Morning Brew Daily: "The Oscars Head to YouTube & Tesla Faces Sales Freeze Over Autopilot Marketing"

Hosts: Neal Freyman & Toby Howell
Date: December 18, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Neal and Toby break down two seismic stories shaping the worlds of media and business:

• The Academy Awards’ groundbreaking move from ABC to YouTube, signaling the end of an era for broadcast television and a major play for streaming supremacy.
• Tesla’s turbulent week, as California regulators threaten a sales freeze over autopilot marketing—even while Tesla’s stock soars to record highs on robotaxi optimism.

The conversation is witty and sharp, and interspersed with insights on global oil politics, consumer spending trends, Jane Austen mania, and more—all in the breezy, engaging tone Morning Brew fans love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Oscars Move to YouTube: The Broadcast Era Ends

[02:21 – 07:41]

• A Major Hollywood Shakeup:

  • The Academy Awards are leaving broadcast TV for YouTube in 2029, ending ABC’s 50+ year run.
  • Despite YouTube offering a lower rights fee, its global reach prevailed.
  • "This is a watershed moment, to say the least, marking the end of the Oscars as a broadcast TV staple." (Toby, 02:21)

• Changing Viewing Habits:

  • YouTube accounts for 13% of all US TV watching, now edging out traditional TV among younger audiences and big-screen viewers.
  • Neal wonders about the new Oscars experience: Will viewers get sidetracked by suggested videos? “Maybe you’re just like, oh, that’s interesting Best Supporting Actor, but oh, Jamal Crawford Highlights from 2005. That looks interesting.” (Neal, 04:03)

• Will the Audience Come?

  • Toby points to YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket success, showing big events find their audience on new platforms.
  • Despite record-low 2021 Oscars viewership (10.4 million, down from a peak of 57 million), ad sales remain lucrative—ABC raked in ~$140M annually.

• A Symbolic Shift in Media:

  • Neal: "Yesterday might go down in history as a watershed moment for the media industry." (06:00)
  • With Warner Brothers also favoring Netflix for streaming, digital platforms now drive the industry, leaving Hollywood skeptical and some insiders unsettled.

• Potential for a “YouTube-ified” Oscars:

  • Neal jokes about MrBeast hosting and wonders if YouTube will amp up interactivity.
  • ABC’s restrictions on runtime, language, and content may disappear, possibly making the Oscars even more unpredictable.

• Quote:

  • Screenwriter Daniel Kunka, via X: "YouTube broadcasting the Oscars is like shaking hands with the guy who's trying to kill you, Neal." (Toby, 03:44)

2. Tesla’s Turbulent Week: Facing a California Sales Ban Amid Stock Surge

[10:54 – 14:30]

• California Threatens Tesla Sales Ban:

  • A judge rules Tesla must cease misleading autopilot marketing within 30 days or face a sales ban in its largest US market.
  • California alone accounted for 11% of Tesla's global EV sales in the first nine months of 2025.
  • "Here a judge is saying you gotta either, one, make all your cars actually able to self drive... or change the name or face a ban." (Toby, 12:27)

• EV Sales Slump—But Not as Bad as Others:

  • Tesla’s sales are down, but it’s outperforming rivals like Ford (which just took a $19.5B write-down).
  • Neal: "Tesla sales are declining, but its market share is actually increasing because it's not doing as bad as the other EV companies." (Neal, 13:18)

• Stock Surges on Robotaxi Hopes:

  • Investors are focused on Tesla’s pivot to autonomous driving and robotics—testing fully driverless robotaxis in Austin.
  • Investors prize the promise of 1M humanoid "Optimus" robots and self-driving cars over current sales woes.

• Contradictory Market Sentiment:

  • Why does the stock soar despite existential threats? “If any other car company was facing a ban in their biggest market by far, that would send the stock cratering.” (Toby, 12:41)
  • In 2025: Tesla stock saw a 36% plunge in Q1, then rebounded strongly, now up 23% YTD and outpacing much of the “Magnificent Seven.”

