History of Kara Swisher in Timeline

Kara Swisher is an American journalist who has extensively covered the internet business since 1994. She is known for her insightful reporting and commentary on the technology industry. As of 2023, Swisher is a contributing editor at New York Magazine and hosts/co-hosts the podcasts *On with Kara Swisher* and *Pivot*, solidifying her position as a prominent voice in tech journalism and commentary.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

December 11, 1962: Kara Swisher Born

On December 11, 1962, Kara Anne Swisher was born. She would later become an American journalist known for covering the internet business.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Obtained Undergraduate Degree

In 1984, Kara Swisher obtained her undergraduate degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

1985: Graduated from Columbia University

In 1985, Kara Swisher graduated from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. in journalism.

1986: Returned to The Washington Post

In 1986, Kara Swisher returned to The Washington Post as a news aid for the Style desk before becoming a reporter covering the local retail beat.

1994: Started covering the internet business

In 1994, Kara Swisher began her career covering the business of the internet.

1997: Joined The Wall Street Journal

In 1997, Kara Swisher joined The Wall Street Journal, working from its bureau in San Francisco, and created the Boom Town column about Silicon Valley.

July 1998: Published "aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web"

In July 1998, Kara Swisher's book, "aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web," was published by Times Business Print Books.

aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web

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1999: Married Megan Smith

In 1999, Kara Swisher married Megan Smith in Marin County, at a time when same-sex marriage was not legal in California.

2003: Legal Wedding Ceremony in Niagara Falls

In 2003, Kara Swisher and Megan Smith had an additional legal wedding ceremony in Niagara Falls, Canada.

2003: Launched All Things Digital conference

In 2003, Kara Swisher, along with Walt Mossberg, launched the All Things Digital conference, which later expanded into a daily blog at AllThingsD.com.

2003: Published "There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future"

In the fall of 2003, Kara Swisher published her sequel, "There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future," with Crown Business Print Books.

There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future

Check it on Amazon

2004: San Francisco Same-Sex Wedding

In 2004, Kara Swisher and Megan Smith participated in the San Francisco 2004 same-sex weddings.

November 2008: Wedding Before Proposition 8

In November 2008, Kara Swisher and Megan Smith had another wedding in San Francisco in advance of California Proposition 8.

2011: Suffered Mini-Stroke

In 2011, Kara Swisher suffered a "mini-stroke" while on a flight to Hong Kong, leading to hospitalization and anticoagulant medication.

January 1, 2014: Launched Recode Website

On January 1, 2014, Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg launched the Recode website, based in San Francisco.

2014: Co-founded Recode with Walt Mossberg

In 2014, Kara Swisher co-founded Recode with Walt Mossberg, which was a Vox Media property.

2014: Separated from Megan Smith

Kara Swisher and Megan Smith separated in 2014.

May 2015: Vox Media Acquired Recode

In May 2015, Vox Media acquired the Recode website founded by Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg.

June 2015: Launched Recode Decode Podcast

In June 2015, Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg launched Recode Decode, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with prominent figures in the technology space, with Stewart Butterfield as the first guest.

2015: Appeared on Silicon Valley

In 2015, Kara Swisher appeared as herself in an episode of the HBO show Silicon Valley.

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2016: Announced Plans to Run for Mayor of San Francisco

In 2016, Kara Swisher announced her intention to run for mayor of San Francisco as a Democrat in 2023, potentially on a progressive platform.

2016: John McLaughlin's Death

Kara Swisher reflected on John McLaughlin's death from prostate cancer in 2016.

2017: Divorced from Megan Smith

As of 2017, Kara Swisher and Megan Smith were divorced.

September 2018: Launched Pivot Podcast

In September 2018, Recode and Vox Media launched Pivot, a semi-weekly news commentary podcast co-hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.

2018: Became Contributing Opinion Writer at The New York Times

In 2018, Kara Swisher became a contributing Opinion writer at The New York Times, writing on topics related to the technology industry.

2018: Opinion Writer for The New York Times

In 2018, Kara Swisher became an opinion writer for The New York Times.

2018: Wrote About Experiences with The McLaughlin Group

In 2018, Kara Swisher wrote an article for Slate detailing her experiences working for The McLaughlin Group, alleging abuse and sexual harassment by John McLaughlin.

January 2019: Controversial Tweet and Apology

In January 2019, Kara Swisher responded to disapproval of a Gillette advertisement following the January 2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation with a controversial tweet. She later apologized.

2019: Remembered Mini-Stroke

In 2019, Kara Swisher wrote about her 2011 "mini-stroke" experience in a remembrance of Luke Perry, after a stroke led to his death.

April 2020: Pivot Joined New York Magazine

In April 2020, New York Magazine announced that Pivot would be joining the magazine's properties, dropping the Recode branding, and Kara Swisher would also join as editor-at-large.

May 2020: No Involvement in Editing Recode

In May 2020, Kara Swisher stated on Twitter that she had not been involved in editing or assigning stories on Recode for many years.

October 3, 2020: Married Amanda Katz

On October 3, 2020, Kara Swisher married Amanda Katz, with whom she has two children.

2020: Premiered Sway Podcast

On September 21, 2020, The New York Times premiered Sway, a Salesforce-sponsored podcast hosted by Kara Swisher, focusing on power and influence. Nancy Pelosi was the first guest.

2021: Hosted Succession Companion Podcast

In 2021, Kara Swisher hosted the official companion podcast for the third season of HBO's TV series Succession.

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2021: Signed Two-Book Memoir Deal

In 2021, Kara Swisher signed a two-book memoir deal with Simon & Schuster.

2021: Childhood Ambitions

In 2021, during an interview with Bryan Elliott for Inc.'s Behind The Brand, Kara Swisher revealed that as a child, she aspired to work in the military, military intelligence, or the CIA.

June 2022: Ending Activities at The New York Times

In June 2022, sources reported that Kara Swisher would be ending her activities at The New York Times to pursue a new project with Vox Media.

September 2022: Editor-at-Large and Podcast Host

In September 2022, Kara Swisher became an editor-at-large at New York Magazine and the host of 'On with Kara Swisher'; the first episode premiered September 26.

2022: Returned to Vox Media

In 2022, Kara Swisher returned to Vox Media after serving as an opinion writer for The New York Times since 2018.

2023: Contributing Editor and Podcast Host

As of 2023, Kara Swisher was a contributing editor at New York Magazine, the host of the podcast On with Kara Swisher, and co-host of the podcast Pivot.