Pivot

By New York Magazine

Technology Tech News

What's Pivot about?

With great power comes great scrutiny. Every Friday, Recode’s Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the way technology is shaping business and culture across media, advertising, politics, and more. Produced by Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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LAST EPISODE

More hearings for big tech,...

02.26.2021

Kara and Scott talk about deals reached between Facebook and Australia as Facebook, Google and Twitter prepare to testify in front of Congress. They also discuss the new surge of GameStop stock. In listener mail we get a question from ...

Pivot episodes:

09.04.2020 Facebook's Russia problem (pt.2), Zoom's soaring market cap, and a prediction on Shopify Kara and Scott talk about Russian election interference found on Facebook and Twitter. They also discuss Zoom quadrupling revenue in the past year and what the company should do with their new found power. We get a listener mail question ...
09.01.2020 Walmart wants to buy TikTok, Amazon unveils its fitness tracker, and Kara and Scott catchup on the big stories of August Kara and Scott are reunited to talk about Walmart joining forces with Microsoft in a bid to buy TikTok. They also discuss Amazon's new fitness tracker product, Halo, and how it may be a back door attempt to bolster the ...
08.30.2020 Pivot Schooled #2: The New Generation of Innovators, with Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar and investor Rana Yared In this audio version of the second episode of our live video series Pivot Schooled, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talk about the future of innovation in the US and worldwide. They interview Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar and Balderton Capital ...
08.28.2020 Kevin Mayer exits TikTok, Palantir’s scorching S-1, and a listener mail question about cable news with Baratunde Thurston Kara and guest host Baratunde Thurston talk about TikTok's CEO Kevin Mayer stepping down amid tensions with the Trump administration. They also discuss Palantir, the controversial data-mining company filing to go public and using their S-1 to throw shade at ...
08.25.2020 Mark Zuckerberg and Tik Tok, Friend of Pivot Maureen Dowd on the digital Conventions and… Baratunde Thurston’s Wins and Fails Kara is joined by podcast host, comedian, and writer Baratunde Thurston to talk about the DNC, the upcoming RNC, Steve Bannon's arrest, and Mark Zuckerberg stoking TikTok fears. Plus, Baratunde's wins and fails. Spoiler: they involve really cool sneakers. Learn ...
08.24.2020 Pivot Schooled #1: Media's Overnight Chaos, with TikTok's Vanessa Pappas and Columbia University's Emily Bell In this audio version of the first episode of our live video series Pivot Schooled, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talk about the rapidly changing media industry, President Trump's attempt to force a sale of TikTok's US operations, and what ...
08.21.2020 Lyft and Uber consider franchising, Apple becomes the first $2 trillion company and a listener mail question about social distancing with Aminatou Sow Kara is joined by author and podcast host Aminatou Sow to talk about more trouble for ride-share companies in California. They also discuss Apple becoming the first company valued at $2 trillion. In listener mail, we get a question about ...
08.18.2020 Epic Games challenges Google and Apple, guest host Aminatou Sow on keeping the post office public, and Friend of Pivot Mary Trump on her uncle Donald Kara is joined by guest host, author of Big Friendship and host of the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend", Aminatou Sow to discuss Epic Games suing Apple and Google. They also talk about about how to save the Postal Service as ...
08.14.2020 Uber threatens to shutdown app over AB5, Airbnb's surprise IPO and a listener mail question about WFH with Andrew Ross Sorkin Kara is joined by New York Times columnist, founder of Deal Book and CNBC Sqwuakbox Host Andrew Ross Sorkin to talk about Uber threatening to shut down their rideshare app in reaction to a new AB-5 ruling. They also discuss ...
08.11.2020 Trump’s executive order on TikTok & WeChat, Friend of Pivot Jennifer Palmieri about women in politics, and guest host Andrew Ross Sorkin on a billionaire tax 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 ...
08.07.2020 Disney+ pioneers at-home movie premieres and Facebook signs a lease in Manhattan, with guest host Stephanie Ruhle 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 ...
08.04.2020 Guest host Stephanie Ruhle on TikTok ban, SpaceX splash down, and Friend of Pivot Rep. David Cicilline on antitrust hearings 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 ...
07.31.2020 The surprises at Big Tech's antitrust hearing, Snap's first diversity report, and a scary prediction for parents of college students 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) ...
07.28.2020 Facebook’s “cultural crisis,” Mark Cuban on the NBA’s rebound, and Kara gets replaced by AI 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 ...
07.24.2020 Previewing the Big Four's antitrust appearance, Twitter bans QAnon, and prediction on Tesla buying up companies 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 ...
07.21.2020 Jack Ma bypasses NYSE, a Friend of Pivot on how the Lincoln Project is trolling Trump, and Netflix's earnings fail 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 ...
07.17.2020 NBC's streaming service launches without Roku or Amazon Fire TV, Apple wins a tax battle, and a prediction on Netflix earnings 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 ...
07.14.2020 Google is the latest FAANG to invest in India, Facebook might ban political ads, and civil rights advocate Rashad Robinson on the ad boycott 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 ...
07.10.2020 Facebook fails a civil rights audit, college campuses will be "mini-Wuhans", and can the Trump admin ban TikTok? 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, ...
