The Rundown – Palantir Partners with Boeing, Alibaba Soars on AI Announcements

Host: Zaid Admani
Date: September 24, 2025
Podcast: The Rundown by Public.com
Episode Focus: Daily stock market highlights, with deep dives on Palantir & Boeing's AI partnership, Alibaba’s AI surge, and other major movers.

Main Theme

This episode offers a concise, high-energy snapshot of the day’s crucial stock market happenings, emphasizing how AI-led innovation is driving corporate news and investor sentiment. Host Zaid Admani navigates listeners through the ramifications of notable deals (especially Palantir/Boeing, Alibaba/Nvidia), market corrections spurred by Federal Reserve commentary, and surprising shifts in consumer products.

Key Discussion Points

1. Jerome Powell Remarks and Market Reaction

[00:37]

• S&P 500 (-0.6%) and NASDAQ (-1%) slid after Fed Chair Jerome Powell commented that "stock prices seem fairly highly valued.”
• Zaid contextualizes:
  • The S&P’s forward P/E ratio at 23 is at dot-com bubble highs, fueling overvaluation concerns.
  • Additional uncertainty stems from a looming possible government shutdown and the upcoming Q3 earnings season with high profit expectations for big tech.
• Quote:

  “As soon as those words came out of his mouth, the stock market took a dive… There’s been a lot of chatter now that the market is potentially overvalued.”
  — Zaid Admani [01:10]

2. Palantir & Boeing Announce Major AI Partnership

[02:17]

• Boeing’s Defense, Space, and Security division will implement Palantir’s Foundry platform across production lines (fighter jets, helicopters, satellites).
• Palantir is doubling down on defense tech and classified government projects, aligning with its established reputation for government AI solutions.
• Key stats:
  • Since 2008, Palantir has landed over $3 billion in federal contracts; last quarter, revenue hit $1B (up 48% YoY).
  • Recent deals: $30M with ICE, up to $10B with US Army, $1B with UK Ministry of Defense.
• Investors are "super hyped" — stock up 140% YTD.
• Quote:

  “So yeah, Palantir seems to be firing on all cylinders right now... Palantir investors are super hyped. And the stock is up more than 140% this year.”
  — Zaid Admani [04:25]

3. Micron Riding the AI Boom

[05:02]

• Micron’s memory chips (especially for cloud/AI) saw demand surge:
  • Q revenue up 46%, unit selling cloud memory tripled YoY to $4.5B.
  • Company guided higher ($12.5B vs analyst estimate $11.9B).
• Heavy investment in production (almost $14B this year; future capex to rise), with focus on DRAM for AI.
• Stock muted post-earnings due to already strong +100% move YTD.
• CEO highlight:

  “…as the only US Based memory manufacturer, Micron is in a unique position to ride this AI boom.”
  — Zaid Admani [06:01]

4. Alibaba Surges on AI Breakthroughs and Nvidia Partnership

[06:33]

• Alibaba shares rally (+9%) after debuting new AI model “Quinn 3 Max,” claiming to outperform peers.
• Plans to boost AI spending beyond already-committed $53B over three years.
• New Nvidia partnership targets “physical AI” (robotics, self-driving, hardware).
• Alibaba stock now at 4-year highs.
• Quote:

  “And if that wasn’t enough, Alibaba is teaming up with Nvidia on physical AI- think like robotics, self-driving cars... Investors love the sound of that.”
  — Zaid Admani [07:12]

5. Lithium Americas (LAC) Skyrockets on US Strategic Interest

[08:02]

• LAC jumps 70% after reports Trump admin may seek a 10% stake, linked to a $2.3B federal loan for the Thacker Pass project.
• Would join other US strategic investments (Intel, MP Materials).
• Quote:

  “If that does happen, LAC would join Intel and MP Materials as part of the U.S. government’s growing portfolio of strategic investments.”
  — Zaid Admani [08:19]

6. Oracle Stumbles with Costly AI Data Center Buildout

[08:34]

• Oracle’s massive Stargate AI project (with OpenAI, SoftBank) and five new data centers raise costs.
• Texas flagship data center costs $1B/year to power; all-in spending pushes cash flow negative for first time since 1992.
• Analysts don’t expect positive cash flow until 2029; Oracle down 2%.
• Planned layoffs of 500 workers to trim costs.
• Quote (tongue-in-cheek):

  “Assuming each worker they’re laying off was making $1 billion a year.”
  — Zaid Admani [09:18]

7. Consumer Curveball: Michelob Ultra Takes Beer Crown

[09:34]

• Michelob Ultra dethrones Modelo as US top-selling beer.
• Modelo had surpassed Bud Light just two years ago (which reigned for 20 years).
• Challenges for Modelo: tariffs, reduced Hispanic consumer demand.
• Parent company Anheuser Busch also owns Bud Light; their comeback pushes stock up 16% YTD.
• Quote:

  “So the title for best selling beer is kind of like the NBA right now. There seems to be a new champion every year.”
  — Zaid Admani [09:55]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The S&P 500’s forward price to earnings ratio is around 23, which is the highest it’s been since like the late 90s during the dot com bubble. And we all know how that ended, right?”
  — Zaid Admani [01:32]

• “Now, Micron stock didn’t move much following the earnings results, probably because the stock is already up nearly 100% year to date. You know, investors have been front running this AI wave for months now.”
  — Zaid Admani [05:55]

• “Michelob Ultra is now the best selling beer in America, overtaking Modelo for the crown. What’s crazy is that it was only two years ago when Modelo overtook Bud Light…”
  — Zaid Admani [09:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Market Sell-Off & Powell Comments: 00:37 – 02:17
• Palantir/Boeing AI Partnership: 02:17 – 05:02
• Micron & AI Memory Demand: 05:02 – 06:33
• Alibaba/Nvidia AI Partnership & Stock Pop: 06:33 – 08:02
• Lithium Americas & US Gov Stake: 08:02 – 08:34
• Oracle’s Stargate AI Project Woes: 08:34 – 09:34
• Michelob Ultra Beer Shift: 09:34 – 10:15

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a light, conversational, and at times wry tone, mixing rapid-fire financial news with relatable metaphors (NBA, front-running). Zaid’s delivery is effortful to keep listeners both informed and entertained.

For Listeners

This episode offers immediate, digestible analysis of the day’s most impactful business stories — ideal for investors tracking AI, defense, chip stocks, Chinese tech, or sector oddities like the shifting beer market.