On with Kara Swisher
Award-winning journalist Kara Swisher hosts no-holds-barred interviews with power players across business, tech, media, politics and beyond. The podcast airs twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
High Stakes with HRC: The Affordability Episode
The midterms are approaching, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Welcome to High Stakes, a limited series from Kara Swisher and the former Secretary of State herself: Hillary Clinton. For the next six weeks, the two are here to break down this year’s most consequential races, highlight the biggest issues on the ballot, and prepare you for the midterms elections… and what comes next.
First up, i
Aaron Sorkin and Jeremy Strong on Zuckerberg’s Power and Facebook’s “Reckoning”
Sixteen years after “The Social Network,” Aaron Sorkin is back with “The Social Reckoning,” a new film he wrote and directed. It focuses on whistleblower Frances Haugen, a data scientist and former Facebook product manager who leaked troves of damning internal documents to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, leading to a 17-part investigation in the fall of 2021.
Kara sits down wit
Inside 'Musk': Power, Family and the Making of a Tech Demagogue
In his new documentary, "Musk," filmmaker Alex Gibney set out to answer two big questions about the world’s first trillionaire: How has Elon Musk assumed so much power, and why have we given it to him so willingly? Over nearly four hours, the film connects the dots between Musk’s various ventures — SpaceX, Tesla, Starlink, X, xAI, and Neurolink — to tell a bigger story of the unique threat he pose
Ari Emanuel on his New Memoir, ‘Ragent’ Reputation, and Changing Hollywood
Ari Emanuel built a name for himself in Hollywood as a firebrand agent filled with rage. In his new memoir, “Roll the Calls,” he reflects on how that rage shaped his career and argues it helped him transform the entertainment industry. He’s now the executive chair and CEO of TKO and executive chairman of the WME Group.
In a live conversation hosted by Live Talks Los Angeles, Kara and Ari talk
Andy Cohen Built the Bravoverse. He Still Thinks Like a Producer.
Kara sits down with Bravo network icon Andy Cohen, the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live and executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise. He takes Kara on a tour of the business behind the reality TV juggernaut and why he sees himself as less of a “Bravolebrity” and more of a producer and a broadcaster. They also get into Andy’s longtime friendship with Anderson Cooper
Sir Michael Moritz on ‘Auslander,’ Identity and Life as an Outsider
As a longtime partner and former chairman of the legendary Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia, Sir Michael Moritz had a direct hand in building the modern internet. His early investments in companies like PayPal, Google, and YouTube earned him a reputation as a kingmaker in tech and made him a billionaire a few times over.
But after retiring in 2023, Moritz leaned on his early ba
Sherry Turkle Doesn't Buy the Promise of a Perfect Machine
Our relationship with the digital world is more intimate than ever before – and in her new book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, pioneering tech researcher Sherry Turkle explores the rise of AI companions and what they’re doing to our relationships and identities.
Kara and Sherry talk about how chatbots aren’t just competing for our time – they’re designed to become
AI Agents Went Rogue. Should We Hit the Panic Button?
Are the people building AI going to kill us all? That's the question sparking debate across the country right now. While fears of an AI doomsday aren’t new, they broke into the mainstream this month after Jacob Coxon, a 27-year-old British researcher, publicly quit his job at Anthropic and accused the leading AI developers of gambling with our lives.
Kara convened a panel of experts to help br
Jessica Tarlov on Winning Arguments and Elections
Jessica Tarlov says she has “the coolest job in media for a liberal.” As a Democratic co-host of The Five on Fox News, she knows how to navigate contentious political conversations and make clear arguments based on data and research. Now, she's written a book called I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends.
Kara and Jessica talk about her unique approach to finding common ground wit
Flock Cameras, Meta Glasses and the Surveillance Backlash
Flock Safety, the company that makes the automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras used by over 7,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies, is facing a public backlash against surveillance tech. Nearly half of Americans surveyed in an August poll said they opposed ALPRs. The opposition is part of a long-simmering mistrust of big tech and concerns over privacy and data security.
Kara speaks w
The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell on How Democrats Can Defeat MAGA for Good
As ballots start to hit mailboxes ahead of the November midterms, Democrats are finally feeling some long-awaited electoral optimism. But to build a coalition that can defeat MAGA politics for good, the party will have to win back voters it's lost. In her new book, “How to Eat An Elephant,” Sarah Longwell, founder and publisher of The Bulwark, gives readers a blueprint to do just that.
