Pivot Podcast Summary: LA Protests, Trump's Authoritarian Playbook, and Warner Bros. Discovery Split

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Hosts: Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway

1. LA Protests and Federalization of National Guard Forces

Context of the Protests The episode opens with discussions surrounding the escalating protests in Los Angeles over recent immigration raids. Governor Gavin Newsom has announced California's intention to sue the Trump administration over President Trump's controversial order to federalize 2,000 National Guard troops in LA. This move is perceived as an attempt by Trump to quash dissent and assert control during turbulent times.

Federal Response and Controversy President Trump characterized the situation as "invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals" and described the protesters as "violent and insurrectionary mobs" (03:35). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exacerbated tensions by suggesting the deployment of active-duty Marines, a notion Governor Newsom dismissed as "deranged behavior" (07:16).

Interview with Livia Albeck Rybka To provide a ground-level perspective, hosts speak with New York Times reporter Livia Albeck Rybka, who shares her observations from the protests:

• Protest Dynamics: "Yesterday was a chaotic day... the crowd grew and grew... thousands of people." (04:56)
• Protester Motivations: Many protesters felt compelled to join after witnessing events unfold on various media platforms, reaching a personal breaking point (05:04).

2. Analyzing Trump's Authoritarian Tactics

Comparison to 1930s Germany Scott Galloway draws a parallel between Trump's current strategies and those employed by early Nazi propaganda:

"Early Nazi propaganda emphasized that Germany's problems were due to entire eternal saboteurs... Today, they're blaming immigrants, academics, protesters, journalists." (07:16)

Normalization of Militarization The discussion delves into how the U.S. is shifting towards an authoritarian model by:

• Deploying military force against domestic entities.
• Using chaos as a means to justify further crackdowns.
• Rebranding militarization efforts as acts of patriotism.

Potential Fragmentation of the U.S. Galloway envisions a future where the U.S. could disintegrate into economically distinct regions:

"California becomes a tech economy... Texas in the south become an oil and gas economy... Midwest, a manufacturing economy with strong relationships with Canada." (07:16)

Democratic Response Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway debate the lack of strong Democratic leadership to counteract Trump's tactics. They suggest that influential figures like Barack Obama should step forward to uphold constitutional values and restore moral clarity.

3. Fallout Between Trump and Elon Musk

Recent Developments The hosts discuss the deteriorating relationship between former President Trump and Elon Musk:

• Trump's Threats: Trump accuses Musk of being "disrespectful" and threatens to deport him, impacting Musk's businesses like Tesla and SpaceX (32:15).
• Musk's Actions: Musk has retweeted pro-Trump sentiments and is attempting to mend the relationship, albeit with strained results.

Impact on Businesses Tesla's stock experienced volatility due to Trump's policies, while SpaceX faces pressure from NASA and Pentagon officials to advance its competitors.

Notable Incidents

• A physical altercation reportedly occurred between Musk and Treasury official Scott Besant, highlighting the intense personal and political clash (35:XX).
• Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, mistakenly claimed a false tweet about Musk and Katie Miller, leading to a public rebuke (33:07).

4. Warner Bros. Discovery Split

Overview of the Split Warner Bros. Discovery is set to split into two separate public companies:

• Streaming and Studios: This entity will include movie properties and HBO Max, led by CEO David Zaslav.
• Global Networks: This division will encompass CNN, TNT Sports, and Discovery, with the current CFO transitioning to lead this segment (46:04).

Financial Implications The company aims to manage its substantial $37 billion debt by:

• Splitting assets and liabilities between the new entities.
• Taking out a $17 billion short-term loan ahead of the split to mitigate debt (46:37).

Future Consolidations Galloway predicts further consolidations within the media landscape, suggesting that traditional newsrooms like CBS and CNN could merge their back-end operations to cut costs. This move would reflect ongoing trends of consolidation in declining yet still profitable cable TV assets (53:27).

5. Wins and Fails Segment

Kara Swisher’s Win and Fail

• Win: Implementation of a cell phone ban in D.C. public schools and witnessing Scott Galloway's charismatic participation in a boxing event.
• Fail: The mismanagement and lack of recognition for influential tech figures like Bill Atkinson, a pivotal Apple computer designer who passed away from pancreatic cancer.

Scott Galloway’s Win and Fail

• Win: His participation and victory in a mock boxing event, showcasing his lighter side and engaging in public-friendly activities.
• Fail: Criticism of the Trump administration’s decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk ship, viewing it as an affront to the gay community and a weakening of societal strength through bigotry.

"You're making us less safe when you decide to inhibit the pool of people to defend our country." (70:20)

6. Concluding Thoughts

The hosts wrap up the episode by emphasizing the ongoing challenges related to authoritarianism, corporate consolidations, and political power struggles. They urge listeners to stay informed and engaged, highlighting the importance of leadership that prioritizes constitutional values and societal well-being over personal or political gain.

"What we need are leaders with spines and policies that don't read like rejected plot lines from The Man in the High Castle. What's going on here has nothing to do with patriotism; it has everything to do with authoritarianism." (73:28)

Notable Quotes:

• Scott Galloway on Authoritarianism:
  “When you have a government who turns its military force inward against journalists, migrants or citizens who believe in exercising the right to protest in a civil, peaceful manner and justice, you're not defending democracy. You're rehearsing for something much darker.” (07:16)

• Kara Swisher on Defending Democracy:
  "We all know that the most valuable aspect of our Constitution is the First Amendment protections, and we have a patriotic responsibility to defend them." (73:13) (Referenced indirectly)

• Scott Galloway on Economic Fragmentation:
  “It's just another step to America breaking up,” suggesting a disunion similar to the European Union but composed of U.S. states. (07:16)

This episode of Pivot delves deep into the intersection of politics, corporate strategy, and societal tensions, offering listeners a comprehensive analysis of current events shaping the future of the United States and its influential industries.