The Rundown – Weight Loss Drugmakers Hit with Antitrust Lawsuit, Trump’s Plan Brings Down Energy Stocks

Host: Zaid Admani
Date: January 16, 2026
Podcast: The Rundown by Public.com

Overview

On this episode of "The Rundown," host Zaid Admani delivers a fast-paced, under-10-minute update on the day’s most notable stock market news and business headlines. The key stories:

• Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk face an antitrust lawsuit over their weight loss drug market dominance
• Energy stocks take a hit after a new energy market plan from President Trump
• Markets react to Supreme Court anxieties, trading volatility, and bank layoffs
  Zaid also shares his recent mention in the Wall Street Journal, previews content on the Federal Reserve, and highlights Netflix’s big bets on content and podcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Market Recap & Volatility

(00:25 – 01:45)

• Broad market rebound: S&P 500 up 0.3%, Nasdaq up 0.2% after two down days.
• Both indices were higher (+1%) intraday but "gave back some gains at the close."
• Focus remains on an upcoming Supreme Court decision on the legality of Trump’s tariffs.
  • If ruled illegal, the government could be forced to refund collected tariffs, possibly sparking “more market volatility.”
• Investors are also awaiting upcoming big tech earnings: "The tech sector has been a weak spot so far this year."

Quote:
"So, yeah, it’s a very interesting moment in the markets right now. We’ll see how things play out over the next few weeks as investors wait for the Supreme Court ruling and as more companies start reporting earnings."
– Zaid Admani [01:25]

2. Fed Chair Jerome Powell in the Spotlight

(01:46 – 03:00)

• Zaid previews a deep-dive on the Federal Reserve, coming up in a weekend episode.
• Shares a personal milestone: "I was actually quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal this week about Fed Chair Jerome Powell."
• When asked by Hannah Aaron Lang about Powell’s meme status, Zaid’s take:
  "I said it’s because he has aura."
• This line was picked up both in print and on the WSJ Instagram page.

Quote:
"She asked me why I thought that Powell gets memes so much on the Internet and I said it’s because he has aura. Now I said a bunch of other stuff too, but they ran with the aura quote, which I think is just great.”
– Zaid Admani [02:25]

3. Antitrust Lawsuit: Eli Lilly & Novo Nordisk vs. Compounding Pharmacies

(03:01 – 05:05)

• Major headline: Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk sued by Strive Specialties (a compounding pharmacy).
  • Allegation: The drug giants are unlawfully blocking access to lower-cost alternatives to their GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
• Background: Compounding pharmacies can make copycats during drug shortages; with production ramped up, that’s supposed to stop—except for limited “patient-specific” compounded versions (the gray area).
• Eli Lilly previously sued Strive for "falsely marketing its compound drugs as personalized."
  Now, Strive is hitting back with an antitrust lawsuit.
• Patent dynamics:
  • Novo Nordisk’s semi-glutide patents expiring abroad, but U.S. patents hold for several more years.
  • Eli Lilly’s drugs have about a decade of patent runway left.
• Stakes: With the patent clock ticking, both companies are aggressively protecting market share and expect more legal challenges.

Quote:
"Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk want to capitalize on their patent for as long as they have it and shut down these copycat compounding pharmacies from taking market share."
– Zaid Admani [04:40]

4. Netflix’s Expanding Content & Podcast Strategy

(05:06 – 06:18)

• Netflix, amid an $80B Warner Bros takeover, finalized a $7B multi-year film deal with Sony Pictures for post-theatrical movie streaming exclusivity (covers hits like Spider-man and the upcoming 'Legend of Zelda' movie).
• Netflix is also launching video podcasts, partnering with the Ringer and Barstool Sports, and signing Pete Davidson for a Netflix-exclusive video podcast.
  • Zaid is skeptical of what makes a Netflix podcast distinct from a talk show.
  • He plans to explore this with guest Ashley Carman (Bloomberg, covers podcasting) in an upcoming Sunday interview.

Quote:
"I don’t really understand what makes this a podcast and not like a Netflix original talk show or something... So, you know what? I’m going to bring this up to our guest this week, Ashley Carmen."
– Zaid Admani [06:08]

5. Stocks Making Notable Moves

(06:19 – 08:12)

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS)

• Shares jump 7% after being approved to compete for U.S. Missile Defense Agency Shield program contracts.
• Known for building satellites that aim to create the first space-based cellular network—potential military uses now drive new momentum.

Energy Stocks: Vistra (VST) and Constellation Energy (CEG)

• President Trump’s proposed overhaul of the wholesale electricity market would lock big tech companies into 15-year fixed-rate power contracts through PJM Interconnection.
  • Intended to stabilize consumer electricity bills amid rising AI data center demands.
  • These long-term contracts would cap upside for current market winners.
  • As a result:
    • Vistra down 6%
    • Constellation Energy down 10%

Quote:
"Locking in long term contracts at a set price caps their upside. So as a result, shares of V Star are down 6% and Constellation Energy is down 10%."
– Zaid Admani [08:01]

6. Wall Street Banks: Record Trading, But Not a Great Time to Be a Banker

(08:13 – 09:30)

• US banks pulled in a record $134B in trading revenue in 2025, driven by "increased volatility" and major events such as the Trump tariff drama and constant policy whiplash.
• Additional boost from M&A, IPO activity, and financing AI-related tech expansion.
• However, over 10,600 jobs were cut in 2025, the biggest reduction since 2016.
  • Key reason: AI replacing junior analysts—a trend Zaid expects will continue.

Quote:
"These big banks are replacing junior analysts with AI tools and I think that trend might continue. So interesting times ahead for big Wall Street banks."
– Zaid Admani [09:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I said it’s because he [Powell] has aura." ([02:25])
• "This is where all the fighting is happening. Right now Strive feels like they should be allowed to make these patient specific GLP-1s." ([03:50])
• “I still prefer watching Bill Simmons on YouTube. But I can see why Netflix is leaning into video podcasts. They want subscribers like me to spend more time on the platform and have podcasts running in the background.” ([06:00])
• "Wall street banks are partying like it's 2000, but it's not all great for everyone working on Wall Street." ([09:00])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:25 – 01:45: Market recap and Supreme Court tariff anxieties
• 01:46 – 03:00: Jerome Powell, Fed deep dive preview, and WSJ shoutout
• 03:01 – 05:05: Eli Lilly/Novo Nordisk lawsuit explained
• 05:06 – 06:18: Netflix’s content/podcast expansion
• 06:19 – 08:12: AST Space Mobile & energy stock impacts from Trump’s plan
• 08:13 – 09:30: Wall Street banks’ trading revenue surge and analyst layoffs

Conclusion & Next Steps

Zaid wraps with a reminder that U.S. stock markets are closed Monday for MLK Day, but special deep-dive and interview episodes are on the way.
He encourages listeners to rate, comment, and check out the referenced Wall Street Journal article (link in show notes).

Useful for those who missed it: This episode covered crucial market updates with an investor’s lens—explaining legal, political, and technological changes driving stock moves and business trends, as well as sharing industry insights from a plugged-in market commentator.