Front Burner

Elon and the Tesla backlash

Tesla cars have been fire bombed, and dealerships protested. How much is Elon Musk’s new role in Government costing his businesses?
People hold signs and protest outside a car dealership.
Protesters take part in a rally outside the Carling Avenue Tesla dealership in Ottawa on March 22, 2025, over CEO Elon Musk's political influence (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Across the world an anti-Tesla campaign has been growing since Elon Musk began his work dismantling U.S. government institutions, and meddling in other country's democracies. 

The protests, dubbed "Trash Tesla," are seeing regular folks and former customers selling their cars, dumping stock and picketing dealerships. Others are torching Tesla vehicles.

As a result the U.S. attorney general says they're looking into the incidents as potential domestic terrorism.

Today on the show, Wired writer Carlton Reid is joining us to talk about his reporting on the Tesla backlash.

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