Trump and Elon Clash Again, Paramount Settles, and the Fate of the “Big Beautiful Bill”

Kara is joined by guest co-host Kristen Soltis Anderson, pollster and co-founder of Echelon Insights. They unpack the latest in Trump-world: a new round in the Trump vs. Elon saga, the $16 million settlement with Paramount, and a potential TikTok buyer. Plus, what the polls say about the “Big Beautiful Bill," and how NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is responding to Trump’s threats. Follow Kristen on X here. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott are opening up the listener mailbag, and taking questions from Pivot fans! They discuss why China's BYD electric vehicles are so innovative, and what would happen if the cars ever came to the U.S. Then, some parenting advice on navigating career choices in the age of AI, and how to have "The Talk" with your kids. Plus, why tech launches don't thrill us like they used to, and a question on time travel! Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss President Trump doubling down on claims that Iran’s nuclear program has been “obliterated,” and attacking news outlets for reporting on leaked intelligence that suggests otherwise. Then, Zohran Mamdani’s surprise win in the New York City Democratic primary for mayor. Plus, President Trump reportedly wants to name Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s replacement as soon as this fall, the FTC approves a mega advertising merger, and Meta and Anthropic score wins in AI copyright cases. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, and the mixed messages coming from President Trump and his team. Then, Tesla's long-awaited robotaxis are finally on the streets (sort of), but will they live up to Elon's game-changing promises? Plus, Meta's AI power grab, and the TikTok deadline gets delayed... again. The info in this podcast reflects events in the Middle East at the time of recording. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠⁠.Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠.Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠⁠.Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott have a live audience at the Adweek House in Cannes this week. They discuss the Bezos wedding protests in Venice, French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to ban social media for children under 15, and Meta adding ads to WhatsApp. Plus, chatbots are killing news publishers, and Trump is getting into the phone business. Then, audience questions! Kara and Scott are with a live audience at the Adweek House in Cannes. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss the Minnesota lawmaker shootings, and if anything can be done about the uptick in political violence. Then, Trump says Israel and Iran will make a deal, but the latest conflict between the two countries continues to escalate. Plus, the No Kings protests rain on Trump's military parade, and Elon's SpaceX contracts with the government might be in danger. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss the tensions flaring between President Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom over the National Guard’s LA deployment. Then, Elon Musk regrets “some” of his recent posts about Trump, and X lures advertisers by getting litigious. All of that plus: the U.S.-China trade deal is back, OpenAI makes a deal with Google, and more. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social. Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss the protests in Los Angeles, dig into Trump's escalating authoritarian tactics, and debate how the Democratic Party should fight back. They also get some on-the-ground perspective from New York Times reporter Livia Albeck-Ripka, who's been covering the protests. Then, Trump threatens Elon Musk with “serious consequences” if he funds Democrats, but is Elon’s behavior on X a sign he’s crawling back? Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery confirms it’s splitting into two companies, just as Kara and Scott predicted. We’ve got another call in show coming up! Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial.Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.socialFollow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast.Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Help us plan for the future of Pivot by filling out a brief survey: ⁠⁠⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The day has come! Kara and Scott discuss the explosion of a legendary bromance: what does it mean for the government, the economy, and most importantly, the memes?  Then, a new slew of executive orders, President Trump’s trade call with China’s President Xi, and Jerome Powell faces heat from President Trump (again). We’ve got another call in show coming up! Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠. Watch this episode on the ⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠@pivotpodcast⁠. Help us plan for the future of Pivot by filling out a brief survey: ⁠⁠⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara and Scott discuss Senator Joni Ernst's callous comments about Medicaid cuts, Texas's new law requiring app stores to verify ages, and Taylor Swift's blockbuster deal to get the rights to her masters. Then, Elon leaves The White House with a literal black eye, and denies a New York Times report about his ketamine use. Plus, Trump raises tariffs yet again, and lashes out at China. Watch this episode on the ⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠ Follow us on TikTok at ⁠@pivotpodcast⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠. Help us plan for the future of Pivot by filling out a brief survey: ⁠⁠⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices