Elon Musk’s highly publicized and arguably brand destructive tenure as President Donald Trump’s would-be hatchet man has supposedly drawn to a close. His foray into politics has resulted in tens of thousands of federal workers losing their jobs, the attempted shuttering or gutting of federal agencies (with grim consequences for the world’s poorest) and a growing pile of lawsuits challenging as illegal much of what he did. Add to that his failed bankrolling of a Wisconsin judicial candidate and growing global disdain for him personally, and it’s no wonder the South Africa-native would want to head back to the office.

In this episode of Elon, Inc. David Papadopoulos is joined by Max Chafkin and Sarah Frier to analyze just how damaged Musk really is and what his future ambitions might be. After cavorting around Washington and Mar-a-Lago for months, he appears to be rechristening himself as a businessman (instead of Daddy Warbucks of the far-right). Recent interviews with Bloomberg, CBS and the Washington Post certainly make it seem like he wants us to believe that. But on the other hand, his latest X post on the massive Republican spending bill might mean he’s not quite ready to leave the political spotlight. 

The crew also go through a number of Musk news items from last week, including successful fundraising, some confusing Grok deals that might not actually happen and an explosive report from The New York Times regarding his custody battles and alleged ketamine use. 

Finally, the trio tries to figure out the origin of that shiner Musk sported at Friday’s press conference in the Oval Office. He blamed his five-year-old son. Although the parents on the panel find that believable, they also go through a list of other suspects.

Elon Musk&rsquo;s highly publicized and arguably&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/24/elon-musk-doge-scott-galloway" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/24/elon-musk-doge-scott-galloway">brand destructive</a>&nbsp;tenure as President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-elon-musk-truth-social-mentions-b2753786.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-elon-musk-truth-social-mentions-b2753786.html">would-be hatchet man</a>&nbsp;has supposedly drawn to a close. His foray into politics has resulted in&nbsp;tens of thousands of federal workers losing their jobs, the attempted shuttering or gutting of&nbsp;federal agencies (<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-funding-cuts-humanitarian-children-trump-4447e210c4b5543b8ebb9a6b9e01aa53" data-cke-saved-href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-funding-cuts-humanitarian-children-trump-4447e210c4b5543b8ebb9a6b9e01aa53">with grim consequences for the world&rsquo;s poorest</a>) and a growing pile of lawsuits challenging as illegal much of what he did.&nbsp;Add to that his&nbsp;<a href="bbg://news/stories/SU307VT1UM0W" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/musk-backed-candidate-defeated-in-wisconsin-supreme-court-race" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/SU307VT1UM0W">failed bankrolling of a Wisconsin judicial candidate</a>&nbsp;and growing global disdain for him <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/polls/doge-elon-musk.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/polls/doge-elon-musk.html">personally</a>, and it&rsquo;s no wonder the South Africa-native&nbsp;would&nbsp;want&nbsp;to head back to the office.
In this episode of Elon, Inc.&nbsp;David Papadopoulos is joined by Max Chafkin and Sarah Frier to analyze just how damaged Musk really is and what his future ambitions might be. After cavorting around Washington and Mar-a-Lago for months, he appears to be rechristening himself as a businessman (instead of Daddy Warbucks of the far-right). Recent interviews with&nbsp;<a href="bbg://news/stories/SWMF0EDWX2PS" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-elon-musk-weekend-interview/" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/SWMF0EDWX2PS">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/27/elon-musk-spacex-starship-doge/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/27/elon-musk-spacex-starship-doge/"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey1rpNtRADg" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey1rpNtRADg">CBS</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/27/elon-musk-spacex-starship-doge/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/27/elon-musk-spacex-starship-doge/">Washington Post</a>&nbsp;certainly make it seem like he wants us to believe that. But on the other hand, <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929954109689606359" data-cke-saved-href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929954109689606359">his latest X post</a> on the massive Republican spending bill might mean he&rsquo;s not quite ready to leave the political spotlight.&nbsp; The crew also go through a number of Musk news items from last week, including successful fundraising, some confusing Grok deals that might not actually happen and an explosive report from The New York Times regarding his custody battles and alleged ketamine use.&nbsp;
Finally, the trio tries to figure&nbsp;out the origin of that shiner Musk sported at Friday&rsquo;s press conference in the Oval Office. He blamed his five-year-old son. Although the parents on the panel find that believable, they also go through a list of other suspects.

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 

Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 

Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 
Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 
Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon, Inc.

Is Elon’s Political Capital Spent?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0817b89c-399d-4ff8-91d5-b2f101573798/transcript

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