Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical crossroads, the Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company and Neurolink. I'm your host Will Walden. At precisely 4:37 PM Central time, the massive 403 foot tall Starship system Block 2 Road to life. Now this is powered by 33 Raptor engines. the Super Heavy booster lifted off the pad with what SpaceX described as a nominal ascent for the first phase of the mission. Everything seemed to go
according to plan. The booster separated cleanly from the upper stage and what is known as a hot stage separation where the upper stages engines ignite just as the booster finishes its roll. Now shortly after separation though, the Super Heavy booster executed a boost back burn, relighting 12 of its 13 planned engines to begin its return to the launch site. Now in a moment. This showcased the company's reusability strides.
The booster performed a controlled descent through its actual plume that flew it to where it was in almost space in a reignited all thirteen of its central engines for the landing phase. It successfully slowed itself down and precisely maneuvered onto the chopstick arms of Spacex's launch and couch tower, the Meccazilla. Now. This marked only the second time that a Super Heavy booster had been caught using this method, a huge achievement for the company's goal of reusing the
Super Heavy boosters now. Meanwhile, the upper stage of Starship carried on with its portion of the mission. This spacecraft, which is powered by 6 Rapture engines, began its ascent burn towards space. The PLAN sequence seemed on track until approximately 8 1/2 minutes into the flight, when telemetry from the vehicle
abruptly ceased. Initial data suggests that a fire broke out in the AF section of the spacecraft, ultimately leading to SpaceX describing it as a Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly, or a RED, which is a technical term for basically an explosion. Now, observers as far as the Turks and Caicos Islands reported seeing the upper stage break apart in a dramatic display, sort of like fireworks over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, the cause of the explosion is believed to be a propellant lake.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk provided further insights just hours after the flight, stating via X preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen slash fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall. It was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity. He also indicated plans for improvements, including adding fire suppression systems to the affected area and expanding vent capacity to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Musk said nothing so far suggest pushing next launch past next month now, despite the loss of the upper stage, the Starship system operated within the boundaries of its designated launch corridor, an area specifically designed to protect public safety on the ground, in the air and at sea. And according to SpaceX, any surviving debris would have fallen into a predetermined hazard area.
The US Federal Aviation Administration, or the FAA, which overseas Space Flight Safety, briefly rerouted air traffic in the vicinity but confirm that normal operations resume shortly afterwards. Now the set back has not slowed SpaceX though. Company has applied for permission to launch Starship up to 25 times this year, and it's determined to get this design operational and reliable.
SpaceX is already preparing the hardware for the 8th flight test, with both the booster and the upper stage undergoing pre launch testing. This rapid iteration process is a cornerstone of Spacex's approach to developing what it envisions is a fully reusable space transport system capable of supporting missions to Mars and beyond. Now, the Starship program, which aims to make life multi planetary, continues to be the most powerful rocket ever
constructed. Each flight test provides critical data that informs future improvements. SpaceX has already begun reviewing the data from Flight 7 to determine the precise cause of the anomaly. This review will be conducted in collaboration with the FAA and the findings will be used to implement corrective actions for subsequent missions. Now, the scale of the explosion, though significant, is not unusual for a development stage
spacecraft of this complexity. Starship, which is powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane, represents A next generation designed focused on full reusability. The integration of the booster's successful return and catch mechanism with the upper stages mission to space is a challenging engineering fee. The SpaceX continues to revine with each test flight. Now Spacex's progress and reusability has been steady, particularly with the success of
the Super Heavy booster. Catching a rocket stage with the launch towers arms reduces the need for ocean landings or barges, which is a method used for the Falcon 9 rocket and also Blue Origins New Glen rocket. This approach aligns with Spacex's overreaching goal of reducing the cost of space travel and making high frequency launches more economically viable. Now, the decision to conduct a hot stage separation is another example of the program's
innovative approach. This method increases efficiency by reducing the time required for stage separation, also introduces new technological challenges. SpaceX engineers will likely focus on how the hot stage separation is. Subsequent ignition of the upper stage engines may have contributed to this anomaly. The aftermath of the Starship explosion has drawn attention not only for the fiery upper stage, but also for what it means for the broader mission of SpaceX.
Musk's remarks suggest that SpaceX remains undeterred. They're going to keep going forward, and it's important to learn from these failures. The rapid pace of testing allows the company to iterate quickly, addressing issues and implementing fixes in a matter of weeks rather than months. Now, SpaceX analyzes the telemetry and video data from Flight 7. The lessons learned will undoubtedly shape the design and procedures for future launches.
Yeah, Musk comments about fire suppression and event capacity suggests that changes will be made to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. These adjustments, while technical, are crucial for advancing the reliability and safety of Starship. The FAS involvement in the investigation is important their regulatory oversight committee and they do it for all of spaceflight coming from the United States.
And while SpaceX has led the charge in reusable rockets, it operates with any framework designed to prioritize public safety. The agency's role is certifying launch operations ensures that lessons from incidents like this one are shared across the industry, contributing to the collective advancement of space technology. Now, the high stakes game of Super Heavy rockets is real.
The rocket is central to several of the company's key missions, including deploying the next generation of Starling satellites and conducting missions for NASA. Starship is slated to play a pivotal role in the art of this program, which aims to return humans to the moon later this decade. Reminder of the challenges with
all rocketry. Every test flight is a balance between risk and reward, with a potential for groundbreaking achievements often accompanied by groundbreaking setbacks like maybe a giant rocket blowing up over the ocean. But for SpaceX, the path to a fully reusable space transportation system is paved with lessons learned from both success and failure from earlier flights. Here with the fire command team at the Palisades Fire. Hey guys and see, so this is I I was asked if if we could bring
some more Stallings here. So we've brought some more Stallings here and I'm just here with the the team and they're they're going to provide a briefing of the Palisades fire. So please go ahead all. Right. Hello. Good evening. My name is Christian Litz. I'm with LA County Fire, cooperating with the partnership with Cal Fire Team 2, and I'm operating section chief on this Palisades Fire. So Palisades Fire, I'll just go. We've been here since the beginning of the fire on Tuesday.
