Is Apple's Budget Laptop Brand Suicide? | Pivot

Kara and Scott are live at SXSW! They discuss billionaires' unprecedented influence in recent elections, and the reality of wealth taxes. Then, Apple introduces a budget MacBook — smart market expansion or a risky move for a luxury brand? Plus, Pete Hegseth calls CNN "fake news" and cheers on the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal, and Polymarket's AI deal. This episode is part of the Vox Media Podcast Stage at SXSW, presented by Odoo. #pivot #podcast #karaswisher #scottgalloway #wealthtax #apple #petehegseth #cnn #paramount #warnerbros #polymarket 00:00 Intro 5:26 Billionaires and Taxes 18:29 March Madness and Betting Markets 25:07 Trump Administration’s “Fake News” Complaints 34:56 Apple’s Affordable Era 42:55 Wins and Fails 50:04 Q&A Producers: Lara Naaman Zoë Marcus Taylor Griffin Video Producer: Rich Shibley 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 email pivot@voxmedia.com

Kara SwisherhostScott Gallowayhost

Mar 17, 202654mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: March 17, 2026
Duration: 54m
Channel: Pivot
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Kara and Scott are live at SXSW! They discuss billionaires' unprecedented influence in recent elections, and the reality of wealth taxes. Then, Apple introduces a budget MacBook — smart market expansion or a risky move for a luxury brand? Plus, Pete Hegseth calls CNN "fake news" and cheers on the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal, and Polymarket's AI deal. This episode is part of the Vox Media Podcast Stage at SXSW, presented by Odoo. #pivot #podcast #karaswisher #scottgalloway #wealthtax #apple #petehegseth #cnn #paramount #warnerbros #polymarket 00:00 Intro 5:26 Billionaires and Taxes 18:29 March Madness and Betting Markets 25:07 Trump Administration’s “Fake News” Complaints 34:56 Apple’s Affordable Era 42:55 Wins and Fails 50:04 Q&A Producers: Lara Naaman Zoë Marcus Taylor Griffin Video Producer: Rich Shibley 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 email pivot@voxmedia.com

SPEAKERS

Kara Swisher
host
Journalist and tech commentator; co-host of Pivot.
Scott Galloway
host
NYU Stern marketing professor, author, and entrepreneur; co-host of Pivot.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Pivot, featuring Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Is Apple's Budget Laptop Brand Suicide? | Pivot explores billionaire influence, betting risks, media threats, and Apple’s budget gambit Swisher and Galloway argue billionaire campaign funding has surged post–Citizens United, intensifying polarization by empowering primary-election extremes.

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