A group of Black business executives are urging the rest of corporate America to oppose legislation aimed at restricting voting access, following a new law in Georgia that critics say disproportionately hurts voters of color. Merck CEO Ken Frazier and former Chairman and CEO of American Express Ken Chenault led a group of executives in publishing an open letter in The New York Times pushing Wall Street to wield its power. Frazier and Chenault discuss the effort to rally opposition to legislation...
Mar 31, 2021•28 min
Mystery art collector MetaKovan spent $69 million on Beeple’s NFT in mid-March. The man behind MetaKovan and NFT collection Metapurse, Vignesh Sundaresan, joins Joe, Andrew, Becky, and CNBC’s Robert Frank to explain his bet on blockchain-based digital art. Wall Street is still unearthing parts of the Archegos Capital forced liquidation fiasco, which prompted stock sell-offs and major losses for big banks. The latest chapter: questions about a charity run by former hedge funder Bill Hwang, the ma...
Mar 30, 2021•36 min
Family office Archegos Capital was forced to liquidate tens of billions of dollars in stock holdings, sending U.S. media stocks and Chinese tech stocks into selloff mode, and leaving big financial players on the hook for billions. Archegos founder and former hedge funder Bill Hwang is at the center of the Wall Street whirlwind; Joe, Becky, and Andrew track the series of falling financial dominoes that led to the ViacomCBS, Discovery, Tencent Music, and Baidu losses, from swap strategies and over...
Mar 29, 2021•35 min
Coworking company WeWork has announced it will finally go public via SPAC merger with BowX Acquisition Corp. WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani and Bow Capital’s Vivek Ranadive discuss the deal and their bet on an office space resurgence post-pandemic. Twitter, Alphabet, and Facebook CEOs answered lawmakers’ questions about disinformation dissemination and social media accountability in a marathon virtual House hearing on Thursday. Axios media reporter Sara Fischer and tech and press industry veteran N...
Mar 26, 2021•39 min
Big banks are appeasing their overworked junior staff with perks, from Zoom-free Fridays to $20,000 bonuses. CNBC.com’s Hugh Son discusses the domino effect the “Goldman Sachs 13” have had, up and down Wall Street. AstraZeneca is struggling to maintain public trust after a series of transparency and communication missteps surrounding its otherwise effective Covid-19 vaccine. President Biden’s tax plan continues to fuel debate across the political aisle; President Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mi...
Mar 25, 2021•34 min
Operation Hope founder John Hope Bryant is working with former SEC Chair Jay Clayton to expand financial literacy and inclusion across the country, in an effort to shrink poverty and the wealth gap in the U.S. Nonresident Fellow at Brookings and NBC News contributor Dr. Kavita Patel considers what a third wave of Covid in Europe may mean for the pandemic trajectory here at home. A Covid-free world, she suggests, may not be the post-pandemic reality. Investors are eyeing GameStop after its quarte...
Mar 24, 2021•34 min
AstraZeneca’s good vaccine news is tempered by federal health officials voicing concerns about the company’s data. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell digests the news and considers the blow’s impact to the vaccination timeline in the U.S. A year after U.S. stocks plummeted on fears of the coronavirus pandemic, markets have bounced back, in what Mike Santoli calls their best year since the 1930s. CEOs are facing tough decisions as they plan office reopenings; KPMG CEO Paul Knopp shares results from his survey of...
Mar 23, 2021•37 min
AstraZeneca has unveiled new data on its Covid-19 vaccine, revealing that it’s 79% effective at preventing symptomatic cases. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell explains the news, and AstraZeneca U.S. SVP and President of the Biopharmaceuticals Business Unit Dr. Ruud Dobber shares details and implications from the new study. Some of Wall Street’s junior bankers are banding together to shine a light on the 100 hour work weeks taking a toll on their physical and mental health. New York Times reporter Kate Kelly a...
Mar 22, 2021•33 min
States across the country are relaxing of pandemic rules as more Americans are vaccinated against Covid. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy discusses vaccine eligibility, reluctance, and efficacy as he reopens business across his state. Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer says the restaurant industry has learned helpful lessons from the pandemic despite its struggles. “When we get to the point where we’re 100% indoor, plus outdoor dining, shipping, takeout, delivery, ...
Mar 19, 2021•37 min
Description: In a surprise move, Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon announced her departure from the company she’s led since 2013. She reflects on the business’s massive turnaround under her leadership, and she considers the future of beauty, above and below the mask line. In a conversation recorded exclusively for Squawk Pod, Becky Quick discusses Dillon’s legacy on Wall Street. CNBC’s Jon Fortt offers both sides of the NFT debate: growing bubble, or blockchain braintrust? Plus, the Fed’s moving marke...
