The John Johnston Lounge

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how shares of Tesla plummeted around 15% after the latest earnings report, and SpaceX is down around 50% from its highs. Elon Musk’s “just trust me”, about Tesla Robotaxi and Optimus robots, doesn’t seem to be working so well with investors anymore. 

Related episodes:

Tesla Profits Plunge & SpaceX Stock Continues Fall https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BBNi6oN9xmKG7kwqJzRNy

SpaceX Stock is Crashing & Tesla Investors Want Answers  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Jey6dAGdZeZNXvAk6DGj7

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down Tesla Earnings for Q2 2026, in which Tesla profits plunged as discounts on its EV models weighed on the earnings results. Tesla stock sank during the earnings call with Elon. SpaceX stock also sank significantly on the day, now down almost 50% from its peak. Tesla’s capital expenditures doubled as Tesla continues to struggle to pivot to the hot semiconductor sector, autonomous robotaxis, and Optimus humanoid robots. 

Related episodes:

SpaceX Stock is Crashing & Tesla Investors Want Answers  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Jey6dAGdZeZNXvAk6DGj7

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how SpaceX stock has gone down nearly 50% from the high it set just days after its historic IPO in June 2026. We also ponder the question: has the AI bubble peaked? We look at various market and AI sector signs and news, including what famed short seller Jim Chanos is currently saying, and how memory sector stocks have given way after a stellar run-up recently.

Related episodes:

SpaceX Stock Crashes $1T & AI Trade Reverses! https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jC4ipCe0PADreDavJVua8

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how SpaceX stock lost around $1 trillion in market value from its initial peak, and short sellers are increasingly betting against SpaceX, just weeks after its massive IPO. Also, we look at how this relates to US semiconductor stocks falling at the same time, and in turn how this relates to the huge volatility in the South Korean KOSPI Index over the past year, and its recent fall into bear market territory.

Related episodes:

SpaceX Stock is Crashing & Tesla Investors Want Answers  https://open.spotify.c...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how SpaceX Stock is sunk below its IPO price for the first time, and short sellers are having a field day as the stock continues to slip. Tesla shareholders are also begging Elon Musk to explain Tesla’s missed short and long term goals, based on Elon’s “predictions” and claims.

Related episodes:

 AI Bubble & SpaceX: 17x Bigger Than Dot Com | George Noble https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GEsy88szlvkjDVygARuu3

Morgan Stanley Issues SpaceX Target Value of ~$4T!  https://open.spoti...

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to investor and longtime fund manager George Noble discussing what he sees as a massive AI bubble, which he thinks is much bigger than the previous Dot Com Bubble. Noble also sees Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla being involved in the biggest misallocation of capital in the history of financial markets. 

Related episodes:

THE TESLA STOCK CRASH WILL BE EPIC https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RV8h4ioNb1wksarKXeIdH

AI Bubble: NOT Too Big To Fail! Let It Burn | Ed...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down what tech journalist and podcaster Ed Zitron is saying about there being a massive, multi-layered AI bubble. In recent interviews and in his newsletter Where’s Your Ed At, Ed has been detailing what he sees and how he thinks an AI bust will play out. Will Ed Zitron be correct?

Related episodes:

Dangerous AI Bubble: Retail Investors Are Being Conned | Ed Zitron https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mmybdVO6Jyc8hrcjbLCvn

AI Bubble: OpenAI’s Financials LEAKED & It’s UGLY...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how SpaceX has received bullish recommendations from Wall Street banks, including Morgan Stanley, which has given Elon Musk’s AI and rocket company stock a $300 price target. This would give SpaceX a market valuation of around $4 trillion. 

