As someone who’s studied oligarchs for the past two decades, I can attest that what we’re now seeing is momentous.  Only it is not oligarchization; it is authoritarianism.  Soon enough, Musk will be gone.  But we’ll still have Trump to deal with.  So let’s keep our eye on the ball.

To be sure, Musk’s clout is unprecedented and what he’s doing incredibly dangerous.  But his influence is fleeting.  Far from enjoying some new heyday, he and his fellow oligarchs might not like what the new regime has in store.

History is replete with powerful business tycoons who came to regret their past support for authoritarian leaders.  In all likelihood, Elon Musk and the other plutocrats who backed Trump will follow in their footsteps.

Not long from now, Musk will likely find himself the target of FBI raids and federal investigations.  But when the time comes, resist the urge for schadenfreude because we’ve got bigger problems ahead. 

A personal note:  While I’ll continue posting about Russia and Ukraine going forward, I’ll be devoting considerable attention to America’s authoritarian shift and how to stop it.  So, if you want to read more about it, please consider subscribing.  Thanks!