We were looking at extreme damaging winds, erratic fire behavior coming through and blowing in from about midway on this map and blowing all the way down to the coastline there. When did that? So when's that start? Just the frame of the thing for people, like I said, I assume people like it's, it's like great to get the story from like basically it's like straight shooter and, and like, you know, and, and so like how, how did it start?
And, you know, and, and then maybe after, how did it start then like what are some of the things that can be done to prevent it in the future? But how, but how did it start out? Like what's this? What's the story? So. Honestly we don't know yet. It's still under investigation. We don't know how it started OK, but because of the wind, honestly just allowed it to outpace anything possible. The winds are so strong, air resources, which we use to keep it small, ineffective. OK.
So it blew at record. Break it. It grew at a record break breaking pace. Resources put themselves probably in a bigger danger than they've ever done saves as many structures. But you can see it started about here with the wind and pushed it straight through the Palisades and it allowed it to grow. Larry as the wind slowed down, it allowed it to grow back the go back the other way. But now the wind came back out of the north and blew down again.
So we have several wind shifts resources are all around trying to both structure the fence, which is down along the coast where the structure is more heavy. We do have communities all along the top that we have. We've just been working as hard as we can from beginning that to now without any stop any rest resources working 3648 hours at times just because of the need of the of what we had to do. Right now the fire is is looking good. We still have heat all around the perim.
We still have resources all over and try to to secure those edges, make sure that there is limited the potential for any kind of growth. So we're still out there, but the activity is way down. And then with these winds over the next couple days, honestly this fire we have to watch it and give you it, but it's going to blow down at least most of it into its own self. But any new fire it's going to
do the same thing. We have the winds that's going to push it. It's not as strong as it was on Tuesday, but there is still going to be movement. So we're speaking, keeping all the resources available, and we're ready to actually not only respond to where the fire is now, yeah, but any new fires that start, we're able to respond and help. OK, so it is the so fires are
currently under control. This fire, we're not calling it control, OK, but there is lying around almost all of it, OK, very much almost all of it. But resources we're still working. So about the excitement is about 10% of the fire where the flames were there, but 90% of the work is done after those planes are gone and we have to secure those edges. Did you ever watch a campfire where the wind comes in and it's out? Yeah. Then the wind comes and it blows embers. Sure.
Same thing can happen. OK. You have to keep pushing and pushing and pushing deeper and deeper and stay around all these homes and bond Anito Fernwood all the way. Up when you when you when you when you build like full of barriers to stuff the fire going is you just you clear the brush and and the and the trees and like what like what what actions do you take around the perimeter that. So along the trimmer we cut, we call it cutting line, we use bulldoze.
But really what we're doing is taking everything out down to bare mineral soil. So there will be a path of dirt from where the pipeline is. Exactly. We're building a fire break along the edge of the block. OK, got it. So there's nothing left to burn. So the only danger at that point was if the wind blows an ember
over that line. So we have to build it appropriately big enough to secure that, to stop that from happening, and then push into the black to take all the heat away so it gives us a bigger buffer as much as possible. How how big is a fire break needs to be? It depends on the size of the fuel. If you like a textbook size of fuel, it's anything that we see and, and it's different for terrain, size of fuel, everything like that. Usually it's a couple times, 1,
1/2 times the size of the fuel. But we have fuel in the Topanga Canyon area, the Palestine area. There hasn't been fire there in 60 years. So you're really wow 15. Very quite a rare fire, correct? Like it's a half century fire or something. Absolutely. OK. The last major fires I have really pushed through Topanga is 9396. OK, But there is there is part of these hillsides that there hasn't been recorded fire in 60 years. OK, wow. All right.
And, and are, are there things that like would be flex? Like, I think what a lot of people are curious about is like what things can be done in the future to ensure that houses are less susceptible to burning down? I mean, it's like like, like as we rebuild for the future, because it's like, there's one thing about like past recriminations and all that, but like we can't go, we can't
rewind the clock. But what we can do is say, like in the future, what what, what should we do to minimize the probability that, you know, people's homes and businesses will burn down? Yeah, great question. And that's that's really what we want. So throughout history as fire, as fire prevention gets better, we we do better at safety structures. So when you look at the LA County website, LA City has references out there as well. We call it, you always say the
term defensible space. That is the biggest thing to safe structures. So and hardening your home. So defensible space, we'll start there. That is basically clear and brush as low as possible to about 100 feet is what our minimum standard, say 100 feet away. You can you start at 10 feet, but you limit it out about 100 feet is the best. OK, so then when it hits there, you're basically building that 100 foot buffer of fuel brakes around your home?
So like no, no kindling for 100 feet basically correct that sounds. That sounds pretty sensible. It it it is and then you Harding your home. We call harness is don't stack firewood right against against the wall. The firewood yeah really a big part of when we lose structures on a typical maybe not 100 mile winds, but a typical is there something by the house flammable fire? Yeah OK wood furniture something like that and it can burn up and gets into the attic and then we
lose the house. OK or it gets in the porch system right. You might have a wood deck and it goes up and it just allows the flame to go into the house. So OK a lot of times we talk about or ember cast that gets in the ember. So you you put screens around every opening so you have vents on your house put screens very small screens so the air can get through there. But embers? Good sized embers that will actually catch house. Yeah, get in there.
OK. So there's stuff like that move everything break from your house, OK. And the vegetation in this area is, is astonishing beautiful, and we understand that. Yeah. But, well, yeah, there's things. You have to do for.
