Kara and Scott discuss the Taylor Swift effect on the Super Bowl, and pick their favorite ads. Then, they've got opinions about the new special counsel report that raised questions about Biden's age and memory. Plus, Disney reports blockbuster earnings, and announces a new investment into Epic Games. Our Friends of Pivot are Zoë Schiffer, Managing Editor of Platformer, and author of “Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk's Twitter," and Kurt Wagner, social media reporter for Bloomberg, and the au...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 482•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Donald Trump’s lack of immunity in the 2020 election trial, Meta’s efforts to label AI content, and WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann trying to buy back the company. Plus, Warner Bros., Fox, and Disney are launching a sports streaming service, and Dartmouth will again require applicants to submit standardized test scores. And of course, Tucker Carlson has scored an interview with Vladimir Putin. Then, a listener question on what to do when your team is taken out by layoffs No...
Feb 09, 2024•56 min•Ep 481•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Joe Rogan's new $250 million deal with Spotify, the Wall Street Journal's latest report on Elon's drug use, and Nikki Haley's appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Then, the U.S. economy continues to defy expectations, so why isn't Biden benefiting? Plus, Meta's stock rockets to record highs after its latest earnings report, and Facebook turns 20. Our Friend of Pivot is Denise Hamilton, whose new book, "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences Into a Stronger Future," exam...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep 480•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott talk Apple Vision Pro, Disney’s failed lawsuit against Ron DeSantis, and a $100 million deal for the Smartless podcast. Also, will Elon Musk move Tesla to Texas after a Delaware judge voided his $55 billion compensation package? Plus, the upshot of the social media companies' CEOs' testimonies on child safety. Our Friend of Pivot is New York Times reporter Conor Dougherty, who stops by to talk about his piece on the Silicon Valley bigwigs trying to build a city in California. You ...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 479•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Amazon bringing ads to Prime Video, the jury's $83 million verdict against Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, and the FTC's investigation of Big Tech's involvement in AI. Then, will the uproar over Taylor Swift and George Carlin deepfakes finally lead to regulation? Plus, what do the ongoing media layoffs mean for the future of journalism? Our Friend of Pivot is Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner of A16Z Crypto, and the author of "Read Write Own: B...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 478•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott are back with you to discuss Oscar nominations, Jon Stewart’s return to The Daily Show, and Trump’s win in New Hampshire. Also, Netflix’s jump in subscribers, Tesla’s underwhelming earnings, and a Microsoft hits three trillion. Then they’re joined by Friend of Pivot, James Bennet, to discuss his recent essay, “When The New York Times Lost Its Way.” You can find James at @JBennet. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Sen...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 477•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Ron DeSantis' departure from the 2024 race and the Biden/Trump rematch that everyone is dreading. Then, with the good news about the economy and the stock market, what's the best move for investors? Plus, Nelson Peltz continues his Disney proxy fight, and a new report sheds light on the anti-DEI movement. Our Friend of Pivot is Aileen Lee, the founder and managing partner of the VC fund, Cowboy Ventures. She also happens to be the person who coined the term "unicorn" for b...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep 476•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the first-ever Pivot call-in show! Kara and Scott talk to Pivot listeners and answer questions on Elon, AI, Ozempic, and more. Plus, Apple’s new app store policy is facing backlash, CNN’s CEO maps out his plans for the future, and Bill Ackman is embroiled in yet another controversy. 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. V...
