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Elon Musk’s Influence on the 2024 Presidential Election and Its Potential Outcomes

  In the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election, the influence of tech moguls like Elon Musk is a point of significant interest. Musk, with his vast following, has demonstrated an ability to sway public opinion through his business decisions, public statements, and presence on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The effect Musk’s actions may have on the election—and candidates such as Donald Trump—is worth examining as he becomes a key player in the larger landscape of digital influence. Elon Musk and Digital Influence in Politics A Shift in Public Influence Musk’s reach extends beyond business; he is now a major influencer in political spheres. By acquiring X, Musk gained direct access to one of the most influential social media platforms in the world, where he regularly engages with a diverse audience. His unpredictable political stances and commentary resonate with millions, and his platform decisions have the potential to shape public opinion. Musk’s Public Poli...
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US Field Hospitals Stand Down, Most Without Treating Any COVID-19 Patients


An anonymous reader quotes a report from NPR:

As hospitals were overrun by coronavirus patients in other parts of the world, the Army Corps of Engineers mobilized in the U.S., hiring private contractors to build emergency field hospitals around the country. The endeavor cost more than $660 million, according to an NPR analysis of federal spending records. But nearly four months into the pandemic, most of these facilities haven’t treated a single patient 2. Public health experts said this episode exposes how ill-prepared the U.S. is for a pandemic. They praised the Army Corps for quickly providing thousands of extra beds, but experts said there wasn’t enough planning to make sure these field hospitals could be put to use once they were finished. “It’s so painful because what it’s showing is that the plans we have in place, they don’t work,” said Robyn Gershon, a professor at New York University’s School of Global Public Health. “We have to go back to the drawing board and redo it.”


But the nation’s governors – who requested the Army Corps projects and, in some cases, contributed state funding – said they’re relieved these facilities didn’t get more use. They said early models predicted a catastrophic shortage of hospital beds, and no one knew for sure when or if stay-at-home orders would reduce the spread of the coronavirus. “All those field hospitals and available beds sit empty today,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said last month. “And that’s a very, very good thing.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said: “These 1,000-bed alternate care sites are not necessary; they’re not filled. Thank God.” Senior military leaders also said the effort was a success – even if the beds sit empty.

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