19 h. ago Virginia elections will test the backlash against Musk – and Democrats are ready with a plan

Democrats in the state view themselves as on the frontlines responding to Donald Trump’s harmful policiesDemocrats have begun plotting the next phase of their electoral revival with a seven-figure spend in Virginia ahead of a vote they hope will turn into a referendum on Elon Musk.The party, which had been despondent since Donald Trump’s victory last year, got off the canvas last week with a convincing win in a Wisconsin supreme court race and two strong congressional performances in Florida. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Tesla sales plunge by 13% to a three year low amid backlash against boss Elon Musk, a model redesign and slump in demand from China

The world's richest man and self-declared Tesla 'Technoking' has attracted widespread international condemnation for his social media activity and actions such as an alleged Nazi salute.

Economics

5 d. ago Elon Musk 'set to leave Donald Trump's cabinet', president tells allies

Donald Trump has told close allies that Tesla CEO Elon Musk will take a step back in the coming weeks, it has been reported, as backlash of Musk's influence over the government grows

Politics

5 d. ago Tesla quarterly sales slump 13% amid backlash against Elon Musk

Drop is likely combination of ageing lineup, increased competition and backlash to Musk’s politicsTesla sales declined in the first three months of the year, another sign that Elon Musk’s once high-flying electric car company is struggling to attract buyers.The drop of 13% is likely due to a combination of factors, including its ageing lineup, competition from rivals and a backlash from Musk’s embrace of rightwing politics. It also is a warning that the company’s first-quarter earnings report later this month could disappoint investors. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Tesla sales drop 13% in first quarter as Elon Musk backlash, aging models hurt demand

Tesla sales fell in the first three months of the year in another sign that Elon Musk’s once high-flying electric car company is struggling to attract buyers

Politics

5 d. ago Tesla sales drop dramatically amid backlash against Elon Musk

Tesla delivered 13 percent fewer cars in the first quarter of this year, it has said, amid growing backlash to Elon Musk.

Economics

2 w. ago Tesla’s Europe sales drop nearly 45% amid row over Musk’s Trump links

US carmaker’s European market share falls as Chinese rival BYD overtakes it on global revenue, topping $100bnBusiness live – latest updatesSales of new Tesla cars slumped in Europe last month in the latest indication of a potential buyer backlash over Elon Musk’s high profile and controversial behaviour since becoming a leading figure in Donald Trump’s administration.The Texas-based electric carmaker sold less than 16,000 vehicles across Europe last month, down 44% on average across 25 countries in the EU, the UK, Norway and Switzerland, according to data compiled by the research platform Jato Dynamics. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump pulls security clearances for Biden family, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, among others: Live updates

As backlash over billionaire Elon Musk’s role in administration grows, president says he was at Pentagon on DOGE cost-cutting business, not to see secret plans for combat with China as reports said

Politics

2 w. ago Elon Musk tells Tesla employees to hold on to their stock amid harsh selloff

Musk predicts ‘bright’ future despite Tesla bearing brunt of backlash against his role in Trump’s administrationUS politics live – latest updatesElon Musk attempted to reassure Tesla employees of the automaker’s “bright and exciting” future at a company all-hands meeting on Thursday, urging them not to sell their stock even as the company’s valuation slides precipitously downward.“There are times when there are rocky moments,” the billionaire CEO told his employees. “But what I’m here to tell you is that the future is incredibly bright and exciting, and we’re going to do things that no one has even dreamed of.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Politics have changed but the Democrats haven’t – they are old and out of touch | Moira Donegan

Leading Democrats vainly hope for a return to the politics of the past – they must engage with the realities of the presentIs this the way the Democratic party ends – not with a bang, but with a whimper? Last week, the party’s Senate caucus seemed poised to do something that they had never done before: block the Trump administration’s proposed continuing resolution, and shut down the government. It would have been a largely symbolic move, one that signaled opposition to the Trump administration’s usurpation of Congress’s spending authority and a willingness to play procedural hardball in order to slow Elon Musk’s radical anti-government agenda. It would have signaled, too, a party willing to take itself seriously as the opposition to a president with authoritarian ambitions.Government shutdowns are unpopular, but so, right now, is the Democratic party: several senators from swing states seemed ready to stick their necks out, ready to bet that it would be better to be seen doing some...

Politics

2 w. ago Europe is crying out for leadership. After years of drift, Germany is finally ready to answer | John Kampfner

A historic vote to boost spending on defence and infrastructure shows the country is shedding its excess of caution – and its complacencyFew people outside Berlin’s political bubble will have heard of Lars Klingbeil. They will soon, though, as he is about to become one of the pivotal players in the new German government. The co-leader of the Social Democratic party (SPD) captured the moment in this week’s debate in the Bundestag, one of the most important in Germany’s recent history.“A few weeks ago, many would have thought that we couldn’t have come to an agreement. The differences were too great,” he said. “What differentiates this country from others is that we are ready, as parties of the democratic centre, to find solutions and not to leave the ground for populist extremism to blossom.”John Kampfner is the author of In Search of Berlin, Blair’s Wars and Why the Germans Do It Better Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Tesla is a good target’: Elon Musk’s car business is focus of fury for political role

Justice department’s threat to ‘come after’ demonstrators against Trump-allied billionaire fails to deter protestsHundreds of people protested at Tesla dealerships across the US over the weekend, as the backlash against Elon Musk and the Trump administration continued despite a warning from the attorney general that the government will be “coming after” protesters.The protests, in cities including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston and New York, have come as Musk has seen his net worth plunge and the sales of Teslas plummet in Europe. In Brooklyn, New York, about 50 people gathered outside a Tesla showroom on Saturday afternoon to loudly make their displeasure clear, the fourth such protest in the last four weeks. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Digested week: Just enjoy Tesla shares tumbling as Trump crashes the markets | Emma Brockes

The Elon Musk backlash, boos for JD Vance, Meghan naming protocol, a wombat botherer and – OMG! – buying kittensTo the people who parked their consciences and voted for Donald Trump because they thought he’d slash regulation, cut corporate taxes and eviscerate the federal government to send their stock holdings soaring, I’d like to ask: “How’s that working out for you?” For anyone with a pension, college savings or other assets in the US market this was an unrelaxing week, during which the Dow fell by almost 900 points on Monday and some $4tn (£3tn) was wiped off the S&P 500. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Shots fired at Tesla dealership as backlash against Elon Musk grows

Police in Oregon say gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership for the second time in a week

Economics

3 w. ago ‘Slap in the face’: AOC condemns Schumer over plan to vote for Republican funding bill – live

Minority leader’s intention to vote for Republican funding bill to avert shutdown attacked by progressive DemocratsLuxury Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari says it is ready for countermeasures if US President Donald Trump imposes hefty tariffs on European auto imports.“We are ready with some countermeasures,” Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna told Cnbc’s Converge Live in Singapore. “We are waiting for the official number to be published,” he added, referring to Trump’s threat of duties “of around 25%” on EU carmakers. He added:We will watch what happens over the next month, in the next few weeks. We are in the same boat in terms of tariffs.The customer is at the centre of our attention.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Jennings on Elon Musk and the backlash against Tesla – cartoon

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Politics

3 w. ago Only one House Democrat votes for Republican bill to avoid a government shutdown

The bill now goes to the Senate, where many Democrats oppose it but are not ready to vote against it yet

Politics