Jan 19, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep 475•Transcript available on Metacast Pivot will return on Friday! But in the meantime, we're bringing you this special episode of Decoder, all about the demise of Twitter. Nilay Patel talks with Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, and Zoe Schiffer, managing editor of Platformer and author of "Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 16, 2024•44 min•Ep 474•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss the final GOP debate before the Iowa caucuses, the SEC approving Bitcoin ETFs, and Apple Vision Pro getting ready to hit the market. Then, Don Lemon is back with a new show, but can X really be a contender in the online video space? Plus, Business Insider's clash with parent company Axel Springer over plagiarism articles on Bill Ackman's wife, Neri Oxman. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questio...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep 473•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott are back with a lot to discuss! They start with the new Wall Street Journal piece on Elon Musk’s drug use, and get some medical expertise and insights from Kara's brother, Dr. Jeffrey Swisher. Then, they discuss the fallout from Harvard president Claudine Gay's resignation, and Bill Ackman's wife facing plagiarism charges. Plus, Disney's family feud between ESPN and Jimmy Kimmel, a possible Warner Bros/Paramount merger on the horizon, and more. Follow Jeff at @jeffreyswisher Follo...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 472•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott are starting off the new year answering your listener questions! They tackle why more tech people aren't serving in government, whether Prof G AI compensates Kara, and if girl math is a good thing. Plus, a discussion of personal blindsides and New Year’s resolutions revealed. 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...
Jan 05, 2024•35 min•Ep 472•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott look back at highlights from the biggest themes of the year: learning to live with AI, labor strikes, the economic impact of girl power, and a sprinkling of Elon. Plus, what would Pivot be without some insults, squabbles, and humblebrags? 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. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 471•Transcript available on Metacast As 2023 comes to an end, Kara and Scott are revisiting some of their favorite Friends of Pivot interviews, including fascinating and thought-provoking conversations with Esther Perel, Mehdi Hasan, Lakshmi Rengarajan, and Rupublicans co-founder Craig DeForest 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. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...
Dec 22, 2023•2 hr 30 min•Ep 470•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time for our annual predictions episode! Kara and Scott share their 2024 predictions on politics, stocks, China, Google and more. Plus, some Friend of Pivot predictions from Jen Psaki, Mike Birbiglia, Fei-Fei Li, Bill Cohan, Dr. Joy Buolamwini, and Matt Belloni. 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. Visit podcastchoices.c...
Dec 19, 2023•38 min•Ep 469•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Tesla recalling 2 million vehicles, Netflix revealing viewership statistics, and a couple of….terrifying liquids. Then, nearly 200 countries have approved a global pact that calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels at COP28. And Epic Games has beat Google in court, with a jury ruling the company violated antitrust laws. Then we’re joined by Friend of Pivot, Naomi Alderman, on her new book, “The Future.” You can find Naomi Alderman on X at @NaomiAllthenews. Follow us ...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep 468•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Tucker Carlson's new streaming service, Elon letting Alex Jones back on X, and whether the criticism of Google's Gemini demo video is warranted. Then, UPenn's president resigns after that Congressional testimony last week, will the other presidents follow? Plus, the EU moves forward with its landmark AI Act. Finally, our Friend of Pivot is "Pod Save America" co-host and "Pollercoaster" host, Dan Pfeiffer. Dan gives us insight into the latest election poll numbers and share...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep 467•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss TIME's Person of the Year, Taylor Swift, George Santos' Cameo stardom, and yet another Republican debate. Then, they critique the testimony of three university presidents who spoke to Congress about anti-semitism on their campuses. And it’s a big week in AI news: Meta is teaming up with IBM to form an “AI Alliance,” Google launched a new model, “Gemini,” and Elon Musk’s AI startup has filed with the SEC to raise up to $1 billion. Then we’re joined by Friend of Pivot and Ch...
