Trump's Catering Truck Escape, MAGA Media, and Chelsea Handler on Joe Rogan's $82M Payday

19:08Kara Swisher:And quote, I don't know what's going on, but it has nothing to do with me. He said that. I don't know if you know that. Well, that's nice. But, you know, it does have something to do with him. I agree. I completely agree. And I don't hate him. But, you know, like, to speak to that, you know, I make that comment. And my DMs are filled with people who are trying to get on this dating matchmaking site I'm doing. Yeah, we'll talk about that. And men from defending Joe Rogan's$82 million and calling me a cunt and a whore and using the N-word and that I'm an N-word. Like, it's so vile. Like, I wish he could see that that represents a portion of the people that are listening to him.

19:49We don't need to be talking to women in this way. We need to be denouncing that behavior. So it's a larger issue, obviously, you know.

19:58Kara Swisher:Yeah, you're making a salient point. That's a lot of money for someone who isn't vetting his information as well as he could be doing. Yeah, and if I have made$82 million at any point in my career in a year, I would love someone to tell me. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, they're very sensitive. You're so mean. I'm like, oh, for goodness sake. I know, and you're not mean at all. Get a fucking dog. No. Oh, I know. Get a fucking dog. I don't know what to do. In fact, don't get a dog. You don't deserve a dog. But listen, I am so used to men telling me to shut the fuck up. I mean, they've been telling me to shut the fuck up since I started talking.

20:30It's not working. So it's okay. You only embolden me. Like, it doesn't matter unless you believe it's true. Do you know what I mean? That's correct. I don't believe I'm a whore. So sorry, you didn't get me.

20:41Kara Swisher:Well, not in the bad way of a whore. No, in the best way. In the best way. You're the best whore ever. You've launched this full podcast network with iHeart and Netflix. Talk about your business. What are you doing here? How do you look at the business? Great question. I mean, my business acumen is not up to snuff. Let's be honest. Oh, it's pretty good. I just, no, I've been very lucky and fortunate. And I move quickly. Like, if there's an opportunity that I like and I want, then I'll go for it. This opportunity came to me. I've had a great experience with iHeart. What was important for me to also, like, give platforms to other comedians.

21:17I just launched a podcast for Yamanika Saunders called You're the Problem with Yamanika because I was sick of listening to her to complain. So I thought it would be great for her to have her own podcast. And I have another one coming out in a few months for another person that I think deserves a platform. And so that was a big element. The other element is this podcast has been really successful, which has been a great surprise because I'm giving advice on the podcast, which is silly. And its intention was silly, but it has actually turned into something quite serious. At times, people call in for real-life advice.

21:51And it makes a lot of sense because, you know, who better to give advice on a subject that has nothing to do with your personal situation, who's got no emotions involved, you know? And, you know, not like my advice is always flawless, but I'm going to have an opinion and I have a strong one and I am kind of a sister vibe. You know, I always want everyone to kind of take a leap of faith and make the jump and leave the bad work vibe or leave the bad relationship and, you know, ask for better stuff for yourself. You know, you kind of have to—

22:23Kara Swisher:And you want to create a network, too, of others, right? Yeah. It's a great idea. It's a powerful thing to have more. Yeah. I'm doing that. I think about that now. Yeah. It's called the Dear Chelsea Network. And I just—yeah. So podcasting's been a great gift. I mean, we're basically circling the drain here because it's the new, you know, talk show. So now they're doing a talk show for, you know,$20 million less than they were doing it. And nobody has to do hair and makeup. Do you like being on Netflix? Is that an interesting— I mean, I've had a long relationship with Netflix. So Netflix feels like a home for me in many ways.

22:55All my specials are on Netflix, except one is on HBO. I mean, I did my show on Netflix. I did my documentaries. So, yeah, I mean, Netflix is a very good place for comedians to be. And I've had a good long relationship with them.

23:09Kara Swisher:Yeah, yeah. You know, Obama's going to have a podcast about him reading what books he reads. I know. I had the same feeling. It's all about his books. I'm going to say yes. Yay. I know. I'm not mad at anything Obama does except. I know. I know. I know. I'm like, could it be a little angrier or something? Could it be a little more pertinent to the moment? Well, I'm sure he's angry. I'm sure he is very mindful of not betraying his anger and dumping it on us. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. I feel like he could do something besides books. I feel like there's a place for him. People seem to like him.

23:54Kara Swisher:That kind of thing. I don't know. I don't know. Give advice, maybe, or something like that. Now, let's get some real news now. Even though it sounds like something out of a movie or a Taylor Swift concert, a reported Iranian assassination threat against Donald Trump prompted an elaborate decoy operation during his trip to Turkey last month. Trump boarded the old Air Force One in front of cameras. He ditched his new Qatari-gifted jet to ride on the legacy plane for old time's sake, as he put it, which was untrue. But shortly after boarding, he left one plane for another plane. he was secretly smuggled off in a catering truck and taken to a smaller military plane, which he flew home.

24:34Kara Swisher:Meanwhile, reporters and even some White House staff took off on Air Force One, believing Trump was on board and were basically sitting ducks without being told of the assassination plot. So it was a decoy, that's what they called it. What did you think about him getting smuggled out in a catering truck? Well, first of all, I love the idea of him being in a catering cart. I mean, this is a great way for him to bring back Trump's shuttle, his failed bankrupt airline, and make it a catering cart with wings. That should be his next. But A, I love it. I love it. Because, first of all, he survived two assassination attempts.

