logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
27m 39s

Teslump

Vox
About this episode

Protests against Tesla embody the outrage against Elon Musk’s DOGE-e behavior. But Musk doesn't seem to care. And given his position in the federal government, he may not have to.

This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members


A burned Tesla Cybertruck being inspected after four Cybertrucks were set on fire at a storage lot Sunday night.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
Saudi Arabia is no joke
The Riyadh Comedy Festival was billed as “two weeks of laughs in the desert” but has comics asking, “At what cost?” This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Adriene Lilly, and hosted by Noel King. A poster f ... Show More
26 m
Oct 8
Trump deploys the National Guard
The president is attempting to send the National Guard into two American cities for two (seemingly) different reasons with two (for now) different results. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and K ... Show More
25m 55s
Oct 7
We're in our AI slop era
Meta just dropped Vibes and OpenAI just dropped Sora 2. Both social media platforms are filled with AI videos that warp our sense of reality. This episode was made in collaboration with Vox's Future Perfect. It was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by ... Show More
26m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Are Finally (Maybe) Breaking Up
When protesters converged this past weekend across America, they seized on two central villains: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. On this episode, host and Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones, along with executive editor Claire Howorth and Hive editor Michael Calderone, discuss ... Show More
37m 4s
Jun 2025
Post-DOGE, Elon Musk Faces Challenges at Tesla and SpaceX
It’s tech billionaire Elon Musk’s first official week following his stint in the Trump administration. WSJ columnist Tim Higgins and WSJ reporter Becky Peterson assess the record of the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk created and look ahead to the challenges he face ... Show More
15m 28s
Oct 2024
Musk Unveils Tesla’s Robotaxi but Offers Few Details
Tesla’s robotaxi excited fans at a splashy event who are betting the company’s future is in robotics. But those watching online seemed underwhelmed, and investors were frustrated by the lack of details provided by CEO Elon Musk about the rollout of the company’s driverless cab. W ... Show More
13m 11s
Mar 2025
‘Tesla Takedown’: How Elon Musk's Trump alliance is triggering backlash
The backlash to Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s alliance is hitting Tesla hard. From boycotts and protests to attacks on cars, showrooms and charging stations, the company’s stock is plummeting. The US Attorney General and Trump called the attacks “domestic terrorism”. What’s drivin ... Show More
21m 22s
Mar 2025
Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s politics have eroded Tesla’s appeal among some core buyers of electric vehicles. Some customers have started getting rid of their Teslas, and the company’s sales are down worldwide. Meanwhile, Musk is looking at new ways to expand Tesla’s business. WSJ’s Becky Peterso ... Show More
19m 28s
Jan 2025
De Musk à Zuckerberg, pourquoi les patrons de la tech se sont-ils convertis au trumpisme ?
Que se passe-t-il dans la tête des géants de la tech ? Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg ou encore Tim Cook… les uns après les autres, les dirigeants des plus grandes entreprises technologiques américaines suivent les pas du patron du réseau X, Elon Musk, en actant leur allégeance à Do ... Show More
23m 31s
Feb 2025
How Elon Musk Is Infiltrating Washington
Elon Musk and his team have taken a hacksaw to the federal bureaucracy one agency at a time, and the question has become whether he’s on a crusade that will leave the government paralyzed or deliver a shake-up it has needed for years.Jonathan Swan, a White House reporter for The ... Show More
32m 30s
Feb 2025
Elon Musk Runs DOGE With His CEO Playbook
It’s been roughly four weeks since Elon Musk took the helm of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which was tasked with slashing government spending. And a lot has happened since. WSJ columnist Tim Higgins joins host Julie Chang to discuss the late ... Show More
13m 59s
Apr 2025
Elon Musk a-t-il réussi sa mission à la tête du DOGE ?
Aux Etats-Unis, trois mois seulement après sa création, le département de l’efficacité gouvernementale (Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE) accumule les critiques et les revers. A telle enseigne que son dirigeant semble s’en détacher. « Mon temps alloué au DOGE va diminuer ... Show More
24m 42s
Aug 14
Russia-Ukraine, DC police, Tesla in Norway and Gaza music
U.S. President Donald Trump threatens "severe consequences" if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to peace in Ukraine ahead of their summit. Trump pushes for congressional approval to extend federal control of Washington's city police force beyond 30 days. A boost fo ... Show More
12m 53s