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

Masks are no longer mandated on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida ruled that the CDC had overstepped its authority when it issued a mask mandate for planes, trains, and buses. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, discusses whether customers and employees will continue to use masks to protect fellow travelers. Plus, as Elon Musk explores options to finance his bid to buy Twitter, biographer and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson shares insight on Musk’s goals and motivations from extended conversations with Elon Musk himself.  In this episode:Walter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacsonSara Nelson, @FlyingWithSaraAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19 Apr 202230min

Elon Musk’s bid for Twitter has prompted questions about his own financial liquidity, and free speech on the platform. While Wall Street is eyeing Musk’s offer, Musk is bringing the entire Twitter board under scrutiny, calling out their online presence and potentially suggesting that the platform’s power rest with shareholders, instead of the board. The World Health Organization maintains that the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much underway, but governments in the U.S. and in China are handling the continued outbreaks very differently. Dr. Kavita Patel, former White House health policy director, unpacks the CDC’s new guidance on Covid safety in the U.S., which emphasizes personal choice over mandates. Plus, in other health news, fried foods are trending up on American menus.  In this episode:Dr. Kavita Patel, @kavitapmdAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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.

18 Apr 202222min

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says workers may be “better off” not joining a union.  In an extended interview at Amazon’s Seattle campus, Jassy spoke with Andrew Ross Sorkin to break down his first annual letter to shareholders. Jassy explains how the company quickly grew its fulfillment center capacity amid a rapid pandemic rise in e-commerce sales and he reacts to unionization efforts inside Amazon warehouses. The Amazon chief also discusses the federal minimum wage, Amazon’s 20-for-1 stock split, Elon Musk’s Twitter bid, crypto, and much more.  Andrew Ross Sorkin also tours a fulfillment center with Amazon’s Alicia Boler Davis about the up-to-the minute technology completing millions of e-commerce orders.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14 Apr 202240min

The Producer Price Index, which measures prices paid by wholesalers, rose 11.2% from a year ago, hitting a record high. Inflation around the world continues to rise as Vladimir Putin presses on in his war in Ukraine. Hermitage Capital CEO and author of “Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin’s Wrath” Bill Browder, shares details of his life under Putin’s eye and concerns about the war’s ripple effects across the globe. Plus, Elon Musk is back in the news–this time, for a lawsuit.  In this episode:Bill Browder, @BillBrowderJoe 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.

13 Apr 202223min

The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation by tracking the prices of everyday items, rose 8.5% in the last year–the fastest annual gain since 1981. CNBC’s senior economics reporter Steve Liesman and on-air editor Rick Santelli explain the hot inflation data, pains for consumers, and whether the Fed’s aggressive policies to combat it will result in a broader economic slowdown. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd covers another factor that could hit inflation rates here in the U.S.: China’s Covid lockdowns. As sweeping shutdowns across the country continue, Rudd considers the impact on global supply chains and inflation around the world. Plus, Etsy sellers are on strike–virtually for a week to protest a hike in fees. In this episode:Kevin Rudd, @MrKRuddRick Santelli, @RickSantelliSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanJoe 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.

12 Apr 202228min

China’s strict “no-Covid” policy is prompting lockdowns across the country, and residents are sharing reports of food shortages and hoarding as they weather the latest wave of the pandemic. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reports from China on the quarantines and the inflation sweeping the nation. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb details the low vaccination rates in China that might be contributing to such a dire situation over 2 years into the pandemic. White House economist Heather Boushey, a member of President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisors, discusses inflation in the U.S., high energy costs around the world, and what the government might do to mitigate American pocketbook pains. Plus, WarnerMedia and Discovery have made their merger official; investors and streamers are tuned in for the resulting changes to the entertainment and media landscapes.  In this episode:Heather Boushey, @hboushey46Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDEunice Yoon, @onlyyoontvJoe 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.

11 Apr 202232min

As Vladimir Putin presses on with Russia’s assaults in Ukraine, the rest of the world has reevaluated the globe’s balance of energy power. The New York Times columnist Tom Friedman discusses the new oil world order and this moment’s legacy in energy markets for years to come. Elon Musk closed out an eventful week with a “cyber rodeo” to celebrate the opening of Tesla’s new gigafactory in Austin, Texas. CNBC’s Phil Lebeau and WSJ’s Tim Higgins discuss the whirlwind week for Tesla, Twitter, and Musk himself. Plus, famed entrepreneur and venture capitalist Peter Thiel shared some harsh words about fellow billionaire Warren Buffett, calling the Oracle of Omaha a “sociopathic grandpa.” In this episode:Tom Friedman, @tomfriedmanTim Higgins, @timkhigginsPhil LeBeau, @LebeaucarnewsJoe 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.

8 Apr 202235min

Elon Musk’s 9.2% stake in Twitter cost him $2.6B–chump change for the wealthiest man in the world, according to fellow billionaire and supporter Ron Baron. But Musk’s ownership and board seat are a big deal for Twitter and for social media on the whole; Reddit co-founder turned VC Alexis Ohanian considers Musk’s intentions and his potential impact on social media as we know it. Plus, President Biden has expressed his support for unionizing Amazon workers, and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has had a productive–and expensive–start to 2022.  In this episode:Alexis Ohanian, @alexisohanianJoe 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.

7 Apr 202227min