Squawk Pod

After internally reviewing its own response to the covid-19 pandemic, the CDC has concluded, there’s room for the agency to improve. Director Rochelle Walensky has announced her plan to restructure the CDC, and in so doing to improve future responses and to rebuild public trust in the organization. Dr. Scott Gottlieb examines the road ahead for the CDC and Washington’s role in improving it. While Wall Street and Twitter still reel from the latest Elon Musk antics, biographer and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson details the little-seen side of the quirky billionaire; as he writes Musk’s biography, Isaacson reveals that there’s much more to Tesla’s CEO than his tweets. Plus, we’re decrypting the Federal Reserve’s July minutes and unpacking the roller coaster trades for Bed Bath & Beyond and other meme stocks this week. In this episode:Walter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacsonDr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDBecky Quick @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie 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.

Bed Bath & Beyond, AMC, and Gamestop are all swept up in a revival of meme stock trading; tastytrade founder and Co-CEO Tom Sosnoff discusses the recent meme stock surges. After President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, Director of the White House National Economic Council Brian Deese shares the intended impact of the legislation for Americans’ health care costs and greener living. Also in politics, Liz Cheney is considering her next move in her mission to support disillusioned Republicans. Plus, childcare workers including educators have either switched jobs or left their professions permanently. USAFacts President Poppy MacDonald unpacks the data that explains why teachers are quitting at a higher rate than other workers.  In this episode:Tom Sosnoff, @tastytradePoppy MacDonald, @PoppyMacDBrian Deese, @BrianDeeseNECBecky Quick @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie 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.

:  Walmart reported better than expected earnings this quarter, but its profits are still under pressure. CNBC’s Courtney Reagan and Refinitiv’s Jharonne Martis examine the report and what it reveals about inflation and today’s consumers. The U.S. education system is short hundreds of thousands of teachers and support staff, according to estimates. President of Purdue University Mitch Daniels discusses why, after teaching through a global pandemic, many educators have left the profession, and fewer are signing up. Easing gas prices at the pump might be offset by high home energy prices this winter; in the EU, some are paying up to 500% more to heat their homes. Plus, Apple is bringing its employees back to the office, and Wall Street Billionaires like Warren Buffett, David Tepper, and Dan Loeb are making big portfolio swaps.  In this episode:Jharonne Martis, @JharonneMartisMitch Daniels, @purduemitchCourtney Reagan, @CourtReaganBecky Quick @BeckyQuickBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCKatie 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.

Markets are looking less and less like a recession, according to CNBC’s senior economics reporter Steve Liesman. He, Mike Santoli, and Becky Quick explain the rebound in stocks and in jobs data that has assuaged many investor concerns. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb offers a rundown of the latest health news, including the recent discovery of polio in New York City sewage, the CDC’s updated covid guidelines, and national vaccination rates for both viruses. CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on the alarming backlash against federal law enforcement in the aftermath of the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search. Plus, China’s economy has hit a speedbump, and oil giant Saudi Aramco has reported record quarterly profits, larger than Apple’s or Exxon Mobil’s. In this episode:Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDEamon Javers, @EamonJaversBecky Quick @BeckyQuickSteve Liesman, @SteveLiesmanMike Santoli, @michaelsantoliCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the House prepares for a vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, Representative French Hill (R-AR) discusses the pivotal 15% tax on large corporations as well as the 1% excise tax on corporate buybacks. While Rep. Hill will likely vote against the legislation in part because of these proposed changes to the tax code, billionaire investor Mark Cuban calls into the show with a different perspective. For ordinary investors and for companies, the Mavericks owner and entrepreneur says, “Dividends become a better way of putting money in your shareholder's pockets." In this episode:Mark Cuban, @mcubanRep. French Hill, @RepFrenchHillMelissa Lee: @MelissaLeeCNBCBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCKatie 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 is raking in streaming subscribers, but it’s still hiking the price for Disney+.  Gas prices may be on the decline, but inflation is still front and center for the Federal Reserve and Wall Street investors; CNBC’s Steve Liesman breaks down the market’s reaction to the latest inflation data, and political strategist and pollster Frank Luntz offers a rhetorical analysis for President Biden’s comments on inflation to the American people. Then, we zoom out: Mohamed El-Erian, Allianz and Gramercy advisor and president of Queens’ College, Cambridge paints the big economic picture of inflation, both stateside and abroad, and considers the paths forward for the Fed.  In this episode:Mohamed El-Erian @elerianmFrank Luntz, @FrankLuntzSteve Liesman, @SteveLiesmanAndrew Ross Sorkin: @andrewrsorkinMelissa Lee: @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie 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.

Elon Musk sold nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares, just in case the courts mandate he follow through with his deal to buy Twitter. As a part of the Inflation Reduction Act the IRS will receive an $80 billion investment, but Sen. Tim Scott (R- SC) says it won’t help inflation, and it will unfairly impact the average American. The author of “America: A Redemption Story” shares his personal American story and details why he voted against the bill in the Senate. And layoffs could be coming to a Wall Street bloated with pandemic hires. Lydia Moynihan from the New York Post and CNBC’s Hugh Son break down the job (and bonus) cuts ahead for bankers as firms look to reduce costs. Plus, a loss for well-paid golfers, and Sweetgreen’s future is looking a little less sweet, and a little less green. In this episode:Andrew Ross Sorkin: @andrewrsorkinMelissa Lee: @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie Kramer: @Kramer_KatieSen. Tim Scott: @SenatorTimScottHugh Son @Hugh_SonLydia Moynihan: @LJMoynihan Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s resort home in Palm Beach, Florida, escalating federal law enforcement scrutiny on Trump and sparking drama on both sides of the political aisle. CNBC’s Eamon Javers breaks down the unprecedented action by the FBI in search of classified National Archives-related materials. President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS act into law today, marking a huge win for the semiconductor industry and directing tens of billions of dollars towards manufacturing and $200B to research. National Economic Council director Brian Deese equates the legislation to the “decade-long investment to put a man on the moon.” Plus, retail investors are reentering the market as it shows signs of rallying. Could there be another meme stock surge or will investors get left holding the bag again? SoFi’s Liz Young and WSJ’s Gunjan Banerji deliberate.  In this episode:Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCKayla Tausche, @kaylatausche Gunjan Banerji, @GunjanJSLiz Young, @LizYoungStratEamon Javers, @EamonJaversKatie 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.

In a tight vote after a weekend vote-a-rama, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, sending the legislation to the House. Brian Sullivan and Ylan Mui discuss the climate, health care, and tax bill as a “zombified” Build Back Better bill, and White House CEA member Jared Bernstein explains how the Democratic party envisions its impact on inflation, American families, and corporate players. Plus, workers are returning to the office en masse–or are they? Harvard Business School professor Tsedal Neeley and “employee whisperer” Jason Greer discuss the expectations from both employees and employers as the extended WFH season comes to a close.  In this episode:Tsedal Neely @tsedalJason Greer, @LaborDiversityJared Bernstein, @econjaredYlan Mui, @ylanmuiBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCAndrew Ross Sorkin, @AndrewrsorkinKatie 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.

President Biden is set to sign the Chips and Science Act, aimed to support US semiconductor manufacturing. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) discusses the bipartisan effort to boost US competitiveness with China and other major chips producers. Also in Washington, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) has finally signed off on the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats’ reconciliation bill that includes hundreds of billions of dollars in spending on climate, health care initiatives. CNBC’s Ylan Mui reports that her support could cement the votes needed to pass the bill; the “vote-a-rama” starts this Saturday, so the Senate will be working through the weekend. The Biden administration has declared monkeypox a national health emergency, and former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb answers questions about its spread, its virulence, and the health system’s path forward. Plus, Visa CEO Al Kelly has issued a statement on the MindGeek child pornography lawsuit, and Warner Bros. Discovery hosted its first earnings call since its merger.  In this episode:Sen. Maria Cantwell, @SenatorCantwellYlan Mui, @ylanmuiJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @AndrewrsorkinKatie 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.