Kara is joined by New York Times columnist, founder of Deal Book and CNBC Sqwuakbox Host Andrew Ross Sorkin to talk about about Trump's new executive orders to ban Chinese social media apps. They also discuss Bernie Sanders' proposed new tax legislation that would implement a one time 60-percent tax on billionaires who made money during the pandemic. Then we are joined by Friend of Pivot Jennifer Palmieri, author of the new book She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man's World, ...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 127
Kara and guest host MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle talk about Disney launching its first big budget movie release for rent on their streaming app. They also discuss Facebook inking a new lease in midtown Manhattan and what that means for New York City's recovery after the pandemic. We also hear listener mail response to Stephanie's question about what listeners are most anxious about during these times. And Stephanie has a prediction about the November elections. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Aug 07, 2020•47 min•Ep. 126
Kara is joined by guest host MSNBC Live anchor Stephanie Ruhle to talk about Microsoft in talks to buy up TikTok after Trump threatens to ban the China-based app. They also discuss SpaceX's return to Earth and the future of private companies in space. They talk to Friend of Pivot Congressman David Cicilline, the Chair of the House Antitrust Subcommittee about the historic big tech hearings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 04, 2020•57 min•Ep. 125
Kara and Scott talk about the winners and losers from Wednesday's tech antitrust hearing in Congress and answer listener questions about what the US government might do next. They also discuss Snap's first diversity report, why MacKenzie Scott (née Bezos) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal won the week, and the most important news of late — Taylor Swift's new album, Folklore. Scott predicts that colleges are about to send a very important letter to parents — after cashing their tuition checks. Get tickets...
Jul 31, 2020•58 min•Ep. 126
Kara and Scott chat about the delay of the tech antitrust hearing, the "unprecedented culture crisis" at Facebook, and the think-tank financed by Big Tech that is schmoozing foreign regulators. Friend of Pivot Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, joins to talk about the return of professional basketball and why the NBA's "bubble" at Disney World is safer than the attempted comebacks of football and baseball; Cuban also discusses his Twitter battle with Ted Cruz, why he's optimistic abo...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 125
Kara and Scott look towards next week's historic antitrust hearings as the CEOs of Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon all head to Washington for the first time. They also look at Twitter's decision to ban QAnon accounts and how other platforms should follow suit. In Listener Mail, we get a question about Uber offering its backend software to public transit systems and how that may give Uber outsized monopoly power. In predictions, Scott talks about Tesla's acquisition power in the coming months....
Jul 24, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 124
Kara and Scott talk about billionaire Jack Ma taking his company Ant Group public in Hong Kong and Shanghai and what that means for the US stock market. They discuss the fall out from Twitter's biggest user hack in the company's history. In Friend of Pivot we hear from Rick Wilson, the co-founder of the Lincoln Project about his PAC's social media advertising strategy to take down Donald Trump. In wins they celebrate Congressman John Lewis. In fails, they discuss Netflix disappointing earnings a...
Jul 21, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 123
Kara and Scott talk about the launch of NBC's new streaming service and why it isn't on major streaming devices. They also discuss Apple's big tax battle win in the European Union and what it may mean for upcoming antitrust hearings in the United States. In Listener Mail, Kara and Scott answer a question about what technology is having a positive impact on our psychology. In predictions, Kara foresees some new media collaborations and Scott thinks Netflix is going to have major earnings. Learn m...
Jul 17, 2020•56 min•Ep. 122
Kara and Scott talk about Google's big investment in India; it's the latest big tech company to make big moves in the country this year. They also discuss Facebook possibly banning political ads, and why it's a cop-out. They go deeper on the issue with Friend of Pivot Rashad Robinson, the Executive Director of Color of Change, who has been meeting with Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg after helping to organize the July ad boycott of the platform. Kara's fail is Tucker Carlson's head writer ge...
Jul 14, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 121
Kara and Scott talk about an audit released about Facebook's lack of civil rights practices, the groups that have pushed them on moderating their platform, and Sheryl Sandberg's first public response. They also discuss the US' possible ban on TikTok, the China based social media app. In Listener Mail, we get a question about why colleges are not lowering tuition even though many will only be offering online courses in the fall. In predictions, Scott thinks Trumps visa ban on foreign students not...
