Kara and Scott discuss Netflix's stock surging as subscriber growth breaks records yet again, and the SEC forming a crypto taskforce. Then, the Trump administration's disturbing new policy orders federal employees to report on their colleagues as part of the DEI crackdown. Plus, Elon trolls the new Trump-supported AI venture, and gets trolled by Sam Altman in return. Finally, the latest names in the mix for a TikTok deal, including MrBeast. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastoffi...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 586
Kara and Scott are coming to you on a Wednesday to discuss President Trump’s inauguration, and his barrage of Day 1 executive orders. Then, TikTok is back in the U.S. after briefly shutting down: what happens next? Also, President Biden’s last-minute pardons, Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE departure, and the First Couple’s meme coin frenzy. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questi...
Jan 22, 2025•59 min•Ep. 585
Kara and Scott preview all the Big Tech leaders going to Washington to kiss the ring at Donald Trump's inauguration. Then, Biden issues a warning about the dangers of ultra-wealthy oligarchy and the "tech industrial complex," but is anyone listening? Plus, as the hearings for Trump's cabinet nominees get underway, are the right questions being asked? Finally, Scott discusses latest venture – sports team owner! Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 584
Kara and Scott discuss TikTok's prospects after the recent Supreme Court hearing, and Steve Bannon taking on Elon Musk. Then, firefighters are still battling California's wildfires, but misinformation on social media is making things worse. Plus, Mark Zuckerberg praises "masculine energy," and of course, Kara and Scott have thoughts. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your quest...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 583
Kara and Scott discuss the devastating fires in Los Angeles. They also have thoughts about the decision to end Meta’s fact-checking program. Plus, President-elect Donald Trump has spent the week talking about annexing Greenland, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, and making Canada the 51st state. Finally, a listener mail question about responsible podcasting. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 582
As 2025 gets underway, Kara and Scott discuss Donald Trump's latest moves to stop the TikTok ban, net neutrality struck down again, and Meta's big staffing change ahead of inauguration. Then, Tesla's annual sales numbers fall for the first time in over a decade. But do investors even care, given Elon's bromance with Trump? Plus, Kara talks about assembling a group to make a bid for The Washington Post, and why she believes a fresh approach to the business is needed. Follow us on Instagram and Th...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 581
It’s time for our annual predictions episode! Kara and Scott share their 2025 predictions on Trump’s second term, AI, podcasting, the IPO of the year, and more. Plus, some Friend of Pivot predictions from Don Lemon, Anthony Scaramucci, Zoë Schiffer, Bill Cohan, Ian Bremmer, and Kyla Scanlon. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at n...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 580
Sam Harris is a philosopher, neuroscientist, and the host of the Making Sense podcast. He joins Preet to discuss political debate in the Trump era, the end of identity politics, and the morality of the Hunter Biden pardon. Plus, could Trump fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell? What does Preet think about Kash Patel? And how might Trump use the Vacancies Act? Listen to more from Stay Tuned with Preet here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 579
Scott breaks down the best and worst purchases he’s ever made, and why he prefers spending money on experiences rather than things. He also shares how his childhood still impacts the way he thinks about spending. Scott and Ed then discuss how to navigate spending in common situations such as dinners with friends, weddings, and the holidays. Ed asks for advice about how to prepare for the cost of having children. And Scott also explains why it's important to make sure your spending lags behind yo...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 578
We're bringing you a special episode of On With Kara Swisher! Kara sits down for a live interview with Meta's Yann LeCun, an “early AI prophet” and the brains behind the largest open-source large language model in the world. The two discuss the potential dangers that come with open-source models, the massive amounts of money pouring into AI research, and the pros and cons of AI regulation. They also dive into LeCun’s surprisingly spicy social media feeds — unlike a lot of tech employees who toe ...
Dec 21, 2024•55 min•Ep. 577
It’s our second call-in show! Kara and Scott talk to Pivot listeners and answer questions about investing in your 50s, how much is enough, and what is going with the job market in tech. Plus, how to approach parenthood in today’s age, and how to address racial biases in venture capital. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag....
