Tesla Murder? How a Hacker at Starbucks Uncovered the Crash Data Tesla Claimed It Didn’t Have

Tesla Murder? How a Hacker at Starbucks Uncovered the Crash Data Tesla Claimed It Didn’t Have

In this episode, we unpack the stunning $243 million jury verdict against Tesla tied to a 2019 fatal crash in Key Largo. The case took a dramatic turn when a hacker—known online as @greentheonly—recovered key crash data inside a Miami Starbucks that Tesla claimed it couldn't find for years. That file became the centerpiece of a courtroom battle over Autopilot’s role in the death of Naibel Benavides Leon and the catastrophic injuries suffered by Dillon Angulo.

We explore how Tesla’s own systems automatically uploaded and then unlinked the data after the crash, and why the company said it didn’t intentionally suppress the evidence. You’ll hear how internal testimony revealed that someone at Tesla may have deleted the file from its servers and how a persistent legal team and one technical expert uncovered it anyway.

This episode also looks at the broader legal and financial fallout: pending lawsuits, investor backlash, and new questions about Tesla’s approach to data transparency and Autopilot safety. Plus, we break down what the annotated crash video revealed about the vehicle’s final moments—and why this case could shift how future Autopilot lawsuits are fought in court.

Topics Covered:

  • The 2019 crash and its aftermath

  • Tesla’s handling of Autopilot crash data

  • The hacker’s role in recovering the missing file

  • Legal strategy and courtroom evidence

  • Jury verdict and damages

  • Federal investigations into Autopilot

  • Investor lawsuits tied to Tesla’s autonomy claims

  • The road ahead for Tesla’s legal challenges

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How Elon's Politics Torched a Million Tesla Sales

How Elon's Politics Torched a Million Tesla Sales

A Yale study says Musk’s partisan turn cost Tesla 1.0–1.26M U.S. sales. I break down the math, the market whiplash, and who scooped up those buyers.⚡⚡⁠⁠https://wilwaldon.com⁠⁠⚡⚡**⚡Support STAGE ZERO on Patreon - ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/stagezeronews⚡**⁠⁠💬 Discord - ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/kqW2RZVHcc⁠⁠▶️ Subscribe to the Stage Zero News Youtube - ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@stagezeronews?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast - ⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/elonmuskpodcast⁠⁠⭐ SUPERCAST - ⁠⁠https://clubelon.supercast.com⁠⁠✔️ FOLLOW STAGE ZERO PODCASTS ON SOCIALStage Zero News on X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/stagezeronews⁠⁠❓ABOUT The Elon Musk PodcastThe Elon Musk Podcast takes an in-depth look into the world of the visionary entrepreneur. From SpaceX's mission to colonize Mars, to the revolutionary underground transportation network of the Boring Company, to the cutting-edge technology of Neuralink, and the game-changing innovations of Tesla, we cover it all. Stay up to date with the latest news, events and highlights from the companies led by Elon Musk.0️⃣ ABOUT STAGE ZEROSTAGE ZERO is the YouTube home for all things Elon Musk and the STAGE ZERO Podcast Network. STAGE ZERO features over 10 years of SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter news as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like The Elon Musk Podcast.Affiliate Links - #adSHURE SM7B Mic - ⁠⁠https://geni.us/shure-sm7b-microphone⁠⁠

30 Loka 7min

Tesla’s $1 Trillion Question

Tesla’s $1 Trillion Question

Tesla’s board just asked shareholders to approve a performance award that could pay Elon Musk up to $1 trillion. I break down the letter from Robyn Denholm, the proxy pushback from ISS and Glass Lewis, the Delaware overhang, and the dilution math from opposition filings, then map the vote timeline and what each outcome means for control and strategy.

