social mediaWorldElon Musk adopted the moniker ‘Kekius Maximus’ on X on New Year’s Eve, sparking speculation that his mysterious new handle is a mash-up of an alt-right symbol, a memecoin and the lead character of the movie Gladiator.
AFP
‘EXTERNAL MEDDLING’The TimesThe German chancellor used his New Year’s Eve address to rebuke Elon Musk for criticising the country’s president and boosting the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party before elections in February.
Oliver Moody
NEWSNewsWireUS billionaire Elon Musk accused the Sydney masthead of “relentlessly lying” after it published a savage prediction about his future at Tesla.
‘intrusive, arrogant’The TimesThe leader of the Christian Democratic Union denounced Musk’s endorsement of the AfD as the worst case of interference by a ‘friendly’ country in the history of democracy.
Oliver Moody
‘man child’WorldDonald Trump sided with Elon Musk in a fight that foreshadows battles to come in the fragile alliance between tech bosses and Trump’s core voters, who view immigration as the top issue.
Keiran Southern
support for AfDThe TimesElon Musk has endorsed the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a newspaper opinion piece, prompting its opinion editor to resign in protest.
Dominic Hauschild
Wall St JournalBureaucrats aren’t driving the deficit. The culprit is the cheques they send out that people happen to love.
Greg Ip
IMMIGRATIONThe Wall Street JournalThere is populist outrage over immigration. Then there is the nuanced outrage offered by Elon Musk and his ilk over illegal immigration. This week’s furore highlighted how the two forms of outrage don’t always overlap.
Tim Higgins
The Wall Street JournalMusk is blowing up plans and taking names as he and the GOP-controlled House start to learn about working with each other, while the billionaire dangles his wealth and influence as an enforcer in the new administration.
Tim Higgins
inside storyThe Wall Street JournalWith an early morning social-media post on Wednesday, Elon Musk declared that a must-do spending bill ‘should not pass’. By early evening, the bill was dead. Those who doubt his ability to shake up Washington are having second thoughts.
Ken Thomas
Trading DayMarketsThe chance of an early rate cut fades after the jobless rate fell to 3.9 per cent. Qantas strike may disrupt holiday plans. AUD lifts. Downer and Ventia hit by ACCC lawsuit over price fixing cartel allegations. Peter Warren tanks on profit warning.
Internet speedsTechnologyThe tech titan’s Starlink service has blitzed the NBN’s ageing satellite system in internet speed stakes, heaping more pressure on the $620m taxpayer-funded venture.
Combat SportIn a sport filled with controversial characters, one UFC star stands out for his conspiracy theories – that include a belief the government will ban steaks. But, behind it all, Bryce Mitchell also has a heart of gold.
RemunerationThe Wall Street JournalTesla’s board had argued that a shareholder vote earlier this year addressed the court’s previous criticisms
Sean McLain
‘Makes me nervous’The Wall Street JournalMusk’s scorched-earth tactics send waves of concern through his lengthy list of business rivals, with OpenAI’s Sam Altman ranking high on the billionaire’s enemy roll, as car companies and tech giants scramble for allies in the incoming Trump administration.
Keach Hagey, Emily Glazer and Dana Mattioli
R&D reviewPoliticsRobyn Denholm’s appointment to lead a once-in-a-generation innovation review came just hours after Anthony Albanese said Elon Musk had an agenda against his social media laws.
Rhiannon Down and ROBERT WHITE newsNewsWireThe Prime Minister dashed Elon Musk’s furious criticism of Australia’s world-first social media age ban, which is set to come into effect in the next 12 months.
It’s rare for a speech in Canberra to make news in North America. But it happened when Kim Williams raised the ire of US podcaster Joe Rogan … as well as Elon Musk.
GolfBryson DeChambeau’s round with president elect Donald Trump sent the online world into raptures, but the two-time US Open champion has now gone one next level.
Adam Pengilly
’lol wut’NationPodcast king Joe Rogan has hit back after ABC boss Kim Williams described him as ‘deeply repulsive’, while Elon Musk has described the national broadcaster as Australia’s ‘Pravda’.
SUMMER LIU
newsNewsWireElon Musk has lashed the ABC after the national broadcaster’s head made scathing remarks about podcaster Joe Rogan.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer
ExclusiveEconomicsThe notion of an Elon Musk-style regulation buster with authority to drive changes would be welcome relief here.
NEWSNewsWireAustralia’s eSafety commissioner says she will enforce rules on social media “without fear or favour”.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer
‘really, really big fight’The TimesBillionaire unelected Trump adviser promises ‘mass headcount reductions’ for US public servants as unions plan resistance amid deepening fears over government restructuring.
david charter
POLITICSNewsWireThe billionaire owner of X Elon Musk has called out the Albanese government’s new social media to stop young teenagers accessing social media.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer
SpaceX launchWorldDespite the successful lift-off, SpaceX aborted an attempt to catch the first stage booster in the ‘chopstick’ arms of its launch tower, opting instead for an ocean splashdown due to unmet technical criteria, dampening the triumph of the event | WATCH
AFP
TRUMP TRANSITIONWorldCan the bromance between the world’s wealthiest man and the next US president survive some major policy differences and their own combustible personalities?
Adam PLOWRIGHT and Alex PIGMAN
DEFENCEDefenceElon Musk’s SpaceX has launched a secret communications satellite for the Australian Defence Force just weeks after the Albanese government cancelled a $7bn military space program.
Trump cabinetUS PoliticsDonald Trump has nominated Brendan Carr, an ally of Elon Musk, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
Agencies
US Election 2024US PoliticsCharged with eliminating government waste, Vivek Ramaswamy says he and Elon Musk will push for cuts to the Pentagon, Health and Education as well as government contractors.