Ask A Genius 1269: Some Scattered Politics
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/02/15
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What did you think of the international reaction to Elon Musk’s speeches to conservative and far-right groups?
Rick Rosner: Musk appears almost eager to imply that he has a Nazi-ish streak. His parents reportedly held pro-apartheid views and may have had far-right ties. He’s a creepy guy and the richest man on Earth. It’s reached the point where people express both loathing and incredulity. In contrast, others—mostly on Twitter—are wild for him, praising him as a tech genius. You see a lot of Tesla bros and crypto bros who fall for every single thing he does.
It’s disquieting. On Twitter, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people questioning the historical reality of the Holocaust and even calling for a reevaluation of Hitler. It’s wild to think we might be on a slippery slope into truly scary times—and apparently, we are.
Consider that Hitler took over Germany after winning only 37% of the vote and by 1933, he had persuaded other leaders to step aside and put him in charge of a country of about 70 million people. Meanwhile, we’re a country nearly five times that size and more than half of the voters chose someone other than Trump. Some argue that it would be tougher for fascism to take over the U.S. because a majority of Americans aren’t willing to go along with it.
Is that just whistling in the dark? Are things different because we have the historical example of Hitler? Would we walk into it ignorantly, assuming a strong leader will save us? I don’t fucking know.
What do you think?
Jacobsen: I’m not convinced that any negative future is completely out of reach. Some people may welcome a retributive upheaval. For many Trump supporters, it feels as if everything since the Civil Rights Act of 1965 (or maybe 1975) has been a point where white, Christian men were given a raw deal. They want, in a way, to reverse that trend—not necessarily in the way most would consider appropriate. There’s been a notable rise in politics of resentment.
Rosner: Many preachers on Twitter (where I spend much time) are pushing this narrative.
I’ve also seen plenty of profiles of people with legitimate professional credentials who are strongly pro–RFK Jr. These thoughtful individuals, having read the wrong material, overestimate their analytical skills and end up buying into a lot of misinformation. For example, some genuinely believe that vaccines are dangerously harmful—alleging that they cause autism—even though the evidence overwhelmingly disproves such claims.
Which is bullshit. They think that RFK will make us eat better. Ainsley Earhardt on Fox News talked about how to go to Italy, eat a delicious pasta dish, and not gain weight.
There’s a lot of stupid bullshit out there—some of it has enough truth to make it extra persuasive. But I expect RFK to get confirmed. Maybe Tulsi Gabbard won’t get confirmed because of her terrible foreign associations with Syria and Russia. Yes, we’re in crazy times.
Jacobsen: Pete Hegseth fired—or no, demoted—a general.
Rosner: There has been commentary regarding General Mark Milley, a retired four-star general who previously served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023. Lloyd Austin, not Milley, is the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. Milley was not the Secretary of Defense but rather the highest-ranking military officer under both Presidents Trump and Biden. He later spoke out against Trump, which led to political backlash. Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked Milley’s security clearance and personal security detail, potentially impacting his retirement benefits. There are also reports suggesting Milley may face a reduction in rank, which could affect his pension. Hegseth himself reached the rank of major in the Army National Guard, though some reserve officers receive honorary rank promotions upon leaving service. This situation underscores the lack of safeguards in place to prevent political retribution against retired military officials.
Talk to you tomorrow?
Jacobsen: Yes. Talk to you tomorrow.
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