25:14So why not just play Russian roulette? I mean, you're bulletproof, right? Let's go for it. See what happens. Right, exactly. The idea that he, I saw with his clip of what he said to the reporters after, like, you're on a date, this is a very dangerous job, maybe while he bailed on them and was like, you guys, which of course he would do at any time. But that's good. So fake bravery and then he jumps into the. Yeah, I mean, no, I don't think anyone believes Donald Trump is brave at this point. Yeah. And that's all gone out the window. You know, maybe some people still believe it. But yes, I love the idea of him riding around in a catering cart, hopefully on his knees to duck for cover, you know.

25:53It's just such a circus that it wouldn't—I was trying to think this morning before we started, like, what would be more ridiculous than what we're watching? And I was like, would Snooki, you know, from Jersey Shore, would one of the housewives, the real housewives, be more ridiculous? And I was like, no, actually, they would be more sensible.

26:11Kara Swisher:Yeah, they would. They would. The fact that he, like, cut and run on people and then didn't tell them they were a sitting duck to me is like that. Oh, yeah. They were decoys. They were decoys for this terrifying president. I mean, but that's so him. That's like his whole staff watches him operate in this way and then thinks that they're going to be saved by him. It's so silly. You know, these like the den of incompetency that surrounds him is just like, I love how they think that there's a long game. What is the long game in this? Right. There isn't one. He just wants to save his own skin. He's always done that way.

26:49Kara Swisher:Remember when he went under the bunker when people were protesting outside the White House? He went deep in the bunker like he's scared of people. He's scared. Well, the Iranians are terrifying at the same time. Doing it this way is just so typical of him. I just can't believe we're in a war with Iran and we're like we're walking around. Like, I grew up believing that if we went to war with Iran, that would be nuclear and the world would be over. So the fact that we are six months in to this war? Yeah, at least. Six months. At least, yeah. And with no end in sight, because he's, you know, he's an embarrassment.

27:23He has no idea what he's doing. Snooki would actually be able to probably end this war in a more efficacious way than he could. And he won't end it now. He doesn't care. We're running out of weapons. Aren't we running out of munitions? Yeah, we're running out of munitions, yeah. Yeah, that's Pete Hegseth's problem.

27:38Kara Swisher:That's why he did it. Another nincompoop. Did you see him? That was amazing, wiping his nose and then putting drugs. I know, they're all on drugs. They all are wiping their noses and sniffling, sweating. They're all so gross. It's almost like, it's not like he hired people that were incompetent. He hired the most incompetent. Right, absolutely. Egregiously incompetent. Each position, the Pete Hegseth, the Christy Noem, the Dan Bogdino, like all of these people are just— Freaks. Yeah, so it's so hard to—I mean, I've been spending a lot of time out of the country, and people are just—they feel so sorry for us.

28:20Kara Swisher:Yeah, what do they say to you, Chelsea? They just are like, oh, my God, what do you guys think? Like, it's so amazing how looped into America every other country is. But there were—I was in Norway and way up in Bergen. And they're like, what is happening? And I was like, I don't have any explanation for it. I can't tell you except we suck. Like, I don't know what else to say. Like, it's really hard when they see it. And they're just perplexed in the extreme. Like everywhere. Everywhere I've gone abroad, it's like that. Yeah, I went to this conference and I was listening to these European leaders talk about Trump.

28:56And they were talking about the EU and how, you know, like you have to get 28 countries to agree on something, on a measure to like stand up to him or do something. Or, you know, even with Ukraine and Russia and you have to get 28 countries to agree. Right. And like that's almost how's that going to happen? You know, that's what. And so Europe, when I thought, oh, they'll stand up against Trump. And now we know we do. The president of Spain has said stuff. There's other people that have said stuff. If the woman president of Italy or the prime minister, is she president? She's a president, right?

29:29Kara Swisher:I don't know. Cara, you're supposed to know this shit. She's prime minister. She's prime minister. Prime minister. Yeah. You know, but as a coalition, it made me understand why Europe isn't stronger against Trump in a more, you know, cohesive way. They're doing more than many people in this country, let's just say. Let's go on a quick break. When we get back, we'll talk about, speaking of incompetence, RFK Jr. and the right-wing media's future.

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33:11Kara Swisher:Chelsea, we're back. I'm going to play something for you. It comes with a trigger warning. Hi, I'm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., your HHS secretary. Welcome to The Real Food Show. Thanks to President Trump, we flip the food pyramid and put real food back where it belongs at the center of the American plate. I'm traveling across America, connecting with renowned chefs to show families how to cook delicious, nutritious meals with real ingredients, all at affordable prices. America, it's time to eat real food. There you have the dulcet tones of RFK Jr.'s new cooking show. Do you think this can be a hit?

33:51Kara Swisher:You've had some, you had a real estate beef with him too. And then this week, of course, the vaccines, the childhood vaccination schedule, which most parents will be ignoring, at least in certain states. I hope so. Yeah. I mean, the only positive thing about this is that maybe with so much food in his mouth, we won't be able to hear him talk. I mean, he is, who asked for this, first of all? Who wants to watch Sautéed Roadkill? My experience with Robert F. K. Like, if this is anything like my experience buying my house from him and Cheryl Hines, which I didn't know I was doing because it was a blind trust and I was buying in a blind trust, blah, blah, blah.

