Why Musk’s Starlink isn’t suffering like Tesla

Elon Musk’s chaotic foray into politics has put a huge dent into his company Tesla, which faces protests and plummeting sales on two continents, and has lost nearly half its market value since his DOGE operation began storming Washington in January. The luxury electric car, once a flashy symbol of progressive values, has suddenly become politically toxic with a huge swath of Americans. But for liberal critics hoping to see Musk’s fortunes truly damaged, the influential billionaire has an ace up his sleeve: the growing Starlink satellite broadband service, owned by Musk’s SpaceX. On both the national and global stage, Starlink is in a far different situation from Tesla: still on a growth arc, less associated with Musk personally, and in a position to win big government contracts. And unlike Tesla, Starlink is miles away from its competitors, offering cheaper, faster, and easier-to-use satellite internet. It’s a reminder that in the tech industry, which often seems clouded by brands and personalities, the technology still actually matters.