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 576
Kara is joined by Nobel Prize-winning economist, and recently retired New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman. They discuss SoftBank's $100 billion investment in U.S. projects, ABC News settling with Donald Trump, and TikTok's latest legal setback. Then, OpenAI fires back at Elon Musk, and Apple's foldable future. Plus, Paul gets a little wonky, and weighs in on crypto's actual value, and what Trump doesn't understand about tariffs. Check out Paul's Substack: Krugman Wonks Out. Follow us on Insta...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 575
Kara and Scott discuss President Biden’s clemency announcement, Rupert Murdoch’s succession scheme backfires, and GM scraps its Cruise robotaxi program. Plus, the entire internet tries to analyze Luigi Mangione — Scott and Kara have opinions about that. Also, President-elect Donald Trump has named Andrew Ferguson to lead the FTC, and our thoughts on Time’s Person of the Year. Then, Friend of Pivot R.J. Cutler joins to discuss his latest documentaries on Martha Stewart and Elton John. Follow us o...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 574
Kara and Scott discuss TikTok's latest legal setback, and what Donald Trump will do (if anything) if the ban goes into effect next month. Then, Trump appoints investor, podcaster, and Elon minion, David Sacks, as the new "White House AI and crypto czar." Will this position have any real power? Plus, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield backs away from a controversial plan to only pay for anesthesia for a limited amount of time. Our Friend of Pivot is Vivian Tu, host of the Vox Media podcast "Networth a...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 573
Kara and Scott discuss the highlights from The New York Times DealBook Summit, including Jeff Bezos saying he’s “optimistic” about a second Trump term, and Sam Altman trying to make nice with Elon Musk. Then, the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has prompted a wave of reactions on social media. Plus, the French government collapsed on Wednesday, and South Korea’s president is facing impeachment after declaring martial law. Also, in good news for cryptocurrency, Trump’s new SEC pick...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 572
Kara and Scott discuss the Hunter Biden pardon, and its repercussions for President Biden. Then, President-elect Donald Trump selects Kash Patel to run the FBI, and new reports raise questions and concerns about Pete Hegseth. Plus, Elon Musk takes aim at Sam Altman and OpenAI, yet again. Our Friend of Pivot is filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, whose new docuseries, "Social Studies," provides an inside look at teens and social media. Lauren explains what parents don't know about their kids' social med...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 571
Happy Thanksgiving! Pivot is off for the holiday, so we're bringing you an episode of Decoder with Nilay Patel. Nilay is talking about something we've discussed a lot on Pivot — Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Tesla. How is the CEO of an electric car company, an outspoken advocate for combating climate change, going to square his support for Trump and a Republican policy agenda centered on climate change denial? Verge transportation editor Andy Hawkins joins to make sense of it all, and to figure o...
Nov 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 570
Kara and Scott discuss the "Glicked" effect on the box office, and Amazon's new $4 billion investment in Anthropic. Then, Elon Musk and Vivek Rameswamy bring their Silicon Valley buddies into the Department of Government Efficiency, while President-elect Donald Trump gets Wall Street's approval with his Treasury Secretary pick. Plus, Bluesky continues to surge, and Meta appears to be feeling the heat. Our Friend of Pivot is Julie Scelfo, the founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction or MAMA. Ju...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 569
Kara and Scott discuss Nvidia's latest blockbuster earnings, the DOJ's proposal that Google sell its Chrome browser, and Comcast's plan to spin off its cable networks into a new company. Plus, the latest additions to the Trump administration, and Elon Musk and Vivek Rameswamy launch a "Dogecast" podcast. Finally, a listener mail question about CEO compensation. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivo...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 568
Kara and Scott discuss Morning Joe anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski revealing they paid a visit to Donald Trump to "restart communications," and the sheer brilliance of The Onion buying Alex Jones's Infowars. Then, the news of RFK, Jr.'s HHS Secretary nomination rattles the markets, and Trump says he wants someone "big" for Treasury Secretary. Plus, the Kids Online Safety Act stalls in Congress, thanks in part to Big Tech's $90 million lobbying efforts. Our Friend of Pivot is Kristy C...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 567
