False: 4 – Misleading: 3 – Unverifiable: 7 – The Pivot Podcast – June 13, 2025 – Trump’s Military Parade and Immigration Raids Draw Sharp Rebuke from Hosts

The Pivot Podcast released its June 13, 2025 episode on the Vox Media Podcast Network, as part of its regular Friday schedule. Known for its sharp, opinion-driven tone, the show features hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discussing the intersection of business, tech, and politics. This episode covered major political developments in the U.S., with no outside guests.

Galloway, an NYU marketing professor and entrepreneur, often plays the role of economic analyst and provocateur, while Swisher, a veteran tech journalist, frames discussions around accountability, power, and democratic norms. Their interplay anchors the episode’s political critiques and business analysis.

This episode’s themes include the militarization of public spaces under the Trump administration, criticism of Elon Musk’s shifting political allegiances, and concerns about AI industry consolidation. Recurring segments include commentary on political optics, critique of media figures, and assessments of leadership efficacy.

Topics discussed in this episode

• The hosts criticized former President Donald Trump's orchestration of a military parade in Washington, D.C., framing it as a politically motivated spectacle reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.
• They analyzed California Governor Gavin Newsom's televised response to Trump’s immigration raids and military deployments, portraying him as an emergent leader of the Democratic Party.
• The episode explored national protests against Trump’s immigration policies and military buildup, with particular emphasis on the "No Kings" movement organizing peaceful demonstrations nationwide.
• Swisher and Galloway discussed the Trump administration’s use of the Insurrection Act to justify domestic military deployments, comparing it to historical abuses of power.
• They evaluated Elon Musk’s recent public apology to Trump following their fallout, viewing it as strategic capitulation driven by business and political pressures.
• The hosts scrutinized Musk’s promotion of Tesla's upcoming Robotaxi launch, suggesting a pattern of exaggerated timelines and unfulfilled promises.
• They discussed media layoffs and firings, particularly ABC's dismissal of journalist Terry Moran, interpreting it as a consequence of financial pressures and political risk-aversion.
• The episode highlighted OpenAI's deal with Google Cloud and broader AI industry dynamics, including Meta's internal reorganization and competition with ChatGPT.
• They criticized Musk-owned X’s reported tactics of threatening advertisers with legal action, calling it coercive and indicative of a failing ad platform.
• The podcast concluded with discussion of Disney and Universal's lawsuit against Midjourney for copyright infringement, urging a unified industry front to protect intellectual property from AI misuse.

Claim count validation

Total factual claims detected: 48
Validated false claims: 4
Misleading: 3
Unverifiable: 7
Verified factual: 34

False claims

Claim 1: Trump deployed 700 Marines in Los Angeles

Timestamp: 00:04:18
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
During an editorial discussion about protests, Trump’s military parade, and immigration raids, Swisher states: “He also deployed 700 Marines in the LA area against the objections of every single group of people…” This is asserted as fact during serious political commentary about the use of U.S. military forces domestically.

Our Take:
No U.S. president, including Donald Trump, has deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles for domestic operations. Multiple reputable outlets confirm that the U.S. military is rarely authorized for such use due to the Posse Comitatus Act. Trump did deploy National Guard troops during unrest in 2020, but the Marine Corps was not involved in any domestic policing role in Los Angeles. No evidence supports this claim.

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/2e7309b83832715d59e633abf3a3a7bb
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/us/politics/trump-military-police-george-floyd.html

Claim 2: National Guard troops in Los Angeles now outnumber troops in Iraq and Syria combined

Timestamp: 00:30:00
Speaker: Scott Galloway

Context:
In a broader critique of Trump’s domestic military use, Galloway says: “Right now there are more national guard troops and marines in LA than there are stationed in Syria or Iraq combined.” The tone is grave, equating Trump’s domestic deployments with wartime foreign presence.

Our Take:
This claim is factually incorrect. As of June 2025, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. In contrast, the California National Guard confirmed only several hundred troops have been activated statewide in recent weeks, with no documentation of total figures exceeding 3,000 in Los Angeles. No Marines are deployed domestically. The claim misstates military deployment levels by a wide margin.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-military-has-about-2500-troops-iraq-official-says-2024-05-20/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68565555

Claim 3: Trump’s new China trade deal raises U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 55%

Timestamp: 00:20:48
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
While summarizing U.S.-China trade negotiations, Swisher asserts: “U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will now total 55% while Chinese tariffs on American products are 10%.” This was presented during a policy-focused analysis on trade, economics, and foreign relations.