In a liv
Why This Crypto Billionaire Wants to Slow Down the AI Arms Race
Ripple CEO Chris Larsen once told Kara he’d rather vomit blood out of his eyeballs than run for public office. But that doesn’t mean he won’t use his wealth to influence politics or install a Flock surveillance system that helps the San Francisco Police Department. The latter has some civil liberties advocates crying foul.
Kara presses Larsen on everything from surveillance, the AI arms race,
Three Mayors of Blue Cities in a Polarized America
Ahead of the midterms and what’s shaping up to be an intense political season, Kara speaks with the Democratic mayors of three cities dealing with some of the biggest issues facing the nation including affordability, housing, gerrymandering and immigration.
Mike Johnston is the first-term Mayor of Denver, Colorado. A former teacher, school principal and Colorado state senator, Mike is als
Money, Hubris and Jeffrey Epstein: The Fall of Leon Black, w/ William Cohan
In his new book, “Money To Burn,” author and Puck journalist William Cohan traces the rise and fall of one of Wall Street’s most towering modern figures: billionaire Leon Black. His private equity and investment firm, Apollo, changed Wall Street, making Black enormously rich. He reached the highest rungs of New York society, but his ties to convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein ultimately took hi
Remembering Dolly Parton's Musical and Philanthropic Legacy
Across the country, people continue to grieve Dolly Parton, the late country music icon who spent more than 60 years making us cry, laugh and fall in love. But in a country as fragmented and divided as the U.S., how did Dolly Parton become our "unproblematic fave”?
In this bonus episode of On With Kara Swisher, Kara breaks down the legendary artist many call Saint Dolly with three Dolly exper
Why Are You Like This? with Megan Rapinoe
Today we’re bringing you an episode of a new podcast called “Why Are You Like This? with Megan Rapinoe” from A Touch More and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Live from WNBA All Star Weekend, host Megan Rapinoe sits down with five-time All-Star coach Cheryl Reeve, the winningest coach in WNBA history.
Cheryl Reeve has been head coach of the Minnesota Lynx since 2010. In addition to
Ina Garten’s Next Course? A Podcast
Ina Garten has built a culinary empire by way of simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. After two decades on The Food Network and more than a dozen cookbooks, she’s launching a new podcast with the Vox Media Podcast Network next month, called “Happy Hour With Ina Garten.” It’s her latest professional pivot in a career that’s been full of them.
Ina and Kara talk about Ina’s plans for her
Big Tech’s Litigation Era
There's a lot going on across the tech, media and legal landscape, from the potential $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, to landmark social media addiction rulings and a series of even bigger upcoming trials.
Eriq Gardner is a founding partner and national correspondent at Puck who mostly writes about legal affairs. He joins Kara to unpack some of the biggest stories on his beat,
Ryan Holiday on the Case for Stoicism in an Age of Distraction
While the Greek and Roman philosophy of Stoicism has been around for millennia, author and media strategist Ryan Holiday is bringing its teachings to a modern audience by way of his popular books and his podcast, “The Daily Stoic.” He says ancient writings by the likes of Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus resonate in times that feel especially chaotic.
Kara and Ryan talk about why young m
The Hidden Risk Inside SpaceX
Elon Musk’s SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq in June with the largest IPO ever, raising a record $86 billion. But the stock has been on a wild ride ever since.
Kara sits down with a panel of experts to assess SpaceX after its inaugural post-IPO earnings report and the first in a series of lockup expirations that released more than 900 million shares for trading. They break down where SpaceX is act
Will California Elect a Republican Governor? Steve Hilton Thinks He Can Win
California is one of the most Democratic states in the nation. But former Fox News host and British American Steve Hilton is mounting a long-shot bid to be the state’s next Republican governor. He’s banking on voters’ disaffection with the state’s notoriously high cost of living to beat Democrat Xavier Becerra in November.
While Hilton scored President Trump’s endorsement ahead of the pri
Can Data Centers Be Done Right?
As the AI boom fuels a massive data-center buildout, communities across the country are pushing back. Kara speaks with environmental activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich, Utah climate scientist Logan Mitchell, Virginia organizer Elena Schlossberg and Lansing, Mich., Mayor Andy Schor about the industry’s environmental and political impact.