34:33If it was anything like that experience, this show will cost$5 million to subscribe to and$20 million to get the video to play. Right, and the taxpayer will pay for it. Yes, of course, of course. And we don't need our heads of departments or heads of health and human services on TV shows. That's also not necessary. Nobody's asking for that. Nobody's asking to hear him talk more.

34:59Kara Swisher:He likes to talk. He's running for president, you know. Well, good luck with that. Well, then you'll be living in the ex-president. You don't live there, right? He's not going to win. Nobody will listen to that voice. Nobody's down for that, except for Cheryl Hines, I guess. I guess. Another, the most unqualified person for the job. Another person that shouldn't be doing this job, not only doesn't have, but shouldn't be anywhere near Health and Human Services, is running the department. And now some people who are uneducated about vaccines are going to listen to that. There will be people that will listen to it, of course.

35:33A hundred. There's a lot now.

35:34Kara Swisher:And they feel, well, he's trying to deliver on his promises to wreck everything. But also, yeah, and that's another point, you know, that Trump is going to tear everything apart on his way out and spare no one. It's not just going to be the Republican Party. It's going to be America. So it's like that's even more why we need these guys like Joe Rogan to start getting everybody mobilized because this is really dangerous. Do you ever think there's a bottom to things like this? because they seem never to reach the bottom. No, there is no bottom now. Like Bill Cassidy going, I can't believe he did this vaccine thing.

36:13Kara Swisher:I'm like, are you not paying attention, you know, after having just voted for Todd Blanche? Right. After being tough and then not tough. I guess, I mean, I don't really understand the inner workings of how any of these political, like these senators and congressmen can just think that, like, they're going to have to separate from him at some point. Like, it's not working. You know, his policies are not popular. People don't love him. They have to steal the next election if they're going to win. People are hurting. You know, 70 % of people in ICE detention centers have no criminal history. 70%.

36:50Like, that's what we're doing in our country. This is America. Like, at a certain point, we all have to stand up and say that enough is enough. This Epstein—

36:58Kara Swisher:Well, I'm not sure they do have to stand up. Well, they don't. They don't—maybe they don't have to stand up, but there are other people need to stand up. Maybe it's not these elected people. Maybe it's the other people that do have these huge spheres of influence. Well, I was told by one of them that he has a life after Trump. And so he can't go too far against Trump because he wants to be on boards. He wants to be. Yeah, I heard that. I think probably on your podcast. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was pretty it was pretty cynical. And then Wall Street people are like, hey, we're doing well, so we don't really care.

37:27Kara Swisher:That's that's how they articulate it. That said, the reason I bring him up at all is to talk about the state of right wing media. The New York Times analysis of a dozen right wing influencers found views falling for a lot of Trump's biggest allies, some hitting new lows. For example, Ben Shapiro's YouTube numbers are down from 27 million weekly views in 2024 to about 4 million now. That's a real decline. Charlie Kirk's assassination caused some big divisions. Candace Owens went full conspiracy theory and her audience spiked while others who just mourned him lost some ground. The pro and anti-Trump split has widened further since the Iran war began, with critics like Nick Fuentes gaining ground while loyalists are losing steam.

38:05Kara Swisher:The right wing media system is really splintering in a really weird way. And speaking of right wing media, Melania Trump's first documentary bombed, and she's going to get in front of the camera anyway. She'll make a new multi-episode series coming to Prime Video next fall, this time going behind the scenes. the administration's early days. Her first film reportedly grossed under$17 million against a $75 million budget. You'd love to get that deal, I'm sure. It seems like this is part of a$40 million deal she made with Amazon in the first documentary. Doesn't appear she'll be paid more for this.

38:38Kara Swisher:I mean, talk a little bit about this right-wing ecosystem. They love to talk about you, the AOC. There's certain characters they love to go after. Oh, yeah, AOC. They're upset she's freezing her eggs now. Is that their latest thing? Yeah. Yeah. Because they prefer women to get pregnant the old fashioned way, non-consensually. I'm glad she's, I love AOC. I love AOC. I think the right wing fracturing is also emblematic of, you know, what's happening in the Democratic Party. We have our own fracturing that we have to deal with. And I think, you know, this old institutional like kind of bias towards these traditional candidates is not what's happening right now.

39:18It's not the temperature. You know, we're seeing what's happening in Michigan with Mondani. These candidates are AOC. They are popular. They're bringing the vibes and they're heading the country in a different direction. And it's like, you better get on the bus because the bus is leaving the station. So we have to be careful about not fracturing our own party. And in some in ways figuring out how to appeal to these people that are fracturing from the Republican Party and bring them over and form a bigger coalition than the one we have, because anything's better than this. You know what I mean?

39:52I'm willing to compromise on issues. You know, I know I'm not in a position of power, so please, like, whatever headline this turns into. It's like, let's all get—let's get on board with what's, like, basic decency and humanity. Like, we can't be in the streets. Like, it feels like we're about to have a civil war. And there's one person in charge of that tenor in this country, and it's our president, you know?

40:17Kara Swisher:But I mean, I'm not sure there's anything wrong with dissent within the Democratic Party, at least. Republicans look like they're just get on board or else kind of thing. They look like hostages in a lot of ways, or else regretful, right? I'm regretting my vote. I think one of the things that's really interesting, I was just thinking about last night is there's such an attack against the DSA candidates or progressive candidates. Let's do more broadly. Not everybody's in DSA. They're more progressive. And to me, I'm like, look, these guys are out organizing on the street, like organizing. They're doing the real work of organizing, which I think is how you win elections.

