Tim Higgins was our Potluck guest this week. The former Des Moines Register reporter is a seasoned automotive and technology writer for The Wall Street Journal who frequently appears on CNBC. His book, Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century, published in 2021, offers a deep dive into Tesla’s journey under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Musk, of course, is changing the direction of the United States government and the services provided around the world, perhaps more than any single individual non-elected person in history, so who is this guy?
Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, the recording of the conversation didn’t start until we were well into the conversation. My apologies.
About the Higgins book on Musk
The book chronicles Tesla’s turbulent rise—from its humble beginnings to becoming the first car company valued at over $1 trillion. Higgins relies on extensive reporting and interviews with many current and former Tesla executives (albeit anonymously) to document the company’s internal challenges, relentless ambition, and the high-stakes gambles that helped shape its destiny.
While the book does not include direct interviews with Elon Musk, it paints a picture of him as a charismatic yet controversial visionary. His bold, sometimes unpredictable style is set against the more measured approach of Tesla’s seasoned engineers and executives. Notably, Musk himself dismissed the book on Twitter, claiming it was “false and boring,” which only added to the discussion around its narrative.
Reviewers have lauded the book for its in-depth, balanced reporting and its engaging storytelling. Major outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly have commended Higgins for capturing the essence of Tesla’s high-wire act between innovation and operational challenges.
Overall, Power Play is seen as a compelling account that offers valuable insights into both the meteoric rise of Tesla and the complex personality of Elon Musk and gives us a hint of what is playing out on the national and international stage today.
Monday, our guest will be
with . Tell a friend?Substack Live!
Substack now offers a new feature that lets writers record video conversations with guests, while any follower on the platform can join the discussion via text. It’s much like Facebook Live—except that revenue doesn’t go to Mark Zuckerberg, who’s now aligning himself with MAGA.
, a friend of mine crafted a delightful column about the animal tracks in the snow around her Connecticut yard, only for Facebook to claim it violated their community standards and remove it. I suspect Facebook isn’t keen on directing traffic to Substack. While Facebook monetizes our content, on Substack, writers can earn compensation through paid subscriptions.Similarly, another writer mentioned that one of his passionate, educational columns on Iowa water quality was also taken down.
So, here we are.
Below are the first three interviews recorded using this new tool. There will be more. Join us:
Meet new IWC columnists:
Live with Julie Gammack: and Live with Julie Gammack
I am thrilled to be a founding member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, now 79 members strong. Check it out, find a few you like, and pay them for their work. Together, we are fueling a revolution in providing independent, local commentary from across the state of Iowa.
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