They examine the secretive deals and tax incen
'I Feel Re-Famous': Rosie O'Donnell on Her Return to New York
After moving to Ireland at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, Rosie O’Donnell is back in the U.S. to stage her one-woman show in New York and guest host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at the end of the month. While she’s taken some time out of the spotlight, Rosie remains an outspoken critic of the president and his policies at a time when a lot of public figures have gone quiet.
Kara and
The Economy Looks Fine. Why Doesn’t It Feel Fine?
Americans feel pessimistic about the economy even as the stock market soars and unemployment remains low. Kara speaks with a panel of economic experts to explain the disconnect. She’s joined by Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey, Catherine Rampell of MS NOW and The Bulwark and economist Claudia Sahm.
They examine the impact of President Trump’s latest round of tariffs, the economic fallout from
From Bit Parts to Two Emmy Nods: Jeff Hiller’s Long Road to Success
Comedian and actor Jeff Hiller has managed to land roles on two of the buzziest TV shows of the last year. He just earned his second Emmy nomination for a guest role in “Pluribus,” and he seems poised for an even bigger role in the second season of the comedy horror “Widow’s Bay.” His success builds on his Emmy-winning breakout performance in HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” as Joel, the compassionate b
The AI Job Disaster Congress Refuses to Fix
Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says America is heading toward an AI jobs crisis. And she doesn't think Washington is ready.
Raimondo joins Kara to explain why she's more worried about the country's political system than the technology itself, why Congress has failed to prepare workers for AI, and what she thinks should happen before millions of jobs disappear. She also discusses the fu
Ben Wikler Has a Plan to Save Democracy
Ben Wikler, political organizer and former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, joins Kara to discuss his new book, “This Is the Plan: How to End America’s Meltdown and Save Democracy.”
Drawing on the grassroots strategies that helped Democrats restore a competitive democracy in Wisconsin, he lays out a national plan to defeat Trumpism and halt America’s slide toward authoritarianism.
Are Insurgent Democrats Breaking the Party — or Rebuilding It?
With just a few months left until the midterms and President Trump’s approval ratings hovering in the 30s, Democrats believe they’re poised to retake power in Congress this November. But party leaders worry a slate of primary wins by insurgent-left candidates could undermine their chances. And yet, Democratic voters made it clear they are looking for change by rejecting some of the establishment’s
The Cyberattack We’re Not Ready For
AI is giving cybercriminals capabilities once reserved for elite hackers and powerful nation-states. Cybersecurity expert Nicole Perlroth joins Kara to explain why she fears we’re inching closer to an “everything, everywhere, all at once” wave of cyberattacks.
Perlroth reveals what she learned in reporting the latest season of her podcast, "To Catch a Thief: North Korea on Our Payroll," a deep
Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Take Us Inside Trump’s ‘Imperial Presidency’
In their new book, “Regime Change,” New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan take readers inside President Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 and the chaotic year that followed. It’s an incredibly revealing look at a president and an administration untethered from the historical constraints of the office and willing to take extraordinary risks in pursuit of absolute powe
Inside the Fight Against Non-Consensual Deepfake Porn
Non-consensual deepfake pornography is on the rise. While celebrities were often the earliest targets, these AI-generated deepfakes are now spreading across communities and schools, and the law and tech platforms are struggling to catch up.
Kara speaks with victims’ rights attorney Carrie Goldberg, tech journalist and Mostly Human Media CEO Laurie Segall and computer scientist V.S. Subrahmanian
The Gray Area: The End of the Human Internet
Today, we're bringing you an episode of "The Gray Area," another great show from the Vox Media Podcast Network.
In this episode, host Sean Illing talks with Atlantic writer Charlie Warzel about the increasingly weird experience of being online. They discuss AI-generated content, bots, algorithms, the “dead internet theory,” and why so much of the web now feels artificial, manipulated, or unrea
The Vatican Takes On AI
Kara talks to Father Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan friar, theologian and AI ethics adviser to the Vatican, about why AI has become a central concern for the Catholic Church. They discuss Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on AI, the Church’s role in shaping a more human-centered debate and why Benanti sees today’s AI race as a question of power, democracy, belief and human dignity.
