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Speaker · 47:44
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Kara Swisher · 48:18
Scott, we're back with more news. Costco has sued the US government for a full refund on tariffs that is paid if the supreme court rules them illegal. The complaint argues that Trump administration misused emergency powers to implement tariffs. Two lower courts have already ruled that Trump exceeded his authority. I love Costco. I love cost... Every bit of Costco, and I love how they're just like, yeah. We're liberal, and that's the way we're gonna stay. And same thing with... There's several companies like that, like Patagonia and others, and they do rather well, both of them. What do you think of this? This is really interesting. I feel like it's time to fight back. It's time to, like, that's enough, my friend. That's enough of your antics, your ridiculous taco antics.
Scott Galloway · 48:53
If Hobby Lobby wants to take a more conservative approach to their business or if Target doesn't wanna sell merchandise celebrating pride, consumers have the right to boycott them. They have the right to do that. I think private enterprise, unless it's it's discriminating against your your consume... Your customers or your employees, I think private enterprise gets to do what it wants. Yeah. And Chick fil A has always been known as being more conservative. You don't like Chick fil A? Don't eat a Chick fil A. Got that from So as long as you're not discriminating based on, you know, employees or customers, and I think companies should have... Companies now, unfortunately, for many of them, get position politically whether they want to or not. The smart ones try to stay out of that mess.
Kara Swisher · 49:36
That's correct.
Scott Galloway · 49:37
But you're gonna have Trump, a guy who left a trail of unpaid subcontractors and bankrupt casinos, tell Costco how to run business. I mean, Costco Costco is one of the most impressive retail companies of the last hundred years.
Kara Swisher · 49:52
That they're suing him, though. Like, you know what?
Scott Galloway · 49:54
And do you you do realize that only... I think it's only 2% of the revenues come from membership. Basically, Costco is we sell you everything at our cost, and then you pay us whatever it is, a 100 and $180 a year, and that's where we make all our money is membership. It's only 2% of the revenues, but it's, like, half their operating profits. And the model is so genius. It's so simple, but it's
Kara Swisher · 50:15
to shop. It's also a great it's also a great product. Like, I don't just think... Like, if it was one of a shitty product, you'd and you have to drag your way through it. It's actually so much fun to go to a Costco, and they have good hot dogs. But
Scott Galloway · 50:26
It's the only place where I go in for paper towels, and I leave with a kayak, a gallon of salsa, and a financial crisis.
Kara Swisher · 50:33
100 croissants.
Scott Galloway · 50:34
No. I leave with a kayak. I need peanut butter. I gotta buy this kayak.
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Kara Swisher · 50:40
I love kayaking.
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Scott Galloway · 50:44
No. I've been kayaking. That's the closest I think I've came to death. My buddy, Doug Telcher at Berkeley Yeah. Decided that we should go kayaking, and I took one lesson in the pool at
Kara Swisher · 50:54
The flippy kind of kayak or the flat kayak?
Scott Galloway · 50:56
Oh, no. No. No. The hardcore,
Kara Swisher · 50:58
like, down a river kayak. That is that is
Scott Galloway · 51:01
And I went down the American River, and it had rained. And I flipped over immediately and started hitting my head, almost fell unconscious. No.
Kara Swisher · 51:11
And And you're in one of those little skirts, things like that.
Scott Galloway · 51:16
Oh, you gotta do a wet exit. If you don't get out fast, you can drown.
Kara Swisher · 51:18
I know. It's true. Oh my god.
Scott Galloway · 51:20
Anyways, Doug Telstra almost killed me.
Kara Swisher · 51:22
No. Got caught in an Eddie, as they say.
Scott Galloway · 51:25
Yeah. I like I like getting gas at Costco. I like to save 11¢ and wait half an hour.
Kara Swisher · 51:31
I love Costco. Good for Costco. There should be more of this. Get get in there, Comcast and Netflix. Get get... Call up your lawyers.
Scott Galloway · 51:38
You know what also they embraced? When I was joking about Margie Taylor Greene, she has the energy of a woman who returns a half eaten rotisserie chicken to Costco.
Kara Swisher · 51:46
Love that.
