Recent rifts in MAGA-world have taken place both online and in the House Chamber. On X, Elon Musk is sparring with far-right activist Laura Loomer over HB-1 visas, dividing Musk fans. During the government funding battle last week, President-elect Trump criticized Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a vocal opponent of the Trump-backed spending bill. Rep. Roy explains his and the other 37 GOP votes against the bill, underscoring his commitment to smaller government and responsible spending. Next, Russia re...
Dec 27, 2024•30 min
Disney has reclaimed the top box office market share this year with “Moana 2,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Deadpool and Wolverine.” CNBC’s Julia Boorstin reports on the booms and the bust of the Lion King prequel “Mufasa.” Next, Aman Advani, CEO of the workleisure company Ministry of Supply, discusses the challenge that President-elect Trump’s tariffs pose to retailers and the potential cost of reshoring. Plus, which tech companies won Christmas? CNBC’s Steve Kovach breaks down the top tech gifts under...
Dec 26, 2024•28 min
While Elon Musk’s close relationship with President-elect Trump may seem unprecedented, U.S. CEOs have been fostering relationships with the Oval Office for over a century, according to Tevi Troy of Ronald Reagan Institute. One example: Henry Ford and President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. Next, it’s Christmas Eve! The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is back with its Santa tracking operations for the 69th year. General Gregory Guillot discusses NORAD’s efforts to monitor the airsp...
Dec 24, 2024•25 min
Private health insurance companies are in the spotlight, as public frustration with the American health system grows. Wendell Potter was once vice president of Cigna, until the work convinced him to quit the industry completely. In a recent op-ed, Potter highlights the pressure shareholders have placed on public health companies, and where the industry can go from here. Next, The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern shares her top tech gift ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers. On her list are y...
Dec 23, 2024•26 min
A government shutdown looms this Friday, and Congress is scrambling to find a funding bill that both parties will approve. The rush comes after President-elect Trump (and Elon Musk) scrapped a bill, and then a short term bill backed by both Trump and Musk failed to pass on Thursday . Emily Wilkins reports from DC on plans for “plan C,” and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) discusses the likelihood of another funding fight after the holidays. Kentucky distiller Michter’s is bracing for the po...
Dec 20, 2024•40 min
The Friday night deadline is looming for Congress to avoid a government shutdown after President-elect Trump, with the help of Elon Musk, sunk a compromise government funding bill . Representative Pete Sessions (R-Texas), DOGE Caucus Co-Chair, discusses where the negotiations stand and says he wants a “clean” continuing resolution without extraneous items. Next, Yale School of Management’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld shares CEO sentiment on tariffs and RFK Jr., based on a Yale survey of 200 top executive...
Dec 19, 2024•38 min
Congressional leaders have unveiled a 1,547-page stopgap spending bill that intends to avoid a government shutdown by the end of the week. The bill includes funding for disaster aid and farmers, reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, pay raises for lawmakers, and more. CNBC’s Emily Wilkins has the latest on the hurdles Congress faces to pass the legislation. Next, MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough discusses the funding bill, as well as the influence of DOGE on Congress and whether there ...
Dec 18, 2024•36 min
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan sits down with Becky Quick on the Bank of America trading floor. He discusses his market outlook for 2025, the current state of the consumer, the Federal Reserve’s next move, and the incoming Trump administration, including M&A and tariffs. Next, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) discuss their bipartisan bill: the “Take It Down” Act would force social media companies to remove graphic deep fakes. Plus, Friday is the deadline for fundi...
Dec 17, 2024•42 min
Drones have been spotted flying above New Jersey over the past several days, sparking concern among residents and local lawmakers. New Jersey Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is urging action and clear communication from the federal government to quell public concern. Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson discusses Musk’s DOGE leadership and his relationship with President-elect Trump. A former news editor, Isaacson weighs in on ABC’s $15M defa...
Dec 16, 2024•35 min
President-elect Trump has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for his inauguration next month. CNBC Beijing Bureau chief Eunice Yoon says it’s unlikely that Xi will attend, but shares her insight on Trump’s China policy, including the threat of tariffs and his stance on Taiwan. Next, Spanx founder Sara Blakely has a new venture: a high-heeled sneaker called “Sneex.” The self-made billionaire discusses her entrepreneurship journey and inspiration, from shapewear to shoes...
