X Man: The Elon Musk Origin Story – Episode 7: Body Snatchers

Release Date: March 30, 2025
Produced by: BBC and Distributed by Pushkin Industries
Host: Jill Lepore, Harvard History Professor and New Yorker Writer

Introduction

In Episode 7, titled "Body Snatchers," Jill Lepore delves deep into the intricate tapestry of Elon Musk's motivations, fears, and ideologies, drawing parallels between historical fears of mind control and Musk's contemporary battles against what he terms the "Woke mind virus." This episode explores the genesis of these fears, their historical roots, and how they manifest in Musk's actions and public persona.

Elon Musk's Acquisition of Twitter/X

The episode opens with a [02:00] news segment highlighting Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, rebranded as X. Musk's primary justification for this purchase centers around his conviction that Twitter was limiting free speech:

Musk: "It's important to the function of democracy. It's important to the function of the United States as a free country and many other countries. And to help freedom in the world." [03:04]

Despite Twitter's relatively limited user base in the U.S.—with only about 1 in 5 American adults having accounts—the platform holds significant sway in political discourse, largely dominated by a small fraction of active users. Musk's takeover aimed to transform Twitter from a perceived left-leaning bastion into a platform championing unfettered free speech.

The "Woke Mind Virus" Concept

A central theme of the episode is Musk's portrayal of the "Woke mind virus," a term he popularized to critique what he sees as pervasive liberal ideologies undermining societal norms. The concept is traced back to Richard Dawkins' notion of a "mind virus," originally used to describe how ideas can spread like biological viruses:

Musk: "The woke mind virus is either defeated or nothing else matters." [04:03]

However, Lepore contextualizes this idea historically, linking it to the 1950s fears of communism and brainwashing, notably depicted in the 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This analogy serves to illustrate the depth and persistence of Musk's fears about ideological manipulation.

Historical Context: Mind Control and Brainwashing

Lepore provides a rich historical backdrop, exploring how fears of mind control emerged during the Cold War. She references:

• Robert Vogler's Case: An American businessman who, after being held in a Hungarian Communist prison camp, exhibited signs of brainwashing, including forced confessions and altered behaviors [09:09].

• Edward Hunter's Influence: An OSS agent who introduced the term "brainwashing" to the American public, asserting that Communists had developed sophisticated techniques to control minds [10:47].

• MK Ultra: The U.S. government's own mind control program initiated in 1953, highlighting the genuine concerns and lengths to which both sides went during the Cold War [11:15].

The episode draws parallels between these historical fears and Musk's contemporary anxieties, suggesting a cyclical pattern in societal concerns about ideological control.

Elon Musk's Personal Motivations

Delving into Musk's personal life, Lepore discusses the profound impact of his familial background on his worldview. Notably, Musk's maternal grandfather, J.N. Haldeman, was deeply entrenched in fears of mind control and conspiracies against Western civilization. Haldeman's 1960 tract, International Conspiracy to Establish a World Dictatorship and its Menace to South Africa, is highlighted as an early manifestation of these fears:

Haldeman: "People have become misled on the proven traditional attitudes of what is right and wrong and what is good and bad for themselves and for their country by an intensive psychopolitical warfare which has been conducted to change people's minds for everything." [16:54]

Though Musk was only two years old when Haldeman died, Lepore posits that the legacy of these fears permeates Musk's ideology, shaping his actions and public statements.

Contemporary Voices: Gad Saad and the Parasitic Mind

A significant portion of the episode features Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioral scientist and author of The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense. Musk praised Saad's work, viewing it as a "mind vaccine" against harmful ideologies:

Gad Saad: "It's a very good book. I recommend it to everyone. In fact, I did recommend it to everyone. It really does hit the nail on the head with respect to the sort of work mind virus that is damaging civilization." [20:09]

Saad elaborates on his experiences in academia, highlighting resistance to evolutionary psychology and the prevalence of what he deems "parasitic ideas" within university ecosystems. This aligns with Musk's narrative of battling entrenched liberal ideologies:

Gad Saad: "All of these parasitic ideas originated from, you know, the university ecosystem." [22:55]

The Impact of Social Media Control

Saad argues that major tech platforms like Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter wield unparalleled influence over global information flows, surpassing traditional powers like rulers or politicians:

Gad Saad: "It is not hyperbole to say that they have more collective power in terms of the information they control than all of the rulers, people, priests, and politicians in all of history." [23:39]

Musk's acquisition of Twitter/X is portrayed as a strategic move to dismantle this control, aiming to restore what he perceives as true free speech and combat ideological manipulation.

