The Rundown – January 6, 2026 Episode: Nvidia Pushes Into Robotaxis, Meta Can’t Make Enough Glasses Host: Zaid Admani | Produced by Public.com

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rundown delivers a swift but comprehensive update on the latest developments driving the stock market. Host Zaid Admani focuses on the fallout from events in Venezuela, the major CES announcements from Nvidia and Meta, recent moves in the natural gas and real estate markets, and the effects of urban migration trends on condo prices. The episode distills industry headlines and features notably candid market commentary—all packaged in under 10 minutes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Market Recap: Record Highs and Venezuela Fallout

• [00:15] The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are up ~0.6%, hovering near record highs.
• [00:22] The Dow broke a record with a >1% jump, but as Zaid jokes:
  “But nobody cares about the Dow.”
• [00:28] Energy stocks surged on hopes that regime change in Venezuela will boost oil output:
  • Chevron: +5% (currently the only major US oil firm operating in Venezuela)
  • Valero: +9%
  • Marathon Oil: +6%
• [00:44] Rationale: More Venezuelan oil may lead to US refineries processing more heavy crude.
• [00:52] Defense stocks rose too (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin +3%) due to geopolitical tensions.
• [01:08] Zaid notes the overall market optimism persists into 2026:
  “Even a dramatic headline like the capture of a dictator isn’t enough to change the story.”
• [01:23] Warning: Potential market risk if labor market slowdown continues. Unemployment is creeping up, with new data due in the December jobs report on Friday.
• [01:38] Earnings season begins next week.

2. CES Headlines: Nvidia’s AI and Robotaxi Ambitions

New AI Chip – Vera Rubin

• [01:55] Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s CES keynote showcased the new Vera Rubin AI chip.
• [02:05]
  • Vera Rubin chips: More powerful & energy efficient than Blackwell series
  • “Companies can train massive AI models using about one quarter the number of chips compared to the Blackwell chips.”
    • Inference (delivering results): “...at roughly one tenth the cost of the Blackwell chips.”
• [02:30] Notably, Nvidia will ship Vera Rubin chips in the latter half of 2026—sooner than anticipated.
  • “Jensen reminded everyone in Vegas that Nvidia is still the king of AI, despite all the hype around AMD and Google’s TPUs.”

Robotaxi Push: Full Stack Solutions for Autonomous Vehicles

• [02:48] Nvidia is providing a “full stack” solution for Level 4 self-driving:
  • Chips, AI software, simulation tools for training
  • Existing partnership: Mercedes-Benz will ship a car this year using Nvidia’s tech to drive itself in cities like San Francisco.
• [03:14] Zaid highlights this as a potential long-term revenue stream:
  • “Right now the automotive and robotics sector makes up just 1% of total revenue. But Jensen Huang wants Nvidia’s chips and software to power millions of self-driving cars.”
• [03:28] Takeaway: Keep an eye on Nvidia amid all the Tesla and Waymo headlines.
  • “They’re quietly making moves.”

3. Meta’s Display Glasses: Demand Outpaces Supply

• [03:42] At CES, Meta announced a delay in global rollout of Ray-Ban display glasses—not due to lack of demand, but overwhelming US demand.
• [03:52] Planned launches for UK, France, Italy, and Canada are on hold. US prioritized.
• [04:05] Product details:
  • $800 smart glasses launched Sept. 2025
  • Camera & holographic display; controlled via a neural wristband that reads electrical brain signals
• [04:27] Quirk: You have to book an appointment to buy—availability is limited.
  • “When these glasses first came out, I tried to get an appointment in my area but couldn’t find anything for weeks...and then I kind of forgot about the whole thing.” (Zaid, 04:35)
• [04:48] Zuckerberg wants these to be the mass market hardware hit:
  • “Something closer to the iPhone than just like a niche gadget, kind of like their VR headsets are.”
• [05:00] Challenges: Hardware is hard—supply chain lags even as demand grows.
• [05:16] New features teased at CES:
  • Write/send messages via WhatsApp or Messenger by tracing fingertips on any surface
  • Teleprompter feature on the display (“...could be useful for anyone looking to give a speech, make a presentation, or...impress a girl on a first date. Hop on the Meta glasses and turn on the teleprompter. No one will know.” — Zaid, 05:32)
• [05:42] Zaid asks listeners to share display glasses experiences.
  • He owns a simpler pair without a display, remains skeptical about long-term demand.

