A year after Elon Musk's brief role in the Department of Government Efficiency, his influence continues to expand far beyond Tesla and SpaceX. Authors Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff argue in a New York Times opinion piece that Muskism represents a new economic and political paradigm reshaping America and potentially the world.

Musk's vision combines electric autonomy with artificial intelligence, creating what the authors call a state symbiosis where private companies merge with government functions. This model positions renewable energy as a tool for national self-reliance while automating both blue-collar and white-collar labor through robotics and AI. The current U.S.-Iran conflict demonstrates how nations embracing this approach are better positioned to weather global instability.

The authors highlight SpaceX's dominance, controlling over 95% of U.S. orbital launches by 2024, and Starlink's massive satellite network of over 10,000 units. Musk's companies are creating what they term sovereignty as a service, where governments must purchase essential capabilities from private providers. With xAI burning $1 billion monthly and SpaceX potentially launching a multi-billion dollar IPO, Musk is building an integrated empire spanning hardware, software, and space infrastructure.