Thousands of anti-Tesla protesters took to the streets Saturday March 29th in opposition to Elon Musk and his efforts with DOGE to eliminate humanitarian aid, close federal agencies, and fire government workers. It was the culmination of nearly two months of steady, almost daily demonstrations aimed at hurting Tesla’s sales — and ultimately Musk himself. Today was billed as a “Global Day of Action” with protests targeting hundreds of Tesla locations in the US, Canada, and Europe.
Technology
We went to 10 anti-Tesla protests — and a couple counter protests, too
The Verge wanted to check the temperature and see how these protesters were thinking about this current moment, and whether they felt their boycott was having its desired effect. Tesla sales have slid significantly since the protests started, and its stock has shed a lot of its value. But Musk shows no signs of being deterred, as he ramps up his threats to sic the government on anti-Tesla forces.
So we fanned out across the globe, from London to New York to Washington, DC to Los Angeles — and Paramus, NJ and Akron, Ohio too — to observe the movement as it enters it third month and talk to the people who opted to spend a good chunk of a Saturday afternoon waving signs and shouting about Musk and Tesla. We even saw several counter protesters who came out to support Musk — and Tesla.
London’s Tesla Takedown protest was a small affair, with 50-odd protestors, one dinosaur, and an inflatable Elon making that salute all perched outside a Tesla showroom in Park Royal, a neighborhood otherwise dominated by big box retailers, self-storage units, and ghost kitchens. But it’s come a long way since its humble beginnings six weeks ago, when it was just two protestors getting “kicked out of the Westfield shopping mall by security,” according to organizer John Gorenfeld.

Gorenfeld is a Californian, but this protest was English to a fault: polite, peaceful, and a little quiet. There was no police presence, and nor was one needed; even a Tesla pulling in didn’t attract much ire from the crowd. Fortunately, passing drivers were there to provide the noise — a “Honk If You Hate Elon” sign was answered by a chorus of cars, trucks, and at least one city bus. Londoners may not have come out in force, but it’s pretty clear where the city’s sympathies lie.
On a busy shopping street in Georgetown, DC, protesters are dancing outside a Tesla showroom to everything from “Hot to go,” to “Under Pressure,” to the viral TikTok hostile takeover song. They’re wearing a mix of shiny boas, boat captain hats, and floral shirts. The loosely boat-themed dance party has been attracting a steady stream of honks from passing cars, and many pedestrians are stopping to gleefully take pictures. “Nazi cars sold here,” says one sign, “Porsche = fast, Ferrari = faster, Tesla = fascist,” says another.

“Part of how fascism operates is they want people to be fearful,” says Sara Steffens, part of a team that calls themselves Dance Against DOGE. Steffens dons a floral outfit and a captain’s hat that she says symbolizes how the people are in charge of their destiny, rather than Trump and Musk. “Bullies operate on fear and they want us to be afraid of them … so this is like a full force showing.”
The mix of attendees appears to span many ages, and one of the groups rallying older generations to get involved is Third Act. Mark, an attendee affiliated with Third Act who declined to give his last name, said it was important to be at the protest “as someone with two grandchildren, trying to do something so that they can grow up in a place that’s safe.”

Cruise down Route 17 in north New Jersey and you’ll see a ton of car dealerships. But for the past few weeks, none have seen quite as much action as the Tesla dealership near Paramus. Each weekend, protestors of all ages have been holding up signs at the side of the highway, encouraging drivers to sell their Teslas, dump their stock, and honk against fascism. Today, the vibe is a little different.
The pro-Trumpers are here too — and the lines are clearly drawn.
“Last week, it was just us here,” says Ethan, a protester wearing a Super Mario Bros. Luigi cap and holding a sign that reads “Cyberfucked.” “Now all these Trump guys are here, walking around, doing whatever they want.”
Ethan, who declined to give his last name, says he’s been hassled by the Trump and Musk supporters. They’ve called him slurs, thrown water at him, and tried to grab his sign before a fellow protestor calmed the situation down. He says one Trump supporter told him his Luigi hat was offensive to Italian Americans. When I ask Ethan why he’s here today, he says “Because I fucking hate Elon Musk.” Then after a bit of thought, he adds, “We’re kind of screwed. It might not be much, but I want to at least say something and be heard by someone.”

