Podcast Summary: The Rundown – January 22, 2026

Hosted by Zaid Admani (Public.com)

Episode Overview

In this episode of "The Rundown," Zaid Admani breaks down a relief rally in the stock market after "Greenland tensions" subside, details Apple’s ambitious plans for an AI wearable device, recaps developments in autonomous vehicles with Waymo’s Miami launch, covers notable stock moves (Moderna, Ubisoft), and shares updates on Spotify’s newest AI features. The episode is packed with insights for investors and tech enthusiasts, all delivered in Admani’s witty and direct style.

1. Market Relief: The "Greenland Bounce"

[00:15 – 02:10]

• Background:
  • The S&P 500 and Nasdaq jumped 1.2% following easing geopolitical tensions over Greenland.
  • At Davos, President Trump clarified that there would be no military action or tariffs related to Greenland and announced a "framework for a future deal," details of which remain sparse.
• Market Reaction:
  • Markets surged on relief that the situation wouldn’t become "a full blown geopolitical mess."
• Notable Moment:
  • Trump at Davos on the Dow Jones, showing his focus on the index:

    "That stock market is going to be doubled. We're going to hit 50,000 and that stock market's going to double in a relatively short period of time."
    (President Trump, 01:34)

  • Admani quips:

    "I'm not surprised he cares about the Dow. Most boomers consider the Dow to be the stock market, but someone needs to tell him that it's a flawed index."

2. Supreme Court & Fed Independence

[02:10 – 03:30]

• Legal Uncertainties:
  • The Supreme Court has yet to rule on Trump’s tariffs issued under the Emergency Economic Powers Act—decision now expected in February.
  • Another ongoing case: Whether Trump can fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Early signs suggest the Court may side with Cook, supporting Fed independence.
• Upcoming Fed Meeting:
  • Next week’s meeting will be closely watched, especially as the Fed faces a DOJ criminal investigation, which Jerome Powell has called "politically motivated."
  • No rate cut is expected, but the hearings are likely to be "memorable."

3. Apple’s AI Wearable Pin (and Broader AI Efforts)

[03:30 – 05:40]

• Device Details:
  • Apple is developing an AirTag-sized AI-powered wearable pin with multiple cameras, a microphone, speaker, and wireless charging.
  • Its goal: To be an always-on AI assistant, observing surroundings.
• Host’s Perspective:
  • Zaid expresses skepticism:

    "Personally, I'm not a big fan of these AI wearable devices, and so far these devices haven't been a hit."

  • References Humane as a notable failed attempt (by former Apple employees).
  • Apple’s urgency stems from OpenAI’s rumored hardware push.
• AI Tech Partnerships:
  • Apple expects major upgrades to Siri, leveraging Google’s Gemini models.
  • Plans: Siri chatbot (like ChatGPT) built into iPhone, iPad, Macs. AI smart glasses in 2028, potentially even an AI robot in the further future.
  • Admani’s candid take:

    "As a tech nerd myself, I've learned not to get too excited about this stuff anymore... everything that Apple has done with AI has been a pretty big disappointment."

  • Apple's AI lag is blamed for its fall behind Nvidia and Google in market cap.
• Apple Earnings:
  • Earnings call on January 29—expect more details on AI strategy.

4. Waymo Launches Robo-Taxis in Miami

[05:40 – 07:00]

• Expansion Highlights:
  • Waymo (Google) begins offering driverless taxi rides to paying customers in Miami—sixth city in their U.S. rollout.
  • Initial fleet: <100 vehicles, starting in neighborhoods like Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables.
  • Aspiring expansion: Miami International Airport (testing already underway), 10 major U.S. cities by end of 2026 (Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Orlando, Houston, more).
  • Current presence: Austin, LA, Atlanta, Phoenix, SF Bay Area.
• Notable Quote:

  • "You know, I'll be honest, I was someone that was skeptical about robotaxis 2–3 years ago. But after seeing the progress that Waymo has made recently, I've become a believer."
    (Zaid Admani, 06:56)

5. Stocks in Focus

Moderna

[07:00 – 07:50]

• News:
  • Shares spike after strong five-year phase 2b results for Moderna’s cancer vaccine (in collaboration with Merck’s Keytruda).
  • Stock up 16% Wednesday; additional 5% pre-market.
• Significance:
  • Moderna, post-COVID-boom, searching for sustainable revenue—this could be their "second act."
• Summary:

  • "Investors are starting to believe that Moderna may finally have a have a second act, one that actually makes money outside of a pandemic."

Ubisoft

[07:50 – 08:40]

• News:
  • Shares plummet following company restructuring: Six game projects canceled, multiple studios shut; operational loss forecasted for 2026.
• Context:
  • Company struggles: Delayed projects, weak launches, rising costs, 90% stock decline over 5 years; -30% today.
  • Ubisoft is betting on big open-world franchises (like Assassin’s Creed) to recover.
• Host’s Reaction:

  • "I guess we're going to see a lot more Assassin's Creed come out of Ubisoft. Now I haven't played Assassin's Creed in like five years though, so let me know in the comments if Assassin's Creed is still any good."

6. Spotify’s New AI-Driven Features

[08:40 – 09:40]

• Prompted Playlists:
  • Spotify Premium users (US & Canada) can generate playlists from plain-English prompts, with personalization based on listening history and trends.
  • Users can specify rules ("avoid certain artists," "refresh daily") for even more tailored experiences.
• Speculation:
  • Zaid predicts Spotify could soon let users create AI-generated music, noting:

    "I was pretty anti AI music but I've heard some banger AI songs recently and I'm starting to change my mind."

• Stock Note:
  • Spotify shares have tumbled around 30% recently; feature could be key to regaining momentum.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump and the Dow:

  “That stock market is going to be doubled. We're going to hit 50,000 and that stock market's going to double in a relatively short period of time.” – President Trump, [01:34]

• On Apple’s AI Stumbles:

  “Everything that Apple has done with AI has been a pretty big disappointment.” – Zaid Admani, [05:25]

• On Robo-Taxis:

  “I've become a believer and I can't wait to try them out when they launch in Houston.” – Zaid Admani, [06:56]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:15 – Greenland tension eases; market surges
• 01:34 – Trump’s claim about the Dow
• 02:10 – Supreme Court tariff case & Lisa Cook hearing
• 03:30 – Apple’s AI Pin, wearable AI, and future products
• 05:40 – Waymo launches Robo-Taxi service in Miami
• 07:00 – Moderna’s cancer vaccine trial results spike stock
• 07:50 – Ubisoft’s restructuring woes
• 08:40 – Spotify’s AI Prompted Playlists and AI music outlook

Episode Tone and Style

Zaid Admani delivers fast-paced, insightful commentary, blending investor analysis with a dose of skepticism and humor, particularly regarding tech hype cycles and generational financial perspectives. He encourages listener engagement and keeps the content jargon-light but data-driven.

For more daily updates, follow The Rundown via Public.com.