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MAP @maphq.org · 4h

Another day, another contract gained by Musk from the U.S government.

This time, it is a $714 million Pentagon contract deepening Musk’s grip in the U.S. defense apparatus.

Reporting by Sarah Bregel for @fastcompany.com

Fast Company @fastcompany.com · 10d

The Pentagon awarded Elon Musk's SpaceX $714 million in upcoming military launches, as rival Blue Origin races to keep up. f-st.co/KvWXKEn

Elon Musk’s SpaceX wins $714 million in upcoming Pentagon launches as Blue Origin races to keep up

The awards highlight the company’s continued dominance over Pentagon space contracts, despite Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump’s public falling out earlier this year.

f-st.co

MAP @maphq.org · 1d

Read the full X-Lab report from July below:

🧵 (2/2)

🔗 thexlab.org/wp-content/u...

thexlab.org

MAP @maphq.org · 1d

X-Labs reports only 17% of Starlink users meet the FCC benchmark for broadband speed.

As NTIA moves to spend billions on Starlink, many users who rely on the service will be left with subpar speeds that don’t even qualify as “broadband.”

🧵 (1/2)

Read more from @bgrcom.bsky.social ⬇️

Starlink Could Fail If It's Adopted Nationally - Here's Why - BGR

Per the FCC's definition of sufficient broadband internet capability, a broader Starlink expansion may actually place the service well below expected bandwidth.

www.bgr.com

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MAP @maphq.org · 6d

Tesla's FSD tech is officially under investigation per @nbcnews.com.

"Tesla's using the FSD sometimes fail to stop for train tracks or mishandle rail crossings, including when red lights are flashing and gate arms are lowering, according to Tesla drivers and videos." - @davidingram.bsky.social

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 6d

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that it would investigate how Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving software handles railroad crossings as part of a wide-ranging investigation of incidents where the agency said Tesla vehicles have violated traffic safety laws.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving software under investigation after railroad incidents

NBC News reported last month that Tesla vehicles using Full Self-Driving software sometimes fail to stop for train tracks.

nbcnews.to

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MAP @maphq.org · 7d

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has reports of Tesla vehicles using FSD driving through red traffic lights and driving against the proper direction of travel during a lane change." - @davidshepardson.bsky.social for @reuters.com

🔗 www.reuters.com/business/aut...

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MAP @maphq.org · 10d

“The FAA has approved its first mainline aircraft equipped with Starlink internet, clearing the way for a first commercial flight on October 15.” - @reuters.com

🔗 www.reuters.com/business/aer...

MAP @maphq.org · 13d

Despite owning over ⅔ of the satellites in space, Starlink wants more.

“Their lofty goal has come at a price for astronomers, who have seen their work become more difficult as the sky fills up with satellites.” - Jonathan Yersushalmy for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Don’t look up: how Trump’s deregulation drive could obscure the stars and threaten our access to space

Astronomers are warning that the proliferation of satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, are making their work harder than it’s ever been

www.theguardian.com

MAP @maphq.org · 15d

The Trump Admin & Musk are shaking hands once again, but this time for Musk’s AI company, xAI.

“The Trump administration has signed a deal with Musk’s xAI, allowing the AI tool to be used widely across government” -
@joemillerjr.ft.com for @financialtimes.com

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 21d

US inks deal with Musk’s xAI in sign of rapprochement with Trump on.ft.com/4gPCu4Y

US inks deal with Musk’s xAI in sign of rapprochement with Trump

Contract agreed just days after the president and his billionaire backer met at memorial for Charlie Kirk

on.ft.com

MAP @maphq.org · 16d

Senators Markey & Blumenthal want the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ after reports it failed to detect railroad crossings, risking catastrophic crashes. 🚦

Excellent coverage once again by @davidingram.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com!

David Ingram @davidingram.bsky.social · 16d

UPDATE on my earlier report: Senators call for investigation into Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ after train crossing incidents www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...

