tech
With great power, comes great scrutiny. Every Tuesday and Friday, journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics. They make bold predictions, pick winners and losers, and bicker and banter like no one else. From New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss reports that President Trump is officially banning the term 'artificial intelligence' from government documents in favor of 'superintelligence' or 'SI', while criticizing the original terminology.
Microsoft beat Wall Street quarterly expectations with 19% revenue growth and Azure cloud growth of 48%, while offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees to manage costs.
Alphabet shares dropped significantly after the Google parent company missed Wall Street quarterly earnings expectations for the first time in nearly four years, reporting negative free cash flow of $9 billion.
Nvidia is investing $3 billion in Meta as part of an expanded partnership focused on the AI agent Muse, alongside a $1 billion investment from AMD in Meta's equity offering.
Meta announced a new program called Features, enabling creators to upload up to 90-minute long videos to challenge YouTube and other long-form streaming services online.
Kara Swisher and analysts from the Cook Political Report and Hit Strategies discussed new polling ahead of the midterms, projecting that Democrats could flip the House and make significant gains in the Senate and governorships for the first time since 2010.
Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report noted that recent polling shows surprising Democratic strength in districts that previously voted heavily for Donald Trump, such as Kentucky's sixth district and New York's 21st district.
Polling experts discussed the rise of unregulated betting platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, noting that traders have wagered over $220 million on the 2026 midterms while raising concerns over potential misinformation and insider influence.
Terrence Woodbury of Hit Strategies reported that Black voters have mobilized significantly in early voting following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Louisiana's majority-black congressional district and gut sections of the Voting Rights Act.
Federal Election Commission disclosures show that Republican campaign treasuries hold approximately $614 million in cash compared to $392 million for Democrats, heading into the final stretch of the midterms.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss the new Apple Watch Series 12, highlighting its improved heart rate sensing and the introduction of a 'readiness score'. The device measures heart rate every five seconds and includes heart rate variability in its Vitals app.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway mention Deepgram's new Flux TTS technology, a streaming text-to-speech model designed for voice agents. The model aims to provide more context-aware and personality-driven interactions for customer service applications.
The podcast highlights Coreweave as a key player in the expanding AI landscape. The company provides purpose-built cloud technology for AI pioneers, enabling breakthroughs in fields like medical research, education, and visual effects.
Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway announced on the Pivot podcast that they are embarking on a North American tour. The tour will kick off on November 2nd in New York City and include stops in Toronto, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver. Tickets are available at pivotour.com.
Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway discussed the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney's recent ad campaign. Swisher expressed indifference, calling it a 'stupid ad' and questioning the outrage. Galloway, while also critical of the ad's effectiveness, suggested Sweeney might be receiving bad advice.
Jessica Yellin, co-host of Ragey Moderates, joined the Pivot podcast to discuss her new book, 'I Disagree, Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends.' The announcement of her appearance was made before a discussion about the show's upcoming tour.
Scott Galloway shared his negative impressions of San Francisco after a brief visit, which he later posted about, leading to a viral clip. Mayor London Breed contacted Galloway to discuss his observations, providing statistics that indicated improvements in the city.
Scott Galloway highlighted San Francisco Mayor London Breed's effective governance and pragmatic approach to tackling the city's issues, particularly homelessness and crime. He contrasted her approach with national political aspirations of other politicians.
Scott Galloway returns to Pivot after a month-long absence, playfully addressing his hosting style and announcing a new, more sensitive approach, while also declaring a "zero fucks given" stance for the next 11 months. He jokes about AI's potential to "kill humanity soon enough." Galloway also discussed his favorite guest co-host, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her pragmatic view on presidential qualities.
The podcast opens with a discussion of Harvey AI, an AI agent designed for legal work, and an advertisement for Monday.com that highlights the use of AI agents in content creation. The hosts briefly touch on the implications of AI in various professional fields.
During Scott Galloway's co-hosting stint, he discussed a conversation with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. When asked about the qualities she'd seek in a presidential candidate, Clinton prioritized the ability to win the electoral college over traditional attributes like empathy or geopolitical understanding. Galloway found this response insightful and pragmatic.
