Musk Helped EVs. Now He’s Helping Attack Democracy
From Transport Evolved.
Watch this video on YouTube ↗
In two weeks' time, Americans head to the polls in the 2026 midterms. And this election cycle, no known donor has spent more trying to sway the result than Elon Musk: more than $366 million so far, all of it helping Republicans win.
In today's (very political) video, Nikki explains how the man who once thought EVs could save the world went from Tesla CEO to DOGE, to backing the far right in Europe, and to bankrolling the very politicians behind the cuts to EV charging and clean energy. Because every time you buy into a Musk company, you're helping to fund them. Whether you're a U.S. voter or an EV buyer anywhere in the world, it's time to stop holding your nose, and to vote with your ballot and your wallet.
Full shownotes, links, and script at: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/10/20/musk-helped-evs-now-hes-helping-attack-democracy/
----
*⏱️ Chapter Breakdown*:
00:00 - Introduction
04:17 - An acknowledgement
06:56 - 10 years ago this week...
08:18 - Musk's "Pedo Guy" accusations
09:08 - Musk hires a private eye
10:10 - A nod to Musk's past
10:59 - COVID-19 behavior
12:54 - Transphobia
17:22 - Musk's behavior has an effect
18:40 - Musk's political transition in 2022
20:17 - Musk and the 2024 election campaign
21:44 - DOGE
23:43 - An antithesis to a cleaner, greener future
25:42 - A serial record
27:42 - Grok and X
28:58 - Ukraine and SpaceX
29:43 - Environmental damage
32:12 - Political donations
32:53 - Why $366 million is chump change
33:48 - The cold hard truth - support of Musk supports this future
34:53 - Finding alternatives
36:21 - Don't hold your nose
36:53 - A note to those voting in the U.S.
38:58 - Thanks, and goodbye!
📺 Our earlier videos on Elon Musk:
▶️ Want To Avoid Buying An EV That's Connected To Elon Musk? Buy These Instead - https://youtu.be/4NWmMnyMuOk
▶️ Elon Musk Is Supporting A Trump / Vance Candidacy - He's Changed... A LOT. And That's BAD. - https://youtu.be/6vqeOcebcWw
▶️ Elon Musk is Attempting A Coup - Why Are EV Insiders and Journalists Ignoring It? - https://youtu.be/0G1qXOPhwiY
▶️ Elon Musk, Donald Trump Are Killing EV Charging Funding - What Now? - https://youtu.be/XmfPKUAt92E
▶️ Editorial: What Will It Take? - https://youtu.be/8Mb7rE5KbWU (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/02/24/editorial-what-will-it-take/)
▶️ Is This The Tesla Model Y For People Who Don't Want To Support Elon Musk? - https://youtu.be/RNpqIIwcwSE (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/04/21/is-this-the-tesla-model-y-for-people-who-dont-want-to-support-elon-musk/)
▶️ BYD Did What Tesla Never Would. Just Not For The Reasons You'd Hope - https://youtu.be/-xxo5vnRSFo (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/06/04/byd-did-what-tesla-never-would-just-not-for-the-reasons-youd-hope/)
*🔗 Links*
🔗 Vote.gov: register, check your registration and find your polling place - https://vote.gov
🔗 Ballotpedia: what's on your ballot - https://ballotpedia.org
----
*👥 Today’s Sponsors*
🌱 Electric Vehicle Association - https://www.myeva.org
🐕 Little Collie Shepherd - https://littlecollie.com
—
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---
*🎙️ Credits:*
Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Camera, Color: Vi Horton
Art & Animation: Erin Carlie
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Music: "Got It" (Instrumental Version) by VESHZA, via Artlist.io - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/got-it-instrumental-version/11284
In today's (very political) video, Nikki explains how the man who once thought EVs could save the world went from Tesla CEO to DOGE, to backing the far right in Europe, and to bankrolling the very politicians behind the cuts to EV charging and clean energy. Because every time you buy into a Musk company, you're helping to fund them. Whether you're a U.S. voter or an EV buyer anywhere in the world, it's time to stop holding your nose, and to vote with your ballot and your wallet.
