HARRISBURG, PA — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is facing legal and ethical questions after pledging to give away $1 million a day to voters who sign a petition supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The petition, which Musk’s political action committee (PAC) is promoting, ties the giveaway to the defense of the U.S. Constitution’s First and Second Amendments.

Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has already committed at least $70 million to support Trump’s White House bid. However, the daily cash giveaway—part of Musk’s PAC campaign tour across Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state—has raised alarms among legal experts and political observers.

Critics argue that Musk’s initiative may violate U.S. election laws. The giveaway, which requires participants to be registered voters to qualify, is sparking concerns about whether financial incentives for voter registration are legal. Pennsylvania Governor Robert Shapiro voiced his concerns on NBC, stating, “There are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, not just into Pennsylvania but into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That is deeply concerning.”

Musk’s America PAC has tied the cash incentive directly to signing a petition, but experts say the requirement that participants be registered voters could cross a legal line. Rick Hasen, a political science professor at UCLA Law School, cited laws that prohibit payments for voter registration or voting. “If he’s just paying people to sign the petition, that may be a waste of money, but it’s not illegal,” Hasen said. “The issue arises when participation in the giveaway is limited to registered voters, which could make it illegal.”

Musk has been distributing checks during public events, including in Harrisburg, with plans to continue the cash giveaways until the November 5th election. The move is part of a broader strategy to boost Trump’s support in key swing states, with Musk actively mobilizing voters.

This is not the first time Musk has offered financial incentives in the political realm. He previously announced via X that he would pay individuals $100 for referring others to register to vote and sign the petition.

Trump, when asked about the initiative during a campaign stop, said he had not been following the situation closely but described Musk as a “friend” and praised his contributions to the country.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) generally prohibits coordination between campaigns and super PACs, but recent rulings have allowed for limited collaboration, particularly in get-out-the-vote efforts. Whether Musk’s financial incentives will lead to legal repercussions remains to be seen, but the controversy underscores ongoing concerns about election integrity and campaign finance practices.

HAVANA — Millions of Cubans entered a third day without electricity on Sunday as efforts to restore power failed overnight, compounding frustrations in a country already grappling with a crumbling energy infrastructure.

The Cuban Electrical Union reported that approximately 16% of the country had regained power when the aging electrical grid overloaded late Saturday. Officials have not provided a timeline for when full service will be restored. This incident marks the third major collapse of Cuba’s energy grid since Friday, leaving most of the 10 million residents without power during this period.

The energy crisis is expected to be exacerbated by the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar, which is forecasted to bring heavy winds and surf to eastern Cuba. The situation is critical, as reliable electricity is essential for water supply and food preservation, and the recent outages threaten to plunge the nation into an even deeper crisis.

Cuba experienced its first island-wide blackout on Friday when a major power plant failed, according to the energy ministry. Hours after officials announced that power was being gradually restored, the country suffered a second nationwide blackout on Saturday morning.

In response to the crisis, residents have turned to WhatsApp to share updates on which areas have electricity, while others are arranging to store medications in the refrigerators of those fortunate enough to have power or generators. In the capital, Havana, long lines formed outside the few locations selling bread, leading to disputes among frustrated customers when supplies ran out.

Many residents voiced concerns over the absence of support from Cuba’s traditional allies, such as Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, who have historically provided the island with crucial oil supplies. Meanwhile, tourists were spotted driving around Havana in vintage 1950s cars, although many hotel generators had run out of fuel.

A foreign visitor reported that Havana’s José Martí International Airport was operating on emergency power, leading to delays and disruptions, including non-functional printers and a lack of air conditioning in the terminal.

Cuban officials attribute the ongoing energy crisis to a combination of factors, including increased U.S. economic sanctions, disruptions from recent hurricanes, and the poor state of the island’s infrastructure. In a delayed televised address on Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that much of the country’s limited production was halted to prevent a complete power outage.

“We have been paralyzing economic activity to generate power for the population,” he explained.

Cuba’s Health Minister, José Angel Portal Miranda, stated on social media platform X that health facilities are operating on generators, and healthcare workers continue to provide essential services despite the challenges.

Reports of small protests have emerged, with videos circulating on social media showing public discontent in the capital. As the situation develops, many Cubans remain hopeful for a resolution to the ongoing crisis and a return to normalcy.