Squawk Pod Speaker Johnson, Sen. Mark Kelly, & AI’s Talent War 10/16/25
Oct 16, 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson discusses the government shutdown and his focus on American workers, while Senator Mark Kelly shares his concerns about healthcare subsidies and the need for bipartisan talks. They analyze the political stalemate and suggest that presidential involvement could be key to resolving the deadlock. Additionally, the episode explores Meta's aggressive pursuit of AI talent and the challenges faced by Bombas as it expands its retail footprint amidst economic pressures.
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AI Talent Poaching Pressures Apple
- Steve Kovach reports Meta is aggressively hiring top AI talent from Apple, highlighting Poaching as a strategic lever.
- He warns Apple's AI plans face pressure after repeated departures and delayed Siri upgrades.
Shutdown Framed As Funding Standoff
- Mike Johnson frames the shutdown as a simple funding fight and blames Senate Democrats for blocking a clean continuing resolution.
- He argues the shutdown costs the economy about $15 billion per week and harms services and civilians.
Subsidy Timing And Reform Argument
- Mike Johnson argues the ACA subsidy extension was always scheduled for year-end debate and accuses Democrats of creating a red herring.
- He contends subsidies need reform due to wealthy beneficiaries and cost inflation.