22 Comments
User's avatar
Kathy Combs's avatar

"Each of these figures made the same mistake: thinking that their careers in Republican politics were strong enough to stand on their own, that they commanded enough support to survive outside Trump’s orbit. Instead, the minute they left the climate-controlled confines of Trumpworld, their sources of energy quickly shriveled up."

Well said Gabe. For Heavens sake. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this coming a mile away. Everything Trump touches and every person who buddies up with him ends up in ruins. Maybe he should give Giuliani a call? Compare notes? Musk should have seen this coming

Expand full comment
Malcolm Kottler's avatar

Is it possible this feud is entirely fake and the two are in cahoots so that nothing bad will be done by either to the other and that each will come out ahead?

Don't ask me to explain how this could possibly be the case, but I doubt this is a real break and that either will do anything to meaningfully damage the other.

Expand full comment
Kay Sud's avatar

I’m with Malcolm on this and Gabe, when you get back I wish you would share what you find out about thiel/vance and why the vp is never in this picture? This feud feels more like a distraction. Congrats on aspen institute honor.

Expand full comment
Burdett's avatar

Like Malcolm said. Is this just another distraction to obscure something ugly going on behind the scenes?

Expand full comment
Dmitrii Zelenskii's avatar

I like the writeup, but I think you're wrong/overlooking a potential dimension. If it's more generally Tech Right vs. Populist Right, Vance is in Musk's corner and they may be plotting a very _different_ game. (Assuming this whole thing isn't staged.)

Expand full comment
Diana M. Smith's avatar

This is on the much more interesting topic of WUTP's one-year anniversary. When I first came upon your newsletter through a good friend whose son knows you, I was ecstatic to see someone so young be so wise and balanced, and I have been reading you ever since. Great work. Now for some unsolicited wisdom harder earned: how to stay sane in an insane world when your job is to report on it. Take time off, regularly. You and your readers will be better off for it. The risk of burnout the longer you are in this job is huge, so pay attention to what you need to avoid becoming bitter and getting burned out. Keep alive the joy of knowing that you are making an important difference. Thanks for all of it. Now go have some fun.

Expand full comment
David Ratcliff's avatar

Enjoy your much deserved travels!

Expand full comment
Michael Cunningham's avatar

Best quip I've read about the feud:

From X - gianmarco @GianmarcoSoresi

I wish Biden were alive to see this.

--------- Enjoy your vacation Gabe.

Expand full comment
William m Gaffney's avatar

Musk has already won in a couple ways

He is getting to Trump big time. He’s renting space free in trump’s head. Elon is thrilled by that

He’s got a huge amount of personal data That’s more valuable than any contract

Expand full comment
DerekF's avatar

Gabe - I hope you have a great vacation. Everyone needs time off to recharge.

Like the bumper sticker says, Elon has gone crazy. He has already alienated his customer base: ecologically-minded, wealthy Democrats who flocked to Tesla until Elon decided to go full MAGA. Now Elon is alienating the other half of the country. Who is going to buy a Tesla now?

As for SpaceX, he is going to lose that fight too. If the US government isn't going to pay him for space flight, who will? Where is his revenue going to come from? NASA may need SpaceX, but Trump doesn't.

As for his X platform - how is that going these days? Are advertisers going to be happy to prop up that platform when they can use less politically divisive social media to promote their wares?

Elon has lost his mind and it may cost him his fortune as well.

Expand full comment
William m Gaffney's avatar

ADVERTISERS don’t care. He pretty much lost the ones he’s going to lose a while back

They already know who Elon is and what he does. They also know that X Is a conspiracy s….show

They only care about the money. I’m betting this is driving more money to both social media sites

Expand full comment
Penny Guinther's avatar

Good for you for taking some time off! You will find it very restorative and be glad you did I am sure and we your followers will be here waiting!

As for your assessment of the Trump/Musk issue who knows, it's very hard to predict or anticipate anything in the political world these days!

Expand full comment
Karen B's avatar

Thanks for the analysis. I was hoping Republicans might be open to looking at the deficit in the BBB, but it looks like the country is still in for a bad time financially.

Expand full comment
Cheryl Graham's avatar

Enjoy your time away! I’ve been following you since you were a kid. 😊

Expand full comment
Courtney's avatar

Thank you Gabe and enjoy your well-deserved break!!

Expand full comment
STLFrances's avatar

Enjoy your well-deserved time off!

Expand full comment
Sally's avatar

Have a great time off. You deserve it. You do a wonderful job of sending us your summary of what is going on. Thank you for you.

Expand full comment
Barbara Fox's avatar

Loved the article Gabe and your descriptions of all the players currently alive and well in the Republican Party ( and the departures) was a perfect illustration of why I am not a republican. Besides not liking their politics and policies, I would hardly be able to stand any one of them personally. HAVE A WONDERFUL VACATION! 🧳

Expand full comment