On with Kara Swisher

Vox Media

It's on. Twice a week, award-winning journalist Kara Swisher gets to the heart of the story through no-holds-barred interviews with power players across business, tech, media, politics and beyond. So why do her guests show up? “Smart people,” says Kara, “like difficult questions.”

Mondays and Thursdays from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Yesterday · 1 hr 14 min
Patchett, Kingsolver & Lee on the Art—and Uncertainty—of Being a Modern Novelist
For literary fiction fans, 2026 has been a banner year, with new novels from award-winning American authors Barbara Kingsolver (“Partitia”), Min Jin Lee (“American Hagwon”), and Ann Patchett (“Whistler”). But amid shortening attention spans and fears that the ‘end of reading’ is fast approaching, what role do novels still play in modern life, and what does it take to find success as a writer today? Kara speaks with Barbara, Min and Ann about the unifying themes across their latest novels, how they’ve adapted to changes in the publishing industry over the last few decades, and how they continue to reach new, younger audiences. The authors also bring their own burning questions for each other. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Thursday · 56 min
Keri Russell on ‘The Diplomat,’ Powerful Women, and Loving the Mess
Keri Russell never dreamed of becoming an actor. But she’s built an impressive career playing nuanced and complex women in critically acclaimed series like “Felicity,” “The Americans” and most recently “The Diplomat,” which has earned her three Emmy nominations in as many years. Kara sits down with Keri to discuss the new season of the hit Netflix series, created by “The West Wing” and “Homeland” veteran Debora Cahn. They talk about bringing Ambassador Kate Wyler to life, working alongside greats like Allison Janney and Rufus Sewell, and what it means to play a skilled, serious, yet imperfect woman in Hollywood. They also dig into some real-life diplomatic drama, and Keri fields an expert question from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Season 4 of “The Diplomat” premieres October 15th on Netflix. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wednesday · 56 min
High Stakes with HRC: The Affordability Episode
The midterms are approaching, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Welcome to High Stakes, a limited series from Kara Swisher and the former Secretary of State herself: Hillary Clinton. For the next six weeks, the two are here to break down this year’s most consequential races, highlight the biggest issues on the ballot, and prepare you for the midterms elections… and what comes next. First up, it’s the affordability episode. From Elon Musk’s massive political spending to rising costs for gas, groceries, and health care, Kara and Hillary weigh in on whether money can sway voters—and how Democrats can focus on making everyday life more affordable. They also break down key Senate races in Michigan and Maine, the one message Democrats need to hammer home into November, and the dangers of turning government into a spectacle. Plus, Hillary reflects on her own experience with political attacks, and the lessons Pete Hegseth could learn from Osama Bin Laden’s death. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. New HIGH STAKES episodes drop Wednesdays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 12 · 1 hr 1 min
Aaron Sorkin and Jeremy Strong on Zuckerberg’s Power and Facebook’s “Reckoning”
Sixteen years after “The Social Network,” Aaron Sorkin is back with “The Social Reckoning,” a new film he wrote and directed. It focuses on whistleblower Frances Haugen, a data scientist and former Facebook product manager who leaked troves of damning internal documents to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, leading to a 17-part investigation in the fall of 2021. Kara sits down with Sorkin and lead actor Jeremy Strong, who plays Mark Zuckerberg. Sorkin talks about what made him return to Facebook and why the January 6th insurrection is pivotal to the story. And Strong explains why he approached Zuckerberg with a "radical amount" of empathy, and why he sees him as idealistic but "misguided and myopic." “The Social Reckoning” is in theaters now. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 8 · 1 hr 17 min
Inside 'Musk': Power, Family and the Making of a Tech Demagogue
