Kara and Scott talk about Netflix's biggest quarter yet. The company doubled its projections for how many new subscribers it would acquire. They discuss Facebook's single biggest company investment into Jio – an Indian service provider. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos is back at the wheel at Amazon. Kara and Scott talk about Jeff Bezos' most recent letter to shareholders, as Amazon get an even bigger hold on US commerce. A listener asks if face-masks will become high fashion and if that can save more reta...
Apr 24, 2020•56 min•Ep. 101
Kara and Scott talk about Marc Andreessen's manifesto to Silicon Valley. They also discuss the PPP and the big companies that applied for those loans. They dig into Facebook and Google's digital ad market hit in the past weeks, but Scott doubts it slows the companies' growth. Kara asks Scott if he thinks media companies should be part of the next round of Federal bailouts? In Friend of Pivot, we hear from New York Magazine Senior Writer Rebecca Traister about women's leadership in COVID-19, Femi...
Apr 21, 2020•54 min•Ep. 100
Kara and Scott evaluate President Trump's recent business decisions from defunding the W.H.O., to his "council to reopen America", and the public/private partnership. They also talk about the possible end of Vision Fund after SoftBank tells investors they may have lost $16.7 billion this year. A court in France is ordering Amazon to halt operations until they can address worker safety concerns. In Listener Mail, we get a question about whether robots will start replacing essential workers. In pr...
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 99
Kara and Scott talk about tech giants Google and Apple teaming up to track COVID-19 cases on iPhones and Androids. They also discuss the hurdles ride share drivers are experiencing as they attempt to apply for unemployment insurance; outdated Labor Department guidelines and a lack of data is slowing that process. As Congress thinks about a fourth bail out package, the US Postal Service is asking for funds. Kara and Scott talk about whether USPS should be privatized. Friend of Pivot, economist, f...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 98
Kara and Scott talk about Jack Dorsey's $1 billion donation to fight COVID-19, as well as other tech billionaire's contributions to fight the virus. They think that those contributions can't fill the void of a well funded government through tax dollars. They give an update on Zoom's privacy issues as the company takes on Alex Stamos, Facebook's former security chief. In Listener Mail, Kara and Scott get a question about the massive video game industry as Amazon starts producing its own video gam...
Apr 10, 2020•56 min•Ep. 97
Kara and Scott talk about privacy issues at Zoom as we move our doctor's appointments, work, therapy, social lives and school onto the platform. They discuss how tech regulations may slow under the cloud cover of COVID-19, the future of CCPA and Silicon Valley lobbyists. In Friend of Pivot, we hear from the former Director of the National Economic Council under President's Clinton and Obama, Gene Sperling. He talks about the 6.6 million people who filed for unemployment in March, the current rec...
Apr 07, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 96
Kara and Scott talk about Sean Hannity defending his work at Fox News (after Kara called him out for spreading misinformation in the early days of COVID-19). They discuss how the big tech companies are dealing with fact-checking politicians for public health information accuracy. Meanwhile, Softbank is scrapping its buy out of Adam Neumann's shares at WeWork. Also, Kara and Scott talk about several labor strikes that took place this week -- will COVID-19 be a reckoning for corporate America? In ...
Apr 03, 2020•55 min•Ep. 95
Kara and Scott talk about Internet slow downs and how companies are coping as the country starts living their work and personal lives online. They discuss reports that the government is using mobile advertiser geo-location data on your phone to track social distancing and the spread of COVID-19. Friend of Pivot, renowned therapist and podcast host Esther Perel joins Kara and Scott to talk about dealing with grief in a moment of instability, how to be a better partner and colleague during the loc...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 94
Kara and Scott talk about Zoom's immense stock value in this moment and what the company should do with new power. They discuss what is to come with streaming platforms and media outlets as the 2020 Olympics joins the slew of live sports postponements due to COVID-19. Also, will the WFH movement be the final nail in the weWork coffin? In Listener Mail, Kara and Scott talk about guardrails and bailouts in the recently passed stimulus package. In predictions, Scott expects to see new stock lows in...
Mar 27, 2020•59 min•Ep. 93
Kara and Scott talk about the stimulus package in limbo and the Defense Production Act. They break down how tech companies like Lyft, Airbnb and Tesla are pivoting in the COVID-19 crisis. They think Airbnb probably won’t go public this year. In Friend of Pivot, we talk to New York City Speaker Corey Johnson about how New York City is the US epicenter for COVID-19 cases. He discusses the possibility of rent freezes, the new “PAUSE” order and how small businesses are faring in the upheaval. In win...