Kara and Scott discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to deliver on his campaign promise to stop the TikTok ban, and the latest earnings from Disney and Spotify. Then, Trump is on a roll announcing picks for his administration, including for his BFF, Elon Musk. Plus, X competitor Bluesky is seeing a pop in users after the election. Can it really compete? Vote in this weeks Threads poll here! Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. ...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 566
Kara and Scott discuss Wall Street hitting new highs in the wake of Trump's victory, and whether Trump will face off with Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Then, how big a role did right wing media play in the election, and can the left take a page from that playbook? Plus, as X's new terms of service go into effect this week, Kara explains why she's finally deleting her account (no, for real this time). Our Friends of Pivot are the co-hosts of The Daily Beast podcast, comedian and writer Samantha Bee, a...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 568
Kara and Scott trade Election Day stories, and discuss where they went wrong with their predictions. Then, a deep dive into what a second Trump term means for the economy, crypto, Big Tech (including Elon Musk), social media, and more. Finally, a few wins to share at the end of a long week. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 567
Election Day has finally arrived! Kara and Scott discuss the last-minute polls, the debate over equal time on TV, and how this became the "Elon Election." Plus, the final predictions about the race. And if you're feeling stressed out by the election, Friend of Pivot Dan Harris is here to help. Dan is the host of the "10% Happier Podcast" and he shares his tips for reducing election anxiety. Follow Dan at @danbharris Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 566
Kara and Scott discuss the rise and fall of Trump Media stock, and whether or not it's an accurate predictor for the election. Plus, Biden's "garbage" comments create a headache for Democrats, Trump vows to protect women whether they "like it or not," and is it too late for Harris to go on Joe Rogan's podcast? Then, what the latest earnings from Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft reveal about the AI arms race. Our Friend of Pivot is "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan. Margaret shares what s...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 565
Kara and Scott are back with part two of Pivot's special series on the basics of artificial intelligence. How is AI revolutionizing the workplace? And what are the skills workers need to learn to stay ahead? Andrew McAfee, MIT research scientist and co-founder of Workhelix, explains why he doesn't think AI is a job killer, and shares the advice he gives to business leaders about integrating AI into workflows. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pi...
Oct 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 564
With one week to go until the election, Kara and Scott discuss Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden, and the role of Jeff Bezos in The Washington Post's decision not to endorse a presidential candidate. Plus, Michelle Obama sends a message to male voters in what Scott calls "the most powerful speech given in 2024." Then, Elon Musk has reportedly been in contact with Vladimir Putin since 2022, but will the U.S. government take action? Our Friend of Pivot is Daniel Lubetzky, founder of Ki...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 563
Kara and Scott discuss Apple scaling back production of Apple Vision Pro headsets, and a mother suing Character.AI, claiming a chatbot encouraged her teenage son to commit suicide. Then, Tesla’s Q3 earnings beat expectations, and Starbucks preliminary quarterly results disappoint yet again. Plus, the podcast election continues with former President Trump going on Joe Rogan, and VP Kamala Harris sitting down with Brené Brown. In more election news, Trump’s former Chief of Staff, John Kelly warns ...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 562
Kara and Scott are back in your feeds for a special series on the basics of Artificial Intelligence. What should you use it for? What tools are right for you? And what privacy issues should you watch out for? Kylie Robison, Senior AI Reporter for The Verge, joins Pivot with a primer on how to integrate AI into your life. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. L...
Oct 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 561
Kara and Scott discuss Disney's succession plans, and Netflix's latest blockbuster earnings. Then, a new report details tensions between Microsoft and OpenAI. But could the two companies realistically walk away from their partnership? Plus, Donald Trump's closing argument takes a vulgar turn, and Elon Musk's million dollar giveaway faces legal scrutiny. Our Friends of Pivot are Chantal Fernandez from The Cut, and Lauren Sherman from Puck. Chantal and Lauren have teamed up to write the new book, ...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 560