In his new documentary, "Musk," filmmaker Alex Gibney set out to answer two big questions about the world’s first trillionaire: How has Elon Musk assumed so much power, and why have we given it to him so willingly? Over nearly four hours, the film connects the dots between Musk’s various ventures — SpaceX, Tesla, Starlink, X, xAI, and Neurolink — to tell a bigger story of the unique threat he poses to democracy. The film also includes revealing interviews from people who know Musk personally, including his first wife, the writer Justine Musk, who hasn’t spoken publicly in years. Kara sits down with Alex and Justine to talk about making the film, Musk’s obsession with being seen as an “engineer,” and Alex’s use of a computer-generated Elon as a stand-in for an interview with him (Musk declined to participate in Gibney’s film and declined to comment on this interview). They also talk about Musk’s hard shift toward right-wing politics and what it means for the midterms and future U.S. elections. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 5 · 1 hr
Ari Emanuel on his New Memoir, ‘Ragent’ Reputation, and Changing Hollywood
Ari Emanuel built a name for himself in Hollywood as a firebrand agent filled with rage. In his new memoir, “Roll the Calls,” he reflects on how that rage shaped his career and argues it helped him transform the entertainment industry. He’s now the executive chair and CEO of TKO and executive chairman of the WME Group. In a live conversation hosted by Live Talks Los Angeles, Kara and Ari talk about the ways growing up in the shadow of two talented older brothers shaped his perception of himself, and why Kara believes the book reveals a softer side of the notoriously fiery “ragent.” They also talk about David Ellison and the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the arrival of AI in Hollywood, and why Ari continues to talk to Elon Musk and President Trump. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 1 · 1 hr
Andy Cohen Built the Bravoverse. He Still Thinks Like a Producer.
Kara sits down with Bravo network icon Andy Cohen, the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live and executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise. He takes Kara on a tour of the business behind the reality TV juggernaut and why he sees himself as less of a “Bravolebrity” and more of a producer and a broadcaster. They also get into Andy’s longtime friendship with Anderson Cooper, how fatherhood has changed him and why he remains outspoken even when his opinions are controversial. Plus: Kara and Andy talk about his soon to be released book Andy’s Bravo Scrapbook, a coffee table collection of his own behind-the-scenes photos from 20 years of Bravo reunions. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 28 · 1 hr 3 min
Sir Michael Moritz on ‘Auslander,’ Identity and Life as an Outsider
As a longtime partner and former chairman of the legendary Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia, Sir Michael Moritz had a direct hand in building the modern internet. His early investments in companies like PayPal, Google, and YouTube earned him a reputation as a kingmaker in tech and made him a billionaire a few times over. But after retiring in 2023, Moritz leaned on his early background as a journalist to investigate his own family’s story for his latest book, “Auslander.” He retraces his parents’ escape from Nazi Germany as children during the lead up to World War II and pieces together the stories of other close family members who were killed in the Holocaust. Kara and Michael talk about why his parents never identified as “survivors” of the Nazis, and the ways tragedy and grief are passed down through generations. They also reflect on the modern rise of authoritarian leaders around the world, and the parallels Micahel sees to the past. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 24 · 52 min
Sherry Turkle Doesn't Buy the Promise of a Perfect Machine
Our relationship with the digital world is more intimate than ever before – and in her new book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, pioneering tech researcher Sherry Turkle explores the rise of AI companions and what they’re doing to our relationships and identities. Kara and Sherry talk about how chatbots aren’t just competing for our time – they’re designed to become objects of emotional attachment. They also discuss the risky appeal of friction-free relationships, the importance of boredom and vulnerability to development, and what we lose when we outsource our thinking and emotional lives to machines. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 21 · 1 hr 1 min
AI Agents Went Rogue. Should We Hit the Panic Button?
