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Tesla CEO Elon Musk goes Round 2 with Joe Rogan’s podcast

(Credit: PowerfulJRE /YouTube)

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It’s official. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is coming back to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast for Round 2. The announcement was dropped by the prolific podcaster in his recent social media posts, one of which featured the Tesla CEO brandishing a katana while sporting a Plaid Mode shirt. Needless to say, the Tesla community is now waiting with bated breath. 

Rogan noted that Elon Musk’s Round 2 in the JRE podcast would be posted on Thursday at 9 a.m. PT. He did not provide more details about the upcoming episode, though considering the usual length of JRE episodes, it would not be surprising if Musk’s return involves several hours’ worth of insights from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. 

Elon Musk’s return to the Joe Rogan Experience will definitely be interesting, especially considering the aftermath of the CEO’s previous appearance on the podcast. Musk’s first guest appearance at Rogan’s show involved several noteworthy tidbits, including an incident where the CEO took a whiff of cannabis. The brief action brought controversy and a ton of criticism towards Musk, with NASA even conducting an “invasive” safety review of SpaceX due to the CEO’s marijuana use. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk joins The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast in a second showing

Musk’s 2018 conversation with Rogan was not all controversy. It also marked the first time that the CEO mentioned the idea of a Tesla Smart Home that featured an efficient HVAC system, something that Musk has revisited recently. It also featured an interaction that resulted in Rogan telling the CEO that he would be purchasing a Tesla for himself. He eventually did buy a Model S P100D, and Rogan has become a strong Tesla advocate ever since. 

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Musk’s upcoming Joe Rogan Experience episode will be particularly compelling since the CEO is at a much different place today compared to 2018. Back then, Tesla was still feeling the challenges of the Model 3 ramp in Fremont, CA. The episode also aired less than a month after Musk posted his now-infamous “funding secured” tweet. This is not the case today. Tesla’s finances are strong and the company has over $8 billion in cash, and the Model Y, the company’s latest vehicle, is already profitable

Tesla has also unveiled the Cybertruck, a rough and tough all-electric pickup that seems to be a perfect vehicle for the prolific podcast host. SpaceX is also hard at work in the development of Starship, the spacecraft that Musk’s private space firm will likely utilize for future Moon and Mars missions. Hopefully, Musk’s upcoming Joe Rogan Experience episode will feature numerous insights and updates from the CEO, and far less controversy. 

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Elon Musk’s xAI plants flag in Bellevue AI hotspot

The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.

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UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has leased a full floor at Lincoln Square South in downtown Bellevue, WA, as per city permit filings. 

The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.

Public records indicate that xAI leased roughly 24,800 square feet in Lincoln Square South. The location was previously occupied by video game company Epic Games. Lincoln Square South is part of the Bellevue Collection, which is owned by Kemper Development Co.

The lease was first referenced in January by commercial real estate firm Broderick Group, which noted that an unnamed tenant had secured the space, as stated in a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal. Later filings identified xAI as the occupant for the space.

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xAI has not publicly commented on the lease.

xAI hinted at plans to open an office in the Seattle area back in September, when the startup posted job openings with salaries ranging from $180,000 to $440,000. At the time, the company had narrowed its location search to cities on the Eastside but had not finalized a lease.

xAI’s Bellevue expansion comes as Musk continues consolidating his businesses. Last week, SpaceX acquired xAI in a deal that valued the artificial intelligence startup at $250 billion. SpaceX itself is now valued at roughly $1.25 trillion and is expected to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

Musk already has a significant presence in the region through SpaceX, which employs about 2,000 workers locally. That initiative, however, is focused largely on Starlink satellite development.

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Bellevue has increasingly become a center for artificial intelligence companies. OpenAI has expanded its local office footprint to nearly 300,000 square feet. Data infrastructure firms such as Crusoe and CoreWeave have also established offices downtown.