40:55Kara Swisher:And the old guard hasn't organized in a long time. They did before. And then they're sort of from the cheap seats insulting them. Like if we don't, if we're not cautious, we're not going to get these other people back. And I don't, I'm not so sure caution is a good idea anymore. Well, what do you think? I think, you know, I just, I kept thinking when they kept attacking people for voting, they yell, as I've said this before, they yell at young people for not voting. And then when they vote and get involved, they say, that's a stupid thing. And I'm like, you know what? First of all, you're going to die first.

41:28Kara Swisher:So stop. Like some of you, especially you over there. You're going to die. Not you. But you know what I mean? Like some of them are quite old. I'm like, this isn't about your future in any way. It's about their future. So let them make their mistakes. Maybe they're making a mistake. Maybe they're not. But it seems like we can't tell them to be involved. And when they get involved, tell them they're stupid. I just don't see how that makes any sense. I agree with you. But and if we're talking about age and futures, I'd like to talk about Mitch McConnell's future. Yes. Yes. OK, please. I would like to make another prediction before the prediction part.

42:02Okay, please. I predict that Mitch McConnell is dead, that he is no longer with us, and that we will find this out. Really dead? Dead dead? Like, we're getting Bernie's dead? I believe that he is—yes, I do. Okay. Not just out of it. Not just— Brain dead? No, I believe, yeah, he's a goner. Or he's getting a BBL, and he'll be back and up and running in no time. Wait, what's a BBL? I think it's a Brazilian butt lift. Okay. Okay.

42:30Kara Swisher:All right. So he took a seven-week leave absence from the Senate, standard medical leave. Paid leave. Paid leave of absence. Yes. After he voted against. Standard medical leave after giving birth is six weeks. Is six weeks, just so you're working. Which he voted against, by the way, four times, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, he did. He did. So you think he's dead? You think he's absolutely dead? I mean, it seems like he's dead. Listen, obviously, I mean, I'm not a coroner, but. I'm not a coroner. But I play one in my show. Yes, I don't put it past the Republicans to pretend a dead person is alive in order to avoid him being placed in his seat.

43:06Kara Swisher:So you're telling me you've lost trust with these people. You've lost trust. I want to talk about the Melania documentary, and I want to know if you watched the first one. I did not. I couldn't do it. I didn't do it. You did? Okay, tell me. Well, you don't take drugs. I took an edible, and I had some friends over. Which one? We started, I just did an edible gummy, like a cannabis edible. A lot? And we went, no, no, no, I just took 10 milligrams. A lot for some people, but not for me. I'm kind of like a tank. Yeah, I know. And I, it was pretty amazing. Okay. It was just her walking around. There's a lot of voiceover because her talking directly to the camera, I think, is problematic.

43:49and she changes outfits in a dining room about seven to eight times within the first 20 minutes and it's really about her planning the White House inaugural ball which your takeaway from that is that she had absolutely nothing to do with it after she's demonstrated how much she had to do with it. And so it was pretty ridiculous, right? It's absolutely ridiculous. But the idea that she's getting another opportunity to do something. It's like I've never seen someone who doesn't speak up for anything or stand for anything keep getting a platform to say absolutely nothing.

44:26Kara Swisher:Did you find any entertainment in it? Did you enjoy it? Was it a good time watching it? It was entertaining for about 10 or 15 minutes, and then we moved on to something else. The documentary that I would be interested in seeing about Melania would be how she became a United States citizen with the Einstein visa. I would love to see more exploratory. I feel like she's not doing that one. I feel like. I know. Well, maybe it's the Epstein visa. They spelled it wrong. It's not Einstein. It's Epstein, because that actually tracks as to how she got over here. What would you like to have happen in this series, then, if she's going to do it?

45:09Kara Swisher:What would you like to see her do? Maybe she unearths, maybe she's the person that brings us the Epstein files, Finally, we get all of the Epstein files that all the Republican Party had, that everybody's been demanding. Let's see them. Let's see, you know, the person who's listed more than anybody else. Let's have her hand deliver them to us on a platter. Oh, really? That would be a nice beginning or end to a documentary. I found these in the hallway and I bring them to you. That kind of thing? Well, she's not German, so I don't know what that accent was. Okay, do your Melania. Do your Melania.

45:43No, I don't have a good accent. I don't do good accents. But yes, her English is challenging.

45:51Kara Swisher:Challenging. She's been here a long time. Yeah. She is. Yeah. Oh, she can speak good if she wanted to. Now, let me ask you a question. These right-wing people are falling off a cliff right now. And actually, the left is really seeing huge gains. Hassan Piker, a whole bunch of people. Our numbers are up quite a lot. which seems normal for that to happen, people shifting back and forth. Is there any right-wing influencer you think is just the most loathsome? Shapiro? Is it Megyn Kelly? Is it Candace Owen? Is it Bongino? It's funny that you say that because I've just taken on this kind of—I mean, the Tate brothers, obviously.