Kara Swisher expressed a strong desire for artificial intelligence to advance rapidly, even to the point of ending humanity. This statement came in response to Scott Galloway's flamboyant on-air persona.
Ina Garten is launching a new podcast called "Happy Hour with Ina," which will focus on conversations about drinks, both cocktails and mocktails. Garten explained that she wanted to move beyond the typical short interview format of TV shows to allow for longer, more in-depth conversations with guests.
Ina Garten's upcoming podcast, "Happy Hour with Ina," will allow her to feature guests she previously couldn't host on her television shows. She explained that the podcast format makes it easier to secure guests, as they can simply stop by for a drink and a conversation when they are already in New York for other engagements.
Ina Garten announced that her new podcast, "Happy Hour with Ina," will launch on Wednesday, September 16th. The podcast will feature guests for drinks and conversations at her kitchen table in New York City. She aims to connect personally with guests from various fields.
The conversation touched on the increasing popularity of mocktails, with one speaker noting that restaurants now offer as many non-alcoholic options as alcoholic ones. The key to a good mocktail, according to one speaker, is to include an acidic component like lime to give it an edge, distinguishing it from a simple fruit juice drink.
Ina Garten shared her favorite cocktail, a Bourbon sour with a hint of chocolate liqueur and vanilla, which she discovered in the South of France. She described the drink as tasting like 'liquid velvet,' noting that the subtle additions enhance the bourbon's flavor without making it taste overtly of chocolate or vanilla.
Kara Swisher introduces Jacob Soboroff as the final guest co-host for the last episode of August. Soboroff, a senior national and political reporter for MSNBC, discusses his show 'Connect with Jacob Soboroff,' which centers on people and their stories.
Jacob Soboroff describes his show 'Connect' as being about people and politics, aiming to center voices not typically heard. He explains his passion for connecting with people, stemming from his upbringing in Los Angeles.
Kara Swisher announces the death of feminist icon Gloria Steinem at age 92. Swisher remembers Steinem as an "entrepreneur of social change" and a talented journalist, noting the close timing of her death with that of Dolly Parton.
Jacob Soboroff shares his thoughts on Gloria Steinem, highlighting her role in Ms. Magazine. He notes how Steinem, in an "open source way," allowed the magazine and the feminist movement to be guided by its readers.
Jen Sacha describes her recent controversial statements, including her views on homeschooling and her belief that "Goonith's Paltro" (Gwyneth Paltrow) is intentionally trying to distance herself from Donald Trump. Sacha connects this to a broader pattern of "trickle down kiss assery" in politics and media.
Jen Sacha stated that fundamentalist Christianity is a greater threat to women and children in the United States than Sharia law or radical Islam. She believes Republican politicians in Oklahoma, where she grew up, are focused on taking away rights, contrasting this with the policies of New York City's Muslim mayor.
Cara Swisher promoted her podcast "Why Are You Like This," highlighting an upcoming episode featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Pablo Torre. The episode will discuss Torre's NYC upbringing, his impact on sports media, and a 'spicy question' he poses to Swisher.
Kara Swisher and Kaitlyn Collins discussed the legacy of Dolly Parton, highlighting her ability to enact political change through quiet actions and her power to unite diverse groups of people. Collins noted Parton's support for the Moderna vaccine, feminist causes, trans people, and Black Lives Matter as examples of her subtle political influence.
Kara Swisher described her experience at Dollywood as a place where people from all walks of life—gay, redneck, conservative, liberal, and lesbian—coexist harmoniously, attributing this unity to Dolly Parton's influence. Swisher contrasted this with the divisions outside the park, noting the difficulty of bottling such a feeling.
Kaitlyn Collins shared how Dolly Parton was a significant part of her childhood in Alabama, with family vacations often including trips to Dollywood. She recalled how the park felt like a 'Disney World for us before we went to Disney World' and how seeing Dolly's childhood home replica was a core memory.
