Elon Musk left the fate of your Social Security payments in the hands of a 21-year-old DOGE tech bro
The wealthiest man on earth was so distrustful of the nonpartisan experts at the Social Security Administration that he and his allies insisted on giving a 21-year-old former Silicon Valley intern sweeping access to personal data on hundreds of millions of Americans, living and dead, in hopes of proving his outlandish claims about fraudulent payments passing though the agency.
Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team made no attempt to understand data the tech billionaire was citing when he began claiming that 'massive fraud' was allowing Social Security payments to flow to 'illegals' in a series of X posts in early February, despite warnings from Social Security officials who told them they did not know what they were talking about, the The New York Times reported.
Instead, he ordered 21-year-old Akash Bobba, a former Palantir intern who'd been hired as a programmer for DOGE, be granted access to Social Security data without proper training so he could run his own analysis, the Times reported
When the acting commissioner, Michelle King, declined to do so, Musk had her fired and replaced with Leland Dudek. Dudek, brought back from a suspension on the DOGE team's recommendation, got Bobba the access.
But according to the Times, Bobba knew the Musk fraud claims were bunk.
He reportedly told others at the agency that he'd 'tried to deliverthe accurate context' to the world's richest person, apparently without success.
Citing interviews with dozens of people in the agency and throughout the Trump administration, the Times said Musk 'became fixated' on Social Security after he and his team misread government spending data and began to believe, incorrectly, that they'd uncovered fraud at the nation's old-age and disability pension program.
Musk's team reportedly became so obsessed and driven to prove the false claims as true that they pushed SSA officials to disregard a court order cutting off DOGE's access to sensitive data including Americans' Social Security numbers, employment history and other sensitive matters, even as the SpaceX and Tesla CEO became a target for administration critics after he referred to the massively popular New Deal program as a 'Ponzi scheme.'
One Musk ally, Michael Russo, was installed as the SSA's chief information officer. He pushed the then-acting commissioner to have agency workers analyze the data the Tesla billionaire and his team were claiming to be evidence of fraudulent payments.
When the Social Security experts said the payments in question were valid, Russo ignored them and said Musk's team wouldn't accept the conclusions of civil servants.
Musk departed government service earlier this month amid a falling-out with Trump, but his outsized wealth and ownership of the X platform mean he could create chaos surrounding the GOP's agenda and its plans for the 2026 midterms.
According to the most recent poll by The Economist and YouGov, a full 76 percent of Republicans see Musk favorably while just 18 percent view him unfavorably.
According to a poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College in late April, 77 percent of Republicans view Musk favorably.
The billionaire is more popular than House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, or almost anyone else in the GOP save for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
But at the same time, just fifteen percent of Democrats and 34 percent of independents have favorable views of the tech mogul.
A week after he blew up his relationship with Trump by, among other things, accusing him of being a pedophile, Musk took to X to express regret over his war of words with the president and back down by conceding that 'some' of his posts attacking the commander-in-chief had been excessive.
'I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,' he said, just days after Trump said 'very disappointed' in his former special adviser and campaign donor for criticizing the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' he is attempting to push through the Senate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Starmer calls for ‘diplomatic solution' after US strikes Iran
Sir Keir Starmer has called for restraint after Donald Trump launched US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister said Iran's nuclear programme is a 'grave threat' which the US military action would 'alleviate'. There was no British involvement in the action but the Government was informed in advance of the strikes, which involved B-2 stealth bombers and submarine-launched missiles. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had sought to persuade Mr Trump's administration from holding off on joining Israel in striking Iran, arguing for de-escalation and a diplomatic process. But Mr Trump pushed ahead with the action anyway, which he claimed had 'completely and fully obliterated' key nuclear facilities. Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call… — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 22, 2025 The Prime Minister said: 'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. 'The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. 'We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.' Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds would not say the UK supported the military action nor whether he believed the US strikes were legal. Asked on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg if the US action was a good thing, he said: 'The outcome. It isn't the means by which anyone in the British Government would have wanted to see this occur.' Pushed on whether the US strike was legal, he said: 'It is where we are today.' He said it would be 'naive' to think the risk of Iranian-backed terrorism in the UK will not increase as a result of the US and Israeli action. The Business Secretary told Sky News: 'This is not hypothetical. There is not a week goes by without some sort of Iranian cyber attack on a key part of UK critical national infrastructure. 