Scott Galloway · 51:47
Okay. So just so you know, but Costco, Nordstrom, has basically... No matter what people return or how stupid it is, take it back. You could you could literally show up and hand them the ashes of your broken dreams, and they'll still refund you. I mean, it's like Thank you.
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Scott Galloway · 52:06
the way, one... I I can't help this. One of my favorite retail stories is about Nordstrom. And this guy... Every year, have an annual meeting, they bring all the managers. And they're supposed to tell the most outrageous customer service story for a price. And one guy stood up and said, old man shows up, brought... Brings tires he bought at the store, and they're bald and asked for a a refund, and we gave it to him. And someone stood up and said, we refund you shit all the time. And he's like, we don't sell tires. And it ends up... It's the most lovely story. It was an old man struggling with dementia, and he showed up with tires and obviously didn't know where he was. And the manager came down and gave him a $50 certificate and said, we're taking these backs. Here's the certificate. Can we call your daughter? Can you imagine how loyal you are to Nordstrom as you're that family? I've gotta get
Kara Swisher · 52:53
I spent time...
Speaker · 52:54
A lot
Kara Swisher · 52:54
of time with the Nordstroms back in the day, the original Nordstroms.
Speaker · 52:57
They were loved.
Scott Galloway · 52:57
Pico. I used to have
Speaker · 52:58
the one on Pico. Used to... Nordstrom was where the rich people... And they had a piano player.
Kara Swisher · 53:02
Yeah. It had a piano player. But you know what? The one in Seattle, one of the the original
Scott Galloway · 53:05
That's where it was founded.
Kara Swisher · 53:06
Yeah. I just spent a lot of time with the Nordstrom's. I loved dealing with them, I have to say. They were just loved. I went up to visit Jeff Bezos, and I was like, ugh. And then I visited the Nordstrom's like, yay. That was my day. And then over to Microsoft, which was in a pleasant place and got yelled at by Steve Ballmer. See, that was my life back then. And, anyway, alright, Scott. One more quick break. We'll be back for predictions.
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Speaker · 55:03
Fall savings are happening now at The Home Depot. Save up to $500 on select appliances. Plus, enjoy free delivery when you spend $998 or more. From prepping to cooking to cleaning up, Frigidaire has you covered. The custom flex temp drawer switches from fridge to freezer. With more than 15 cooking modes, including stone baked pizza mode, you can enjoy restaurant quality pizza in as little as two minutes. Then clean up with the Frigidaire dishwasher featuring the industry's fastest normal wash cycle. Shop fall savings now at The Home Depot. Off in Valiquette, October 21, US only. See you tomorrow online for details.
— Predictions segment begins —
Kara Swisher · 55:37
Okay, Scott. Let's hear predictions. We've been saying predictive stuff. But, by the way, another lawsuit, I predict New York Times just sued the Pentagon for infringing on First Amendment rights of being able to cover stuff. There's gonna be a lot more lawsuits again by companies now against Trump. That's my prediction. Everyone's like, that's fucking enough, dude. I call it the this fucking guy situation. This fucking guy. I'm gonna sue him.
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Scott Galloway · 56:01
I I was living at home with my mother and had no... Nothing going on when I was, like, 24. By the way, I was one of those men I talk about all the time. I used to go to Nordstrom and cosplay someone who had their shit together. You just feel like when you're in there, you must have your act together Yeah. Because you're buying, like, $90 sweaters. And you're like, I must have my act together. I'm a Nordstrom. Yeah. And... Yeah. It was... Or or my favorite was I would go into the fragrance section and just take every fragrance, and I would... It was like a chemical ambush. I'd start seeing my ancestors and my credit score at the same time.
Kara Swisher · 56:35
Oh, fragrance masking.
Scott Galloway · 56:37
Yeah. Alright. My prediction is the following. Hag Seth Patel and RFK are out within the next thirty days. I think Trump has absolutely no loyalty. His administration is tanking. He's gonna have to face potential, you know, allegations of war crimes. The economy sucks. Tariffs aren't working,
Kara Swisher · 56:58
and So Patel, Hagset, no.
