Kamala’s Presidential Run, CrowdStrike’s Meltdown, and Guest Lydia Polgreen
Digest
This episode of Pivot dives into the political landscape with Joe Biden's decision to step down and endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate. Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway analyze the potential impact on the Democratic Party, the upcoming election, and the role of big tech. They then shift their focus to the massive CrowdStrike outage that affected millions of devices, highlighting the lack of robustness in the tech industry and the need for greater antitrust regulation. Finally, Cara and Scott share their wins and fails of the week, discussing the humorous reactions to the CrowdStrike outage, Bill Ackman's spreading of conspiracy theories, and Joe Biden's legacy.
Outlines
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Biden Steps Down, Kamala Harris Takes the Lead
Cara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Joe Biden's decision to step down and endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate. They analyze the potential impact on the Democratic Party, the upcoming election, and the role of big tech.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
CrowdStrike Outage: A Tech Industry Crisis?
Cara and Scott discuss the massive CrowdStrike outage that affected millions of devices, including airlines and healthcare facilities. They argue that the incident highlights the lack of robustness in the tech industry and the need for greater antitrust regulation.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Wins and Fails: Kamala Harris, Bill Ackman, and Joe Biden's Legacy
Cara and Scott share their wins and fails of the week. Cara highlights the humorous reactions to the CrowdStrike outage on social media, while Scott criticizes Bill Ackman's spreading of conspiracy theories. Cara praises Joe Biden's presidency and his decision to step down, while Scott expresses his hope for a more unified Democratic Party.
Keywords
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is the current Vice President of the United States and a former Senator from California. She is the first woman and first person of color to hold the office of Vice President. Harris is known for her prosecutorial background and her progressive views on issues such as criminal justice reform and climate change.
CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity firm that provides endpoint protection and threat intelligence services. The company's software update on Friday, July 7, 2024, caused a massive outage that affected millions of devices, including airlines and healthcare facilities. The incident highlighted the lack of robustness in the tech industry and the need for greater antitrust regulation.
Joe Biden
Joe Biden is the 46th and current President of the United States. He served as Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Biden is known for his moderate views and his long career in public service. He announced his decision to step down as President on Sunday, July 9, 2024, and endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor.
Antitrust
Antitrust laws are designed to prevent monopolies and promote competition in the marketplace. The CrowdStrike outage has renewed calls for greater antitrust regulation in the tech industry, as it highlights the risks associated with concentrated power in a few companies.
Q&A
What are the key challenges facing Kamala Harris as she takes over the Democratic presidential nomination?
Harris faces challenges in articulating a clear vision for the country beyond defeating Donald Trump, overcoming skepticism from some voters about her qualifications, and navigating the complex racial dynamics of the election.
How does the CrowdStrike outage highlight the need for greater antitrust regulation in the tech industry?
The outage demonstrates the vulnerability of critical infrastructure when it is concentrated in a few companies. It underscores the need for greater government oversight and stress testing to ensure the resilience of essential systems.
What are the potential implications of Joe Biden's decision to step down for the Democratic Party and the upcoming election?
Biden's decision creates an opportunity for Kamala Harris to solidify her position as the Democratic nominee and potentially energize the party's base. However, it also raises questions about the party's ability to unite behind a single candidate and effectively challenge Donald Trump.
Show Notes
Kara and Scott discuss Joe Biden passing the torch to Kamala Harris, and how she'll do against Trump. Also, who will be her VP? Friend of Pivot, New York Times Opinion Columnist Lydia Polgreen joins them to discuss. Then, the ongoing fallout from the CrowdStrike update that caused 8.5 million devices to crash on Friday.
You can find Lydia on Threads at @lpolgreen.
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