Episode 17: Musk Without Borders – Disrupting Governments Worldwide

In Part 5 of our six-part series on Elon Musk, we zoom out from Washington to the world stage. Musk isn’t just dismantling the U.S. government from within—he’s reshaping global politics without ever holding elected office. From Starlink in Ukraine to political meddling in Germany, from Tesla’s entanglements in China to his cozy rapport with Putin, Musk is acting like a rogue superpower. And no one voted him in.

This episode also features a powerful conversation with Amy Richter, a German-born life coach and newly naturalized American citizen whose cross-continental perspective adds depth to the question: What happens when private tech empires start shaping foreign policy?

In This Episode:

• The Global Power Play – Why Musk’s influence now extends far beyond U.S. borders—and what’s really driving his international agenda.
• China and the Corporate State – The risks of Musk’s deep ties to Beijing, his praise for authoritarian governance, and how U.S. military reliance on Starlink creates a dangerous dependency.
• Starlink and the War in Ukraine – How Musk's private decision to block coverage in Crimea may have altered the course of war—and why world leaders are uneasy with his unchecked power.
• Europe’s Backlash – From Germany to Hungary, Musk is fueling far-right movements, manipulating political discourse on X, and facing legal action under the EU's Digital Services Act.
• Exclusive Interview: Amy Richter
  A Wendekinder from East Germany turned American citizen shares her insights on:
  • The emotional toll of becoming a U.S. citizen
  • How civic education and voter suppression intersect
  • Reactions to Musk’s Tesla plant in Germany
  • The rise of nationalism in Europe
  • What gives her hope in a fractured, fast-moving world
• Musk’s Global Endgame – When one man controls critical infrastructure, narrative platforms, and geopolitical leverage, what checks remain? What happens if no one draws the red lines?

Next Episode – Episode 18: The Endgame

The final chapter in our Musk series. What is Elon Musk really after—and can democracy survive it?

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Host: Bella Goode

Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.

Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.

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