Squawk Pod Protein Goals, Cathie Wood, & A Geopolitical Nobel Prize 1/16/26
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Jan 16, 2026 
In this engaging discussion, Robert Frank, a CNBC business reporter, dives into California's controversial billionaire tax and its implications for the tech community. Meanwhile, Peter Rahal, CEO of David Protein, shares insights on the booming high-protein nutrition trend, including innovations that make products taste indulgent while staying healthy. Peter emphasizes the importance of protein in light of GLP-1s and reveals exciting new technologies that enhance flavor and texture in nutrition bars.
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Read Wealth-Tax Language Carefully
- Robert Frank warns founders to scrutinize the California billionaire tax language about super-voting shares.
- He advises monitoring legal interpretations and potential court challenges before assuming exemption.
Wealth Tax Could Trigger Legal And Exit Risks
- The California wealth tax targets very few people but could spur legal fights and relocation fears even if passed.
- Polling and signature-gathering remain uncertain, so outcomes and impacts are still speculative.
Tech Drives Long-Term Deflation
- Cathie Wood sees major tech platforms (robotics, energy storage, AI, blockchain, multi-omic sequencing) as deflationary forces lowering inflation long-term.
- She expects valuations to compress and builds that into ARK's bottom-up company models.