Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich suggests threatening Elon Musk with arrest, boycotting Tesla, boycotting X, terminating contracts with SpaceX and more
Former Bill Clinton administration Secretary of Labor Robert Reich opened an editorial on The Guardian that criticizes Elon Musk because Musk has endorsed Trump, and that is the introductory reason Musk needs to be reined in.
Reich also accuses Musk of spreading lies about a deadly attack on schoolgirls on July 29, 2024, but doesn't indicate any of the details of the mass stabbing incident, also known at the Southport Stabbing. Reich doesn't mention that suspect Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old British citizen born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda, was arrested at the scene and was charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article. Reich doesn't mention that anti-migrant rioters and the general public doubted that they were being told the truth by authorities about the suspect. Instead Reich defines the rioters as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted video of “machete fights in Southend tonight” and claimed: “Our country is being destroyed, our values trashed and the public on the point of revolt.” Nigel Farage also claimed, “I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us.” Merseyside Police a statement: “A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport. This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.” The police did not share the actual name of the suspect, because the suspect was a minor on the date of the attack. Additionally the police did not identify a motive, critics of the police noted that on the same day of the knife attack they had already issued the statement, "We can also confirm that the incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Instead Reich explained that "Musk’s X spread misinformation about a deadly attack on schoolgirls. Musk not only allowed instigators of this hate to spread these lies, but he retweeted and supported them." Reich, in his editorial, provided no explanation into how the rioters may have reached their conclusion, except "supporting right wing causes." Reich also provided no indication whether there might have been pent up frustration about migrant issues in the United Kingdom.
The identity restrictions regarding minor Axel Rudakubana were lifted on 1 August by Liverpool Crown Court, citing concerns over the lack of confirmed identity fuelling misinformation.
Reich also criticized Musk for posting a faked version of Kamala Harris’s first campaign video with an altered voice track sounding like Harris and saying she doesn’t “know the first thing about running the country” and is the “ultimate diversity hire”. Reich doesn't mention that the video is satire, and is obviously not intended to make people believe that Vice President Kamala Harris actually made the statements in the video.
See more ...
Elon Musk is out of control. Here is how to rein him in | Robert Reich | The Guardian
How lies about Southport knife attack suspect led to riots and clashes with police | The Independent
Clashes in Southport after town mourns in vigil for victims of stabbing attack - BBC News
UK stabbing attack: Police charge 17-year-old with murder | AP News
Southport stabbing: What led to the spread of disinformation? | Crime News | Al Jazeera
Taylor Swift Meets Families of Southport Stabbing Victims at Eras Show - Billboard.com
The knife attack took place at a Taylor Swift–themed yoga and dance workshop held at the Hart Space, a community studio in the Meols Cop area of Southport.
BACKGROUND ...