Today’s episode spans breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, high-stakes maneuvering in the media industry, advances in autonomous driving, and urgent environmental concerns. Alex and Morgan begin with a regional snapshot, covering market activity across the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Bitcoin, along with warnings tied to a powerful atmospheric river expected to bring flooding rains and heavy snow to California.

The discussion opens with MiniMax’s release of M2.1, an upgraded open-source AI model designed to rival far more expensive competitors. The new model delivers strong gains in programming performance and office automation while operating at a fraction of prevailing costs. The hosts explore how low-cost, open models like M2.1 are intensifying pressure on proprietary AI providers and reshaping expectations around en ...