The discussion touched upon Dolly Parton's long-standing support for the LGBTQ+ community, noting her choice of Melissa Etheridge for a duet in 2003 during the height of the gay marriage debate. This action is seen as a significant statement of support, decades before it was common for celebrities to openly advocate for such causes.
Kara Swisher mentioned the song 'Traveling Through' by Dolly Parton, featured in the movie 'Transamerica,' as an example of Parton's quiet activism and a song of acceptance. The movie itself is noted for its portrayal of a trans woman meeting her son.
The transcript briefly notes a rare occurrence where both Donald Trump and the Democratic Socialists of America issued similar statements regarding a passing. This is highlighted as a moment that is unlikely to happen again.
Chelsea Handler shared a personal letter she wrote about her family's dysfunction and lack of manners during a vacation. The letter, initially intended for her family, was shared widely after friends found it relatable, and Handler realized its potential to help others. She discussed how post-therapy skills influenced her approach to family communication.
Chelsea Handler expressed her appreciation for precise language use and her dislike for certain verbal crutches. She specifically cited "anyways" as a lazy way of speaking. Handler also noted that Scott Galloway sometimes uses the word "mendacious" incorrectly, though she is more forgiving of that than the use of non-existent words.
Chelsea Handler made a prediction that Spencer Pratt will "gone forever" from public relevance. Kara Swisher mentioned Pratt's past appearance at the White House, to which Handler responded she did not think he would return to prominence. Peter Navarro was also mentioned in relation to the White House.
Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, hosts of the "Hard Fork" podcast, are leaving the show to start their own independent podcast and media company. They announced their departure and shared that their new venture will focus on AI, which they believe is the most important story in the world and has not been adequately covered by mainstream media. The new show will be released at least twice a week and will prioritize YouTube.
Kevin Roose clarified that the "Hard Fork" podcast, despite its name, was not a bet on the future of crypto. He stated that they have conclusively determined that their initial premise was wrong. The new venture will focus on AI, which he and Casey Newton believe is a critical and under-reported story.
Hosts Casey Newton and Kevin Roose are launching a new media venture with a philosophy centered on the belief that the current AI landscape is "absolutely crazy" and the "most important story in the world." They intend to provide serious, in-depth coverage of AI, acknowledging that their previous podcast, "Hard Fork," may have fallen short in this area.
Hillary Clinton, joining Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway on Pivot, expressed her excitement about the growing popularity of women's sports, particularly basketball. She noted how the sport has broken into mainstream consciousness, contrasting it with her childhood experiences where opportunities for girls in sports were limited.
Hillary Clinton reflected on the transformative impact of Title IX, which mandated equal opportunities in education, including sports. She highlighted how the legislation, though slow to embed, allowed girls to compete and paved the way for professionalization of women's sports like soccer and basketball, while acknowledging ongoing pushback.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss New York Mayor Eric Adams's decision to release a list of 950,000 residents potentially subject to a "punitive tax" on luxury second homes. The list includes names and addresses, raising concerns about doxing and privacy.
Kara Swisher likens Mark Zuckerberg to "corporate vaseline as Axe body spray," suggesting his media efforts are an attempt to cover up or mask perceived negative aspects. Scott Galloway agrees with the sentiment.
Scott Galloway states that SpaceX has experienced a significant valuation decrease, referring to it as a "trillion-dollar wipeout." Kara Swisher acknowledges this, highlighting a substantial drop in the company's perceived worth.
Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway discussed the changing media landscape, highlighting how platforms like Substack allow talent to bypass traditional gatekeepers. They observed a growing market for expertise and substantive content in a post-Trump era.
Scott Galloway shared his advice for Hillary Clinton regarding her potential podcast ventures. He suggested that instead of hosting her own show, she should focus on being a regular guest on established podcasts.
Cara Swisher expressed her enjoyment of a "cats"-like theatrical performance, describing it as a drag show that made the concept of cats work. She found the experience joyful and the crowd packed, but noted the show is closing due to high Broadway costs.
Scott Galloway revealed he recently visited former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at their home. While not explicitly stating the reason, he implied it was related to Hillary Clinton's potential podcasting endeavors.
Showing the latest 15 of 19 covered episodes.