In the first weeks of Donald Trump’s second term in office, Elon Musk has been busy seizing control of instruments of government power, causing many to wonder who is really in charge. “Elon Musk is President,” The Atlantic ’s Jonathan Lemire declared. “There has never been a private citizen like him.”

The Japanese automaker announced on Wednesday that it would build a new EV and battery factory in Shanghai, after Tesla did the same in 2019.

Texas becomes the first US state to ban the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, citing national security risks. The move follows concerns about data security, with fears that the Chinese government could access sensitive information stored in China.

Elon Musk's control of a federal payment system is raising concerns about funding for programs like Social Security and the safety of personal data.

The confirmation of a Musk associate's access to the system codes came in a letter from a Treasury official to Democratic Senator Ron Wyden that said the review was being undertaken to "maximize payment integrity for agencies and the public".

The Sidebar panel discusses the legality of granting Elon Musk and the DOGE team access to government information.