Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway

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Scott Galloway Proposes National Economic Strike

January 25, 202601:44
00:00:00
Something I'm spending a lot of time
00:00:01
thinking about and trying to get some
00:00:04
politicians on board with and some
00:00:06
public figures is the following. If you
00:00:08
want to understand real power and the
00:00:10
difference between being right and being
00:00:12
effective, stop watching protests and
00:00:14
start watching gross domeatic products,
00:00:16
specifically GDP. Trump does not respond
00:00:18
to outrage. He responds to markets. And
00:00:21
that's not cynicism. It's mechanics. I'm
00:00:23
not talking about a labor strike. This
00:00:26
isn't unions, pick a lines, or
00:00:27
collective bargaining. I'm talking about
00:00:28
something quieter, far more unsettling
00:00:32
to the system, and that is an economic
00:00:34
strike. A short-term coordinated
00:00:37
withdrawal from spending and maybe work.
00:00:39
>> Well, they did that. They did that in
00:00:40
Minnesota. They had a day the businesses
00:00:42
closed for
00:00:42
>> it can't be a day. A day is annoyance.
00:00:44
It needs to be a week or a month. And it
00:00:45
needs to be national.
00:00:47
>> The US economy is 27 trillion. That's 74
00:00:49
billion a day. And here's our power,
00:00:51
Cara. Our economy is 70%
00:00:53
consumer-driven. Consumers actually have
00:00:55
more power not in signs or in guns or
00:00:58
even in their vote right now. They have
00:00:59
it in the power of the purse. A very
00:01:02
small change in behavior could have an
00:01:04
enormous effect. It's not cinematic.
00:01:07
It's not romantic. It's not going to be
00:01:08
written up in great history novels. But
00:01:10
if you could figure out a way to
00:01:13
basically kick a small number of
00:01:14
companies related to the tech economy
00:01:16
that are account for 40% of the S&P
00:01:19
right now and who are the people he
00:01:20
cares about. If you cancelled all of
00:01:23
your streaming media platforms, if you
00:01:25
canled OpenAI and Anthropic and you said
00:01:28
I am not upgrading my Apple phone and
00:01:30
there was a real movement that
00:01:32
registered and they had to disclose it
00:01:35
in their earnings calls, this would
00:01:37
come to an end pronto.

Podspun Insights

In this thought-provoking episode, the conversation dives deep into the mechanics of power and influence in today's society. The host and their guest explore the stark contrast between traditional protests and a more subtle yet impactful form of resistance: an economic strike. By examining the dynamics of consumer behavior and the staggering influence of GDP, they challenge listeners to rethink how real change can be enacted. The dialogue is both unsettling and enlightening, revealing that the true power lies not in loud demonstrations but in the quiet strength of collective consumer choices. As they dissect the potential of a nationwide withdrawal from spending, the episode becomes a rallying cry for a new kind of activism—one that could shake the very foundations of the economy. This isn't just a conversation; it's a call to action that resonates on multiple levels, urging everyone to consider how their everyday decisions can wield significant power in the political landscape.

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  • 90
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  • 90
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  • 90
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Episode Highlights

  • Economic Strike
    A coordinated withdrawal from spending could unsettle the system more than protests.
    “I’m talking about something quieter, far more unsettling to the system.”
    @ 00m 28s
    January 25, 2026
  • The Power of Consumers
    Consumers hold significant power in the economy, more than protests or votes.
    “Consumers actually have more power not in signs or in guns.”
    @ 00m 55s
    January 25, 2026
  • Changing Behavior
    Small changes in consumer behavior can lead to enormous effects on the economy.
    “A very small change in behavior could have an enormous effect.”
    @ 01m 02s
    January 25, 2026

Episode Quotes

Key Moments

  • Unsettling the System00:28
  • Economic Power00:55
  • Consumer Movement01:02