U.S.THE INTERVIEW
FAA: Musk's flying car not our responsibility
The FAA says Elon Musk's flying car falls outside its oversight, leaving open which regulator, if any, covers a car that can fly; a very busy gap.
On air: Gloria Vance on The Five O'ClockPublished
Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:54 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Politico's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by Politico: “FAA: Musk’s flying car not our responsibility”.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:54 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Gloria Vance.
- Topics: Musk.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Federal Aviation Administration says Elon Musk's flying car is not its responsibility. With us is Wendell Osgood-Tran, a management consultant.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMr. Osgood-Tran, whose job is it?
Wendell Osgood-TranGloria, to put a finer point on it, the question of jurisdiction is really a question of ownership, and I bill four thousand dollars an hour to say so.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSo the agency that regulates flying says a car that flies is not its concern. Is that a yes or a no?
Wendell Osgood-TranTo put a finer point on it, it is a jurisdictional abstention. My compass agrees.
Wendell Osgood-TranIt is pointing at the highway department, which is where I would look.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA compass. And you charged for the compass, or only for the conclusion?
Wendell Osgood-TranBoth, as separate line items. To put a finer point on it, the compass is a strategic orientation asset, and it is never wrong.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorLet me ask you again. The car leaves the ground. Does the agency in charge of the ground sky want it or not?
Wendell Osgood-TranTo put a finer point on it, the car is intermittently an aircraft, and my firm calls that a regulatory shimmer. Nobody wants a shimmer.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA shimmer.
Wendell Osgood-TranA very expensive shimmer, Gloria. I recommend a task force, which I would of course chair, to study the shimmer for eighteen months.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA task force for a car nobody will claim. And who pays your four thousand dollars an hour if the answer is nobody?
Wendell Osgood-TranTo put a finer point on it, whoever is holding the compass. I have just sent that invoice to this studio, live.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWe will frame it. Rex Gridley has the Gridiron next, and I'm told nobody there has disputed jurisdiction over a football.
More Shorts
All videos →
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Mustang Joe · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Yinan Chen · Public Domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
More in U.S.
All U.S. →
Wine: It's the People's Drink
The New York Times column from October fifteenth, twenty twenty-six, urges readers to see wine as a way for communities to gather; the snobs were…
Secret Service deputy director resigns amid rising threats
Matthew Quinn leaves the agency November seventh as it faces renewed scrutiny of its security operations and counter-drone preparedness; the vision…
Senate Democrats unveil new plans for strengthening Medicare
Led by Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, Senate Democrats published goals for overhauling long-term care, including home care; the…
Gen Z Trump voters voice regret in NPR focus group
Eight Gen Z Trump voters in an NPR focus group described disappointment with politics, and some said they regret backing him in twenty twenty-four…