I mean, I haven't like some things, like some of the issues with fire breaks were like there's like some endangered like plant or something and then we can't do a fire break or that's an issue like like, like, is there stuff that would be helpful from a regulatory reform standpoint that would help with fire prevention in the future? Well, LA County, I mean, we do
have standards. We go in certain areas, we actually have these lists of residences like this is what we have to do, OK. I think it's just an awareness. So when people good and bad about the, the bad thing is this happened, the good thing, maybe it'll bring a greater awareness that there is a way to help defend your homes. There is a way to help this from stop happening in the future in that defensible space. Building that and building
those. That's that's the way to do it as far as. Well, I guess, I guess people are like, obviously we definitely want to give people a sense of, of hope for the future and if the things get rebuilt, that their house is not going to burn down again. It's like a reasonable thing. So, so, so it's so it's like, like if there are things that should we should push for from a regulatory reform standpoint, this would be good to to know,
you know, and, and yeah. Clearance phase OK building building material, right we can we can now these are newer things so now the up to the standards of building construction codes have been brought and have changed over the years. So maybe when their house was built they weren't there OK, now we have new the new codes. There's going to be certain fire return materials, there's going to be certain things that they can do if you look a lot
concrete buildings don't burn. So there's some of these people that have built their concrete in the middle and it is right on the middle of black all around and nothing was done, but they did burn because of the building material. Yeah, you can't. You can't burn concrete. Correct. So Space City, Yeah, and and return materials. Ceiling concrete is going to be OK, yes. Great things. They have other materials out there now that will definitely help. Like what?
I think you'll just like, like, I'm like hopeful that this video can be like, helpful to people, you know? Like what, what should people do differently? Like if it's not sealed concrete, You said there's some new materials like like like synthetic materials or or what? Absolutely. And. There's stuff that they put in to the to the materials to be able to do it. Hi, yeah, I really like help my partner around this over. Here, Yeah. Yeah, you know. Anyways, I just wanted to kind
of point something out. Back in 1962, we had a fire, it was called the Bel Air fire that burned from this area into kind of the same burn pattern, OK. And then after that fire, that's when they basically in the city of Los Angeles, they outlawed wood shaped roofs. So wood signal roofs were outlawed. Yeah. I mean, that's the, I mean, that's the nightmare. Yeah, that's true. Partners saying there's a roof. A roof made of kindling. Right.
So we we update the building standards as a fire close there as a fire prevention standard. Sure. And then, and that's up to you and the people out there that are a little more into the architecture and to find some something that actually could be potentially more fire saving, you know, and then maybe the silver lining around the grey cloud is that that may happen. Maybe we'll live in a safer Fire Zone or area where there's prone to fires, but in a safer type of
structures. That's kind of what we're hoping to come out of this, you know, as maybe one of the very small but good things. All right, sounds good. Well, I mean, and do you have any any guidance for for people like if there's like obviously steel and concrete not are not going to burn, but like are there the new synthetics that you think would be better than like or or besides steel and concrete, is there anything else? I I no, I really am not an. Expert or stones, actually.
Like, OK, it's pretty hard to burn stone. I mean, steel and concrete, there's some stuff out there. Yeah, we're worried about putting it out. OK. But yeah, and I think that there's some. Some people come together and find something, but yeah, there's certainly some stuff out there. We just. All right, sounds good. All right. Hey, everyone. So all right, what about what about order availability? Was water availability? I understand that was like not not an issue in in Malibu.
Is that correct? Was it water? Yeah. So there was water. We have several reservoirs that seen as we use a lot now just an example, if we have one building burning, we could flow 1000 gallons a minute on that one building with the hose legs that we put in to stop it. You can imagine 1000 gallons per house we can do right. So the amount of water we're flowing, there really is no water system that's going to
keep that pace. So we have to bring in water tenders for to these big tank water tanks that you know, 25103 thousand gallon trucks and they'll come in and that's what we have to do to overcome to compensate. So they park out there, do it. DWTP did a great job. They brought in big water trucks for us and we use them as basically mobile hydrants. All right, all. Right. And then we have our own agency as well that has water tenders. OK.
Am I saying is that that like along the maybe correct me if I'm wrong, along in Malibu, along the coast, there was no shortage of water. In the Palisades there was a shortage of water at at a certain point, or is that not? Well, we were just, we were flowing just an amount of amount of water that the system couldn't, OK, just because of how much water these firefighters were utilizing. OK. All right. Sounds good. All right.
Thanks guys. Blue Origins new Glen rocket successfully reached orbit on its maiden flight Thursday, marking a critical achievement for Jeff Bezos's space company and intensifying its rivalry with Elon Musk's SpaceX. The 98 meter tall rocket launched at. 2O2. Local time. That's seven O 2 GMT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying a prototype satellite thousands of miles above Earth.
And while the Rockets made objective to achieve orbit was accomplished, the mission also faced setbacks, including the failure to recover its reusable booster, which was lost during an attempted landing in the Atlantic Ocean. Now, the launch firmly positions Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin as a growing competitor to Musk SpaceX, with the two billionaires vying to dominate the commercial space industry.
Now, Blue Origins CEO Dave Limp praised the milestone, stating we'll learn a lot from today and try again at our next launch this spring. Musk also acknowledged the achievement, writing on X. Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt, Jeff Bezos. Now, despite the camaraderie, the competitive stakes could not be any higher as both companies aim to lead the industry in satellite networks, human spaceflight and also lunar
exploration. New Glenn, which was named after John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, is Blue Origin's most powerful rocket to date. It was designed to carry heavy payloads into orbit, making it more capable than Spacex's workhorse rocket. The Falcon 9 and Base Services intends to use New Glenn to support his Project Kuiper initiative, which aims to deploy thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to provide global
broadband services. Now, this effort puts Blue Origin in direct competition with Spacex's Starlink, which already has a large constellation of satellites providing Internet access to millions worldwide. And while the orbital success of New Glen is a milestone, the mission highlighted some technical challenges for Blue Origin. The rocket's first stage booster, engineered for reuse, failed to land on an ocean
platform as planned. Roughly 20 minutes into the flight, the company confirmed the booster had been lost. The ability to reuse boosters is a cornerstone of Spacex's business model, and a failure underscores Blue Origins ongoing struggle to match Spacex's efficiency in this area now. The mission also endured delays before liftoff. Initially scheduled for a pre dawn launch on Monday, the flight was postponed due to ice accumulation in key plumbing
systems. Engineers resolved the issue in time for Thursday's successful launch, which took place from a historic launchpad that previously sent NASA's Mariner and Pioneer missions into space. The payload for this flight included in experimental satellite platform that remained attached to the rocket's second stage while in orbit. After six hours of operation, though, the second stage will be maneuvered into a higher orbit to comply with NASA's space
debris guidelines. Now, Blue Origin was founded about 25 years ago. They've long envisioned a future where millions of people live and work in space. Until now, its achievements have largely centered on its smaller, reusable New Shepherd rocket, which conducts suborbital flights carrying passengers and scientific payloads to the edge of space. Notably, Jeff Bezos himself participated in one of these flights in 2021.
