History of Kara Swisher in Timeline

Kara Swisher is an American journalist prominent for her coverage of the internet business since 1994. As of 2023, she serves as a contributing editor at New York Magazine and hosts the podcast 'On with Kara Swisher.' She is also the co-host of the podcast 'Pivot.' Swisher is known for her insightful analysis and commentary on the tech industry.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

December 11, 1962: Kara Swisher's Birth

On December 11, 1962, Kara Anne Swisher was born. She is an American journalist who has covered the business of the internet since 1994.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Obtains Undergraduate Degree

In 1984, Kara Swisher obtained her undergraduate degree from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

1985: Graduation from Columbia University

In 1985, Kara Swisher graduated from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with a MS in journalism.

1986: Returns 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.

1990: Early Use of Technology at The Post

Kara Swisher credits The Washington Post as where she "significantly started to use technology", including dragging a suitcase cell phone around the office in the 1990s.

1997: Joins The Wall Street Journal

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

July 1998: Publication of aol.com

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: Marriage to 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: Launch of All Things Digital Conference

In 2003, Kara Swisher, with Walt Mossberg, launched the All Things Digital conference, later expanding it into the AllThingsD.com blog.

2003: Publication of There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere

In the fall of 2003, Kara Swisher's book There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future was published by 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 in San Francisco

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

2011: Suffers Mini-Stroke

In 2011, Kara Swisher suffered a "mini-stroke" while on a flight to Hong Kong and was hospitalized.

January 1, 2014: Launch of Recode Website

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

2014: Separation from Megan Smith

In 2014, Kara Swisher and Megan Smith separated.

2014: Co-founding of Recode

In 2014, Kara Swisher co-founded Recode with Walt Mossberg at Vox Media.

May 2015: Acquisition of Recode by Vox Media

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

June 2015: Launch of 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.

2015: Appears in Silicon Valley

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

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2016: Announces 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.

2016: Possible run for political office

In 2016, Kara Swisher, who describes herself as a "liberal, lesbian Donald Trump of San Francisco," briefly considered a run for political office in San Francisco.

2016: Reflects on John McLaughlin's Death

Reflecting on John McLaughlin's death from prostate cancer in 2016, Kara Swisher expressed relief.

2017: Divorce from Megan Smith

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

August 2018: Becomes Contributing Writer to The New York Times

In August 2018, Kara Swisher became a contributing writer to The New York Times' Opinion section, focusing on technology.

September 2018: Launch of 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: Joins The New York Times as Opinion Writer

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

2018: Writes About Experiences with The McLaughlin Group

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

January 2019: Controversy over Gillette Ad Comment

In January 2019, Kara Swisher responded to criticism of a Gillette advertisement following the January 2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation with a controversial comment, later apologizing for it.

2019: Remembrance of Luke Perry

In 2019, Kara Swisher wrote about her experience with a stroke in a remembrance of Luke Perry, who died due to a stroke.

April 2020: Pivot Joins New York Magazine

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

May 2020: Swisher's Role at Recode

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

September 2020: Premiere of Sway Podcast

In September 2020, The New York Times premiered Sway, a semiweekly podcast hosted by Kara Swisher focused on the subject of power.

October 3, 2020: Marriage to Amanda Katz

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

2021: Hosts Companion Podcast for Succession

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

2021: Book Deal with Simon & Schuster

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

2021: Desire to Work in Military Intelligence

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

June 2022: Departure from The New York Times

In June 2022, Kara Swisher announced that she would leave The New York Times to pursue a new project at New York magazine.

September 2022: Joins New York Magazine and Hosts 'On with Kara Swisher'

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 of 'On' premiered September 26.

2022: Re-joins Vox Media

In 2022, Kara Swisher re-joined Vox Media after working as an opinion writer for The New York Times from 2018.

2023: Hosts Companion Podcast for Succession Season 4

In 2023, Kara Swisher hosted the official companion podcast for the fourth season of HBO's TV series Succession.

2023: Swisher's Roles in 2023

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