John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the growing alliance between some tech billionaires and “theocracy bros”, referencing their desire for network states or freedom cities, and the anti-democratic influence of Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Curtis Yarvin and others on US government figures such as JD Vance and Trump himself.

Related episodes:

Peter Thiel Calls Pope ‘The Antichrist’: JD Vance’s Palantir Problem https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RnSiaoFFsXUU52TDZSeLx

Tim Dillon ROASTS Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession https://open.spotify.com/episode/68yc1auGogphxe4fqoNuFe

Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale’s Call For “Public Hangings” Sparks Outrage https://open.spotify.com/episode/1d7RUufbl1a9utngPU3XZK

Referenced:

Network State Meets The Seven Mountains Mandate: JD Vance, Charlie Kirk, The Rise of The Theo Bros | The Nerd Reich https://open.spotify.com/episode/53tOXWuhxnQbDLL6dbdN8l

Curtis Yarvin on Trump, 'no kings' and the case for a US monarchy https://youtu.be/_WjE5P2n_ck

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down Elon Musk’s top predictions for Tesla for 2025 that have not come true. We also look at other related Tesla and Elon news, including the new lower sales estimates for the final quarter of the year, and what Elon and some critics are currently saying about Tesla’s outlook.

Related episodes:

Tesla Optimus Hilariously Collapses! Is Elon Faking Autonomy? https://open.spotify.com/episode/61FgiacC7B8uOirfrOkBTK

STOP AI Acceleration? Bernie Sanders vs All-In Podcast Billionaire Besties https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zaDCpkL8mLXbShUaza1iV

2 Risks To Kill The AI Boom: ‘Big Short’ Legend Steve Eisman https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WSx1Lv0xqpr0nw9ZPXkBw

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser and nothing in this content is financial advice. This content is for general education and entertainment purposes only. Do your own analysis and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decision.

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to an interview between comedian Tony Hinchcliffe and the All-In Podcast “Besties” at a live event. Hinchcliffe get’s defensive about his involvement with the Rogansphere comedy scent in Austin, after all the recent criticism of it from other comedians and podcasters.

Related episodes:

Rogansphere Collapsing as Comedians Brutally Roast It https://open.spotify.com/episode/06pMyAqU09Be3EPKCfsP8y

Joe Rogan Can’t Rescue His Unfunny Comedy Bros https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vGknsOzTuiL1rFuKK1jpw

Joe Rogan & Andrew Schulz Melt Down in Raging Comedy War https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Ge61hPMF1UumIjNhJ6Nre

Referenced:

All-In x Kill Tony: A Hilarious Holiday Special | All-In Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2809z3doQooFlnoEm5H6Uk

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the two main risks famous “Big Short” investor Steve Eisman currently sees in the AI sector, which have implications for AI-related stocks, the overall stock market, and the wider economy.

Related episodes:

‘Big Short’ Michael Burry Slams Tesla Stock: "Ridiculously Overvalued" https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ifpJOikaer1ipPqyGQ0DJ

AI Bubble: Sam Altman Crashes Out, ‘Big Short’ Burry Bets on Bust https://open.spotify.com/episode/1O91IczRNH180RpGAetiZl

AI Bubble Watch: Elon Musk Ally Peter Thiel Cuts Tesla Stock, Dumps Nvidia https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ltDJvr3dmqc09V9Xw5E2n

Referenced:

Steve Eisman on AI: LLM improvements will begin to gradually slow but not selling AI stocks I own | CNBC

https://youtu.be/wSJMtTETOv8

Steve Eisman's 2025 Wrap Up: 4 Themes Defining the Market Today | The Weekly Wrap https://youtu.be/q47rNPyX3bc

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser and nothing in this content is financial advice. This content is for general education and entertainment purposes only. Do your own analysis and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decision.

