Timcast IRL · April 16, 2022 · 2h 0m

Timcast IRL #510 - Twitter Adopts POISON PILL To Block Elon Musk Takeover w/Brett Cooper & Ben Stewart

politicsfree-speechtech-censorshipbig-techsocial-media

Episode Recap

Timcast IRL episode #510 featured Tim Pool discussing the major news story of Elon Musk's attempted hostile takeover of Twitter. The episode opened with Tim explaining how Musk offered $54.20 per share to acquire Twitter, only for the board to respond with a poison pill defense designed to prevent any entity from gaining more than 15% ownership through dilution tactics. Tim argued this move demonstrated how wealthy billionaires and corporate interests prioritize power and influence over monetary concerns, particularly regarding Twitter's role as a platform where journalists and politicians communicate. The discussion touched on Saudi Arabian involvement in Twitter, with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal holding a significant stake, as well as institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock increasing their positions. Co-host Brett Cooper, the newest Daily Wire host known for her social media reaction show, and filmmaker Ben Stewart joined the conversation. The panel also addressed the sinking of the Russian warship Moskva in the Black Sea during the Ukraine conflict, as well as the theatrical release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, with Brett explaining how the plot was allegedly altered for Chinese audiences to remove references to Dumbledore's personal life.

TL;DR

  • →Elon Musk's $54.20 per share offer for Twitter triggers board's poison pill defense designed to dilute equity and prevent hostile takeover
  • →Twitter board's move reveals corporate interests prioritizing censorship power over shareholder value, according to Tim Pool
  • →Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed and institutional investors Vanguard/BlackRock have substantial stakes in Twitter preventing Musk acquisition
  • →Russian warship Moskva sunk in Black Sea amid Ukraine conflict, with Ukrainian officials claiming Neptune missile strike
  • →Brett Cooper, Daily Wire's newest host, joins to discuss Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore and Chinese market censorship of LGBTQ content
  • →Tim Pool celebrates CNN+ failing, noting Timcast IRL has more daily active users than the failing streaming service

Key Moments

  • 0:00
    Opening
    Tim explains Twitter poison pill defense against Elon Musk takeover and promotes TimCast membership
  • 0:37
    Saudi Investment
    Discussion of Saudi Prince Alwaleed's stake and Vanguard/BlackRock increasing their Twitter positions
  • 1:48
    Guest Introduction
    Brett Cooper introduces herself as Daily Wire host; Ben Stewart joins the panel
  • 2:46
    Ian Crossland Introduction
    Ian Crossland joins from co-host position, welcoming Brett Cooper to the show
  • 3:48
    CNN+ Failure
    Tim Pool celebrates CNN+ having fewer daily active users than Timcast IRL

Notable Quotes

“They want the power and the influence even recode a vox.com blog says exactly this that twitter is where journalists and politicians get out their message well surprise surprise guess who is getting banned yeah it's mostly the right”

— Tim Pool · opening discussion on Twitter censorship and power dynamics

“If every person watching right now just shared the URL, we could be bigger than CNN. Well ladies and gentlemen, CNN Plus has less daily active users than we do.”

— Tim Pool · celebrating Timcast growth over CNN+ streaming service

“The real story on our end is that they gutted the plot for the Chinese version because Dumbledore prefers the company of men. And in China, they're like no no we can't you know. It's a real secret. That's just for America.”

— Brett Cooper · discussing Fantastic Beasts movie and Chinese censorship of LGBTQ content

“I think Elon Musk has exposed so much dirty dealing. And it says a lot about how wealthy billionaires, corporate interests are manipulating the public and don't care about money because they're getting money from the Fed.”

— Ben Stewart · analysis of corporate interests blocking Musk's Twitter takeover

“You know, it's funny. We're talking about Elon Musk because of World War Three apparently started. Russian state TV said the sinking of the Russian flagship, the Moskva.”

— Ian Crossland · connecting Twitter story to broader geopolitical tensions

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