MSNBC was still freaking out about the news that Elon Musk, a billionaire, had purchased Twitter for $44 billion on Monday afternoon. Correspondent Jo Ling Kent hyped left-wing “critics” who claimed that their very “safety” was in jeopardy with Musk taking over the social media giant.
“We’ve also got some breaking news just in the last couple of minutes from the tech world, with Elon Musk, the world’s richest guy, agreeing to buy Twitter. This estimated $44 billion deal that will make the social media megaphone a private company,” anchor Hallie Jackson announced early in the 3:00 p.m. ET hour. Kent then assisted her with the details.
After running through the financial numbers of the multi-billion dollar deal, Kent cited: “Elon Musk saying this: ‘Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,’ he goes right for it there in his opening statement, saying, ‘Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.’”
The reporter did sound the alarm a few seconds later.
Elon Musk said that he feels Twitter has great potential, but This is an extremely controversial, and often polarizing, owner of Twitter. A lot of the individuals and critics that we’ve been speaking to in recent weeks say they’re really concerned about safety and violence and threats, especially against women and people of color on Twitter. Several people I’ve spoken to today already saying no, they don’t trust safety and the, you know, goodness of Twitter if Elon Musk is the owner.
Kent added: “But Elon Musk tweeting today that he’s hoping that all of his critics will stay on the platform regardless, because of free speech, Hallie.”
Jackson spoke to Mike Isaac, New York Times Technology correspondent. The conversation quickly turned to politics.
Ex-President Donald Trump was famously removed from the show after January 6, 2017. He has apparently just told, and I’m citing Fox News here in what Fox is calling an exclusive interview, that he will not return to Twitter, even if Musk does go through with this purchase of Twitter….what Musk has said about free speech, kind of this crusader for free speech. That is something that has been taken up – a flag that’s been taken up by some conservatives in this country, too.
Isaac pointed out: “You know, Trump is not the only person that’s been banned from using Twitter over the years….You need to look at…all the high-profile accounts that have been banned over the past few years, specifically the ones on the right, as well as, you know, any on the left that might have been breaking the rules. And see who might be more eligible to come back.”
The notion that Musk taking over Twitter and having the platform adhere to lawful free speech practices would endanger the “safety” of users is quite the hysterical leap. However, earlier in the day, MSNBC was comparing Musk to “Dr. Evil,” so reasoned analysis is not exactly the left-wing cable channel’s specialty.
MSNBC’s latest panic over Musk’s Twitter buy-out was brought to viewers by Bayer and PC Matic. This is your chance to fight back.
Below is the transcript from April 25, coverage
3:09 PM ET
HALLIE JACKSON: We’ve also got some breaking news just in the last couple of minutes from the tech world, with Elon Musk, the world’s richest guy, agreeing to buy Twitter. The deal, valued at $44 billion, will turn the social media giant into a private business.
NBC’s Jo Ling Kent is in Los Angeles, we’re also joined by Mike Isaac, technology correspondent for The New York Times. It’s good to be with both of you.
Jo, it’s just happened in the past few minutes. Twitter confirmed that trading in Twitter stock has been halted. This was announced. We are now up to date.
JO LING KENT: Yeah, that’s right. The world’s richest man has now entered into a definitive agreement to buy Twitter. If it is approved, it will be worth $44 Billion. It is important to note how much this is worth compared to Wall Street’s valuation of Twitter. This is 38% more than the April 1st stock prices. And that’s when Elon Musk first announced that he was owning about 9% of Twitter.
Now, the big deal here is that this is 20% of Elon Musk’s worth. If the deal is approved, the company will likely go private, as you have already stated. The chair of the Twitter board stated that the vote was unanimous. He says – Brett Taylor says that “The Twitter board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon’s proposal, with a deliberate focus on value, certainty, and financing.”
He talked specifically about how much they are actually delivering that money that they’re going to make off of this deal from Elon Musk. And he calls it the best path forward for Twitter’s shareholders.
Importantly, Elon Musk has to speak about his proposed deal. You know, we’re talking about $46.5 billion. Elon Musk saying this: “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,” he goes right for it there in his opening statement, saying, “Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.”
Now, as for what he’s going to do, Elon Musk is not being shy here in this initial statement as the almost-owner of Twitter, saying that he wants to enhance Twitter with new features. Elon Musk wants to open source the algorithm in order to increase trust. Spam bots are unauthenticated accounts that send out spam tweets. He also wants all human beings to be authenticated.
Elon Musk said that Twitter had tremendous potential in this area, however, it is important to remember that this owner, who has been controversial and highly polarizing, owns Twitter. A lot of the individuals and critics that we’ve been speaking to in recent weeks say they’re really concerned about safety and violence and threats, especially against women and people of color on Twitter. Several people I’ve spoken to today already saying no, they don’t trust safety and the, you know, goodness of Twitter if Elon Musk is the owner. But Elon Musk tweeting today that he’s hoping that all of his critics will stay on the platform regardless, because of free speech, Hallie.
(…)
3:13 PM ET
JACKSON: A former president Donald Trump is a subject that is often forgotten. He was famously expelled from the show after the January 6th. He has apparently just told, and I’m citing Fox News here in what Fox is calling an exclusive interview, that he will not return to Twitter, even if Musk does go through with this purchase of Twitter. Setting aside whether that actually ends up becoming true or not, right, what do we know about Musk’s thoughts on this kind of thing? Jo Ling Kent, I believe, has outlined, very expertly, Musk’s views on free speech. She is a crusader for freedom of speech. That is something that has been taken up – a flag that’s been taken up by some conservatives in this country, too.
MIKE ISAAC [NEW YORK TIMES TECH CORRESPONDENT]: Sure, I mean, I find that fascinating just because of Trump’s sort of initial issues with his Truth Social being – his own social network being pretty much, let’s say very difficult from the beginning, and how effectively he’s used Twitter in the past to get across his message, to rally supporters, and to basically dominate headlines with every tweet. This is why I’d be very interested if he keeps this up.
However, I believe Elon has considered a variety of bans. You know, Trump is not the only person that’s been banned from using Twitter over the years for controversial or breaking the rules in tweets. And so I think it’s not – someone pointed out to me earlier today, it’s not just Trump. You need to look at everyone, all the high-profile – excuse me, all the high-profile accounts that have been banned over the past few years, specifically the ones on the right, as well as, you know, any on the left that might have been breaking the rules. You can also look at who may be eligible to return.
(…)
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