John Johnston (JJ) breaks down how Joe Rogan is continuing down the road of worshiping the tech billionaires he has on his podcast, such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Mark Zuckerberg and others. It’s a far cry from the “everyman” and “anti-establishment” image he cultivated in the past. JJ reacts to Emma Vigeland and Sam Seder from The Majority Report, who discuss Rogan, and then comedian Tim Dillon talking with Joe Rogan about the Tech Billionaires wanting to start their own sovereign states, or so-called “network states”.

Related episodes:

Sam Harris: Joe Rogan’s Podcast is a “Bug Light” for Maniac Guests https://open.spotify.com/episode/0y5EBw33i8DPf8fPQnMl8E

Joe Rogan’s “Jesus as AI” Rant: Has He Lost It? (American Alchemy Reaction) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wLVQjgnEKEsSSYdLvyu31

Joe Rogan GLAZES Peter Thiel & Palantir, Theo Von COOKS https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kNKj2d1vOXqlTKosqBhTY

Referenced video:

Rogan's Billionaire Bootlicking Hits Pathetic New Low | The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder https://youtu.be/A_FICdmz_TQ

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the news that a judge in California has ruled that Tesla’s marketing of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” systems was deceptive, and that Tesla’s license to sell and produce cars in the state should be revoked for 30 days. The California DMV has said it will give Tesla 60 days to comply and fix its marketing before going through with the suspension. This news comes at the same that Tesla is beginning to remove in-car safety monitors from its robotaxis in Austin, Texas. Is Tesla’s driving software now safe enough to operate fully autonomous robotaxis?

Related episodes:

Tesla Faces New NHTSA Probe of ‘Almost Sentient’ FSD https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LX5ly0J5ORNp8yGg0ERnV

Elon’s Tesla Self-Driving Lies Are Catching Up To Him: Forbes https://open.spotify.com/episode/4f1avoIZag16DWbEospxfS

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

Referenced video:

The Insanity of Tesla CRASH DATA https://youtu.be/zT-sfRF6Hvk

John Johnston (JJ) reacts to a controversial segment of the All-In Podcast featuring guest Tucker Carlson. Hosts Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and David Sacks attempt to diagnose the rising anti-AI sentiment among the general public. As Silicon Valley insiders, the "Besties”, along with Carlson, discuss the cultural backlash against Artificial Intelligence, why the public feels threatened, and what the tech industry should do about it.

JJ breaks down their arguments to answer the key question: Do these tech billionaires actually understand the fear surrounding AI, or are they completely out of touch with the reality facing everyday people in society?

Related episodes:

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

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Triggers ‘CODE RED’ as Google’s Gemini Gains | Prof G Pod Reaction https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UjHc7btIkoiQJ77Ln5MT2

Elon Musk’s WILDEST Tesla Optimus Robot Claims https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QbgkOLIopzzgyHV89DnhL

Referenced video:

Tucker Carlson: Rise of Nick Fuentes, Paramount vs Netflix, Anti-AI Sentiment, Hottest Takes | All-In Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zSsqEyfjkRZlp5GCDmXkB

Is Silicon Valley becoming a threat to democracy? John Johnston (JJ) reacts to a recent conversation between Sam Harris and Kara Swisher, discussing the controversial political pivot of tech billionaires like Elon Musk. Also discussed in this episode:

The concept of "Techno-Authoritarianism" and why it matters.

Sam Harris's critique of the fa right-wing movement in Big Tech.

What the alliance between tech oligarchs and politics means for the future of freedom.

Related episodes:

Sam Harris: Joe Rogan’s Podcast is a “Bug Light” for Maniac Guests https://open.spotify.com/episode/0y5EBw33i8DPf8fPQnMl8E

Elon Musk’s Friend EXPOSES His Lies & Betrayal https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ykqwuELZi7FwJtLVVf85E

Referenced video:

Sam Harris on Silicon Valley’s Slide into Techno-Authoritarianism | On With Kara Swisher https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IQCtjoPJWNrYn6U9T82Ol

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the Tesla news that the company has begun removing the in-car safety monitors from its robotaxis in Austin, during a new testing phase. Elon Musk recently said this would happen by the end of the year. Questions remain; are the robotaxis being partially or fully tele-operated, and will Tesla begin to share safety data publicly, to show that Tesla robotaxis are safe enough for public use?

Related episodes:

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

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

Tesla Europe Sales Crash Deepens & Bricked Batteries Nightmare https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hLXZlUklCzGGwf19rrcdw

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 5 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:

Elon Musk’s €120M MELTDOWN: Wants EU “Abolished” https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bAlLvop4uEXymfBGrrY3n

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

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

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

Gamified: Big Tech’s Bet on Gambling & Scams https://open.spotify.com/episode/313XUFxnNRpiWJhAFbasCg

Recent Weekly Lounge:

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

Weekly Lounge: Rogan vs Theo Von, Thiel Dumps NVDA, Musk vs Bezos in Space https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JnYCpEijlloMimu0zPvoh

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 and expands on a recent voidzilla video on the topic “Big tech is betting on gambling and scams”. We look at some of the companies and venture capital, and people behind the funding and investments of financial gamification in this “real money gaming” category, including a16z and Y Combinator.

Related episodes:

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Triggers ‘CODE RED’ as Gemini Gains https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UjHc7btIkoiQJ77Ln5MT2

Elon Musk’s WILDEST Tesla Optimus Robot Claims https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QbgkOLIopzzgyHV89DnhL

Elon Claims Money Will Be Irrelevant. Is He Delusional? https://open.spotify.com/episode/22dU3JaBm6mtIVA4CzqoF6

John Johnston (JJ) breaks down the Tesla and Waymo news that Elon Musk has claimed that robotaxi rival Waymo “never had a chance” against Tesla, despite Tesla not yet having deployed even one fully autonomous, paid robotaxi ride without an in-car safety monitor, while Waymo is about to pass the twenty million milestone. Elon is now saying the Tesla will deploy fully driverless robotaxis in Austin in about three weeks, without safety monitors.

Related episodes:

Tesla's Rough Month: Sales Drops, Robotaxi Cuts, Model Y Defects https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KieNeplYRuu6mAlIMRS6V

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

Elon Musk’s WILDEST Tesla Optimus Robot Claims https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QbgkOLIopzzgyHV89DnhL

Referenced articles:

Elon Musk delusionally claims Waymo ‘never had a chance’ against Tesla https://electrek.co/2025/12/10/elon-musk-waymo-never-had-chance-against-tesla/

Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims driverless Robotaxis coming to Austin in 3 weeks https://electrek.co/2025/12/09/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-claims-driverless-robotaxis-coming-to-austin-in-3-weeks/

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.