Related episodes:

Aswath Damodaran: “SpaceX Looks AWFUL As An Investment” https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lheHMH1AuJ1YVYB3i3F8G

AI Bubble & SpaceX: What Could Happen in A Bust? | Grantham & Buffett  https://open.spotify.com/episode/48X5eRowgV9GCTCnwabg5O

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that Sam Altman wants the US government to have a 5% stake in OpenAI, and Meta is looking to rent out excess AI data centre capacity to other companies. Are these signs that Sam Altman is trying to make OpenAI “too big to fail”, and that Meta’s internal AI strategy has failed?

Related episodes:

AI Bubble: Top Central Bank Warns of Global Financial Crisis https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hsDCH8J1PKCN3DoLrqhhX

AI Bubble & SpaceX: What Could...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down what investor and Professor Aswath Damoderan, the “Dean of Valuation”, thinks of the current stock market valuation of SpaceX, and the current outlook for the emerging AI sector. 

Related episodes:

AI Bubble: Top Central Bank Warns of Global Financial Crisis https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hsDCH8J1PKCN3DoLrqhhX

AI Bubble & SpaceX: What Could Happen in A Bust? | Grantham & Buffett  https://open.spotify.com/episode/48X5eRowgV9GCTCnwabg5O

AI Bubble: Are Retail Investors Flying...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how President Trump has made billions while in office during off his second term, from crypto schemes, to stocks, to international business deals related to insider knowledge of government policy changes and contracts.

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TRUMP Memecoin is Grifting INSANITY https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jwECp8GbmInq2BjwsYDCD

It’s Official: Elon Musk Must Face DOGE 'Power Overreach' Lawsuit https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Dz4yUMtrfu5zB0k5ZmOOb

Referenced videos: 

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is warning of the current “AI exuberance” driving up the risk of another global financial crisis. “Big Short” investor Steve Eisman is also looking at some of the biggest warnings signs right now, in relation to the AI boom. 

Related episodes:

AI Bubble & SpaceX: What Could Happen in A Bust? | Grantham & Buffett  https://open.spotify.com/episode/48X5eRowgV9GCTCnwabg5O

What Could Burst The AI Bubble? | Dalio & Buffett https://open.spotify.com/episod...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down what prominent investor Ray Dalio recently said about the AI bubble, and what he thinks could burst that market bubble. We also look at what legendary investor Warren Buffett said about why he sold Taiwan Semiconductor stock, and how that relates to the AI bubble. 

Related episodes:

AI Bubble & SpaceX: What Could Happen in A Bust? | Grantham & Buffett  https://open.spotify.com/episode/48X5eRowgV9GCTCnwabg5O

SpaceX & AI: “Bigger Than The Dot Com Bubble” | Jim Chanos  https://open.spotify...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how longtime investor Jeremy Grantham asserts that there is a massive stock market bubble, currently being fueled by the excitement around AI, and including Elon Musk’s SpaceX. All-time great investor Warren Buffett also implies the current US stock market is expensive, and that a lot of people are gambling rather than investing. 

Related episodes:

SpaceX & AI: “Bigger Than The Dot Com Bubble” | Jim Chanos  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hywOjJLjvIs53nOXHQorl

Legit Legendary Investor: AI ‘Has Characteristics of A Bubble’...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Elon Musk is angry at Democrat Ro Khanna, and Jennifer Welch from the I’ve Had It Podcast, and threatening to sue Khonna over wanting to officially question Elon about some potentially illegal actions DOGE made under Elon’s control. 

Related episodes:

It’s Official: Elon Musk Must Face DOGE 'Power Overreach' Lawsuit https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Dz4yUMtrfu5zB0k5ZmOOb

Elon Musk’s DOGE Goons Under Fire: Data Theft, Depositions, Lawsuits https://open.spotify.com/episode/0...

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to some of a recent chat about Elon Musk, Tesla, SpaceX, and other Silicon Valley tech billionaires that journalist Gil Duran had with GWU Associate Professor Dave Karpf. Will Elon Musk’s ongoing “arrogance and villainy” eventually receive “some sort of cosmic justice”?

