The Midterms Are a Referendum On Elon Musk

Timothy Noah: “If you vote Republican on November 2, you’re voting for the American oligarchy. That may not be news to you and me, but the money makes it more true today than in past elections. Mostly, you’re voting for the oligarchy’s richest member, Musk, who’s in for more than $445 million, which is more than any human ever spent on any American election (excepting the $1 billion Bloomberg blew on his own misguided presidential bid in 2020). Since July, according to Bloomberg’s Bill Allison and Dana Hull, Musk has given, on average, $3.6 million per day.”

“These midterms represent a kind of test for the oligarchs. Congressional Republicans have pretty slavishly supported nearly everything President Donald Trump has done, not necessarily because they agree with it but because they’re terrified of the man. When Trump tells crowds, ‘Please pretend I’m on the ballot,’ that’s good advice. Spending money to elect Republicans to Congress is spending money to maximize Trump’s power.”