Squawk Pod

It’s big news for your wallet: Capital One is set to acquire Discover in a $35.3B all-stock deal, pending any regulatory hurdles. In the run-up to the 2024 election, Axios co-founder Mike Allen is watching two key issues: President Biden’s upcoming State of the Union, and former President Trump’s days in court. In DC, the Biden administration is awarding chipmaker GlobalFoundries $1.5B for semiconductor production; National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard discusses the White House’s program to bolster jobs and chips in the US. Plus, crude prices and bitcoin prices are on the rise.  Lael Brainard - 10:46Mike Allen - 21:09 In this episode: Mike Allen, @mikeallenJoe 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.

Russian media has announced the death of Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opponent to Vladimir Putin. Convening with other global defense leaders at the Munich Security Conference, former CIA Director General David Petraeus discusses Navalny’s death and legacy, as well as news that the FBI disrupted a Russian cyber espionage operation. Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox might face regulatory scrutiny for their attempt to launch a new sports streaming platform. Former FTC Commissioner Mozelle Thompson discusses the streamers’ potential plans and how the sports leagues have responded. A Saudi investing group is snapping up shares of The Children’s Place, and both Roku and DraftKings stocks fell on each company’s respective quarterly reports. Plus, the NCAA has a new women’s high-scorer, after Iowa’s Caitlin Clark broke the all-time NCAA scoring record in Thursday night’s game.  Gen. David Petraeus - 11:42Mozelle Thompson - 22:09 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thousands of flight attendants are picketing at dozens of airports around the country. President of the Association of Flight Attendants Sara Nelson explains the wage increases her colleagues are requesting. Cisco and Morgan Stanley are the latest firms to announce layoffs, joining the ranks of UPS, Paramount Global, Amazon, Macy’s, Alphabet, Levi Strauss, and others. Recruiter.com chairman Evan Sohn discusses a workforce “reshuffling” across industries, including the impact of AI on hiring trends. Japan and the U.K. are facing recessions, New York City is taking on social media, and Berkshire Hathaway has asked the SEC to keep its disclosure of one of its investments private. CNBC’s Leslie Picker discusses hedge fund moves in Q4, as shown in 13F filings. Plus, 15 years after authorities discovered Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford’s $7B Ponzi scheme, CNBC’s Scott Cohn follows the ongoing issues for Stanford’s 18,000 victims.  Leslie Picker - 05:28Scott Cohn - 08:17Sara Nelson - 13:49Evan Sohn - 23:07 In this episode:Sara Nelson, @FlyingwithSaraLeslie Picker, @LesliePickerScott Cohn, @ScottCohnTVJoe 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.

A month after approving spot Bitcoin ETFs, SEC Chair Gary Gensler shares his perspective on cryptocurrency. In an extended conversation with Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, he discusses market risks for investors, the responsibilities of investment advisors employing AI, and much more. Hot CPI data on Tuesday sparked a market sell-off and suggested that America’s inflation woes are far from over. Plus, an error in Lyft’s earnings report sent the stock into a Lyft-off, and the Democrats flipped a House seat in a special election on Long Island. Gary Gensler - 14:32 In this episode:Gary Gensler, @GaryGenslerJoe 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.

Expedia’s CEO says travelers are in a new era after post-pandemic revenge travel has faded. Peter Kern explains travel demand and his four years turning the travel company technology first, as he prepares to leave the C-suite in May. Author Jared Cohen has penned a new book; in “Life After Power,” Cohen examines the chapters after leadership for seven U.S. Presidents who explored new roles and more purpose after leaving the White House. Uber, Lyft, and Doordash drivers plan on striking this week, and thousands of flight attendants will also picket, both groups pushing for higher pay. Plus, viral (Berkshire Hathaway-owned) Squishmallows is suing a competitor, flight and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports that the Senate has passed a $95B bill that includes aid funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.  Emily Wilkins - 02:50Peter Kern - 11:46Jared Cohen - 21:07 In this episode:Joe 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.

Elon Musk's biographer, Walter Isaacson, shares insights into Musk's frustration with regulatory threats and his recent legal issues. Kevin Krim discusses the Super Bowl ads and which ones paid off for advertisers. President Biden's Super Bowl message and shrinkflation are also mentioned.

President Biden spoke to reporters yesterday, rebutting claims made in Special Counsel Robert Hur’s recent report and defending his memory. Axios National Political Correspondent Alex Thompson discusses sentiment in DC and at the White House, as well as the paths forward for the Democratic Party as the country gears up for the 2024 election in just 9 months. The S&P 500 is flirting with a milestone: 5,000. Fairlead Strategies Founder Katie Stockton breaks down the market technicals and trends underlying this big mark for the S&P. Plus, Expedia announced a new CEO in its latest report, and Pinterest is launching a Google app integration. And we’re preparing for the Super Bowl…with chips! OpenAI’s Sam Altman is hoping to raise trillions of dollars for the semiconductor kind of chips, and Joe Kernen, Andrew Ross Sorkin, and Melissa Lee have their appetites on the other kind of chips.  Alex Thompson - 15:19Katie Stockton - 31:08 In this episode:Alex Thompson, @AlexThompKatie Stockton, @StocktonKatieJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew 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.

In this bonus episode of Squawk Pod, Google CEO Sundar Pichai discusses Google’s newest iteration of AI, now known as Gemini. He explains which aspects of Google’s AI excite him the most, including Gemini’s ability to interpret images and video. Plus, Pichai comments on AI’s innovation trajectory, combating deep fakes, and working with regulators to build a safe internet. Andrew Ross Sorkin digests the interview with Joe Kernen, and Becky Quick.  In this episode: Sundar Pichai, @sundarpichaiJoe 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.

Disney’s first quarter earnings report beat estimates and revealed multiple new deals, releases and events in the year ahead. Disney’s new CFO Hugh Johnston discusses the media giant’s investment in Epic Games, its plan for an ESPN sports streaming service, and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, soon available on Disney+. Plus, NBC’s Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons is on the ground in Iraq, after a U.S. drone strike killed a commander in an Iran-backed militia.  Keir Simmons - 02:16Hugh Johnston - 14:35 In this episode:Keir Simmons, @KeirSimmonsJoe 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.

Disney-owned ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox are launching a joint sports streaming platform this year, with each party owning a third of the newly formed company. Sports entrepreneur and Kevin Durant’s long-time agent Rich Kleiman says he likes the media move, for sports and for athletes, although many factors–like the cost for consumers and the name of the venture–are still unknown. Plus, in his latest essay, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari is reading the economy’s mixed signals. In his interview with Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, he’s calling the U.S. economy “remarkably resilient,” but he and his colleagues at the central bank are holding out for more positive economic data before making a decision to cut interest rates.  Neel Kashkari - 15:28Rich Kleiman -  29:02 In this episode:Rich Kleiman, @richkleimanNeel Kashkari, @neelkashkariJoe 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.