46:31That's just unforgivable behavior. So that's the top of the list. But they kind of all just blend together at this point and probably match in the same way that we blend together for them. You know, at a certain point, you realize you're listening to a din, a din, a din. And when you understand the way these machines work, these ecosystems and how social media works and that social, the arbiters of social media are all are people like Mark Zuckerberg, you know, who couldn't get a date in college. And so he had to start, you know, like it all makes sense because these are media medias that are owned primarily by guys that aren't happy with women and they're not happy with immigrants and they're not happy with anybody that isn't a white guy, you know, and that wants to build a rocket or whatever that is.

47:16So I understand now that I have a better understanding of how these algorithms works and how these kids get lost and are so addicted to their phones, I have a lot more sympathy for people. And I'm grateful that you and I were born during a time where we didn't have the Internet and we lived in the analog age. So there is a difference. I read more books now than I've ever read in my life because of how little time I want to spend on my phone. And I have the awareness of that. And a lot of these kids don't have the awareness. They don't know anything different. Yeah.

47:55Kara Swisher:No, I have to say, though, kids are coming off of it. I am predicting the decline of social media. My both sons are not on it. They just watch YouTube for TV. Well, that's good. I love to hear that. I don't know about your nieces and nephews. No, they're pretty good. The girls are pretty good in my family. The girls are not into it as much as the boys are, and not all the boys are. So I think there is a new wave of, like, you know, young people being like, no, this isn't cool, actually. I do think the right-wing media is declining because they are doing the same crap, and they're always mad, and people are tired of being mad.

48:28Kara Swisher:Like, they're always mad about something. Megyn Kelly's always on about someone. It's usually a woman. Right, right, right, right. Why? This is, yes, yes, yes, the vitriol, the vitriol, the anger and the tenor of the conversation. Why is everyone so angry? I really try not to scream or yell anymore. I try to be really, I try and take a page out of your book and be relaxed and responsible and thoughtful about what I'm saying because I don't want to join that cacophony of that, you know? I do get angry sometimes. You know, Megyn Kelly's constant misogyny towards always women. It's always the same thing.

49:05Kara Swisher:I don't like it and I do speak out. I got mad about the AOC stuff, you know, when Matt Walsh went after her. And I was like, I got pregnant at 38 and had a baby at 39. For him to attack her at her age, she's younger than that, and telling her how to have a baby, I got furious. I don't know why. It just really. Because I think it's because when I got pregnant, someone, when I was trying to get pregnant the first time, I got pregnant right away. A doctor said, oh, you're having a geriatric pregnancy because I had chosen to work because I had to before that because that's how you have to build a career.

49:38Kara Swisher:And I was so angry at the time that someone, you know, essentially a senior pregnancy is like you took too much time. The implication was that. And so I think that probably set me off from long ago. But it sort of infuriated. That does get me angry, that kind of stuff. Oh, really? Men deciding what women are going to do with their bodies and weighing in gets you angry? I can't imagine why. I do get it. I start to curse. I shouldn't do it. I felt bad about it. You know what's so funny? You know, I get so much crap from, like, guys like that who are like, she's so sad and lonely. Like, okay. Okay.

50:11But even if I were, okay, fine. But why do you want me to have another me? You want another Chelsea running around who's going to be even more outspoken than me? Like, you should be grateful I'm not procreating because I'm not bringing anything that you're going to want your way.

50:25Kara Swisher:I think you'd be an excellent parent. I have to tell you. Well, thank you. I doubt that. I just feel very, like, I have a great perspective because of my singledom, because I'm not blinded by my own set of children. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. I see all of it. I have friends. I have family. I watch it all. So I feel like I have a pretty healthy, A, respect for parents and everyone who shows up as a parent. But also, you know, bad parenting is pretty obvious. It is. That's the reason Elon Musk, nice to me too. It's not an excuse, it's an explanation for many of these people. Right, right.

51:04Kara Swisher:Speaking of that, let's go on a quick break. When we come back, we'll talk about Chelsea's Instagram dating service.

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54:18Kara Swisher:since I'd like you to deliver a message to the young men out there. What are they getting wrong about dating and relationships? There's a lot. Listen, my platform is mostly women and gay men. The conversations among women these days, men are so, I guess, have grown so accustomed to these dating apps and swiping that there's such an abundance that there's no real need, right, for connection. It's like, well, there's going to be another 10 girls tomorrow or whatever that does to your brain. And so I just, I was at this dinner one night with all these successful women, and they were all telling me the same thing.

54:51And I just was like, this isn't. And the dating app is not for me, to be clear. This is for people on my site who want to. I've matched a lot of couples. A lot of people meet at my shows. Since I'm on tour, they'll meet online, and then they'll meet at my show. Like in Philly, I have these two couples that I'm going to do something special with. but like you basically send dms to me and tell me if you're serious about finding a relationship about yourself and you have to have an open account and then we're just we're not I have a social media um company that does a lot of my does all my social work for me basically and we're just trying to put people out there like men who are serious about finding relationships and looking for love we're giving them a platform on my page to say hey here here you go ladies go hit them up.

55:39And for lesbians, for gay guys, we do it for all different, you know, pairings. And it's been, we've yielded success. I have a couple of couples that have been together now for like three or four months. I just showcased a lesbian couple a couple of weeks ago. They're in love. They've been together for like four months. And this other straight couple has been dating for two months and they're coming to see, they're coming to one. Like, it's really sweet.