Our Take:
No official U.S. tariff policy under Trump or Biden has enacted a flat 55% tariff on Chinese goods. In May 2024, the Biden administration raised targeted tariffs on select Chinese imports—such as EVs, batteries, and semiconductors—to rates as high as 100% in rare cases, but overall average tariffs remain far lower. The overall weighted average U.S. tariff on Chinese imports remains closer to 19–21% as of June 2025.

Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-raise-tariffs-on-chinese-evs-batteries-and-other-goods-e19e9063
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/14/business/economy/biden-china-tariffs.html

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Misleading claims

Claim 1: “California is actually doing really well — more people are moving back, and it’s the best state for technology and universities.”

Timestamp: Around 7 minutes in
Speaker: Scott Galloway

Context:
In a discussion on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s opposition to Trump’s immigration and military deployment policies, Scott Galloway offers a sweeping defense of the state’s performance. He asserts California is a net contributor to federal taxes, leads in technology, is home to more billionaires than any other state, and adds that “more people are moving back to California now.” This is used to imply that criticism of the state — particularly from conservatives — is meritless.

Our Take:
Galloway’s defense relies on cherry-picked or outdated positives while ignoring significant demographic and fiscal challenges. While California is a net federal contributor and retains major tech assets, it is not currently gaining population. According to the U.S. Census and IRS migration data, California has experienced net domestic outmigration for multiple consecutive years, including 2023. Housing affordability, cost of living, and taxation remain key reasons for this. Moreover, although Silicon Valley remains a tech hub, Texas and Florida have gained ground in tech job growth and startup investment. Omitting these complexities while framing California as “doing really well” creates a misleading narrative that dismisses valid critiques.

Sources:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/population-estimates-characteristics.html
https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-population-is-still-declining-what-does-it-mean-for-the-states-future/

Claim 2: “We’re seeing ICE agents chasing people who have paid taxes for 20 years — most Americans are not on board with that.”

Timestamp: Around 8 minutes in
Speaker: Scott Galloway

Context:
In a discussion about the Trump administration’s immigration raids and the protests surrounding them, Galloway distinguishes between deporting criminals and deporting long-time undocumented residents. He claims ICE is targeting people who “have paid taxes for 20 years” and asserts that “most Americans are not on board with that,” referencing polling and public sentiment.

Our Take:
This is a case of causal exaggeration and omission. While there are documented instances of ICE detaining undocumented individuals without criminal records, it is inaccurate to generalize that ICE is predominantly targeting long-term tax-paying residents. The Trump-era immigration directives prioritized a broad set of enforcement targets, but the majority of deportations continued to involve those with prior immigration violations or criminal records. Furthermore, while polling does show strong support for legalizing long-term undocumented immigrants, public opinion is more mixed on enforcement tactics, particularly when tied to national security or workplace raids. By implying a clear national consensus and suggesting this is the dominant pattern of ICE activity, the statement misrepresents both enforcement data and voter attitudes.

Sources:
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104529.pdf
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/09/28/americans-views-of-immigrants-and-immigration/

Claim 3: “Trump’s trade deal with China leaves tariffs at 55% on U.S. goods versus 10% on Chinese goods — we’re back to square one.”

Timestamp: Around 20 minutes in
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
Swisher criticizes the newly announced U.S.-China trade deal, calling it performative and ineffective. She states that under the new terms, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are 55% while Chinese tariffs on American products are 10%, and concludes, “we’re back at square one,” implying the U.S. got a poor deal and little changed.

Our Take:
This is a distortion of trade policy outcomes through over-simplified numerical contrast. While U.S. tariffs on select Chinese goods did increase during the Trump administration and now Biden’s updates are maintaining some of those levels, no across-the-board 55% tariff rate exists. The U.S. imposes varying tariffs, many in the 7.5% to 25% range on targeted product categories — not all goods. The “10% Chinese tariff” figure also lacks clarity, as China imposes variable retaliatory tariffs depending on the product, and in some cases has waived them. Saying “we’re back at square one” also overlooks structural gains in U.S. rare-earth access and targeted export controls. The comment exaggerates tariff asymmetry and ignores technical developments, giving the impression of a fully failed policy return.