On the other side, the Trump camp isn’t as concerned about holding up signs. They’re more milling about, grouping off into mini clusters. (They do, however, have many signs that read “Thank you Elon” and “Trump won.”) When I ask to speak to the organizer, I’m directed to John Tabacco — who wears a light blue blazer with prints of President Trump’s face.
“We need to show that there is support for what Elon Musk and DOGE is doing,” Tabacco says. He also takes issue when I characterize the pro-Trump crowd as a counterprotest. “This is a rally for us. A support rally for Trump, DOGE, and America-first policies. And I think those people,” he says, pointing to the anti-Tesla group, “Those people showed up today as counter-protesters.”
Tesla service center here is closed on weekends. It’s just off Route 18, at an intersection that services a shopping center with a Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, a local bar chain called The Winking Lizard, and more. The turnout is surprising, about 40-50 people (and two very good dogs) are lined up on both sides of the street waving signs and ringing cowbells. There’s a man with a bullhorn rousing the crowd with slogans, “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do?” he yells. “Fight back!” The crowd responds.
There’s a variety of people here, including a lot more gray and white hair folks using scooters and wheelchairs. A woman in a high-visibility vest said she and a lot of the older people here came on behalf of Third Act Ohio, an activist group for folks over 60. It’s hard to hear her as people continuously drive by, honking their horns in support.
Arriving 20 minutes before the event, it was quiet, even though organizers were expecting the crowd to be large, with last week’s attendance estimated around 1,300. They were right. Within ten minutes the plaza was full of attendees with a diversity of signage ranging from “Deport Elon Musk”, “Stop the Attack on Democracy”, “Hands off our Social Security” plus many others.

Photo by Victoria Barrios / The Verge
Even though the crowd is large, organizers emphasize their message over the speakers; this is a peaceful non-violent protest. This is similar to what one of the organizers told me as well, “Despite what the administration is saying, we’re not domestic terrorists, we are absolutely peaceful, nonviolent, we provide guidance and say no harassment of the Tesla showroom. We just want to make our voices heard.”

Photo by Victoria Barrios / The Verge
Alice Grimm said this is about bringing down the power of the billionaire. “From Elon Musk’s perspective, any dollar that doesn’t go to him is wasted and efficiency is whatever fills his pocket. And so Tesla, where most of his wealth is, if what he cares about is that element, then trying to drive down the stock price of Tesla, that attacks Elon’s power.”
Long Beach and Lakewood, California:
“I was on my way to another anti-Elon protest,” a woman named Nati said, while holding two signs at a Supercharger location in Lakewood. “I had to stop here when I saw everyone out.”
As Tesla owners pulled in and out, around 100 people stood on the sidewalk protesting. Most Tesla owners remained in their cars or went into nearby stores, largely avoiding the large crowd chanting, “This is what Democracy looks like,” and waving at passing cars that honked in support.
A man who asked to be identified as Sam set up a folding table and sold anti-Musk and Trump goods to passersby, though most at the Supercharger had brought their own homemade signs and wore shirts with “Gulf of Mexico,” and “Biden Harris,” emblazoned on them.
“I was on my way to another anti-Elon protest. I had to stop here when I saw everyone out.”
At a Tesla dealership a few miles away, in Long Beach, around 250 people lined the sidewalks on both sides of a busy four-lane road near a Home Depot and Costco that is packed on the weekends. As drivers drove past, people honked, cheered, and pumped their fists out their car windows, showing support.
The protests in Long Beach were peaceful, with protestors remaining on public property, cheering as people honked in support, but a tiny number of Trump and Musk supporters did show up to troll the crowds.
At the Supercharger location, a family decided to engage the protesters, yelling that they were “stupid. ” Their young daughter, who looked to be around ten years old, screamed profanities at the protesters. A pair of police SUVs were parked across the street, keeping an eye on things, and one lone Musk supporter lingered nearby holding a sign thanking Musk.
An anti-Tesla protester who asked not to be identified said that she’d been at another protest in Long Beach in late February when a truck driver rolled down his window and tried to pepper spray the protesters. No one was hurt, but the woman said that it did concern her. “You just don’t know how people are going to respond to exercising your right to free speech,” she said.
Hundreds of protesters marched and chanted in front of a Tesla showroom in the Meatpacking District in New York City. The mood was lively and enthusiastic as protesters waved signs, danced in flaming cardboard Cybertruck costumes, and smashed toy cars on the sidewalk with a hammer. A moment of silence was held for a large portion of the crowd to lay down on the street with cardboard signs shaped like gravestones to stage a “die in” in front of the Tesla showroom.

The protest was peaceful but there were two separate instances where protesters started shouting out for others not to engage with two men holding out microphones and asking questions. In the second instance of this, police that were surrounding the building came over to prevent one of these interviewers from engaging with the protesters. The man being escorted out of the crowd still held a microphone, walked backwards smiling and said “crackhead, come here” gesturing towards one of the protesters for an interview.