56:04Kara Swisher:So you're creating a community is what you're doing. You're using community. I mean, I hope so. It's just something that I wanted to do to spread joy and love. And like, I hope that people find each other. But again, listen, I don't I have to, you know, like I we're not doing we're not going down the rabbit hole researching these guys inside and out. You have we're just kind of saying, hey, here are some guys who are looking for relationships. Maybe you guys can connect. I mean, so I probably will have to stop it for legal reasons. Yes, the first problem, criminal behavior. No, I like it. I did a lot of doing the Yenta thing for a while, but I did it in a different way.

56:42Kara Swisher:I was very surreptitious and sneaky. I would meet these two friends of mine I thought should be together, and they didn't really like each other in college. And I kept making dinner plans with each of them separately and then at the same place. And then I would not show up. I'd be like, I'm at work at the Washington Post. I can't arrive. And so they would be forced into dinner together. Like, oh, this person's meeting. I like that. I know. Isn't it good? And they ended up getting married. They have children and they've been married forever. Like, I just felt like they belong together. I just decided.

57:13Kara Swisher:That's really, I love that story. I love it. I know. I do believe in arranged marriages. I would like to meet them. Yeah, yeah, I know. I think, you know, if you have an eye for that and you can use it for good, then you should. And also, like, I just think we need to update the etiquette. Like, everyone needs, don't get confused. like don't confuse like equality and chivalry like or you know massage like they're like oh you know men who are like well we have to pay you know 50 50 if you guys want equality it's it's like no no no you can still be chivalrous yes like you can still open the door for us it's not about that it's about treating us with respect and dignity and it's also about like on these on this dating thing like i'm very i implore all of the people that are participating to make sure you are respectful and respond to every single incoming message you get.

58:00Whether you're interested or not, it's okay to say I'm not interested to somebody. It's better than just blowing someone off. Right. So reintroducing kind of like behavior that's a little bit more - Like your letter.

58:11Kara Swisher:Like your letter. Elevated. You will behave. You will behave. Yeah. Be nice and don't ghost people. No one likes to be ghosted. No one likes to feel that way. And then I have a bunch of guys in my DMs who think the dating service is for me. And, You know, I can't repeat any of those things on any platform because they are really ridiculous. Did they, did anything work out? No, I don't, I don't really do that. I don't, it's not, that's not how I'm going to meet men. I mean, I've slipped into someone's DMs and my DMs have been slipped into. Let's not, you know, obviously, you know the type of woman I am, but.

58:43Yeah, a whore.

58:44Kara Swisher:Yeah. Yes, a whore on the loose. But not a dirty whore. But go ahead. Not a dirty whore. Whore. I love the word whore. Yeah, I like it. I like this, the behavior thing. I raised my sons to one of my sons, girlfriends once said, your son is so nice. Thank you. And I go, yes, I worked at it. I actually worked at it for lots of ways and continue to do so. With my four-year-old, he was, you know, he hits his sister a lot. And I looked at him, I go, you will never hit girls. Like, look at me. And my wife was like, well, everyone. I'm like, no, girls, you will definitely, like, I don't know about boys and we'll deal with that later.

59:19Kara Swisher:You shouldn't probably hit anyone, But I'm not really concerned with that. I'm concerned with girls. Yeah, I mean, I think one of the biggest, it's such a huge responsibility to have a son. You have to make sure that they know what's up and that they don't turn into a violent criminal or a rapist. Although one of my sons, this was so funny, he's very literal. And he goes, I go, you will never hit a woman. He goes, what if she has a knife? And I go, you're bigger than she is. You can get it out of her hand. He goes, what if I can't? I'm like, well, then you run. And he tries to find the loophole of having to hit a woman.

59:55Kara Swisher:I'm like, never. What do you think in terms of raising, since you have both a boy and a girl, and boy, well, more than one. Three boys and a girl. Three boys and a girl. What do you think is the, how do you view that as a parent? Which is. I try really, you know, with a girl, it's interesting. With boys, I want to make sure they, like, I remember one of my sons used to love the color pink. And then one day he didn't because something happened. It was his favorite. We found his pink hat the other day. And I was sort of upset by that. Was it a pink pussy hat? No, it wasn't a pussy hat. He loved it.

1:00:27Kara Swisher:He loved his fucking hat. And then he said, I can't wear it because I'm a boy. And I was like, what happened? We live in San Francisco, of all places. What occurred in the ether that you couldn't like what you liked? That was one thing I was concerned about with them, is how do they get to be made? I can't cry. I can't like princesses. I can be not gay and like pink, right? That kind of thing. But with her, I know it sounds crazy, but I think about what's the day when she's going to feel lesser than? Because I know it's coming, right? Like, what's the day she's very confident, she's got incredible, what they call executive function, she's really on it, quick, strong.

1:01:06Kara Swisher:I was like, what's the day they're going to slap her back? Like, that's what I'm worried about with her, right? And how is she going to react to it. I think about that all the time. Like, there's going to be a day, right? Yeah, but I mean, she has the advantage of having two, you know, female role models. And I think that that is a huge advantage because you're demonstrating and modeling exactly what she's going to do. Right, I hope. Stand tall, you know? I mean, with three brothers to boot, like, that's a good recipe. Yeah, she has a great relationship with her brothers. But it's really, I just, I don't know why I think about that a lot.