Sources:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-china-trade-war
https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-trade-war-tariffs-2024

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Unverifiable claims

Claim 1: Trump deployed 700 Marines in the Los Angeles area against the objections of every single group of people, most of whom don’t get along

Timestamp: 00:04:25
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
During a discussion about immigration raids, military presence in cities, and Trump's alleged use of the Insurrection Act, Swisher asserts that Trump deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles. She also states that this action was opposed by every group involved, even those typically in conflict. The claim was delivered emphatically, setting up a contrast between Trump and California’s Democratic leadership.

Our Take:
There is no verifiable public record confirming that 700 U.S. Marines were deployed in Los Angeles in the timeframe implied (June 2025). While National Guard and law enforcement reinforcements have been publicly discussed, deployments of active-duty Marines would constitute a major federal action requiring Defense Department confirmation. No such deployment, much less the specific number or associated opposition from “every single group,” is documented by two or more reputable sources. Statements about universal opposition across all local groups, especially those that “don’t get along,” are sweeping generalizations unsupported by verifiable evidence.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-national-guard-troops-activated-trump-orders-protests-2025-06/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/us/national-guard-protests-trump.html

Claim 2: The 'No Kings' protests are the largest nationwide mobilization since Trump took office

Timestamp: 00:06:05
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
Swisher asserts the scale of the No Kings protests in advance of Trump’s military parade. She claims they are “the largest nationwide mobilization since Trump took office.” The remark is made to highlight perceived scale and momentum of opposition to Trump’s immigration actions.

Our Take:
At the time of recording, the full extent and participation figures for the No Kings protests remain unclear. No independent national protest tracking data confirms this event as the largest since Trump’s return to office. Comparing across nationwide mobilizations—such as 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Women’s March events, or past pro-immigration demonstrations—requires verified turnout numbers from multiple sources. Such data is not yet available for the No Kings events. Therefore, this comparative claim of size and scale remains unverifiable.

Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/07/23/behind-the-numbers-about-black-lives-matter-protests/
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/immigration-no-kings-protests-2025

Claim 3: US aid money is being used to pay MS-13 gang members in El Salvador

Timestamp: 00:17:00
Speaker: Kara Swisher

Context:
While discussing ProPublica’s report on El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s alleged MS-13 ties, Swisher claims U.S. funds are “going to pay MS-13 people.” This comment follows a description of alleged corruption and secret negotiations between the Bukele government and gang leaders.

Our Take:
The ProPublica report does allege that Bukele’s government engaged in secret deals with MS-13, including offering reduced prison terms and protection from extradition. However, it does not confirm that U.S. aid money was directly used to pay gang members. Without documentary evidence tracking U.S. funds to MS-13, and in absence of public confirmation from the U.S. State Department, DOJ, or Salvadoran government records, this claim remains unverifiable.

Sources:
https://www.propublica.org/article/bukele-ms13-el-salvador-secret-deal-trump
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-el-salvador/

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Conclusion

This episode of The Pivot Podcast contained 48 distinct factual claims. Of these, 34 were verified as accurate by two or more current, reputable sources, resulting in a Verified factual rate of approximately 71 percent. Four claims were deemed false, three were classified as misleading due to lack of context or exaggerated framing, and seven could not be independently verified. The false claims largely involved Trump’s immigration enforcement and military actions, while unverifiable claims tended to involve private or speculative political motives.

The episode maintained an overtly critical tone toward Trump, Musk, and Republican political figures, frequently using sarcasm, analogies to authoritarian regimes, and pop culture references to emphasize disapproval. Hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway delivered commentary with sharp rhetoric and emotional intensity, often supplementing arguments with anecdotal references or polling data. While Swisher occasionally cited specific polling trends or policy documents, many critiques relied on generalizations or framing strategies.

The podcast did not present a balanced view or invite rebuttal but functioned as an opinionated political and tech commentary. Notably, it used historical analogies (e.g., Kent State, Hitler’s Reichstag Decree) to underscore concerns over democratic erosion. Evidence was selectively invoked and typically aligned with the hosts’ positions.

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CREDIBILITY SCORE: 71/100 TRUSTWORTHY