Squawk Pod

Latest Episodes:

Barry Sternlicht Takes on the Economy, and Meme Stock Mania Returns 9/29/23 Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Barry Sternlicht, the hospitality and real estate investor, discusses the risks to the economy from union strikes and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy. Washington inches closer to a shutdown as House members have failed to come up with a consensus government funding deal – setting up a busy weekend in the Capitol. GameStop activist Ryan Cohen is becoming the retailer’s CEO, nearly three years after the “Meme Stock Mania” showcased individual investors betting on the mall retailer against hedge funds shorting the stock. Author Ben Mezrich remembers fondly the GameStop craze and the story in the new movie “Dumb Money,” The Antisocial Network.

Sternlicht - 14:03

Mezrich - 31:02

In this episode:

Ben Mezrich, @benmezrich

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk
Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Zach Vallese, @zachvallese

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

A Deadline Looms for Kevin McCarthy and Coinbase Goes to Washington 9/28/23 Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

With just days to go before a government funding deadline, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy criticizes a short-term Senate government funding bill — stoking more fears that a shutdown could take place — saying the measure would not bolster border security. Crypto trading platform Coinbase is leading a lobbying effort in Washington to find lawmakers supportive of developing new laws for the crypto industry. CEO Brian Armstrong discusses his goals for “Stand with Crypto Day.” Plus, the highlights of the second debate for Republican Presidential candidates, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan’s biggest worries and Delta walks back controversial changes to its SkyMiles program.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy 14:01

Brian Armstrong - 28:02

In this episode:

Kevin McCarthy, @SpeakerMcCarthy

Brian Armstrong, @brian_armstrong

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk
Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Zach Vallese, @zachvallese

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

Khan’s Case against Amazon & Union Politics 9/27/23 Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Lina Khan, FTC Chair, is frequently seen as the face and the voice of the Biden administration’s antagonism against the “bigness” of big tech. The Federal Trade Commision and 17 states have filed a landmark lawsuit against Amazon for monopolistic practices; the chair of the commission defends the agency’s decision to pursue the company. President Biden became the first sitting President to walk a picket line, when he traveled to Michigan to throw his support behind striking autoworkers. Detroit’s legacy car companies could be pressured by the UAW strike right into bankruptcy, warns Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Walter Isaascson, Musk’s biographer, weighs in on the view of one of the world’s richest men toward unions and how work is changing. Plus, Target announces store closures due to a rise in retail theft and the WGA strike ends, sending writers back to work.

Lina Khan 12:41

Walter Isaacson - 24:24

In this episode:

Lina Khan, @linakhanFTC

Walter Isaacson, @walterisaacson

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.

Barry Diller on Hollywood Hegemony, Strikes and Streaming 9/26/23 Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

“AI, Schmay-aye” says Barry Diller, on the technology the markets and the content industry can’t stop talking about. The media mogul joins the Squawk Box gang for a deep dive into the causes – and the impact – of the historic twin strikes that have crippled Hollywood. The IAC Chairman and one-time studio head says a marked, existential shift is coming to film and TV, and not a moment too soon. Plus, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, in Indian, warns that interest rates could rise sharply from here, President Biden heads to the UAW picket line in Detroit today and, shhhhh – ChatGPT is listening.

Barry Diller 15:30

In this episode:

Phil LeBeau, @Lebeaucarnews
Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.

Countdown to Shutdown, Austan Goolsbee on Inflation, and We’re Singing in the Rain 9/25/23 Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

The government funding deadline – midnight on October 1st – is looming and the likelihood of a federal shutdown is high. Pimco’s head of public policy, Libby Cantrill, describes the gamesmanship in Washington and weighs in on its potential impact to investors and consumers. Inflation persists in spite of the Federal Reserve’s rate hike strategy. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee defends the central bank’s goals, arguing that avoiding a recession is still possible – but inflation remains a risk. Puck’s Matt Belloni on the tentative deal between the WGA and Hollywood studios to end the 4 month-long writers strike, Taylor Swift upstages the NFL and Tinder offering subscriptions for seriously-motivated daters. Plus, the earworms we can’t stop singing!

Matt Belloni 04:32

Emily Wilkins 14:49

Libby Cantrill 16:42

Austan Goolsbee 25:17

In this episode:
Matthew Belloni,@mattbelloni
Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkins

Libby Cantrill, @Pimco

Austan Goolsbee, @Austan_Goolsbee
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.

Antitrust Trial of (This) Century: DOJ vs. Google; China’s Moves around Taiwan 9/22/23 Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Over the next few months, the DOJ and a collection of state attorneys general will make their case to a D.C. District Court judge for why Google has allegedly violated anti-monopoly law through exclusive agreements with mobile phone manufacturers and browser makers to make its search engine the default for consumers. Tim Wu, Columbia University Law School professor and former Biden administration antitrust advisor, discusses the ongoing Google antitrust trial and why he believes the trial will re-write our future. Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, discusses the current state of China-Taiwan tensions and the risk of a potential conflict in the region. Plus,the Republican stalemate over government funding continues and roughly 12,700 UAW workers are currently on strike, but the movement is spreading to more plants.

Additional links:
Check out Harry Wilson, former senior member of President Obama’s auto industry tax force, offering lessons from previous auto strikes, recently on Squawk Box.

Tim Wu: 12:50
James Stavridis: 22:04
In this episode:
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.

Writers Strike Optimism & Bank Stocks “Univestable” 9/21/23 Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

The Federal Reserve held rates steady but pointed to another hike this year. CNBC’s Steve Liesman discusses the Fed’s latest decision. Steve Eisman, the “Big Short” investor who called and profited from the subprime mortgage crisis, says he’s staying away from bank stocks. The Neuberger Berman senior portfolio manager, also discussed the latest market trends, the Fed’s inflation fight, the state of the banking sector, and more. Plus, CNBC’s David Faber reports writers and producers are near an agreement to end the Writers Guild of America strike after meeting face-to-face yesterday.
Here is the episode of Glenn Close speaking at Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholder meeting on the Hollywood writers strike and A.I. This episode published May 6th, 2023: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/squawk-pod/id1480890290?i=1000612150771

Steve Liesman - 8:28

Steve Eisman - 16:34

David Faber - 29:25
In this episode:
David Faber, @davidfaber

Steve Liesman, @steveliesman
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.

Disney Parks, Neuralink Brain Implants, & Four-Day Workweeks 9/20/23 Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced plans to expand investment in parks and cruises; New York Times columnist and “Disney War” author James Stewart unpacks the House of Mouse’s new strategy, as well as Iger’s leadership. Yale lecturer and journalist Joanne Lipman examines the pros and cons of a four-day work week in light of employee unrest in the American workforce, from the UAW to SAG-AFTRA and beyond. Plus, Elon Musk’s Neuralink is looking for brain implant trial subjects, Microsoft is making a fresh push into gaming, and the maker of Marlboro is rethinking its venture into pharma.

Jim Stewart 11:32

Joanne Lipman 23:03

In this episode:

Joanne Lipman, @joannelipman

James Stewart, @JamesStewartNYT

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.

Instacart’s IPO, Cybercrimes at Clorox, & Musk’s ‘X’ on a Free Platform 9/19/23 Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

After nearly a decade, Instacart investors are finally getting their exit. Reddit co-founder and 776 founder Alexis Ohanian was one of Instacart’s early investors, and he explains the headwinds and tailwinds facing the business on the day of its long-awaited IPO. In the wake of cyber breaches at Clorox, MGM, and Caesars, cybersecurity CEO Kevin Mandia explains the network of cybercriminals targeting corporations and the cyber defense strategies that will thwart attackers. Mandia led FireEye and is now CEO of Mandiant, a cyber threat intelligence subsidiary of Google. Plus, Elon Musk might start charging users to post on X, and UAW strikers continue their push against US automakers.

Leslie Picker - 13:28

Alexis Ohanian - 19:33

Kevin Mandia - 31:04

In this episode:

Alexis Ohanian, @alexisohanian

Kevin Mandia, @Mandiant

Leslie Picker, @LesliePicker

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.

Tesla’s Stake in the Big 3 Strike & Fmr. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer 9/18/23 Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

The United Auto Workers' strike against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, which makes cars under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands, has entered its fourth day. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on the demands from both sides, and The Wall Street Joural’s Tim Higgins explains how Elon Musk’s Tesla is involved (by not being involved), as well as President Biden’s role. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, now founder of USAFacts, discusses DC’s recent tech and political summit on AI and innovation’s regulatory framework. To listen to more from our coverage of the AI forum, hosted in the U.S. Senate, check out this recent episode. Steve Ballmer also answers our questions about tax policy, after presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, (R-SC) recently joined Squawk Box and said he wanted to make tax cuts permanent. Plus, Instacart is going public and House Republicans released a short-term bill to avert a government shutdown until Oct. 31st.

Steve Ballmer - 12:42

Phil Lebeau - 31:06

Tim Higgins - 34:54

In this episode:
Tim Higgins, @timkhiggins

Steve Ballmer, @Steven_Ballmer
Phil LeBeau, @Lebeaucarnews
Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin
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.