Podcast Summary — Pivot: “Resist and Unsubscribe” Live with Gov. Tim Walz

Date: March 10, 2026
Hosts: Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway
Guest: Governor Tim Walz (Minnesota)
Event: Live at the Pantages Theater, Minneapolis

Overview

This live episode of Pivot finds Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway in Minneapolis, joined by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for a candid and often fiery discussion on tech, politics, corporate responsibility, grassroots resistance, and the unique role Minnesota has played in national events. The conversation spans from the fallout of Kristi Noem’s departure and immigration enforcement in Minnesota, to critiques of corporate timidity (especially Target’s response to ICE actions), mounting anti-trans legislation, and the ongoing “Resist and Unsubscribe” movement led by Scott. The episode is rich with pointed critiques, sharp humor, and calls to meaningful civic engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristi Noem, Accountability & Immigration Enforcement ([03:23]–[15:12])

• Kara opens the substantive conversation by asking Gov. Walz for his reaction to Kristi Noem’s resignation and the broader fallout from recent federal immigration crackdowns in Minnesota.
• Walz’s Reaction: “I was trying to act all serious and say, you know, I’m not a petty person. And then I checked myself and I said, in this case, I’m petty as hell.” ([03:40])
• Walz stresses he knew Noem personally, highlighting how Trump’s orbit changes people: “When they get in the orbit of Donald Trump … it turns into this.” ([03:51])
• On Accountability: Walz insists that what happened in Minneapolis demands justice and accountability, invoking both literal and moral injury to the state:

  “Somebody has to pay a price.” ([05:01])

• Walz argues that “just following orders didn’t get you out of anything... she was more than happy to tell us she was in charge as she rode her horse around.” ([06:09])
• He draws a clear line between “fraud” (prosecuted in Minnesota) and “corruption” (allegedly in other states), emphasizing Minnesota’s commitment to social services and accountability:

  “I am not going to apologize that Minnesota has incredible social service programs that lift people up, feed hungry kids…” ([07:45])

• On resisting future federal overreach, Walz credits grassroots, hyper-local activism for resisting ICE, and underscores passing messages to other potential targets:

  “It wasn’t the elected officials. They left because of the people on the streets.” ([09:33])

2. The Democratic Party, Resistance, and Leadership ([15:12]–[19:17])

• Scott challenges Walz on the perceived lack of energy and competency among Democrats:

  “As bad as the Republican Party is … what makes a lot of progressives angry is the Democrats don’t seem to quite frankly have their act together... We want to join a more competent, aggressive resistance.” ([15:12])

• Walz accepts some blame but urges Dems to stop being prisoners to tradition:

  “People are sick of strongly worded letters.” ([16:06])
  “If they can break every institution to try and go into people’s houses … then we should be able to break all the norms to give universal health care.” ([17:21])

• On 2028 leadership:

  “I don’t know if that person’s out there yet... but what we saw in Minneapolis is strength in numbers, strength in unity.” ([18:10])

3. Republicans & Social Safety Net Narratives ([20:34]–[22:42])

• Kara probes how Republicans use scandals as evidence of social program failure; Walz rebuts fiercely:

  “They are not interested in stopping the fraud. They’re interested in taking away meals from kids.” ([21:05])

• Walz stresses Minnesota’s high social rankings and the need for better oversight, not fewer programs.

4. Resilience, Stress, and Advice for Young Leaders ([22:43]–[26:29])

• Scott asks Walz about managing the stress of public service and disappointment:

  “How do you deal with that?... What advice would you have for young people who have mostly just known success and then face real stress and disappointment?” ([22:43])

• Walz shares: “You elected me to make those decisions to best my ability … knowing you did the best you possibly can in it.” ([23:39])
• He champions the value of community and service:

  “Find your community, contribute to it. Make a difference.” ([25:49])

5. Corporate Responsibility: Target & Leadership Vacuums ([31:50]–[38:26])

• Kara slams Target’s CEO for bland platitudes on ICE detentions:

  “I have never heard such fucking nonsense in my life… it was a real missed opportunity for a CEO not to have a fresh start.” ([32:15])

• Scott critiques a culture of PR “spin” and missed leadership:

  “Right now what this city deserves is spine, not spin. And this was just such a lost opportunity.” ([33:26])

• Both call for more coordinated, collective CEO action against government overreach into civil rights.

