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Elon Musk’s DOGE to get rid of weird laws including ban on selling Swiss cheese without holes in it

Elon Musk’s latest crusade isn’t about cutting government spending. Instead he’s leading the charge to slash the bizarre laws which still exist in modern America. See the full list.

Musk wields ‘chainsaw for bureaucracy’

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is weeding out the truly strange laws which can lead to actual punishments in America.

Under the leadership of Senator Joni Ernst’s Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) a number of laws have already been identified as redundant.

Selling Swiss cheese without holes is a big no no in America.
Selling Swiss cheese without holes is a big no no in America.

Senator Ernst told the Daily Mail among the laws set to go is one that makes it a federal crime to sell Swiss cheese which does not have holes in it.

Another law forbids the sale of cooking oil spray unless the can contains a clear warning to instructing users not to spray it in their eyes.

A law which says you can only mail live scorpions in the post if the box says “live scorpions” is set to go.

Don’t mail live scorpions – unless you’ve labelled the box. Picture: Evan Morgan
Don’t mail live scorpions – unless you’ve labelled the box. Picture: Evan Morgan

So is one that penalises climbing a tree on Supreme Court property.

Washing a fish in a sink not specifically designated for that purpose is currently illegal.

And it is a federal crime to “distribute roll-your-own tobacco unless it is labelled with a warning that nicotine is addictive, written in Helvetica bold, arial bold, or a similar sans serif font and contrasts with the colouring of the packaging.”

Sorry kids – no climbing trees on Supreme Court property. Picture: iStock
Sorry kids – no climbing trees on Supreme Court property. Picture: iStock

“Burdensome and outdated regulations have railroaded Americans, and the only way out is to conduct a complete review,” Senator Ernst told the Daily Mail.

“We need to SCRUB every old law on the books to identify the red tape that needs to be slashed.”

MUSK WIELDS AN ACTUAL CHAINSAW

Elon Musk, who has bragged of putting US federal agencies “into the woodchipper” as he slashes government spending, paraded a chainsaw on stage before American conservatives celebrating President Donald Trump’s return to power Thursday.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei — who has used a chainsaw as a symbol of his own push to restore fiscal discipline — handed Musk the power tool before a cheering crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

The world’s richest person, who was clad in sunglasses, a baseball cap and a large necklace, paraded it up and down the stage before laying it to one side and declaring he was “living the meme.”

“We’re trying to get good things done. But also, like, you know, have a good time doing it, and … a sense of humour,” Musk said of his cost-cutting efforts, which so far have seen him gut the agency responsible for delivering US aid to the poorest countries in the world and fire thousands of federal workers.

Elon Musk wields the “chainsaw of democracy” at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Elon Musk wields the “chainsaw of democracy” at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Musk accepts the chainsaw and shakes hands with Argentinian President Milei. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP
Musk accepts the chainsaw and shakes hands with Argentinian President Milei. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP

Later Musk again picked up the chainsaw – emblazoned with the words “Long live freedom, damn it” along its blade – to carry it off stage at a centre on the outskirts of the capital Washington.

Musk was not the only one in a celebratory mood at CPAC, as conservatives revelled in Mr Trump’s return one month ago.

Argentine President Javier Milei holds the chainsaw engraved with the words ”Long live freedom, damn it”. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP
Argentine President Javier Milei holds the chainsaw engraved with the words ”Long live freedom, damn it”. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP
Musk holds a painting of himself during the annual CPAC at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP
Musk holds a painting of himself during the annual CPAC at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP

Vice President JD Vance said he had been having “a hell of a lot of fun” in the weeks since the Republican billionaire took back the White House.

“The president keeps us on a pretty breakneck pace,” he told the fired up crowd, adding: “It’s been a hell of a lot of fun the past month.”

The Republican president has issued a blizzard of executive orders in the short time since his inauguration.

An attendee at the four-day gathering of conservative US politicians, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
An attendee at the four-day gathering of conservative US politicians, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP

They have targeted a slew of right-wing priorities such as cutting government spending, tightening immigration restrictions and ending programs meant to combat racism and inequality in the workplace.

“Everybody’s happier,” Gabriel Garcia, who was attending CPAC after previously being placed under house arrest over his involvement in the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

“We got Trump back in office,” the 44-year-old told AFP jubilantly.