Scott Galloway · 57:00
I think he's gonna I think he's gonna do one fell swoop. I think he's gonna... Within, like, a week of each other, I think. And a lot of presidents have done this. Presidents usually kinda go a year, two years, and they say, okay. It's time to calibrate, and they let some people go. I think Patel has got sort of an internal revolt on his hand, ton of ton of former
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Scott Galloway · 57:20
FBI professionals are saying, this is dangerous. We we are focusing on the wrong things, and this organization, which is one of the most competent, professional, and effective organizations in history, has been essentially neutered. And then I think he's he's gonna find... I I think he's... Why not do three at once? And Hagseth, Patel, RFK, I think, are all out with
Kara Swisher · 57:41
this one. Not Noam. I'm gonna go with Noam.
Scott Galloway · 57:45
I think he likes... Yeah. Maybe. Okay.
Speaker · 57:49
I'll go three of the four.
Scott Galloway · 57:50
That's a good one.
Kara Swisher · 57:51
Well, RFK would be great because he's paid no price. All these other people have paid a price, including Kara Swizzlestick.
Scott Galloway · 57:56
Well, okay. And, I mean, it's hard to pick which one is your favorite. How about the guy who took $50,000 in cash in a paper... In a lunch bag?
Kara Swisher · 58:03
Oh, Homan. He'll probably make him the head of homeland security. That's what he'll do. That's a Doritos bag or whatever the fuck you got. Anyway, okay. That's a great predict... I like it. I like
Scott Galloway · 58:11
it. Do you think?
Kara Swisher · 58:12
Stick with that. I like it. I think think you're right. Alright. We wanna hear from you. Send us your questions about business tech or whatever's on your mind. Go to nymag.com/pivot to submit a question for the show or call 85551 Elsewhere in the Kara and Scott universe, this week on Professor G Conversations, Scott spoke with Anne Applebaum, one of my favorite staff writer at The Atlantic, about the business interests driving US Russia negotiations, European power, and America's slide into kleptocracy. Let's listen to a clip.
— Predictions segment ends —
Speaker · 58:39
What's disturbing about this episode is that it shows something very ugly about this administration, namely, and it raises a question, you know, in whose name are they conducting American foreign policy? Is this for the security and prosperity of America and our allies, or is this something that's happening on behalf of companies, maybe even some involving the family of Trump or of Wittkoff, who are hoping to make money out of this negotiation?
Kara Swisher · 59:14
You think?
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Kara Swisher · 59:18
Anyway, I like... I love Mann. That was a great interview, by the way. Okay. That's the show. Thanks for listening to Pivot, and be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We'll be back next week. By the way, happy birthday to doctor Jeffrey Swisher. He's 65, Scott.
Scott Galloway · 59:30
J Swish.
Kara Swisher · 59:31
J Swish.
Speaker · 59:32
D Swish.
Kara Swisher · 59:33
Medicare, Jeff. Go for it. Scott, read us out.
Scott Galloway · 59:36
Today's show is produced by Lara Nayman, Zoe Marcus, Taylor Griffin, and Kate Gallagher. Larnia and Todd interviewed this episode, but Nola Moreno edited the video. Thanks also to Drew Breros, Miss Severo, and Dan Shalon to shot Correa as Vox Media's executive producer podcast. Make sure to follow Pivot on your favorite podcast platform. Thank you for listening to Pivot from New York Magazine and Vox Media. You can subscribe to the magazine at nymag.com/pod. We'll be back next week for another breakdown of all things tech and business care. Have a great rest of the week and weekend.
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Speaker · 1:00:31
Fall savings are happening now at The Home Depot. Save up to $500 on select appliances, plus enjoy free delivery when you spend $998 or more. From prepping to cooking to cleaning up, Frigidaire has you covered. The custom flex temp drawer switches from fridge to freezer. With more than 15 cooking modes, including stone baked pizza mode, you can enjoy restaurant quality pizza in as little as two minutes. Then clean up with the Frigidaire dishwasher featuring the industry's fastest normal wash cycle. Shop fall savings now at The Home Depot. Off of Valiquette, October 21, US only. See store online for details.
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