Scott Galloway · 17:28
Solve its problems in ways that may hurt you. These people love to ask what they can do. They never ask what they have done. Right?
Kara Swisher · 17:35
It's a really good way to put it.
Scott Galloway · 17:36
How am I involved in this problem? How have my work practices been involved in this? How have I... How am I the product of a system of taxation and labor and all these other things that allowed me to make this fortune?
Kara Swisher · 17:47
One of the things that I... When I'm thinking about is that they're they're also victim y. You know? I've recently been pretty tough on them. And they're like, you're so mean. And I'm like, you're like a bunch of sore winners. Like, sort of reminds me of the Trump, you know, you win... Like, the Trump people won Kavanaugh, and then they had to be mean. I was like, sore winners once again. And I think tech people are the same way, is they won on every account. And then when you call them to task for a couple things, as Anan did, they get all tetchy. Well, we'll take our money and go. Or like, don't you appreciate it?
Scott Galloway · 18:16
Oh, god.
Kara Swisher · 18:16
Yeah. You know, which is like, no. We really don't appreciate you. But I agree. He is a he's a... It's a great book. It's about the elites, and it's it's it's well worth listening to the podcast, but it's also well worth buying the book. And we'll see where we go from there if they if they listen to what he has to say. That'll happen. Yeah. I'm sure it's They might. I'm sure
Scott Galloway · 18:36
it's a moment of reflection.
Kara Swisher · 18:37
Yeah. They get testy. I think... I I am on the receiving end of testy phone calls from tech people all week long for some reason. You know, like, oh,
Scott Galloway · 18:44
you... What's been the worst on me?
Scott Galloway · 18:45
What's been the... Take angry times famous. Who wins?
Kara Swisher · 18:48
They're just so whiny. I just don't... You know, you're so mean. You're like, don't be so hard on us. And I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna... I'm just not gonna stop you. Just... The message they should have gotten is we have to fix something, and the message they've gotten is poor little me. And that's... I'm not clear why that's the case. It's the mess... You know, what Anand was talking about is let's be reflective of our impact and figure out ways that maybe you should listen to people more. And instead, it's, well, we're trying to help. Like, that kind of thing. And it's just it's... What's the... They're just all... Like, I just can't... I... I'm so now over it. I just can't even... I just can't... I can't... I I just hang up. I'm I'm just hang up. That's what I do. I just hang up now.
Scott Galloway · 19:27
You're done?
Kara Swisher · 19:28
I'm done. You really hang up on the I'm calling around a lot because of this murder of the Saudi journalist by by the Saudis, it looks like. And from... According to some of the investigation, some of the reporting, this Washington Post columnist. And and there's a lot of money from Saudi Arabia within... From Saudi Arabia in Silicon Valley. It's like awash in Saudi money. And, like, I'm trying to get any of them to say anything. And they're like, well, we really can't say anything. I'm like, you gotta be kidding. And now I realize, you know, they don't care. Like, that's... It's... You know, they don't care that they... They just take the money, and this regime is possibly doing this. Doesn't seem... I can't get anyone to comment. Let's just just say. I can't get anyone.
Scott Galloway · 20:08
And what what would you have them do?
Kara Swisher · 20:10
Comment. This is terrible. And if they did this, we have to think hard about the investments these people are making in us. Something. Anything. Anything that's human. So anything human would Something. Be A pulse. Anyway, on that horrible note, we're gonna take one more quick break, and we'll be right back with some predictions.
[Ad break]
— Predictions segment begins —
Kara Swisher · 21:06
Welcome back to Pivot with Scott Galloway and myself, Kara Swisher. So predictions. Predictions, Scott. You have to have some. We have to have them every week. We have to be... And you have to be right.
Scott Galloway · 21:17
There you go. By the
Kara Swisher · 21:18
You weren't right about the the Facebook stock again, by the
Scott Galloway · 21:20
way.
Kara Swisher · 21:21
My god.
Scott Galloway · 21:21
I've been remarkably wrong. Wrong. Said
Kara Swisher · 21:24
that All of tech stocks are getting hit.
Scott Galloway · 21:26
Yeah. I said Amazon was gonna pass Apple. I've just been hugely wrong. Alright. My prediction
Kara Swisher · 21:31
Try again.
