Oh, This'll Be Fun!

Elon Musk is speaking on a Twitter Space right now about the opening up of the so-called "Twitter Files." He claims he gave unfettered access to emails and documents to Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss and at least one other person.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Follow along, won't you?

Re: Taibbi's thread yesterday, Musk says that he was learning stuff as it was being tweeted and made it seem like he was independent of the process. Not sure how that squares with the fact that he noted that its launch was delayed because of "double-checking" of some facts. pic.twitter.com/RiaCfrtUd2

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

"Some people say." "Big, strong men, with tears in their eyes..." "Musk says." You get the idea.

Musk: “I definitely wanted to punch Kanye, so it was definitely inciting me for violence.”

He then mentions Alex Jones and suggests that if Jones was chastising Kanye for his views, then he has clearly gone too far.

(Not sure how you enshrine that in a social media policy.)

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Elon Musk, Esq. Nope, not a violation of law (not even obscene, under the law; but otherwise, yes, definitely obscene). And the standard for what's against the law? What bothers Elmo, of course!

The space hosts keep asking about what "pressure" Musk has faced because of the release of the files.

Musk gives no clear response, but is playing into the innuendo that he needs to hire more security because of it.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

"Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"

Asked about Julian Assange: Musk dodges and says he doesn't know enough to comment. He says he believes that nations should be able to keep some state secrets, like nuclear information.

(Given SpaceX's relationship with the US gov, I think he's trying to walk a line here.)

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Whatever happened to "if it violates the law?"

The hosts keep asking him if he's facing "pressure" for the Twitter Files, hoping to get some kind of response from Musk.

Musk dodges again and says he's always under pressure.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

The best solution from a societal point of view is public criminal trials so all issues relevant to the prosecution or defense can be aired. And remember, it's not easy being Elmo. Or Trump, to hear Trump tell it. Somehow these associations constantly come to mind...

Musk is now interestingly talking about the economics of the Twitter deal. He said revenue was flat to declining. He then talks about the $12.5 billion in debt he's saddled on the company and criticizes the Fed for its "unwise" interest rate increases.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Hmmm...government security police with a reputation for ruthlessness and government power to back it up, v. private company providing a service to the public at no charge. I begin to understand why Elmo thinks the First Amendment applies to Twitter when only non-government actors are involved. Like Trump (!), he has no idea how government works or what it's for.

Musk: "I've barely read any of the Twitter Files."

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Conflict of interest? No; because Elmo doesn't find the situation in China "interesting."

This Twitter Space is about to be about "citizenship journalism," but a questioner asked about what Twitter can do for Chinese protestors, then gets shouted down by some moderators before Musk can give an answer. They say Musk isn't the one banning Twitter in China.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 3, 2022

Or protesting the banning of Twitter in China. You know, in the name of "citizen journalism." But what about the 'hive mind' losing access to all those 'brain cells'? Or does Elmo consider them "drones"?

Elon Musk: "I have not read the Twitter Files so that's why my understanding is limited."

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 4, 2022

So he hasn't read the files, but he's sure about what's in them? How does that work? The same way the self-driving Tesla does?

Musk blames the mainsteam media for advertisers leaving the platform because they read their stories.

Earlier this week, Musk's Twitter unbanned accounts belonging to neo-Nazis and white nationalists.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 4, 2022

Here we all remember the only evidence Apple ever stopped advertising on Twitter is that Elmo said so. News accounts of his meeting with Tim Cook pointed out Apple never stopped advertising on Twitter. John Barron was unavailable for comment.

It's now over. I need a drink.

— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) December 4, 2022

And FoxNews, America's Real Voice, and Newsmax are all unbiased sources of true and trustworthy news. Mac needs a drink; I need more coffee.