Mar 18, 2021•32 min
Fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg shares her “secret to life” in a conversation about her new book; she discusses “owning it” and dressing to impress ourselves in a post-pandemic world. Plus, in a conversation exclusive to Squawk Pod, Andrew Ross Sorkin is spilling his wardrobe secrets to this at-home Zooming, broadcasting, reporting reality. Tom Gimbel, CEO of staffing and recruiting firm LaSalle Network, reveals results of a C-suite survey about office life after the pandemic and discusses em...
Mar 17, 2021•41 min
One year after markets tanked on fears of the coronavirus pandemic, stocks are looking up, and travel is picking up. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and CNBC’s Phil LeBeau discuss why the airline industry is optimistic about long-term travel demand as more and more people get vaccinated, and why a global minimum tax rate for corporations could mean industry turbulence ahead. Sotheby’s is partnering with digital artist PAK for its first sale of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. CEO Charles Stewart co...
Mar 16, 2021•42 min
White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning state leaders that the nation’s battle with the coronavirus is still “not in the end zone.” He urged Americans to adhere to public health measures despite the ramp-up of vaccinations, pointing to new infection spikes in Europe as a cautionary tale of relaxing too soon. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, member of the boards of Pfizer and biotech company Illumina and former FDA commissioner, says Europe’s rise in Covid cases isn’t predictive of the ...
Mar 15, 2021•30 min
A $69 million price tag for a digital piece has taken the art world by storm. CNBC’s Wealth Reporter Robert Frank shares details of Beeple’s enormous deal. Reddit co-founder and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian weighs in on NFTs and Leore Avidar, founder and CEO of alternative assets, shares his vision of a world beyond cash. Plus, the Grammy Awards are this weekend; Kevin Liles, CEO of 300 Entertainment, the record label behind Megan Thee Stallion, Fetty Wap, and Young Thug, discusses live mus...
Mar 12, 2021•38 min
It’s been a year since the World Health Organization officially declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March, 11, 2020. In that time, there have been more than 29 million Covid cases in the U.S. and 527,720 people have died. Today, Pfizer said its Covid-19 vaccine blocked 94% of asymptomatic infections in an Israeli study – a result CEO Albert Bourla called “extremely important.” The study also found the vaccine was at least 97% effective against symptomatic Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Pl...
Mar 11, 2021•26 min
Eli Lilly says its Covid-19 antibody therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 87% in a study of more than 750 high-risk coronavirus patients. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, member of the boards of Pfizer and biotech company Illumina and former FDA commissioner, discusses the news from Lilly and the difficulties around distributing Covid antibody drugs. Kids online gaming company Roblox (RBLX) is going public today through a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Roblox CEO, David Ba...
Mar 10, 2021•36 min
Meme stock trading has changed the trajectory of GameStop, now pushing its own e-commerce transformation, but the trend may also change the game for legacy brands like Discovery and Disney. Sarah Needleman, reporter at the Wall Street Journal, and Nigel Vaz, CEO of one of the world’s largest advertising firms Publicis Sapient, consider which companies can ride the digital wave. Suitsupply CEO Fokke de Jong is betting that post-pandemic, we may finally turn our backs on our sweatsuit wardrobes. T...
Mar 09, 2021•31 min
Cue Health has received emergency use authorization from the FDA for over-the-counter and at-home use of its rapid Covid-19 test. CEO Ayub Khattak discusses his vision for at-home health and putting a price on safety. Author and professor Walter Isaacson is out with his new book, “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.” Isaacson shares the stories of scientists leading what he calls the third scientific revolution of the modern age and considers the et...
Mar 08, 2021•28 min
Fed Chair Jay Powell spooks the markets talking about inflation and the Senate is hiding a tax on executive compensation in the 600+ page stimulus bill. The semiconductor supply chain took a hit early in the Covid pandemic since much of the world’s chips are manufactured in places like China and Taiwan. Now the shortage is impacting several companies including Ford and GM. Mark Fields, former Ford president and CEO, discusses the auto industry’s electric future and the headwinds it may face due ...
