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Elon Musk’s Cryptic ‘Red Pill’ Tweet, Ivanka’s Response; Obama Says the United States Lacks Leadership; and a Baby Dies From COVID-19 Related Kawasaki Disease.
Elon Musk has been making headlines lately. Especially after reopening Tesla’s California plant in defiance of local restrictions last week. When the factory reopened on Monday, Musk practically dared local law enforcement to try to arrest him.
On Sunday, Musk continued to stir the pot. He tweeted, “Take the red pill,” to his 34 million Twitter followers.
Take the red pill 🌹
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 17, 2020
Many followers are taking this as a sign that Musk is supporting the Conservative cause. This includes Ivanka Trump, who retweeted his words, adding, “Taken!”
Taken! https://t.co/Ng0S2OFC93
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) May 17, 2020
“Take the red pill” is a popular line from the 1999 movie, “The Matrix.” The red pill is for those who are seeking the truth. “You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
Elon Musk’s tweet is likely in reference to his reopening of the Tesla factory in California, despite the governor’s order to remain locked down. Musk has been outspoken about his belief that the US government has “gone too far” in its lockdown measures, effectively stripping away our rights and ruining our economy.
But “red pilling” has long been used as slang by right-leaning citizens with a general loathing for extreme liberal beliefs. There is even a subreddit called “The Red Pill” which asks users before they enter if they’re ready for a community that is “dedicated to shocking or highly offensive content.”
Ivanka’s retweeting, of course, excited the Right. But Elon Musk is an enigmatic entrepreneur, one unlikely to ever fully throw his support behind either of the two parties we currently have.
Musk remains a popular figure, but he’s got people divided. Luckily for him he’s not an entertainment figure who can be “cancelled” – I mean, Tesla has some of the top SUV deals in the world. But he’s stirring the pot, for sure.
Lilly Wachowski, one of the two directors of “The Matrix” and a trans woman, replied to Musk and Trump on Twitter to share her feelings.
Related: Japanese Billionaire Gives Twitter Followers $9 Million, No Strings Attached
Former President Barack Obama delivered two virtual commencement addresses over the weekend. During his speeches, he encouraged millions of high school and college graduates “to seize the initiative” during a time he believes the nation’s leaders haven’t handled the coronavirus pandemic in an appropriate manner.
“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” said Barack Obama. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
Obama didn’t mention Trump specifically by name. However, many saw his comments as a direct criticism of the way Trump has handled the coronavirus outbreak.
Obama also spoke of how the pandemic should be a wake-up call for young adults. He pressed the importance of good leadership. He said that “the old ways of doing things just don’t work.
“Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy—that’s how little kids think,” said Obama. “Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way—which is why things are so screwed up.
“I hope that instead, you decide to ground yourself in values that last, like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others,” said Obama.
“If the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you,” he concluded. Obama sounds like he’s on to something. However, time will tell.
Related: Obama Slams Trump, Calls Him Out On His ‘Biggest Mistake’
A heartbroken mom said that her eight-month-old baby son died in her arms after he was struck down by a rare childhood illness that is now linked to COVID-19.
Alexander Parsons is believed to be the youngest victim of Kawasaki disease, which is an illness that inflames blood vessels.
Medics have given the condition a new name, PIMS-TS. They believe the illness is triggered by a reaction to the coronavirus.
The baby was pictured smiling and playing just two hours before he suffered a ruptured aneurysm. He had no underlying health conditions.
“I can’t believe I carried him for longer than he was alive. I will never be whole again,” said his mother, Kathryn Rowlands, 29. “And more parents will be in the same unimaginable position. Unless the government starts to listen to the advice of scientists and stops gambling with people’s lives.
“The doctors and nurses who fought to save Alex were incredible. But, if they’d known more about the Covid-Kawasaki link, they possibly could have done more,” she continued.
More children are being diagnosed with the disease. Experts are rushing to learn more about it. Hopefully, there will be fewer cases in the near future.
Related: Children at Risk: COVID-19 Causing Health Problems, Doctors Warn