Jul 10, 2020•56 min•Ep. 120
Kara and Scott talk about Uber's acquisition of the food delivery company Postmates and what that means for the future of that market and the ride-hailing company. Also, they discuss the big four tech CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai all headed to congress as part of antitrust investigations. Then, we are joined by Friend of Pivot New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz who talks about Clubhouse and its toxic culture. In wins Scott celebrates the life of Ennio Morricon...
Jul 07, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 119
Kara and Scott talk about Facebook announcing it would change its policies around hate speech on the platform after mounting pressures from Civil Rights organizations and company ad boycotts. They also discuss Amazon buying Zoox, an autonomous ride-hailing company to start competing in delivery and ride share. We are joined by Friend of Pivot Sayu Bhojwani to talk about Trump's suspension of H1-B visas and how that will affect Silicon Valley. Get tickets for our upcoming livestream event series:...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 118
Kara and Scott talk about how Square has been taking about 20% off of merchant transactions, as Jack Dorsey helms both Twitter and Square. Meanwhile, Twitch has been facing backlash from womxn gamers who are alleging that the company is allowing for sexual harassment and assault, while they create content for the company. This comes several years after the industry dealt with "Gamergate". We get a Listener Question about Apple and Google's contact tracing app as covid-19 cases climb around the c...
Jun 26, 2020•49 min•Ep. 117
Kara and Scott talk about TikTokers pranking Trump out of rally goers and a new potential competitor to Google's search engine. They also discuss more issues of racism reported at Pinterest. They are joined by Friend of Pivot John Rice, the Founder of the non-profit Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) about how companies can better strategize in order to bring more Black talent into industries, retain and elevate that talent. Kara's fail continues to be Facebook's dubious relationship with ...
Jun 23, 2020•53 min•Ep. 117
Kara and Scott talk about Twitter's new feature that allows certain users to post audio recordings. They also get talk about Pinterest reconciling with claims from Black employees that the company has internal racist practices. In big stories, the Department of Justice released a recommendation that portions of Section 230 be repealed. Meanwhile, Basecamp's new email service Hey.com is claiming that Apple has been abusing its power in the App Store. Scott predicts there will be negative impacts ...
Jun 19, 2020•47 min•Ep. 116
Kara and Scott talk about the possibility that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos might speak to the House Judiciary Committee as a part of a broad antitrust investigation into big tech. Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warns that the state’s reopening might need to be delayed after widespread violations of social distancing orders. Then we hear from personal finance expert Suze Orman about the financial economic crisis facing Americans today and why she fears a wave of foreclosures and asset reposs...
Jun 16, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 115
Kara and Scott talk about Amazon and IBM moving away from their facial recognition technology because of algorithm's known racial biases. They also discuss Biden's petition to Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg to change his hands-off approach with political speech on the platform. They talk about HBOMax taking down "Gone with the Wind" and whether platforms should give more context to historic racism in film. And, as Starbucks shuts down 400 stores in North America, they talk about what the future is...
Jun 12, 2020•46 min•Ep. 114
Kara and Scott talk about a new lawsuit waged by Amazon warehouse workers alleging the company did not follow CDC protocol well enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. They discuss Alexis Ohanian's decision to step down from Reddit's board of the directors in order to leave space to elevate a black person to his empty seat. In Friend of Pivot we hear from Mike Masnick of tech dirt to talk about Section 230, as Trump battles with Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 113
Kara and Scott talk about Zuckerberg doubling down on Facebook policy that allows Trump to continue posting inflammatory content on the platform. They also discuss a new lawsuit against Google that says the company may be breaking Federal wiretap laws when people use private browser modes. Plus a listener mail question on Amazon bonds and a prediction about the 2020 IPO class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 05, 2020•48 min•Ep. 112
Kara and Scott talk about how protests have played out across the country and corporations responses. As US citizens take to the streets to protest police officers killing black people, Facebook workers go on strike. Then, they are joined by Friend of Pivot, activist, comedian, writer and producer Baratunde Thurston who clarifies how the protests are playing out on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 02, 2020•55 min•Ep. 110
Kara and Scott talk about Twitter's responsibility in fact-checking and regulating Trump tweets as they slap their first misinformation label on one of the president's tweets. They also discuss the future of a "private" space as Elon Musk prepares to launch his SpaceX rocket. Meanwhile, Amazon is having its annual shareholder meeting and some people are hoping they can push the company to be transparent about data around covid-19 deaths of warehouse workers. Plus we hear a listener mail question...
