Squawk Pod

In a newsmaking interview, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discusses the government’s plan to incentivize whistleblower tips on fraud, money laundering, and sanctions violations following the Trump administration’s focus on federally funded social welfare programs in Minnesota. Sec. Bessent also shares his expectation that the Senate confirmation of Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh to proceed, despite Sen. Thom Tillis’s effort to block it. Plus, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Joe Kernen sits down with AT&T Chairman & CEO John Stankey to discuss the infrastructure of the future internet, including fiber optics and satellites. Sec. Scott Bessent - 04:33 John Stankey - 33:17 In this episode: Scott Bessent, @SecScottBessent Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York State Assemblymember Alex Bores (D) has garnered national attention for his plan to regulate AI, both in New York and across the nation. He explains his view that regulation could support American competitiveness, rather than hinder it. Restaurant Brands chairman Patrick Doyle has a unique view of consumers through the Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons brands. After years of implementing an effective tech strategy at Dominos, Doyle discusses his plans for fast food innovation. Plus, Emily Wilkins reports on the House’s vote to overturn President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Cisco stock dropped 7% after earnings, and Corning stock is outperforming its own recent history. Emily Wilkins - 09:28 Patrick Doyle - 21:16 Asm. Alex Bores - 29:18 In this episode: Alex Bores, @AlexBores Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkins Kelly Evans, @KellyCNBC Steve Liesman, @steveliesman Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBC Cameron 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 a short delay from the brief government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has released January’s jobs data. In a better-than-expected report, the BLS revealed 130,000 jobs added in the first month of 2026, and the agency revised numbers previously reported. CNBC’s Steve Liesman and Rick Santelli join Groundwork Collaborative’s Kitty Richards and The Heritage Foundation’s Peter St. Onge to digest the numbers and what they mean for the Fed and for politics. Plus, Ford reported its worst quarterly earnings miss in years, and innovation in AI is taking a bite out of another sector: financial services. Jobs Panel - 16:15 In this episode: Kelly Evans, @KellyCNBC Robert Frank, @robtfrank Steve Liesman, @steveliesman Rick Santelli, @RickSantelli Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBC Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kalshi won big on Super Bowl Sunday, hosting over $1 billion in trading volumes. CEO and co-founder Tarek Mansour discusses prediction markets, insider trading concerns, and market surveillance. President Trump’s effort to limit institutional investors buying single family homes has run into snags on Capitol Hill. RXR Chairman and CEO Scott Rechler discusses the initiative, affordable housing, and NYC’s uptick in office leasing and luxury home sales. In the latest reports on big tech’s AI capital expenditures, Google parent Alphabet is looking to fund its AI spending by selling rare 100-year bonds. President Trump is reportedly aiming to get big tech firms to make a voluntary pact on data centers and energy. The President is also aiming to repeal the Obama-era legal basis for federal greenhouse gas regulation. Scott Rechler - 13:11 Tarek Mansour - 27:55 In this episode: Tarek Mansour, @mansourtarek_ Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Please, not that one” Adam Anderson and his wife Brianne thought near the start of their rare disease journey when a doctor listed Tay-Sachs Disease as a potential diagnosis for their young son Drew. Rarer than rare, this genetic metabolic disorder causes progressive brain and spinal cord damage that can lead, often, to death in early childhood. 80% of rare diseases have a genetic origin. Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffering from a rare disease can trace the root cause of their symptoms back to an abnormality in their genetic code. For generations, there was no way for doctors to track this. But advances in genetic testing have made it so we can unlock the secrets hidden in our DNA faster than ever before. After losing Drew in 2019, Anderson’s life took on a new path. He ran for local office in Florida and became a leader in rare disease policy, creating a new genetic screening program allows parents of newborns to receive free whole genome sequencing at birth, putting the state at the forefront of newborn screening. Join us in advancing awareness and understanding of rare diseases. Visit CNBC.com/Cures to access clips, resources, or to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Follow Becky Quick on X: @BeckyQuick Follow Adam Anderson on X: @AdamAndersonFL Please share your thoughts or rare disease story in the comments, and join us on The Path. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses America’s economic trajectory, including the jobs market and productivity, inflation, and President Trump’s pick for new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh. Direct-to-consumer telehealth Hims & Hers made waves last month when it announced a cheaper, compounded obesity pill similar to Wegovy. Now, after the FDA warned against compounded GLP-1s, Hims & Hers is backing off. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses competition in obesity drugs, Novo Nordisk’s lawsuit against Hims & Hers, and the importance of vaccines. Plus, the pharma and AI ads at Super Bowl LX, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a supermajority in a snap election, and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports on the legislative efforts to address the U.S. housing affordability crisis. Emily Wilkins - 10:09 Kevin Hassett - 19:21 Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 30:10 In this episode: Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkins Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hong Kong media tycoon and vocal Beijing critic Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, President Trump has reversed his position on the Nexstar-Tegna broadcast TV deal, Hims & Hers has pulled its weight loss pill claiming to compete with Wegovy’s obesity pill, Block may lay off 10% of its workforce, and Kroger could be planning to hire a former Walmart executive as its next CEO. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The morning of Once Upon A Farm’s IPO, co-founders Jennifer Garner and John Foraker sit down with Andrew Ross Sorkin. They discuss the company’s distribution and mission, connecting social good with accessible nutrition. As Capitol Hill fights over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) underscores his commitment to constituents demanding lawmaker action on ICE operations nationwide. Plus, Robert Frank goes “Inside Wealth” to report on Elon Musk’s road to becoming a trillionaire, and software and financial services stocks have had a volatile week, in the thick of earnings season. Robert Frank - 7:29 Jennifer Garner & John Foraker - 16:59 Sen. Chris Coons - 28:56 In this episode: Chris Coons, @ChrisCoons Robert Frank, @robtfrank Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Cameron 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 each company reported quarterly results, Amazon stock is lower on AI spending plans, Reddit shares are up on strong guidance for 2026, Roblox is up on a smaller-than-expected loss, and Affirm issued upbeat guidance for the full year. Plus, Coca-Cola is discontinuing an 80-year-old product in the U.S. and Canada: frozen Minute Maid juice concentrate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shares of Google parent Alphabet fell after its quarterly report, despite beating estimates. Citi analyst Ron Josey explains the weight of AI spending on profit margins. After President Trump gave an interview to NBC’s Tom Llamas, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) discusses the President’s pick for Fed chair, Kevin Warsh. Sen. Moreno also weighs in on the Department of Justice’s case against the current Fed chair, Jay Powell. Ahead of the Super Bowl, CNBC’s Contessa Brewer reports on the weekend wagers boosting traffic on sportsbooks and prediction markets. Jonathan Cohen, author and head of the American Institute for Boys and Men Sports Betting Policy Hub, underscores the risks of game day bets for financial and mental wellbeing. Plus, fallout from the Epstein files continues. Ron Josey - 4:42 Senator Bernie Moreno - 17:12 Contessa Brewer - 27:08 Jonathan Cohen - 31:57 In this episode: Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CNBC Leaders Playbook features candid conversations with the world’s top CEOs and business leaders about how they think, decide, and lead, hosted by CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin. In this episode, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Senior VP of Manufacturing and Product Engineering Josh Tavel discuss how they run the best-selling automaker in the U.S., and their plans to drive the more than 115-year-old company into the future. Visit CNBC.com/LeadersPlaybook for more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CNBC Leaders Playbook features candid conversations with the world’s top CEOs and business leaders about how they think, decide, and lead, hosted by CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin. In this episode, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe discuss how they rewrote the rules to create the world’s largest video sharing platform, where 2 billion people a day search, watch, and create. Visit CNBC.com/LeadersPlaybook for more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charles Schwab President and CEO Rick Wurster discusses different investing habits between generations, including Gen Z’s interest in saving and the increased gamification of trading. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is not running for reelection, and the lawmaker is using his freedom from campaign politics to speak up against the DOJ’s case against Fed Chair Jay Powell and the execution of immigration policies overseen by Kristi Noem. In a fiery interview, Sen. Tillis calls the investigation into the Federal Reserve’s renovation “frivolous” and “vindictive.” Plus, Anthropic’s new legal tool has taken a bite out of tech stocks, and Fed governor Stephen Miran has resigned from his White House post, retaining his seat at the central bank. Senator Thom Tillis - 12:41 Rick Wurster - 27:18 In this episode: Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie 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 has officially announced CEO Bob Iger’s successor: Josh D’Amaro. CNBC’s Julia Boorstin reports on the choice and explains the importance of the Disney Experiences Division, which D’Amaro currently leads. Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft launches an ad for the Blue Square Alliance, an initiative to combat antisemitism and hate. Kraft discusses building community through football, preparing for the team’s big game, and the latest NFL Hall of Fame controversies. Plus, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired Musk’s xAI in a deal that will value the resulting company at $1.25 trillion, and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports on the ongoing partial government shutdown. Robert Kraft - 15:27 Julia Boorstin - 31:10 In this episode: Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkins Julia Boorstin, @JBoorstin Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie 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.