Full shownotes, links, and script at: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/10/20/musk-helped-evs-now-hes-helping-attack-democracy/
----
*⏱️ Chapter Breakdown*:
00:00 - Introduction
04:17 - An acknowledgement
06:56 - 10 years ago this week...
08:18 - Musk's "Pedo Guy" accusations
09:08 - Musk hires a private eye
10:10 - A nod to Musk's past
10:59 - COVID-19 behavior
12:54 - Transphobia
17:22 - Musk's behavior has an effect
18:40 - Musk's political transition in 2022
20:17 - Musk and the 2024 election campaign
21:44 - DOGE
23:43 - An antithesis to a cleaner, greener future
25:42 - A serial record
27:42 - Grok and X
28:58 - Ukraine and SpaceX
29:43 - Environmental damage
32:12 - Political donations
32:53 - Why $366 million is chump change
33:48 - The cold hard truth - support of Musk supports this future
34:53 - Finding alternatives
36:21 - Don't hold your nose
36:53 - A note to those voting in the U.S.
38:58 - Thanks, and goodbye!
📺 Our earlier videos on Elon Musk:
▶️ Want To Avoid Buying An EV That's Connected To Elon Musk? Buy These Instead - https://youtu.be/4NWmMnyMuOk
▶️ Elon Musk Is Supporting A Trump / Vance Candidacy - He's Changed... A LOT. And That's BAD. - https://youtu.be/6vqeOcebcWw
▶️ Elon Musk is Attempting A Coup - Why Are EV Insiders and Journalists Ignoring It? - https://youtu.be/0G1qXOPhwiY
▶️ Elon Musk, Donald Trump Are Killing EV Charging Funding - What Now? - https://youtu.be/XmfPKUAt92E
▶️ Editorial: What Will It Take? - https://youtu.be/8Mb7rE5KbWU (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/02/24/editorial-what-will-it-take/)
▶️ Is This The Tesla Model Y For People Who Don't Want To Support Elon Musk? - https://youtu.be/RNpqIIwcwSE (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/04/21/is-this-the-tesla-model-y-for-people-who-dont-want-to-support-elon-musk/)
▶️ BYD Did What Tesla Never Would. Just Not For The Reasons You'd Hope - https://youtu.be/-xxo5vnRSFo (show notes: https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/06/04/byd-did-what-tesla-never-would-just-not-for-the-reasons-youd-hope/)
*🔗 Links*
🔗 Vote.gov: register, check your registration and find your polling place - https://vote.gov
🔗 Ballotpedia: what's on your ballot - https://ballotpedia.org
----
*👥 Today’s Sponsors*
🌱 Electric Vehicle Association - https://www.myeva.org
🐕 Little Collie Shepherd - https://littlecollie.com
—
✊ Get Involved 🗳️ https://indivisible.org/town-hall-resources
❤️ Support the Show
📰 https://www.transportevolved.com
🔥 https://www.patreon.com/transportevolved
☕ https://ko-fi.com/transportevolved
📺 https://www.youtube.com/transportevolved
👕 https://www.redbubble.com/people/TransportEVd/
🛍️ https://amzn.to/40xOyjm
₿ BC1QRZRGCCXUKPDZ2DZ9KX9JYJXMZDYHYGFZ0MN4WH
*💬 Join the Conversation*
🐘 https://mastodon.transportevolved.com/@show
💬 https://discord.gg/9WAjfQn
💬 https://fluxer.gg/mcj8aehg
🌀 https://bsky.app/profile/transportevolved.bsky.social
🔁 Subscribe to our 2nd channel - https://www.youtube.com/transportevolvedtake2
---
*🎙️ Credits:*
Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Camera, Color: Vi Horton
Art & Animation: Erin Carlie
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Music: "Got It" (Instrumental Version) by VESHZA, via Artlist.io - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/got-it-instrumental-version/11284
