Squawk Pod

A suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by the U.S. military over the weekend, as tension between both countries escalates. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and partner at The Rhodium Group Daniel Rosen discuss the geopolitics at play, the repercussions of the incident, and the role the American public played in Washington’s response to the surveillance balloon. As the economy digests January’s blowout January jobs report, Allianz and Gramercy advisor and president of Queens’ College Mohamed El-Erian discusses the Federal Reserve’s 25 basis point rate hike and the rate hikes likely still to come. In a candid conversation, El-Erian offers his own preferred course of action for the central bank, and raises concerns about the long-term implications of the Fed’s suspected strategy. Plus, Elon Musk says Twitter is “trending” to breakeven.  In this episode:Michelle Caruso-Cabrera @MCaruso_CabreraMohamed El-Erian @elerianmBecky Quick @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a surprisingly strong report, the Labor Department revealed the U.S. economy added 517,000 jobs in January 2023, and an unemployment rate drop to 3.4%, the lowest level since 1969. CNBC’s Rick Santelli, Steve Liesman, and Andrew Ross Sorkin consider what the strong numbers mean for the Federal Reserve’s strategy to cool inflation. Among the employed, CNBC’s Robert Frank reports a rise in office attendance across U.S. cities. Plus, Chevron announced a $75 billion buyback program and a dividend boost in its quarterly report, and the oil giant’s giant profits are sparking renewed backlash from the White House. CEO Mike Wirth joins Joe Kernen and Becky Quick before tee-time at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am to discuss his company’s financial results and shareholder returns, and to address pressure on big oil from President Biden. After Starbucks reported a miss on earnings this quarter, CFO Rebecca Ruggeri shares her outlook for the company’s next quarter, despite weakness in international sales amid surging Covid cases in China.  In this episode:Robert Frank, @robtfrankBecky Quick @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 25 basis points in its eighth hike since March 2022. Bridgewater founder and billionaire hedge funder Ray Dalio digests the Fed decision, the relative attractiveness of cash, bonds, and equities, and the value–real and perceived–of crypto. In an extended interview exclusive to CNBC, Dalio warns that we could be at the brink of an economic war with China. Plus, Julia Boorstin reports on Meta’s mega fourth quarter results, including what’s in store for the platform and U.S. scrutiny on TikTok. In this episode:Ray Dalio, @RayDalioJulia Boorstin, @JBoorstinMelissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBCMike Santoli @michaelsantoliAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ark Invest CEO and CIO Cathie Wood shares her big investing ideas for 2023 after her flagship fund reported its best month ever. Ark Innovation ETF notched a near-28% bump in January, but for the last two years, the fund is still down 72%. Wood discusses the wind-down of inflation and her bet that ChatGPT is just the beginning of a new AI era. Even Google is exploring ChatGPT-like technology, asking employees to test some of its competitors. Plus, Snap offered weak guidance for its next quarter, and its own slowdown in digital ad spend is a warning signal for other social media stocks. And, after ExxonMobil reported record breaking profits in 2022, the White House is challenging its dividends for shareholders.  In this episode: Cathie Wood, @CathieDWoodKelly Evans, @KellyCNBCMike Santoli @michaelsantoliAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ExxonMobil reported a record breaking $55.7B profit for 2022. CEO Darren Woods discusses the results and global oil policy, and warns that gas prices will rise again, while demand and supply are light. Ford and Tesla have slashed prices to remain competitive in the burgeoning electric vehicle landscape; WSJ reporter Tim Higgins explains the EV price wars and the road ahead for each player. Plus, the Biden administration is cracking down on Medicare private plans, and a U.S. appeals court has thwarted Johnson & Johnson’s strategy for handling its talc lawsuits, a plan known as the ‘Texas two-step.’ In this episode:Darren Woods, @exxonmobilTim Higgins, @timkhigginsBecky 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.

Ahead of this week’s Fed meeting, jobs data, and tech earnings results, head of US Equity and Quantitative Strategy at BofA Securities Savita Subramanian zooms out of the market minutia to paint the big economic picture for short term and buy-and-hold investors alike. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has agreed to testify before U.S. Congress in March, as scrutiny on the China-based app heightens on Capitol Hill and on America’s university campuses. Plus, Renault and Nissan are rethinking their decades-old alliance, Chinese search engine Baidu is launching an AI bot similar to ChatGPT, and Samsung is reportedly considering cutting semiconductor production, as demand softens. In this episode:Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKayla Tausche, @kaylatauscheMike Santoli @michaelsantoliKatie 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.

Universities and the U.S. government have heightened scrutiny on TikTok, exploring bans of the China-based app. Foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times Tom Friedman discusses the risks of TikTok and other social media, and how the U.S. should handle its relationship with China. As layoffs across tech pile up, Jason Greer, Greer Consulting founder and president, and Jessica Kriegel, chief scientist of workplace culture at Culture Partners, discuss the executive strategy of job cuts, as well as the overall job market. Plus, Chipotle’s hiring, Intel reported a dismal quarter, and facial recognition software at Madison Square Garden has raised alarm bells for many. In this episode:Jason Greer, @LaborDiversityJessica Kriegel, @jessica_kriegelTom Friedman, @tomfriedmanJoe 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.

In an extended interview, Starwood Capital Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht offers his outlook on a recession timeline, the Fed’s rate raising playbook, and the U.S. labor market. A real estate and investing mogul, Sternlicht explains what the housing market reveals about America’s economic health. Tesla reported record revenue for the fourth quarter; CNBC’s Phil Lebeau reports the results and shares the highlights from Elon Musk’s comments on the earnings call. Plus, IBM is making job cuts, Chevron is making a big stock buyback, and Donald Trump is back on social media.  In this episode Phil Lebeau, @LebeaucarnewsBecky Quick @BeckyQuickJoe 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.

Tesla’s CEO is under oath this week, after shareholders sued him for his tweets in 2018. Axios business editor Dan Primack breaks down Elon Musk’s time in federal court, where he’s defending his infamous “funding secured” tweet. Primack considers Musk’s leadership and the faith his Tesla shareholders are willing to put in him. In a conversation about his new book, “Never Give an Inch,” former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discusses Russia’s war in Ukraine and the roles of other global powers in ending it. Pompeo reflects on the foreign policy that’s gotten the United States where it is today. Plus, CNBC’s Steve Kovach reports on Microsoft’s weak guidance in its latest financial report, and Rupert Murdoch is calling off a big Fox family reunion.  In this episode:Dan Primack, @danprimackSteve Kovach, @stevekovachBecky 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.

Two months after the Taylor Swift-Ticketmaster debacle, the Senate Judiciary Committee is conducting a hearing on competitiveness in the ticketing industry. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) share their priorities during the hearing, including antitrust concerns and consumer protections. CNBC’s Bertha Coombs reports on Amazon’s new prescription offering for Prime members: RxPass. Plus, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is defending Google’s massive layoffs while the Department of Justice zeroes in on the company’s dominance in ‘search.’ In this episode:Marsha Blackburn, @MarshaBlackburnRichard Blumenthal, @SenBlumenthalBertha Coombs @berthacoombsBecky Quick @BeckyQuickJoe 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.