Drew HarwellDec 16, 2022

Hi! And thanks for joining me on this wild ride.

My colleague Paul Farhi wrote up the news on journalists' Twitter suspensions last night: https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/12/15/twitter-journalists-suspended-musk/

Twitter's owner joined us briefly on Twitter Spaces before vanishing into the night: https://twitter.com/ForeverEversley/status/1603612770892918784.

More news this morning from @rachellerman on the European Union's response: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/16/musk-journalists-suspension-europe-backlash/

Musk suspends journalists from Twitter, claims ‘assassination’ danger

Many of the journalists, including from The Washington Post and New York Times, had written about dramas surrounding billionaire Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter.

The Washington Post
Show threadDrew HarwellDec 16, 2022

My last two Washington Post stories on Elon Musk before Twitter suspended me and other journalists discussed his flirtation with QAnon and the public data about his private jet:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/14/qanon-musk-revival-twitter/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/14/elonjet-twitter-suspension-jack-sweeney-talks/

QAnon, adrift after Trump’s defeat, finds new life in Elon Musk’s Twitter

Musk has become so popular in QAnon circles that some regard him, not Trump, as the savior-like figure they’ve been waiting for.

The Washington Post
Show threadAJJDordtDec 16, 2022

@drewharwell

Oh God. I suddenly see it. Musk is getting ready to run for president, the next election.

Show threadLisaDec 16, 2022
@AJJDordt he isn't Constitutionally eligible.
Show threadAJJDordtDec 17, 2022
@lisas That's a relief, but isn't he American? I have no idea how this works in the American constitution, so I'll take your word for it.
Show threadShannon Ellery Hubbell
@AJJDordt @lisas He’s from South Africa. Presidents have to be natural born citizens.
Dec 17, 2022 at 6:03amWeb
Show threadAJJDordtDec 17, 2022
@brundlefly @lisas okay. Thanks. A bit discriminatory, but in the case of Musk a good thing I quess. In our country having the Dutch nationality is enough, so, in theory at least, even immigrants can at some point become the president
Show threadShannon Ellery HubbellDec 17, 2022
@AJJDordt @lisas Yeah, I feel the same. I think that requirement is a really bad thing, even if it's a relief that it rules out Musk.