Oct 9, 2026 · 28 min
Starbucks weighs Chipotle as Hollywood challenges Big Tech
Could a Chipotle-Starbucks Merger Actually Work? & Hollywood Turns on Big Tech
The episode connects a risky restaurant deal with broader questions about tech’s public standing, economic measurement, immigration policy, and growth claims.
- 1Starbucks’ possible Chipotle acquisition faces financing hurdles but could create strategic restaurant-industry synergies.
- 2Hollywood’s criticism of Big Tech may be losing force as public concern and industry backlash appear muted.
- 3The hosts challenge inflated ARR math, question earnings-based college comparisons, and examine tighter skilled-worker immigration rules.
Don't miss
The hosts unpack the bizarre Chicago case in which billionaire-funded food attracts pigeons and contributes to a rat infestation, with fines apparently treated as manageable.
The brief
Starbucks has reportedly explored acquiring Chipotle, but the hosts focus on the hard part: financing a major deal in an industry where mergers often disappoint.
The Social Reckoning revisits Facebook-era outrage, yet the hosts find a less alarmed public, a quieter tech industry response, and a film whose impact may be limited.
College earnings data becomes a test of what higher education is worth, as comparisons involving Duke and Carnegie Mellon raise questions about samples and measurement.
The episode then targets H-1B and PERM restrictions, dubious ARR annualization, and Spotify’s shift from Joe Rogan exclusivity toward broader audience monetization.
The strangest closing story concerns a Chicago billionaire funding food near his home, attracting pigeons and worsening a rat problem while apparently accepting fines.