Scott Galloway · 21:32
Yeah. Trying to trying to get back in your good graces. I think that some of these sniper retail concepts are gonna be acquired in the short term.
Kara Swisher · 21:39
Explain that. Explain that.
Scott Galloway · 21:40
Well, there's this there's a couple trends in retail. One is sort of this Riddling retail, these pop up museums, you know, the Froze Mansion, the Museum of Pizza, which really play on this trend in retail of scarcity. And it's not that these museums are great, it's that one, they offer a giant Instagram moment and two, you know they're going away in ninety days, So Oh everybody should go. And I think that's largely indicative of sort of this Ritalin generation and where retail needs to head, fast fashion, creating a sense of retail. The other kind of trend in retail is sniper retail, where you find a category with a fat and happy incumbent, whether it's Bausch and Lomb or Labelux with Warby Parker or the mattress industry which was literally asleep so to speak. And you have Casper and then the luggage industry which basically had Samsonite and Toomey and maybe Ramoa and with Away. So my predictions is that Casper and or Away gets acquired in That's the next three to six interesting.
Kara Swisher · 22:39
By whom?
Scott Galloway · 22:41
So there's already been some reports that Walmart is sniffing around. Walmart has figured out that the way to kind of push back on Big Tech is to grab the mic back. And one of the best press releases that sort of says we get it is these acquisitions, whether it's Jet or Bonobos. And I said that I thought Jet was a ridiculous acquisition at $3,500,000,000 But the reality was it gave them the opportunity to say that their e commerce was growing 40% to 60% year on year for four quarters in a row. So if they can pick these things up as maybe Amazon announced they were getting the mattresses which means Casper's value got cut in half the next day. The same in the same fashion that any industry's value gets cut anywhere between 1040% when Amazon just hints that they're going into
Kara Swisher · 23:27
it. Right.
Scott Galloway · 23:27
So I think Casper actually is probably a little more open to being acquired right now. I think that would be the smartest thing they could
Kara Swisher · 23:34
do in a way There's that they're really Purple, there's Casper, there's a whole bunch of them in this industry.
Scott Galloway · 23:38
Thread and Needle.
Kara Swisher · 23:39
Thread and Needle.
Scott Galloway · 23:40
Tough thread
Kara Swisher · 23:41
and needle. All of them. Yeah. There's... It's... It... And they're all very interesting because I I have to say it is a terrible experience mattress buying, and they did change it. And the question is can they operate on their own or they have to be part of a bigger a bigger organization? But, you know, I I... It's interesting because I had dinner recently with the CEO of Walmart, and he does... He's quite aware of his need to do this. He's he's quite aware of of the importance and trying to figure out how they can compete, which is kind of odd to think about Walmart being on the... On their back foot on anything, but they are for sure. That is an excellent prediction. I like that prediction. I think that's a really good one.
Scott Galloway · 24:12
You're right at that?
Kara Swisher · 24:12
I like that one. I think you're right. I think you're right.
Scott Galloway · 24:14
Well, it's like it's like Eisenhower said. It's not plans are worthless but planning is invaluable. Think predicting well predictions are worthless but predicting is a lot of fun. So I want to have a question for you on a Sure. Of the big tech companies, a year on from now, has looking back, gotten beaten up the worst?
Kara Swisher · 24:35
Oh, Facebook.
Scott Galloway · 24:36
Facebook. Yeah. Both in terms of usage, not only regulation, but in terms of the actual underlying performance of the company. You think this is starting to seep into the company?
Kara Swisher · 24:44
I think so. I think so. I think they're really... That speaking on... Yeah. I do. I think. I think a lot of people, they've shown blood, I guess. Do you know what I mean? Like, they're... They they... They're still enormous, and they're still growing like crazy, but there's something off. I think they're... I think probably Facebook. Yeah. I would not say... You know, Google just has now finally been drawn into this, and it hadn't been before. But between China and and this this breach, you know, they had sort of sculped away from some of the responsibility here. And I think they're... But the two of them, I think. I think Apple's just fine. You know? It's just a... They... Just a question of creating great products, continuing to create great products there. And there's... They certainly got dinged in this hacking thing, but they fought back pretty hard and so did Amazon against this Bloomberg story about there being a a... An errant chip in there and the boards that are having to do with their technology. So Yeah.
