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The tech industry faces uncertainty and fear due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, leading companies to advise employees on visas not to leave the United States because they might not be allowed to return. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the denial rates for high-skilled visas increased to 15%. Law firms have warned that a similar upward trend is possible during his current presidency , according to The Washington Post. “What we’re seeing right now is just a lot of worry and panic,” said Principal Attorney Malcolm Goeschl of Goeschl Law, a San Francisco, CA, firm specializing in business immigration for the tech industry . “It seems like [the administration is] just getting more and more momentum, and we don’t know what’s around the corner.” Silicon Valley , Northern California’s global hub for technological innovation, is known for housing many of the world’s largest tech companies and producing groundbreaking inventions. Tech giants in the...
The Tesla Cybertruck was designed to turn heads. With its rugged, stainless-steel body and futuristic, almost sci-fi design, it looks more like something out of a movie than your typical pickup truck. It wasn’t made to blend in, nor was Elon Musk. Like the Cybertruck, Elon Musk has become impossible to ignore, inserting himself into the political and economic framework of the nation with the same brash insistence that has defined his business empire. Now, with Tesla recalling over 46,000 Cybertrucks—nearly every unit on the road—Musk faces something he has long evaded: accountability, based on a Reuters report. The trucks’ stainless-steel trim panels are coming off, a fitting metaphor for a company whose once-unquestioned dominance in the EV sector is beginning to show fractures. This recall is more than a mechanical failure. It is a referendum on Musk’s leadership, shifting allegiances, and unrelenting attempt to weld his corporate interests to the machinery of American politics....
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Elon Musk and his DOGE agency continue to make cuts and layoffs across the federal government despite voter’s outspoken opposition. They’ve taken their frustration out on Musk’s electric car company, Tesla, by boycotting the brand. Voters across the country have been attending town halls with both Republican and Democratic leaders to voice their concerns about Musk’s involvement in the federal government as an unelected official. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been laid off as a result of DOGE cuts, with several thousand being reinstated as a result of an order from a federal judge . For the past few weeks, protestors have been throwing eggs and vandalizing Tesla cars—especially the cyber truck, which has been ridiculed for its unfinished, robotic appearance. They’ve set fire to Tesla service centers and announced a general boycott of the company. The boycott isn’t just a domestic...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During his second term, Donald Trump has continued to change how the United States operates with its allies. Recently, Trump and JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to ease tensions with the current administration and finalize a mineral deal intended to be celebrated following their televised meeting. However, the way Zelenskyy was treated during the exchange was a shocking break from modern diplomatic norms. This incident is just one example of a broader shift—one that becomes clearer as the Trump administration continues to signal a closer alignment with Russia, making its willingness to bully allies increasingly apparent. Previously, Donald Trump claimed that tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be paused before they were set to go into effect earlier this year. CNN reported that he kept to his word and imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports...
For a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries in space exploration , SpaceX just hit another major roadblock—literally. The highly anticipated test flight of its Starship mega rocket ended in disaster (again) after controllers lost contact with the upper-stage vehicle just minutes into the launch. This marks Starship’s second consecutive failure, raising serious questions: What’s causing these explosions? Has this happened before? And what is SpaceX doing to fix it? Let’s break it all down. Why Did This Happen? According to an NBC News report, the launch kicked off with promise. Near Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET, Starship blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase for its eighth test, soaring toward the skies with the power and spectacle you’d expect from the world’s most advanced rocket. But then—like déjà vu—disaster struck just over eight minutes in. Live video showed the upper-stage vehicle spinning uncontrollably, and within seconds,...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. One of the main goals of the Trump administration has been to remove Washington’s “elites” from office. Now that billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency agency have instituted mass layoffs, some supporters have buyer’s remorse. With midterm elections coming up, it’s possible that DOGE cuts could hurt the GOP and Trump administration as long as they continue. In town halls across the country, from Georgia to Idaho to Missouri, Republican lawmakers are facing backlash from their constituents for aligning with Musk’s influence in government and continuing to spew Donald Trump’s lies. They’ve assured constituents that rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, along with implementing mass deportations, are effective policies that serve the American people. But it’s clear from the round of boos seen in videos on social media that their voters aren’t buying it....
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been wreaking havoc on the American people, from their quest to gain access to sensitive information within the government to assisting President Donald Trump with his plan to lay off federal employees and dismantle government agencies like the Department of Education . Federal jobs were once a symbol of stable employment, but with mass layoffs and confusion surrounding what jobs still exist, that sentiment may not exist anymore. So far this year, about 200,000 federal workers have had their roles eliminated and 75,000 federal employees have been laid off, with more to come as DOGE continues to comb through federal agencies. Agencies have done hiring freezes, offered buyouts, and mass-fired workers. Some workers doubt that they will even receive the settlement that the administration is offering. Many of these attempts to cut down...
