Hello and welcome to Tech Brief. Today we’re unpacking why the tech right—and Elon Musk in particular—made a big, failed bet on Donald Trump in 2024.

For years Silicon Valley leaned left, but three forces pushed some tech leaders right. First, the so-called “Great Awokening” sparked backlash against social-justice zeal. Second, higher interest rates and a cooling job market fueled resentment over immigration and competition. Third, the Biden administration’s antitrust push, driven by Elizabeth Warren allies, made tech executives feel targeted.

Enter Elon Musk and his DOGE slogan—“deregulation, tax cuts, and anti-woke wish list.” They believed a second Trump term would deliver. Instead, as the article puts it, the administration “chose basically none of the tech right’s priorities.” Research funding was slashed, deportations ramped up, and tariffs hurt investment. Nuclear and vaccine innovation took hits, and Musk’s influence evaporated.

As that coalition fractures, Democrats may have an opening to win back disillusioned innovators. I’m [Your Name], thanks for listening to Tech Brief.
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