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SpaceX blocks unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian troops

Ukrainian officials confirmed that Starlink terminals believed to be used by Russian troops were disabled after coordination with SpaceX.

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Starlink-india-license-delay
(Credit: Starlink/X)

SpaceX has taken steps to block unauthorized use of its Starlink satellite internet network, a move Ukrainian officials stated is already disrupting Russian military communications. 

Russian units lose a key communications tool

As per a report from The Guardian, Ukrainian defense officials have confirmed that Starlink terminals believed to be used by Russian troops were recently disabled after coordination with SpaceX. The move reportedly affected frontline communications and drone operations, especially in areas where traditional military radios are unreliable or easily jammed.

For months, Russian units had relied on large numbers of illicitly obtained Starlink terminals to stay connected along the front. The satellite internet service allowed faster coordination and more precise drone use for Russian forces.

Several Russian military bloggers close to frontline units have acknowledged the impact of the Starlink shutdown, with some describing sudden connectivity problems in the satellite internet service.

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Russia lacks comparable replacement

Russia does not have a satellite internet system that matches Starlink’s speed, coverage, and ease of deployment. Alternatives such as fiber-optic lines, short-range wireless links, and digital radio systems take longer to install and work inadequately for fast-moving units.

Russia does operate limited satellite communications through state-linked providers, but those systems rely mainly on geostationary satellites, which are notably slower. Coverage is uneven, and data capacity is far lower than Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit network.

For now, Ukraine has stated that it has introduced a verification system that allows only approved Starlink terminals to connect. Devices believed to be linked to Russian forces are blocked from the network. That being said, Ukrainian officials have also claimed Russian units are trying to work around the restrictions by asking civilians to register Starlink terminals in their names. 

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Tesla Semi pricing revealed after company uncovers trim levels

This is a step up from the prices that were revealed back in 2017, but with inflation and other factors, it is no surprise Tesla could not come through on the numbers it planned to offer nine years ago. When the Semi was unveiled in November 2017, Tesla had three pricing levels:

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Semi pricing appears to have been revealed after the company started communicating with the entities interested in purchasing its all-electric truck. The pricing details come just days after Tesla revealed it planned to offer two trim levels and uncovered the specs of each.

After CEO Elon Musk said the Semi would enter volume production this year, Tesla revealed trim levels shortly thereafter. Offering a Standard Range and a Long Range trim will fit the needs of many companies that plan to use the truck for local and regional deliveries.

Tesla Semi lines up for $165M in California incentives ahead of mass production

It will also be a good competitor to the all-electric semi trucks already available from companies like Volvo.

With the release of specs, Tesla helped companies see the big picture in terms of what the Semi could do to benefit their business. However, pricing information was not available.

A new report from Electrek states that Tesla has been communicating with those interested companies and is pricing the Standard Range at $250,000 per unit, while the Long Range is priced at $290,000. These prices come before taxes and destination fees.

This is a step up from the prices that were revealed back in 2017, but with inflation and other factors, it is no surprise Tesla could not come through on the numbers it planned to offer nine years ago. When the Semi was unveiled in November 2017, Tesla had three pricing levels:

  • $150,000 for a 300-mile range version
  • $180,000 for a 500-mile range version
  • $200,000 for a limited “Founders Series” edition; full upfront payment required for priority production and limited to just 1,000 units

Tesla has not officially released any specific information regarding pricing on the Semi, but it is not surprising that it has not done so. The Semi is a vehicle that will be built for businesses, and pricing information is usually reserved for those who place reservations. This goes for most products of this nature.

The Semi will be built at a new, dedicated production facility in Sparks, Nevada, which Tesla broke ground on in 2024. The factory was nearly complete in late 2025, and executives confirmed that the first “online builds” were targeted for that same time.

Meaningful output is scheduled for this year, as Musk reiterated earlier this week that it would enter mass production this year. At full capacity, the factory will build 50,000 units annually.

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