Pivot – November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway dive into headline stories shaking up tech, business, and politics: Amazon’s massive OpenAI deal, Netflix exploring a potential Warner Bros. bid, and Elon Musk’s latest “flying car” promises. The hosts deliver sharp commentary on these topics while also unpacking the broader US government shutdown, automation trends, and the geopolitical chess match over advanced AI chips.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Government Shutdown and Its Fallout

• Longest Shutdown to Date: The government shutdown has lasted over a month, impacting 42 million Americans on food stamps, leading to only partial payments. Travel disruptions and public blame aimed at President Trump and Republicans.
• Political Strategy & Moral Outrage:
  • Scott Galloway: Harshly criticizes GOP for using children as “human shields” in negotiations:

    “To not use every dollar possible to ensure that 14 million American children ... have access to food. This is an emergency. They just come across... It's the definition of anti-American. It's the definition of anti-masculine.” [15:01]

  • Kara Swisher: Highlights Democrats’ strategy—forcing Republicans to own the consequences:

    “You run the Supreme Court, you run the House, … If you kill them, you kill them. Like, we can't stop you. … Let them tell us who they are.” [18:10]

2. Netflix Considers Bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery

• Potential Industry Shakeup:
  • Reports that Netflix is hiring investment bankers to evaluate a bid for Warner Bros Discovery’s studio and streaming businesses; Comcast also interested.
  • Scott admits he was wrong previously doubting Netflix would get involved:

    “Maybe an acknowledgement from Netflix that they've run out of greenfield or running room to grow their business organically.” [21:58]

  • Kara Swisher underscores the value of HBO’s IP (Game of Thrones, Sopranos) and says the move could upend assumptions about Paramount being the only suitor.
• Valuable Content & Talent: Discussion of HBO’s track record:

  “The culture at HBO must be so extraordinary because they consistently punch above their weight class.” – Scott [23:56]

3. Amazon and Apple Earnings, AI Capex, & OpenAI Deal

• Amazon’s Blowout Quarter:

  • “Amazon, which again is my big tech stock pick for ‘26, beat on bottom and top lines up 13%. … AWS reported 20% growth versus a whisper of 19." – Scott [34:00]

  • Highlights Project Rainier and the in-house "Trainium 2" chips for AI, and the $38 billion AWS deal with OpenAI.
• Apple’s Steady Results: Unremarkable but solid, with Scott contemplating selling AAPL stock due to plateauing growth; notes Apple’s enormous iPhone margins and underinvestment in capex relative to peers.

  • “It doesn’t look—we keep predicting it's going to be spatial computing or there's something else—doesn’t appear … they're stronger than ever.” – Scott [33:11]

• Automation & Robots as the Real Disruptor:
  • Kara urges focus on automation over just AI:

    “I'd focus on robots and automation. That to me is where these leaps and bounds are happening ... more than AI fan dance.” [38:22]

4. Geopolitics of AI & Chip Controls

• Nvidia Export Restrictions:
  • Trump administration prevents advanced Nvidia chips (Blackwell series) from being exported to China, but allows lesser chips.
  • Scott discusses risk and strategies: Should the US let China develop parity or risk motivating them to copy and undercut? Suggests the “killer move” for China would be “AI dumping”—open-sourcing LLMs and advanced AI tools to undercut US companies.

  • "If I were Xi, I’d be like, we’re just going to engage in AI dumping..." [42:20]

5. Elon Musk & the Flying Tesla Roadster

• Absurd Promises & Distractions: Musk appeared on Joe Rogan, claiming a Tesla “crazier than any James Bond car” will be unveiled, perhaps even able to fly.

  • "He told Joe Rogan that Tesla is hoping to finally unveil it ... and hinted that it might be able to fly. He can’t even deliver the car… this is just nonsense." – Kara [48:16]

  • Scott provides receipts on Musk’s missed deadlines and grandiose claims:

    “It's been 2,400 days since Elon said there would be 1 million Tesla robotaxis within the year…” [50:15]

• Reality Check on Flying Cars:
  • Scott, an aviation investor, calls Musk’s claim hype:

    “This is all just fucking nonsense. … It takes 10 years and billions to get any new aircraft into the air where you can take passengers in it.” [54:15]

• Both hosts agree the announcement is a familiar Musk distraction—what Scott calls “jazz hands”—especially as his compensation package is up for a vote.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On GOP Strategy During Shutdown:

  “They’re using children as human shields. … We’re going to use them as human shields. And I think the American public ... is seeing through this so well.” – Scott [15:01]

• On Netflix’s Fresh Potential:

  "Think about a Game of Thrones. … my sex ed for my sons is Game of Thrones for eight seasons." – Scott [23:07]

• On Amazon's AI Expansion:

  “Trainium 2 is Amazon’s in-house AI chip that has become a multi-billion dollar business, growing 150%—not year on year, quarter on quarter.” – Scott [35:22]

• On China & AI Dumping:

  “I think China … would be spending a lot of money and coordinating an effort to dump … create a series of LLMs … and basically ruin Sam Altman’s fever dreams.” – Scott [42:20]

• On Elon Musk’s Promises:

  “This is continued jazz hands and distraction. Nobody does it better than this guy.” – Scott [54:15]
  “He’s like P.T. Barnum, but except he doesn’t provide a circus.” – Kara [54:16]

• On Media Interviews:

  “My fail was the interview on 60 Minutes. It was a really disappointing interview of Trump. He lied … and they didn’t catch him.” – Kara [62:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 06:58 | Kara sings "Happy Birthday" to Scott | | 13:34 | NY politics: Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa diatribes | | 14:00-21:01 | Deep-dive into government shutdown effects | | 21:01 | Netflix’s Warner Bros. pursuit begins | | 32:36 | Amazon & Apple earnings, AI capex discussion | | 39:55 | Biden/Trump AI chip export controls | | 48:16 | Elon Musk flying car segment – listen to Musk’s claim | | 50:15 | Scott’s “missed promises” data on Musk | | 60:12 | Wins and fails – OpenAI/Amazon deal; congressional cruelty | | 62:56 | Kara’s fail: the Trump 60 Minutes interview |

Wins and Fails (Closing Segment)

• Scott’s Win: Amazon’s OpenAI deal – “If you control the infrastructure and AI models, you set the terms.” [60:25]
• Scott’s Fail: Republicans using children as human shields in the SNAP debate – “This is depraved. It is the exact opposite of what it means to be a leader.” [61:07]
• Kara’s Fail: “A failure of an interview” – 60 Minutes’ Trump segment, for failing to push back on falsehoods. [62:56]
• Note: Episode ends with banter about birthdays, mutual professional appreciation, and a preview of Scott’s new book and their live tour.

Tone & Style Notes

• Sharp, irreverent banter: “This is continued jazz hands and distraction. Nobody does it better than this guy.” – Scott [54:15]
• Candid, personal admissions: Scott’s reflections on his father and communication in the wins/fails section.
• Cultural references and analogies: Comparing Musk to P.T. Barnum; government cruelty to literary metaphors; robust data-driven counterpoints.

This episode delivers a comprehensive, unfiltered lens into today’s tech business world—blending hard industry insights, political savvy, and pointed humor. Even if you hadn’t listened, you’ll come away with the context, the key battles in tech and politics, and a solid sense of why these stories (and the voices dissecting them) matter this week.