Squawk Pod

Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of the system-wide pathogens program at New York City Health and Hospitals, considers the pandemic still in its “emergency” phase as cases of omicron outpace those of other variants. But, the game must go on--for the NFL, at least. While the NHL and college basketball teams have paused and postponed their games, the National Football League is taking a new approach...

Global markets are wavering as cases of the omicron variant ticks up around the world. Moderna says its Covid booster dose does bolster antibodies against the new variant, but even so, CNBC’s Robert Frank reports that big banks are reversing their return-to-work policies. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell explains the Moderna news and compares data on cases of Covid’s omicron and delta variants, and former FDA C...

Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical advisor, weighs in on holiday parties with vaccinated family and friends as Covid-19 omicron variant spreads throughout the United States. The nation’s top infectious disease doctor discusses a possible redefinition of what it means to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Changes are certainly “on the table,” said Dr. Fauci, who emphasizes there is no...

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is developing new antibodies that work against the omicron variant of Covid-19, after the company confirmed that its current cocktail has diminished potency against the heavily mutated strain. CEO Leonard Schleifer says Regeneron plans to conduct trials on the new antibodies in the first quarter of 2022.  The Federal Reserve’s move to accelerate its taper but not yet move...

In this special podcast, Andrew Ross Sorkin spoke with Galleon Group Founder,  Raj Rajaratnam , who was convicted in 2011 of 14 counts of securities fraud and conspiracy in one of the biggest insider trading cases in history. Prosecutors accused him of making tens of millions of dollars by trading illegal information about stocks like eBay, Goldman Sachs and Alphabet, then known as Google. Now he’...

As the specter of omicron looms large over the festive season, governments around the world are desperately trying to deploy Covid-19 booster shots in order to bolster people’s protection against the more transmissible variant. Meanwhile, Pfizer is working on the first antiviral Covid-19 pill. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell broke down the final analysis of Pfizer’s Covid-19 pill that showed a near 90% efficac...

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed today that at least one patient infected with the new omicron variant of Covid-19 has died in the country. In a televised statement yesterday, Johnson warned Britain faces a “tidal wave” of omicron infections. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and CNBC contributor, discusses the latest developments surrounding the worrisome omicron coronavirus...

Inflation accelerated at its fastest pace since 1982, putting pressure on the economic recovery and raising the stakes for the Federal Reserve. CNBC’s senior economics reporter, Steve Liesman, breaks down the latest consumer price index data. Dr. Kavita Patel, former White House health policy director and fellow at the Brookings Institution, reports on the latest CDC recommendations around Covid-1...

Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of Ark Invest, says bitcoin’s value could go up by $500,000 over time as hedge funds and other large investors move in. She also shared her most recent thoughts on Twitter, Tesla, as well as details on Ark Invest’s newest exchange-traded fund. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, testified for the first time before Congress and refused to commit to permanently ending the paused pla...

Pfizer and BioNTech say three doses of their vaccine provide a high level of protection against the omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell breaks down the latest data and reports the third shot shows virus-fighting abilities comparable with the 95% protection provided by two doses against the original strain of the virus. CNBC’s Ylan Mui reports how Congress is tryin...

Congress and the Federal Reserve will have more impact on what happens to the economy and markets than the pandemic, according to Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who joins Squawk Box exclusively from the bank’s headquarters in Manhattan. With support from both starting to fade in the days ahead, Solomon says investors should take heed and plan accordingly. He also  discussed China, recent market...

At least 17 states have detected the omicron coronavirus variant and that number is expected to rise according to the CDC. Former FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb and CNBC’s Meg Tirrell report on the spread and severity of the omicron variant. Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti discusses the digital media company’s debut as a public company through a SPAC merger, after an unusually high number...

As the international business community responds to China’s treatment of Peng Shuai, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon gives more details from Beijing and Yale School of Management’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld discusses how leaders could and should be supporting the tennis Olympian. As cases of the omicron variant pop up in New York, Minnesota, and Colorado, questions arise about effective vaccination manufacturing and...

