Squawk Pod

It’s day two of a new media behemoth under David Ellison’s Skydance umbrella. Founding partner of Puck Matt Belloni details the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, and he considers the giant’s headwinds, including cable’s declining profits and ~$80 billion in debt. Michael Lewis wrote “Moneyball,” “The Big Short,” “Going Infinite,” and “The Blind Side,” and he’s now out with a new book: “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State.” The bestselling author discusses government efficiency and his own dive into the federal workers who resisted in the early days of Elon Musk’s DOGE effort. Plus, protests rage on in France, young people are leaning away from beer, and tech billionaires are only getting bigger. 

Robert Frank - 08:23

Michael Lewis - 21:55

Matt Belloni - 35:07

In this episode:

Matt Belloni, @MattBelloni

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Robert Frank, @robtfrank 

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

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28 days from the midterms, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) reflects on his tenure in government as documented in his new book, “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents.” Sen. Tillis shares his own regrets and his hopes for a Republican Party under pressure from a fractured voter base. As AI innovation continues to spark moral and ethical questions about humanity, machines, and the dignity of work, religious leaders have begun to participate in discussions of the technology’s future. Reverend Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, discusses the paths forward for humans and for society on the whole. Plus, President Trump has signed an executive order to make cheaper diesel more accessible, SpaceX shares jumped this week, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State Disaster Emergency as measles cases rise in the state. 

Senator Thom Tillis - 13:18

Rev. Walter Kim - 27:40

In this episode:

Thom Tillis, @SenThomTillis

Walter Kim, @revwalterkim

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has been picked to serve as AI czar, leading a “Super Intelligence Force” to address growing concerns about AI. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is suggesting people “accept some bad things” in exchange for the benefits of AI. Professor, columnist, author, and happiness expert Arthur Brooks counsels AI users to retain control of their relationships in the AI era, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) discusses potential AI regulation. Plus, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent goes on the record about the bond market, nearly 200 were hospitalized in Siberia after exposure to the plague, and elections in Brazil and Spain are coming in the next month amid unrest in each country. 

Arthur Brooks - 11:58

Sen. Chris Coons - 22:45

In this episode:

Arthur Brooks, @arthurbrooks 

Sen. Chris Coons, @ChrisCoons

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen wrote a memoir of her time at Facebook, during which she leaked documents to The Wall Street Journal to shed light on what (and when) Facebook knew about the potential harms of its algorithms. The memoir is now part of the basis for “The Social Reckoning,” a film designed as a follow up to “The Social Network.” Frances Haugen herself explains how the world of AI is different from that of social media, and the role big tech can play in self regulation on both. Plus, former MTV CEO Michael Wolf discusses the $110B merger of Paramount Warner Bros, expected to close soon, Anthropic’s IPO could be coming before Thanksgiving, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT wants to help you shop. 

Frances Haugen - 15:12

Michael Wolf - 28:25

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

Google is the latest tech giant to release its own AI agent as concerns about AI safety persist both inside and outside the tech industry. Elon Musk biographer, professor, and student of history Walter Isaacson discusses the AI doomsday narrative and the personality clashes behind the AI headlines. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky weighs in on the future of AI agents, including his own efforts to build one and the larger rhetoric problem that Silicon Valley has, when it comes to AI. Chesky issues a wake up call to his fellow tech leaders. Plus, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is moving to Paramount-WBD, and Foundayo’s latest trial results made good news for Eli Lilly. 

Walter Isaacson - 18:31

Brian Chesky - 33:37

In this episode:

Brian Chesky, @bchesky

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

After President Trump hosted tech and AI leaders at the White House on Tuesday, the group ultimately agreed to an “Accord on Super Intelligence.” Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, in the room for the meeting, discusses the significance of the accord and liability issues for AI. While Axios has reported that Jay Clayton could be one of President Trump’s candidates for AI Czar, Clayton is focused on the outcomes of Tuesday’s meeting. Author of “The Infinity Machine” Sebastian Mallaby weighs in on the accord as well, addressing Dario Amodei’s relationship with the President and the friction between innovation and safety in the world of artificial–or super–intelligence. 

Sebastian Mallaby - 19:56

Jay Clayton - 31:12

In this episode:

Sebastian Mallaby, @scmallaby

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

One week after a friendly summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, CNBC details an aggressive plot by China to infiltrate one of the United States’ most important institutions: the Federal Reserve. This explosive documentary delves into the incredible saga of a Chinese spy's effort to obtain secrets from the inner confines of the US top bank. It's a tale of sex, money, deceit and betrayal that put some of the country’s vital economic and financial secrets at risk. With exclusive access to new documents, audio, photos and text messages, CNBC's Senior Washington Correspondent Eamon Javers uncovers the story of former Fed economist John Rogers and a Chinese spy posing as an economics student who he befriended in 2013. “Inside Man” is a spy story at the heart of the competition for global economic dominance, posing the question of whether Rogers was a spy himself or an unwitting dupe. 

Watch the full documentary, read the article and explore excerpts from Rogers’ text message history here: cnbc.com/insideman

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As tech titans head to the White House for a meeting, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) discusses his expectations for the meeting, the future of AI guardrails, and the upcoming midterm elections. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is zeroing in on big tech’s tax breaks and the AI data center build out. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins responds to Anthropic’s “existential risk to humanity” in its IPO prospectus. Chair Atkins underscores his own mission to keep America’s IPO market strong. 

Paul Atkins - 08:30

Speaker Mike Johnson - 20:26

Sen. Elizabeth Warren - 38:35

In this episode:

Paul Atkins, @SECPaulAtkins

Rep. Mike Johnson, @SpeakerJohnson

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, @SenWarren

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

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.

In an extended interview, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explains the company’s newest AI safety software–part of an effort to create a modern web browser for AI. Huang makes the case to innovate and understand technology before attempting to regulate it. Then, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek unveils his memoir, “Inside the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth.” Chapek recounts his long career at Disney and his tumultuous two and a half years as CEO, before being replaced by the very leader he succeeded: Bob Iger. Chapek reflects on the dramatic and disappointing end to his tenure. Plus, Bill Gates has issued another warning on AI.

Jensen Huang - 09:32

Bob Chapek - 38:36

In this episode:

Jensen Huang, @JensenHuang

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.

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue has been in the room during the summit and state dinner between President Trump and President Xi this week. Amb. Perdue discusses the evolving relationship between the two leaders, bilateral trade, Iran, Taiwan, and the potential of U.S.-China  collaboration on AI. Plus, Ark Invest CIO and CEO Cathie Wood shares her outlook, as shared in her latest investor letter. A Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, Kalshi, and Robinhood investor, Wood discusses her bets on the future of tech. 

Megan Cassella - 02:33

Amb. David Perdue - 15:03

Cathie Wood - 30:41

In this episode:

Cathie Wood, @CathieDWood

Megan Cassella, @mmcassella

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Kelly Evans, @KellyCNBC

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.