A March 2024 interview between journalist Don Lemon and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is spinning the block and finding new life, resurfacing across social media feeds and news cycles amid the growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Although the conversation is nearly a year old, it has gained fresh traction with the recent policy rollbacks under the Trump administration and corporations scaling back DEI initiatives. The interview, which touched on topics ranging from hate speech to the controversial “great replacement theory,” has become a focal point for examining common misconceptions about DEI, particularly in professional environments. In the interview, Lemon directly challenged Musk’s assertions that DEI initiatives are detrimental, particularly in fields like medicine. Musk claimed, “If the standards for passing medical exams and becoming a doctor, or especially something like a surgeon, are lowered, then the probability that the surgeon will make a...
South African billionaire Elon Musk is known for his desire to swallow up companies and rebrand them with his own trendy vision. The Tesla CEO previously used his familial wealth to purchase stakes in such businesses as PayPal, SpaceX and of course, X (formerly Twitter). Now, according to official statements made by the Trump administration cabinet pick, the emerald mine profiteer is considering buying the rights to Vine, a defunct app which predates TikTok . This would be a major development in the world of social media, since the latter is still potentially facing a long-term ban within the United States, unless the app’s parent company ByteDance can agree to divest to American financial interests. When prompted by a fellow X user about bringing Vine back into the fray to fill in the power vacuum left by TikTok, Musk simply responded, “We’re looking into it.” So, now seems like as good a time as any to examine what Vine is (or was), how Elon could bring it back to compete with...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Over the past week, Los Angeles County has been battling wildfires that have devastated the city. Although some of the fires can be attributed to worsening climate conditions, some politicians blame artificial intelligence. While AI has proven to be a useful tool for wildfire prediction, the substantial amount of energy and water it amasses for its use raises concerns for a state already facing water scarcity. Wildfires aren’t a rare occurrence in California. The state has always experienced either naturally occurring wildfires or arson-related ignitions. But over the past few years, worsening climate conditions have led to more frequent and increasingly destructive fires. As of the most recent occurrence, neighborhoods in Altadena, Malibu, and the coastal Pacific Palisades have sustained the most significant damage. Reports confirm that over 20,000 acres have been burned, and more than 120,000...
As the U.S. government inches closer to banning TikTok, its millions of American users are left with pressing questions: Will the app still work? What happens to creators and businesses that rely on it? And what’s the truth behind those rumors about Elon Musk buying the platform? Let’s break down what this potential ban means for TikTok users — and what steps they can take to prepare. Will TikTok Still Work After The Ban? If no one intervenes and the ban goes into effect, TikTok will be removed from app stores like Google Play and the Apple App Store. While current users may still have access to the app, CBS News reports that one likelihood is that they won’t receive updates, which will likely lead to significant performance issues over time. Without updates, key features like bug fixes, video uploads, editing tools, and personalized content recommendations may falter. There’s also the possibility that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) could block TikTok’s servers entirely, making...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. A few weeks ago, a debate surrounding the possible expansion of H-1B visas erupted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Established under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the H-1B visa program is for employers to hire nonimmigrant workers in specialty roles or other roles of distinguished merit or ability. The occupation could refer to nurses, models, and tech workers. The number of workers working in the United States on a H-1B visa has steadily increased over the past decade. Companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple rely on the program to stay ahead in their competitive market. Last year, Elon Musk’s Telsa emerged as one of the leading companies with H-1B visa workers. This is no surprise, as Musk has supported the program. Sharing his support for the program online drew the ire of strongholds within the MAGA coalition like Laura Loomer, who wants the program to end....
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Corporate companies have gutted and targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs throughout 2024. As we head into 2025, efforts to reverse these changes will only increase. DEI programs have been the center of several political battles since Republicans wrongfully came to attack critical race theory. Just as conservatives have a woeful misunderstanding of critical race theory and where it applies, DEI has become a buzzword associated with the aforementioned cultural wars. What Is DEI? DEI initiatives are implemented in schools, businesses, and government agencies to address inequities within historically marginalized groups. According to Erica Foldy, a professor at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, initiatives could include training, organizational policies and practices, and organizational culture. DEI isn’t just a rule or legislation created for organizations to pat...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Americans aren’t the only ones prepping for another tedious four years under President-elect Donald Trump. Since the results of the 2024 election projected Donald Trump as the winner, tech leaders from companies like Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and others have shelled out seven-figure investments to Trump’s inaugural fund. According to CBS News, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $1 million and plans to stream the inauguration on Prime. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, will donate $1 million, along with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who delivered an optimistic statement about the President-elect’s election win. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead,” Altman said in a statement, per The Associated Press. Elon Musk, CEO of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, and general pop culture menace has been a lurking presence...
Climbing his way into first place of today’s billionaires , South African-born Elon Musk is making headlines for his political affiliations as much as his business decisions. Two of his most well-known are Musk’s purchase of Twitter (X) in 2022 and founding of artificial intelligence startup xAI in 2023. Since the November presidential election, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has become even richer, by 77% , than he was last year. Selling shares of Space X garnered the surpassing of his own record-setting wealth amount now making him worth more than Costco . Wondering how much that is exactly? Here’s what we know about Elon Musk’s net worth. Who Is Elon Musk? Allison Robbert-Pool / Getty Images Elon Musk received bachelor’s degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In 1995, he moved to California to pursue a master’s degree in physics from Stanford University. He would leave, after only two days in the program, as he was certain that the...