Podcast Summary: The Rundown — U.S. Senators Raise Alarm on Meta's Spam Ads, iPhone Air Sales Disappoint

Host: Zaid Admani
Date: November 24, 2025
Length: ~10 minutes
Podcast by: Public.com

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise yet insightful look at what’s moving the stock market, with particular focus on Meta’s mounting troubles over scam ads, Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales, Tesla’s AI chip ambitions, and shifts in the entertainment industry. Host Zaid Admani breaks down the biggest headlines for investors, delivering sharp analysis and a dose of humor throughout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Market Recap & Rate Cut Optimism

Timestamps: 00:20–02:15

• Market Movement: Last week was volatile, ending with the S&P 500 down 2% and NASDAQ down 2.7%. However, a Friday rally salvaged deeper losses.
• Fed Rate Cuts: Optimism sparked by New York Fed Governor John Williams hinting at a possible December rate cut. Markets now price in a 70% chance of a cut.
• AI Trade Weakening: AI stocks (Nvidia, Microsoft, Oracle, AMD) still struggled despite broader market hope, indicating investor anxiety about sky-high valuations. Notably, Oracle is down about 40% from its September peak.
• Google Surges: Google’s strong week (+8%, buoyed by its Gemini 3 announcement) has it inched ahead of Microsoft as the world’s third-largest company, now chasing a $4T market cap.

Notable Quote:

• "Honestly, it would have been way worse though if not for the surprise rally that we got on Friday." — Zaid, 00:23

2. Meta Under the Regulatory Microscope

Timestamps: 02:15–04:10

• Senate Concerns: Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal urge FTC and SEC to investigate Meta after a Reuters report claims nearly 10% of Meta’s revenue ($16B/year) comes from scam ads.
• Types of Scams: Ads include banned goods, crypto scams, fake government benefit schemes, etc.
• Meta’s Response: The company calls the report exaggerated, citing a 58% drop in scams in the last 18 months.
• Senators Skeptical: They criticize Meta for cutting safety staff while “pouring billions” into AI, allowing scam ads to proliferate. Meta’s public ad library still shows “obvious scams.”
• Investor Impact: Meta’s stock down ~20% since late October amid doubts about AI spending and now intensified by possible regulatory risk.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you do the math here, that works out to roughly $16 billion a year coming from ads promoting banned goods, crypto scams, fake government benefits and other fraudulent activity." — Zaid, 02:39
• "The senators aren't buying it…they argue that Meta has cut safety staff while pouring billions of dollars into AI projects, which has allowed scam ads to take over Facebook and Instagram." — Zaid, 03:13

3. Apple’s iPhone Air Flop

Timestamps: 04:10–05:35

• Disappointing Sales: Apple’s much-hyped “thinnest iPhone ever” is a commercial dud: production is being slashed by half only weeks post-launch.
• Why It Flopped: Consumers prioritize camera and battery over sleekness; iPhone Air has weak battery, poor speakers, single camera, and is only $100 cheaper than the Pro.
• Industry Insight: Mark Gurman (from a past show appearance) predicted this fail, surmising the Air was a precursor test for Apple’s rumored foldable phone expected next year.
• Risks & Future Bets: Foldable iPhone could be a hit if it reintegrates features missing from Air; overall, iPhone 17 base and Pro models remain strong sellers.

Notable Quote:

• "It only has one camera, it has terrible speakers and terrible battery life, and it's only $100 cheaper than the Pro model. So it's easy to see why this phone has been a commercial flop." — Zaid, 04:51

4. Tesla’s In-House AI Chip Ambitions

Timestamps: 05:35–06:50

• Musk’s Announcement: Elon Musk announces Tesla will launch a new AI chip every 12 months; teams are working on A15 and A16 chips (Tesla’s numbering now overlaps with Apple).
• What the Chips Do: The current A14 chip is used in Teslas and powers self-driving features; chips also intended for Optimus humanoid robot.
• Musk’s Boldness: Musk claims these AI chips could eventually surpass all other AI chips' production volume.
• Market Response: Tesla stock is up 2% on this news.

Notable Quote:

• "Elon was also deep in his bag. He said that Tesla's AI chips will eventually run the Optimus humanoid robot and that these AI chips could reach more volume production than all other AI chips combined." — Zaid, 06:24

5. Novo Nordisk’s Alzheimer’s Drug Disappoints

Timestamps: 06:50–07:35

• Trial Misses Goal: Highly anticipated trial for Alzheimer’s (repurposing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic/Wegovy) failed to slow cognitive decline as hoped.
• Impact: Novo shares plunged ~10%, hitting a 4-year low.

Notable Quote:

• "As a result, Novo shares are down around 10 this morning and just hit their lowest level in four years. So yeah, it's been a tough year for the Danish pharma giant and it just continues to get worse." — Zaid, 07:32

6. Movie Theaters’ Future: “Cooked?”

Timestamps: 07:35–09:10

• Wicked Crushes It: 'Wicked for Good' posts second-biggest box office weekend of the year ($150M domestic, $226M global)—only topped by Minecraft.
• Industry in Trouble: October was the worst month at the U.S. box office since 1998, apart from pandemic years.
• Blockbusters vs. Everything Else: Only IP-driven blockbusters pull crowds; other genres flop as audiences wait for streaming.
• Advice for Theaters: Shift towards broader entertainment megaplex experiences and consider hosting live sporting events to drive traffic.

Notable Quotes:

• “The only movies that people pay money to go see in theaters now are big blockbuster IP-driven franchises like Wicked or superhero movies or sequels.” — Zaid, 08:08
• “I've been saying this for years now. Movie theaters need to convert into like a full-on entertainment megaplex where there's more to do than just watch movies.” — Zaid, 08:51

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Now if you do go back and listen to that interview, just ignore the part where I said that the iPhone Air could be a surprise hit cuz I obviously don't know what I'm talking about.” — Zaid, 05:02 (self-deprecating humor)
• “If someone from AMC is watching this, free strategy advice right there. Make it happen.” — Zaid, 09:06

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20–02:15: Market recap, AI trade wanes, Google surge.
• 02:15–04:10: Meta scam ad investigation explained.
• 04:10–05:35: iPhone Air commercial flop and Apple’s product strategy.
• 05:35–06:50: Tesla’s AI chip strategy, impact on stock.
• 06:50–07:35: Novo Nordisk drug trial letdown.
• 07:35–09:10: Movie theaters’ struggle and evolving industry.

Tone and Style

The host’s analysis is brisk, accessible, and wry—balancing serious coverage with memorable one-liners and self-awareness. Jargon is minimal, language is punchy, and each segment is quick yet informative, making this episode ideal for a fast-moving investor or casual business-news listener.

For listeners:
If you want to stay up to date on the market and corporate drama, Zaid’s take is insightful, unfiltered, and keeps things moving. Tune in for more episodes, and if movie theaters end up hosting the Super Bowl—remember where you first heard the idea!