Pivot

In 2014, when Lisa Su took over as CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, AMD was on the verge of bankruptcy. Su bet hard on hardware and not only pulled the semiconductor company back from the brink, but also led it to surpass its historical rival, Intel, in market cap. Since the launch of ChatGPT made high-powered chips like AMDs “sexy” again, demand for chips has intensified exponentially, but so has t...

Kara and Scott discuss rising tensions between India and Pakistan, OpenAI abandoning its for-profit plans, and President Trump’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Then, Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard’s sloppy passwords, the Gates Foundation’s end date, and the latest earnings from Disney and Uber. Plus, Kara and Scott react to your predictions! Follow us on Instagram and Threads at...

Kara and Scott discuss President Trump saying he doesn't know if he's required to uphold the Constitution, and his plan to put tariffs on movies made overseas. Then, Warren Buffett's surprise announcement that he's stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, after 60 years at the helm. Plus, Apple and Amazon earnings, Elon's new city in Texas, and Mark Zuckerberg explains why he prefers to "rawdog...

Kara and Scott discuss a report that Tesla’s board considered replacing Musk as CEO, President Trump’s contentious ABC interview, and Apple’s violation of an order in the Epic Games antitrust case. Then, Microsoft and Meta earnings are in, and Trump is blaming former President Biden for the economy. Plus, Jeff Bezos bends the knee to the Trump administration. Send us your predictions! Calling us a...

Kara and Scott break down Alphabet's strong earnings, and why the company continues to dominate. Then, the Trump meme coin grift that's raising serious corruption questions. Plus, Trump appears to flip on Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says all the tariff chaos is just "strategic uncertainty," and the new, affordable, all-American EV truck. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpo...

Kara and Scott discuss Elon Musk's decision to step back from DOGE focus on Tesla, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom’s testimony in the Meta antitrust trial, and late Zappos co-founder Tony Hsieh’s newly found will. Plus, Sarah Palin loses her defamation retrial against the New York Times, and another whiplash week on Wall Street. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follo...

Kara and Scott discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth getting caught up in another Signal scandal, Tesla’s latest setbacks, and whether Google will have to spin off Chrome. Then, they dive into a busy few days for the Trump administration — from getting blocked on deportations by the Supreme Court, to reportedly planning an overhaul of the State Department, to taking suggestions on how spark the n...

Kara and Scott discuss President Trump lashing out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell, The White House asking the IRS to revoke Harvard’s tax exempt status, and Elon Musk trying to build an army of super-babies. Then, Nvidia says it will start producing AI supercomputers in the U.S., Mark Zuckerberg takes the witness stand, and a federal judge rules that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in so...

Kara and Scott discuss the latest tariff confusion, with Trump flip flopping on tech exemptions, and warning of more tariffs to come. Then, the FTC's blockbuster antitrust trial against Meta gets underway. Will Meta eventually have to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp? Plus, Blue Origin's all-female flight lifts off, and Bill Maher goes to Washington for dinner with Trump. Help Pivot win Best Busin...

How can AI help us understand and master deeply complex systems—from the game Go, which has 10 to the power 170 possible positions a player could pursue, or proteins, which, on average, can fold in 10 to the power 300 possible ways? This week, Reid and Aria are joined by Demis Hassabis. Demis is a British artificial intelligence researcher, co-founder, and CEO of the AI company, DeepMind. Under hi...

Kara and Scott discuss President Trump pausing tariffs for 90 days, the escalating trade war with China, and the fallout for Apple amidst the tariff chaos. Then, Elon Musk and trade adviser Peter Navarro are feuding, but it’s okay, because as The White House says, “boys will be boys.” Plus, how SCOTUS is (mostly) cutting the red tape for Trump. Note: After this episode was recorded on Thursday, Th...

Kara and Scott discuss the markets' wild ride thanks to Trump's tariffs, China's retaliation plans, and Howard Lutnick's theory about a manufacturing resurgence coming to the United States. Then, a deeper dive into some of the tariff winners (Warren Buffett), and losers (Big Tech), and some advice for panicked investors. Plus, the TikTok deadline gets extended yet again. Follow us on Instagram and...

Kara is joined by Jon Lovett, co-host of Pod Save America and host of Lovett or Leave It. They to discuss Elon Musk’s possible departure from the Trump administration, a Democratic win in Wisconsin, and Cory Booker’s record-breaking speech. Then, Liberation Day liberated us all (and threw the market into chaos), Joe Rogan thinks the Trump administration’s deportations are “horrific,” and President...

