Overview of Pivot — Epstein Emails, Kennedy for Congress, and Guest Gov. J.B. Pritzker
This episode of Pivot (Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway), recorded live in Chicago, features a long interview with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and a wide-ranging show covering the newly released Epstein-related emails/documents, Jack Schlossberg’s entry into the Manhattan congressional race, Kim Kardashian’s Skims funding round, and audience Q&A (including Andrew Yang). The tone mixes sharp political analysis, local Chicago politics, national policy debate, and cultural commentary.
Main segments and topics
Guest: Gov. J.B. Pritzker (long interview)
- Immigration enforcement in Illinois and Chicago
- Pritzker criticizes recent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE operations carried out with little or no coordination with state/local officials.
- Describes community pushback: residents warning neighbors, recording incidents (videos have led to federal cases that Illinois has won), mass local protests (example: Staunton, IL — 500 people showed).
- Says federal agents are sometimes not following federal law, and the supremacy clause limits state recourse.
- Chicago as a product / talent pitch
- Argues Chicago is a key Midwest magnet for young people and tech talent; cites Google’s demand for transfers to Chicago and upcoming redevelopment of state-owned property.
- Highlights jobs, sports, quality of life, and people as selling points.
- Response to Trump and federal politics
- Strongly critical of President Trump’s rhetoric about Chicago (calling him “demented” repeatedly).
- Says Trump falsely claims credit for crime reductions; Pritzker emphasizes Chicago’s homicide rate has fallen and blames federal show-of-force operations on political theater.
- National politics & policy positions (lightning round)
- Mandatory national service (broader than military — trade/skills training + service).
- Universal health care / lowering Medicare eligibility progressively (Pritzker framed a plan to lower eligibility by a few years per term).
- Universal childcare and raising the federal minimum wage (Illinois raised to $15; Pritzker argued for a higher living wage and later mentioned $25 as a “working wage” in a broader comment).
- Opposes boots-on-the-ground in Ukraine but supports continued material and arms support.
- Wants limits on algorithmically elevated social-content (Section 230 reform) and proposed banning cell phones in classrooms (state-level push).
- Science/industry strategy
- Illinois pushing to be a national quantum and AI hub (Argonne, Fermilab, UChicago, UIUC, Northwestern central to the plan). Claims Illinois is leading among states competing to be the quantum hub.
Epstein documents & political fallout
- House Democrats released Epstein emails alleging Jeffrey Epstein told people that “Trump spent hours at my house with a trafficking victim” and “knew about the girls at Mar-a-Lago.”
- House Republicans released ~20,000 pages from the Epstein estate; the House voted on a measure to force DOJ file release.
- Hosts discuss the odds the files will be fully released: House passage is only one step (Senate, presidential veto, or veto-proof majority remain barriers). Expect partial, redacted, or strategically timed releases.
- Commentary: Scott and Kara debate political implications — whether the revelations will move Trump’s core supporters and how the administration might try to manage or bury material (e.g., pardons, redactions, delayed releases).
Other news items
- Jack Schlossberg (JFK’s grandson) announced a run for Congress (Manhattan). Hosts riff on celebrity/looks bias and gender imbalance in politics.
- Business: Kim Kardashian’s Skims raised $225M led by Goldman Sachs; valuation ~ $5B; plans international expansion (London, Dubai). Discussion on celebrity brands, private vs. public exits, and equity-for-partnership strategies.
Audience Q&A highlights
- Andrew Yang (in audience) asked if Scott would run for president — Scott signaled he’s focused on helping Democrats flip Congress and return a Democrat to the White House; Andrew reiterated his interest in being in the fight.
- University of Chicago student asked about Fed policy and delayed jobs data — hosts expect poor jobs numbers and political pressure; they also offered a summer internship to the student.
- Housing question: panelists urge rapid expansion of housing supply, removal of exclusionary/NIMBY barriers, adoption of construction innovations (modular materials, AI design), tax incentives, and creative solutions like pairing seniors with younger adults for mutual housing benefit.
Notable quotes & lines
- Gov. Pritzker: “The people of Chicago have just done a terrific job” (documenting federal enforcement and pushing back).
- Pritzker on Trump: “He is demented” — repeated as shorthand for his critique of Trump’s public statements on Chicago.
- Scott Galloway: “The third most powerful person in the world is a dead pedophile” — a provocative way to say Epstein-related revelations still shape political behavior/news cycles.
- On pardons/clemency: hosts warn that the clemency process is being perverted by politics and money, undermining its intended role.
Key takeaways
- Federal immigration operations in Chicago have been conducted with little state/federal coordination, prompting community mobilization and legal pushback; video documentation is playing a crucial role in accountability.
- The Epstein document story remains politically explosive but legally and procedurally complicated; expect partial releases, delays, or redactions and political maneuvering (vetoes, pardons, timing).
- Illinois is positioning itself as a tech/quantum hub; Pritzker is selling Chicago as a destination for talent and investment.
- Celebrity commerce (Skims) continues to attract large private investment; celebrity-backed brands can scale rapidly without going public.
- Housing and homelessness solutions hinge less on new technology than on political will: reducing exclusionary zoning, incentivizing private building, and deploying construction innovations at scale.
- Audience engagement revealed local and national concerns: economic data integrity, internships/talent, and practical housing policy.
Actionable recommendations (from the episode)
- If you witness federal enforcement or questionable law enforcement activity: record video, document details, and share with local advocacy groups — these records may support legal cases.
- For voters concerned about transparency: follow the House/Senate procedural steps for any DOJ/Epstein file releases and pressure elected officials for accountability.
- On housing: advocate locally for upzoning near transit, support policies that unlock private-sector construction using modern building techniques, and encourage programs pairing seniors with younger adults.
- For educators/parents: consider policy push at state level regarding cell phones in classrooms (Pritzker flagged this as a state-level priority).
Where to find the episode
- Pivot from New York Magazine & Vox Media — available on podcast platforms and selected clips on YouTube.