On with Kara Swisher

Maggie Kang, director and creator who drew on her Korean heritage to shape the film’s mythology. Chris Appelhans, co-director and songwriter who brought anime and K-drama musical sensibilities. They discuss the film’s surprise global smash, writing the hit song "Golden," rooting the story in mudang mythology, blending 3D and 2D animation, AI’s impact on creativity, and plans for a sequel.

Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker writer and political analyst; Nate Persily, Stanford law professor and election-law expert; Natalie Adona, Marin County registrar and election administrator. They map out pre-election tactics to sow doubt, legal and redistricting maneuvers, frontline experiences with intimidation, risks from voter-data mishaps, and how local procedures and transparency aim to protect ballot integrity.

Scott Galloway, NYU Stern marketing professor, entrepreneur, and author who launched the Resist and Unsubscribe campaign, outlines a consumer-led plan to pressure tech firms by canceling subscriptions. He explains targeting high-impact companies, the market-cap math behind unsubscribing, practical tips for finding hidden renewals, and how to sustain and scale a boycott for political accountability.

Jane Fonda, actress and lifelong activist focused on climate, democracy, and social justice. She discusses treating climate and democratic threats as linked crises. She explains building a climate PAC and local electoral strategies. She talks about protecting free expression, confronting industry consolidation, and turning despair into action through organized campaigns.

Abbe Lowell, a longtime Washington defense attorney who left big firm life to defend those targeted by the Trump administration. He discusses why firms avoid politically risky cases. He explains categories of targeted people, security clearance revocations, strategic litigation to block executive overreach, and how judges and institutions are responding.

Lawrence Lessig, Harvard law professor and founder of Equal Citizens, fights institutional corruption and Super PAC influence. He explains how tech and big money warped politics. He outlines legal strategies to curb Super PACs, warns about AI and engagement-driven harm, and champions citizen assemblies as democratic repair.

Ben Collins, former disinformation reporter turned CEO of The Onion, revived the satirical paper with a print relaunch and bold digital moves. He discusses satire’s role when reality outpaces parody. They explore satire vs. cruelty, punching up at power, competing with absurd real-world news, print strategy, and an attempted Infowars takeover.

RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, leads an EV maker known for the R1T/R1S and the upcoming affordable R2. He discusses pricing strategy, how R2 could be the company’s make-or-break product, competition from Chinese makers and Tesla, the Volkswagen software partnership, and Rivian’s push into in-house autonomy and compute.

Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis and the city’s chief executive, discusses the federal ICE and Border Patrol deployment and DOJ subpoenas. He describes legal fights, community safety measures, the scale of federal operations, and why he calls the presence an invasion. He urges national solidarity and explains local limits and responses.

Renée DiResta, an expert on online disinformation, Hany Farid, a pioneer in digital image forensics, and tech journalist Casey Newton delve into the ramifications of X's new in-app tool that allows users to alter photos. They discuss the alarming rise in non-consensual deepfakes, particularly involving minors. The guests tackle the failures of regulators and app stores to intervene, the incoherent free-speech defense of such abuses, and the need for accountability. Ultimately, they envision a safer internet while cautioning about the threat of advanced AI tools.