The Global Story: What Elon Musk did next

This bonus episode of The Global Story explores Elon Musk's growing power beyond his brief tenure in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). While Musk stepped down from his government role in May 2025, the episode reveals he has quietly consolidated unprecedented influence over global internet access and space infrastructure through Starlink and his ambitions for a million-satellite network. The podcast examines Musk’s high-stakes lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, where he claims breach of nonprofit principles and seeks $150 billion for OpenAI’s nonprofit, removal of Altman, and dismantling of OpenAI’s for-profit structure. Meanwhile, Musk faces scrutiny over Starlink’s role in war zones, political interference, and controversial AI outputs from Grok, while also being investigated in France, the UK, and across Europe. Despite being widely disliked, Musk remains a pivotal figure whose control over satellite internet—used by millions globally and critical in crises—gives him power that rivals or exceeds that of national leaders. His vision of space-based data centers and a trillion-dollar SpaceX IPO underscores a long-term strategy to dominate both digital infrastructure and the physical frontier of space. Key takeaways include: Musk’s real power now lies not in politics but in controlling global internet access via Starlink; his lawsuit against OpenAI reveals a deep ideological rift over AI’s purpose and ownership; Starlink’s use in war zones and authoritarian regimes highlights the ethical dilemmas of private control over essential connectivity; Musk’s plan to build data centers in space could revolutionize AI development but remains unproven and extremely costly; and his ability to act without term limits or democratic accountability makes him one of the most powerful individuals on Earth. The episode concludes with a sobering reflection on the concentration of power in the hands of a single private citizen with global reach.