What Quinn Slobodian has said about SpaceX

3 quotes · 1 episode · Oct 30, 2026

Quinn Slobodian, Professor of international history at Boston University; author of "Globalists," "Hayek's Bastards" and co-author of "Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed", has been quoted on SpaceX 3 times in 1 episode of The Ezra Klein Show, most recently on October 30, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

  • Slobodian agrees that critics err in dismissing Musk as merely a liar or crony capitalist, since he pushes the technological frontier.

    “it's a real stumbling block for many critics who simply want to short circuit to this idea he's just a liar and a grifter”

    The Ezra Klein Show: Elon Musk’s Endgame (Oct 30, 2026) · Listen from 19:28

  • Slobodian argues that, as SpaceX's prospectus risk factors show, Musk fears national legislation and projects invulnerability as a political strategy.

    “his impression of invulnerability is actually part of his political project”

    The Ezra Klein Show: Elon Musk’s Endgame (Oct 30, 2026) · Listen from 24:01

  • Slobodian notes Musk has no real succession plan and holds 85% of SpaceX voting shares.

    “Actually, he has no real plans for his succession. It's one of the extraordinary things about SpaceX from a corporate law point of view”

    The Ezra Klein Show: Elon Musk’s Endgame (Oct 30, 2026) · Listen from 48:59

Episodes

  • Elon Musk’s Endgame

    The Ezra Klein Show · Oct 30, 2026 · 1 h 11 min

    Ezra Klein and historian Quinn Slobodian examine Elon Musk's record campaign spending, AI vision, ideology, and the political dependencies his companies create.

Others on SpaceX

Quinn Slobodian on other topics