Pivot

Google Nest's Surveillance Secret, Bondi's Epstein Meltdown, Meta & YouTube in Court

with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
13 Feb 2026 5 min read 45m
TL;DR

Google Nest's failure to permanently delete video footage—revealed in a missing persons case—exposes a fundamental privacy breach in smart home devices. Meanwhile, Big Tech faces legal reckoning as Meta and YouTube stand trial for deliberately engineering addiction in young users, and Trump's AG nominee Pam Bondi stumbles catastrophically on the Epstein files.

Key Moments
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] Google Nest stores 'deleted' video indefinitely, which is a massive privacy violation that most users have no idea is happening”
Discussing the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case that exposed Nest's hidden data retention
Scott Galloway
“[No transcript — approximate] Meta and YouTube are finally being held accountable for deliberately designing products to addict young people”
Commenting on the antitrust trial where the platforms face claims of intentional harm to minors
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] Pam Bondi's testimony on the Epstein files was an absolute disaster—she clearly wasn't prepared”
Reacting to the AG nominee's poor performance during Senate questioning
Scott Galloway
“[No transcript — approximate] OpenAI's IPO is going to run into serious regulatory headwinds, especially now with all this antitrust focus”
Predicting trouble ahead for the AI startup's public market ambitions
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] An Anthropic researcher just resigned saying the world is in peril—that's a significant warning sign about where AI safety stands”
Discussing growing concerns within the AI research community about safety risks
About the show
›
Pivot is a weekly podcast where Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway break down the week's biggest tech, business, and culture stories. Drawing on decades of experience covering Silicon Valley and Wall Street, they offer sharp analysis on how technology is reshaping politics, power, and society.
Takeaways
1
Smart home data deletion is a lie Google Nest's promise to delete video footage is largely illusory—the company continues storing data long after users believe it's gone. This discovery in a missing persons case reveals a critical gap between user expectations and actual data practices that will likely force new legislation.
2
Big Tech addiction model faces reckoning Meta and YouTube are on trial for deliberately engineering addictive features targeting minors. The evidence of intentional harm through algorithmic design represents a fundamental shift from product liability suits to charges of deliberate manipulation—a precedent that could reshape how platforms design for engagement.
3
Antitrust enforcement enters new phase With Gail Slater's resignation as Antitrust Chief and mounting pressure on Big Tech, the regulatory environment is becoming more hostile. OpenAI's IPO plans and other tech exits face headwinds as Washington focuses on breaking up dominant platforms rather than simply regulating them.