Dec 13, 2024•34 min
New bipartisan legislation in Washington aims to break up pharmacy benefit managers after years of scrutiny on PBMs from Congress and the FTC. Health care insurance executive Mark Bertolini is now CEO of Oscar Health, and he spent years leading Aetna and CVS Health. Today, he reflects on American health care, his vision for an improved system, and his own security detail in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder. In a wide ranging and very personal conversation, Bertolini share...
Dec 12, 2024•37 min
Two major corporate deals withered on Tuesday. A judge blocked the pending $25 billion merger of grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons , and President Biden reportedly plans to block U.S. Steel’s $14.1 billion sale to Nippon Steel. Dealmaking on public markets will continue in 2025, according to Lead Edge Capital founding partner Mitchell Green. The Alibaba, Uber, and Spotify backer discusses the IPO window as we wind down 2024. His rationale for a slow year for market debuts: many of the best co...
Dec 11, 2024•28 min
New York prosecutors have charged Ivy League grad Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , court records show. Though a manhunt is over for now, the health care industry may be ready for change. Next, Carnegie Endowment senior fellow Karim Sadjapour examines the power vacuum in Syria and the new leadership’s agenda for the nation. Plus, Dunkin' Donuts is making waves, but not just in your cup—find out why they’re showing up in bathrooms. And as the holiday travel s...
Dec 10, 2024•31 min
Rebel forces led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overtook Damascus, prompting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country and seek refuge in Russia . NBC’s Raf Sanchez joins from the Golan Heights border with the latest developments in Syria. Council on Foreign Relations President Michael Froman explains what the Assad’s fall could mean for politics in the Middle East and beyond. Next, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked security concerns f...
Dec 09, 2024•34 min
Two days after a man fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, NYPD’s manhunt is ongoing . Former Boeing Chief Security Officer Dave Komendat explains how executive security details assess threats to executive leaders, especially as negativity abounds on social media. New York City Mayor Eric Adams discusses safety in the city, as well as housing and immigration in his city. Next, Taylor Swift wraps up her record-breaking Eras Tour this weekend in Vancouver. Kara Reynolds, professor of “...
Dec 06, 2024•41 min
Andrew Ross Sorkin shares highlights from The New York Times DealBook Summit yesterday, including his interviews with Jeff Bezos, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Prince Harry and former President Bill Clinton. Notable moments included Jay Powell comparing bitcoin to gold , OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calling Elon Musk a “mega hero,” and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s comments on DEI. Plus, bitcoin has hit $100,000 , and Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) the race for House Financial Services Commit...
Dec 05, 2024•36 min
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly announced a period of emergency martial law on Tuesday, but reversed the order hours later after backlash from citizens and South Korean Parliament. In France, lawmakers will hold a vote of no-confidence today in Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s minority government. CNBC contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera discusses the international politics and economics at play. Next, Philips CEO Roy Jakobs highlights the use of AI in health care, including in imag...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min
Following news that Tesla buyers could be excluded from lucrative EV credits in California, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) is urging the state’s leaders to keep manufacturing in the state. In the name of bipartisanship, Rep. Khanna shares a list of agenda items ripe for collaboration across the aisle. Next, Crunch Labs founder and YouTuber Mark Rober discusses how he’s making science cool for kids. The former NASA employee and Apple engineer discusses the creator economy, coding for adults, and t...
Dec 03, 2024•31 min
The holiday season is in full swing, and happiness guru Arthur Brooks is offering advice to maximize gratitude into the new year. Host of the “How to Build a Better Life” podcast says Thanksgiving offers a helpful psychology, and that an emphasis on being “grateful, not cheerful” can improve mental health. Next, on this Cyber Monday, Amber Venz Box discusses the rise of live shopping on social media via influencers or creators. She co-founded LTK, a platform that helps influencers earn commissio...
Dec 02, 2024•34 min
Black Friday is here, and while many shoppers are hitting the malls, others are taking advantage of deals on social media. Marketing and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk highlights the rise of live shopping on social media as a potential disruption to the retail industry. Influencers are making millions of dollars each month through live shopping events on TikTok, he says, much like QVC. Next, Dr. Scott Gottlieb gives his perspective on the future of health care as President-elect Trump’s tra...