'There is Iranian activity on the streets of the UK, which is wholly unacceptable.' He added: 'It's already at a significant level. I think it would be naive to say that that wouldn't potentially increase.' — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 22, 2025 The US attacked Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz which are linked to Iran's nuclear programme. The Tehran regime has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful but its uranium enrichment process has gone far beyond what is required for power stations. In an address to the nation from the White House, Mr Trump warned there could be further strikes if Iran retaliates: 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran.' The strikes followed a build-up of US military equipment, with B-2 stealth bombers – which are the only aircraft to carry a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb – reportedly used to target the underground facilities. The aircraft have previously used the UK-US airbase on Diego Garcia, one of the Chagos Islands, but it is understood that was not involved in these strikes. The attack on Iran also involved US submarines, which launched around 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Mr Trump's move towards military action came despite Sir Keir's pleas for diplomacy and his repeated calls for de-escalation. On Thursday the Prime Minister warned of a 'real risk of escalation' in the conflict, adding there had previously been 'several rounds of discussions' with Washington and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of #Iran concerning the #UnitedStates military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the… — Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 22, 2025 The Foreign Secretary urged the US to pull back from the brink on a visit to Washington for talks with counterpart Marco Rubio before heading to talks with Iran on Friday alongside European allies. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'By targeting Iran's nuclear sites, the US has taken decisive action against a regime that fuels global terror and directly threatens the UK. 'Iranian operatives have plotted murders and attacks on British soil. We should stand firmly with the US and Israel.' By targeting Iran's nuclear sites, the US has taken decisive action against a regime that fuels global terror and directly threatens the UK. Iranian operatives have plotted murders and attacks on British soil. We should stand firmly with the US and Israel. — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 22, 2025 Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also backed Mr Trump's decision to strike Iran. He said: 'Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, the future of Israel depends on it.' Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called for diplomacy, saying the Middle East conflict has reached 'an alarmingly greater level of danger after the US attacks on Iran'. Iran launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel in retaliation to the US action. The foreign ministry in Tehran issued a statement condemning 'the United States' brutal military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities'. It added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, security and people by all force and means against the United States' criminal aggression.'
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
10 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term
Electric vehicles, next-generation data centers, semiconductors, digital technology, and machine vision are just a few of the investment themes explored. Some of these companies have encountered near-term headwinds, creating attractive buying opportunities. All these stocks have powerful underlying secular growth drivers. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Not all of the growth stocks featured here will likely deliver outsize returns, so it makes sense to spread portfolio risk around a collection of holdings. In that line of thought, here are 10 growth stock ideas for investors to consider. They range from a couple of high-profile household names, such as Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), to companies like Navitas Semiconductor (NASDAQ: NVTS) and Synopsys (NASDAQ: SNPS), which are less well known. You might want to consider buying and holding any (or all) of these equities long-term. The key to the investment case for Tesla lies in its promised robotaxis and unsupervised full self-driving (FSD) software, which is scheduled to launch on a limited basis beginning this week. Tesla is already a highly successful automaker and the dominant player in electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S., and robotaxis offer the prospect of transforming it into a company able to generate high-margin and recurring revenue from owning its robotaxi fleet or revenue sharing from Tesla's transformed fleet using Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. There's also the dedicated robotaxi, Cybercab, and the potential to sell FSD on a subscription basis. And all of it will be supported by Tesla's market-leading position in EVs and its ability to develop affordable EVs in the future. Nvidia partners Navitas Semiconductor and Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) and the next generation of data centers, namely 800-volt (V) high voltage direct current (HVDC), which I've discussed in more detail elsewhere, so investors with the time and inclination can peruse. Nvidia believes they will be more efficient, with lower maintenance costs and significantly lower costs of ownership. The new data centers, scheduled for 2027, employ a different power conversion method, and Navitas is developing Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) power semiconductors to enable more efficient power conversion in 800V HVDC data centers. Similarly, another Nvidia partner, and leading data center equipment provider, Vertiv, is developing critical power and cooling equipment and systems for the new data centers and expects to have them available in the second half of 2026, in time for the launch of the 800V HVDC data center in 2027. What makes both companies particularly interesting is that, unlike their rivals, they are more like pure plays in their end markets. For example, Navitas specializes in GaN and SiC chips for power conversion (not silicon), and 80% of Vertiv's revenue comes from data centers. Speaking of SiC and GaN chips, Aehr's (NASDAQ: AEHR) stock has soared recently on speculation that Navitas might be a customer for Aehr's testing and burn-in equipment. Aehr's equipment helps semiconductor manufacturers ensure quality and reliability throughout the manufacturing process. Aehr has struggled recently as its revenue at SiC customers, including ON Semiconductor, has declined in light of pullbacks in EV investment. Still, Aehr is making good progress in opening up and winning customers in new