Slogans on signs varied in intensity. One sign depicted Elon Musk dressed as Emperor Palpatine that read, “Strike down Darth Ketamine, Congress must!!!” Another banner held by a group of three protesters read, “Burn A Tesla Save Democracy.”
Aside from some raised voices, there weren’t any violent altercations. The turnout at this protest was about three times larger than the protest at the same location a week earlier. As the protest neared its end there were chants of “we’ll be back” from the crowd. They were ready to come back for more.
Technology
AO3 is finally out of beta after 17 years
Archive of Our Own (AO3) is officially exiting beta. The Organization for Transformative Works — the nonprofit behind the fanfiction site — announced the update on Thursday, which comes 17 years after AO3’s launch in 2009.
“Since 2009, AO3 has grown and changed a lot,” the announcement says. “We’ve introduced many features over the years through the efforts of our volunteers and coding contributors, as well as the contractors we’ve been able to hire thanks to generous donations from our users.”
The post highlights some of the features that AO3 has since its launch, including a tagging system, fanworks downloads, privacy settings that allow creators to limit access to their work, and more. Just because AO3 is exiting beta, doesn’t mean the updates will stop flowing:
As the AO3 software has been stable for a long time, the change is mostly cosmetic and does not indicate that everything is finalized or perfectly working. Exiting beta doesn’t mean we’ll stop continuing to improve AO3—our volunteer coders and community contributors will still be working to add to and improve AO3 every day.
One of the most significant changes to the site is the absence of the tiny “beta” label inside the AO3 logo displayed at the top of the platform. (AO3 briefly changed the beta to “omega” for April Fools’ Day this year).
You can keep tabs on the updates coming to AO3 by viewing its projects on Jira
Technology
US targets Chinese robots over security fears
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A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to draw a clear line on where certain robots may operate in the United States. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently introduced legislation that would ban the federal government from using robots made by foreign adversaries, a category that includes China but can also apply to other designated countries.
The proposal, called the American Security Robotics Act, targets unmanned ground systems. That includes humanoid robots and remote-controlled surveillance machines. The concern is not just what these robots can do. It is what they could be doing behind the scenes. Lawmakers say these systems are already being marketed to U.S. research labs, universities, law enforcement agencies and even consumers.
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WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS ITS FIRST FEDERAL AI FRAMEWORK, PUSHES CONGRESS TO ACT ‘THIS YEAR’
Advanced humanoid robots like this from Unitree Robotics highlight how quickly the technology is evolving and why officials are raising data security concerns. (Unitree)
Why lawmakers say these robots pose a risk
According to statements from the lawmakers involved, the core issue is security. Schumer warned that Chinese robotics companies could embed hidden access points inside their systems. These so-called backdoors could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data or even enable remote control. Lawmakers warn that these systems could include hidden access points or be vulnerable to remote control. Schumer said, “The Chinese Communist Party has shown that they are willing to lie and cheat to get ahead at the expense of the American people and our national security. They are running their standard playbook, this time in robotics, trying to flood the U.S. market with their technology, which presents real security risks and threats to Americans’ privacy and American research and industry.”
He said the Chinese government has a track record of prioritizing its own strategic goals over transparency, raising concerns about how that approach could extend into robotics.
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A humanoid robot from Unitree Robotics, similar to the systems lawmakers are scrutinizing over potential security risks in government use. (Unitree)
What the bill would actually do
The American Security Robotics Act focuses specifically on federal use. The bill targets countries designated as foreign adversaries, including Communist China, according to the lawmakers.
The legislation targets “unmanned ground vehicle systems,” including humanoid robots and autonomous patrol technologies used by federal agencies. If passed, it would block U.S. government agencies from purchasing or operating unmanned ground vehicles built by companies tied to foreign adversaries. That includes:
- Humanoid robots used in public-facing roles
- Remote surveillance robots
- Other automated ground systems used in government operations
It also blocks federal agencies from using these systems through contractors or funding their use through grants or agreements. Cotton said, “Robots made by Communist China threaten Americans’ privacy and our national security. Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm.”
The operational ban would take effect one year after the law is enacted. The bill includes exceptions for national security, research, testing and certain law enforcement or intelligence activities under strict conditions.
The bill does not ban these products outright for consumers or private companies. Instead, it draws a boundary around government adoption where sensitive data and infrastructure are involved. Meanwhile, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is introducing a companion bill in the House, signaling coordinated support across both chambers of Congress.
The timing matters as robotics competition heats up
This legislation comes at a moment when China is rapidly advancing in robotics. Recent demonstrations in Beijing showcased a new generation of highly capable robots, highlighting how quickly the technology is evolving. That momentum has raised alarms in Washington about falling behind while also importing potential risks. Stefanik said, “We must continue to promote and propel America’s robotics superiority while safeguarding our privacy and national security from adversaries.“
