Why Robert Reich can not be believed.
Trump had 88 million Twitter followers before Twitter took him off its platform just two days after the attack on the Capitol, which he provoked, in part, with his tweets. (Trump social media accounts were also suspended on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitch and TikTok.)
These moves were necessary to protect American democracy. But Elon Musk the richest man in the world, with 80 million Twitter followers was not pleased. Musk tweeted that US tech companies should not be acting as the de facto arbiter of free speech.
Musk continues to tell his 80 million followers all sorts of things. I disagree with many of his positions, but ever since I posted a tweet two years ago criticizing him for how he treated his Tesla workers he has blocked me so I can not view or post criticisms of his tweets to his followers.
Seems like an odd move for someone who describes himself as a free speech absolutist. Musk advocates free speech but in reality it is just about power.
Robert Reich was Labor Secretary for Bill Clinton and wrote these words for Yhe Guardian on April 12.