Pivot

Andrew Arrest Fallout, Colbert Calls BS, Zuck Pushes Back

Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway
20 Feb 2026 4 min read 45m
TL;DR

Prince Andrew's arrest following the Epstein files release, Mark Zuckerberg faces testimony in social media addiction trials, and Meta's influence grows as Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount explore merger talks amid regulatory pressure on tech and media consolidation.

Key Moments
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] Kara and Scott discuss the arrest of former Prince Andrew as pressure mounts from the Epstein files”
Opening segment discussing the week's major news story involving Andrew and newly released documents
Scott Galloway
“[No transcript — approximate] Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in the social media addiction trials”
Discussion of Meta CEO facing legal scrutiny over platform's addictive design
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] Stephen Colbert takes on Paramount and the FCC”
Segment covering media and regulatory conflicts involving late-night programming and broadcast standards
Scott Galloway
“[No transcript — approximate] Warner Bros. Discovery reopens merger talks with Paramount”
Update on potential media consolidation amid industry restructuring
Kara Swisher
“[No transcript — approximate] The Pentagon weighs cutting ties with Anthropic”
Discussion of government scrutiny of AI companies and national security concerns
About the show
›
Pivot is a weekly podcast hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway that breaks down the week's biggest stories in tech, media, and business. The hosts bring sharp analysis and insider perspective to the intersection of technology, culture, and power, exploring how major companies and figures shape the digital landscape.
Takeaways
1
Zuckerberg faces legal pressure over platform addiction Meta's CEO is testifying in social media addiction trials, signaling regulatory momentum against tech companies' engagement-at-all-costs models. This reflects growing legal liability for platforms designed with behavioral addiction mechanics, potentially forcing changes to recommendation algorithms and notification systems.
2
Media consolidation accelerates despite regulatory headwinds Warner Bros. Discovery's renewed merger talks with Paramount occur amid FCC scrutiny and cultural backlash, suggesting dealmaking persists even as regulators tighten oversight. The consolidation trend raises concerns about reduced competition in streaming and content production markets.
3
Pentagon scrutiny threatens AI company government relationships The Pentagon's consideration of cutting ties with Anthropic signals national security concerns around AI development and corporate independence. This reflects growing government wariness about which AI companies to partner with and potential bifurcation of the AI industry along geopolitical lines.