07.07.2020 Uber buys Postmates, Taylor Lorenz talks Clubhouse, and Big Tech will testify in Congress — but Congress has already lost 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 ...
06.30.2020 Facebook changes its speech policy, Amazon moves into driverless cars, and a Friend of Pivot on how suspension of visas will affect Silicon Valley 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 ...
06.26.2020 Square withholds from its merchants; Twitch’s female streamers have had enough and a Listener Mail on contact tracing apps 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 ...
06.23.2020 TikTokers take down Trump in Tulsa, a former-Google exec starts an anti-Google Google and John Rice on how to get more Black people in leadership 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, ...
06.19.2020 Twitter’s new audio innovation, Apple’s dominance gets a closer look and a prediction on the impact of online trading apps on mental health 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 ...
06.16.2020 Bezos offers to testify, COVID-19 infections are up and Suze Orman on why emergency savings are more important than ever 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 ...
06.12.2020 Amazon suspends facial recognition technology, Starbuck’s closes 400 stores and a prediction on Apple and search 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 ...
06.09.2020 Amazon warehouse workers issue lawsuit, Alexis Ohanian steps down from Reddit board and a deeper debate on Section 230 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 ...
06.05.2020 Zuckerberg does nothing about Trump, Google’s Incognito is not Incognito?, Amazon bonds and a prediction about 2020 IPOs 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 ...
06.02.2020 How Facebook and Twitter are dealing with racist posts and Friend of Pivot Baratunde Thurston on why “now is the time to step up, show up, or shut up” 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 ...
05.29.2020 Fact checking Trump on Twitter, SpaceX privatizes space, and a Listener Mail question on mental health apps and big tech 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 ...
05.26.2020 Disney open doors to the NBA, NYSE rings the bell, plus former Facebook Exec on Zuckerberg's WFH move 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 ...
05.22.2020 Spotify’s podcast boom, Amazon checks out JCPenny, Kara loves TikTok and a prediction on Shopify 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 ...
05.19.2020 The DOJ readies a lawsuit against Google, Amazon tries to get into designer retail again, and a Friend of Pivot on the “plandemic” 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. ...
05.15.2020 Uber offers to gobble up GrubHub, Elon Musk is “Re-open America guy”, and a prediction on mergers in digital media 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 ...
05.12.2020 Amazon might acquire AMC theaters and Friend of Pivot Stephanie Ruhle on business, CARES Act, wins and fails 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 ...
05.08.2020 Facebook's oversight board is the "League of Nations", Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's master class on leadership, and a prediction about Uber's numbers 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 ...
05.05.2020 Congress weighs liability for businesses, Amazon will put its $4billion profit into its supply chain, and Anand Giridharadas on "Rich Corona; Poor Corona" 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 ...
05.01.2020 Facebook pushes e-commerce business, Uber in trouble, eyes on Amazon Media Group… and a prediction: Sonos gets acquired 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 ...
04.28.2020 Amazon under scrutiny; Zoom security expert Alex Stamos explains it all (and talks Facebook), plus some special Wins and Fails 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 ...
04.24.2020 Netflix’s Reed Hastings has a huge quarter, Facebook makes big investment in India, Bezos takes the reins at Amazon 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 ...
04.21.2020 Andreessen tells Silicon Valley it’s “time to build”, Facebook/Google’s ad market hit, Friend of Pivot Rebecca Traister on women’s leadership 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 ...
04.17.2020 World Health Organization in the crosshairs, the robot revolution, Softbank's struggling Vision Fund and a big prediction: Amazon is going to be a $2 trillion company by 2020 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 ...
04.14.2020 Google and Apple team up to track COVID-19, Uber drivers face unemployment hurdles, and Robert Reich says 30% of people may be out of work by summer 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 ...
04.10.2020 Dorsey donates 28% of his wealth to COVID-19, Zoom as the poster child for tech privacy and the video-game industry as Amazon enters the production game 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 ...
04.07.2020 Zoom isn’t as “encrypted” as you think, tech regulation amidst COVID-19, and economist Gene Sperling on being in a “jobs depression” 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 ...
04.03.2020 Sean Hannity has a meltdown. Twitter, Facebook and Google tackle misinformation. Softbank abandons WeWork. PLUS Quibi gets a break. 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 ...
03.31.2020 The Internet is buckling under COVID-19 pressure, Esther Perel on our relationships in quarantine, and the possible Fox News reckoning 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 ...
03.27.2020 Zoom stock surpasses airlines; MLB, NBA, Olympics are on pause — what happens to the media that covers them? And a Listener Mail about relief package guardrails. 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 ...
03.24.2020 Stimulus package stalled, how Airbnb, Tesla and Uber fare during COVID-19, and Corey Johnson (NYC Speaker) on small businesses and New York on “PAUSE" 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 ...
03.20.2020 Addressing the US economy (a note from Andrew Yang), data privacy in a public health emergency, and a listener question on the "great WFH-experiment” 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. ...

