There are some members of Congress who have famously struggled to
understand the online world. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) prides himself on
not only understanding the internet, but also for passing some of the
key legislation that he likes to say helped lay the foundation for the
digital revolution.

More recently, Markey has been leading fights to enhance online privacy
and regulate social media. So when Elon Musk took over Twitter recently,
Markey was paying close attention to see what kinds of changes the
richest man in the world might bring to the platform. 

The two men have a little history: they previously tussled over safety
issues with self-driving technology in Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles.
The Muskification of Twitter was equally concerning to the senator. But
it was when Musk unveiled a plan to sell blue check marks — the Twitter
verification symbol that prevents users from masquerading as other
people and corporations — that Markey started to get really worried.
What followed turned Markey into Musk’s chief tormentor in Washington. 
In this week’s Playbook Deep Dive, host and Playbook co-author Ryan
Lizza went up to Sen. Markey’s office on Capitol Hill to find out what
it’s like to be in a Twitter war with the self described chief twit, and
what might come next in this escalating confrontation.  

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Senator Ed Markey is a Democratic senator from Massachusetts.
Afra Abdullah is associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Adam Allington is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is executive producer for POLITICO audio.