Nov 29, 2024•39 min
In this bonus episode of Squawk Pod, the beloved “Roundball Rock” NBA theme song could make a return to NBC. CNBC’s Alex Sherman shares the latest on the rights to the iconic song and whether fans will hear it when the NBA returns to NBC starting in 2025. The Roundball Rock composer himself, John Tesh, heard us squawking about his song and reacted to it on his podcast . Tesh then joined Squawk Box to share his perspective on the likelihood of a rights deal and his song making a comeback. In this...
Nov 29, 2024•16 min
Israel and Hezbollah reached a permanent ceasefire agreement overnight after nearly 14 months of fighting. In Washington, CNBC’s Eamon Javers discusses the latest picks for Trump’s economic team, and in Silicon Valley, OpenAI is allowing employees to sell about $1.5 billion worth of shares in a new tender offer to SoftBank. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan is turning her nearly 25-year-old “Declarations” column into a book. After years of speech writing for Ronald Reagan and writing on...
Nov 27, 2024•31 min
President-elect Trump says he plans to raise tariffs by an additional 10% on China and impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada . CNBC’s Megan Cassella talks through the latest reporting on Trump’s plans for tariffs on day one of his administration. Next, the U.S. has finalized a $7.9B award to Intel to fund chips projects. Chris Miller, Tufts Fletcher School professor and ‘Chip War’ author, discusses the future of semiconductor legislation in a second Trump administration, as well as the global ...
Nov 26, 2024•34 min
President-elect Trump’s Treasury Secretary pick Scott Bessent prompted a positive market reaction as the last few cabinet roles are filled. Sports team owner Mark Wilf had a big weekend, scoring a trifecta of wins for his teams: Orlando Pride, Orlando City, and the Minnesota Vikings. He discusses the Pride’s first NWSL championship victory and his return on investment in women’s sports. Plus, Wicked and Gladiator II made a splash at the box office this weekend, Novak Djokovic names long-time ten...
Nov 25, 2024•33 min
A big weekend is coming up for the box office, with Wicked and Gladiator II expected to bring in a combined $200 million . CNBC’s Julia Boorstin explains the stakes and the marketing blitzes for both movies. Puck’s Matt Belloni discusses Wicked-ator and Comcast’s rationale for “SpinCo,” its cable spinoff. Restaurant review platform The Infatuation is out with its best new restaurants of the year. CEO Paul Needham highlights recent dining trends, including “rip and dip” bagels and mini martinis. ...
Nov 22, 2024•36 min
NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is readying a congratulations for Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals player set to break one of Gretzky’s many career records. The Great One weighs in on the recent growth of the sport, as well as the impact of his most famous quotes. Bitcoin is cruising toward its 100k milestone; Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) is a crypto enthusiast, and she’s supporting a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his cabinet picks, Sen. Lummis explain...
Nov 21, 2024•38 min
Comcast plans to spin off its cable networks , including CNBC, E!, and MSNBC. CNBC’s founder and NBC Cable’s first president Tom Rogers is optimistic about the move and the influx of resources it might present for cable channels. Delta CEO Ed Bastian joins ahead of the airline’s 100-year anniversary and Delta’s annual investor day . Despite retailers like Target reporting inflation-conscious customers, Bastian says consumers are still spending on travel. While Bastian is confident that Boeing’s ...
Nov 20, 2024•34 min
Department of Justice antitrust officials will reportedly ask a judge to force Alphabet to sell its Chrome browser. Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt considers the friction between big tech and the government, and weighs how tech regulation might change under another Donald Trump administration. In Schmidt’s new book “Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit,” he explores the future of tech and AI regulation, as well as the line between humanity and technology. Martha Stewart ...
Nov 19, 2024•34 min
As President-elect Donald Trump quickly reveals his picks for roles in his administration, Axios co-founder Mike Allen suggests what each name means for Trump’s priorities in his next administration. While some picks are surprises, the contenders for Treasury Secretary are predictable, so far. In the AI revolution, platform Perplexity is rolling out a shopping feature to extend user queries from informational to transactional. CEO and co-founder Aravind Srinivas says, successful AI models will s...
Nov 18, 2024•37 min
Vaccine stocks are falling after President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services. Former Walgreens Boots Alliance executive, John Driscoll, shares his concerns about the potential impact and what it could mean for the future of healthcare policy. Home Depot CEO, Ted Decker, discusses how inflation is hitting consumers and how the company is responding to the pressure. Plus, Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood discusses her bet on Tesla and what...
Nov 15, 2024•38 min