Scott Galloway · 25:35
That was scary.
Kara Swisher · 25:35
That was. But if true, you know, it's not... They... They've been pretty pretty adamant that it's not true. So that's an interesting thing developing. We'll see where Apple goes from there on that issue.
Scott Galloway · 25:45
So so so not not a prediction, but a thesis, and I want you to respond to it.
Kara Swisher · 25:49
The
Scott Galloway · 25:51
lack of self control, the id on steroids, a weak board that is Tesla. Stock gets cut in half from here, which which I think makes it, I don't know, 20 or 30,000,000,000 market cap. Yeah. Apple steps in and buys it. Yeah. What do you think? No. No? No. Why?
Kara Swisher · 26:09
So I don't know. I just can't see those guy. I can see those guys getting in a room and going, I know them pretty well and being like, no. Just we can't. This is exciting.
Scott Galloway · 26:17
What about Google? Get a jump on self driving.
Kara Swisher · 26:19
Yeah. Maybe. But again, it's who's gonna do it? Like, is it Sundar? They've got enough stuff going on that it just... It's sort of like who... Sure. Sure. Google would be... Apple and Google would be the purchasers. It's just like, would you take that on right now? It's it's a it's a level of exhaustion. Let's talk about execution. It's, you know, it's it's a lot. It's a lot. And the issue is, can we do it ourselves slower but better kind of stuff? So, you know, maybe one of the big car makers might... That's a lot of money for them.
Scott Galloway · 26:48
They can't afford it.
Kara Swisher · 26:49
Yeah. Can afford
Scott Galloway · 26:50
because they're valued like car
Kara Swisher · 26:51
companies. Don't know. I would I would question. I would wonder what is it by them besides a lot. It's sort of like buying... Remember when everyone thought everyone was gonna buy Twitter? I kept saying, no. It's too much. There's just too much hair on that dog kinda thing. And I think it's, I think that's the issue is is the is the level of, I just don't see it. I just see I just don't see it. But, you know, it's a good idea. It's a lot of... But it's a lot... And it's also a lot of money. Could they get it that way elsewhere without that and just make make Tesla one of these pioneers that either didn't did or didn't make it? Like, let it go. Like, what does it buy you?
Scott Galloway · 27:25
It's not a lot of money for Apple. If it... If his sockets cut in half, it's a 20,000,000,000, 50% Yeah. Premium. That's the... It's a 3%
Kara Swisher · 27:32
I can't think of one person who could run that there, and I can't see him being comfortably within Apple.
Scott Galloway · 27:38
And they're not that acquisitive?
Kara Swisher · 27:39
They're not at all. They're They're very controlled about what they do. They just... I just don't... I can see them just going... I can see Tim going,
Scott Galloway · 27:46
no.
Kara Swisher · 27:47
Like, I just see... You know what I mean? Like, no. Let's just focus over here kinda thing. And I think they pull back a little bit in their car stuff. And Google has, you know, Google has let go a lot of really great people, who work there. You know, they've let people come and go. So I wonder where the commitment to cars... It is, but... You know what I mean? Like, who's the driver of the commitment? You know, Larry's over making hovercrafts. Sergei, who knows where he is? You know what I mean? Like, Sundar has got his hands full. So, like, who... Who's the person who's gonna be that person? Diane Green's busy with the cloud. Like, Susan's busy over at YouTube. I I wonder who would be the executive. You know? That's all. I think about the people, and I can't think of any of them that would be any good at it. But maybe. Who knows? Who knows? So it's just... I don't know. Someone's someone's gonna win here. It just is a question of who it is, and it's gonna be a long time from now. Anyway, Scott, I think we've covered a lot today. Did we miss anything? I think that's it. I think we've we've covered it.
— Predictions segment ends —
Scott Galloway · 28:43
Your least favorite thing or the thing you hated most about the Kavanaugh hearings?
Kara Swisher · 28:46
Melania Trump and her appalling statement about hard evidence. I literally don't even know what to say.