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Pivot

What's Pivot about?

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Pivot episodes:

Facebook's Russia problem (pt.2), Zoom's soaring market cap, and a prediction on Shopify

Walmart wants to buy TikTok, Amazon unveils its fitness tracker, and Kara and Scott catchup on the big stories of August

Pivot Schooled #2: The New Generation of Innovators, with Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar and investor Rana Yared

Kevin Mayer exits TikTok, Palantir’s scorching S-1, and a listener mail question about cable news with Baratunde Thurston

Mark Zuckerberg and Tik Tok, Friend of Pivot Maureen Dowd on the digital Conventions and… Baratunde Thurston’s Wins and Fails

Pivot Schooled #1: Media's Overnight Chaos, with TikTok's Vanessa Pappas and Columbia University's Emily Bell

Lyft and Uber consider franchising, Apple becomes the first $2 trillion company and a listener mail question about social distancing with Aminatou Sow

Epic Games challenges Google and Apple, guest host Aminatou Sow on keeping the post office public, and Friend of Pivot Mary Trump on her uncle Donald

Uber threatens to shutdown app over AB5, Airbnb's surprise IPO and a listener mail question about WFH with Andrew Ross Sorkin

Trump’s executive order on TikTok & WeChat, Friend of Pivot Jennifer Palmieri about women in politics, and guest host Andrew Ross Sorkin on a billionaire tax

Disney+ pioneers at-home movie premieres and Facebook signs a lease in Manhattan, with guest host Stephanie Ruhle

Guest host Stephanie Ruhle on TikTok ban, SpaceX splash down, and Friend of Pivot Rep. David Cicilline on antitrust hearings

The surprises at Big Tech's antitrust hearing, Snap's first diversity report, and a scary prediction for parents of college students

Facebook’s “cultural crisis,” Mark Cuban on the NBA’s rebound, and Kara gets replaced by AI

Previewing the Big Four's antitrust appearance, Twitter bans QAnon, and prediction on Tesla buying up companies

Jack Ma bypasses NYSE, a Friend of Pivot on how the Lincoln Project is trolling Trump, and Netflix's earnings fail

NBC's streaming service launches without Roku or Amazon Fire TV, Apple wins a tax battle, and a prediction on Netflix earnings

Google is the latest FAANG to invest in India, Facebook might ban political ads, and civil rights advocate Rashad Robinson on the ad boycott

Facebook fails a civil rights audit, college campuses will be "mini-Wuhans", and can the Trump admin ban TikTok?