1:01:40Kara Swisher:I think it's inevitable. And I just don't know. I remember when I got called bossy for the first time, you know, didn't bother me, but it bothered other girls for sure. Like they stopped. Like it was that minute, like you're bossy. I'm like, yes, I fucking am. That's right. Yeah, right. Right. You know, I think you're going to be, I think your girl's going to be just fine. I hope so. I hope so. She's very girly. That's my prediction. I have a girly girl, a lot of ballerina situation happening, all those kinds of things. That's cute. It is. It is. But that's my worry for her is like, when is she going to feel lesser than?

1:02:10Kara Swisher:I never think that of the boys. When are they going to stop feeling more than? More than. Because they're like, I'm great. I'm like, you know, it's a really interesting. Gender is a thing. Gender is a thing. That's all I have to say. Anyway, enough about my children. One more quick break. We'll be back for predictions.

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1:04:06Kara Swisher:Okay, Chelsea, you can go first or I can go first, whatever you want to do. I've made so many predictions already. I think I'm going to predict that Abdul Al-Sayed wins Michigan. Oh, good one. Why is that? Tell me why. Besides being a handsome devil. I just think that this midterm is going to be a big referendum on Donald Trump. And you want to see a pendulum swing, it's going to swing. So all those Trump voters are going to get this in return. That's what I think. What do you make of the attempts to make all this sort of anti-Islamic stuff, Nancy Mace being at the forefront of that, but everybody, they're trying to make them a terrorist.

1:04:45Kara Swisher:They're sort of jihadist, everything. They're communist, everything. They're throwing at this one guy. I mean, the word communist is so silly to be using in any framework that we're talking about with these people that that goes in one ear and out the other. It's really race, race, like it's all racial, obviously. I think, you know, the more people that are not white that are in office is a good thing, not a bad thing. It's more reflective of actually what this country is and what we showed during the World Cup, which was a welcoming of all of these people in these small towns and in bigger cities.

1:05:19But these, you know, people coming from different countries and different cultures and people preparing different dishes and Somalian food and this food. And like that was America. That is who we are. And that was so nice for the world to see just in time so that they know that not everybody is. We can do it. Yeah. You know, the welcoming of that, of difference. And so I just, you know, the more women we can get elected, the better. The more brown people we can get elected, the better. We need an age limit on our politics and our official, you know, our offices and political appointments. Everyone needs to get the fuck out of politics at a certain age.

1:06:01I'm not sure what that age is, but somewhere in your 70s, early 70s. and then go swim in a lake, you know, like, and I don't know how much, like, money all these people need, but it is, it feels like the death cough of white male patriarchy when you see people like Mitch McConnell, who probably has an ID tag on one of his toes right now and is also serving, you know, like, it's a wrap on that. And so hopefully this whole new wave of people is going to set a different standard for what we're going to accept in American politics. All right, El Saeed. Yeah, I like it.

1:06:37Kara Swisher:I like that prediction. I have a feeling, too. I do. It's interesting because there's definitely a clap back, right, to him. He seems to, to me, the attacks mean they're scared of him. I think the worry that he is very appealing. I thought for El Saeed, there was a commercial that his grandparents made. I don't know if you see it, but it's fantastic. I didn't see it. He has two, these grandparents, and couldn't be whiter people. Like, it's really kind of, I think they did this on purpose. And I have to say, it's a fantastic, fantastic, they look like Michiganders, like, as the way the racist parts are trying to pretend.

1:07:14Kara Swisher:But they did it in such a beautiful way, a loving way, that it was really well done. This guy is like, has got it all from high school on. He seems to have, like, done everything right the right way. Yeah, he's pretty magnetic, and you want to watch him. And yeah, the anti-Muslim thing is also wrapped in, you know, anyone who speaks out against Israel is an anti-Semite. I'm not on board with that either. I do not believe that. Everybody who speaks out against Israel is anti-Semitic. I don't think that's true. I understand there's a lot of anti-Semitism. I'm not going to dispute that. That's out there.

1:07:52I'm a Jewish person. I get it. But, you know, so like I don't like that argument for all of these candidates, too. Mamdani is doing wonderful things for New York City. It's all out there. You can look it up. It's all available. And so I choose to believe in that. All right.

1:08:08Kara Swisher:Well, that's a big I like that prediction. I think you're probably right. I would agree with you. I'm going to make one. David Ellison is threatening to move Paramount out of California if he can't settle legal challenges to Paramount Warner deal. Obviously, the trial is now not until next year. So he's in a lot of existential trauma right now because he thought he would have this thing sail through after kissing up the trunk so much. And, of course, accuses California of politics when he himself used politics to get approved. So I find that interesting. I predict this effort he's had, all his PR efforts, whether it's getting Ari Emanuel to write an essay or Adam Aaron by doing payoffs to him, essentially, or special treatment from some of these theater owners.

1:08:49Kara Swisher:Not all theater owners are on board, by the way. I don't think any of this aggressive PR stuff is working at all. Rob Bonta, there's no reason for Rob Bonta to do anything at this point since the trial is going forward. And all these attempts to pressure him, I think, are going to backfire. And this latest one to me is the most desperate Taimou Larry Ellison thing you could do. Larry Ellison moved out of California, although he has a significant presence there still. I just don't, this is just the stupidest thing yet. You're not going to have Hollywood in Tennessee. It's just not happening. It's going to anger people in the industry.