Are the people building AI going to kill us all? That's the question sparking debate across the country right now. While fears of an AI doomsday aren’t new, they broke into the mainstream this month after Jacob Coxon, a 27-year-old British researcher, publicly quit his job at Anthropic and accused the leading AI developers of gambling with our lives. Kara convened a panel of experts to help break down the latest: New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores is a computer engineer by training. His unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat earlier this year became a flashpoint in the debate over AI safety and industry regulations. He’s now launching a political advocacy group called “Who Decides” aimed at shaping the ways Democrats talk about AI. Renee DiResta is an associate research professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy and author of the book, “Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality.” Her research focuses on disinformation, influence, propaganda, and narrative power. And Casey Newton and Kevin Roose are longtime technology journalists. The duo just announced a new partnership with NPR for a video-first tech show called “Machine Gods.” Kevin also has a new book coming out next month called “The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence.” Kara and the group talk about why Coxon’s warnings spurred a global conversation and how tech leaders are responding. They also discuss whether Congress can finally get its act together and pass meaningful AI regulation. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 17 · 1 hr 11 min
Jessica Tarlov on Winning Arguments and Elections
Jessica Tarlov says she has “the coolest job in media for a liberal.” As a Democratic co-host of The Five on Fox News, she knows how to navigate contentious political conversations and make clear arguments based on data and research. Now, she's written a book called I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends. Kara and Jessica talk about her unique approach to finding common ground with others during an intensely polarized time, and why it's worth doing so. They also discuss polling and strategy ahead of the midterms. Plus, what being a "moderate" means today, and how Jessica really feels about her other gig hosting the Raging Moderates podcast alongside Scott Galloway. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 14 · 1 hr 5 min
Flock Cameras, Meta Glasses and the Surveillance Backlash
Flock Safety, the company that makes the automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras used by over 7,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies, is facing a public backlash against surveillance tech. Nearly half of Americans surveyed in an August poll said they opposed ALPRs. The opposition is part of a long-simmering mistrust of big tech and concerns over privacy and data security. Kara speaks with a panel of experts about how the backlash to Flock and street surveillance cameras squares with the boom in wearable tech and AI-powered smart devices. Plus, they discuss – and question – the usual framing of a trade-off between privacy and security. Jason Koebler is a co-founder of 404 Media. He and his colleagues have been reporting on Flock for the past few years. Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble is the David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences and Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the Director of the Center on Resilience & Digital Justice and is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius Grant.” She’s also the author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism. Victoria Song is a senior reviewer for The Verge and author of the Optimizer newsletter. She specializes in emerging technologies in wearables, health and fitness and XR. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 10 · 59 min
The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell on How Democrats Can Defeat MAGA for Good
As ballots start to hit mailboxes ahead of the November midterms, Democrats are finally feeling some long-awaited electoral optimism. But to build a coalition that can defeat MAGA politics for good, the party will have to win back voters it's lost. In her new book, “How to Eat An Elephant,” Sarah Longwell, founder and publisher of The Bulwark, gives readers a blueprint to do just that. In a live conversation recorded at Sixth & I in downtown Washington, D.C., Kara and Sarah talk about the hundreds of voter focus groups Sarah’s conducted since President Trump first won the White House a decade ago, how Trump convinced swing voters he was the “lesser of two evils” in 2024, and why she thinks Democrats need a stronger message on immigration. Sarah also offers her opinion on which Democrats are — and are not — best positioned to win the White House in 2028. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 7 · 52 min
Why This Crypto Billionaire Wants to Slow Down the AI Arms Race
Ripple CEO Chris Larsen once told Kara he’d rather vomit blood out of his eyeballs than run for public office. But that doesn’t mean he won’t use his wealth to influence politics or install a Flock surveillance system that helps the San Francisco Police Department. The latter has some civil liberties advocates crying foul. Kara presses Larsen on everything from surveillance, the AI arms race, cryptocurrency regulations, California's billionaire tax ballot measure, and the midterms. This conversation was recorded live at San Francisco’s Pier 27 as part of the Odoo Experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 3 · 1 hr 10 min
Three Mayors of Blue Cities in a Polarized America
