Nov 11, 2026 · 28 min
Musk loses voters and bets big on a failed truck
Elon takes the L
The episode connects Musk’s political spending and Tesla’s product troubles to a broader backlash against his influence.
- 1Musk spent roughly half a billion dollars across super PACs and dozens of races, but voters rejected his political agenda.
- 2Texas spending reflected Musk’s business interests, including favorable land deals, tax treatment, and government relationships.
- 3The Cybertruck’s troubled launch, recalls, weak sales, and political baggage turned it into a major automotive failure.
Don't miss
Andrew Hawkins argues that the Cybertruck may be remembered as one of the biggest failures in automotive history.
The brief
Elon Musk spent roughly half a billion dollars across super PACs and dozens of races, yet the episode frames the midterms as a rejection of his influence.
Nick Robins-Early examines why Musk kept many donations at arm’s length and concentrated spending in Texas, where his companies depend on favorable government relationships.
Andrew Hawkins traces the Cybertruck’s collapse from its failed 2019 window demonstration and ambitious claims to recalls, breakdowns, weak sales, and mockery.
The episode argues that Musk’s politics narrowed the truck’s appeal, turning a product already burdened by engineering problems into a symbol of Tesla’s broader shift.
Taken together, the political defeat and Cybertruck failure suggest that Musk’s personal brand has become an obstacle rather than an asset.
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