Mar 05, 2021•31 min
After making a controversial decision to eliminate the mask mandate in Texas and completely reopen businesses in the state, Governor Greg Abbott has faced backlash from across the country. He defends his decision to the Squawk team, claiming vaccines and patterns of behavior render a state-mandated mask policy unnecessary. Plus, the markets reveal an investor’s hope for the pandemic’s end, and security concerns mount in the Capitol. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com f...
Mar 04, 2021•26 min
NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson is teaming up with sports merchandising e-commerce giant Fanatics. Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises and Fanatics Executive Chairman Michael Rubin weigh in on the partnership, sports, and a new trend in sports collectibles. Plus, President Biden is pushing to vaccinate as many Americans as possible, as quickly as possible. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb expects vaccine supply to surpass demand before the summer. Ho...
Mar 03, 2021•21 min
In an extended interview, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) shares the details of her tax plan for the ultra-rich: paying 2 and 3 cents on every dollar over $50 million. She defends her plan as the fairest, most progressive option to level the playing field for Americans, and considers the country’s path forward with the resulting $3 trillion. Plus, Merck is teaming up with Johnson & Johnson to churn out vaccines for the U.S., and the Squawk team is doling out Zoom grooming tips. Hosted by Simple...
Mar 02, 2021•35 min
Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky discusses the drugmaker’s single dose vaccine as it begins distribution across the United States. 4 million vaccines are en route to Americans across the country, solving the logistical and administrative challenges posed by the dual-dose, refrigerated Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. In his annual letter to shareholders, Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett admitted mistakes, commented on the markets and offered some folksy wisdom. The legendary investor said, “...
Mar 01, 2021•34 min
GameStop shares continue to climb today, keeping alive a rally that restarted this week. In a history lesson soaked in 1990s-nostalgia, Henry Blodget, co-founder and CEO of Insider, says “the entire market is actually at an extreme level relative to all history, including 2000 and that’s because of interest rates.” Etsy blew past earnings estimates. The online retailer has been one of the big pandemic winners with shares up 300% over the past year. Etsy CEO Josh Silverman discusses the company’s...
Feb 26, 2021•29 min
The online-driven trading frenzy around retailer GameStop ignited again following the announcement of next month’s departure of Chief Financial Officer Jim Bell. CNBC’s Jim Cramer questioned “are prices real?” on Wall Street anymore, as he exasperatingly tries to make sense of GameStop’s renewed rally. Democrats are set to advance President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal on Friday without Republican support. David Rubenstein, a co-founder of the Carlyle Group, discusses the potentia...
Feb 25, 2021•35 min
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy streamed a candid conversation on social media this week, and Wall Street is reacting to their exchange and the continued fallout of the GameStop short squeeze drama. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is pushing back against President Biden’s stimulus plan and its minimum wage plan, but President of the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce Ron Busby says the sooner consumers have more in their pockets, the sooner small businesse...
Feb 24, 2021•36 min
Former Senior Advisor to President Obama and current President of the Barack Obama Foundation Valerie Jarrett discusses President Biden’s first 100 days in office, the metrics by which Americans will judge his success, and the latest iteration of the stimulus package. Bitcoin’s wild ride continues, catching the attention of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Plus, a former Tesla employee’s electric vehicle SPAC could be the tipping point for the hyped listing process, highlighting all that could g...
Feb 23, 2021•26 min
Music mogul and entrepreneur Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter is selling half of his Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” champagne to the Wine and Spirits arm of LVMH, Moët Hennessy. JAY-Z and Moët Hennessy CEO Philippe Schaus discuss the deal, the alcohol landscape, and the impact that both Moët Hennessy and JAY-Z have had on the world of luxury liquor. Plus, Bitcoin’s roller coaster continues, and former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb considers Dr. Anthony Fauci’s projection of mask-wearing through 202...
Feb 22, 2021•29 min
Two participants in the House Financial Services Committee “Game Stopped” hearing debrief on the marathon day on Capitol Hill. Ken Griffin, the billionaire CEO of hedge fund Citadel, defends his $2 billion investment in short seller Gabe Plotkin’s Melvin Capital amid the height of the GameStop mania. Griffin says that there is “no doubt” that the amount of short selling will be reduced thanks to the power that Reddit-fueled retail traders demonstrated with GameStop. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) ...
Feb 19, 2021•38 min
In an extended interview, business magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates discusses his new book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster” with Andrew Ross Sorkin. In a wide ranging conversation, Gates weighs in on Elon Musk and Tesla, the Reddit Rebellion and subsequent GameStop drama, vaccination strategies, Bitcoin, and President Biden’s policies for a greener future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advert...
Feb 18, 2021•33 min
