Epstein Emails, Kennedy for Congress, and Guest Gov. JB Pritzker
At a live Pivot show in Chicago, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway interview Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker about federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago, Donald Trump's attacks on the city, crime trends, redistricting, the government shutdown fight, quantum computing, and his positions on issues like minimum wage, health care, Ukraine, and social media regulation. After the interview, Kara and Scott analyze newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents and what they could mean for Donald Trump, discuss Jack Schlossberg's run for Congress and the role of looks and sexism in politics, and break down Kim Kardashian's Skims valuation and celebrity entrepreneurship. They close with an extended audience Q&A on topics including the Fed and economic data, dating and life advice, housing and NIMBYism, and whether Scott would run for president.
How Russia's shadow fleet is sailing around oil sanctions
The episode investigates Russia's "shadow fleet" of aging oil tankers that has emerged to evade Western sanctions and the G7 oil price cap imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A Danish maritime pilot, Bjarne Cesar Skinnerup, describes guiding increasingly numerous, poorly maintained tankers carrying Russian oil through the Danish Straits, while maritime intelligence specialist Michelle V.C. Bachman explains how the fleet is structured using opaque ownership, fake insurance, and permissive or fraudulent flags. The hosts explore how this underground shipping network reshapes global oil flows, sustains Russian revenues, raises geopolitical tensions, and creates severe environmental and financial risks for coastal nations, while leaving individuals like Bjarne in a moral bind.
Deepfakes and the War on Truth with Bogdan Botezatu
The episode explores how scams and cybercrime are being transformed by AI, deepfakes, and global connectivity, with cybersecurity expert Bogdan Botezatu explaining the scale of financial losses and the sophisticated business structures behind modern scams. The conversation covers deepfake-driven fraud, psychological manipulation tactics like pig butchering romance scams, technical tools such as honeypots, and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure like solar inverters. The guests also discuss the challenges of detecting deepfakes, the role of law enforcement partnerships, and why reporting scams is crucial despite the stigma victims often feel.
Inside the Gaza peace plan | Ian Bremmer
On the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, political scientist Ian Bremmer speaks with Helen Walters about a new 20‑point peace plan announced by U.S. President Trump to end the Gaza war. They examine the behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy with Gulf states, the leverage Washington is now exerting on Israel, the proposed interim governance structure for Gaza, and the fading prospects of a Palestinian state. Bremmer outlines what Hamas, Israel, and regional actors would need to agree to, as well as the risks, timelines, and political consequences that could cause the plan to collapse.
Why Would Anyone Want to Appease Hitler?
Josh and Chuck examine why Britain, France, and other powers pursued a policy of appeasement toward Hitler in the 1930s. They walk through key events from the Treaty of Versailles to the invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland, explaining the political, economic, and emotional forces that made leaders reluctant to confront Nazi Germany. The hosts also explore counterfactual scenarios about how different choices might have changed the scale and course of World War II and draw parallels to contemporary debates over Russia and Ukraine.