However, Blue Origin has struggled to keep pace with SpaceX, which launched 134 missions in 2023 and continues to develop its next generation Starship rocket for deep space exploration. Now the Starship, designed to carry massive payloads and cruise to the Moon and Mars, remains a looming presence in the industry. The company plans to conduct its 7th test flight of Starship later today on the 16th of January.
Now, Starship's capability surpasses that of New Glenn, but the success of Blue Origins new rocket is a signal that competition between the two companies is intensifying. Industry observers predict that this rivalry could drive innovation while reducing the cost of accessing space. Now what you're going to see are these two companies challenge each other to make even greater strides.
The growing rivalry between Blue Origin and SpaceX is already reshaping the commercial space industry, where private companies are taking over roles historically dominated by government agencies like NASA. Now they also NASA also once relied exclusively on government built rockets. It's increasingly shifted towards partnerships with private firms like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
And SpaceX has secured billions of dollars in contracts to deliver supplies, satellites, and even astronauts into orbit. And while Blue Origin is still working to establish itself as a reliable provider of space services with New Glen's successful debut, Bezos's company has positioned itself as a stronger competitor for future NASA contracts and other government projects. Now I've noticed that about 52% of you that listen to this podcast aren't subscribed to it.
I checked out the analytics and if you could do me a favor, if you'd like SpaceX, NASA, Spaceflight, also Tesla, Boring Company, Neuralink X, all of Elon Musk's companies. Hit the follow or subscribe button on whatever podcast platform you're listening on right now. Greatly appreciate it. Takes you about a second and you'll get more news about Elon in your feed now. Despite the orbital success though of Blue Origin, it's an uphill battle and catching up with Spacex's well established
lead. Spacex's Falcon 9 rockets are routinely reused for multiple missions, significantly lowering costs and increasing the frequency of launches. Additionally, Spacex's startling satellite network is already operational, whereas Blue Origins Project Kuiper is still in its early stages with only a fraction of its planned satellite constellation launch. A competition is further fueled by the personal dynamics between Bezos and Musk.
Both billionaires have publicly sparred over their visions for space exploration, with Musk often taking jabs at Bezos for Blue Origins slower progress. However, Bezos has remained steadfast in his long term vision, emphasizing that building a sustainable presence in space will require time,
investment and patience. Now, the failure to recover New Glenn's reusable booster is a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead of Blue Origin. They'll eventually do it, but developing a reliable and cost effective system for reusability will be essential if the company hopes to compete with SpaceX on
both performance and on price. Nevertheless, the successful orbital launch of New Glenn marks a major step forward for Blue Origin and it proves that they have the capability to develop and deploy heavy lift rockets. Now this is going to heat up. Blue Origin and SpaceX are going to go after one another. The benefits for the broader space industry and for us are becoming increasingly apparent.
Greater competition is likely to result in technological advancements, reduce costs, and expanded access to space for governments, businesses, researchers, and eventually people like you and me. But for now, Bezos and Musk remain locked in a race that could redefine humanity's relationship with space for generations to come. We might actually get to Mars because of two billionaires that are battling between 2 mega rockets. That's pretty wild to think about.
Is TikTok about to be sold to Elon Musk, and could such a deal help bridge tensions between China and the United States? How does Musk's deep political and business connection factor
into this possible transaction? There's just a few of the questions swirling around the future of Tik Tok's US operations as the short video platform fights to avoid a ban in the United States. Now, Chinese officials are weighing a scenario in which Elon Musk could acquire Tik Tok's U.S. business if Bytedance, the app's Chinese parent company, fails to overturn the impending ban.
Bytedance has appealed the ban to the United States Supreme Court, but during arguments on January 10th, the justices appeared inclined to uphold the legislation. This has left the fate of TikTok hanging in the balance as Chinese authorities debate their next moves. Now, although Beijing's preferred outcome is for TikTok to remain under Bytedance's ownership, contingency plans are being explored in case the US government forces a sale.
According to sources familiar with the matter, one possibility under discussion involves Musk's social media company X taking over Tik Tok's US operations. Now, Musk could integrate TikTok into his existing ventures, leveraging its massive U reserve base of over 170 million Americans to attract advertisers and boost his other businesses, including his AI company XAI.
Now, the potential deal has reportedly caught the attention of Chinese officials, given Musk's prior dealings with the Chinese government through Tesla, which has a major factory in Shanghai. Now, the stakes for Byte Dance are enormous. TikTok is valued at an estimated 40 to $50 billion, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, and this valuation reflects the platform's dominance in the United States. But it also highlights the complexity of any potential sale Byte Dance and their legal team
have been vocal about. The. Difficulty of separating Tik Tok's US operations from its global structure. And during arguments before the Supreme Court, Tik Tok's lawyers describe the process as extraordinarily difficult, citing shared software, shared algorithms and shared operational infrastructure. This span multiple countries. Now, adding to the complexity, the Chinese government has a golden share in a Bytedance subsidiary which grants Beijing influence over certain strategic
decisions. And while Bytedance maintains that this golden share applies only to its China based operations, Beijing's export rules restrict the sale of advanced technologies, including Tik Tok's powerful recommendation algorithm. Now, this means any deal involving TikTok would require Beijing's approval, granting the
Chinese government significant leverage. president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20th, has expressed interest in resolving the TikTok issue, even as the band is scheduled to take effect the day before. Trump has suggested delaying the band to allow more time for negotiations, calling it an opportunity to save the app in.