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MAP @maphq.org · 17d

Starlink receives a boost once rules shift away from prioritizing fiber.

Is policy being shaped to favor Musk’s business interests? It sure looks like it.

Read more ⬇️

rollcall.com/2025/09/15/c...

Cost, service questions loom over revamped broadband push - Roll Call

The BEAD internet program could see more Starlink satellite service under Trump administration rules that ended a preference for fiber optic.

rollcall.com

MAP @maphq.org · 20d

Tesla’s self-driving tech is deemed deceptive by CA.

“The California DMV has filed a case saying Tesla wrongly says it is “fully self-driving” when it is only on the 2nd of a 5-point scale of self-driving, and its cars need full driver attention on the wheel.” - @aljazeera.com

Eyeing the future of self-driving cars, Musk’s Tesla settles accident case

Tesla’s latest settlement comes at a time when it has bet its future growth on the sales of Robotaxis and robots.

www.aljazeera.com

MAP @maphq.org · 21d

After complaining about Echostar’s use of spectrum, Musk and SpaceX got their way through a landmark $17 billion deal following intense pressure from the FCC.

Read the @financialtimes.com article from @sindap.bsky.social and @jillrshah.bsky.social ⬇️

www.ft.com/content/4681...

How a deal with Elon Musk helped a telecoms tycoon save his company from bankruptcy

Billionaire struck deals with bondholders and rivals to trade his empire out of trouble. But at what cost?

www.ft.com

MAP @maphq.org · 22d

Over-promising and under-delivering.

@ericlipton.nytimes.com reports that “current and former senior NASA officials…are nervous that Mr. Musk has once again overpromised on what he could achieve by now.”

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MAP @maphq.org · 27d

"The complaints are even more widespread on Tesla internet forums, where drivers describe similar mishaps without usually posting videos. NBC News found 40 examples on Reddit, X, and YouTube since 2023, including posts as recent as August." - @davidingram.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com

David Ingram @davidingram.bsky.social · 29d

NEW FROM ME: I wrote about the many, many Tesla drivers who complain that their FSD software fails them at rail crossings. There are dozens of complaints online from drivers, including many videos.

Here's our investigation: www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...

Tesla's 'self-driving' software fails at train crossings, some car owners warn

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told NBC News that it had spoken to Tesla about mishaps at train crossings.

www.nbcnews.com

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MAP @maphq.org · 28d

"Musk considers environmental regulation a barrier to innovation. As he eyes a new project in Houston, here’s what to know about some of his companies’ past projects that have faced scrutiny from regulators and environmental advocates." - @propublica.org

www.propublica.org/article/elon...

Elon Musk Has Criticized Environmental Regulations. Here’s How His Companies Have Been Accused of Sidestepping Them.

Musk considers environmental regulation a barrier to innovation. As he eyes a new project in Houston, here’s what to know about some of his companies’ past projects that have faced scrutiny from regul...

www.propublica.org

1

MAP @maphq.org · 29d

Trump's cabinet is now openly critiquing Musk.

“Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick who worked closely with Musk during the Tesla CEO's time as the face of the Department of Government Efficiency, expressed disapproval toward how Musk handled firings at DOGE.”
- @businessinsider.com

Business Insider @businessinsider.com · Sep 13

Howard Lutnick, who recruited Elon Musk for DOGE, is now criticizing his approach to federal staff cuts.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says Elon Musk got DOGE 'backward'

Howard Lutnick, who recruited Elon Musk for DOGE, is now criticizing his approach to federal staff cuts.

www.businessinsider.com

1

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 16

"US auto safety regulators opened an investigation into whether some Tesla Inc. vehicle doors are defective, citing incidents in which exterior handles stopped working and trapped children inside." - @bloomberg.com

East Bay Times @eastbaytimes.com · Sep 16

Tesla faces US auto safety investigation over door handles trib.al/X1P8hT0

Tesla faces US auto safety investigation over door handles

US auto safety regulators opened an investigation into whether some Tesla Inc. vehicle doors are defective, citing incidents in which exterior handles stopped working and trapped children inside.

trib.al

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 15

@the-independent.com reports that Starlink outages are becoming more and more common. Welp.

www.the-independent.com/tech/starlin...