Dec 08, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep 466•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss the Dow's record highs and home ownership's new lows. Then, George Santos leaves Congress like a "Scandal in the Wind," while the Newsom/DeSantis debate was a circus of another kind. Plus, Google is accused of suppressing evidence, Nelson Peltz continues his Disney proxy battle, and "rizz" is the word of the year (Do Kara and Scott have it?!). Our Friend of Pivot is Sixto Cancel, the CEO and Founder of Think of Us, who's on a mission to revolutionize the country's child we...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep 465•Transcript available on Metacast We have a newspalooza for you today. Kara and Scott discuss Elon Musk's decision to put advertisers on blast, Henry Kissinger's death, Nikki Haley's next steps, those Mark Cuban political rumors, and Microsoft's non-voting seat at OpenAI. Then, guest Rob Copeland joins to discuss his new book, “The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and The Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend.” You can find Rob on X at @realrobcopeland. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us ...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep 464•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Jeff Zucker's return to the news business, and the cost of advertiser backlash in Elon Musk's antisemitism controversy. Then, Sam Altman is back at OpenAI, but who are the winners and losers after all the chaos? Plus, a new complaint reveals what Meta knew about its underage users. Finally, our Friend of Pivot is legendary venture capitalist Alan Patricof. At age 89, Patricof is as active as ever, and he explains why the longevity economy is a smart investment. Follow Alan...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep 463•Transcript available on Metacast Happy Thanksgiving! While Kara and Scott take a break after a crazy week of news, enjoy this episode of Decoder, featuring Nilay Patel's interview with former President Obama on AI, free speech, regulation, and more. Kara and Scott will return next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 24, 2023•50 min•Ep 462•Transcript available on Metacast Kara shares her latest reporting on Sam Altman and his decision to go to Microsoft, then she and Scott discuss what's next for OpenAI. Plus, Elon Musk threatens a "thermonuclear lawsuit," and X CEO Linda Yaccarino resists calls to resign. Our Friend of Pivot is Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, and author of "Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines." Dr. Joy gives her take on OpenAI and the Altman ouster, and also discusses her missio...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep 461•Transcript available on Metacast In the swirl of drama around Sam Altman’s exit from OpenAI, one company seems to be the winner: Microsoft. It has both a significant partnership with, and an ownership stake in, the company, and now it's welcoming Altman and OpenAI researchers with open arms. For this emergency episode, Kara interviews Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 21, 2023•28 min•Ep 460•Transcript available on Metacast It's an emergency crossover episode of Pivot and the Prof G Pod and there's a lot to discuss. Sam Altman is out as CEO of OpenAI – but what exactly happened? Kara shares her latest reporting. Plus, major advertisers are fleeing X after Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Will Elon and X survive the firestorm? Kara and Scott break it all down. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at...
Nov 18, 2023•32 min•Ep 459•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss Nikki Haley's social media stance, Truth Social's waning prospects, and the revelation that Google sends a third of Safari ad revenue to Apple. And don’t worry, they also talk about the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez photoshoot. You’re welcome/we’re sorry. Then, in the fight club that is DC, a government shutdown has been averted for now. Also, a look at how hate speech has surged on social media since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Then we’re joined by Friend of Pivot,...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep 458•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss the new (and bizarre) AI pin, and Trump's desire for a televised trial. Also, the threat of a government shutdown is back, but will Speaker Mike Johnson be able to make a deal in time? Plus, what we're learning about the AI provisions in the new SAG-AFTRA agreement, and why not everyone is happy. Finally, our Friend of Pivot is New York Times President and CEO, Meredith Levien, who talks about the current state of journalism, subscription strategies, and yes, Wordle. Follo...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep 457•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss the winners and losers from the GOP debate, Disney's latest earnings, and why Rivian seems to be bucking EV trends. Then, the 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike is coming to an end, but who's really coming out on top? Plus, OpenAI makes a big announcement that Kara calls a "power move." Finally, our Friend of Pivot is Mattie Kahn, who writes about girls being a force for change in her new book, "Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America's Revolutions." You can follow Mattie ...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep 456•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott discuss why Jeff Bezos is really moving to Florida, major changes coming to the real estate business and Elon's new AI bot, Grok. Plus, what's next for crypto and investors after Sam Bankman-Fried's guilty verdict. Then, with less than a year to go until the 2024 presidential election, should everyone calm down about the latest polls? Finally, our Friend of Pivot is New York Times reporter Kashmir Hill, who has written about facial recognition and privacy in her new book, "Your Fa...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep 455•Transcript available on Metacast Kara and Scott tell all about their trip to the White House. Then, they discuss the Ozempic effect on Krispy Kreme stock, and Disney taking full control of Hulu. They've also got thoughts on whether bankruptcy is really the end for WeWork, as well as the tactics that helped the UAW reach a deal with automakers. Our Friend of Pivot is the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Chris Krebs. He breaks down the new AI executive order. You can follow Chris at @C_C_Kr...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep 454•Transcript available on Metacast 