The incoming administration could potentially use the TikTok talks as a bargaining chip in broader negotiations with China on tariffs, trade and export controls, according to people familiar with discussions now. For Musk, the prospect of acquiring TikTok could align with his business ambitions in Musk's X platform has struggled to reclaim its footing after his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, which left the
company saddled with them. Adding Tik Tok's vast user base and advertising revenue could inject new life into Musk's social media ambitions, while also providing data that could enhance his artificial intelligence ventures. However, how Musk would finance another multibillion dollar purchase remains unclear. He has yet to fully repay the loans from his Twitter deal, raising questions about his capacity to secure additional funding for such a high profile
acquisition. Now, Musk has previously voiced opposition to banning TikTok in the United States. In a post on X in April, he wrote, In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the United States, even though such a ban may benefit the X platform. Doing so would be contrary to feed him with speech and expression. It is not what America stands
for. Now, Musk's comments reflect a broader debate over whether banning TikTok violates the First Amendment, a key argument that Byte Dance's lawyers have raised in court. Now, despite Musk's public standstill, any deal involving TikTok could reignite scrutiny of his political and business ties. Musk has been a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, reportedly spending more than $250 million on the president
elect's re election campaign. He's also played an active role in Trump's transition team, attending meetings at Mar a Lago and cultivating close relationships with members of the incoming administration. Critics argue that Musk's political alignment with Trump could create conflicts of interest, particularly if government contracts or regulations affecting his companies come into play now.
Democrats and watchdog groups have already raised concerns about Musk potentially leveraging his relationship with Trump to influence politics that benefit his businesses, including Tesla and also SpaceX. Now, Musk's companies hold billions of dollars in government contracts, their fears that the incoming administration might expand subsidies or ease regulatory scrutiny of his ventures.
Musk has also faced investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the SEC and labor regulators, and his high profile status has often placed him at the center of controversy for Byte Dance. Selling Tik Tok's US operations to Musk might not be the only option on the table, though. According to insiders, the company has also considered relocating its US user base to a separate rebranded app as a way
to sidestep the ban. However, it's unclear whether such a strategy would satisfy US regulators, who have framed the issue as one of national security. The US government has long expressed concerns that Tik Tok's ownership by a Chinese company poses risks related to data privacy and potential surveillance, allegations that Bytedance has denied other suitors for TikTok have also
emerged in recent years. Microsoft and Oracle both pursued acquisitions in 2020, and more recently, billionaire Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O'Leary have promoted an alternative plan called Project Liberty to buy the app. O'Leary claims to have discussed the proposal with Trump directly, though it remains to be seen whether such plans will
gain traction. And while Beijing weighs its options, it's clear that Chinese government views the TikTok negotiations as part of a broader geopolitical chess board. Chinese officials have previously condemned US efforts to ban TikTok, labeling them as economic bullying and accusing Washington as attempting to plunder a successful Chinese business.
Beijing's interest in Musk as a potential buyer underscores the strategic importance of maintaining influence over the app while navigating its contentious relationship with the United States. In Musk's existing ties to China could play a critical role in any potential big deal. Tesla's Shanghai factory, which opened in 2019, has become the company's largest production base, helping Musk expand Tesla's market share in China while building goodwill with
officials. Now, however, Musk has also spoken out against certain U.S. trade policies targeting China, such as tariffs on EVs, positioning himself as a complex figure in the evolving dynamic between the two nations. Now, as the deadline approaches, though, time's running out for Byte Dance. Whether through legal appeals and negotiated sale or other strategies, the outcome will have significant ramifications for Byte Dance, Musk X, and all
of society that uses these apps. For now, the uncertainty lingers and all eyes remain on these key players as this high stakes drama unfolds right in front of us on this podcast. If you want to continue this conversation, please go to our Discord sign up. It's free, it's easy, we can continue talking over there and the link is in the show notes or description. What will Elon Musk's new role in Washington mean for government transparency and the Doge? How will ethics?
Laws apply to his influential presence in the White House complex. And how does his close relationship with Donald Trump fit into this picture? These questions arise as Musk is set to occupy office space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House. This is according to sources familiar with this arrangement.
Now, this move marks the latest chapter in Musk's ongoing involvement with president-elect Donald Trump, a relationship that has grown closer since Trump's 2024 election victory. Now, Musk, who contributed hundreds of millions to Trump's campaign, has frequently accompanied the president-elect during the transition period, often staying in one of the cottages available for rent at Trump's Mar A Lago estate for
over $2000 per night. His proximity to Trump has allowed him to participate in high level meetings, foreign calls, and even discussions about cabinet appointments.
The office space that Elon Musk is expected to use is located in a government building adjacent to The West Wing, a stone's throw from the White House. This proximity would provide Musk with continued access to President-elect Donald Trump even after the inauguration of the project that Musk is spearheading is being called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOE, aimed at cutting federal spending.
And despite its title, DOGE is not a formal department with congressional authorization like the Department of Justice, but rather a private initiative with close ties to the incoming administration. Now, uncertainty surrounds the project's operations, funding and Musk's formal role in government structure. Sources familiar with the discussion say Musk has spoken with transition officials about his level of access to The West Wing.
Those specifics remain unclear. Typically, such access requires a special pass often reserved for senior government personnel and very close advisors. Now, while Musk is a billionaire many times over and would likely forgo a government Sally, ethical and legal questions loom over his involvement. His companies like SpaceX hold billions of dollars in federal contracts, raising concerns about potential conflicts of
interest. If Musk becomes a special government employee or an SGEA designation that comes with its own set of rules and limitations. SG ES are subject to laws that prohibit participation in discussions where they or their company's heavy financial interest. Now, DOGE staff members are currently operating out of Spacex's Washington, DC offices.
The lack of transparency about the group structure and intentions has prompted questions about how it will be integrated into the federal government's operations. There are concerns about whether Musk and his team will need to file financial disclosures if they take on formal roles and what transparency measures will apply to the project. Now. One key regulation that may apply to DOGE is the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
FACA. This law mandates that advisory groups composed of non government members who provide advice to federal agencies must conduct meetings publicly and make their documents available to the public. Now, if Musk and his DOGE staff do not take on formal government roles, FACA could require them to disclose their operations to
ensure accountability. Similarly, the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, could come into play, allowing journalists and public members to request official records related to DOGE. And while FOIA exempts the president and his immediate advisory staff, much of the executive branch is still subject to these requests. Whether Musk's team will be classified as such to FOIA
remains to be seen. Now, despite these potential legal hurdles, Musk's close association with Trump has positioned to him as a key figure in the new administration. Reports indicate that Musk was often present at major events during the transition from official meetings with foreign dignitaries to informal social gatherings at Trump's properties.
