MxM News

Quick Hit:

A shocking new poll reveals that a staggering 71% of likely Democratic voters support imprisoning Elon Musk for his brief service in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The survey, conducted by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports, underscores an alarming shift in progressive politics: jailing political opponents for attempting to rein in bureaucratic waste. As Justin Haskins writes in his May 9 Townhall op-ed, this poll is not just about Musk—it’s about the dangerous normalization of authoritarianism among America’s political left.

Key Details:

• 71% of likely Democratic voters support jailing Musk for his role in eliminating government waste via DOGE.

• 80% of ideological liberals, across parties, say they would imprison Musk for his public service.

• Nearly 70% of Democrats support banning Musk from ever serving in government again—an unconstitutional measure.

Diving Deeper:

In his recent Townhall column, Justin Haskins warns that Elon Musk’s fall from liberal darling to “Public Enemy No. 1 for the modern left” stems from a single transgression: daring to challenge the D.C. establishment. Haskins opens by recognizing Musk’s past achievements—electric vehicles, space exploration, and defending free speech. But after briefly working in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an initiative aimed at cutting federal waste—Musk became a target of left-wing ire.

According to the Heartland Institute/Rasmussen poll, “Seven in ten likely Democratic voters want to imprison Musk for trying to make government more efficient.” Haskins adds, “This isn’t satire. This is the modern Democratic Party, where liberalism has evolved into authoritarianism dressed in the clothes of compassion and equity.”

The numbers become even more disturbing among self-identified liberals. A staggering 80% of ideological liberals said they’d support jailing Musk for participating in DOGE. Additionally, nearly 70% of Democrats back a proposal to ban him from ever working in government again—a position that clearly violates constitutional protections.

Musk’s unpopularity among Democrats has grown since his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) and his commitment to restoring banned voices. Once celebrated as a climate champion, Musk is now demonized by the very groups that once hailed his green energy innovations. “He was supposed to walk in lockstep against conservatives at all times,” Haskins notes. “When he chose a different path… he committed a sin that some on the radical left simply cannot forgive.”

More importantly, the poll reflects a dangerous national trend: criminalizing political dissent. Haskins writes, “When nearly three-fourths of Democratic voters support jailing someone for participating in an effort to streamline federal agencies, we’ve crossed a dangerous line.” He continues, “This is the stuff of banana republics, not constitutional republics.”

The column concludes with a chilling reminder that the targeting of Elon Musk is not an isolated incident. “If they’re willing to jail Elon Musk for doing his job, what do you think they’ll do to the rest of us?” Haskins asks. The poll results reveal a left-wing movement increasingly comfortable using state power to punish those who refuse to conform.

MxM News

Quick Hit:

President Trump said “great progress” was made in Saturday’s trade talks with China, calling the outcome a “total reset” negotiated in a “friendly, but constructive” way.

Key Details:

• The talks took place Saturday in Geneva between U.S. officials—led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—and Chinese negotiators, amid a high-stakes standoff over tariffs.

• President Trump said on Truth Social that “many things [were] discussed, much agreed to,” describing the tone of the talks as “friendly, but constructive.”

• While no final agreement was reached, Trump said the goal is mutual: “an opening up of China to American business.” Further talks are scheduled for Sunday.

Diving Deeper:

President Donald Trump on Saturday night announced what he described as a significant breakthrough in trade negotiations with China, saying U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to a “total reset” during marathon discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner. We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

The session reportedly lasted over 10 hours, and was led on the U.S. side by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. While no specific deal was announced, officials described the negotiations as productive, with additional talks set to continue Sunday.

The Geneva meetings come amid escalating tariff measures. On April 2nd, the Trump administration rolled out “Liberation Day” tariffs on Chinese goods, followed by the imposition of a 145% tariff across a broader range of imports. In response, China raised duties on U.S. goods to 125%, even after briefly reducing tariffs for other trade partners to 10%.

With talks continuing into Sunday, the White House is framing the Geneva reset as a pivotal moment in its effort to realign trade policy.