John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that the California regulator says that Tesla’s “Robotaxis” are not yet operating as an autonomous vehicle service, and that Tesla just holds the same permit as a limousine company. Also, a court has dismissed a lawsuit from Elon Musk’s X, alleging brands illegally boycotted the social media platform with their advertising. The judge admonished X for leading a “fishing expedition” with the lawsuit.

Related episodes:

Elon Musk’s $25B ‘Desperate’ Terafab, $2.6B Court Loss & FSD Crisis https://open.spotify.com/episode/78OQ3eeaWYqgpbNRqII50T

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

Why ‘Elon-gelical’ Tesla Influencers Leaving The Cult https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UysuwWHDaqR5mvW4oxnQY

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) breaks down the news that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has just been handed a couple of devastating courtroom defeats, involving the company intentionally misleading users about the safety of it’s products, particularly in relation to social media addiction and the alleged harm it can do to young minds.

Related episodes:

Zuckerberg's REAL Goal of Meta’s AI ‘Superintelligence’ https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sVVI6nyrKWjp4BTwIkza4

The Shocking Truth About ChatGPT Psychosis https://open.spotify.com/episode/7CTywgSNebWgSbOHGMAp2z

Jury Finds Tesla Partly Liable ($243m) in Autopilot Fatality https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ScnbKkJutsMmBlfR0izzX

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) breaks down the news that a judge has ruled that Tesla CEO Elon Musk must face a lawsuit alleging power overreach, when Elon was a Trump administration adviser, heading up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In addition, a top Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official has quit amid rumblings of tension between the official and other top SEC officials over enforcement cases agains financial backers of Donald Trump, including Elon Musk.

Related episodes:

Elon Musk Moves For Twitter Fraud Mistrial Because He’s Too Hated https://open.spotify.com/episode/1CYU9vyPnqdJjl4ANDmwdu

Tesla’s Unsupervised Robotaxi: Was Elon Musk Wrong or Lying? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3A1uG9qf3Xa0N7DWZpngfS

Elon Musk’s $25B ‘Desperate’ Terafab, $2.6B Court Loss & FSD Crisis https://open.spotify.com/episode/78OQ3eeaWYqgpbNRqII50T

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) breaks down the view that the Iran War could derail the AI boom or AI bubble. Part of the view, from Tej Parikh of the Financial Times, is that the whole AI chip supply chain depends on energy and chemical imports from the Middle East. Also, JJ reacts to an interview from veteran investor Jeremy Grantham, who has been a student of financial bubbles over history, and thinks the current AI boom definitely involves a huge market bubble that will burst.

Related episodes:

The AI Bust is Coming: Is A Recession Inevitable? https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LWmJYdPLOTncpm4PtzODe

Prediction: US Defeat in Iran War Will Pop AI Bubble https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IdsB0PeURDU7nyDC8BMI3

AI Bubble: Is OpenAI Cooked? Walls Are Closing In https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a4VbuQlYl84R67A0TtH2I

Referenced videos:

Jeremy Grantham – Bubbles, Value Investing, and the Long Game at GMO | Capital Allocators with Ed Seides https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OBWCmoQq3Or5dmKybrbhL

AI bubble won’t survive the war in Iran much longer | Tej Parikh | The Tech Report https://youtu.be/tMiZqEbGMAM

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) breaks down the news that Tesla and SpaceX have announced a $25 billion chip factory, but it could be evidence of desperation from Elon Musk. A jury has also found that Elon Musk misled Twitter investors ahead of this $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. Also, NHTSA has escalated its investigation tin Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system’s inability to handle various reduced visibility conditions.

Related episodes:

Tesla FSD: The Deadly Trap of ‘Almost Perfect’ Tech https://open.spotify.com/episode/2glmwmG8UeTBHn6equ7LuX

Why ‘Elon-gelical’ Tesla Influencers Leaving The Cult https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UysuwWHDaqR5mvW4oxnQY

Tesla’s Unsupervised Robotaxi: Was Elon Musk Wrong or Lying? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3A1uG9qf3Xa0N7DWZpngfS

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) delves into the current AI boom, or is it an AI bubble? We look at how various people are saying so, from AI sector insiders to economists. Another important question addressed is: when the AI bubble bursts, will it cause wider economic damage, including a recession?

Related episodes:

AI Bubble: Is OpenAI Cooked? Walls Are Closing In https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a4VbuQlYl84R67A0TtH2I

Elon Admits xAI ‘Not Built Right’ After Tesla Just Invested https://open.spotify.com/episode/4KJHwhzuusXEB0xBuueUrf

Prediction: US Defeat in Iran War Will Pop AI Bubble https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IdsB0PeURDU7nyDC8BMI3

Referenced video:

AI Bubble: A recession is now inevitable | Professor Steve Keen | The Tech Report https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rO4AHqRHaCXtBB1ho7d4s

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) breaks down how a new article from a former Uber self-driving chief details how his Tesla crashed while on FSD (Supervised). He says accidents like this expose the danger of almost-perfect tech, especially when lives are at stake. Tech like this can lull you into a false sense of security.

Related episodes:

Tesla’s Unsupervised Robotaxi: Was Elon Musk Wrong or Lying? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3A1uG9qf3Xa0N7DWZpngfS

Is Tesla’s Unsupervised Robotaxi Plan Failing Miserably? https://open.spotify.com/episode/0M0yNlEKEX85018F7hGSTS

Why ‘Elon-gelical’ Tesla Influencers Leaving The Cult https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UysuwWHDaqR5mvW4oxnQY

Referenced article:

My Tesla Was Driving Itself Perfectly—Until It Crashed

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/self-driving-car-technology-tesla-crash/686054/

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) responds to a new article from Wired, The Tesla Influencers Leaving the ‘Cult’, which touches on many of the central topics of The John Johnston Lounge over time. Elon Musk and Tesla are supported by a cult-like online community of “elongelicals”, who promote the company, brand, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, while verbally attacking anyone who is even slightly critical.

Related episodes:

Tesla’s Unsupervised Robotaxi: Was Elon Musk Wrong or Lying? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3A1uG9qf3Xa0N7DWZpngfS

Elon Musk Moves For Twitter Fraud Mistrial Because He’s Too Hated https://open.spotify.com/episode/1CYU9vyPnqdJjl4ANDmwdu

Elon Musk’s ‘Intelligence’ Test Backfires: He Failed https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UsvgXx4tp2TbPvdxZzIpY

Referenced article:

The Tesla Influencers Leaving the ‘Cult’ https://www.wired.com/story/the-tesla-influencers-leaving-the-cult/