Episode notes
Elon Musk’s SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq in June with the largest IPO ever, raising a record $86 billion. But the stock has been on a wild ride ever since. Kara sits down with a panel of experts to assess SpaceX after its inaugural post-IPO earnings report and the first in a series of lockup expirations that released more than 900 million shares for trading. They break down where SpaceX is actually making money (spoiler: it’s Starlink) and what its massive AI spending, xAI acquisition and increasingly expansive ambitions reveal about Musk’s long-term strategy. Ed Elson is an analyst, writer,…
Podcast
On with Kara Swisher
Vox Media · Tech & Science · English
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…
More from On with Kara Swisher All episodes →
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30 Aug 2026 · 59 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,…
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27 Aug 2026 · 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…
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24 Aug 2026 · 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…
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20 Aug 2026 · 55 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…
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17 Aug 2026 · 53 min
Ryan Holiday on the Case for Stoicism in an Age of Distraction
While the Greek and Roman philosophy of Stoicism has been around for millennia, author and media strategist Ryan Holiday is bringing its teachings to a modern audience by way of his popular books and his podcast, “The Daily Stoic.” He says ancient writings by the likes of Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus resonate in times that feel especially chaotic. Kara and Ryan talk about why young men in particular seem drawn to Stoicism and what powerful figures in the worlds of tech, MAGA politics, and the man-o-sphere get wrong about its teachings. He tells Kara their actions frequently run…
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10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Will California Elect a Republican Governor? Steve Hilton Thinks He Can Win
California is one of the most Democratic states in the nation. But former Fox News host and British American Steve Hilton is mounting a long-shot bid to be the state’s next Republican governor. He’s banking on voters’ disaffection with the state’s notoriously high cost of living to beat Democrat Xavier Becerra in November. While Hilton scored President Trump’s endorsement ahead of the primary, he’ll need to win over a lot of Democrats and Independents who loathe Trump to have any shot at winning. Is that even possible for a Republican in 2026? Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]…
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6 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Can Data Centers Be Done Right?
As the AI boom fuels a massive data-center buildout, communities across the country are pushing back. Kara speaks with environmental activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich, Utah climate scientist Logan Mitchell, Virginia organizer Elena Schlossberg and Lansing, Mich., Mayor Andy Schor about the industry’s environmental and political impact. They examine the secretive deals and tax incentives behind many data-center projects, and they debate whether even responsibly designed developments can win community support. The panel also explores what meaningful guardrails might look like,…
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3 Aug 2026 · 57 min
'I Feel Re-Famous': Rosie O'Donnell on Her Return to New York
After moving to Ireland at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, Rosie O’Donnell is back in the U.S. to stage her one-woman show in New York and guest host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at the end of the month. While she’s taken some time out of the spotlight, Rosie remains an outspoken critic of the president and his policies at a time when a lot of public figures have gone quiet. Kara and Rosie talk about why she decided to turn her life into a theater production, the joys and challenges of raising a child with autism, and the new energy she’s found in her 60s. They also talk about why…
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30 Jul 2026 · 55 min
The Economy Looks Fine. Why Doesn’t It Feel Fine?
Americans feel pessimistic about the economy even as the stock market soars and unemployment remains low. Kara speaks with a panel of economic experts to explain the disconnect. She’s joined by Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey, Catherine Rampell of MS NOW and The Bulwark and economist Claudia Sahm. They examine the impact of President Trump’s latest round of tariffs, the economic fallout from the Iran war and the hidden weaknesses in the current labor market. Plus: How vulnerable is the broader economy to an AI bubble? And what happens when economic growth increasingly benefits investors…
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27 Jul 2026 · 50 min
From Bit Parts to Two Emmy Nods: Jeff Hiller’s Long Road to Success
Comedian and actor Jeff Hiller has managed to land roles on two of the buzziest TV shows of the last year. He just earned his second Emmy nomination for a guest role in “Pluribus,” and he seems poised for an even bigger role in the second season of the comedy horror “Widow’s Bay.” His success builds on his Emmy-winning breakout performance in HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” as Joel, the compassionate best friend to series star Bridget Everett’s character, Sam. Kara and Jeff talk about why he thinks people are drawn to shows like “Pluribus” and “Widow’s Bay,” why Hollywood rarely tells stories…
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