Join John Johnston (JJ) for the Weekly Lounge, a compilation of the week's episodes of The John Johnston Lounge. Below are the individual episode titles and links, and recent Weekly Lounge links too, if you want to catch up on them:

Tesla’s Robotaxi Service in Austin Still Barely Exists https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wxUplIujYdEtz6BNi31Jo

Gilded Rage: Elon Musk & Tech Billionaires Radicalized (ft. Breaking Points) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6jDaBVrOVjT9JbjtU3v1q4

STOP AI Acceleration? Bernie Sanders vs All-In Podcast Billionaire Besties https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zaDCpkL8mLXbShUaza1iV

Recent Weekly Lounge episodes:

Weekly Lounge: Sam Harris & Kara Swisher on Musk, Joe Rogan’s Billionaire Worship & Tesla’s Autopilot Ban https://open.spotify.com/episode/0n4hSJSQZdGWr2IhnZoh9b

Weekly Lounge: Palantir Lonsdale Outrage, Tesla Optimus Fails & Musk’s Robotaxi Delusions https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cfFUx3uWEi1875fCqRDZf

Weekly Lounge: Rogan’s "AI Jesus” Rant, TSLA Overvalued (Burry), Tesla EU Sales Crash https://open.spotify.com/episode/7k6b9wnmgqmCMt6vbqq7AP

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to a Breaking Points interview between Krystal Ball and author Jacob Silverman, about his new book Gilded Rage. The book and interview explore Silicon Valley tech billionaires’ turn to far-right politics, and the quest for more power and money, and the techno-authoritarian future they want.

Related episodes:

Sam Harris & Kara Swisher on Elon Musk: Techno-Authoritarianism and "Maniac" Behavior https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jEONT8ErTK2NFc5ObLmhJ

Joe Rogan’s Embarrassing Tech Billionaire Worship Hits New Low https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ggR6cTbiPxQwkB6DC9mpN

Why All-In Podcast Tech Billionaires Don't Get the AI Backlash (ft. Tucker Carlson) https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vOcht7oeoJGu9nqevtT98

Referenced:

Silicon Valley's Dark Quest For Techno Fascism | Breaking Points https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DFU0Eg44oV51hsLgMI9rM

Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley | Jacob Silverman https://amzn.to/4jmoReH

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that Tesla’s Robotaxi project in Austin may be much smaller than Elon Musk claims. We also look at some of the other grand claims and predictions that Elon is currently making for SpaceX, and for the tech utopian future he envisions.

Related episodes:

Tesla Robotaxi Unsupervised: Safety Monitors Removed in Austin https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iyrnPUJQZZovdrK2VXqsp

Judge’s Tesla 60-Day Ultimatum: Rename Autopilot or Face Sales Ban https://open.spotify.com/episode/55hXViiGZulwC1QZf9PjXo

Elon Musk's Delusional Tesla Robotaxi Claims vs Waymo's Reality (20 mill Trips) https://open.spotify.com/episode/7CNNqzm1LBn76Ko289aDhP

Referenced:

The Optimus Disaster: 5 Years Late & Still Remote Controlled! | Thunderf00t https://youtu.be/NgfiuRZzBwU

Tesla’s Robotaxi project in Austin is much smaller than Musk claims | Electrek

https://electrek.co/2025/12/22/tesla-robotaxi-project-austin-much-smaller-than-musk-claims/

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser and nothing in this content is financial advice. This content is for general education and entertainment purposes only. Do your own analysis and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decision.

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to part of a recent episode of the All-In Podcast with the tech billionaire “Besties”, Chamath, Jason, David Sacks, and Friedberg, in relation to what politician Bernie Sanders is currently saying about AI sector development. Senator Sanders is proposing an AI data center moratorium, and is critical of the tech billionaires involved. The All-in Besties explain why they think this is just fearmongering, and think the tech sector needs to frame fast AI development in a more positive way.

Related episodes:

Why All-In Podcast Tech Billionaires Don't Get the AI Backlash (ft. Tucker Carlson) https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vOcht7oeoJGu9nqevtT98

Sam Harris & Kara Swisher on Elon Musk: Techno-Authoritarianism and "Maniac" Behavior https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jEONT8ErTK2NFc5ObLmhJ

Elon MUSK’S xAI Grok si POISONING Memphis! https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hAAzu6bIiBQpkSSmkZPhs

Referenced videos:

Bernie Sanders: Stop All AI, China's EUV Breakthrough, Inflation Down, Golden Age in 2026? | All-In Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/26BF1wvIwGuic4lYhWuBfh

It's Time for a Moratorium on Data Centers | Sen. Bernie Sanders https://youtu.be/f40SFNcTOXo