Brownsville is a small but very proud community that had a strong sense of community before Elon got there. I talked to a woman named Jessica Tetro, who was a former city council member, ran for mayor in Brownsville a few years ago. She's totally bought into what Elon represents, the promise that he's offered this community. She talked about growing up in Brownsville at a time when it was in serious decline. Brownsville is a place that's generally forgotten by state government in Texas. He made this small community the Launchpad to this great civilizational project. It's almost relig - it is - almost religious. The people I meet are kind of have this searching for meaning, for something that makes them feel like their lives are part of a bigger narrative. What Elon is brilliant at is roping people into his own narrative, offering them a chance to be part of it. We talk all the time about this podcast, for instance. Tesla's investors behave irrationally. This is an entirely rational relationship that people have with Elon Musk, a lot of it.

Is their belief in this history-altering project?

How Elon Musk is changing a small Texas town

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