Kara presses him on Sil
The Media CEOs Betting Big on Journalism’s Future: Jim Bankoff & Meredith Kopit Levien
In a challenging decade for media, New York Times President and CEO Meredith Kopit Levien and Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff have bucked trends and found ways to grow their respective organizations. Meredith has overseen a massive expansion of the Times’ digital subscriber base since becoming CEO in 2020. And after spending decades scaling up Vox Media, Jim is splitting the company between James
Career Advice: Kara Answers Listeners’ Questions
For this special episode of “On,” we’re switching things up, and you’re the ones asking the questions. Kara offers concrete tips on dealing with bad managers, navigating AI, deciding whether to change careers entirely, and more. Top performers in the business world turn to Kara for advice all the time. Now, it’s your turn.
Come see Kara live in DC. She is sitting down with Former Secreta
TMZ’s Harvey Levin Says Politics Is Pop Culture
TMZ, the celebrity news juggernaut, opened a Washington, D.C., bureau this spring. Founder Harvey Levin joins Kara to talk about the stories his team is looking for and why he views politics as pop culture.
Levin discusses TMZ’s earlier attempts to establish a presence in the capital and how the latest government shutdown helped revive the idea. He and Kara dig into TMZ’s standards, whether it
Create or Destroy: Reimagining Marketing with Seth Matlins
Today, we’re bringing you an episode of “Create or Destroy: Reimagining Marketing with Seth Matlins,” a new podcast from the Vox Media Podcast Network.
In this episode, host and marketer Seth Matlins speaks with political strategist David Axelrod, who was President Obama’s chief strategist and senior advisor. David is currently a senior political commentator for CNN and the co-host of Vox Media
Peter Chernin on ‘Backrooms,’ Sequel Fatigue, and Hollywood Mergers
The low-budget horror film ‘Backrooms’ is the surprise hit of the summer so far, netting more than $200 million globally in its leap from YouTube to the big screen. But among the film’s producers is a Hollywood heavyweight: Peter Chernin. As the former president and COO of News Corp. and chairman and CEO of the Fox Group, Peter greenlit huge hits like “Titanic” and “Avatar,” before moving on to fo
Death in the Digital Age
The only real way for any of us to truly live forever is in the memories of others. In the final episode of the Hacking Longevity series, Kara talks to Valorie Jones, chief technology officer at StoryFile, which uses AI to create interactive video experiences. StoryFile also works with individuals to create a digital twin – or avatar – that can answer questions and create conversations long after
Marc Maron on Podcast Grifters, Fascism & His Legacy
Kara sits down live at the Tribeca Festival with comedian, actor and OG podcaster Marc Maron following the world premiere of his new film, “In Memoriam.” In it, Maron stars as Langston Stanfield, a fading, narcissistic actor who’s facing a terminal cancer diagnosis and is determined to secure his place in the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” montage.
Kara and Marc talk about the film, death, legacy, anxie
ICE, Iran and $1,000 ‘Cheap Seats’: The World Cup Returns to the U.S.
When FIFA picked the U.S. to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, Americans saw it as more than just a boon for the country’s tourism industry — it was a chance to finally prove to the world that the U.S. is a soccer-loving nation. But on the eve of kickoff, the tournament has been overshadowed by exorbitant ticket prices, disappointing global travel projections, the war i
Music, Consciousness and the Power of Connection
How should we understand the relationship among sound, consciousness and a healthy mind? It has to do with the power of connection, not just to other people but the world around us.
In this episode of the Hacking Longevity series, Kara talks to Dr. AZA Allsop, an artist and psychiatrist who runs a lab at Yale that studies how music and sound can affect mental well-being and the power of connect
Theo Baker Cracks Open Stanford’s Faustian Bargain With Silicon Valley
Kara talks to Theo Baker, a Stanford University student journalist and the youngest-ever George Polk Award winner, about his new book, "How to Rule the World." In it, Baker unpacks his investigation into former Stanford president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne over research misconduct in labs he oversaw. He breaks down how the university reacted and what it says about power at Stanford and in the Valley
Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro on Friendship, Feeds and Their New Podcast
Longtime NPR co-hosts Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro are reuniting for a new CNN podcast, “Engagement Party.” Each week, they unpack all the culture stories they’re obsessed with and that are generating buzz, from who’s still watching “Euphoria” to viral trends like “friction-maxing.” Their conversations are grounded in their decades-long friendship, even when they disagree.
Kara, Audie and Ari
Longer Life: What Does Science Say?