The omicron variant lands in the United States with its  first known case  appearing in California. The White House is out with new guidance on how to deal with the new variant by tightening travel restrictions, extending mask mandates, and rapid tests that may be costing consumers. Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin discuss how this news might be influencing investors and the Fed. An...

The markets are reacting to  comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell , who announced a plan to taper its asset purchases faster. He--and the rest of the economist community--is ready to retire the word “transitory,” but his comments have not retired questions and concerns from investors. CNBC’s Steve Liesman explains Powell’s comments. CEO of Lazard’s Financial Advisory business Peter Orszag discuss...

Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio holds firm in his belief that cash is not king, despite the market volatility triggered by the Covid omicron variant. Dalio discusses competing with China, the global economy, and his new book, “The Changing World Order.” Comments about omicron from Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel have spooked investors, and Jack Dorsey’s decision to step down from his role as Twitter...

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says he’s “very, very confident” that the company’s Covid-19 treatment pill will be effective against the omicron variant of Covid-19 , and that Pfizer will be able to manufacture a vaccine for this variant within 100 days, to be used if necessary. Pfizer submitted its application earlier this month to the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the pill, Paxlovid, for e...

The World Health Organization will meet today to discuss a new heavily-mutated variant of Covid-19. The variant has been detected in small numbers in South Africa, with reports of cases in Israel and Hong Kong. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell reports on how Covid-19 drugmakers like Moderna and Pfizer are responding to the variant. Dr. Kavita Patel, former White House health policy director and fellow at the Br...

Billionaire investor Ken Langone and Larry Bossidy, former Honeywell CEO, speak about the RADical Hope Foundation, their effort to reach young people struggling with mental health. The two united after Bossidy’s grandson Chris Martin, a Gonzaga University student, died by suicide aged 20. Bossidy first discussed the tragedy in a moving 2018 Squawk Box appearance, that caught guest William Shatner...

ARK Invest founder and CEO Cathie Wood explains why she thinks ARK’s funds should be more valuable over the next five years despite a recent dip in tech shares. Wood’s flagship fund, ARK Innovation ETF, is down nearly 15% in 2021 while the S&P 500 is up 25%. Retailers Nordstrom and Gap both saw their quarterly results fall short and their shares prices hit by supply-chain disruptions even as more...

Palantir CEO Alex Karp reflects on the software firm’s first year as a publicly traded company and breaks down its growth trajectory. Karp discusses the company’s controversial position in American politics, his decision to relocate from Silicon Valley, the recently passed infrastructure bill, and U.S. climate policies. Karp weighs in on Palantir’s anti-terrorism efforts and the patriotism of othe...

President Joe Biden is nominating Jerome Powell for a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, which means Americans can expect the U.S. central bank to maintain its patient stance on inflation and interest rates. Biden praised Powell and the Fed for “decisive” action that cushioned the impact of the Covid pandemic. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and CNBC contributor, discusses...

The House of Representatives has  passed  the largest expansion of the social safety net in decades, a $1.75 trillion bill that funds universal pre-K, Medicare expansion, renewable energy credits, affordable housing, a year of expanded Child Tax Credits and major Obamacare subsidies. Now President Biden’s Build Back Better Act heads to the Senate. CNBC’s Ylan Mui reports on the Congressional Budge...

Salad chain Sweetgreen made its trading debut today on the New York Stock Exchange. The D.C.-based company, which was founded in 2007, is trying to tap into what it describes as a grossly underserved market for fast-food that is also fresh, seasonal, and healthy. Sweetgreen co-founders Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet and Nathaniel Ru explain their vision for a “McDonald’s of this generation.” Deere...

Retail earnings continued today with Target reporting better-than-expected Q3 results. Like Walmart however, Target investors are worried about margins as the company absorbs higher costs of supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, rather than passing them on to consumers.  Target CEO Brian Cornell  addresses those concerns and details how the company has navigated global supply chain bottlen...