“We need more journalists like Tucker Carlson and less like Rachel Maddow,” Musk declared at a press conference that seemed more like a TED Talk than a typical media event. “Tucker speaks truth to power. He’s not afraid to tackle the tough issues and tell it like it is, unlike some who are more focused on their feelings than facts.”

Musk and Carlson joining forces is the kind of partnership that sends shockwaves through the political and media landscape. One is a billionaire entrepreneur with a penchant for rockets, electric cars, and the occasional Twitter controversy. The other is a sharp-tongued political commentator whose nightly tirades have earned him both legions of devoted fans and an equal number of detractors.