Kara is joined by Jen Psaki, the host of MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," to talk all things Signalgate, Trump taking on Big Law, and what's going on with the latest pardons. Then, Elon says the "destiny of humanity" rests on the outcome of the Wisconsin judicial election, and his AI company xAI acquires X. Plus, Jen weighs in on The White House Correspondents' Association cancelling comedian Ambe...

Kara and Scott jump right in to discuss all things Signalgate — will heads roll? Then, President Trump has announced a 25% tariff on imported cars, the Trump family announces plans for a stablecoin, and Megyn Kelly is launching a podcast network. Plus, stay tuned for Scott’s prediction on who will fill the leadership void left by the chaos of the Trump administration. Follow us on Instagram and Th...

Kara and Scott discuss the Meta tell-all that's become a bestseller, the latest attempt to sunset Section 230, and RFK Jr.'s justification for banning phones in schools. Then, Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon is raising questions about his conflicts of interest, especially as SpaceX prepares to get a windfall from government contracts. Plus, the massive Cybertruck recall, and Elon's daughter Vivi...

Kara and Scott discuss the showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary, President Trump’s firings at the FTC, and Starlink’s latest available location…The White House! Then, the HHS has removed a Surgeon General’s advisory on gun violence from its website, BYD’s new fast-charging technology, and Forever 21 is blaming Shein and Temu for its bankruptcy. Follow us on Instagram and Thr...

Kara and Scott discuss cracks in the Democratic Party after the shutdown showdown, and the Dems' missed messaging opportunity on the economy. Then, President Trump puts Voice of America and another agencies on the chopping block, and gives an hour long speech to The Justice Department. Plus, Southwest Airlines says no more free bags. Is the long-term brand cost worth the short-term gain? Follow us...

Kara and Scott discuss Amazon's Prime Video streaming “The Apprentice,” and Steve Bannon’s guest appearance on Gavin Newsom’s podcast. Then, the tariff whiplash continues, and President Trump is not ruling out a recession. Elon Musk plans to donate $100 million to Trump’s political operation after that Tesla ad at the White House… stick around for Scott’s prediction on how long the bromance will l...

Kara and Scott are live at SXSW — taking shots and dancing around like Elon (okay, that's just Scott). They discuss how Elon's business empire is struggling, and how much money DOGE is really saving. Then, Trump's crypto summit, and his plan to create a Bitcoin reserve. Plus, as the IPO slump continues, will any major company go public this year? Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcast...

Kara and Scott discuss Jon Stewart's interview invitation to Elon Musk, and Google's efforts to persuade the DOJ that it should keep Chrome. Then, President Trump's one hour and forty minute joint address to Congress puts a spotlight on major partisan divides. Plus, the effects of Trump's tariff whiplash. (Note: in the hours since this episode was recorded, Trump changed his mind once and may do s...

Kara and Scott are opening up the Pivot listener mailbag and answering your questions! They discuss whether Trump will try to seek a third term, what U.S. TikTok employees should do right now, and the art of quitting. Then, Kara and Scott reveal how they quickly pull those facts and stats on every episode, and share tips for battling jet lag. Plus, would Scott ever consider a run for the presidenc...

Kara and Scott go off on Jeff Bezos' revamp of The Washington Post’s opinion section. President Trump's first cabinet meeting (feat. Elon Musk) and DOGE’s surprise leader. They also have thoughts on President Trump's new $5 million “gold card” for wealthy foreigners, and the latest market moves by Tesla and NVIDIA. Plus...Scott's upcoming cameo on HBO's The White Lotus. Follow us on Instagram and...

Kara and Scott discuss Elon's ultimatum to federal workers, his bizarre chainsaw-wielding appearance at CPAC, and the paternity lawsuit brought by a right-wing influencer. Then, Trump fires several high-ranking military leaders, and brings in podcaster and former Fox News personality Dan Bongino as Deputy FBI director. Plus, the markets try to rebound after a dramatic plunge, Amazon takes control...

Kara is joined by guest co-host Katie Drummond of WIRED! They talk all things DOGE: Is Elon Musk not in charge? How much have cuts actually saved so far? Is Steve Bannon a fan? Plus, X is in talks to raise money at a valuation of $44 billion, which is the same amount Elon Musk bought it for. Read more from WIRED here. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesk...