Squawk Pod

Latest Episodes:

OpenAI’s Future & the Price of Tariffs 2/13/25 Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Elon Musk will withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit arm if the ChatGPT maker stops its conversion into a for-profit entity, according to a court filing. Geoff Lewis, Bedrock founder and an investor in OpenAI, discusses AI competition, Elon Musk, and more. President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul. Jeff Currie, Carlyle chief strategy officer of energy pathways, discusses the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on commodities, producer inflation, and the state of U.S. oil production. Plus, Alibaba says it will be Apple’s AI partner in China, and President Trump announced his call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed negotiating to end the war in Ukraine.

Geoff Lewis - 8:46

Jeff Currie - 17:20

In this episode:

Geoff Lewis, @GeoffLewisOrg

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Elon Musk Goes to the Oval Office 2/12/25 Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

President Trump and Elon Musk defended DOGE’s sweeping government reforms during a joint Oval Office appearance, highlighting their effort to curb what they call excessive federal spending. Trump signed an executive order providing new guidelines for agencies to implement DOGE, reinforcing Musk’s vision of a leaner bureaucracy. Joe Lonsdale, 8VC founding partner, Palantir co-founder, and friend of Elon Musk, shares his thoughts on Musk’s growing role in DC, his $97B+ bid for OpenAI, and the debate over carried interest. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on whether the U.S. has hit peak truck and SUV demand, Disney, Goldman Sachs, and PBS are rolling back aspects of their DEI programs, and JPMorgan Chase workers are pushing back on the five-day office mandate.

Joe Lonsdale 17:10

Phil LeBeau 37:34

Joe Lonsdale, @JTLonsdale5

Phil Lebeau, @Lebeaucarnews

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bribery Laws, Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, & Beyond a Ceasefire 2/11/25 Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Hamas has postponed its next hostage release, alleging Israel of breaching their ceasefire agreement. Amos Hochstein, former Biden senior advisor and lead broker of the Israel-Lebanon deal, maps out the next incremental steps toward a stable Middle East. In the U.S., a judge has blocked the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health's research funding. Dr. Scott Gottlieb addresses the potential impacts of these funding reductions on clinical studies, and he considers potential cuts to the FDA, as well. Elon Musk is leading an investor group’s $97.4B offer to take over OpenAI; CEO Sam Altman confirmed to CNBC, he is not taking it seriously. Plus, President Trump has paused enforcement of a law banning US companies from bribing foreign officials, claiming it puts American firms at a disadvantage.

Amos Hochstein - 15:49

Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 28:34

In this episode:

Amos Hochstein, @amoshochstein

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMD

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Super Bowl Ad Wins & Power Plays in DC 02/10/25 Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win their second Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 59. In interviews before and after the game, President Trump announced he would ask Elon Musk to review the Education Department’s spending and suggested “irregularities” at the Treasury. CNBC’s Eamon Javers wraps up the latest Trump administration headlines, and NEC Director Kevin Hassett addresses President Trump's comments on the Treasury and his newly announced tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum. Plus, EDO CEO Kevin Krim discusses the Super Bowl’s winners and losers–in commercials, that is.

Kevin Hassett 17:30

Kevin Krim 33:26

In this episode:

Eamon Javers, @EamonJavers

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DeepSeek & Buyouts in Washington 2/7/25 Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) are pushing bipartisan legislation to ban Chinese AI app DeepSeek on government devices. The two lawmakers discuss their concerns about CCP espionage on American data. Also in Washington, the Trump administration offered buyouts to millions to federal workers as part of a “deferred resignation” program, but a federal judge paused the offer just 11 hours before the deadline to accept. President of the American Federation of Government Employees Everett Kelley discusses Elon Musk’s effort to trim the budget fat, arguing that there’s a better way to go about doing it. Plus, the US economy added 143,000 jobs in January, and new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assures the American people that DOGE’s access to the Treasury is an “operational review, not an ideological review.”

Reps. Josh Gottheimer & Darin LaHood - 14:38

Everett Kelley - 24:56

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cost of Efficiency & Networking in NOLA with Rich Kleiman 2/6/25 Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

DOGE’s cuts in Washington have begun; former Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney explains the costs of running the government, the friction between Congress and the White House, and Elon Musk’s grand plan for efficiency. As we close in on the Super Bowl, CNBC’s Contessa Brewer reports on the game day bets, and sports entrepreneur Rich Kleiman discusses the networking opportunities for NFL players on and off the field in New Orleans. Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s longtime NBA agent, also weighs in on NBA trades. Plus, U.S. lawmakers are pushing to ban DeepSeek on government devices.