1:09:22Kara Swisher:It's going to anger workers there. It's so desperate. And it's your last arrow in this really sad quiver. So I think he should settle, figure some way he can settle, or he's going to have to just go to trial. And then he has all manner of pain during that. You have to go to trial? Wait, what would happen if they go to trial? I don't even understand. They could win or lose. It goes to trial. Yeah. Yeah. And then California can appeal it to the to the Ninth Circuit. So then he could he may not make the deadline in which David Zasloff can then pull out of the deal and collect seven billion dollars.

1:09:57Kara Swisher:Or David Zasloff could extend it. He could he and the Warner board. So he's really in a time constraint, given the judges moved this until March. Could take two months to decide after the March trial. I don't know. I don't know what to say about any of this stuff. It's all just so ridiculous. Like, you know, the amount of things that the monopolies, it doesn't seem like there's, I mean, moving it to Tennessee doesn't seem realistic. And I don't really understand how these companies have these kill fees, you know, when these deals don't go through learning about how much you have to pay. Netflix got what,$3 billion when it didn't go through?

1:10:362.8, yeah. 2.8 billion. I'm like, whoa. I'm like, that's a pretty big incentive to make the deal go through, no?

1:10:43Kara Swisher:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's a$7 billion one here. Oh, my God. You know, I just read something this morning. Netflix is doubling down on their productions in California because people are talking about California possibly becoming the next Detroit because everybody's moving their productions out. So Netflix is doubling down on their investments and their productions in the state of California. It's also an opportunity. Right. Right. Yeah, they might have more tax breaks and stuff like that. Yeah, so I'd like to see more of that and just more, you know, just the amounts of money makes kind of everything seem illegitimate.

1:11:18When you're talking about this, these billions, you know, we used to talk about hundreds of millions and now it's billions all the time. And now we have a trillionaire. Like when we're talking about this much money, it's just not. Oh, right. Oh, right. So he's not today. But who knows next week? I'll cross my fingers and my legs for him But when you get into these categories of money and finances It's just so far It's become so ridiculous And we just need We need to kind of rewire this system At some point So there's not five people owning and control of everything And that includes AI That includes the studios It includes everything

1:11:57Kara Swisher:Yeah, I agree And threatening to move out of California Seems like I'm a rich kid who didn't get what he wants and I'm going to stamp my feet and move out of California. What about all the people that threatened to move out of New York when all the billionaires— Did they? No. No, they didn't. They didn't. Okay, so there you go. Yeah. I just don't think you use this one up for this. It makes you look like a giant fucking baby. Yeah, I would agree with you. I'm going to defer to you on this, Karen. Bonta doesn't have to—like, the thing is, they're like, I got a call from one of them. It was Ari or one of them.

1:12:24Kara Swisher:He's like, oh, he's got to do it. I'm like, the only thing you can do is settle, try to do a legitimate settlement here, or two, peel off the other attorney generals. Like, that's your choice. And I don't think it's going to work because they're in a good position at this point, whether you agree with their legal analysis or not. Like, they don't have to do anything. Just sit there and wait. And they're like, oh, they're going to be worried if he wants to run for governor of Democratic donors. I said, oh, good God. Who's going to run for governor? Alison? Bonta, Bonta, Bonta. Oh, God. This story has too many legs.

1:12:55I can't keep up. I'm like, wait, in Tennessee or California?

1:12:59Kara Swisher:I don't know. Would you want to live in Tennessee? By the way, I was going to make a list of everything rights that you have in California that you do not have in Tennessee, and they are extensive. Abortion, women's rights, gay people. David, you don't want to move to Tennessee, I'll tell you that. Georgia, maybe, but still, even then, you're going to have a lot of trouble with people working for you, and that's why it's all leaking. It's leaking because they think this is a stupid fucking idea, and it is. But good luck. Good luck to you, I say, young man. Buenasuerte, as they say in Hispania.

1:13:32Buenasuerte. Give me some more Spanish. Buenasuerte. That's good. What does that mean? That's good. That's good luck. Que lastima. What a shame. Que lastima. Oh, I like that one. Let me hear you say that.

1:13:44Kara Swisher:Que lastima. What a shame. Anyway, we want to hear from you. Send us your questions about business tech or whatever's on your mind. Go to nymag.com slash pivot to submit a question for the show. call 855-51-PIVOT. Okay, that's the show. Thanks for listening to Pivot. And be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We'll be back next week. Chelsea, thank you so much. And by the way, you can get tickets for Chelsea's tour at chelseahandler.com. I have been to it. It's a wonderful show. I'm going to see another one. I'm going to try to drop in another one of your shows. Yeah, that was fun having you there.

1:14:12Kara Swisher:I have so much enjoyed our relationship. It's unlikely, but here we are. I know, me too. I appreciate you doing it. And listen to everything Chelsea does. She's a really, you're a good egg, as they say. A good egg. How do you say it in Spanish? Un bueno. Un buen huevo. Huevo. You're un buen huevo. Oh, thank you, Cara. Chelsea, thank you so much. Today's show was produced by Lara Neyman, Zoe Marcus, Taylor Griffin, and Todd Wiseman. Ernie Androdot engineered this episode. Rich Shibley edited the video. Nishat Kirwa is Vox Media's executive producer of podcasts. Make sure to follow Pivot on your favorite podcast platform.

1:14:51Kara Swisher:Thanks for listening to Pivot from Vox Media. We'll be back next week for another breakdown of all things tech and business.

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