Speaker · 28:52
We need to show the evidence. You cannot just say to somebody, I was sexually assaulted or you did that to me. Because sometimes the media goes too far and the way they portray some stories, it's it's not correct. It's not right.
Kara Swisher · 29:13
Just when they're completely appalling, she drops the most appalling thing. And, you know, I think I... You know, it seems like the Stockholm Syndrome has really taken effect with her rather significantly. But And
Scott Galloway · 29:25
do you think Ivanka's gonna be the new ambassador to The US?
Kara Swisher · 29:27
No. I do not. I think probably it's gonna be Dina Powell. That's what I... If she if she wants it.
Scott Galloway · 29:31
Yeah. I mean, isn't Ivanka just her father if he drank water and had a better wig? By the way
Kara Swisher · 29:38
I'm not gonna cry. The way She's not gonna
Scott Galloway · 29:41
be the best. That a line from my favorite comedian, Michelle Wolf, who is the next ex missus Galloway.
Kara Swisher · 29:47
She just doesn't know it yet. She's my hero.
Scott Galloway · 29:50
She's incredible. Do you know her?
Kara Swisher · 29:51
I did
Scott Galloway · 29:52
never know she wants to I think she wants to know me.
Kara Swisher · 29:54
Okay. Alright. Okay. We'll find
Scott Galloway · 29:56
her in a park. Don't don't don't try and segue.
Kara Swisher · 29:58
I'm gonna stop. I'm gonna stop this
Scott Galloway · 30:00
right now. I was in Washington Square Park, and I saw her with my boys, and I screamed you're a genius, and she literally ran for me.
Kara Swisher · 30:05
Oh, really? Literally. That's a good... That that is an excellent response.
Scott Galloway · 30:08
So that means she has good judgment.
Kara Swisher · 30:10
If I see her, I will tell her to stay away from you. I'll give her a little picture to hold and say this guy's a stalker. It'll be good. It'll be good.
Scott Galloway · 30:17
Wait. So my least favorite thing about the CapRehearing? Can I
Kara Swisher · 30:19
just Yeah? Go ahead. That's what you wanted. You didn't really want to know what I wanted.
Scott Galloway · 30:22
No. No. I I listened to respond, not to learn, Kara. So Susan Collins and this whole notion of presumption of innocence. Yeah. Presumption of innocence is this really important construct used in courts of law for a thousand years. Yeah. And it's used as a means to determine whether people get to join the 3,000,000 people are incarcerated.
Kara Swisher · 30:41
Mhmm.
Scott Galloway · 30:41
It's not a construct of a job interview. Yep. My kid's school is interviewing a headmaster.
Kara Swisher · 30:47
Mhmm.
Scott Galloway · 30:47
And the notion that we wouldn't pick somebody because they'd say, well, we have to assume anything bad about them is not true unless it's proven. Where did the presumption of innocence come in when we're trying to find out if someone should wear the most, one of the nine most important robes.
Kara Swisher · 31:01
Well, they turned it into a court of law today.
Scott Galloway · 31:03
That's what
Scott Galloway · 31:03
they're doing. Term should have never been injected into this whole thing.
Kara Swisher · 31:06
Well, that's because it's easy to understand by regular people. Right? Like, oh, guilty and Who
Scott Galloway · 31:10
do you speak to?
Kara Swisher · 31:11
I do all the time. Anyway, it was great talking to you. Stay safe in the hurricane. Keep yourselves safe.
Scott Galloway · 31:16
Thanks very much.
Kara Swisher · 31:17
Our show is produced by Rebecca Sinanis. Nishat Kerwa is Vox Media's executive producer of audio. Thanks also to Eric Johnson. Thanks for listening to Pivot from Vox Media. Join us next week for more breakdown of all things tech and business. If you like what you heard, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts wherever you're listening. Every week on Pivot, we take a sharp unfiltered look at the technology and media industries and highlight examples of winning leadership. When it comes to leading a successful business, time and again, and executives from across industries share this incredibly simple secret: turn to the experts for help. That's why small and medium sized businesses rely on TriNet for human resource solutions. No matter what industry you're in, TriNet tailors strategies for your organization to grow with confidence. Learn more about how TriNet's industry tailored HR can work with your business at trinet.com. That's trinet.com. Incredible starts here. TriNet.