4. Stock Movers: Zeta Global and Natural Gas

Zeta Global’s OpenAI Partnership

• [06:05] Zeta Global’s stock up 8% on OpenAI partnership news.
  • Zeta: Cloud marketing platform tying together Instagram ads, TikTok, Shopify, and email campaigns
  • New platform: Marketers can “talk to their data” and get campaign insights from conversational AI

Natural Gas Prices Tumble

• [06:42] Natural gas prices down 15% over five days, another 2% down today.
  • High production + warm winter depresses demand.
  • Zaid quips: “The high in Houston today is going to be 82 degrees. I know I’m in Texas, but it usually doesn’t get this hot. I’ve barely had a chance to wear my Nvidia hoodie this season.” [07:10]
• [07:20] Side-note: Wonders if traders use prediction markets to hedge with weather bets.

5. Condo Market Correction

• [07:37] Condo prices see largest annual decline since 2012.
  • More people are moving to the suburbs; hybrid work lessens the allure of city-living
  • Biggest reason: Ownership costs—“HOA fees are getting out of control and insurance and maintenance costs continue to rise.” [07:52]
• [08:00] 25% of condos are now worth less than their last sale price.
  • “There’s a big correction happening in the condo market.”
• [08:14] Related: New prediction market category lets people bet on real estate price trends.
  • “I mean, this is such a 2026 headline because homeownership continues to be unaffordable, but at least now you can gamble on it.” (Zaid, 08:26)

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On Nvidia’s AI dominance:
  “Jensen reminded everyone in Vegas that Nvidia is still the king of AI, despite all the hype around AMD and Google’s TPUs.” [02:35]
• On Nvidia’s robotaxi strategy:
  “Nvidia is quietly making moves...they want their chips and software to power millions of self-driving cars.” [03:14]
• On Meta’s smart glasses bottleneck:
  “Meta can’t make enough of these glasses...Not because of lack of demand internationally, but because the demand in the US is so strong.” [03:52]
• On cold Houston winters:
  “The high in Houston today is going to be 82 degrees. I know I’m in Texas, but it usually doesn’t get this hot. I’ve barely had a chance to wear my Nvidia hoodie this season.” [07:10]
• On new real estate markets:
  “At least now you can gamble on [homeownership]” [08:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Market & Venezuela Recap – 00:15—01:38
• Nvidia CES Announcements – 01:55—03:28
• Meta Display Glasses Update – 03:42—05:42
• Zeta Global & Natural Gas – 06:05—07:20
• Condo Market Trends & Prediction Markets – 07:37—08:28

Tone & Style

The podcast retains Zaid Admani’s fast-paced, humorous, and candid delivery—balancing technical insight with relatable asides and sharp market commentary. Zaid often relies on analogies, pop culture references, and audience engagement (inviting listeners to comment back, share experiences, and participate in polls).

Takeaways

• Nvidia remains the clear leader in AI hardware, with rapid moves into automotive and robotics.
• Meta’s hardware ambitions see surging US demand but production challenges—hardware is a different beast.
• Macroeconomic optimism continues but is shadowed by risks in labor market data.
• Condos are falling out of favor amid rising costs and suburban migration—a correction is well underway.
• AI partnerships and climate trends (like Houston’s bizarre warmth) are shaping markets in 2026, with new tools like prediction markets emerging for both finance and real estate.

This episode is a must-listen for investors keeping an eye on tech, energy, and real estate disruptions.