6. Anthropic, Corporate Dissent, and Political Retaliation ([38:26]–[43:33])

• Anthropic, an AI company, faces Pentagon bans after refusing to comply with Trump administration praise.
• Scott argues only collective, not lone, CEO dissent will change the status quo:

  “Someone has to get 10, 50, 100 of the Fortune 500 CEOs to basically put out a real letter saying this has just gone too far.” ([36:33])

• They note Trump-era political theater, with Scott colorfully referencing Roy Cohn and Jeffrey Epstein as “in the room” behind these decisions. ([39:43])

7. Elon Musk, Accountability, and Legal Double-Standards ([43:50]–[47:14])

• Kara and Scott discuss Elon Musk’s track record with the SEC, lawsuits, and the differential application of the law:

  “The top 1% are protected by the law, but they’re not bound by it. And the bottom 99 are bound by the law, but not protected by it.” ([45:49])

• Musk’s consistent ability to dodge real consequences is called out as emblematic of economic inequality.

8. Anti-Trans Legislation in Kansas & Beyond ([49:03]–[53:30])

• New anti-trans law in Kansas is highlighted.
• Scott: “You might disagree... but if you think of yourself as a man... you move to protection. This is just straight victimization.” ([51:54])
• Kara defends fighting such cruelty:

  “Do you really want to do this to people? Do you really want to do that?” ([53:15])

• They agree these overreaching laws may create backlash and solidarity.

9. OnlyFans, Masculinity, and Social Trends ([55:05]–[60:43])

• Minneapolis leads the Midwest in OnlyFans subscriptions.
• Scott uses this as a springboard to criticize “male loneliness” and loss of offline risk-taking:

  “We’ve monetized male loneliness. When dudes are really fucking horny. Embrace their horniness.” ([56:19], [60:29])

• He offers his “rule of threes” for young men to foster real-world connection.

10. “Resist and Unsubscribe” Movement Update ([64:35]–[77:12])

• Scott presents a detailed impact report on the “Resist and Unsubscribe” campaign:
  • The movement leverages mass consumer withdrawal from big tech and service subscriptions as an economic protest lever.
  • “The most radical act in capitalism is non-participation.” ([64:59])
  • Stat: 1.5–2 million unique site visits; 5% conversion to unsubscribes; causing significant potential market cap impact.
  • Emphasizes the need for sustained, collective economic action over 13+ months, akin to the Montgomery bus boycotts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Walz on justice and Trump:

  “Just following orders didn’t get you out of anything… This is Donald Trump's started this. Donald Trump did this.” ([07:21])

• Kara on Target’s PR:

  “I have never heard such fucking nonsense in my life… it was a real missed opportunity for a CEO not to have a fresh start.” ([32:15])

• Scott on CEO responsibility:

  “Right now what this city deserves is spine, not spin.” ([33:26])

• Walz on Democratic leadership:

  “People are sick of strongly worded letters.” ([16:06])

• Scott on leverage and protest:

  “The most radical act in capitalism is non-participation.” ([64:59])

• Walz on public service stress:

  “Knowing you did the best you possibly can in it...that's the way you sleep at night.” ([23:39])

• Scott on cultural change:

  “We’ve monetized male loneliness.” ([56:19])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Kristi Noem, Immigration & Accountability: [03:23]–[15:12]
• Democratic Resistance/Loss of Norms: [15:12]–[19:17]
• GOP Narratives vs. Social Programs: [20:34]–[22:42]
• Stress, Resilience, & Youth Advice: [22:43]–[26:29]
• Target’s Leadership & Corporate Courage: [31:50]–[38:26]
• Anthropic, AI Companies & Political Retaliation: [38:26]–[43:33]
• Elon Musk & Accountability: [43:50]–[47:14]
• Anti-Trans Legislation: [49:03]–[53:30]
• OnlyFans & Social Change: [55:05]–[60:43]
• Resist and Unsubscribe Impact Report: [64:35]–[77:12]

Tone & Interpersonal Dynamics

• Direct, Combative, and Witty: True to Pivot’s style, discussions are unfiltered, humorous, and deeply critical of political and corporate cowardice.
• Governor Walz: Earnest, occasionally self-deprecating, but focused on accountability, justice, and the power of community action.
• Kara & Scott: Lean into their established personas—Kara as the sharp-edged interrogator, Scott as the big-picture systems analyst with a provocative streak.

Core Takeaways

• Grassroots action, not just politicians or CEOs, drives real change.
• Democratic leaders are challenged to break free from institutional inertia and “strongly worded letters.”
• Corporate America has immense leverage but must act together to effectively resist political overreach.
• Minnesota’s recent history is cast as an inspiring, if hard-won, template for resistance and reinvention.
• Economic protest, alongside voting, can be a powerful method of civil resistance.
• Living with purpose, contribution, and connection—offline—remains a core value amid societal and technological disruption.

This episode is an energetic, no-holds-barred mix of political battle, policy detail, and social critique—a vivid snapshot of the 2026 resistance era, both somber and fiercely hopeful.