Squawk Pod

Billionaire investor and founder of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein discusses the risks and longevity of inflation. Having worked in the Carter Administration, Rubenstein considers whether today’s economic environment might match that of the 1970s. In his extended interview, he discusses the markets, the supply chain, President Biden’s economic agenda, the Fed, and crypto. CNBC’s Kayla Tausche ...

President Biden signs  the $1T bipartisan infrastructure plan  today, but the Build Back Better plan has yet to pass the House. Covid-19 cases are ticking up in some areas where vaccination rates and immunity is low, but after the holidays, Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb expects cases to decline again. He considers a future in which Covid is regarded much like the flu, with effective v...

Big changes in big business. Johnson & Johnson is planning to split into  two public companies . CEO Alex Gorsky tells Squawk Box’s Becky Quick why the decision to break off the brand-name-heavy consumer business from its prescription drug and medical device division will be “in the best long-term interest” of the company’s stakeholders.  As companies continue to evolve, workplaces and traditional...

Legendary internet investor John Doerr is making a big bet on green tech. In discussing his new book, “Speed and Scale,” Doerr explains his plan to achieve global net zero emissions by 2050. As a venture capitalist, his eye is on the bottom line, but Doerr shares a vision that stretches far beyond his portfolio returns. Disney has big plans for its own metaverse and  Elon Musk has sold $5 billion...

Toast, the app that helped power many restaurants through Covid-19 shutdowns, released its first quarter results as a public company. CEO Chris Comparato explains how his platform supports small businesses, and how his own strong metrics indicate a strong recovery for the rest of the industry. Pfizer has asked the FDA for broader authorization of its Covid-19 booster shot; the Brookings Institutio...

Hertz is listing on the Nasdaq--again. Back from bankruptcy, Hertz is led by former Ford CEO Mark Fields; he and board members Tom Wagner and Greg O’Hara discuss the road ahead for the rental car business and it’s potential deal with Tesla. Crypto ATMs, which swap cash for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, are popping up all over the country. So why are they on law enforcement’s radar? Eamon Javers r...

The U.S. borders are once again open to international travelers, but a travel rebound puts even more pressure on airlines who are already short staffed. American Airlines is offering its employees 150% more than their usual pay to work on peak days this season. Marriott CEO Tony Capuano says the world is itching to get back to travel; many of his hotels are full as antiviral Covid-19 therapeutic p...

Pfizer’s antiviral pill is 89% effective in cutting rates of hospitalization and death in Covid-19 patients. The news is huge for Pfizer and even bigger for the pandemic’s trajectory in this country. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell unveils the news, and Pfizer board member and former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says it means we are nearing “the end of the pandemic phase of this virus.” Plus, ‘The Sopra...

Etsy CEO Josh Silverman discusses the holiday supply chain, competition with Amazon, and strategic ad spend for small businesses on his platform. Domino’s CEO Ritch Allison discusses the post-pandemic appetite for pizza, and whether drones are ready to replace your delivery guy. The  Fed is ready to start winding down its emergency economic measures, paid parental leave is back in the Democrats’ s...

It’s election day-after. Republican Glenn Youngkin has won Virginia’s hotly contested gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic power player and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe. In New Jersey, incumbent Governor Phil Murphy hasn't yet locked down what was expected to be a relatively easy win. Democrat Eric Adams has won New York City's mayoral race; Adams discusses the city’s relationship with the...

Lawmakers in Washington continue to debate the spending bill and infrastructure plan. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg discusses gridlock on the Hill, the Build Back Better Plan, and President Biden’s plans for a fairer tax system. Former Google CEO and Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt discusses his projections for an AI-enabled future in his new book, “The Age of AI and our Human Future.” S...

Barclays CEO Jes Staley is stepping down, following investigations into his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CNBC’s Geoff Cutmore reports that UK regulators have not found evidence of Staley’s involvement or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.  CNBC’s Meg Tirrell reports that Covid-19 vaccines for kids in the U.S. are coming soon, to a pharmacy or pediatrician’s office near you...

Facebook has  changed its company name to Meta . The new name reflects the company’s growing ambitions beyond social media and into a more virtual world. Alexis Ohanian, founder of VC firm Seven Seven Six and former executive chairman of Reddit, discusses Facebook’s name change and plans for the metaverse. Alexis also spoke with Eclipse CEO Aylon Steinhart to discuss the plant-based ice cream comp...