May 29, 2020•57 min•Ep. 110
Kara and Scott talk about Disney open its doors to the NBA as professional sports leagues attempt to resume their seasons. Meanwhile, the New York Stock Exchange will be open to traders again this week. Scott thinks there will be a strong class of IPOs by the end of the years. Then we hear from Caryn Marooney, the former VP of Global Communications at Facebook. She gives an insider's look at Mark Zuckerberg's new work from home policy. Jacinda Arden is Kara's win and Joe Biden's lack of momentum...
May 26, 2020•52 min•Ep. 109
Kara and Scott talk about Spotify's new deal with Joe Rogan and the implications for the podcast industry. They also discuss Amazon reportedly in talks with bankrupt JCPenny about a potential sale. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has been buying up stocks from major companies over the course of the pandemic. In Listener Mail, Kara and Scott talk about TikTok's future as a Disney executive comes on as CEO. Scott predicts that Shopify is going to make a big retail acquisition. Lea...
May 22, 2020•56 min•Ep. 108
Kara and Scott talk about Facebook purchasing Giphy and reports the DOJ is likely to sue Google for antitrust violations in the digital ad space. They also discuss Amazon swooping in to "save" designer fashion by teaming up with Vogue. The "everything store" has been trying to corner this market for years. Then we are joined by Phil Howard the Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, where he studies the spread of misinformation. He takes Kara and Scott through some of the latest conspiracies ...
May 19, 2020•59 min•Ep. 108
Kara and Scott talk about Uber's offer to buy GrubHub, which would give the company a majority of food delivery market share. They talk about whether this merger would be good for Uber (yes) and whether it would be bad for the commonwealth (also, yes). Meanwhile, Elon Musk is reopening the Tesla factory in California, and his mother is texting Kara about how harsh she's being on her son. In Listener Mail we get a question about companies taking back their upfront ad deals with the major televisi...
May 15, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 107
Kara and Scott talk about Amazon in talks to acquire AMC theaters, Uber earnings and how education will change with white collar workers at home. Scott thinks this may be an opportunity for public schools to gain more resources. Then MSNBC Anchor Stephanie Ruhle joins the show to break down some of the major policy holes in the CARES Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 12, 2020•59 min•Ep. 106
Kara and Scott talk about Facebook's new oversight board and whether it will be effective in controlling content on the platform. They discuss layoffs at Airbnb and Uber, as well as Uber's investment in the scooter company, Lime. We take a moment of "Comic Relief" with writer and comedian Sarah Cooper whose videos lip syncing Trump's press conferences have gone viral. Scott predicts that Uber is having fast numbers recovery after Covid-19 declines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...
May 08, 2020•51 min•Ep. 105
Kara and Scott talk about whether or not Congress should give businesses legal protections against lawsuits from workers who contract COVID-19. They discuss Amazon's earnings and Jeff Bezos' strategy to put $4billion in profits towards vaccinating and socially distancing the company fulfillment supply chain. Also, they talk about whether Bezos should, and whether he will, testify in front of Congress after the House Judiciary Committee asked for his appearance. In Friend of Pivot we hear from An...
May 05, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 104
Kara and Scott talk about Facebook earnings during the pandemic and the company's push into e-commerce. They discuss Uber's reported lay-offs and other issues facing the ride-share company as their longtime CTO steps down. In Listener Mail and fan from New Zealand asks what the US can do to salvage our brand after our failure to deal with COVID-19 effectively. In predictions, Scott says Amazon is about to be the 2nd most valuable company in the world and that Sonos will get acquired. Meanwhile, ...
May 01, 2020•52 min•Ep. 103
Kara and Scott talk about Senate Democrats being vocal about breaking up Amazon, after a report that the company lied to the House Judiciary Committee. They talk about the Wall Street Journal investigation into Amazon's use of data from third-party sellers. Meanwhile, France upholds a ruling that is keeping Amazon warehouses in the country shuttered until they address workers' health protection concerns. Privacy expert Alex Stamos joins the show to talk about the $5 billion FTC/Facebook settleme...
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 102