Kara: What about things that are just critical of you that you don’t like? Do you think you’re particularly sensitive?
Elon: No. Of course not. Count how many negative articles there are and how many I respond to. One percent, maybe. But the common rebuttal of journalists is, “Oh. My article’s fine. He’s just thin-skinned.” No, your article is false and you don’t want to admit it.
================= On SJW hypocrisy: =================
Elon: This supersedes political parties, race, creed, religion, it doesn’t matter. If we do not solve the environment, we’re all damned.
Kara: And this way via sustainable transportation.
Elon: It sort of blows my mind, all these social justice warriors driving around in diesel cars. It’s outrageous.
================= On Space Force: =================
Kara: What do you think of the Space Force? The Trump Space Force?
Elon: Well, this may be a little controversial, but I actually like the idea. I think it’s cool. You know, like, when the Air Force was formed, there was a lot of like pooh-poohing, and like, “Oh, how silly to have an Air Force!” You know, because the aircraft in World War II were managed by the Army.
Kara: Right.
Elon: And so you had the Army and the Navy and the Coast Guard and the Marines, and then ... it became pretty obvious that you really needed a specialized division to manage aircraft. And so the Air Force was created.
And people today may not realize back then it was wildly panned as a ridiculous thing to create the Air Force, but now everyone’s like, “Obviously, you should have an Air Force.” And I think it’s gonna become obvious that we should have a Space Force, too.
Kara: Out there, to do what?
Elon: You know, it’s basically defense in space. And then I think also it could be pretty helpful for maybe expanding our civilization ... You know, expanding things beyond Earth.
I think we could just have a base on the moon, for example. A base on Mars. Be great to expand on the idea of a Space Force. Anyone who has an exploratory spirit, and I think that especially applies to a country like the United States, where you know it’s kind of the distillation of the spirit of human exploration. I think the idea of being out there among the stars and among the planets is very exciting.
================= On politics: =================
Kara: I said you shouldn’t go, ’cause he was gonna screw you, remember?
Elon: Well, you were right.
Kara: I am right, thank you, Elon. I know that. But you feel, in the midst of this polarization, these bombings, the president continually being divisive, you feel optimistic?
Elon: Yeah. By the way, I still think it was worth trying to be on the Trump councils, and especially just to be an advocate for climate, I did my absolute best.
Kara: Yes, I know you did. I think I called you, I think I said, “You’re not Jesus, it’s not going to work.”
Elon: I definitely do not think I am Jesus.
Kara: No, I know you don’t. I think I was just trying to egg you into getting off the councils.
Elon: Arguably, it was unlikely, but it was worth a shot, yeah.
Kara: Right, would you do it again?
Elon: Do you mean now, or ...?
Kara: Yeah.
Elon: I don’t know, are there councils?
Kara: No. But you’re optimistic, given all this polarization? Are you thinking about the midterm elections?
Elon: I am thinking about the midterm elections, and I did vote, by the way.
Kara: Me, too. Today.
Elon: Though I do wonder what effect a vote in California has. There’s so much gerrymandering of electoral districts that it seems like ... I voted for the sake of voting, but things are very divisive right now, politically. But it’s probably not wise for me to wade into political debates, it’s a no-win situation.
Kara: Right, I got it. But how do you feel — as a citizen, how do you feel?
Elon: I definitely wish people wouldn’t yell at each other quite so much, I wish there was less hate.
Welcome To The Jungle
Elon: Well, I have to say, my regard for the press has dropped quite dramatically.
Kara: Explain that, please.
Elon: The amount of untruthful stuff that is written is unbelievable. Take that Wall Street Journal front-page article about, like, “The FBI is closing in.” That is utterly false. That’s absurd. To print such a falsehood on the front page of a major newspaper is outrageous. Like, why are they even journalists? They’re terrible. Terrible people.
Kara: I get that, but do you understand the mood in this country around the press and the dangers of attacking, especially when the president is doing that? In quite an aggressive, “enemy of the state” and everything else. It’s disturbing when someone like you as a leader does that, too, or goes along with it.
Elon: The answer is for the press to be honest and truthful, and research their articles and correct things properly when they are false. Which they don’t do.
...
Gosh. He sounds just like President Trump.
Best interchange...
“Kara: I get that, but do you understand the mood in this country around the press and the dangers of attacking, especially when the president is doing that? In quite an aggressive, “enemy of the state” and everything else. It’s disturbing when someone like you as a leader does that, too, or goes along with it.
Elon: The answer is for the press to be honest and truthful, and research their articles and correct things properly when they are false. Which they don’t do.”