markets, including GaN semiconductors and semiconductors for artificial intelligence (AI) processing. Synopsys is a leader in electronic design automation software (used to design and verify chips), and its intended acquisition of engineering simulation and analysis company Ansys is a key event. The aim is to create a company offering design software, as well as simulation and analysis software to test the fruits of the design. It will also open up Synopsys' solutions to Ansys' wider range of end-market customers, particularly as semiconductors and electronics are increasingly being embedded in a range of new industries. The advanced materials company's lightweight composites are the future of the aerospace industry, as every new generation of airplane contains more composites. This means Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) can grow as airplane production increases (Airbus and Boeing have multiyear backlogs in place) and new, more composite-rich airplanes are developed. Hexcel has faced headwinds in recent years as Airbus' and Boeing's delivery rates have fallen short of expectations, but it's only a matter of time before they improve. Cognex (NASDAQ: CGNX) is another company with excellent long-term secular growth prospects (the use of machine vision in automated processes) that has suffered near-term headwinds (weakness in key end markets like automotive and consumer electronics). Still, this is a temporary slowdown in a long-term growth story. PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) provides computer-aided design (CAD), product lifecycle management (PLM), and other solutions essential to creating a so-called "digital thread" for a physical product as it moves from design through manufacturing, use, servicing, and ultimately disposal. As such, it's a leading player in the digitization of the industrial sector. Trimble's (NASDAQ: TRMB) precise positioning hardware (its origins) and growing software/services also make it a leading play on digitization. In Trimble's case, it's about integrating physical positioning with the digital world, such as in construction and infrastructure work, transportation, and geospatial activities. Through the use of advanced analytics in the digital world, Trimble's solutions can be integrated into its customers' daily workflows. Last but not least, Delta's growing mix of premium cabin revenue, loyalty program, co-brand card remuneration, and ability to adjust and compete in economy tickets when necessary means it's a much more diversified airline than a decade ago. In addition, as a network operator, it's much better positioned to deal with the growing cost pressures in the industry than low-cost carriers. Despite headwinds in 2025, it's ideally placed to generate value for shareholders over the long term. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $373,066!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,158!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $664,089!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cognex, Nvidia, Synopsys, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Ansys, Delta Air Lines, Hexcel, ON Semiconductor, PTC, and Trimble. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 10 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
One of America's Oldest Cheesemakers Could Be Yours—for $2.5 Million
Crowley Cheese, based in Vermont, has been around for more than 200 years, and the property of Galen Jones and his wife Jill Jones for the past 16. The business is considered Vermont's oldest active cheese factory and one of the oldest in the country. Galen and Jill Jones announced that Crowley was up for sale earlier this month, with an asking price of $2.5 of America's oldest small businesses is up for sale. It could be yours—if you have enough cheddar. Crowley Cheese, based in Healdville, Vt., has been around for more than 200 years, and the property of Galen Jones and his wife Jill Jones for the past 16. Now the company is on the block, with Galen, who is 68, ready to step away from the business of churning out handcrafted artisanal American cheese. "I'm an old man, and I'm ready to retire," he said. The asking price, $2.5 million, would get a buyer the factory, about 16 acres of surrounding land, cheesemaking equipment, the brand, and some 50,000 pounds of aged cheese. The business, which employs five people, is 'growing and profitable,' according to Galen Jones. A buyer would also get the recipe for Crowley's cheese, described as having yogurt-like qualities that distinguish it from other cheddars. It sells in blocks and wheels; an 8-ounce block starts at $10, while a 2.5 pound wheels starts at $50. The Crowley facility, which is considered Vermont's oldest active cheese factory and one of the oldest in the country, produces 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of aged cheddar cheese annually using a recipe that hasn't changed since 1824. Its cheese is shipped nationwide from Healdville, about a 150-mile drive northwest of Boston. The Joneses bought Crowley Cheese in 2009. Galen Jones knew people who were part of the previous investor group, he said, and happened to cross paths with the lead investor while working in digital media. (He declined to disclose the purchase price.) Reminded of the business, he looked it up online. 'We had a pretty terrible economy in 2009, and Crowley Cheese was also struggling,' Jones said. Unable to stop thinking about it, he reached out to the owners and soon visited the factory. 'Six weeks after that, my wife and I were operating this singular business, which was a simple factory in the middle of the countryside,' he said. 'It was serendipity, if you will.' The 'factory," a two-story historic farmhouse built in 1882 where cheese is handmade using raw milk with no additives or preservatives, includes a store and is open to visitors. The Joneses renovated the property and worked to improve production processes. Jones said he's received plenty of inquiries about the business since announcing its availability earlier this month. 'Some people are interested in the idea but not well equipped to take on the business,' he said. 'With others, there's serious interest.' The ideal buyer, he said, would be someone who could take "what we've been doing for the last 16 years to the next level,' he said. 'Cheesemaking is not for everyone. From my point of view, it's very important we find ownership that can successfully take the business forward.' Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
