Oncast News · News Tonight

Musk drops $366M on midterms

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

Moderna shares fell more than 17% on Oct. 22, 2026, after full data from its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (mRNA-4157/V940) combined with Merck's Keytruda showed a 42% reduction in risk of recurrence or death versus Keytruda alone in high-risk melanoma. That was lower than the 49% reduction seen in earlier Phase 2b data, which had driven the stock up roughly fourfold since mid-August.

Investors had priced in the stronger earlier efficacy; the leaked full data, while still positive, disappointed expectations, triggering a sharp sell-off.

Moderna shares fell sharply after full data on its cancer vaccine with Merck leaked; CNBC reported the stock plunged despite positive results. The post's figures — down over 17%, 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence or death vs Keytruda alone — are consistent with that report. This is an insult/opinion, not a factual claim.

CNBC reported that Elon Musk has poured $366 million into midterm campaigns, with high stakes for SpaceX and Tesla, especially Senate control.

CNBC reported Moderna shares plunged after cancer vaccine data leaked, despite positive results.

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

Moderna shares fell sharply after full data on its cancer vaccine with Merck leaked; CNBC reported the stock plunged despite positive results. The post's figures — down over 17%, 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence or death vs Keytruda alone — are consistent with that report. This is an insult/opinion, not a factual claim.

$MRNA down over 17% today after leaked data showed 42% cut in melanoma recurrence or death vs Keytruda alone. That's great but not as great as 49% which was shown in an earlier trial and the stock has quadrupled since mid August. Are you buying the dip or staying away? https://t.

Original post · Brandon Schaar (@StonkcastShow)

cnbc.com NAMES: $MRNA = Moderna stock ticker; Keytruda = Merck's immunotherapy drug. POST 2113400929638887872: NOCLAIM none NAMES: none

VERIFIED TRUE

CNBC reported that Elon Musk has poured $366 million into midterm campaigns, with high stakes for SpaceX and Tesla, especially Senate control.

SpaceX and Tesla have high election stakes as Elon Musk pours $366 million into campaigns - Musk’s biggest political bet is on the Senate, where control could shape future investigations, federal spending and regulations affecting SpaceX and Tesla.

Original post · CNBC

cnbc.com NAMES: SpaceX = private space company; Tesla = electric vehicle company; Elon Musk = CEO of both.

VERIFIED TRUE

CNBC reported Moderna shares plunged after cancer vaccine data leaked, despite positive results.

Moderna shares plunge after cancer vaccine data leaks — despite positive results - Moderna released full data on its closely watched cancer vaccine developed with Merck.

Original post · CNBC

cnbc.com NAMES: Moderna = biotech company; Merck = pharmaceutical company.

Sources

What the hosts said

BElon Musk is pouring three hundred sixty-six million dollars into these midterms.
BThat's not campaign spending, that's a line item on a defense contract.
BCNBC is reporting the stakes for him are enormous. We're talking about who controls the Senate. The Senate oversees federal investigations, regulations... the oversight that goes straight at SpaceX and Tesla.
BHe runs a rocket company that depends on federal launch contracts. And a car company that depends on federal tax credits for EV buyers. So of course he's buying influence.
BThat's the cynical take. The realistic take is: any billionaire CEO in his position would be at the table. The question is whether that level of spending shows our system is broken.
BThree hundred sixty-six million doesn't show that? What else do you call it?
BI call it the rules we have. Don't hate the player, Bella — fix the rules.
BOh, come on. A single person writing a check bigger than most congressional campaigns raises in an entire cycle? That's not a player, that's a kingmaker.
BAnd if he loses, it's the most expensive losing bet in political history. That's the part I can't get past.
BBecause it's a business investment for him. He wins the Senate, investigations into his companies get friendlier, regulation gets softer. That's not betting, that's buying insurance.
BYou're making it sound like a bribe, and it's not. It's disclosed. It's legal. It's him putting his money where his mouth is.
BDisclosed and legal doesn't make it good for democracy, Brian. You know that. A hundred years of campaign finance reform was built to stop exactly this.
BAnd the Supreme Court tore half of it down. Citizens United. And we both know neither party is rushing to fix it.
BFine. Both parties take the money. But this guy is writing the single biggest check. That lands on him.
BMeanwhile, a father and son in Los Angeles have been charged with what the Justice Department calls the largest substance abuse treatment fraud scheme ever prosecuted. Courthouse News is reporting it.
BThat's the kind of case that makes you sick. These are people who were supposed to help. Instead, prosecutors allege they built the biggest fraud machine in the space.
BThe DOJ doesn't throw around 'largest ever' lightly. This is a serious, serious indictment.
BWe'll be watching that one. And in Benin City in Nigeria, there's an unconfirmed report that a union chairman was attacked and arrested during protests over electricity.
BThat's the BEDC union chairman. The claim is coming from an X account, no credible confirmation yet. We'll update if that changes.

Cite this story as https://oncast.fm/story/1792709238546-news-segment-musk-drops-366m-on-midterms. Fact-check by Oncast. Cite the original sources above too.

Listen live on Oncast