Squawk Pod

Filmmaker Ken Burns’ new two-part documentary on PBS documents the life and complicated legacy of Benjamin Franklin. The documentarian joins Franklin biographer Walter Isaacson to discuss how the founding father shaped not only our country, but America’s everyday life, language, education system, and economy. Contemporary innovator Elon Musk is also shaping our daily lives, albeit differently: the anchors discuss his ambitions for Twitter and his multifaceted legacy–flamethrowers, rockets, and all. Plus, CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on JetBlue’s $3.6 billion offer for Spirit Airlines, and whether regulators will show as much skepticism as Wall Street analysts.  In this episode: Ken Burns, @KenBurnsWalter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacsonPhil LeBeau, @LebeaucarnewsJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky 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.

In an extended interview, Matt Damon and Gary White discuss founding their nonprofit Water.org, following over a decade funding global access to safe water and sanitation. The actor and engineer share their inspiration and motivation. Plus, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been appointed to Twitter’s board of directors after taking a 9.2% stake in the social media giant. In reaction, Twitter saw its best day of trading since its IPO in 2013. Shanghai has extended restrictions on transportation as cases rise and lockdown continues, and in the U.S., the Senate reached a deal on $10 billion in additional Covid funding just in case another Covid wave arrives stateside.In this episode:Matt Damon, @WaterGary White, @WaterAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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 CEO Elon Musk purchased a giant stake in Twitter making him the largest outside shareholder in the social media stock, not long after criticizing the company for what he said was its failure to uphold the tenets of free speech. Rich Greenfield, partner and co-founder of LightShed Partners, reacts to Elon Musk’s passive stake in Twitter and explains why he thinks Twitter could be an acquisition target—and a buying opportunity for investors. Amazon workers on New York’s Staten Island made history after becoming the first group to vote in favor of unionizing at a U.S. facility operated by the country’s largest e-commerce company. Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, reacts to the historic unionization vote and a similar sentiment building among Starbucks baristas. Plus, CNBC’s Leslie Picker breaks down the highlights from JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s annual letter to shareholders.In this episode:Mary Kay Henry, @MaryKayHenryRich Greenfield, @RichLightShedLeslie Picker, @LesliePickerAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

The bond market briefly flashed a warning that recession could be imminent; Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, Andrew Ross Sorkin, and CNBC’s senior economics reporter Steve Liesman explain Wall Street’s hype about the inverted yield curve. The other talk on Wall Street: a social breakfast between Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and trader Alexander von Furstenberg that’s now in the center of official probes into insider trading concerns. Also caught up in the probes are billionaire magnates Barry Diller and David Geffen. Plus, China is in the thick of another battle with Covid, but here at home, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says, we’re nearing the end of its pandemic phase.   In this episode:Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

Wall Street and Washington are still hung up on the Biden administration’s proposed billionaire income tax, but pollster and political strategist Frank Luntz says the majority of Americans are more concerned about gas independence and inflation than they are about wealth. Newly declassified U.S. intelligence indicates Russian President Vladimir Putin feels he was misled by military leaders who did not tell him key details about the botched invasion of Ukraine because they feared angering him, according to top Biden administration officials. The Biden administration is expected to end the asylum limits at the U.S.-Mexico border originally put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The policy has blocked more than 1.7 million attempts by immigrants to cross the border since its start during the Trump administration in March 2020. Plus, CNBC’s Bertha Coombs reports that Walgreens Boots Alliance shares are falling as demand linked to the Covid pandemic slows, and the anchors are singing their way down memory lane. In this episode:Frank Luntz, @FrankLuntzBertha Coombs, @berthacoombsBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

Meme stock mania has returned to the markets. Wild swings in GameStop and AMC stock have drummed up more interest in retail trading trends; Tastytrade founder and Co-CEO Tom Sosnoff considers meme trader philosophy and its impact on market health. Plus, Joe Kernen and Andrew Ross Sorkin’s obsession with the Biden Administration’s budget proposal restricting CEO stock buybacks continues another day – this time, due to athleisure company - and maker of the world’s greatest pants - Lululemon’s announcement of a $1 billion stock repurchase program. In this episode:Tom Sosnoff, @tastytradeAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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 Joe Biden’s $5.8 trillion 2023 federal budget proposes tax hikes on the ultra-wealthy and new rules on corporate buybacks. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) makes the case for reforms to executive pay and for a minimum income tax for billionaires. Meanwhile, CNBC’s Ylan Mui says Republicans on Capitol Hill are pronouncing Biden’s budget dead on arrival. Plus, Dairy Queen is expanding its burger offerings with the new Stackburger line - the biggest menu expansion in two decades.In this episode:Senator Elizabeth Warren, @SenWarrenYlan Mui, @ylanmuiAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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 Joe Biden’s 2023 federal budget proposes tax hikes on the ultra-wealthy and on corporations while providing billions of dollars in new spending at the Defense and Justice Departments. Joe, Becky, and Andrew digest the proposal, its potential to bolster domestic investment, and plans to reduce the federal deficit. In light of increasing Covid infections, Shanghai began a two-stage lockdown today. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reports the lockdown of China’s largest city includes orders to work from home as well as the suspension of public transit and ride hailing. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and CNBC contributor, discusses China’s zero-Covid policy and says Shanghai will have a hard time containing Covid infections. Plus, Axios media reporter, Sara Fischer recaps Sunday’s memorable Oscars ceremony, slaps, streaming wins, and all.  In this episode:Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDEunice Yoon, @onlyyoontvSara Fischer, @sarafischerAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen responds to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s warning that the end of globalization is nigh. In a wide ranging interview, she weighs the concerns and the benefits of crypto assets, whether we need sanctions on China, and America’s slow journey toward renewable energy. CNBC’s Kayla Tausche reports on NATO’s deal to cut European reliance on Russian oil in Belgium. Plus, March Madness upsets continue, bitcoin is prompting action in the S&P, and Bed Bath & Beyond has struck a deal with activist investor Ryan Cohen.  In this episode:Janet Yellen, @SecYellenKayla Tausche, @kaylatauscheAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

Larry Fink, CEO and chairman of the world’s biggest asset manager BlackRock, wrote in his annual letter that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is reversing the long-running trend of globalization. Blackrock, which oversees more than $10 trillion, has suspended the purchase of any Russian securities in its active or index portfolios. CNBC’s Kayla Tausche reports from Brussels, Belgium, where President Biden’s and other NATO leaders are meeting to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. As Covid cases tick upward abroad and begin to tick upward here at home, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel says the drugmaker wants to provide U.S. regulators “flexibility” in determining eligibility for a fourth Covid vaccine dose. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell sits down with Bancel ahead of the company’s vaccine day and discusses the company’s latest data surrounding its Covid-19 vaccine in young kids. Plus, Google has agreed to test letting app developers offer users their own payment systems, starting with Spotify. In this episode:Stephane Bancel, @moderna_txKayla Tausche, @kaylatauscheMeg Tirrell, @megtirrellAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.