Ahead of the midterms and what’s shaping up to be an intense political season, Kara speaks with the Democratic mayors of three cities dealing with some of the biggest issues facing the nation including affordability, housing, gerrymandering and immigration. Mike Johnston is the first-term Mayor of Denver, Colorado. A former teacher, school principal and Colorado state senator, Mike is also a vice president of the Democratic Mayors Association. Quinton Lucas is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, currently in his second term. He’s also the youngest person elected to the role since 1855. An attorney and former city councilman, Quinton is the President of the Democratic Mayors Association. Helena Moreno is the Mayor of New Orleans. She began her first term in office this year. Previously she served on the city council and as a Louisiana state legislator. Before getting into politics, she worked as a journalist. She’s the first Latina mayor of New Orleans and the city’s second woman mayor. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 31 · 56 min
Money, Hubris and Jeffrey Epstein: The Fall of Leon Black, w/ William Cohan
In his new book, “Money To Burn,” author and Puck journalist William Cohan traces the rise and fall of one of Wall Street’s most towering modern figures: billionaire Leon Black. His private equity and investment firm, Apollo, changed Wall Street, making Black enormously rich. He reached the highest rungs of New York society, but his ties to convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein ultimately took him down. Kara and Bill talk about how Black and Apollo ushered in a "new Wall Street" and the nature of Black's relationship with Epstein, which continued for almost a decade after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. They also break down some of the latest headlines in business and finance, including Meta’s $17 billion settlement and President Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 30 · 58 min
Remembering Dolly Parton's Musical and Philanthropic Legacy
Across the country, people continue to grieve Dolly Parton, the late country music icon who spent more than 60 years making us cry, laugh and fall in love. But in a country as fragmented and divided as the U.S., how did Dolly Parton become our "unproblematic fave”? In this bonus episode of On With Kara Swisher, Kara breaks down the legendary artist many call Saint Dolly with three Dolly experts. Tressie McMillan Cottom⁠ is a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, a culture critic and an award-winning author. Her latest New York Times column is titled, “Loving Dolly Was Easy. Understanding Her Was Hard.” Chely Wright is a country music artist and author of the book “Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer." And Marissa Moss is a writer for Rolling Stone and author of the book “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be.” Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 27 · 1 hr 2 min
Why Are You Like This? with Megan Rapinoe
Today we’re bringing you an episode of a new podcast called “Why Are You Like This? with Megan Rapinoe” from A Touch More and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Live from WNBA All Star Weekend, host Megan Rapinoe sits down with five-time All-Star coach Cheryl Reeve, the winningest coach in WNBA history. Cheryl Reeve has been head coach of the Minnesota Lynx since 2010. In addition to leading the team to four WNBA world championships, Reeve supported the Lynx’s 2016 protest against police brutality and continues to advocate for social justice issues in Minneapolis and beyond, including as an outspoken supporter of transgender athletes. Megan and Cheryl get into how she’s evolved as a coach, the WNBA’s legacy of activism and why she’s proud of a league where “everyone is so authentically themselves.” Why Are You Like This? is a co-production of A Touch More and Vox Media Podcast Network. New episodes every Thursday. Follow Megan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrapinoe/ Follow A Touch More on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyareyoulikethis/ Follow A Touch More on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whyareyoulikethis Learn more about A Touch More here: https://www.atouchmore.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 24 · 49 min
Ina Garten’s Next Course? A Podcast
Ina Garten has built a culinary empire by way of simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. After two decades on The Food Network and more than a dozen cookbooks, she’s launching a new podcast with the Vox Media Podcast Network next month, called “Happy Hour With Ina Garten.” It’s her latest professional pivot in a career that’s been full of them. Ina and Kara talk about Ina’s plans for her new show, making the leap from traditional platforms to independent media, and what she'll get to do on podcasts that she couldn't do on TV. They also talk about the ways social media is reshaping our relationship to cooking and the people Ina turns to for inspiration. Happy Hour with Ina Garten premieres Wednesday, September 16th. Subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 20 · 54 min
Big Tech’s Litigation Era
There's a lot going on across the tech, media and legal landscape, from the potential $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, to landmark social media addiction rulings and a series of even bigger upcoming trials. Eriq Gardner is a founding partner and national correspondent at Puck who mostly writes about legal affairs. He joins Kara to unpack some of the biggest stories on his beat, including the latest on California Attorney General Rob Bonta's 12-state antitrust lawsuit against Paramount, the politics behind the deal and whether a settlement is imminent. Kara and Eriq also discuss what, if anything, could put the brakes on President Trump's many defamation cases against media companies. Plus, they look at why publishers pursue litigation against some AI companies even while they're making content-licensing agreements with others. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Come see Kara for a live taping of On at the Odoo Experience conference in San Francisco on September 2. Register for the conference on Odoo's website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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