Related episodes:

Is SpaceX Overvalued by ~$1 Trillion? (Morningstar Says So) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6luNeIb6Er8hkgOV9ySsw0

SpaceX & AI: “Bigger Than The Dot Com Bubble” | Jim Chanos  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hywOjJLjvIs53nOXHQorl

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how widespread techno-pessimism has sparked a positive and burgeoning analog movement, and an offline “Summer of Ludd” festival in New York. Other offline, phone-free events have been springing-up around the world, aiming for intentional, “unplugged” human connection. 

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Is Elon’s SpaceX ‘Coup’ About to Rob Your 401K? https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Cz8MYXopM3MAeLsAiy8EQ

Palantir’s Descent into Fascism is Scaring its Employees https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jGJYY04I9aGgr7HHIb54V

The Revolt Agai...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how the massive amount of money that has been flooding into the AI sector could be a warning sign of things to come? Is this one of the biggest risks to the current highflying stock market, and AI-related tech stocks in particular? We look at various opinions, and some of the stocks that have made parabolic moves. 

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Legit Legendary Investor: AI ‘Has Characteristics of A Bubble’ https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SE2qLmTlx0Bph1VMFKxDh

SpaceX & AI: “Bigger...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how OpenAI’s financials have just been leaked to independent journalist Ed Zitron, ahead of the planned OpenAI IPO. The audited figures reveal mounting costs and a far worse financial position than almost everyone thought.

Related episodes:

Dangerous AI Bubble: Retail Investors Are Being Conned | Ed Zitron https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mmybdVO6Jyc8hrcjbLCvn

Legit Legendary Investor: AI ‘Has Characteristics of A Bubble’ https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SE2qLmTlx0Bph1VMFKxDh

SpaceX & AI: “B...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei seems to lack empathy and remorse in relation to his AI company’s possible involvement in targeting a school during the Iran War, when discussing Anthropic’s involvement with the US military. JJ also looks at the wider question of ethics within the emerging AI sector.

Related episodes:

Dangerous AI Bubble: Retail Investors Are Being Conned | Ed Zitron https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mmybdVO6Jyc8hrcjbLCvn

Elon’s SpaceX About to Unleash Wave of Fever...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how legitimately legendary investor Seth Klarman thinks today's stock market, which is currently obsessed with AI-related companies and stocks, has characteristics of a bubble. Klarman argues that even if AI is real and transformative, because of the huge uncertainty, the market should have a lower multiple.

Related episodes:

SpaceX & AI: “Bigger Than The Dot Com Bubble” | Jim Chanos  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hywOjJLjvIs53nOXHQorl

Dangerous AI Bubble: Retail Investors Are Being Conned | Ed Zitron https://open.spotify.com/episo...

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to famous short-seller Jim Chanos, as he gives his vast experience-led opinions about the warming signs he sees in the current U.S. stock market, including the SpaceX and upcoming AI IPOs, and the AI data center buildout. 

Related episodes:

Elon's SpaceX HAS TO Grow Like No Company Ever Has https://open.spotify.com/episode/0utF3Iw7k1Tmz5PDf02FfX

Is SpaceX Overvalued by ~$1 Trillion? (Morningstar Says So) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6luNeIb6Er8hkgOV9ySsw0

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down what Ed Zitron is currently saying about the AI bubble he sees in financial markets, and the companies involved, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Zitron thinks the market situation is dangerous for retail investors in particular, and that Anthropic and OpenAI should not be allowed to IPO.

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Is SpaceX Overvalued by ~$1 Trillion? (Morningstar Says So) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6luNeIb6Er8hkgOV9ySsw0

Is Elon’s SpaceX ‘Coup’ About to Rob Your 401K? https...

The Art of Value: Politics host John Johnston (JJ) breaks down part of President Donald Trump’s recent combative interview where he storms out in a rage over valid questions about the Iran War and his constant election-rigging claims. 

