current two-party system.

Conclusion: Evaluating Musk's Impact on American Politics

While Elon Musk's initiative to start a new political party may currently appear more as a publicity stunt than a serious political movement, it has ignited essential conversations about the deficiencies of the two-party system and the potential for electoral reforms. Whether Musk's venture will gain traction remains uncertain, but it underscores a growing public desire for more diverse political representation.

• Notable Quote:
  "By raising the issue of the need for a third party, I think it certainly opens up a conversation about what it would take."
  — Joshua Green [25:50]

As America contemplates its political future, the episode emphasizes the importance of electoral innovation in fostering a more representative and functional democracy.

Key Takeaways

• Elon Musk's Political Ambitions: Musk's proposal to form a new political party stems from his dissatisfaction with the current government's inefficiencies and his desire for greater political influence.

• Challenges for Third Parties: The entrenched two-party system, structural electoral barriers, and the spoiler effect make it difficult for new parties to gain meaningful traction.

• Public Sentiment: While there is substantial public support for more than two parties, especially among those disillusioned with the current system, translating this support into effective political movements remains a significant hurdle.

• Electoral Reform as a Solution: Adopting proportional representation could address many of the issues plaguing the two-party system, allowing for a more accurate and inclusive representation of the electorate's diverse viewpoints.

Produced by Avishai Artsy and Rebecca Ibarra. Edited by Jolie Myers and fact-checked by Laura Bullard. Engineering by Matthew, Billy, and Patrick Boyd. I'm Noel King. It's Today. Explained.