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 92
Kara and Scott talk about stimulus packages and possible emergency checks to deal with the US economic crisis. We hear a bite from Andrew Yang about why implementing universal basic income in this situation is the next phase of capitalism. As Israel joins Iran and China in using data location to stop the spread of COVID-19, Kara and Scott talk about whether this is a move the United States should attempt. In listener mail, we get a question about whether this "work-from-home-moment" will become ...
Mar 20, 2020•55 min•Ep. 91
Kara and Scott talk about the announced public/private partnerships between major companies and the federal government. They discuss the Trump administration’s misinformation about a Google website that will be developed to triage Covid-19 cases. They touch on changes at Facebook’s board, Kenneth Chenault is the latest to depart. In Friends of Pivot, we hear from a person living under quarantine in Milan, Italy. Then Kara’s brother Dr. Jeff Swisher comes on to talk about how he and hospitals are...
Mar 17, 2020•56 min•Ep. 90
Kara and Scott talk about COVID-19, what tech could do to help, and what we need to see from leadership. We hear from Ron Klain, who was the "Ebola czar" under the Obama administration about why we need COVID-19 tests and what the hold up is in getting them. In other news, Kara and Scott discuss this week's Congressional hearing on antitrust and why Yelp thinks Google's search results are biased towards their own products. In Listener Mail we get a question about whether Amazon should roll out C...
Mar 13, 2020•38 min•Ep. 89
Kara and Scott talk about the deal reached at Twitter, the fate of Jack Dorsey and his tenure as CEO. They discuss how big tech companies have been stepping up to take care of gig-workers as COVID-19 spreads; Silicon Valley's approach has been drastically different from the government's, thus far. Facebook takes some action on misleading Trump campaign ads connected to the 2020 Census ... but Kara and Scott think one ad is not enough. In Friend of Pivot we hear from podcast host and author Amina...
Mar 10, 2020•53 min•Ep. 88
Kara and Scott talk about the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts and big banks asking for deregulation. They talk through how COVID-19 may halt the economy. They discuss Facebook's redesign of Libra -- their cryptocurrency and how other coins are faring in the face of COVID-19. In Listener Mail we hear from G/O Media reporter Dhruv Mehrotra about his recent investigation into how Better Help proliferates user data (find the journalists on Twitter @dmehro and @molly_o). In predictions, Kara and...
Mar 06, 2020•59 min•Ep. 87
.Kara and Scott talk about the stock market's recent lows -- and how that may be a good thing for millennials. They speculate about Jack Dorsey's tenure as CEO at Twitter as activist investors grab a chunk of the company. Then, we hear from Friend of Pivot, and New York Times tech reporter, Kevin Roose about election technology. Kara, Scott and Kevin discuss whether elections are best left analog ahead of Super Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 03, 2020•55 min•Ep. 86
Kara and Scott speculate about what is happening at Disney following Bob Iger's abrupt exit. They talk about the stock market's tumble in reaction to coronavirus. Scott breaks down which companies should be on the offense and which ones should be on the defense... and why he thinks Peleton may be one of the companies that see a spike during the coronavirus scare. In wins and fails, Kara thinks Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction is a win (but should have happened far sooner). "Rundles" are back i...
Feb 28, 2020•57 min•Ep. 85
Kara and Scott talk about the spread of coronavirus and how it is affecting the global supply chain. They discuss Bernie Sanders' win in Nevada and what that means for the economy. Morgan Stanley bought E*Trade, so the hosts talk about the end of at home trading as we know it. Plus, they give updates on what we know about the Saudi moles who stole user information at Twitter. In Friend of Pivot, Kara and Scott get deeper insights into coronavirus from Professor Matt Frieman, who studies and teac...
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 84
Kara and Scott have a lot of thoughts about the Nevada debate and how the candidates should be marketing themselves. In Listener Mail, we get a question about how Warren Buffet invests his billions versus what Jeff Bezos does with his fortune. They talk about Bezos' new pledge to donate $10 billion to fight climate change. In predictions, Scott thinks Zoom stock will benefit from coronavirus and the work from home trend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 21, 2020•45 min•Ep. 83
Kara and Scott talk about the big players in Silicon Valley headed to the EU where they are debating new regulations on artificial intelligence. In more foreign affairs and tech, they talk about the US bringing charges against Huawei for federal racketeering. Airbnb was once a rare profitable "unicorn", but now, ahead of their expected IPO, they're in the red; Kara and Scott talk about how and where they are allocating their money. In Friends of Pivot, Kara and Scott have a conversation with Sta...
Feb 18, 2020•59 min•Ep. 82
Kara and Scott talk about what it means for Amazon to be paying (minimal) taxes, as Jeff Bezos is "going Hollywood", and the company battles with the government over JEDI. They also revisit Google's quiet dismissal of top executives -- the company's longtime head of HR left this week. This week, the FTC ordered the big tech companies -- Facebook, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple -- to hand over information about all the mergers and acquisitions that were too small to report over the past decade....