After Disney’s quarterly results, CFO Hugh Johnston discusses the company’s business, potential successors to Bob Iger, and Netflix’s planned purchase of Warner Brothers Discovery’s film assets. The Fed-critical Kevin Warsh is President Trump’s pick for Federal Reserve chair. Former SEC Chair and current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton discusses the choice and its impact on the investor sentiment. Plus, Clayton weighs in on the Epstein files and Don Lemon’s arrest. Other stories in the headlines: silver and gold prices, resolving a partial government shutdown, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is clarifying details of the company’s investments in OpenAI. Hugh Johnston - 18:27 Jay Clayton - 34:55 In this episode: Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie 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.

Gold and silver prices are volatile after their worst trading day since 1980, oil prices are pulling back after President Trump indicated talks with Iran were ongoing, longtime government economist Brett Matsumoto has been named the new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, President Trump plans to close the Kennedy Center in Washington for 2 years of renovations, and new Amazon documentary “Melania” brought in $7 million at the box office in its opening weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After much Wall Street and Main Street anticipation, President Trump has announced his nominee for Federal Reserve chairman: Kevin Warsh. CNBC’s Steve Liesman discusses the choice, what it means for the markets, especially given Warsh’s history of critiquing the central bank itself. Exxon Mobil posted strong results this quarter, despite oil’s price decline. Exxon CEO Darren Woods discusses the global oil supply and Venezuela’s future. Plus, Maryland Governor Wes Moore discusses the future of the Democratic Party, including his own approach to affordability, wealth redistribution, and taxes. Governor Wes Moore - 03:44 Steve Liesman 20:38 Darren Woods 34:33 In this episode: Wes Moore, @GovWesMoore Steve Liesman, @steveliesman Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie 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.

Luke Rosen was working as an actor and writer in New York when his daughter Susannah was diagnosed with KIF1A, an ultra-rare neurodegenerative condition. It's often fatal. At the time they received Susannah's diagnosis, Luke and his wife Sally didn't have much hope. There was no treatment for KIF1A, and there wasn't much work being done on it among researchers. But Luke, one of the most optimistic people you'll ever meet, did what so many parents of children with rare diseases do...he threw himself at the problem. He and Sally started the KIF1A.org Foundation so they could start building research that could go towards finding a treatment for their daughter. It was the beginning of a long journey for the family. Ultimately, that journey led them to the n-Lorem Foundation, an organization founded by CNBC Cures Advisory Board member Dr. Stan Crooke that offers free ASO treatments to individuals with nano-rare diseases. Thirty years in the making, Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology bridges genomic discovery to personalized medicine one patient at a time. Because of the work done by n-Lorem, Susannah is now receiving treatment for her KIF1A. Luke says the treatments helped for while, though he's now worried the disease is catching up. For more about Susannah's story: visit: https://www.kif1a.org/ n-lorem's work is here: https://www.nlorem.org/ Join us in advancing awareness and understanding of rare diseases. Visit CNBC.com/Cures to access clips, resources, or to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Follow Becky Quick on X: @BeckyQuick Please share your thoughts or rare disease story in the comments, and join us on The Path. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meta has reported strong quarterly results, highlighting AI-driven shifts to the company’s business. The SEC and CFTC are hosting a joint conference to underscore collaboration on crypto and the digital assets market structure bill. SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Mike Selig discuss the dynamic between the crypto and finance industries and making America competitive for crypto business. President Trump has warned Iran that it should make a nuclear deal with the U.S., or face a large-scale American attack. Former senior advisor on energy policy in the Biden administration’s State Department Amos Hochstein discusses the prospect of an attack on Iran over the weekend. Plus, Accuweather’s Bernie Rayno considers the likelihood of another winter storm over the weekend. Paul Atkins & Mike Selig - 8:27 Amos Hochstein - 20:15 Bernie Rayno - 30:20 In this episode: Paul Atkins, @SECPaulAtkins Mike Selig, @MichaelSelig Amos Hochstein, @amoshochstein Brian Sullivan, @SullyCNBC Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie 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.

CNBC Leaders Playbook features candid conversations with the world’s top CEOs and business leaders about how they think, decide, and lead, hosted by CNBC Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin. In this episode, Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison and Executive Vice President of Human Resources Janice Dupré discuss bringing new life to the home improvement brand and how they delivered a multibillion-dollar upgrade, from the sales floor to the supply chain. All-new episodes air Wednesdays at 10PM ET/PT on CNBC. Visit CNBC.com/LeadersPlaybook for more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.