GOP Lawmakers In D.C. Poised To Vote On Waivers That Allow California To Set Own Emissions Standards

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US electric vehicle sales are expected to slide nearly 40% in Q4

This is weirdly good news for Tesla.

12/18/25 10:05AM

Last quarter, electric vehicles enjoyed record sales in the US as buyers rushed to get ahead of the end of the federal EV tax credit. Now comes the aftermath.

This quarter, electric vehicle sales are expected to plummet 37% in the US to 230,000, compared with 364,000 in Q4 2024, according to new estimates from Cox Automotive. In a strange turn of events, the decline might actually be good news for Tesla, the biggest EV maker in the US.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet currently expect Tesla deliveries in Q4 to decline 9.5% year over year to 449,000 — down substantially, but not by as much as EVs overall. That means Tesla is picking up EV market share. And as other traditional automakers dial back their EV programs in light of the EV drawdown, Tesla and other pure-play EV companies could continue to gain a bigger slice of a smaller pie.

The data also suggests good news for forthcoming Tesla competitor Slate Auto, which still expects to release an EV truck in the mid-$20,000s next year.

It appears the government’s $7,500 tax credit was integral for growing the EV market, because EVs just aren’t that affordable without the tax credit. There are currently only nine EV models that cost $40,000 or less, Cox reports, compared with 56 models with internal combustion engines under $40,000.

If Slate manages to retain its price target, consumers won’t need the credit to buy one.

Nate Becker12/19/25

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wins appeal for his 2018 pay package

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has won an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, restoring his 2018 pay package that was worth $56 billion at the time but has since ballooned in value, Reuters reports.

Two years ago, a lower court had struck down the compensation deal, calling it “unfathomable,” and Musk has been fighting for it since then.

Of course, Musk was recently awarded an even bigger pay package that could potentially award him $1 trillion over time. Tesla shares were recently up 0.5% in after-hours trading.

Musk wins appeal and restores 2018 Tesla pay deal worth $56 billion

Of course, Musk was recently awarded an even bigger pay package that could potentially award him $1 trillion over time. Tesla shares were recently up 0.5% in after-hours trading.

Jon Keegan12/19/25

OpenAI’s reported fundraising valuation keeps jumping by hundreds of billions of dollars

OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise as much as $100 billion, with a valuation of....~~$500 billion...$750 billion~~ $830 billion?

This is getting ridiculous. This week we have read multiple reports that OpenAI is in early discussions with potential investors about a significant fundraising round of up to $100 billion, to help cover its cloud computing costs.

On Tuesday, The Information reported a major $10 billion investment from Amazon in OpenAI, with a valuation higher than $500 billion
On Wednesday, The Information reported that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of $750 billion
Today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of as much as $830 billion

The spread from $500 billion to $830 billion is pretty wild, and we are wondering what it might be by next week.

Exclusive | OpenAI’s New Fundraising Round Could Value Startup at as Much as $830 Billion

On Tuesday, The Information reported a major $10 billion investment from Amazon in OpenAI, with a valuation higher than $500 billion
On Wednesday, The Information reported that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of $750 billion
Today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of as much as $830 billion

The spread from $500 billion to $830 billion is pretty wild, and we are wondering what it might be by next week.

Alexander C. Kaufman

Power play

12/18/25

Inside Trump Media’s head-scratching $6 billion merger to become a nuclear fusion company

“TAE is swinging for the fences for a grand slam,” one analyst told us, but the odds are against it.

Hand Holding an Atomic Rock Above a City

Jon Keegan12/18/25

Report: OpenAI in early talks for new fundraising round with $750 billion valuation

Just yesterday, we were reading about how Amazon was in talks to invest as much as $10 billion in OpenAI, with an eye-popping valuation of more than $500 billion. But those numbers might already be old.

A new report by The Information says that OpenAI is in early talks to raise as much as $100 billion, with a $750 billion valuation.

The company is reportedly estimating its fast-growing revenue will hit $100 billion by 2028, but it also expects to burn $115 billion in cash through 2029.

OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at Valuation Around $750 Billion

The company is reportedly estimating its fast-growing revenue will hit $100 billion by 2028, but it also expects to burn $115 billion in cash through 2029.

Rani Molla12/18/25

Trump Media surges after announcing it is merging with fusion energy company TAE Technologies

Perhaps a strong late candidate for weirdest merger of the year, Trump Media — owner of Truth Social — is combining with fusion energy company TAE Technologies in a $6 billion all-stock deal.

As part of the deal, Trump Media will provide up to $200 million of cash to TAE at signing, with an additional $100 million available once the initial filing of the Form-S4 is completed (form for registering new securities).

The deal will create “one of the world’s first publicly traded fusion companies,” per the press release revealing the combination, which also states:

“In 2026, the combined company plans to site and begin construction on the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant (50 MWe), subject to required approvals. Additional fusion power plants are planned and expected to be 350 – 500 MWe.”

The announcement sent Trump Media shares up as much as 30% in premarket trading on Thursday, though it’s since shed some of that bump, holding above a 20% gain as of 7:30 a.m. ET.