How Musk and Trump are flooding the zone

Musk raids a dizzying swath of agencies with the goal of ‘slashing waste and fraud’ as the two deploy brinkmanship

Hello, and welcome back to TechScape. This week in tech: Elon Musk and Donald Trump flood the zone and deploy brinkmanship as a negotiating tactic; US Immigration and Customs Enforcement learns search engine optimization amid arrests and deportations; and Spotify tries to soften its algorithmic image with human-centric public relations. Thank you for reading.

Topics

How Sam Altman Sidestepped Elon Musk to Win Over Donald Trump

After helping President Trump get elected, Elon Musk was poised to dominate the country’s A.I. policies. Then Mr. Altman sneaked into the White House.
The New York Times - 3d
DraftKings King of the End Zone: How promotion for Philadelphia vs Kansas City works for $5 million prize pool

Here's what to know about DraftKings' King of the End Zone promo for Kansas City vs. Philadelphia on Sunday
CBS Sports - 2d
Super Bowl 59, Eagles vs. Chiefs bets: How to pick DraftKings Sportsbook King of the End Zone NFL promotion

SportsLine NFL expert R.J. White, on a 30-17 roll on NFL props, has revealed his Sunday King of the End Zone picks for Super Bowl 59 between Kansas City and Philadelphia
CBS Sports - 2d
‘They will collide eventually’: how long will the Trump-Musk relationship survive?

The bromance may fade, but the two megalomaniacs could still reshape the US as long as Trump’s fickle affections hold. A picture is worth a thousand words – or, more precisely, $288m. That was the ...
The Guardian - 2d
How Trump, Musk and Bezos could preserve humanity from an asteroid strike

At the moment, humanity has all of its eggs in the planet Earth basket.
The Hill - 3d
More than 100,000 homes in England could be built in highest-risk flood zones

Exclusive: Analysis suggests development in flood regions result of Labour push for 1.5m new homes in five years. More than 100,000 new homes will be built on the highest-risk flood zones in ...
The Guardian - 3d
How Trump is testing checks and balances through Elon Musk's DOGE

NBC News' Laura Jarrett looks at whether there are legal paths to block recent moves by President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
NBC News - 3d
This Is How Democrats Can Counter Elon Musk

Recklessness will not get us to a revitalized government, but neither will excessive caution and addiction to procedure.
The New York Times - 4d

More from The Guardian

Israel will resume war in Gaza unless more hostages freed this week, says Netanyahu

Ultimatum appears to endorse threat by Donald Trump, who on Tuesday also appeared to back annexation of West Bank. Middle East crisis – live updates Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel ...
The Guardian - 1h
Zelenskyy: Europe cannot guarantee Ukraine’s security without America

Exclusive: In extended interview with the Guardian, Ukraine’s president says he will offer US firms lucrative reconstruction contracts to try to get Trump onside. . If Donald Trump withdraws US ...
The Guardian - 7h
US and UK refuse to sign Paris summit declaration on ‘inclusive’ AI

Confirmation of snub comes after JD Vance criticises Europe’s ‘excessive regulation’ of technology. . The US and the UK have refused to sign a declaration on “inclusive and sustainable” artificial ...
The Guardian - 2h
Manchester City v Real Madrid: Champions League playoff round, first leg – live

Champions League updates from 8pm GMT kick-off Exeter v Nottingham Forest, Juve v PSV, and more – live Live scoreboard | And read the latest Football Daily 2012-13 (group stage) . ...
The Guardian - 13m
Musk joins Trump for signing of order directing government departments to cooperate with Doge – live

X owner and son flank US president for signing of executive order requiring compliance with Musk’s agency. Donald Trump announced he is dispatching Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine ...
The Guardian - 32m