Squawk Pod

After the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania testified on Capitol Hill this week, UPenn President Elizabeth Magill’s comments sparked backlash among the public and one of her colleagues. Concerns that university presidents are equivocating on the issue of condemning antisemitism on their campuses has prompted a nationwide debate over the role of academia and the business of higher education. President of Brandeis University Ron Liebowitz says, there’s no gray area in creating safe spaces to learn, at least for him. The November jobs report delivered some welcome economic news for the Federal Reserve, ahead of the central bank’s two-day meeting next week. Plus, CNBC’s Diana Olick is on the ground at COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference, and CNBC’s Robert Frank fact checks the great wealth migration: New York has not lost all its millionaires.  Ron Liebowitz - 14:02Diana Olick - 23:42Robert Frank - 27:43 In this episode:Ron Liebowitz, @BrandeisUDiana Olick @DianaOlickRobert Frank, @robtfrankAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) discusses her concerns about cryptocurrency, after big bank CEOs appeared before Congress this week. It turns out, Sen. Warren and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon agree on the dangers of bitcoin. JetBlue and Spirit await the fate of their proposed merger. Columbia Law School Professor and former advisor in the Biden administration Tim Wu explains his perspective on airline consolidation: it isn’t great for consumers. In an op-ed in The New York Times, Wu concludes that M&A in the airspace often leads to higher prices for the same experience. The fourth Republican Presidential debate took place in Alabama on Wednesday, but only four of the candidates participated. Plus, Time Magazine has named Taylor Swift its Person of the Year. CNBC’s Jon Fortt explains why that decision does and doesn’t make sense.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren - 15:34Tim Wu - 34:42 In this episode:Elizabeth Warren, @SenWarrenJon Fortt, @jonforttAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bitcoin is building on its upward momentum. Robinhood co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev discusses the 75% increase in crypto trading volume from October to November, what’s behind the crypto rally, and how the Federal Reserve’s decisions play out for retail investors. Former Congresswoman and ‘Oath and Honor’ author Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) discusses the 2024 presidential election, her efforts to prevent a Donald Trump reelection, and the state of her own party, the GOP. Plus, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley raised over $500,000 at a massive fundraiser in New York on Monday, and Elon Musk has filed for $1B in equity for his AI startup, X.AI.Liz Cheney - 11:29Vlad Tenev - 27:20In this episode:Liz Cheney, @Liz_CheneyVlad Tenev, @vladtenevAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bitcoin hit $42,000 for the first time in over 19 months; crypto investor and bitcoin bull Anthony Pompliano discusses the asset’s rise, regulatory tailwinds for the U.S. crypto companies, and the crypto community’s worldview on central banks and stores of value. In a thoughtful discussion, author, Harvard professor, The Atlantic contributing writer and fellow podcaster Arthur Brooks considers the toll America’s polarizing political climate is taking on the average citizen’s happiness. As tensions rise in Washington and on college campuses, Brooks explains how America’s current approach to community hurts us, more than helps. Plus, today’s headlines: Moody’s cut China’s credit outlook, CVS is changing how it prices prescription drugs, Take-Two Interactive’s stock tumbled after a trailer of the newest Grand Theft Auto game was leaked on X, and voters are gearing up for another Republican Presidential debate this week.  Arthur Brooks - 12:17Anthony Pompliano - 21:55 In this episode:Arthur Brooks, @arthurbrooksAnthony Pompliano, @APomplianoAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After Fed Chair Jay Powell’s comments on Friday, investors are hopeful that the Federal Reserve is done hiking interest rates, and the interest rate environment has led to highs in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, gold prices, and bitcoin. Restaurateur Cameron Mitchell shares his consumer’s spending habits in the inflationary environment, including new trends in how Americans are dining out. Plus, Israeli forces announced an expansion of ground attacks against Hamas in Gaza, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi military group attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, and the US Senate is in the midst of heated negotiations to pass aid packages to Israel and Ukraine. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) explains his perspective on Washington’s priorities, balancing geopolitical obligations of emergency aid in warzones and domestic goals like border security.  Sen. Roger Marshall - 13:20Cameron Mitchell - 22:13 In this episode:Sen. Roger Marshall, @RogerMarshallMDAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Billionaire investor Charlie Munger reflects on his successful life and partnership with Warren Buffett. They discuss his mental sharpness at 99, his impact on Buffett's investing philosophy, and his role at Berkshire Hathaway. Munger's family's experience during the Great Depression is explored. They also talk about bureaucracy, civilization, and the humor of everyday life, including a discussion on the TV show Seinfeld.

In this final interview before his passing, billionaire investor Charlie Munger reflects on his century of life, childhood traumas, and investment wins and losses. He shares advice on living, discusses his favorite stocks, and talks about soldiering through tough times. The discussion also touches on global conflicts, economic solutions, and the importance of effective laws. The speakers express gratitude for Munger's wisdom and mentorship.

Chris Krebs, cybersecurity expert and former CISA Director, explains the online threats from China, Russia, and others, as the 2024 election draws nearer. As respiratory illnesses surge in Ohio and in China, Dr. Kavita Patel, Stanford University Professor of Medicine and former White House official, discusses the global health surveillance system set in place since the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, the temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War has ended. Other headlines today: Tesla’s Cybertrucks are out for delivery (finally), X’s ad executive Linda Yaccarino is speaking to advertisers in the aftermath of Elon Musk’s “x-pletive,” Disney is gearing up for a proxy fight with Nelson Peltz’s Trian, and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan opened up to Andrew Ross Sorkin about his mental health at this year’s NYT DealBook Summit.  Dr. Kavita Patel - 18:45Chris Krebs - 24:26 In this episode:Dr. Kavita Patel, @kavitapmdAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY 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 interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the NYT DealBook Summit has gone viral, in part thanks to Musk’s message to advertisers pulling their ad spend from his platform: “Go f— yourself.” In a wide-ranging interview, the X owner and Tesla CEO apologizes for the post on X, FKA Twitter, responding to an antisemitic post. He discusses his own mental health, his trip to Israel, his original vision for OpenAI when he co-founded and named it, and so much more. Andrew Ross Sorkin recaps the highlights of that interview with Becky Quick and Joe Kernen. Plus, former House Speaker Paul Ryan is not holding back. He says he doesn’t want former President Donald Trump to return to the White House, and he calls Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley a “growth stock.” For more of Andrew’s conversations at The New York Times DealBook Summit, check out NYT’s full coverage. Paul Ryan - 16:38 In this episode:Elon Musk, @elonmuskPaul Ryan, @SpeakerRyanAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer discusses Hollywood's strikes, AI in art, and cultivating a curious mind. Also, the end of rate hikes, Mark Cuban selling the Dallas Mavericks, and the legacy of investing legend Charlie Munger.