Overview of Today Explained: “Elon Takes the L”
Vox’s Today, Explained examines two costly setbacks for Elon Musk: his heavy spending in the midterms and Tesla’s decision to wind down the Cybertruck. The guests argue that Musk’s political influence has become a liability, while the truck’s disappointing sales and production problems made it difficult to sustain.
Musk’s Midterm Spending and Political Backlash
Nick Robins-Early of The Guardian says Musk spent roughly half a billion dollars across political groups, including at least $216 million for his own America PAC. Much of the spending targeted races around the country, with Texas receiving particular attention. Robins-Early says Musk had previously suggested he would spend less, but campaigns and allies sought his support as polls looked unfavorable.
Musk kept a lower profile as a campaign funder than he had in earlier contests. Robins-Early suggests that this may reflect backlash against his visible political involvement: some voters had objected to a single wealthy donor wielding outsized influence.
The election results, as discussed on the show, reflected broad opposition to Republicans and to figures associated with the party. Robins-Early says Musk’s unpopularity, his ties to big tech, and his alignment with the Republican right all contributed to that rejection.
Why Texas Was Central to Musk’s Spending
Musk’s businesses have deep ties to Texas, where he moved after criticizing California’s business climate. Robins-Early says Musk has financial and political reasons to support a government friendly to his companies, including favorable land deals, tax breaks, contracts, and regulations.
The guests point to Texas Democrats James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, who had said they would scrutinize Musk’s operations. Talarico accused Musk of trying to secure land, water, public money, and political influence. Hinojosa opposed a proposed arrangement involving public land and SpaceX. Robins-Early says Musk’s Texas-focused spending may have been intended to protect the business relationships his companies rely on.
The Cybertruck’s Commercial Failure
Andrew J. Hawkins, transportation editor at The Verge, describes the Cybertruck as a high-profile product that fell far short of Tesla’s ambitions. Tesla reportedly designed its Austin factory to produce around 250,000 trucks a year, but sold about 20,000 in one year and slightly more than 70,000 in total by the time of the interview.
The truck also faced persistent criticism and technical problems:
- Its angular design drew ridicule from its 2019 unveiling.
- A demonstration of its supposedly durable windows ended with the glass shattering.
- Videos showed trucks getting stuck in sand and snow or needing to be towed.
- Recalls addressed an accelerator pedal that could stick, body panels that could come loose, and a windshield wiper that Hawkins said did not meet safety standards.
Hawkins argues that the Cybertruck was already a difficult product to sell, and that Musk’s political profile made Tesla a more polarizing brand. He points to the Tesla Takedown protests, whose participants aimed to hurt Musk financially by making the brand toxic, as a further blow. The truck also became associated with pro-Trump and MAGA imagery.
What the Cybertruck’s End Could Mean for Tesla
Musk said winding down Cybertruck production would make room for the Cybercab. Hawkins disputes that explanation, saying the factory had capacity and that the truck’s losses were a more plausible reason to stop production.
Hawkins sees the Cybertruck as a major automotive flop and a sign of Tesla’s changing priorities. The Model 3 and Model Y remain important sources of revenue, while the company is putting more emphasis on robotics and artificial intelligence.
Key Takeaways
- Musk’s large political donations did not prevent the midterm losses discussed in the episode, and his public association with the Republican Party may have made him a liability.
- Texas was a particular focus because Musk’s companies depend on local decisions about land, taxes, contracts, and regulation.
- The Cybertruck’s low sales, recalls, and reputational problems undercut its ambitious production plans.
- The guests describe Musk’s political involvement and Tesla’s brand backlash as additional pressures on a product that already had serious commercial shortcomings.