Tag: Elon musk

OPINION — Why Give Absurdities Ink & Prominence?

Elon Musk owns a communications company (and so much more), and if he wants to promote an idea, surely he is free to do so. That’s the epitome of free speech…. Unchecked, unregulated, and uncensored.

And when he suggests that a media company’s employees deserve a “long prison sentence” for a story that he disagrees with, again, he is free to shout that from his platform and bask in the glow of his X echo chamber, maganified by the Prince of Mar-a-Lago.

Musk has long criticized CBS for a Kamala Harris interview during the November election. Most recently, following a critical story about Musk’s closure of USAID, the DOGE boss wrote, “60 Minutes are the biggest liars in the world! They engaged in deliberate deception to interfere with the last election. They deserve a long prison sentence.”

Seriously… “a long prison sentence” for? What would be the legal charge? What is the offense? What is the rationale, other than perhaps currying favor with prominent politicians? Evidently, Musk didn’t learn about the American value of free speech in his South African school system.

While Musk can and should be allowed to say anything, why does other media give him any credence by repeating his nonsensical mutterings?

Deciding what to include on any media platform is the province of editors who, one hopes, make their decisions based on what is newsworthy, the prominence of the person speaking, and the likelihood that what’s said will be impactful.

On any responsible calculus, in my nearly 50-year experience in media, I believe even repeating silly ideas or promoting individuals who are so out of touch with inherent American values is, in itself, irresponsible.

Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater?

As Musk and his army of ‘techno-children’ run rampant among U.S. government computers with security and safeguards removed, is anyone else worried that classified material is going to wind up on private servers, if kept only as souvenirs, and ultimately find its way to the Black Web and our national enemies?

Personnel records, private data, addresses, and more are of incalculable value.

What is the risk to U.S. intelligence… and that of foreign allies who thought it was once safe to share with us?
What is the real risk of compromising U.S. agents overseas and their missions?

Why do so many in the media seem giddy whilst acting as cheerleaders at the prospect of indiscriminately destroying decades of work and billions of dollars of investment?

Government reform is a good thing, and even here, it may be overdue. But are we being thoughtful—or just capricious?

This may seem like a macro-question putting the historic, longview lens to current events.
But, I suggest, a major screwup now may be irreparable for decades to come.

Just musing and wishing my media colleagues would pose this concern.