Pivot – Crypto Pardon, Amazon Automation, and Reagan Tariff Ad
New York Magazine | October 28, 2025
Hosts: Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway

Episode Overview

This episode of Pivot sees Kara Swisher reporting from Korea and Scott Galloway in New York as they break down the week's biggest stories. They cover Trump’s controversial pardon of Binance founder CZ, the fallout from an ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs (and Trump’s reactionary trade war with Canada), Amazon’s aggressive push toward warehouse automation, and emblematic examples of political corruption in the U.S. and abroad. As always, the duo blend sharp analysis with candid banter, touching on tech, business, and the current political maelstrom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Plastic Surgery in Tech and Expectations of Appearance

Timestamps: [09:02] – [12:16]

• Kara touches on plastic surgery trends among tech executives, referencing a Wall Street Journal article about the rise in male cosmetic procedures (mini-facelifts, neck lifts, eyelid lifts).
• Scott admits to regular Botox and lasers– “Why look 65 if you can look 57? And if you have money and it's not that big a risk any longer, the question I have is, why wouldn't you?” ([10:35])
• Both agree that aesthetic expectations—once a burden primarily for women—are increasingly affecting men, especially as older executives seek to appear energetic and relevant.

2. Trump, Tariffs, and the Reagan Advertisement

Timestamps: [12:16] – [20:08]

• Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian imports following an Ontario-sponsored TV ad using authentic Reagan audio, which criticized tariffs. Trump called the ad a hostile act, and Ontario’s premier ultimately pulled it ([13:53]).
• The hosts discuss the strategic and “performative” nature of Trump’s policy—hurting American industries like bourbon through retaliatory tariffs while boosting Canada’s international standing.
• Quote:

  “It's just strange to be rooting for the Blue Jays when they're playing my home team, the Dodgers… Canada’s strategy looks more consistent and unafraid… this will bolster the brand of Canada.” – Scott ([14:28])

• Deeper discussion on how Republican branding (“Morning in America” vs. “Make America Great Again”) and party values have evolved, with Reagan serving as a marketing icon.

3. China Trade & the TikTok ‘Consummation’ Deal

Timestamps: [20:20] – [25:35]

• Trump claims major victories in negotiations with China to avoid 100% tariffs, as well as a pending TikTok deal, which Kara jokes will end with “consummation” in Korea.
• Scott outlines the strategic weaknesses in Trump’s approach: overestimating America’s leverage, misunderstanding China’s long-term pain tolerance, and ignoring the changing global trading order.
• Quote:

  “He is totally misgiving, miscalculating and misappraising his adversary over there. So I don't trust him nor any of his team to get a deal done or, you know, quote, unquote, a framework.” – Scott ([22:37])

4. Crypto Pardon: Changpeng Zhao (CZ) & the Corruption Feedback Loop

Timestamps: [29:54] – [36:13]

• Trump pardoned CZ, Binance’s founder, after his 2023 conviction for anti-money-laundering violations—including facilitating transactions for terrorists, ransomware, and child exploitation.
• The hosts describe explicit “quid pro quo” mechanisms: Binance invested in Trump’s family-backed World Liberty Financial stablecoin in exchange for a pardon ([31:49]).
• Quote:

  “Put another way, make me richer and I will let the person… who was facilitating transactions to terrorists and people engaged in child sex exploitation… out. This feels very circular and complicated and we're so busy watching stupid videos… we take our eye off the ball.” – Scott ([31:49])

• Both predict further crypto-related pardons and a regulatory backlash, warning of “most elegant, clean, frictionless form of corruption.”

5. Tech Titans & the Troubling ‘Dial-for-Policy’ Dynamic

Timestamps: [36:13] – [43:28]

• Kara reports that leaders like Sam Altman and Marc Benioff lobbied Trump to halt plans to send troops to San Francisco; Trump complied because of personal calls from “friends.”
• Ethically troubling: decisions affecting millions hinge not on law but on who has access, influence, or money.
• Quote:

  “None of you get a thank you for telling a bully not to do something that's stupid. I don't want my democracy to be run because these guys can call him up or go to a dinner or give him money.” – Kara ([38:34])

• Scott argues this is symptomatic of an “un-American” consolidation of power, likening the U.S. to Russia in its susceptibility to backroom deals.

