Squawk Pod

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Shareholder Proxy Fights: Harvard’s Campus & Disney’s Boardroom 01/03/24 Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Claudine Gay has resigned from her post as Harvard University President amid plagiarism allegations and pressure from Harvard’s donors. Crisis management expert Eric Dezenhall explains the shareholder mindsets of the university’s donors and the role they play in the future of higher education and the workforce. Another shareholder fight is underway at Disney; activists ValueAct and Blackwells are backing Bob Iger and Disney in the ongoing proxy battle with another activist investor, Nelson Peltz’s Trian. Plus, the family that went viral for their “Christmas Jammies” video in 2013 has amassed millions of followers across platforms since then. Kim and Penn Holderness discuss how they turned a family music video into a business with 7 revenue streams, joining the rising tide of the creator economy.

Eric Dezenhall - 17:30

Kim & Penn Holderness - 25:05

In this episode:

Kim Holderness, @KimDHolderness

Penn Holderness, @pennholderness

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Robert Frank, @robtfrank

Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli

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.

A 2024 “Unity Ticket” & the Road Ahead for Weight Loss Drugs 01/02/24 Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

2024 trading begins after a strong market finish to 2023, with the Nasdaq 100 closing its best year since 1999. Just over 300 days before the 2024 election, former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is pushing for an option outside of President Biden and President Trump. Once on the Presidential ticket himself, Lieberman started nonprofit No Labels, which hopes to offer a third, bipartisan, centrist “unity ticket” to the Americans unsatisfied with the current political playing field. Plus 2023 was the year of weight loss drugs for pharma companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb sits on the boards of Illumina and Pfizer, and he expects more good news–and more secondary benefits–from weight loss drugs on the market. Plus, Michigan is celebrating a big sports weekend, and X is now worth 71.5% less than when Elon Musk bought it, according to Fidelity, one of the co-investors that backed his takeover.

Joe Lieberman - 12:30

Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 24:46

In this episode:

Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMD

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Robert Frank, @robtfrank

Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli

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.

Cracking the iPhone Thieves & NBA Star Iggy’s Next Score: Venture Capital 12/29/23 Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

Google might owe you $5,000. This week, the tech giant settled a $5b lawsuit over ‘incognito mode.’ The Boeing 737 Max is once again suffering a quality issue. The company’s best-selling jetliner must now be checked for a ‘possible loose bolt’ before reaching customers. Global energy prices are ending a year of fluctuation, most recently because of shipping interruptions to the fleet originally routed through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Energy expert Helima Croft explains the oil supply chain and its impact on the American consumer. Reporters at The Wall Street Journal investigated iPhone thefts for a year; what they found was a common scheme to nab both the device and the passcode from their victims, emptying literal pockets and digital wallets and racking up thousands of stolen dollars. WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern explains her reporting and her interview with one of the convicted iPhone thieves, including his advice to protect your phone and your assets. Plus, on the last workday of 2023, we’re sharing one of Squawk’s favorite interviews of the year. Andrew Ross Sorkin and Becky Quick speak with NBA All Star and 4-time championship winner Andre Iguodala. After 19 years on the court, he’s officially hanging up his basketball shoes and turning to his venture capital career full time. His advice for athletes looking to follow his lead: be obsessed.

Helima Croft - 3:51

Joanna Stern - 15:42

Andre Iguodala - 23:28

In this episode:

Joanna Stern, @JoannaStern

Andre Iguodala, @andre

Helima Croft, @CroftHelima

Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli

Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBC

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.

Vail’s Slopes, Youth Sports, & An AI Lawsuit 12/28/23 Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft over copyright infringement, opening big media’s first legal case against content use in training large language models. Tusk Ventures CEO Bradley Tusk explains the timing and the repercussions of this action for tech innovation and the future of news. Apple’s sales in 2023 have declined, but Apple’s stock is soaring. CNBC’s Steve Kovach discusses the company’s headwinds and tailwinds, as well as the temporary pause on a ban of some US Apple Watch sales. Youth sports are an estimated $37.5B market, and private equity is deepening its stake. Waud Capital’s youth sports management company TeamSnap has acquired MOJO, a kids sports streaming platform. MOJO founder and former media executive Ben Sherwood joins TeamSnap CEO Pete Frintzilas to discuss the network of kids, parents, and coaches paying for youth sports resources. The Plus, Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch is in the midst of ski season. She shares how her company is expanding its network of slopes in the US, Europe, and even Australia.

Steve Kovach - 5:30

Bradley Tusk - 11:25

Ben Sherwood & Pete Frintzilas - 17:19

Kirsten Lynch - 27:00

In this episode:

Ben Sherwood, @BenSherwood

Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli

Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBC

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.

Glitter Bombs & Subscription Boxes with Mark Rober 12/27/23 Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

NASA and Apple engineer turned YouTube sensation Mark Rober shares his joy for inventing–and how he’s cashing in on the broad appeal of his glitter bomb packages, squirrel obstacle courses, engineering projects, and kids excited to learn while they play. Media analyst Paul Dergarabedian considers the box office’s bumpy ride in 2023. Between Hollywood strikes and shifting viewer tastes, Dergarabedian says that streaming has an edge. For streamers on Amazon Prime, though, ads are coming! And in the oil patch, a mild winter and conflict concerns in the Middle East have contributed to fluctuating energy prices. CNBC’s Pippa Stevens discusses the rise of “virtual power plants” to meet electricity demand.

Pippa Stevens - 9:19

Dergarabedian - 16:01

Mark Rober - 24:00

In this episode:

Mark Rober, @MarkRober

Pippa Stevens, @PippaStevens13

Contessa Brewer, @contessabrewer

Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Steve Liesman, @steveliesman

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.

Holiday Hauls: Airlines, Apple, & Meta 12/26/23 Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

7.5 million travelers are hitting the skies between Christmas and New Years this year, passing the pre-pandemic record of 7.2 million. International president of the Association of Flight Attendants Sara Nelson discusses the pilots and flight attendants renegotiating contracts and managing unruly passengers during a busy holiday schedule. And the “she-cession” may be over, but Yale Lecturer and journalist Joanne Lipman warns that working women may lose many of their workplace participation gains to rigid back-to-office mandates. Plus, 2023’s market year was a roller coaster, OpenAI is aiming to raise more funds at an estimated valuation of $100 billion, holiday returns just got a little trickier, and Meta might have beat Apple under the trees and menorahs this year, as the Apple Watch ban takes effect.

Sara Nelson 20:20

Joanne Lipman 28:39

In this episode:

Joanne Lipman, @joannelipman

Sara Nelson, @FlyingWithSara

Contessa Brewer, @contessabrewer

Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Steve Liesman, @steveliesman

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.

Tracking Santa’s Sleigh Ride This Weekend 12/22/23 Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) returns to Squawk Pod for its annual tradition: tracking Santa Claus’s Christmas journey through the night sky. Deputy Commander of the Continental US NORAD Region Major-General S.T. Boyle explains how Rudolph helps light the way for Santa and for NORAD tracking his progress. Also spreading holiday cheer, chef, restaurateur, and author of “Eat, Drink, and Be Murray” cookbook, Andy Murray. Murray shares family recipes and stories from his Caddyshack-themed restaurants. Plus, New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman explains the geopolitics at play in the Red Sea, and Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin discuss the other business headlines before the holiday weekend: China’s limits on teen tech use, and the US Department of Transportation is scrutinizing frequent flier programs.

Thomas Friedman - 12:28

Andy Murray - 20:02

Major-General S.T. Boyle - 27:42

In this episode:

Thomas Friedman, @tomfriedman

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

Up in the Air: Media Mergers, Fed Policies, & Apple Watches 12/21/23 Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Markets are confused, at least according to some economists. The markets snapped 7 straight weeks of gains this week, as Wall Street interpreted the Federal Reserve’s pivot from hiking rates to cutting them. Chief economics correspondent at The Wall Street Journal Nick Timiraos penned a splashy op-ed pointing to confusion among investors and Fed governors. Elon Musk biographer and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson discusses the billionaire’s tendency to polarize his advertisers and consumers. Plus, Puck’s Matt Belloni discusses Warner Bros. Discovery’s early talks with Paramount Global for a potential merger, and Apple lost a bid to delay an import ban on certain Apple watches, but it’s reportedly gearing up to release its new mixed reality headset.

Matt Belloni - 6:48

Nick Timiraos - 16:30

Walter Isaacson - 29:03

In this episode:

Nick Timiraos, @NickTimiraos

Walter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacson

Matthew Belloni,@mattbelloni

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

A Fed-Fueled Rally, FedEx, & the Fourteenth Amendment 12/20/23 Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

The market rally surges on, after the Federal Reserve announced its pivot. Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh discusses the rally and the Fed’s next move. FedEx shares tumbled after disappointing Wall Street in its second quarter report and lowering its revenue guidance; Broughton Capital’s Donald Broughton explains why this company is often considered a bellwether for macroeconomic conditions. CNBC’s Steve Liesman reveals America’s public opinion on its billionaires, and coming out on top was the ‘beloved Buffett.’ Plus, the Colorado Supreme Court has barred Donald Trump from appearing on state ballots in the 2024 Presidential election, citing the 14th amendment, and Rite Aid will shelf its facial recognition strategy after thousands of customers were wrongly targeted as shoplifters.

Donald Broughton - 10:24

Kevin Warsh - 17:04

In this episode:

Steve Liesman, @SteveLiesman

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

Shipping Risks in the Red Sea & Racing to Win AI 12/19/23 Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group backed by Iran, have amped up attacks on ships traveling through the Suez Canal since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War. Director of Harvard’s Belfer Center Meghan O’Sullivan explains the disruptions to global shipping and the geopolitics at play in the Red Sea. The AI arms race is set to enter a new year, as 2023 winds down. CNBC’s Technology Correspondent Steve Kovach discusses Microsoft, Nvidia, and other winners so far, and Activate CEO Michael Wolf explains how smaller players measure up to the tech giants. Plus, Google will pay consumers $700m (~$2 a person) in its Play store settlement, Apple’s pressing pause on some of its watches, and Senator John Fetterman (D-Penn.) is hoping to block Nippon’s $14.9B acquisition of US Steel.

Meghan O’Sullivan - 12:30

Steve Kovach - 20:23

Michael Wolf - 20:23

In this episode:

Michael Wolf, @mjw

Meghan O’Sullivan, @OSullivanMeghan

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.