3. Venezuela Oil Sanctions & US Blockade

[07:41 – 10:54]

• The US tightens sanctions, blockading oil tankers to pressure Venezuela's economy—which now accounts for <1% of global exports.
• Venezuela responds with "shadow fleets," using spoofed locations and foreign flags to avoid US detection.
• While not shaking global oil prices, the move further destabilizes Venezuela’s fragile, oil-dependent economy.

4. Neil’s Numbers: Three Fascinating Stats

[16:47 – 23:19]

• Practical Holiday Gifting Trends ([16:47 – 19:24]):

  • Shoppers are choosing essentials (“needs over wants”) due to inflation—Cyber Monday saw a 1,700% spike in fridge sales, with vacuums, cookware, tools, and jackets all surging.
  • Discounters like TJ Maxx and Walmart thrive while high-end brands struggle.

• 2026: Year of the Cabbage ([19:24 – 21:08]):

  • Pinterest predicts cabbage will trend, with recipe searches exploding and US menus adding cabbage dishes.
  • This is fueled by “fiber-maxing,” chefs elevating cabbage, and general cost-consciousness.

• Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday ([21:08 – 23:19]):

  • Jane Austen remains hugely influential, inspiring films, themed products, and literary tourism—a massive industry far outpacing the modest $67,000 she earned in her lifetime.

5. Quick News Headlines

[23:19 – 26:44]

• President Trump’s Economy Address:

  • Trump blames Biden for economic woes, introduces a "$1,776 warrior dividend" for military members, and stirs controversy by preempting the Survivor finale.
  • His economic approval rating has sunk to 36%—a record low.

• Rome Subway Station/Museum Opens:

  • After 11 years, Rome unveils the Coliseum subway station, doubling as an archaeological museum packed with ancient artifacts—a practical solution in a city where “every dig turns up ruins.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Oscars Going to YouTube:

  • "Streaming has won." — Toby, quoting Daniel Kunka [03:44]
  • “YouTube is TV now...” — Neal [03:59]
  • “This is a watershed moment... the day when digital upstarts actually became kings of the industry.” — Neal [06:00]
  • “Are we gonna see MrBeast at the Oscars?” — Neal [07:10]

• On Tesla’s Perpetual Stock Surges:

  • “If any other car company was facing a ban in their biggest market by far, that would send the stock cratering.” — Toby [12:41]
  • “The Tesla trade is beyond EVs at this point.” — Neal [13:18]
  • “What a roller coaster for Tesla stock. If you’re a Tesla stockholder, you have a lot of whiplash.” — Neal [14:30]

• On Practical Gifts:

  • “I’m getting you a Phillips head screwdriver for Christmas.” — Neal [18:16]
  • “Golf balls are both something you want and need.” — Toby [19:16]

• On Jane Austen Fever:

  • “The Austin industrial complex is far bigger than anything I could have ever imagined.” — Toby [22:24]
  • “Jane Austen related tourism generates tens of millions of dollars each year.” — Neal [21:50]

• On Rome’s new Subway-Museum:

  • "It was probably an unavoidable idea. Whenever you are digging in Rome, you're going to encounter artifacts..." — Toby [26:20]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Oscars’ YouTube Move: 02:21 – 07:41
• Tesla’s California Sales Freeze & Stock Analysis: 10:54 – 14:30
• Venezuela/US Oil Sanctions: 07:41 – 10:54
• Neil's Numbers (Holiday Shopping, Cabbage, Jane Austen): 16:47 – 23:19
• Trump Economy Address, Rome Subway Museum: 23:19 – 26:44

Final Takeaway

This episode captures the accelerating convergence of traditional media and tech, the paradoxes driving Tesla’s wild ride, and how shifting economic currents shape everything from holiday shopping to the fate of live events. As always, Neal and Toby combine sharp analysis with playful banter, ensuring you’re informed, amused, and ready for the day.