While the longevity field is filled with dubious claims and junk science, there have been some truly remarkable advances that will have an impact on how we can live longer and stay healthier. In this episode, Kara unpacks some of them with Dr. Eric Verdin, the president and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, California. The Buck Institute was the first of its kind, and it’
Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind and the Battle Over AI Safety
Kara speaks with journalist and author Sebastian Mallaby about his new book, "The Infinity Machine," and its central figure: Demis Hassabis, the CEO and co-founder of Google's AI research lab, DeepMind, and a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry.
Sebastian argues that Hassabis is one of the original scientist-entrepreneurs of modern AI. And although he's extremely competitive and research-driven,
Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova: Chelsea Handler
Happy Memorial Day from all of us at On with Kara Swisher! Today, we’re bringing you a special episode of "Pretty Tough," a new podcast from the Vox Media Podcast Network hosted by tennis star and entrepreneur Maria Sharapova. Each week, Maria sits down with high-achieving women across industries for candid, wide-ranging conversations about their pursuit of excellence without apology.
In this
Is It Possible to Hack Your Body for a Longer Life?
From GLP-1’s to peptides to hyperbaric chambers, we’re awash in medical information and wellness trends. But what do we really know about improving longevity and increasing your healthspan?
This is the first episode of the Hacking Longevity series. Kara breaks down the best advice for actually living longer (spoiler alert: it’s boring, and you probably already know it), and hears from some mem
Why FCC Chair Brendan Carr Is a Dangerous Moron
Kara is joined by FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, Knight First Amendment Institute executive director Jameel Jaffer, and The Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel to discuss FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s escalating campaign against media companies, broadcasters and speech President Trump dislikes.
They discuss Carr’s threats against ABC/Disney, his attempts to revive old rules around “equal time” and “
Joanna Stern Turned Her Life Over to AI For A Year — Here’s What She Learned
For her new book, “I Am Not a Robot,” journalist and longtime technology columnist Joanna Stern turned her life over to AI for one whole year. She let it fold her laundry, conduct interviews, drive her family around on vacation, review her mammograms — she even tried out a romantic relationship with a bot. Her experiences tell us a lot about the benefits — and limits — of this transformative techn
Peek Inside the Club You Can't Join, with Jeff Klein
Kara talks to hotelier and hospitality entrepreneur Jeff Klein about the global private club boom. Klein is the founder of the San Vicente clubs, ultra-exclusive, members-only clubs in Los Angeles and New York.
Klein explains how our era of loneliness and digital exhaustion paved the way for the resurgence of members-only clubs and why privacy is the ultimate luxury. He and Kara discuss his pat
Patrick Radden Keefe On Lies, Conspicuous Wealth & Moral Rot
Journalist, author and podcaster Patrick Radden Keefe is renowned for writing stories about crime and corruption that expose deeper societal truths. His latest book, “London Falling,” explores the mysterious circumstances around the death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler. While London police ruled Zac’s death a suicide, his parents soon learn he’d been living a double life as the fake son of a Russian
The Creators of ‘Hacks’ on Comedy, Creative Partnership and Surviving Hollywood
Kara talks with "Hacks" creators and showrunners Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky about the state of comedy and ending the HBO Max hit on their own terms. The critically-acclaimed series follows Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian played by Jean Smart, and Ava Daniels, a young TV writer played by Hannah Einbinder, as the pair navigate the many ups and downs of show b
Miranda Is Not the Villain, with The Devil Wears Prada 2’s Writer & Director
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a cultural event 20 years in the making — and it doesn’t disappoint. Kara invites screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and director David Frankel to discuss the film, its making, and the state of media and Hollywood today.
Aline and David talk about why they waited so long to revisit the world of The Devil Wears Prada, how the media business has changed in the interim,
How Architecture Can Solve Big Social Problems with Jeanne Gang
Jeanne Gang is a renowned architect and the founder of Studio Gang, an international architecture and urban design firm. She joins Kara to discuss her work and the design philosophy behind some of her most recognizable buildings, including the Aqua Tower in Chicago and the Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Jeanne explains her concept of “actionable idealism"
Life After Trump: Astead Herndon On What’s Next for American Politics
Political journalist Astead Herndon is using his new Vox podcast America, Actually with Astead Herndon to ask what feels like an unfathomable question: What does our country look like after President Trump; and can we even talk about politics without putting him at the center?
As we head towards its first truly open presidential election since 2016, Kara and Astead talk about the ways politics
The WNBA Is On a Winning Streak. Is It Sustainable?
Kara sits down with New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai to talk about betting big on the WNBA and why the momentum for women’s sports isn’t slowing down.