Elon Musk’s Starlink confirms it is experiencing outage

Company says it is investigating as thousands of US users report disruptions to their service

www.the-independent.com

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 12

"SpaceX's approach to satellite cellular connectivity is facing criticism from rival AST SpaceMobile, which claims it can achieve the same results without flooding Earth’s orbit with “thousands” of satellites." - @pcmag.com

pcmag.com @pcmag.com · Sep 11

Texas-based AST threw the subtle shade in a Tuesday post that touted its "commitment to responsible space operations," which includes keeping the skies clear of satellite debris.

AST SpaceMobile Jabs SpaceX for Overloading Earth's Orbit With Satellites

Texas-based AST threw the subtle shade in a Tuesday post that touted its “commitment to responsible space operations,” which includes keeping the skies clear of satellite debris.

bit.ly

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 11

When Starlink doesn’t get its way, it calls foul.

“SpaceX claims that BEAD funding is being misused on expensive fiber installations. The company has demanded that Louisiana and Virginia revise their BEAD proposals and even called for the Commerce Department to intervene.”
- @pcmag.com

pcmag.com @pcmag.com · Aug 28

The funding is part of the US Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which will use federal funds to expand high-speed internet to over 70,000 locations in Montana.

Montana Picks Starlink, Amazon's Project Kuiper Over Fiber for Broadband Funds

The funding is part of the US Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which will use federal funds to expand high-speed internet to over 70,000 locations in Montana.

bit.ly

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 10

@united24media.com reports that Russia is using Starlink technology for its drones. Will Musk continue to enable his tech to be used as a tool in this war?

united24media.com/latest-news/...

Russia Unveils New Mothership Drone, Operated via Starlink Despite Sanctions

Russian defense firms unveil the RD-8 drone, operable via Starlink or mobile networks, designed for reconnaissance and deploying smaller FPV drones.

united24media.com

2

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 10

"The FAA appeared to subtly resurface the idea of using technology from companies like Elon Musk’s Starlink to help build a “brand new air traffic control system" in a way that could mean broader deployment than just in remote places like Alaska."

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

POLITICO Pro: Bedford hints at a bigger role for Starlink in FAA’s air traffic control overhaul

subscriber.politicopro.com

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 9

Breaking from @reuters.com, SpaceX spectrum dominance grows through a $17 billion deal with Echostar.

@davidshepardson.bsky.social:

“President Donald Trump previously prodded EchoStar and FCC Chair Brendan Carr to reach an amicable deal for the company's wireless spectrum licenses.”

SpaceX buys wireless spectrum from EchoStar in $17 billion deal

Elon Musk's SpaceX said Monday it will buy wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for its Starlink satellite network for about $17 billion, a major deal crucial to expanding Starlink's nascent 5G connectivity business.

www.reuters.com

MAP @maphq.org · Sep 8

Under Musk, DOGE touted “radical transparency,” but when the rubber meets the road, people aren’t getting the whole picture.

Taxpayers deserve answers. We deserve answers. The people deserve answers.

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...

Judge unhappy with FCC’s “vague and uninformative” response to DOGE lawsuit

Plaintiffs seek DOGE documents, allege FCC violated Freedom of Information Act.

arstechnica.com

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MAP @maphq.org · Sep 6

States want to invest in fiber, but SpaceX claims the rules were bent against them.

Now the company is seeking a massive bite of millions in subsidies meant to build lasting broadband infrastructure to the unconnected.

Starlink’s latest beef with BEAD: What you need to know

SpaceX has beef with how Louisiana and Virginia classified “priority broadband projects” for BEADStarlink thus far was awarded roughly $16M in BEAD funds

www.fierce-network.com