It's not an idle question anymore. 

It all began as a joke, but It now appears that Elon Musk is seriously thinking about buying MSNBC, partly to make liberal heads explode and partly for the serious reason that a cable news network more aligned with Musk's free speech and expanded Overton window has an appeal. 

This idea is pure Elon Musk, mixing his quixotic sense of humor with a serious musing about something he could do to solve a problem he sees. Throw in a boatload of F-you money, and you get a pure Elon Musk idea. 

Hey @elonmusk I have the funniest idea ever!!! https://t.co/OEwz6S5ncs

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 22, 2024

One like buying Twitter...

Wait, is Elon about to buy MSNBC? https://t.co/uVjV2bbY2t pic.twitter.com/vRWaqnkuas

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 22, 2024

Lots of people in Elon's circle keep bringing this idea up in a half-but-not-quite joking manner, and he may be warming to the idea. For instance, Joe Rogan has promised to take over Rachel Maddow's slot and dress like her to troll her. 

That seems to be an offer that tempts Musk. 

Elon trolling MSNBC is actually epic. 🤣 https://t.co/YPCMvlMBMj

— T Wolf 🌁 (@Twolfrecovery) November 24, 2024

In the true spirit of the internet, Polymarket now provides an opportunity for people to profit off the possibility. There is now a better market. 

Betting odds on if Elon Musk will buy MSNBC🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZdnIppDqmM

— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) November 24, 2024

If nothing else, the idea is fueling the exuberance that has taken over on the Right side of the aisle. As Charlie Sheen would say, WINNING!

Elon buys MSNBC and renames it Infowars pic.twitter.com/Kxw9wBuHQl

— Mostly Peaceful Memes (@MostlyPeacefull) November 23, 2024

Elon Shocks World: Announces He Is BUYING MSNBC!? Internet Rejoices, Libs On Suicide Watch: 🤣 pic.twitter.com/gwnRjAMOmr

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 22, 2024

Elon has the kind of money where he can afford to troll people without regard to the personal cost, and buying MSNBC or the whole slate of channels that Comcast is selling would be a far less risky investment than buying Twitter. Twitter spins off relatively small amounts of cash, and Elon grossly overpaid for it. 

If you buy MSNBC I would like Rachael Maddow’s job. I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 22, 2024

Ironically, Musk was forced to pay an outrageous amount of money for Twitter because was joking about what he was willing to pay, and in the world of high finance making marijuana jokes has consequences. I doubt, should he choose to buy the channel or the package of them, he will make the same mistake. 

Imagine Elon buying this network pic.twitter.com/Ll9mC8UsKw

— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) November 22, 2024

I don't know the laws that would apply in this case. Still, since MSNBC is not a broadcast channel, many of the applicable rules don't apply. Liberals would scream about propaganda (ironic). Elon wouldn't face many regulatory obstacles to buying the channel if he chose to do so. Certainly, nobody could or would outbid him, either.

Think of all you could do with a news station! You could even rename it MSNPC🤣 pic.twitter.com/zNsgef8Q3N

— Marie Isabella (@MarieIsabellaB) November 24, 2024

There is no dearth of talent that Elon could draw on, either. Rather than going for the normal talking head/good hairdo model of cable news, he could take a very nontraditional approach and bring in independent media figures. 

And, of course, if Rogan wants he can have a show called 'Morning Joe!"