Welcome to Axis ProRata, a podcast that takes just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech business and politics.

I'm Dan Premack. On today's show, Uber and Lyft are said to be racing toward IPOs and why rumors of an election hack could be as damaging as the real thing.

But first, Saudi Arabia. And honestly, I'm not quite sure here what to begin with.

It seems there's a new development every hour on the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi,

the Washington Post columnist and permanent U.S. resident who hasn't been seen since entering

the Saudi consulate in Turkey on October 2nd. Now, the Saudis still officially claimed that

Khashoggi probably walked out

on his own two feet, while the Turkish media, likely fed by local government sources, continue to

claim he was murdered and possibly dismembered by basically Saudi assassins sent to Istanbul

specifically for that purpose. But there was maybe a little bit of a shift yesterday.

As President Trump tweeted that

he spoke via phone with Saudi crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and that the prince, known as MBS,

quote, totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish consulate.

End quote. It's kind of weird to deny you had nothing to do with something you claim never

happened. I mean, I guess it technically holds, but I've never heard somebody say, hey, I didn't steal that thing that wasn't stolen.

Trump also made news for telling the Associated Press that MBS is, quote, innocent until proven

guilty, referencing the Brett Kavanaugh situation, which I am sure went over great with now Justice

Kavanaugh, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this after a visit with

MBS in Riyadh. Told me they were going to conduct a thorough, complete, transparent investigation.

They made a commitment to to hold anyone connected to any wrongdoing that may be found accountable

for that, whether they are a senior officer or official, they promised accountability.

Including a member of the royal family.

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