At the same time, U.S. companies are pushing forward. One example came when a humanoid robot from Figure AI recently appeared at a White House education summit alongside First Lady Melania Trump. She suggested robots like these could eventually play a role in education, hinting at how deeply this technology could integrate into everyday life.
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Multiple humanoid robots developed by Unitree Robotics show the growing capabilities of foreign-made systems now entering global markets. (Unitree)
What this means for you
If you are not working inside the federal government, this bill will not directly affect what you can buy or use. Still, it signals something bigger. It does raise questions about how much access foreign-made devices could have to data inside your home or workplace. First, it shows that robotics is no longer just about convenience or innovation. It is now part of national security conversations. Second, it highlights growing concern about where your data goes when you interact with connected devices. That applies whether it is a robot, a smart home device or a surveillance system. Finally, it suggests that future restrictions could expand beyond government use if risks are confirmed or public concern grows.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
This is not just about robots walking through offices or classrooms. It is about trust. Lawmakers are drawing attention to a question that has followed other technologies before. Who built it, and who might still have access to it after it is deployed? As robotics becomes more common in public spaces, homes and workplaces, those questions will only get louder. The technology is moving fast. Policy is trying to catch up.
Would you feel comfortable interacting with a humanoid robot if you did not know who ultimately controlled its data? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Technology
The best AirPods deals you can get right now
If you know where to look, you can often score deals on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the AirPods Pro 3. And while major shopping events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day have delivered some of the biggest price drops, there are still good deals to be found on every model — including the recently released AirPods Max 2.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals currently available on each set of AirPods, including both iterations of the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max, as well as the third-gen AirPods Pro.
At the end of 2024, Apple introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two variations: a $129 standard model and a $179 noise-canceling model. Both versions represent significant upgrades over the third-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which focuses the mics on your voice so you can be heard more clearly in noisy environments.
The $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer a surprisingly effective noise-canceling mode, a helpful transparency mode, and several other Pro-level features. The latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but the AirPods 4 with ANC still do a good job of reducing sound. They also feature other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app.
Given they’ve been out for over a year, we consistently see discounts for both iterations of the AirPods 4. During Black Friday, we saw the standard model drop to a new low of $74; however, right now, they’re only down to $119 ($10 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and B&H Photo. The AirPods 4 with ANC, meanwhile, are on sale for $154.99 ($24 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Costco (for members), which is significantly more than their recent low of $99.
The best AirPods Pro 3 deals
At its “Awe Dropping” event in September, Apple introduced the AirPods Pro 3. In addition to improved ANC and sound, the third-gen earbuds include a built-in heart rate sensor that syncs with the iPhone Fitness app, allowing you to track your pulse and calories burned across more than 50 workout types. They’re also more comfortable and secure than their predecessor, thanks to a redesigned, angled fit and five ear tip sizes — including a new XXS option. Additionally, they carry a more robust IP57 rating and support Apple’s new live translation feature, which, in our testing, generally conveys the gist well but still can’t beat a human interpreter.
Given how recently they launched, we’ve been surprised by how often the AirPods Pro 3 have been discounted. In fact, last month we saw them drop to $199 ($50 off), which is $15 shy of their all-time low. Unfortunately, while they’re still on sale, they’ve since increased in price to $224 ($25 off) at retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
The best AirPods Max deals
The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. Both the first-gen Max and the newer AirPods Max 2 are large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. The original pair delivered clear, expansive sound, great noise cancellation, and lossless audio over USB-C; however, with the Max 2, Apple built upon that excellent foundation with improved ANC and a built-in amplifier for better sound. They also feature Apple’s newer H2 chip, enabling AI-powered live translation, adaptive audio, and other features once reserved for the AirPods Pro line. The over-ears aren’t the best noise-canceling headphones for everyone — blame the sticker price — but for iPhone users, they’re hard to beat.
The AirPods Max 2 retail for $549 — the same price as the original model — but you can currently save $20 on both the black and white versions at Amazon and Costco (if you’re a member), which is the first discount we’ve seen on the recently released headphones. If you’re okay with picking up the last-gen model, the original AirPods Max with USB-C are on sale in select colors for $399.99 ($150 off) at Woot through April 3rd, matching their best price to date. They’re also available in a wider range of hues at Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other retailers for $449.99 ($100 off), which is still a hefty discount.
Update, April 2nd: Updated to reflect current pricing and availability, as well as the recent release of the AirPods Max 2.
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