What Is Elon Musk's Real Political Agenda?

What should Labour’s new year resolution be? How worried should we be about Elon Musk? Could China move on Taiwan in 2025?

Join Rory and Alastair in this New Year's Day special episode to hear them answer all these questions and more.

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00:00 Fuse Energy
01:07 Happy New Year
02:55 Political new year’s resolutions
22:50 America in the new year
30:15 Campaign finance reform
31:00 The threat of Musk
34:05 Elections in Germany
37:25 Crisis in France
41:05 Will China go to war with Taiwan
43:55 Gaza
45:55 Trouble ahead for the US economy
46:26 Ukraine
48:40 Reasons to be cheerful

Assistant Producer: India Dunkley + Alice Horrell
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producer: Nicole Maslen and Fiona Douglas
Senior Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Content: Tom Whiter
Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

[restispolitics]

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy, a green electricity supplier powering homes across England, Scotland and Wales. Use referral code POLITICS after signing up for your chance to win a TRIP merch bundle. Learn more at getfuse.com/politics ⚡

[RaysTrack]

The banning of foreign political donations is a must for this parliament and I'd have thought all three main parties would agree on it.

[TheRok_]

Happy New Year, guys! I am absolutely enjoy the podcast and wishing you all the best in 2025!

[supaquickgpr]

It seems to me that his agenda is to rule the world. The sooner he pisses off to Mars, the better

[DavidRoss-uv]

Campaign finance reform might just be the most important issue of our day. I'm American and despair at the slim chance of achieving any such thing in the US. In the UK you already have the framework. Good luck.

[andreasstavrinides]

Labour's New Year's resolution should be to massively improve its communications. It doesn't tell its own story. It needs a modern day Alistair Campbell.

[chrisf]

I think we need to start spreading the message that it is unpatriotic to avoid tax. Not to be applauded. People should want to contribute to a better country. I think this message should be a repeated idea when taxes are mentioned.

[colinsparkes]

First class guys. I am an ex- Social Democrat Brit who has been around the world a few times. Now living in the south of France after Germany, so a bit similar to Alistair. I love Rory's honest intellectual approach to analysing issues. Your intelligence and good humour are the very best of British. Good luck for 2025.

[odi]

The level of hate and insults directed at our Prime Minister Keir Starmer is deeply concerning. How did our country reach this point? Why would any reasonable person believe that Keir Starmer hates the country? It defies common sense. Leadership is never easy, and as far as Britain is concerned, the Prime Minister is doing his best. We should support him and pray for his success, as the challenges he faces are immense. However, I remain confident that he will overcome them with time and perseverance.

[iftea]

Oligarch rule is the aim. Unchallenged power, supported by 2 slave classes.
1) the low educated poors 2) the highly educated migrants

[Withtheghostoftomjoad]

Loving the unashamedly high brow and internationalist tone of this wonderful podcast. Keep it up chaps

[philipmulville]

What a great team. Love the podcast. All the best in 2025.

[nikdourbeta]

Happy New Year Alistair and Rory 🎉
Thank you for your Enlightening Wisdom 🙏

[highlandlass]

Happy New year to Alistair and Rory !!! You have been great company during 2024 and looking forward to listening and watching you in 2025!

[Flickerbrain]

There used to be a German footballer called Thorsten Frings and whenever he played for his club or for Germany the crowds would sing, "Frings, can only get better".

[lr]

Alistair please can you offer help to Starmer with Labour's communication strategy. or recommend someone to him. Happy new year to both of you, love the podcsat

[JGG]

"What Is Elon Musk's Real Political Agenda?" Narcissism, money, and power.

[Lindafoy]

Altho I was a qualified nurse, now 70yrs old... I also worked for Southern Electricity In retail for 10 years....(made Redundant when the Thatcher decided that private Profit was far more important than Public services) could benefit from our Sales training mantra.... this was ALLWAYS to Link your 'feature' (I.e the product or aim) to a Real BENEFIT...
People are not interested in the Aim....(or feature on an appliance) they just want to Know WHAT will this mean for ME and my FAMILY? FAB podcast by the way....informed, intelligent and interesting...

[simonjones]

My comment keeps getting deleted when I post against a comment defending Elon. How strange. So I am posting it as my own comment instead.

He has purchased a social media company, changed the algorithm so he and people with similar opinions are promoted. He has banned many people for disagreeing with him, recently even a Republican senator or congresswoman, can’t remember which one.

He has sued sooo many people and companies for simply disagreeing with him. A non-profit that monitors social media companies for example. This could easily be seen as bullying people into silence using expensive unlimited lawyers.

He says dangerous things. Saying civil war in the UK is inevitable, only stoking the fire of the riots.

He has said all media is a form of propaganda, further destroying trust in the media, creating a landscape in which disinformation thrives.

He constantly talks about the woke mind virus, further stoking divisions amongst the people.

He has reduced twitter staff down to the bare minimum allowing disinformation to grow even more. Disinformation allows billionaires like Musk to win the court of public appeal, giving him more power.

He has manipulated stock prices using tweets. He promotes crypto currencies that he has made billions off, these currencies now serve very little purpose except to steal money off those willing to invest, this was not their intended use.

He donated ungodly amounts towards the Trump campaign whilst using his platform to promote Trump. He is now basically threatening to donate and essentially buy the UK elections.

None of things alone make someone fascist but it’s still extremely worrying.

Also, my negative comments about Musk get deleted more than any other comment a make. I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has not farms promoting his agenda and removing those that disagree with him.

He probably would be a fascist tbf, if he is given the opportunity.

[alanguest]

Is Nigel Farage (and Reform UK) just exploiting the frustration the electorate has with British politics, whilst offering nothing?