Elon's OpenAI Bid, Trump's Judicial Strategy, and DOGE's Shock and Awe
Kara and Scott share their reactions to Elon Musk calling them "cruel, mean, & deceitful human beings." Then, they dig into Elon (and a group of investors) making a $97 billion bid for control of OpenAI, and what exactly will come of it. Plus, Trump's latest tariff threats, and his master plan to discredit judges and weaken the judiciary branch. 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Elon Pushback, Trump's Distraction Trap, and Disney Earnings
Kara and Scott discuss Elon Musk's continued coup, and how Democrats are starting to push back. Then, President Trump shares his bizarre idea for the U.S. to take over Gaza, but is it just part of a larger plan to flood the zone, and distract from Elon's power grab? Plus, the latest earnings from Disney, Alphabet, and Spotify. 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DeepSeek Fallout, Meta Settles with Trump, and Guest Host Reid Hoffman
Kara and Scott are joined by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and the author of the new book: "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future." They discuss DeepSeek hype and fears, and why spending money on AI is a good thing. Then, Meta settles with Trump for $25 million, and the White House takes a page out of Elon's playbook to offer buyouts to federal employees. Plus, the contentious (and frightening) RFK, Jr. hearings. And will Kara get a podcaster seat at the White House briefings? 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DeepSeek Shockwaves, Nvidia's Plunge, and Target's DEI Rollback
Kara and Scott discuss the panic in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street over China's new AI model DeepSeek, which sent Nvidia and other tech stocks plunging. Is this a troubling trend for AI and the markets? Then, Trump almost starts a trade war with Colombia, and Oracle is reportedly in talks to take over Tiktok. Plus, Target becomes the latest company to end its DEI efforts. 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Musk vs. Altman, Trump Admin's DEI Crackdown, and Netflix Stock Surge
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 @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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump Takes Office, TikTok’s Brief Shutdown, and Crypto Cronyism
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 questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Zuck's Masculine Energy, Bannon vs. Musk, and Wildfires Misinformation
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 questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Meta Ends Fact Checking, Trump Tries to Redraw the Map, and the Los Angeles Fires
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. 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
CEO Shooting, Bitcoin Surge, and Bezos’s Trump Optimism
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 has caused Bitcoin to surge. Stay tuned for listener mail to hear Kara and Scott pick their dream administrations. Vote in this week’s poll here! 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bluesky's Moment, Crony Capitalism, and Guest Julie Scelfo of MAMA
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. Julie explains why she wants transparency, accountability, and legislation to protect kids online. Find MAMA at joinmama.org. 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.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stock Market Surge, Kara's X Defection, and Guests Samantha Bee and Joanna Coles
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, along with Daily Beast Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles. Follow Sam at @realsambee and Joanna at @JoannaColes. You can hear the cover Scott mentioned of America's "Ventura Highway" by Penelope Road here. 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
How Trump Will Impact the Economy, Big Tech, and Social Media
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. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Election Predictions, Comcast Spinoff Plans and Guest Dan Harris
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 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
Trump & Fascism, Character.AI Sued for Teen Suicide, and Tesla Beats Earnings Expectations
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 that Trump is a fascist, and the secret big names donating to Harris. Stick around for listener mail to hear Scott’s tips for teaching kids how to negotiate. Answer this week’s listener poll on Threads here! 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
AI Basics: How and When to Use AI
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Elon's Million Dollar Giveaway, OpenAI and Microsoft Tensions, and Guests Chantal Fernandez and Lauren Sherman
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, "Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon." Follow Chantal at @chantalfdez and Lauren at @lapresmidi. 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
TikTok Ban Approaches, China's App Crackdown, and Guest Dana Mattioli
Kara and Scott discuss Tesla's Cybertruck recall, Sony teaming up with Apollo for a Paramount bid, and Netflix's decision to stop reporting subscriber numbers. Then, the TikTok bill moves closer to becoming a law. Will TikTok's parent company go to court to stop a ban? Plus, is China's decision to crack down on popular messaging apps a retaliatory move? Finally, our Friend of Pivot is Dana Mattioli, the Wall Street Journal's Amazon reporter, and author of the new book, "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power." Dana explains what she learned about Amazon's tactics to stay on top. Follow Dana at @danamattioli. 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
TikTok Ban Fast-Tracked, Elon Pay Package Revived, and NPR Bias Accusations
Kara and Scott discuss the new plan to fast-track the TikTok ban bill through Congress, the debate over Caitlin Clark's WNBA salary, and Trump Media's questionable move into streaming. Then, Tesla is asking shareholders to reapprove Elon Musk's multi-billion dollar pay package, despite a judge calling it unfair back in January. Will Elon get his way? Plus, NPR and Google are the latest companies to get publicly called out by employees. How should employers handle criticism and pushback from within? Finally, a listener mail question about who really benefits from dual class stocks. 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
Trump on Trial, Big Bank Earnings, and Guest Charles Duhigg
Kara and Scott discuss Google's efforts to avoid paying for news in California, Barry Diller's plan to revitalize The Daily Beast, and Iran's attack on Israel. Then, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are out with first quarter earnings. Is the future looking bright for big banks? Plus, Donald Trump's hush money trial gets underway in Manhattan. How will this case impact the presidential race? Finally, our Friend of Pivot is Charles Duhigg, writer for the New Yorker and author of the new book, "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection." Charles explains why listening is such an important component of conversations. Pivot has been nominated for a Webby for Best Business Podcast! Vote here. Follow Charles at @cduhigg 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
OpenAI Lawyers Up, Paramount's Messy Merger, and Guest Isaac Arnsdorf
Kara and Scott discuss Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's showstopping appearance at the White House state dinner, David Chang's chili crunch drama, and Meta facing pushback on its political content restrictions. Then, OpenAI prepares to fight numerous legal battles, but do they have a winning strategy? Plus, Paramount Global's proposed merger with Skydance Media is facing opposition from shareholders. Will the deal go through? Finally, our Friend of Pivot is Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post national political reporter, and author of "Finish What We Started: The MAGA Movement's Ground War to End Democracy." Isaac explains why Steve Bannon believes the MAGA movement could "rule for a hundred years." Pivot has been nominated for a Webby for Best Business Podcast! Vote here. Follow Isaac at @iarnsdorf 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