Patty Hoyt
Appearances
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
My name's Patti Hoyt. I live in the north of San Francisco in a small town called Novato. And although in the first administration, I did organize rallies and protests, quite a few. I've had a break. And very recently, a friend of mine who's a veteran reached out to me and said, wanted to bring to light the plight of veterans. And knowing my background, he asked if I was interested.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
And being the daughter of a veteran, sure. And having to choose, there's so many things going on, what am I going to focus on? I selected veterans and immigrants as where I'm going to put my energy. And I had attended a couple of Tesla takedowns. And thought, okay, this looks like the perfect thing to do.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
Hands off the VA! Hands off the VA!
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
I'm sorry. Yes, yes, that's exactly it. The fact that, you know, 30 percent of the federal workforce happens to be veterans. So not only the VA being threatened with a 20 percent cut in staff, but just throughout the federal workforce, there are so many veterans.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
I would say there seems to be more anger. And what I'm encountering, who I am encountering this time around, is a lot of people that didn't protest then, have never protested before, and now are out there.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
Fear and anger. And I think perhaps the speed of which all of this is coming, I can't even keep track of what next. I think it was different in the first term that it... It took longer for people to get energized. They felt they had more time. But we're not the only ones in my little town. Puerto Madera is where the dealership is in our county. There's a protest at noon.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
On Saturdays, ours at three, and then another done on Sundays at two. So different groups are coming out at various times, just providing that place where people can come and bring, yes, some funny signs, but also, you know, just collectively here we are all together feeling this one way.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
Yes. I don't think that the people who protest are the only ones that hate him and what he stands for. But I go with the, I want to shame you into not buying a Tesla. I want to shame you into dumping stock. I'd love you to sell your Tesla, but I understand that that's not possible. They're not even taking Cybertrucks' trade-ins, Tesla itself. So...
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
I think you're embarrassed to drive a Tesla precisely because you're now associated with Musk and his fascism. And it goes beyond Musk, of course, but in terms of oligarchy and billionaires, that's what my goal is. And I absolutely believe that we've made a difference in people saying, no, I don't want people to flip me off as I drive. I don't want people to
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
Give the Nazi salute as I drive by my Tesla.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
I it doesn't bother me that I believe they're wrong, but and there's nothing I can do to convince them otherwise. I do think it detracts. You don't want that. You don't ever want violence in the name of your protests to happen. And I don't encourage it.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
Oh, no, they're afraid, which isn't to say I'm not. And I can cite quite recently somebody no longer wanting to have their name associated with it because of that fear. But given attendance and such at these protests, it doesn't seem to be stopping anybody from coming. And I only see a couple of people who wear masks to try to hide their identity. It's a scary place to be.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
We all find ourselves in. And I won't stop. But I am afraid.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
It doesn't undo the damage he's done just by saying he stepped away, nor do I believe he actually would step away. I mean, by news account reports, he's not even the leader of Doge. But who believes that? Or I don't believe that, I should say. But even if it were true, you don't just not punish someone for the damage he's doing.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
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The New Yorker Radio Hour
How Science Fiction Led Elon Musk to DOGE
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