6. Amazon Automation: Robots Replacing Warehouse Jobs

Timestamps: [43:28] – [53:24]

• Leaked internal docs show Amazon aiming to automate 75% of warehouse operations, replace up to 500,000 jobs, and proactively shape public perception by avoiding words like “automation” and promoting a “good corporate citizen” image.
• Kara recounts touring an early Amazon/Kiva robotics warehouse years ago: “You could see what they were doing right away… there will be no people in Amazon warehouses or very few people…” ([44:52])
• Scott predicts major cost savings and margin expansion—“I think all the investments they've made in automation… are about to get huge leverage.” ([51:39])
• Discussion on the limits of retraining and the U.S. lagging behind Asia in robotics.

7. Argentina’s Bailout: Corruption and Hedge Fund Beneficiaries

Timestamps: [57:27] – [63:20]

• Trump-brokered $20 billion “swap line” (USD for pesos) is tied to Argentina’s President Milei’s political win.
• The real beneficiaries are connected hedge funds holding huge Argentine debt positions—Rob Citrone, Stan Druckenmiller.
• Scott and Kara call this an “orgy of corruption,” bailing out financiers while punishing American industries like soybeans ([60:13]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On China trade:
  “He shows up and again, this is just such a common error in judgment and in strategy. He shows up thinking he has cards he doesn't have.” – Scott ([22:37])
• On tech leader lobbying:
  “I don't want my democracy to be run because these guys can call him up… I just find it truly disturbing. None of them has said, ‘you should thank me, Kara,’ because I'd be like go fuck yourself.” – Kara ([38:34])
• On the crypto pardon:
  “Elegant, clean, frictionless form of corruption.” – Scott ([34:22])
• On automation:
  “It's pretty cool… And I guess publicly I said, they're moving towards no people in these warehouses. This was about 10 years ago. You could see they're so smart, you could see what they were doing.” – Kara ([44:52])
• On Argentina’s “swap line”:
  “This is literally an orgy of corruption... The bailout props up these prices, offering a crucial window or exit to mark up the investments of his buddy…” – Scott ([59:25]

Wins & Fails

Fails:

• NBA Gambling Scandal & Rise of Speculative Economy

  • Recent FBI arrests in sports betting and the wider problem: “Our economy now resembles Vegas. The house always wins.” – Scott ([65:43])
  • Gambling, meme coins, and attention arbitrage are diluting traditional values of value-creation and hard work.

• Climate Disasters and Unpreparedness

  • Kara spotlights impending hurricanes in the Caribbean and the U.S.’s persistent under-investment in climate disaster resilience ([70:12]).

• Media & Political Corruption

  • Critique of “the ballroom” White House renovation as another example of unaccountable, transactional governance ([73:19]).

Wins:

• Taylor Sheridan to NBCUniversal

  • A high-profile content deal, shifting streaming power from Paramount to NBC.
  • “I thought it was a win for NBC, but who knows?” – Kara ([72:00])

• Ukrainian Resilience & European Support

  • “There is a real war… Ukrainian forces do appear to have halted major Russian advances on some fronts…” – Scott ([74:19])
  • Noted as an example of real economic value and democracy at stake, in contrast to “empty calories” like meme coins and casino politics.

Additional Noteworthy Segments

• Opening Banter, Jet Lag, and Book Talk ([01:29] – [08:28]):

  • Kara discusses her trip to Korea (with exoskeleton robotics demos) and skincare trends; Scott teases his upcoming book.
  • Memorable anecdote: Kara’s legendary ability to nap anywhere—even backstage at a conference, mistaken for an “eight-year-old boy” sleeping on a couch ([06:49]).

• Political Allegiances Evolving

  • Discussion on how Democratic stances are now more reminiscent of “classic” Republican principles, whereas the GOP has embraced authoritarian populism ([18:40]).

Structure & Flow

The episode weaves between breaking news, political analysis, and personal asides, keeping the conversation lively but focused on how recent headlines illustrate larger trends: the erosion of institutional integrity, the dominant role of tech in economic restructuring, and the rise of influence-peddling over rule of law. The tone is direct, at times biting, with equal parts humor and exasperation.

Catch Pivot every Tuesday and Friday for more unfiltered insight into tech, business, and politics.