28 Loka 9min

SpaceX Moves $402M in Bitcoin

SpaceX Moves $402M in Bitcoin

SpaceX Moves $402M in Bitcoin⚡⚡⁠⁠https://wilwaldon.com⁠⁠⚡⚡**⚡Support STAGE ZERO on Patreon - ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/stagezeronews⚡**⁠⁠💬 Discord - ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/kqW2RZVHcc⁠⁠▶️ Subscribe to the Stage Zero News Youtube - ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@stagezeronews?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast - ⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/elonmuskpodcast⁠⁠⭐ SUPERCAST - ⁠⁠https://clubelon.supercast.com⁠⁠✔️ FOLLOW STAGE ZERO PODCASTS ON SOCIALStage Zero News on X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/stagezeronews⁠⁠❓ABOUT The Elon Musk PodcastThe Elon Musk Podcast takes an in-depth look into the world of the visionary entrepreneur. From SpaceX's mission to colonize Mars, to the revolutionary underground transportation network of the Boring Company, to the cutting-edge technology of Neuralink, and the game-changing innovations of Tesla, we cover it all. Stay up to date with the latest news, events and highlights from the companies led by Elon Musk.0️⃣ ABOUT STAGE ZEROSTAGE ZERO is the YouTube home for all things Elon Musk and the STAGE ZERO Podcast Network. STAGE ZERO features over 10 years of SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter news as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like The Elon Musk Podcast.Affiliate Links - #adSHURE SM7B Mic - ⁠⁠https://geni.us/shure-sm7b-microphone⁠⁠

27 Loka 8min

Elon Musk's Tesla 2025 q3 investor relations

Elon Musk's Tesla 2025 q3 investor relations

Elon Musk's Tesla 2025 q3 investor relations call⚡⚡⁠⁠https://wilwaldon.com⁠⁠⚡⚡**⚡Support STAGE ZERO on Patreon - ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/stagezeronews⚡**⁠⁠💬 Discord - ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/kqW2RZVHcc⁠⁠▶️ Subscribe to the Stage Zero News Youtube - ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@stagezeronews?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast - ⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/elonmuskpodcast⁠⁠⭐ SUPERCAST - ⁠⁠https://clubelon.supercast.com⁠⁠✔️ FOLLOW STAGE ZERO PODCASTS ON SOCIALStage Zero News on X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/stagezeronews⁠⁠❓ABOUT The Elon Musk PodcastThe Elon Musk Podcast takes an in-depth look into the world of the visionary entrepreneur. From SpaceX's mission to colonize Mars, to the revolutionary underground transportation network of the Boring Company, to the cutting-edge technology of Neuralink, and the game-changing innovations of Tesla, we cover it all. Stay up to date with the latest news, events and highlights from the companies led by Elon Musk.0️⃣ ABOUT STAGE ZEROSTAGE ZERO is the YouTube home for all things Elon Musk and the STAGE ZERO Podcast Network. STAGE ZERO features over 10 years of SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter news as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like The Elon Musk Podcast.Affiliate Links - #adSHURE SM7B Mic - ⁠⁠https://geni.us/shure-sm7b-microphone⁠⁠

24 Loka 1h 6min

Tesla Recalls 13000 Cars for HUGE battery issue

Tesla Recalls 13000 Cars for HUGE battery issue

Tesla announced a recall of about 13,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a battery‑pack contactor defect that can cause sudden power loss while driving. We walk through which models and build dates are affected, how the defect works, who the suppliers are, and what it means for owners and the EV market.

23 Loka 10min

NASA reopens the Moon race as Musk lashes out

NASA reopens the Moon race as Musk lashes out

NASA’s acting chief Sean Duffy says SpaceX is behind on Artemis III and opens the lunar lander to competition. Elon Musk fires back on X with “Sean Dummy,” “2 digit IQ,” and “trying to kill NASA!” I break down what NASA actually changed, how Blue Origin factors in, and what technical gates Starship must clear to keep a 2027 landing alive. Sources: Axios, Politico, Reuters, and LA Times.

22 Loka 6min

How Starship Flight 12 Can Save NASA

How Starship Flight 12 Can Save NASA

Starship ended 2025 with a successful Flight 11 and a clean handoff to Block 3. I break down what Flight 12 needs to prove, why orbital refueling is the real blocker, how Kennedy comes into play, and what must happen in 2026 to keep Artemis III on a 2027 track.

21 Loka 6min

Russia Wants Musk to Dig “Putin-Trump Tunnel” to Alaska

Russia Wants Musk to Dig “Putin-Trump Tunnel” to Alaska

The Kremlin proposed an $8B Bering Strait tunnel linking Russia to the U.S., asking Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build it and suggesting it be named after Putin and Trump.https://wilwaldon.com

20 Loka 13min