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Trump’s Obsession with Autocrat Viktor Orbán Explained https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NG1RKYy85wNwWF6vDRoOY

Trump’s World Cup TANKING: Tourists Planning To Stay Away https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XQF3EqkPUsBfBE98RzmCh

Referenced videos

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down some of the popular finance media and fund manager perspectives on the SpaceX IPO, and the wave of historic IPOs that are poised to follow, including Anthropic and OpenAI. Does this mark the AI boom getting to “fever pitch” stage?

Related episodes:

Elon's SpaceX HAS TO Grow Like No Company Ever Has https://open.spotify.com/episode/0utF3Iw7k1Tmz5PDf02FfX

Is SpaceX Overvalued by ~$1 Trillion? (Morningstar Says So) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6luNeIb6Er8hkgOV9ySsw0

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that Elon Musk’s SpaceX will need to grow 600x in 10 years to justify the $1.75 trillion IPO target valuation, and no company has ever come close to that. JJ also looks at how Google has said it will pay SpaceX $920 million per month for AI compute capacity at xAI data centers. Also, the S&P500 has rejects SpaceX from getting early access to the index, which would’ve meant early access to billions from  passive investors. 

Related episodes:

Is SpaceX Overvalued by ~$1 Trilli...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down why the current SpaceX IPO valuation of $1.75 trillion is being challenged by Morningstar, which says SpaceX is being “significantly overvalued”. A Morningstar analyst thinks the space and AI company is worth less than half of that. 

Related episodes:

Is Elon’s SpaceX ‘Coup’ About to Rob Your 401K? https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Cz8MYXopM3MAeLsAiy8EQ

SpaceX IPO is Stock Market Insanity https://open.spotify.com/episode/14U1OxBZFLY8OzdnYx5T6B

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how some investment and financial experts are sounding the alarm over Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO “coup” that could force retirement funds to buy unprofitable SpaceX soon after the SpaceXf IPO, due to a significant rule change that is happening for SpaceX first.

Related episodes:

SpaceX IPO is Stock Market Insanity https://open.spotify.com/episode/14U1OxBZFLY8OzdnYx5T6B

SpaceX IPO Valuation Hype: Elon’s Ultimate Reality Distortion? https://open.spotify.com/episode/68NedN7wmQLZtPkDmukIEb

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how the upcoming SpaceX IPO could be close to peak stock market AI bubble insanity, from a number of perspectives. JJ references the recent SpaceX pre-IPO S-1 filing, and a possible merger with Tesla, and what various analysts are saying.

Related episodes:

SpaceX IPO: Elon Musk is Preying on His ‘Elon-gelicals’ https://open.spotify.com/episode/2r60g5D3LjueQ1dMChFVkc

SpaceX IPO Valuation Hype: Elon’s Ultimate Reality Distortion? https://open.spotify.com/episode/68NedN7wmQLZtPkDmukIEb

The Art of Value: Politics host JJ breaks down how traditional Western allies have been increasingly pulling away from working closely with the Trump administration, and finding ways to strengthen alliances between each other, especially between Canada and Europe. Canada is acting increasingly like the EU’s 28th member state, rather than a 51st state of the US.

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Trump’s World Cup TANKING: Tourists Planning To Stay Away https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XQF3EqkPUsBfBE98RzmCh

Trump’s Obsession with Autocrat Viktor Orbán...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how opposition to the construction of new AI data centers is escalating across the United States. Local people are questioning and protesting the distribution of land, water and energy resources, as well as the lack of democratic governance in relation to the development of these massive data centers for artificial intelligence compute.

Mentioned: Trump’s World Cup TANKING: Tourists Planning To Stay Away https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XQF3EqkPUsBfBE98RzmCh

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AI Bubble: Reckless Multi- $Trillion Data Ce...

