Musk’s Stock Sales; Pfizer’s Covid Pill; Slack and the Newest Normal

Chinese tech stocks are under serious pressure as domestic and international regulators heighten scrutiny on Chinese firms and Covid cases prompt lockdowns in Chinese manufacturing facilities and port cities. Meanwhile, Russia denies that the Kremlin asked Beijing for military support and for aid in avoiding Western sanctions as it wages war in Ukraine, and Chinese officials deny that they signaled being open to Russia’s request. After a 7-hour, “intense” talk between U.S. and Chinese officials about the conflict, the world still has little clarity on China’s stance. Here at home, the White House is rolling out a new program to ease supply chain congestion; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg explains the strategy and the impact of infrastructure investment on inflation. Plus, global investors are weighing the risk of Russia defaulting on its debt, and on Equal Pay Day, the gender pay gap is just as present as ever.  In this episode:Sec. Pete Buttigieg, @SecretaryPeteEunice Yoon, @onlyyoontvLeslie Picker, @LesliePickerJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickKlaire Odumody, @klairemarie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

16 Maalis 202234min

China’s Covid cases are now the highest they’ve been since the beginning of the pandemic. Domestically, the country is addressing health concerns by halting business and production while simultaneously cracking down on its biggest tech stocks. Internationally, Chinese leaders are meeting with U.S. officials to discuss China’s role in Russia’s war on Ukraine. CNBC’s Kayla Tausche reports on the latest attacks in Ukraine and the week’s negotiation agenda for global powers. Two years after the WHO declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, Dr. Scott Gottlieb reflects on the long road since then, and considers global risks of a resurgence. Plus, the NFL’s shortest retirement: Tom Brady is heading back to the field less than two months after announcing his departure. In this episode:Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDKayla Tausche, @kaylatauscheSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickKatie 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.

14 Maalis 202230min

Two years after the WHO declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, CNBC’s Meg Tirrell reflects on how far we’ve come, in a conversation exclusive to Squawk Pod. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla traces our progress from manufacturing the first vaccine to battling various strains as they evolve. Bourla maps out the annual vaccinations on our road still ahead. In Eastern Europe Vladimir Putin has referred to “positive shifts” in Russia’s talks with Ukraine, giving the global markets hope for an imminent end to the conflict, although many doubt the veracity of his comments. In the meantime, the U.S. Senate has passed a $1.5 trillion spending bill that includes aid for Ukraine. Plus, the MLB is back and ready to play ball. In this episode:Albert Bourla, @AlbertBourlaMeg Tirrell, @megtirrellJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinMelissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie 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.

11 Maalis 202230min

Efforts at diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine have so far been unproductive, and foreign leaders including Vice President Kamala Harris and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are now in Poland to facilitate talks and support Ukraine. The conflict has affected American gas prices, and Operation Hope CEO John Hope Bryant discusses impacts on consumer wallets and on corporate strategies. In the wake of Microsoft’s deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the SEC is investigating concerns of insider trading that took place before the deal was announced; entertainment mogul Barry Diller strongly insists that he, his stepson Alex von Furstenberg, and fellow mogul David Geffen made “a lucky bet” on Activision Blizzard, and that the transactions were legal. President Biden’s executive order to examine cryptocurrencies prompted a bounce in bitcoin prices, and United Airlines is allowing some unvaccinated workers to return to their jobs later this month. Plus, one health insurer is considering a rebrand, and Amazon’s stock split might shake up the Dow.  In this episode:John Hope Bryant, @johnhopebryantJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky 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.

10 Maalis 202226min

Following over 300 other western companies, McDonald’s has temporarily closed its restaurants in Russia while Vladimir Putin continues his war in Ukraine. CNBC’s Steve Liesman, a founding business editor of The Moscow Times and a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Russia, recalls the first Russian McDonald’s and what it symbolized for a nation once cut off from the western world. In conversations exclusive to Squawk Pod, he and fellow reporter Diana Olick, a former student in the Soviet Union, discuss the once “insatiable” Russian appetite for all things American, and the direction in which Putin is now steering his people. Plus, The New York Times columnist Tom Friedman considers China’s current power dynamic, as President Xi “tap dances” between supporting its ally Russia and remaining neutral, in case Putin loses his war.   In this episode:Tom Friedman, @tomfriedmanDiana Olick, @DianaOlickSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickKatie 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.

9 Maalis 202224min

In the latest international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. will ban imports of Russian oil. As the conflict escalates, global oil prices are skyrocketing, and Again Capital’s John Kilduff points out that oil price spikes have historically preceded recessions. Global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets Helima Croft traces the ripple effects of the invasion through the global oil markets to gas pumps and the White House. CNBC’s Ylan Mui reports on congressional support for American sanctions on Russia, despite the cost for stateside consumers. Plus, the NFL has suspended Calvin Ridley for betting on games.  In this episode:Helima Croft, @CroftHelimaJohn Kilduff, @KilduffReportYlan Mui, @ylanmuiJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickZach Vallese, @zachvallese Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8 Maalis 202226min

The U.S. and its allies are considering banning Russian oil and natural gas imports in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Daniel Yergin, S&P Global vice chairman, discusses oil and surging gas prices ahead of the 40th annual CERAWeek energy conference. NBC’s Molly Hunter reports that Russian and Ukrainian officials are working on a humanitarian corridor for evacuations, but no deal has been reached yet. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy discusses the state’s decision to end its Covid-19 mask mandate in schools starting Monday. Plus, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has a $5B stake in Occidental Petroleum and Batman soars in the biggest box office debut of 2022. In this episode:Daniel Yergin, @DanielYerginGovernor Phil Murphy, @GovMurphyBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCMolly Hunter, @mollymhunterJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickZach Vallese, @zachvallese Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Maalis 202234min

After the Russian military fired on and seized control of Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Ukraine, retired U.S. army colonel and a Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses Vladimir Putin’s military strategy, as well as the war’s most likely outcome. CNBC’s Robert Frank details the sanctions levied on dozens of Russian oligarchs, and author Ben Mezrich reflects on his experience yachting and clubbing with the Russian oligarchs who put Putin in power. Mezrich has written about Russian and bitcoin billionaires, and considers whether crypto is the currency of choice for the country’s elite.  In this episode:Jack Jacobs, @ColJackJacobsBen Mezrich, @benmezrichRobert Frank, @robtfrankJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky 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.

4 Maalis 202230min