Attendees wear Trump-themed clothing at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
Attendees wear Trump-themed clothing at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP

ALL ABOUT TRUMP

The annual conservative conference has become evermore focused on celebrating Trump himself.

Among his allies expected to attend were White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Trump himself is set to address the conference on Saturday.

Trump devotees take photos at the annual four-day gathering that included conservative leaders from other countries. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
Trump devotees take photos at the annual four-day gathering that included conservative leaders from other countries. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers, at the four-day conference. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers, at the four-day conference. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP

He gave a sombre speech at the event in 2024, when he was running for president, describing the United States as a “nightmare” under Joe Biden.

As well as Milei, several right-wing and far-right leaders from around the world will also speak at the convention, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Conservative party leaders present at the convention range from France’s Jordan Bardella, Britain’s Nigel Farage to former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

UK conservative politian Nigel Farage speaks at the CPAC. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP
UK conservative politian Nigel Farage speaks at the CPAC. Picture: Andrew Harnik / Getty via AFP

Many are seeking inspiration back home following Trump’s successful comeback.

Former British prime minister Liz Truss gave a speech on the main stage on Thursday in which she said “patriotic Brits … look across the Atlantic with envy.”

“We want a Trump revolution in Britain,” she said, lauding his ally Elon Musk. “We want Elon and his nerd-army of Musk-rats examining the British deep state.

“We want to be part of the second American revolution.”

MUSK ‘IGNORES’ CHILD’S MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS

By Vanessa Serna, The New York Post

Grimes publicly begged Elon Musk to respond to one of their three children’s mysterious “medical crisis” and accused the latter of ignoring her calls.

“I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation,” the “Genesis” singer wrote in a since-deleted tweet on X Thursday.

“This requires immediate attention. If you don’t want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can do that we can move forward on solving this. This is urgent, Elon.”

“I’m not giving any details but he won’t respond to texts call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn’t respond asap, so I need him to f – king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that’s where we are at,” she continued.

Musk and musician Grimes – pictured at the 2018 Met Gala – have three children — son X AE A-XII, daughter Exa and son Techno. Picture: Angela Weiss / AFP
Musk and musician Grimes – pictured at the 2018 Met Gala – have three children — son X AE A-XII, daughter Exa and son Techno. Picture: Angela Weiss / AFP

The exes share sons X Æ A-Xii, 4, and Techno Mechanicus, 2, and daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, 3.

Reps for Musk, 53, and Grimes, 36, weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Last week, Grimes was also forced to call out Musk via X for bringing their son X Æ A-XII with him to meet with President Trump at the Oval Office in Washington D.C.

The toddler was photographed sitting on the tech billionaire’s shoulders as Trump signed an executive order to give Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency additional power.

Musk with his son X Ã A-Xii in the Oval Office of the White House with US President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP
Musk with his son X Ã A-Xii in the Oval Office of the White House with US President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

The photos of X Æ A-XII with Musk caused Grimes to worry about their son’s privacy, as she wrote on social media, “He should not be in public like this.”

The “Oblivion” singer also thanked fans for bringing the photos to her awareness, adding, “I did not see this, thank u for alerting me.”

The pop star and the Tesla founder were involved in an on and off relationship from 2018 to 2022.

Musk is also the father to his late son, Nevada Alexander, Griffin, Vivian, Kai, Saxon, Damian, Strider, Azure and two unknown children born in 2024.

On Feb. 14, author Ashley St. Clair took to X to allege that she birthed Musk’s 13th child last year.

“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,” she wrote. “I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.”

Ashley St Clair.
Ashley St Clair.
Elon Musk and Ashley St. Clair first met at X headquarters. Picture: X / @stclairashley
Elon Musk and Ashley St. Clair first met at X headquarters. Picture: X / @stclairashley

St. Clair explained that she wants their alleged child to “grow in a normal and safe environment” outside of the spotlight.

The SpaceX founder, however, has not yet confirmed St. Clair’s claim and the identity of his youngest child.

This story was originally published in The New York Post

Originally published as Elon Musk’s DOGE to get rid of weird laws including ban on selling Swiss cheese without holes in it

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/world/north-america/elon-musk-wields-chainsaw-of-democracy-at-conservative-political-action-conference/news-story/b4a2819f8adcef0bf45d5bf3e6aa21e0