His influence appears to extend far beyond traditional business advisory roles, and Republican leaders have also signaled their willingness to involve Musk in government decision making. Over the weekend, Senator Bill Haggerty of Tennessee mentioned on Fox News that Musk should take a hard look at federal spending in California, suggesting confidence in Musk's role as a potential change agent for government efficiency.
Now, Musk's unprecedented level of involvement as a private citizen raises questions about accountability and transparency in governance. Critics argue that his influence is disproportionate given the doge is not an officially sanctioned government entity. And nonetheless, Trump's administration appears to have embraced Musk as a central player in shaping their approach to streamlining government
functions. Some observers point to Musk's status as the wealthiest person in the world is a factor contributing to his outsized influence, while others highlight his personal contribution to Trump's political campaign. And despite criticism and skepticism from some commerce, his involvement appears firmly entrenched as Trump prepares to take office and while Musk has not yet determined whether he will. Formally. Adopt the SGE designation.
His presence in the White House complex signifies an extraordinary level of access for a private citizen. Whether or not he takes on a formal government role, the nature and scope of his influence are likely to remain a subject of scrutiny. Now, as the Trump administration prepares to launch its efforts to cut government spending, questions about ethics, compliance, transparency and the blending of private business interests with public governance
will likely persist. How the administration navigates these challenges and defines Musk. 'S role will shape public. Perception of DOGE and the broader initiative to reform government efficiency. And in the weeks to come, as DOGE take shape and Musk's official status becomes clearer, many will watch to see how these developments unfold. And the proximity Musk enjoys to the heart of power may offer both unprecedented influence and potential. The goal challenges.
Now, if you want the inside scoop on Doge and if you want to continue this conversation, join the Discord. There's a link in the description or the show notes. Check it out. We have a bunch of people over there right now talking about these things. It's called the Doge pack. So sign up. There's a link in the description or the show notes
just for you really. In talks to acquire TikTok, what does Beijing think about all of this, and how would this potential deal shape the social media landscape? These are the questions that take center stage as discussions about Tik Tok's future intensify amid national security concerns in the United States. Chinese officials are reportedly evaluating a potential contingency plan involving Elon Musk as a buyer for Tik Tok's American operations.
This consideration comes in response to mounting pressure for Byte Dance Limited, Tik Tok's parent company based in Beijing, to sell or face a possible US ban on January 19th. Now, the situation follows a pending decision by the US Supreme Court on the legality of legislation mandating such a sale. While Bytedance is appealing the ban and fighting to retain control, Beijing officials are preparing for various outcomes, according to sources familiar
with the discussions. These talks remained in early stages. However, One proposed option would see Elon Musk acquiring Tik Tok's US operations and possibly integrating the platform into his growing media empire. Now, Beijing's strong preference is for TikTok to stay under Bytedance ownership, these sources said. Still, some officials recognized the strategic appeal of selling the US portion to an American entity if the alternative is a complete shutdown.
TikTok has over 170 million US users, making it a valuable asset not only for its entertainment platform but also for its data-driven technology and advertising potential. One person familiar with Beijing's deliberations noted that any high profile sale involving Musk could appeal the
Chinese authorities. Musk's perceived position rapport with Beijing, cultivated through his business dealings with Tesla in China, makes him a potential bridge in resolving tensions with Washington. The Chinese government holds influence over byte dance decisions through its Golden Share, which is a stake in a subsidiary that grants certain control over strategic decisions.
However, export rules restricting Chinese software algorithms complicate any sale involving Tik Tok's recommendation system, making Beijing a crucial player in any deal. Now, Musk has expressed support for TikTok remaining available in the US despite the potential competitive advantage it's band could offer his platform X. In a post from April, Musk wrote In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the USA, even though such a ban may benefit
the X platform. Doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression. It is not what America stands for. Nevertheless, Musk's ties to former president and now President Donald Trump, who initially pushed for TikTok sale, add another layer to the dynamics of play.
Trump, who's returned to office, may see Musk as a viable partner to negotiate Tik Tok's future in a way that aligns with US National Security interests, and the prospect of selling Tik Tok's U.S. business raises significant operational and
legal hurdles. Bytedance's legal representatives have already described the separation of Tik Tok's US operations as extraordinarily difficult, and such a transaction would need to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, satisfy stakeholders on both sides of the Pacific, and resolve contentious debates over Tik Tok's data handling
practices. Financial analysts estimate Tik Tok's US operations could be worth between 40 billion and about $50 billion, making it a challenging acquisition even for Elon Musk. But Elon Musk purchased Twitter for 44 billion in 2022, and he still faces debt payments associated with that transaction. It's unclear how he would finance another acquisition of
similar magnitude. He has friends that have a lot of money and there's a possibility they could form a group to buy TikTok. That's it seems that would happen. That's what he did with Twitter. So. Moreover, legal experts suggest the sale process itself could be politically charged.
The competitive bidding process might be required involving other interested parties such as billionaire investor Frank McCourt and Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary, who have already shown interest in acquiring TikTok. Now, past contenders have included tech giants like Microsoft and also. Oracle.
While Beijing and Bytedance with their options, Tiktok remains locked in legal battle over its right to operate in the US, and Bytedance attorneys have argued that legislation forced the sale violates first amended protections on free speech. However, during a Supreme Court hearing on January 10th, several justices appeared inclined to prioritize national security concerns over constitutional arguments.
President-elect Trump, slated to take office in January 20th, has sought to delay the TikTok ban by one day to allow time for further negotiations, he said. I want to save TikTok. He fuels speculation that he might pursue a resolution that avoids a ban altogether. Now, Bytedance executives remain committed to fighting the legislation and retaining control of Tik Tok's US operations, and 1 insider noted.
The Bytedance's leadership still prefers this strategy over relinquishing control permanently. They said they're focused on keeping the product intact and maintaining operations in the United States now. Another potential solution floating involves rebranding TikTok under a different name and moving existing US users to a similar platform to sidestep the ban. However, questions remain about whether this approach would
succeed legally or commercially. Musk's involvement in this high stakes scenario shows his broader role as a key figure navigating business relations between the world's two largest economies. Tesla's Shanghai factory, opened in 2019, is now the company's largest production base.