Feb 14, 2020•55 min•Ep. 81
Kara and Scott talk about The Oscar's and how the award is being rebranded. They discuss Uber's most recent earnings call and whether or not they'll actually be profitable next year. Kara thinks that while the January jobs report showed employment is up, it is a poor marker of success because of wage stagnation. In Friends of Pivot, New York Times columnist and Squawk Box host Andrew Ross Sorkin calls in for a conversation about Instagram, e-commerce and news models of monetizing content. Learn ...
Feb 11, 2020•43 min•Ep. 80
Kara and Scott talk about technical difficulties at the Iowa caucuses. They disagree about whether Sheryl Sandberg's engagement announcement was a PR stunt or a personal moment. In listener mail they answer a question about One Medical's IPO and other concierge care companies poised to disrupt healthcare. Kara's win is Spotify acquiring The Ringer. Scott's fail is Casper's IPO. In predictions, Scott thinks that in 2-5 years Tesla will come out with its own cryptocurrency. Learn more about your a...
Feb 07, 2020•49 min•Ep. 79
Kara and Scott talk about IBM's new CEO as the company struggles to keep up with cloud computing. They also discuss Zuckerberg's "new approach to social media", and breakdown Amazon's major earnings. In "Friends of Pivot" Jon Lovett, host of the Crooked Media podcast "Lovett or Leave It" says we should be prepared for the Trump campaign's major ad push. In wins and fails, Kara remembers Leila Janah an entrepreneur who focused on creating jobs in the world's poorest communities; she passed away t...
Feb 04, 2020•43 min•Ep. 78
Kara and Scott talk about the Congressional Budget Office projecting that the U.S. budget deficit will pass the $1 trillion threshold in 2020. They also get into tech earnings, who did well last quarter, and what we can expect going forward. In listener mail, Kara and Scott talk about Huawei Britain defying Trump's plea to ban their plans for 5G expansion. Kara's win is Michael Bloomberg's ad campaign. Her fail is Facebook's oversight board running late (and not asking her to be a member). Scott...
Jan 31, 2020•48 min•Ep. 77
Kara and Scott talk about the spread of coronavirus and how it is affecting China. They discuss how the story of Kobe Bryant's tragic death played out on Twitter. Also, YouTube is now having their moderators sign a release acknowledging they could get PTSD from doing the work... Kara has thoughts. In listener mail, we get a question about players in the co-working space and how they are strategizing after the fall of weWork. It's definitely a FAIL that Kara did not get invited to Jeff Bezos' man...
Jan 28, 2020•41 min•Ep. 76
Scott co-hosts with Erica Anderson (Pivot's indomitable Executive Producer!) and they talk about the Saudi's hacking Jeff Bezos' phone. They talk about how Amazon has the power of its own nation and the implications of that. They talk Apple encryption part II, after a Reuters story revealed that the company had ended its plan to encrypt the iCloud at the request of the FBI. In listener mail, a former NYU student wants to know how Jeff Bezos' promised $1 billion investment in India will affect th...
Jan 24, 2020•47 min•Ep. 75
Kara talk about Google becoming the world's fourth trillion-dollar company ... and who is actually paying taxes on all of it? They discuss world leaders congregating at Davos. Donald Trump will be speaking as the Senate impeachment trial starts. In Friend of Pivot, Executive Producer and founder of "The Black List", Franklin Leonard says that with the influx of big tech companies producing films there is greater opportunity for a "full embrace of the country's diversity", even though the Oscars ...
Jan 21, 2020•42 min•Ep. 74
Kara and Scott argue about whether the government should have the right to hack into phones of suspected criminals. In a reversal of strategy the historically secretive National Security Agency alerted Microsoft to a vulnerability in its operating system -- Scott think it's a brilliant branding move. In listener mail, Kara and Scott answer a computer science student's question about how to teach ethics to young engineers. Kara's win this week is Speaker Pelosi. Her fail is some of the world's bi...
Jan 17, 2020•45 min•Ep. 73
Kara and Scott talk about Casper's S-1 and how it compares to other internet retail companies like Away and Warby Parker. We also get a rant out of Scott on Softbank's latest fail: their hotel chain OYO let-go a huge percent of their staff in Asia. In Friend of Pivot we hear from New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi about whether Congress or Twitter has more power to reign in Trump. In wins and fails Kara and Scott talk about the exit of Alphabet's top lawyer amid sexual misconduct allegation...
Jan 14, 2020•40 min•Ep. 72