Mick Mulvaney - 18:24

Rich Kleiman - 34:19

In this episode:

Rich Kleiman, @richkleiman

Contessa Brewer, @contessabrewer

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robotaxis with Cathie Wood & Tariffs with Amazon Prime’s VP 02/04/25 Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

China has retaliated against President Trump’s tariffs with trade restrictions on American imports. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon is on the ground in Beijing, reporting on the CCP’s strategy. In DC, CNBC’s Megan Cassella explains the status of tariff negotiations between the U.S. and both Canada and Mexico. Amazon Prime Vice President Jamil Ghani weighs in on the tariffs’ impact on his own business. Amazon’s competitors Temu and Shein may feel the squeeze from President Trump’s executive order eliminating a de minimis provision. Amazon’s Chinese sellers may also get hit by these changes. Plus, tech investor and Tesla bull Cathie Wood shares her big ideas for 2025. The Ark Invest CIO and CEO explains why she’s long bitcoin, humanoid robots, and robotaxis.

Cathie Wood - 17:30

Jamil Ghani - 34:23

In this episode:

Cathie Wood, @CathieDWood

Eunice Yoon, @onlyyoontv

Megan Cassella, @mmcassella
Steve Liesman, @steveliesman

Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tariffs & a “Drug War” with NEC Director Kevin Hassett 02/03/25 Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

President Trump’s plans for tariffs on Canada and Mexico have prompted promises of retaliation from Canada, as well as concerns of a brewing trade war among America’s neighbors. In a newsmaking interview, the Trump administration’s National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett underscores a “misinterpretation” of President Trump’s executive order on tariffs. He says, it’s a drug war, not a trade war. CNBC’s Megan Cassella reports on the details of tariffs and their looming deadline, Phil LeBeau discusses their impact on the auto industry, and Steve Liesman explains the economic calculus of trade, the potential of recession for Canada, and the trajectory of the American economy. Plus, Elon Musk hosted a Spaces discussion on X late Sunday evening. CNBC’s Steve Kovach reports on the big takeaways, including Musk’s comment that President Trump gave him permission to end USAID.

Megan Cassella - 03:56

Phil Lebeau - 08:29

Steve Kovach - 13:25

Kevin Hassett - 25:06

Steve Liesman - 42:23

In this episode:

Phil LeBeau, @Lebeaucarnews

Steve Liesman, @steveliesman

Megan Cassella, @mmcassella

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason Wright, Mellody Hobson, & the RFK Jr. Hearings 01/31/25 Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Jason Wright has ended his tenure leading the NFL Washington Commanders and has joined Ariel Investments co-CEO Mellody Hobson in a women’s sports investing venture. The venture, Project Level, is a part owner in the newest National Women’s Soccer League franchise in Denver. The two leaders discuss investing in women’s sports and betting on diversity in boardrooms to boost corporate bottom lines. Plus, President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services appeared on Capitol Hill for two intense days of confirmation hearings. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. answered Senator questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and vaccinations, but former FDA Commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb said RFK’s responses showed a failure to fully grasp the fundamentals of the current healthcare system. Plus, the clock is ticking on President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. CNBC’s Steve Liesman breaks down the economics of the plans.

Steve Liesman - 06:25

Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 15:46

Mellody Hobson & Jason Wright - 26:55

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The Potomac Crash & Blackstone’s Jon Gray 1/30/25 Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

In the wake of the deadly aircraft crash over the Potomac River outside of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, CNBC’s Phil LeBeau and Eamon Javers report the details of the fallout. American Airlines pilot and spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association Dennis Tajer explains how planes typically navigate the heavy flow of air traffic around this airport. Separately, Blackstone’s President and COO Jon Gray explains his firm’s multibillion dollar bets on AI infrastructure on the heels of impressive quarterly financial results.

Jon Gray - 17:05

In this episode:

Phil LeBeau, @Lebeaucarnews

Eamon Javers, @EamonJavers

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.