Afrigather 
Picture illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Picture: Philip Pacheco/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Elon Musk’s public musings over the past six months have cemented an unmistakable new actuality: The world’s richest man, and proprietor of the de facto public sq., has develop into an increasing number of Republican.
Why it issues: It is a gorgeous political transformation for the Obama, Clinton and Biden-voting CEO of essentially the most profitable electric-vehicle firm on Earth. And it is one with main real-world implications, given the numerous affect Musk now wields in shaping the foundations of on-line public debate.
Driving the information: Musk revealed last week that he would vote for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis if he runs for president in 2024, calling the GOP rising star a “smart and centrist” choice.
- The day earlier than the midterms, Musk urged “independent-minded voters” to vote for Republicans, citing the necessity to “steadiness” a Democratic presidency.
- The billionaire insists he’s “neither conventionally proper nor left” — however he additionally says the threat to free speech allegedly posed by Democrats has triggered a “battle for the way forward for civilization” that trumps all different coverage points.
- COVID restrictions, excessive taxes and laws in California additionally spurred an ideological shift proper, and a physical move to Texas, now the house of Tesla’s headquarters.
- Musk’s disillusionment with the Democratic Get together has solely accelerated — or a minimum of, it has develop into extra public — since his acquisition of Twitter.
Between the strains: Over the past a number of months, Musk has often trolled Democrats and engaged with right-wing commentators who view him as a like-minded tradition warrior.
- “The woke thoughts virus has completely penetrated leisure and is pushing civilization in direction of suicide,” Musk tweeted final week. “There must be a counter-narrative.”
- Musk has cited criticism from progressive politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a central think about his political evolution — at one level calling Democrats “the celebration of division & hate.”
- He is even claimed assaults from Democratic politicians are “coordinated,” tweeting on Tuesday: “Outdoors of celebration management and independents like Manchin, they’re primarily actors on the political stage, not administrators or script writers.”
The intrigue: Excessive-profile Republicans gained tens of 1000’s of followers within the weeks after Musk acquired Twitter, whereas their Democratic counterparts misplaced followers, in response to a Washington Post analysis.
- It is unclear what exactly is driving the fluctuations, however “the sample means that tens of 1000’s of liberals could also be leaving the location whereas conservatives are becoming a member of or changing into extra lively, shifting the demographics of the location underneath Musk’s possession,” the Publish writes.
The massive image: Republicans, for now, have been glad to cling to Musk’s coattails and use his “free speech” campaign to clobber their Democratic and Massive Tech rivals.
- Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) demanded on Tuesday that the Biden administration “cease choosing on Elon Musk” after the White Home advised it was “holding a detailed eye” on modifications to Twitter’s misinformation and hate-speech insurance policies.
What we’re watching: One sleeping big threatens the Musk-GOP symbiosis: The Tesla CEO has massive business interests in China, a regime considered by Republicans because the No. 1 geopolitical menace going through the U.S.