This is shows that Musk's ability to work with Chinese officials is actually a thing and expand his operations despite stiff competition by BYD and as Trump continues to assemble his incoming administration, which includes several outspoken China critics, Musk's role is going to be mediating technological and business disputes, and it could
become increasingly significant. S spoken opposition to certain trade tariffs imposed by the Biden administration demonstrates his willingness to challenge conventional trade policies. But for now, Tik Tok's future in the US remains uncertain. Either Byte Dance, TikTok, nor Elon Musk has publicly commented on the possibility of a sale. Government agencies in China, including the Cyberspace Administration and the Ministry of Commerce, have also remained
silent. The potential sale raises questions about how Musk might reshape social media as we know it, and that's if he acquired it. His track record with X shows a willingness to dramatically overhaul platforms and fire hundreds of people that he takes control of, which could mean major changes going forward for TikTok if Musk involved. Now, as January 19th approaches, the clock is ticking for Bytedance to find a resolution that keeps TikTok operational in the United States.
So what sets Blue Origins New Glen rocket apart from Starship and Spacex's other array of Falcon rockets? Will it successfully compete with them, or has it already fallen behind before its first launch? Now these are just a few questions looming as the rocket prepares to launch its first orbital mission. This is New Glenn, and it's going to be launching from a pad in Florida. Now, this is set to debut after more than 25 years in the making.
Since Blue Origins founding, New Glenn has faced numerous delays yet. Anticipation is building as it readies to take flight in a market increasingly dominated by SpaceX and its powerful Starship and Falcon series rockets despite. Being overshadowed by the sheer size of Spacex's Starship system, New Glen was once hailed as groundbreaking when first announced in 2016, and at that time most emerging aerospace companies were focusing on designing smaller, more cost effective rockets.
A Blue Origin, in contrast, declared its ambition to create one of the largest orbital rockets ever built. Now towering at 98 meters tall and featuring a core stage 7 meters wide, New Glen rivals the payload capacity of Spacex's Falcon Heavy while incorporating more modern design elements and increased reusability. Now the rocket boasts A2 stage design, with the first stage powered by 7 B E4 engines burning methane and liquid oxygen. The second stage uses a pair of BE.
Three U hydrogen burning engines optimized for operations in space and according to Blue Origin, new blends first stage is designed for. Full. Reusability right from its inaugural launch, which is a key distinction from other launch systems that often introduce reusability features little bit more gradually. Now, 1 of New Glenn's standout features is its massive payload fairing, measuring 7 meters in diameter and 17 meters tall.
These dimensions make it the largest fairing available in the commercial launch market, providing ample space for payloads that may be too large or oddly shaped for Spacex's Falcon rockets. As Blue Origin prepares for the debut mission, the company's first payload is a small satellite bus known as Blue Ring, equipped with its own
propulsion and power systems. New. Blends propulsion system showcases a blend of technological choices that reflect a methodical approach to balancing performance and reliability. It's first stage BE4 engines, for instance, employing oxidizer rich stage combustion cycle using methane and liquid oxygen. Now these engines have lower chamber pressures than Spacex's Raptor engines. This is a deliberate decision aimed at extending engine lifespan and also improving
reusability. While SpaceX continually pushes for maximum performance from smaller engines by increasing pressure, Blue Origins more conservative design philosophy favors long term reliability. The upper stage of New Glen uses a different engine cycle than the first stage. It's BE3U engines rely on an expander cycle that vaporizes hydrogen to drive turbines and also run pumps.
This design sacrifices some efficiency for increased thrust, but remains effective for high altitude and space maneuvers. The result is a highly capable upper stage the Blue Origin claims is more efficient than Spacex's Falcon 9 upper stage, though not quite at the level of the Centaur stage used by United Launch Alliance or the ula New Glens landing system also differentiates it from competitors.
Unlike Spacex's grid fins, Blue Origin uses a more traditional diamond shaped fin design combined with strikes to enhance lift and cross range capability during descent. The first stage includes cold gas thrusters for in flight attitude adjustments and also features 6 landing legs which Starship doesn't have seamlessly integrated into its F section.
According to CEO David Limp, these legs are capable of withstanding impacts up to 150 tons, enabling precise and safe landing on a recovery barge named Jacqueline, which is positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. A key difference between Blue Origin and SpaceX lies in their
development strategies. While SpaceX adopts a rapid, iterative approach, often launching early prototypes to gather real world data and refined designs now, Blue Origin emphasizes exhaustive testing before any public launches. This methodical approach may limit the number of launches in the short term, but aligns with Blue Origin strategy of ensuring a high success rate from the outset.
Notably, NASA has enough confidence of Blue Origins testing protocols to plan a Mars mission using New Glenn's first flight before scheduling conflicts cause delays. That flight has been cancelled now, despite years of
preparation. Blue Origin faces significant competition, though, because Spacex's Starship exists, which aims for complete and full reusability across all of its stages, and it's shifted the industry standard and dwarfs other rockets in terms of sheer payload capacity and size. Now, Starship's design presents challenges. For. Smaller satellite deployments due to the limited size of its payload Bay doors, which contrasts sharply with New Glen's spacious fairing design.
Starship may capture attention and its size with ambitions. New Glen targets a different niche in the market. With a hydrogen powered upward stage, the rocket is well suited for missions to geostationary orbit, the moon and. Possibly even Mars, without requiring the complex refueling maneuvers that Starship demands for interplanetary travel. It's going to take them about 10 refuels for Spacex's Starship to
get to the moon. And New Glen's market prospects also extend beyond exploration missions. Blue Origins connections to Amazon through Jeff Bezos opened the door launcher for Kuiper satellites. Amazon's answers to Spacex's Starlight constellation. Other clients, including One Web and Ulstat, have already expressed interest in using New Glen for their payload.
