On with Kara Swisher

Latest Episodes:

Barbie & Oppenheimer & Strikes, Oh My Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Hollywood is still shut down by its historic dual strike, but this weekend the industry saw its most explosive box office numbers of the year. So far, Barbie has made over 200 million domestically and Oppenheimer has surpassed 100 million. So are the movies back in business? Or is BarbenHeimer a cultural phenomenon that will be impossible to replicate?

Kara discusses this question with a panel that includes entertainment reporter Matthew Belloni, producer Franklin Leonard and communications expert Brooke Hammerling.

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The Rewards of Stepping Out of Line: A Commencement Address from Kara Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

This May, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art invited Kara to deliver its commencement address. Today, we’d like to share her speech with you. Kara discusses the arc of her career and the lessons she’s picked up covering the most powerful in tech — plus gardening.

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Fran Drescher on the SAG Strike and Hollywood’s "Fat Cats” Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Today, a conversation with one of the most impassioned leaders of Hollywood’s historic double strike: Fran Drescher, star of The Nannyturned SAG-AFTRA president. We discuss what broke down in the union’s talks with AMPTP, her last words at the negotiating table, her leading concerns for a new deal – and whether this could all ramp up to a run for office.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question for Kara and Nayeema to answer in an upcoming advice episode.

Other questions or comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram/Threads. Fran Drescher is @officialfrandrescher.

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The Crypto Founder Who Won a “Landmark Victory” Against the SEC Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Hollywood may be shut down, but one industry seems to be enjoying a surprising upswing: crypto. Kara interviewed Ripple co-founder and Executive Chairman Chris Larsen hours before what is being called a “landmark victory” – but, as Nayeema and Kara note, it’s not a clean victory. We discuss the Ripple case, whether the crypto winter is over, and why Larsen is investing heavily in everything from campaign donations to public interventions on crime in SF – but would rather “vomit blood from his eyeballs” than actually run for office.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question for Kara and Nayeema to answer in an upcoming advice episode.

Other questions or comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram/Threads. Chris Larsen is @chrislarsensf on Twitter.

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The Fox News Love Triangle: Tucker, Murdoch and Trump Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Fox News and social media are two arenas that will define the next presidential race. Today, after Kara and Nayeema discuss the implications of the recent injunction by a federal judge banning Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms, we dive into Fox’s Rupert-Trump-Tucker love triangle. We’re joined by a panel including New York Times reporter Jeremy W. Peters, Guardian columnist Margaret Sullivan, and Dispatch Editor in Chief Jonah Goldberg.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question for Kara and Nayeema to answer in an upcoming advice episode.

Other questions or comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram/Threads. Margaret Sullivan is @Sulliview. Jonah Goldberg is @JonahDispatch on Twitter.

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Jake Tapper on Trust, Trump and CNN Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

When political spectacles abound, how can the media focus on the substance and avoid the clickbait? And is there a market left for nonpartisan cable news? Chief Washington Correspondent and Anchor of The Lead Jake Tapper joins us to discuss these questions, and his new book, All the Demons Are Here, a Post-Watergate thriller with inspiration from Trump, Murdoch and more.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question for Kara and Nayeema to answer in an upcoming advice episode.

Other questions or comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram/Threads — and Jake Tapper is @jaketapper.

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Oliver Stone on Nuclear Energy, Putin and the Path to Conspiracies Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

After a quick rundown of the summer’s hottest films, Nayeema and Kara turn to our guest today: acclaimed (and controversial) filmmaker Oliver Stone. The man behind classics like “Wall Street”and “JFK”has turned his lens to climate change solutions in a new documentary, “Nuclear Now.” We discuss the good question of why there isn’t more nuclear energy in the United States, the roots of Stone’s distrust in convention, and the challenge of a world where distrust can turn into conspiracy theory.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and share any questions Kara or Nayeema can help you answer.

Other questions or Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram. Oliver Stone is @officialoliverstone.

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Mark Zuckerberg: Oops! I Did It Again (Again) Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

After a review of the last 6 months of “Meta” a.k.a. Facebook (including a looming Elon-Zuck cage fight and the VR hit from the Apple Vision Pro), Nayeema takes Kara for a walk down memory lane. We reair a conversation from January revisiting Kara’s early days covering Mark – from seeing him sweat through interviews to getting Mark to say things he probably wishes he hadn’t. And we discuss why Mark (who has a standing invite to be interviewed on our show) is probably not going to join — despite all his recent jiu-jitsu training.

Need advice?! Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and share any questions Kara or Nayeema can help you answer.

Other questions or Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram.

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Sarah Jessica Parker Talks Show Business, Shoe Business and More Business Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

After Kara and Nayeema debate the future of Hollywood (including the ongoing WGA strike and the soon expiring deal between SAG-AFTRA and the studios), we turn to Hollywood star and entrepreneur Sarah Jessica Parker. The actor speaks about reprising her iconic role of Carrie in Sex and the City in its latest iteration, And Just Like That. Plus, we dig into her businesses from wine to heels — and talk about the business of Hollywood, including why SJP remains bullish on cinema.

Need advice?! We have an upcoming episode where Kara and Nayeema tackle your Qs about career, love, or life in general. Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question that could feature on the show.

Other questions or Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram and SJP is (what else could it be?) @SJP.

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Wanda Sykes on Why Trump Isn’t Funny Anymore Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Wanda Sykes can find the funny in almost anything: lockdown during Covid, vaccine hesitancy, book bans. They all come up in her latest Netflix special, “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer.” But today, she tells Kara that there are a few things she doesn’t find funny anymore – including Donald Trump.

Also: Need advice?! We have an upcoming episode where Kara and Nayeema tackle your Qs about career, love, or life in general. Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voice note with a question that could feature on the show.

Other questions or Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza on Instagram. And Wanda is @iamwandasykes.

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