Personal Tragedy and Public Stance

The episode touches upon a deeply personal aspect of Musk's life—the transgender transition of his child, Vivian Wilson (formerly known as Xavier). Musk attributes this personal event to the broader "Woke mind virus":

Musk: "I lost my son, essentially." [26:40]

Vivian Wilson later cut ties with Musk, asserting that the environment fostered by what Musk terms as woke ideology led to her decision. This personal narrative reinforces Musk's public crusade against the ideologies he opposes.

Historical Parallels and Contemporary Implications

Lepore draws a critical comparison between Haldeman's 1960 anti-conspiracy efforts and Musk's modern crusade against the "Woke mind virus." While Haldeman's efforts were limited in reach and impact, Musk leverages his immense wealth and influence to enact widespread change:

Narrator: "Elon Musk spends $44 billion on it [Twitter]. He could do that because he is the richest man in the world and he can do things like that. Every time he wants to speak, he reaches over 200 million people." [27:37]

The episode cautions against Musk's methods, suggesting that centralizing such influential power could have unintended consequences akin to the very mind control fears it aims to combat.

Conclusion and Forward Look

As the episode wraps up, Lepore reflects on the persistent fear of mind control and its evolution over decades. She emphasizes the need to critically assess the balance between combating harmful ideologies and safeguarding against the concentration of power:

Lepore: "This is liberating us from mind control? No, this is the dream of the brainwasher." [27:37]

The episode concludes with a teaser for the next installment, which will explore Musk's plans to protect humanity from artificial intelligence, Muskism, and the AI Apocalypse.

Notable Quotes

• Elon Musk on Free Speech:
  "It's important to the function of democracy. It's important to the function of the United States as a free country and many other countries. And to help freedom in the world." [03:04]

• Gad Saad on Parasitic Ideas:
  "All of these parasitic ideas originated from, you know, the university ecosystem." [22:55]

• J.N. Haldeman on Psychopolitical Warfare:
  "People have become misled on the proven traditional attitudes of what is right and wrong and what is good and bad for themselves and for their country by an intensive psychopolitical warfare which has been conducted to change people's minds for everything." [16:54]

• Jill Lepore on Musk's Power:
  "Elon Musk spends $44 billion on it [Twitter]. He could do that because he is the richest man in the world and he can do things like that. Every time he wants to speak, he reaches over 200 million people." [27:37]

Key Takeaways

1. Historical Roots of Mind Control Fears: The episode traces the lineage of Musk's "Woke mind virus" fears back to Cold War-era anxieties about communism and brainwashing, highlighting a recurring societal fear of ideological manipulation.

2. Personal Motivations: Musk's actions are influenced not only by contemporary ideologies but also by familial legacy, particularly the conspiratorial views of his late grandfather, J.N. Haldeman.

3. Influence of Academia: The resistance to certain ideas within academic circles, as described by Gad Saad, parallels Musk's narrative of fighting against entrenched liberal ideologies.

4. Power of Social Media: Musk's acquisition of Twitter/X is positioned as a pivotal move to combat what he perceives as ideological control by major tech platforms, raising questions about the concentration of power.

5. Personal Tragedy as Catalyst: Musk's personal experiences, including his child's transition and subsequent estrangement, are interwoven with his public stance against "woke" ideologies, adding a deeply personal dimension to his motivations.

6. Cautionary Perspective: While Musk positions himself as a liberator combating brainwashing, the episode urges caution, suggesting that such concentrated power could potentially lead to the very issues Musk aims to eradicate.

Next Episode Preview: Elon Musk's plan to save humans from being destroyed by artificial intelligence, Muskism, and the AI Apocalypse.