Elon Musk’s Political Spending Spree Is Over | Pivot

Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Elon Musk’s plans to significantly reduce political spending, and his defensiveness around DOGE. They also talk about reactions to Joe Biden's cancer announcement, and have choice words about the “big, beautiful” tax bill's advance. Plus, iPhone designer Jony Ive joins OpenAI, Google announces the roll out of AI Mode, and Democrats still want their Joe Rogan. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:29 Trump Admin Attacks Harvard 09:49 Elon Reduces Political Spending 22:42 Joe Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis 31:54 House Passes Tax Bill, Stocks Slide 38:25 Jony Ive Joins OpenAI 48:24 Google AI Mode Roll Out 54:07 Democrats Still Want a Joe Rogan 1:04:14 Predictions #pivot #podcast #karaswisher #scottgalloway #elonmusk #tesla #joebiden #biden #cancer #democrats #taxes #stocks #jonyive #openai #google #ai #joerogan #podcasts Producers: Lara Naaman Zoë Marcus Taylor Griffin Kevin Oliver Corinne Ruff Fact Checking: Kate Gallagher Audio Engineer: Ernie Indradat Vox Media's Executive Producer of Podcasts: Nishat Kurwa Subscribe to Pivot on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pivot/id1073226719 Subscribe to Pivot on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4MU3RFGELZxPT9XHVwTNPR Follow us on Instagram and Threads at: https://www.instagram.com/pivotpodcastofficial Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@PIVOTPODCAST Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot

Kara SwisherhostScott GallowayhostElon Musk (in a different inserted clip)guestJony Ive (in short inserted clip about AI / unintended consequences)guest

May 23, 20251h 12mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: May 23, 2025
Duration: 1h 12m
Channel: Pivot
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Elon Musk’s plans to significantly reduce political spending, and his defensiveness around DOGE. They also talk about reactions to Joe Biden's cancer announcement, and have choice words about the “big, beautiful” tax bill's advance. Plus, iPhone designer Jony Ive joins OpenAI, Google announces the roll out of AI Mode, and Democrats still want their Joe Rogan. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:29 Trump Admin Attacks Harvard 09:49 Elon Reduces Political Spending 22:42 Joe Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis 31:54 House Passes Tax Bill, Stocks Slide 38:25 Jony Ive Joins OpenAI 48:24 Google AI Mode Roll Out 54:07 Democrats Still Want a Joe Rogan 1:04:14 Predictions #pivot #podcast #karaswisher #scottgalloway #elonmusk #tesla #joebiden #biden #cancer #democrats #taxes #stocks #jonyive #openai #google #ai #joerogan #podcasts Producers: Lara Naaman Zoë Marcus Taylor Griffin Kevin Oliver Corinne Ruff Fact Checking: Kate Gallagher Audio Engineer: Ernie Indradat Vox Media's Executive Producer of Podcasts: Nishat Kurwa Subscribe to Pivot on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pivot/id1073226719 Subscribe to Pivot on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4MU3RFGELZxPT9XHVwTNPR Follow us on Instagram and Threads at: https://www.instagram.com/pivotpodcastofficial Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@PIVOTPODCAST Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot

SPEAKERS

Kara Swisher
host
Scott Galloway
host
Narrator
other
Elon Musk (in a different inserted clip)
guest
Jony Ive (in short inserted clip about AI / unintended consequences)
guest

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Pivot, featuring Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Elon Musk’s Political Spending Spree Is Over | Pivot explores musk’s Political Retreat, Google’s AI Push, And Democratic Media Wars Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway dissect Elon Musk’s disastrous political foray: his claimed pullback from political spending, the underperforming Doge cost‑cutting program, and the severe brand and sales damage at Tesla. They widen the lens to examine rising income inequality, the bond market’s reaction to Trump’s tax bill, and how oligarch‑style wealth is reshaping US politics and policy. The episode also covers Biden’s prostate cancer disclosure and its impact on his legacy, Google’s aggressive new AI search mode and OpenAI’s countermove with Jony Ive, and Democrats’ struggle to build a powerful influencer ecosystem to rival the right. Throughout, they connect tech, policy, and media strategy, arguing for tougher regulation, better products, and more disciplined messaging on the center‑left.

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