The movement to take down Tesla
Mar 20, 2025•51 min
Summary
This episode of Decoder explores the Tesla Takedown protest movement and its potential impact on the company. Ed Niedermeyer joins Nilay Patel to discuss the disconnect between the myth and reality of Tesla, the vulnerabilities in its business model, and the reasons behind the protests. The conversation covers Tesla's leadership, product vision, and the challenges it faces in the evolving automotive landscape. Ultimately, the episode examines whether these protests can truly impact Tesla's stock and future.Episode description
Today we're talking about the Tesla Takedown protest movement, which has emerged as a way for people to express how deeply unhappy they are with Elon Musk installing himself as a not-so-shadow president who is tearing the federal government apart, leaving confusion and destruction in his wake.
Tesla's stock price is sinking, new car registrations and down, and hype around the company is fading rapidly. There's an opportunity there for the protestors, and I asked Ed Niedermeyer on the show to help me pull it all apart.
Links:
Is Tesla cooked? | Verge
Elon Musk Has Become Too Toxic for YouTube | New York Magazine
‘Tesla Takedown’ wants to hit Elon Musk where it hurts | Verge
The Tesla protests are getting bigger — and rowdier | Verge
‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters planning ‘biggest day of action’ | Verge
Tesla registrations — and public opinion — are in a free fall | Verge
Multiple Teslas set on fire in Las Vegas and Kansas City | Verge
Mark Rober’s Tesla video was more than a little weird | Verge
Tesla sales fell year-over-year for the first time | Verge
The cybertruck isn’t all it’s cracked up to be | Verge
Tesla autopilot, FSD linked to hundreds of crashes, dozens of deaths | Verge
Tesla crash victims’ families worried about Musk influence on investigations | Verge
Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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