Clara explains why she saw the Liberty as a distressed asset worth rebuilding and how investments in players, facilities and visibility helped fuel a turnaround. She breaks down what’s driving the WNBA’s growth, from the Caitlin Clark effect
Nikki Glaser on Shame, Sex & Owning Who You Are
Comedian Nikki Glaser’s star is on the rise. The two-time host of the Golden Globe Awards is set to take the mic for a third straight year in 2027. Glaser was also just named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of the year. And on Friday, Hulu is releasing her latest hour-long comedy special, “Good Girl.” It’s an exploration of aging, fame, and sexuality in Glaser’s signature raw and se
Beat the Resume Bots & Build a Career You Love with Jodi Kantor
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor joins Kara to talk about her new book, “How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work.” It’s a guide for young people starting their careers in an age of AI disruption, economic instability and political chaos.
Jodi acknowledges the difficult reality graduates face and tries to offer practical yet empathic advice. She argues t
Inside the Wellness Boom: Separating Scams From Science
On the heels of the weekend premiere of her new CNN series, “Kara Swisher Wants To Live Forever,” Kara brings together a panel of experts to talk more about longevity, anti-aging, and the money that’s pouring into the wellness industry.
Katie Couric is a journalist. She’s also been a longtime advocate for early cancer screenings since her first husband died of colon cancer and she was diagnosed
Wellness Grifters and the Real Science Behind Longevity with Dr. Eric Topol
Dr. Eric Topol, the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, joins Kara to discuss reality versus the hype in the booming longevity business ahead of her new CNN series "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever."
Dr. Topol has written several books, including his latest, "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity," which explores the science behind anti-aging
America’s New Power Order: Kara in Conversation with Walter Isaacson
Kara’s 2023 interview with journalist and biographer Walter Isaacson about his Elon Musk biography was one of her most contentious conversations ever — and one of the show’s most popular episodes. They’re still friends, though. And at this year’s New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, Isaacson got his chance to put Kara in the hot seat.
In this live conversation, recorded last month, Ka
Louis Theroux Goes Inside the Manosphere. It’s Worse Than You Think.
Louis Theroux joins Kara to discuss his new Netflix documentary, "Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere." The film explores the online world of male influencers selling fitness, wealth and self-improvement through ultra-masculine and misogynistic ideologies. Louis focuses on the extreme fringes of the manosphere, where racist, homophobic and antisemitic rhetoric mixes with conspiracy theories – and
Sen. Tillis Unfiltered: Trump, Iran & What’s Next For the GOP
Since announcing his decision to retire last year, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has become a kind of thorn in MAGA’s side, holding up appointments and voicing criticisms about legislation favored by President Trump. But his resistance raises a perennial question about Republicans in the Trump era: Why do lawmakers only push back when they’re on the way out?
Kara and Sen. Tillis ta
Why the AI Race Is Leaving Humans Behind with Tristan Harris
Tristan Harris, a technology ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, studies how the tech industry’s platforms have become extractive and controlling. Kara first interviewed him in 2017, and after he was featured in the 2020 Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” his profile shot through the roof. Now he's featured in a new film called, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apoca
Inside the ICE Detention Boom: Soaring Abuse Claims and Little Oversight
While the Department of Homeland Security publicly claims to be resetting its tactics around immigration arrests, it's been building out its capacity to house detained migrants by buying up almost a dozen warehouses. If opened, they would dramatically expand a system that’s seen more than 40 deaths since Trump took office and is facing staggering accounts of human rights abuses.
Kara speaks wit
A Silicon Valley Satire That Feels Uncomfortably Close to Reality
"Raising money off frothy numbers to sugarcoat the rotten apple is what built this town.” That’s according to Duncan Park, the protagonist of "The Audacity," a new dark comedy from AMC about tech CEOs and their relationships with their families, therapists and enablers.
Live from SXSW, Kara spoke with executive producer and showrunner Jonathan Glatzer ("Succession," "Bad Sisters," "Better Call
Sen. Mark Warner On What Trump Is Risking With War in Iran
As the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Gang of Eight, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner is among the select few members of Congress who get to sit in on top intelligence briefings. But with the war in Iran now in its third week, Warner says the administration still hasn’t presented any plans to meet President Trump’s demands for the regime’s “unconditional surrender.”