JJ’s Politics Unfiltered host JJ breaks down how the FIFA 2026 World Cup was expected to bring a huge tourism surge to the United States, as the majority of the events are being hosted in the United States. However, reports indicate that international visitors will be staying away, with hotel bookings so far much lower than expected. This is likely due to concerns and fears over ICE raids and harsh anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration, not to mention higher airfares brought by jet fuel costs, due to the Iran War.

Mentioned channel: JJ's Au...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how a Reuters investigation of Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi rollout has found long wait times, bizarre routing, and close to zero robotaxi availability across Tesla’s three-city “Robotaxi” service. What look like convenience issue, could really be symptoms of a system that can’t scale safely. 

New channel: JJ's Authentic New Zealand channel https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

Related episodes:

Robotaxis $34T by 2030? Cathie Wood’s ARK Makes BOLD Call https://open.spotify.com/episode/4S6zvQjfCywyIjfqhxk0tZ

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the latest developments in Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s court battle over the future of OpenAI. Sam Altman and Elon Musk are currently facing-off in a high-stakes courtroom trial that could impact the future of OpenAI. 

New: JJ's Authentic New Zealand channel https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

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AI Bubble: Reckless Multi- $Trillion Data Center Buildout https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uVy4Q3Cg46JHbgGidH9NR

Elon Musk’s AI Power Grab is Co...

John Johnston (JJ) questions whether the expected multi-trillion dollar AI data center buildout will end in a bust, like the internet infrastructure buildout did in the early 2000s. Has the current AI data center buildout turned into a massive bubble that is financially unsustainable?

New: JJ's Authentic New Zealand channel https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

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Elon Musk’s AI Power Grab is Collapsing  https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ZCpwAwl9TIVXsXi6mSmVv

Sam Altman: Silicon Valley’s Greatest Grift...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that Elon Musk’s AI empire appears to be unraveling in real time. The current trial of Elon Musk vs Sam Altman is exposing, under oath, that Musk’s AI ambitions were never about AI safety, open access, or benefiting humanity. They have been about power and control all along.

New: JJ's Authentic New Zealand channel https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

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THE TESLA STOCK CRASH WILL BE EPIC https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RV8h4ioNb...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest says that the robotaxi market could hit a massive $34 Trillion by 2030, in just 4 years. JJ also surveys some critics of both ARK Invest and Elon Musk’s Tesla, in relation to robotaxis, including famed short seller Jim Chanos.

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THE TESLA STOCK CRASH WILL BE EPIC  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RV8h4ioNb1wksarKXeIdH

Tesla Q1 Earnings: Elon Sort of Admitted the FSD Truth https://open.spotify.com/episode/2krI3rv5yJPfP...

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Gen Z’s opinions of AI are reportedly hitting new lows. The more young people use AI, the more they dislike it, if recent surveys are to be believed. Gen Z is using AI of course, but many don’t feel great about it, and are even pushing back against its increasing use in workplaces and eduction institutions. 

New JJ’s Authentic NZ vid-  From Ruins to Revival: Exploring the New Christchurch (Ōtautahi) New Zealand https://youtu.be/Z5EXs6AACP4

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John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have a very different attitude towards free speech behind the scenes, that they do in public. JJ reacts to Taylor Lorenz, in relation to a text conversation between the two tech billionaires, in which they are more than willing to censor social media accounts. We also see how journalist Gil Duran has just been permanently banned from Elon’s X platform, for calling out Palantir’s recent manifesto.

As mentioned: JJ's Authentic New Zealand channel https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how some of Palantir’s employees are concerned about the big tech company’s “descent into fascism”. Leaked Slack messages, and interviews with current and former Palantir employees have revealed as picture of a military contractor company in internal turmoil.

New: JJ's Authentic New Zealand Channel  https://www.youtube.com/@jjsauthenticnz

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Peter Thiel’s Palantir Just Posted A Neo-Fascist Manifesto  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VJu72murPZSou1DC6MCCR

The Dark Truth About Palant...