As Democrats wrestle over how to pay for their social spending package, a proposal to tax the wealthiest Americans has emerged. However, if the plan survives pushback from other party members, it may still face legal obstacles. As Christmas approaches, toy makers are working around the clock to ensure enough supply and timely delivery for the shopping season. Mattel chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz dis...

Ron Baron, Baron Capital chairman and CEO, says he’s made $6 billion on his investment in Tesla and plans to remain a shareholder for at least another ten years. One of the EV company’s biggest bulls on Wall Street, Baron discusses his faith in Elon Musk and the electric road ahead. In the extended interview, billionaire Baron also addresses the Democrats’ latest plan to tax billionaires’ unrealiz...

Shares of Facebook are on the rise despite a slew of negative headlines shrouding the social media company. CNBC’s Julia Boorstin reports on the company’s latest quarterly earnings and discusses Mark Zuckerberg’s response to the leaked “Facebook Papers.” Henry Blodget, Insider Inc. co-founder, CEO and editorial director, weighs in on Facebook’s reputation and its potential to overcome the drama. A...

As Facebook combats leaked internal documents and growing concerns from users and lawmakers alike, early investor and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman retains hope that the platform will deliver on its potential to do more good than harm. In a wide-ranging interview, Hoffman discusses Apple’s privacy changes and technology’s potential to streamline a struggling supply chain. House Speaker Nancy Pe...

SPANX has accepted its first outside investor in its 21-year history: Blackstone. Sara Blakely, founder of the  billion-dollar shapewear company , shares stories of her start, decades ago, Blackstone’s all-female deal team, and disrupting retail. Blackstone’s Ann Chung discusses striking the deal and betting on shapewear amid a pandemic. Pfizer has revealed that in its clinical trial, its Covid-19...

WeWork is finally  making its public market debut as the world of work continues to transform after the coronavirus pandemic. WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani and Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure discuss the company’s path to profitability post-Adam Neumann ahead of its debut on the public markets. The WeWork execs also discuss the future of work in a post-Covid world, and how that will impact the com...

Shares of Novavax are down sharply after Politico reported the company is having problems manufacturing its highly anticipated Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and CNBC contributor, discusses Covid therapeutics, vaccines, and the U.S. production and manufacturing system. Paul Tudor Jones, founder and CIO at Tudor Investment Corporation and founder of the Robin Hood Fou...

The SEC’s long-awaited report on GameStop is finally here, a full 44 pages on the trading frenzy, payment-for-order-flow, and stock market “gamification.” Streaming wars are heating up as Wall Street watches subscriber growth numbers for the industry’s biggest players. Interim AMC Networks CEO Matt Blank shares his own company’s strategy for competing with Netflix, HBOMax, and Amazon Prime, and de...

Disney’s streaming business could be running out of steam; MoffettNathanson founding partner and media watcher Michael Nathanson weighs in on Wall Street’s Disney debate. Nathanson also dives into the 'Squid Game' mania and what its eyepopping metrics mean for Netflix and the streaming wars. CNBC’s Steve Liesman breaks down the latest GDP forecasts for the back half of 2021. The first bitcoin-link...

A key FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended giving booster shots of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine to people ages 65 and older and other vulnerable Americans. Dr. Kavita Patel, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and former White House health policy director, breaks down the FDA’s debate over Covid-19 boosters. CNBC’s Scott Cohn provides an update on the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth...

The U.S. is reporting an average of about 362,000 booster vaccine shots administered per day over the past week, 57% higher than the 231,000 average daily first doses. A key FDA advisory panel is meeting today and tomorrow to discuss the efficacy and safety of extra doses of the Moderna and J&J vaccines. Shellye Archambeau, former MetricStream CEO and Verizon, Okta and Nordstrom board member, disc...

Starwood Capital Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht discusses the current real estate market, U.S. labor shortages, and his crypto portfolio. The noted investor and real estate mogul reacts to comments from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and explains why he thinks the service economy is in a major labor crisis right now. Corporate vaccine mandates are causing friction in Texas, and after China’s crackdo...