Uber buys Postmates, Taylor Lorenz talks Clubhouse, and Big Tech will testify in Congress — but Congress has already lost

Facebook changes its speech policy, Amazon moves into driverless cars, and a Friend of Pivot on how suspension of visas will affect Silicon Valley

Square withholds from its merchants; Twitch’s female streamers have had enough and a Listener Mail on contact tracing apps

TikTokers take down Trump in Tulsa, a former-Google exec starts an anti-Google Google and John Rice on how to get more Black people in leadership

Twitter’s new audio innovation, Apple’s dominance gets a closer look and a prediction on the impact of online trading apps on mental health

Bezos offers to testify, COVID-19 infections are up and Suze Orman on why emergency savings are more important than ever

Amazon suspends facial recognition technology, Starbuck’s closes 400 stores and a prediction on Apple and search

Amazon warehouse workers issue lawsuit, Alexis Ohanian steps down from Reddit board and a deeper debate on Section 230

Zuckerberg does nothing about Trump, Google’s Incognito is not Incognito?, Amazon bonds and a prediction about 2020 IPOs

How Facebook and Twitter are dealing with racist posts and Friend of Pivot Baratunde Thurston on why “now is the time to step up, show up, or shut up”

Fact checking Trump on Twitter, SpaceX privatizes space, and a Listener Mail question on mental health apps and big tech

Disney open doors to the NBA, NYSE rings the bell, plus former Facebook Exec on Zuckerberg's WFH move

Spotify’s podcast boom, Amazon checks out JCPenny, Kara loves TikTok and a prediction on Shopify

The DOJ readies a lawsuit against Google, Amazon tries to get into designer retail again, and a Friend of Pivot on the “plandemic”

Uber offers to gobble up GrubHub, Elon Musk is “Re-open America guy”, and a prediction on mergers in digital media

Amazon might acquire AMC theaters and Friend of Pivot Stephanie Ruhle on business, CARES Act, wins and fails

Facebook's oversight board is the "League of Nations", Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's master class on leadership, and a prediction about Uber's numbers

Congress weighs liability for businesses, Amazon will put its $4billion profit into its supply chain, and Anand Giridharadas on "Rich Corona; Poor Corona"

Facebook pushes e-commerce business, Uber in trouble, eyes on Amazon Media Group… and a prediction: Sonos gets acquired

Amazon under scrutiny; Zoom security expert Alex Stamos explains it all (and talks Facebook), plus some special Wins and Fails

Netflix’s Reed Hastings has a huge quarter, Facebook makes big investment in India, Bezos takes the reins at Amazon

Andreessen tells Silicon Valley it’s “time to build”, Facebook/Google’s ad market hit, Friend of Pivot Rebecca Traister on women’s leadership

World Health Organization in the crosshairs, the robot revolution, Softbank's struggling Vision Fund and a big prediction: Amazon is going to be a $2 trillion company by 2020

Google and Apple team up to track COVID-19, Uber drivers face unemployment hurdles, and Robert Reich says 30% of people may be out of work by summer

Dorsey donates 28% of his wealth to COVID-19, Zoom as the poster child for tech privacy and the video-game industry as Amazon enters the production game

Zoom isn’t as “encrypted” as you think, tech regulation amidst COVID-19, and economist Gene Sperling on being in a “jobs depression”

Sean Hannity has a meltdown. Twitter, Facebook and Google tackle misinformation. Softbank abandons WeWork. PLUS Quibi gets a break.

The Internet is buckling under COVID-19 pressure, Esther Perel on our relationships in quarantine, and the possible Fox News reckoning

Zoom stock surpasses airlines; MLB, NBA, Olympics are on pause — what happens to the media that covers them? And a Listener Mail about relief package guardrails.

Stimulus package stalled, how Airbnb, Tesla and Uber fare during COVID-19, and Corey Johnson (NYC Speaker) on small businesses and New York on “PAUSE"

Addressing the US economy (a note from Andrew Yang), data privacy in a public health emergency, and a listener question on the "great WFH-experiment”

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