While Blue Origin had initially considered a three stage version of New Glen for very deep space missions, its current focus remains on providing the capabilities to customers with their two stage variant. The company has also explored developing a reusable upper stage under the code name Project Jervis as part of its vision to create fully reusable
launch vehicles. Such advancements would place New Glenn in direct competition with Starship and despite facing stiff competition, Blue Origins, careful planning, innovative design elements and diverse customer base provide a strong foundation as it moved towards this debut launch. The company's method The company's methodical approach and readiness to cater to specific market needs.
Show that it has a really good strategy for long term viability in an industry where rapid innovation and reliability are equally as critical. So what does? Elon Musk have planned for Austin, TX and how detentions from California accelerate his departure. Also, what does Musk's futuristic city really look like? What started as a practical relocation for Tesla's operations have morphed into a sprawling network of projects that stretch well beyond
building electric cars. The story begins way back in the spring of 2020, when Tesla, Musk's flagship electric vehicle company, faced mounting challenges in California. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the state, authorities ordered Tesla's Fremont manufacturing plant to halt all operations. Musk, known to be combative, refused to comply. The timing couldn't have been worse, or perhaps better, depending on your perspective.
Tesla had just begun delivering its new Model Y crossover on March. 16th of 20. 20 And while the world slowed to a crawl, Tesla was ramping up production. By May of 2020, tensions between Musk and California officials boiled over. In a public declaration on Twitter, Musk wrote. Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas or
Nevada immediately. This announcement signaled a dramatic shift for a man who had spent much of his adult life in career in California after moving from South Africa at the tender age of 18. Now, though, his exit may have appeared reactionary. Musk's decision to relocate to Texas has strategic underpinnings the state's open land, lower taxes, later regulations and affordable housing. Made it an appealing.
Place For a company looking to expand rapidly, These advantages stood in stark contrast to the densely pact, highly regulated environment of California. Now Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the discussions about Tesla's move had begun as early as spring of 2020. The first tangible result of those talks came with the construction of Tesla's massive Gigafactory in Austin. But even as construction on the site began, Musk had broader ambitions in mind for Texas
beyond just cars. Tesla may have led the charge, but it was just the beginning. Not long after the announcement of Tesla's relocation, Musk's tunneling venture, the Boring Company, followed suit. The company set up operations in Bastrop, a small town east of Austin along the Colorado River, and the land that was once a cow pasture has since transformed to what some are calling Hyperloop Plaza, now the research and development hub for high speed transportation projects.
Now, adjacent to the Boring Company's headquarters is a nascent community Musk has dubbed Snailbrook, reportedly inspired by conversations between Musk, musician Grimes, rapper Kanye West and West's personal architect. Early reports describe Snellbrook as having space for around 110 homes, warehouses, a pool, sports facilities, and
even a putting gram. While far from a futuristic metropolis, the development signals must intend to build an integrated environment for his company's and his employees. Now, though, Tesla's moved Garner's headlines. Musk's connection to Texas dates back to 2014, when SpaceX began buying land in the coastal village of Boca Chica, about 350 miles South of Austin. Initially, the company's activities appeared minimal until 2019, when testing for the
Starship program began. Over time, the area transformed into Spacex's operational hub known as Starbase. Now in parallel to Bastrop, Snail Brook. Boca Chica also houses a private employee community, complete with a SpaceX exclusive pub and a private school called at Astra. The transformation has been so extensive, the street names were changed to reflect Spacex's
dominance in the region. Little side note, I spent about a year on the ground reporting from Spacex's star base about Starship. It was the first iteration of a fully stacked Starship and I spent a year documenting every single day down on Hwy. 4. You can check all of those old life videos out at my YouTube channel, youtube.com/space News Pod. Now the Neurolink expansion happened to another piece of Musk's vision for Texas came to light in July 2024 when Neurolink, Musk's brain implant
company, began building a $14 million, three story office and manufacturing facility near the Colorado River between Tesla's
Gigafactory in the Boring Company's Bastrop site. 37 acre property offers ample space for expansion and marks a significant step for Neurolink, which remains headquartered in California. The shift to Texas coincides with New Orleans transition from animal testing to human trials, and with its new facility, company seems poised for fresh development and possibly a greater degree of autonomy from
its California origins. In addition to building companies, Musk has also turned his attention to education. Public records revealed that Musk, through his charitable foundation, donated $100 million to establish a primary and secondary STEM focus school in Austin. The long term plan, according to tax filings, is to expand the school into a university dedicated to science and
technology education. Perhaps the most unexpected development came in July of 2024, when Musk announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the platform's headquarters would relocate to Austin X, which Musk took over. And a controversial acquisition has had a tumultuous journey under his leadership. One of Musk's early moves was laying off about 80% of the workforce, running much of the company's office space in San Francisco obsolete and empty.
Given X's status as a digital platform, the decision to base its operations in a rural area like Bastrop rather than Austin's urban core raise eyebrows. However, Musk's vision for X is an everything app, and its connection to its generative AI venture, XAI, may explain the
move. Advanced AI development demands significant computing power, and Musk has already built a major AI data center in Memphis, TN. A second, possibly even larger, data center in Bastrop could serve as the technological backbone for Musk's future AI projects. Now, Musk and his Texas ventures may seem expansive and innovative. They have not been without
challenges or criticism. Some residents down in Boca Chica and Bastrop have expressed concerns over Musk's company's growing influence in the potential environmental impact of these large scale developments. SpaceX is constantly in turmoil with environmentalists down at Starbase. It happened numerous times when I was down there and it's continuing to happen to this day. Additionally, Musk's often controversial public statements and combative personality.
Have led to. Friction with local governments and community leaders Now, despite these hurdles, Texas Alvarez, Musk something California no longer could. The space and regulatory freedom to pursue his dreams. The state's relative relative affordability and accessibility make it fertile grounds for Musk's companies to expand operations and bring his ambitious projects to fruition. Now, while much has already been accomplished, Musk's Texas story is far from over. The Gigafactory.
Hyperloop Plaza. Snellbrook. Nerlink, Starbase are just the foundation of what Musk appears to envision as a technological and scientific hub in the Lone Star State. The question is not whether Musk will continue to expand in Texas, but rather how far this growth will go and what form it will ultimately take. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your support.
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