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Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher to launch Vox Media podcast 'High Stakes' on Oct. 14

Hillary Clinton and journalist Kara Swisher will co-host "High Stakes", a limited podcast series with Vox Media about the 2026 midterm elections, starting Oct. 14.

4 outlets · 3L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 3). Rewritten with the latest reporting.

Image: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: Washington Examiner
Image: Variety
Image: Rolling Stone

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The story, neutrally told

Left · 2Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher are launching a political podcast, "High Stakes", with Vox Media ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Left · 2It premieres Wednesday, Oct. 14, as the third episode of Swisher's New York magazine podcast "On With Kara Swisher"; Variety says the limited series will run weekly on Wednesdays. Left · 1Rolling Stone says new episodes will air weekly through mid-November, on the same feed as "On With Kara Swisher", and that more episodes are possible if the show succeeds.

Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter says the pair will discuss issues such as the cost of living, healthcare and technology before the Nov. 3 midterms, with opposing sides represented among those debating. Left · 2In a statement provided by Vox Media, Clinton said she does not think "the stakes for our country and the world have ever been higher than they are in November" and promised "some discussion, some debate and hopefully a lot of laughter." Left · 2Swisher described the show as "Pivot" with "an actual expert" as co-host; Clinton had earlier guest-hosted Pivot, Swisher's podcast with Scott Galloway (THR dates this to August 2026).

Left · 1Rolling Stone reports that the idea came from a long conversation between the two at a party this spring, after which Swisher had Clinton fill in for Scott Galloway on an August episode of Pivot and then persuaded her to co-host. Left · 1Vox Media co-founder and CEO Jim Bankoff called Clinton "a hero to millions" and said he was proud to bring her to the company "as she embarks on this next chapter of her media career." Left · 1Variety reports that under the deal Clinton will share ad revenue from the episodes with Swisher. It adds that Vox Media is owned by James Murdoch's Lupa Systems, which bought the company's podcast network, Vox.com and New York Magazine earlier this year, reportedly for more than $300 million.

Left · 2Both outlets say further collaborations are expected, though Vox Media gave no details. The Hollywood Reporter notes this follows Swisher's announcement that she will leave CNN after Paramount Skydance completed a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Left · 3Outlets differ on Clinton's podcasting history: Rolling Stone says she hosted "You and Me Both" for more than 50 episodes between 2020 and 2023, The Hollywood Reporter says she hosted it for iHeart Radio in 2023, and the Washington Examiner calls High Stakes her "debut podcast". Right · 1In an announcement video, Clinton said that on Nov. 3 every House seat, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships are on the ballot and that what people pay for groceries, rent and healthcare "is on the line".

Left · 1Rolling Stone quotes Clinton telling The New York Times that unless "this chaos and corruption and cruelty" from the administration is reversed, "we won't recognize our country"; the other outlets do not carry this.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left3 outlets

Framing
Trade and entertainment outlets treat it as a media-business announcement built on Vox Media's statements and the participants' quotes; Rolling Stone adds Clinton's sharper criticism of the Trump administration.
Emphasis
THR stresses the midterm timing, topics and Swisher's CNN exit; Variety stresses the ad-revenue split, Murdoch ownership of Vox Media and Clinton's biography; Rolling Stone stresses the show's origin, schedule and Clinton's anti-administration quote.
Leaves out or plays down
THR and Variety include no criticism or outside reaction. THR omits the revenue terms and ownership; Variety omits the topics and the CNN departure; Rolling Stone omits the business terms.
Charged language
“chaos and corruption and cruelty”
For example
“chaos and corruption and cruelty that is being visited upon us by this administration” — Rolling Stone
“Under the deal with Vox Media, Clinton will get a split of ad revenue generated from the episodes alongside Swisher.” — Variety

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Washington Examiner runs a short item built on Clinton's announcement video and X post, with a descriptive tone and no analysis of the show's politics.
Emphasis
Clinton's own words, the midterm stakes, and visual details of the video; it also links to a story on Trump appealing a Clinton lawsuit to the Supreme Court.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention Vox Media's ownership, the ad-revenue split, Swisher's CNN exit or Clinton's earlier podcast.
Charged language
“TRUMP APPEALS CLINTON LAWSUIT OVER RUSSIA COLLUSION CONSPIRACY TO SUPREME COURT”
For example
“Clinton is seen wearing a bright blue shirt in the announcement video.” — Washington Examiner

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