Why Democrats Want to Take Down Elon Musk | Victor Davis Hanson

Summary

Victor Davis Hanson and host Sami Winc discuss the approaching midterm elections and several controversies in Democratic politics.

• Michigan Senate campaign ad: Hanson condemns an ad linked to Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign that connected high grocery prices with U.S. aid to Israel. He calls it antisemitic and criticizes El-Sayed for distancing himself from it without clearly denouncing it. Hanson argues that the ad could alienate Jewish voters and says El-Sayed’s campaign style, particularly his interruptions in interviews, undermines his credibility.

• Polls and election expectations: Hanson argues that polls often overstate Democratic momentum, which he says can attract favorable media coverage, mobilize voters, and encourage donations before figures are revised near Election Day. He cites past polling errors and says he does not trust current surveys. His outlook is uncertain: he considers the House essentially a toss-up and gives Republicans a better chance of holding the Senate. He says he will watch the Michigan and Maine Senate races, the Oregon governor’s race, and a close California House race involving incumbent David Valadao.

• Trump and Republican turnout: Hanson says Trump’s campaign rallies are meant chiefly to energize supporters who might otherwise stay home, rather than persuade opponents. He argues that losing Congress would constrain Trump’s legislative agenda but would not necessarily prevent presidents from pursuing executive or foreign-policy actions. He also criticizes Republicans and conservative commentators who, in his view, condemn Trump while applying less scrutiny to Democrats.

• Media and political coverage: Hanson accuses parts of the press and polling industry of partisan bias. He describes the Wall Street Journal’s news coverage as increasingly critical of Trump and says 60 Minutes selectively edited an interview with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, omitting context about an immigration detainee’s record. He speculates that CBS may be allowing its established presenters to age out while attempting to rebuild its audience.

• Elon Musk and proposals to nationalize his companies: Hanson argues that proposals to take over SpaceX or Starlink are misguided, pointing to SpaceX’s launch capabilities and Musk’s record across several businesses. He portrays Musk as an unusually successful entrepreneur and says the political left once celebrated him but turned against him after he criticized Democrats, bought Twitter/X, and supported Trump. Hanson attributes the hostility to Musk’s wealth, success, and opposition to “equality of outcomes,” and says he is concerned about Musk’s safety.

• Democratic politics and socialism: Hanson interprets Gavin Newsom’s remarks about socialism as evidence that the Democratic Party is moving toward its left wing. He calls Newsom hypocritical and blames him for California’s problems, arguing that the state’s record would make it difficult for Newsom to appeal to independent and working-class voters nationally.

• Other commentary: Hanson criticizes what he sees as Democratic “lawfare” rhetoric, arguing that accusations of election interference and legal persecution are often projection. He also discusses claims about Democratic candidates’ policy positions and conduct, presenting them as examples of what he considers political dishonesty. These are Hanson’s allegations and opinions, not independently established findings in the segment.

Presenters and Contributors

• Victor Davis Hanson — Presenter and commentator
• Sami Winc — Host and interviewer