Matt Belloni on WarnerMount, Disney Succession, Oscars & More
Kara sits down with Matthew Belloni, author of the flagship Puck newsletter What I’m Hearing and host of The Town podcast, to take the entertainment industry’s temperature just a few days before the Academy Awards.
They dig into the Warner Bros. Discovery/Paramount/Netflix saga and the consequences of the Ellison-backed deal for creatives and crews. Then Kara and Matt debate whether consolidati
Survivors Speak Out: Taking On the ‘Epstein Class’
It’s been more than a month since the Justice Department released the latest tranche of files related to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein — around 3 million in total — yet the fallout shows no sign of slowing down.
The release almost certainly wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for survivors who fought for transparency and accountability. In this episode, Kara sits down with three women
Friction Matters: Resistance Is a Feature, Not a Bug
Friction gets an bad rap, according Jennifer Vail. As a tribologist, she studies interacting surfaces in relative motion, and she’s worked on everything from aerospace materials to syringes to dog food. Her new book, Friction: A Biography, explores the science of rubbing surfaces, the history of lubrication, and why “frictionless” is a dangerous fantasy.
Kara and Jennifer unpack everything fro
Gavin Newsom on His Memoir, Trump, and Plans for 2028
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is the current front runner on the list of Democrats eyeing a 2028 White House run. While he hasn’t made his presidential ambitions official, he has a new memoir out, called “Young Man in A Hurry.” And his book tour conveniently has him passing through a lot of swing states and early primary states.
In a live interview recorded at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theate
Why ‘Playing It Safe’ In Your Career Doesn’t Pay with VC Bill Gurley
Bill Gurley, accomplished venture capitalist, longtime Silicon Valley “worrywart,” and early Uber backer, joins Kara Swisher to discuss how to build a career you love and the tech industry’s sharp turn to the right.
Gurley’s new book Runnin’ Down a Dream, guides readers on how to find and nurture a truly fulfilling career — and his advice is the polar opposite of Scott Galloway’s “follow your
The Story Behind Netflix’s Most Popular Film Ever
Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” wasn’t just one of the biggest movies of 2025; it was Netflix’s most popular title — movie or show — ever. Four songs from the film’s soundtrack also simultaneously cracked the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, a first for a movie soundtrack. Now, it’s up for two Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
For directors C
Inside the MAGA Blueprint for Breaking the Midterms
President Trump tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and he’s already laying the groundwork to undermine our confidence in the midterm elections. Kara brings together three experts to map out how Trump is trying to tilt the November elections before a single ballot is cast, and what he might do during and after election day to maintain his grip on power.
She’s joined by:
Natalie
Scott Galloway: How to Hit Trump Where it Hurts (Unsubscribe)
Scott Galloway is spearheading a consumer-led protest movement with a simple goal: to get people to cancel their subscriptions to tech companies that have disproportionate influence over the U.S. economy. The New York University marketing professor and Kara’s “Pivot” co-host says targeting the companies that dominate the stock market — and by extension many of the CEOs who’ve cozied up to Presiden
Jane Fonda on How to Turn Rage Into Hope
Jane Fonda has been fighting for social justice for over five decades, but in the past year, she’s kicked things up a notch. This past fall, she relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, and her environmentally focused political action committee, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, is gearing up for the midterm elections.
The iconic actor and activist talks to Kara about how to fight for democracy
Defending Trump’s ‘Enemies’ with Attorney Abbe Lowell
President Trump makes no secret about having a long list of perceived enemies. And for the people he targets, there’s one lawyer many of them call: Abbe Lowell. The longtime Washington defense attorney built a career representing both Republicans and Democrats. But last year, Lowell left a partner position at a big firm to start his own office dedicated to helping those "unlawfully and inappropria
How to Knock Out Super PACs with Lawrence Lessig
Kara talks to Lawrence Lessig about his fight to end Super PACs — without passing a constitutional amendment or overturning Citizens United.
The Harvard law professor and Equal Citizens founder was once the internet’s open-access evangelist. 19 years ago, he shifted his focus from intellectual property to institutional corruption, and since then, he’s become one of the country’s sharpest criti
The Onion’s Ben Collins on Political Satire & Why Trump Isn’t Funny
Since becoming CEO of the Onion two years ago, former disinformation reporter Ben Collins has helped revitalize the satirical newspaper by relaunching its print edition, bringing back the Onion News Network on YouTube, and launching a bid to take over Alex Jones’s Infowars. The Onion even recently released its own mockumentary about Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to President Trump, called "J
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