Squawk Pod

Maryland's proposed tax overhaul aims to address a $3 billion budget deficit by increasing taxes on the wealthiest residents. Governor Wes Moore discusses the details of the state’s new budget proposal, weighing spending cuts versus raising taxes and strategies to spur growth in the state. Then, "Saturday Night Live" celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special three-hour live broadcast. Former and current cast members including Alex Moffat, Garrett Morris, Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah, and Chloe Fineman crash the Squawk set to discuss the show's 50-year legacy. Plus, CNBC's Eamon Javers analyzes President Donald Trump's flurry of executive orders, and GameStop explores potential investments in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Eamon Javers - 02:16Gov. Wes Moore - 18:09SNL Cast - 29:25 Eamon Javers, @EamonJaversSaturday Night Live Cast, @nbcsnlWes Moore, @GovWesMooreJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKelly Evans, @KellyCNBCZach Vallese, @zachvallese

14 Feb 34min

Elon Musk will withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit arm if the ChatGPT maker stops its conversion into a for-profit entity, according to a court filing. Geoff Lewis, Bedrock founder and an investor in OpenAI, discusses AI competition, Elon Musk, and more. President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul. Jeff Currie, Carlyle chief strategy officer of energy pathways, discusses the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on commodities, producer inflation, and the state of U.S. oil production. Plus, Alibaba says it will be Apple’s AI partner in China, and President Trump announced his call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed negotiating to end the war in Ukraine. Geoff Lewis - 8:46Jeff Currie - 17:20 In this episode:Geoff Lewis, @GeoffLewisOrgJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

13 Feb 22min

President Trump and Elon Musk defended DOGE’s sweeping government reforms during a joint Oval Office appearance, highlighting their effort to curb what they call excessive federal spending. Trump signed an executive order providing new guidelines for agencies to implement DOGE, reinforcing Musk’s vision of a leaner bureaucracy. Joe Lonsdale, 8VC founding partner, Palantir co-founder, and friend of Elon Musk, shares his thoughts on Musk’s growing role in DC, his $97B+ bid for OpenAI, and the debate over carried interest. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on whether the U.S. has hit peak truck and SUV demand, Disney, Goldman Sachs, and PBS are rolling back aspects of their DEI programs, and JPMorgan Chase workers are pushing back on the five-day office mandate. Joe Lonsdale    17:10Phil LeBeau       37:34 Joe Lonsdale, @JTLonsdale5Phil Lebeau, @LebeaucarnewsJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

12 Feb 39min

Hamas has postponed its next hostage release, alleging Israel of breaching their ceasefire agreement. Amos Hochstein, former Biden senior advisor and lead broker of the Israel-Lebanon deal, maps out the next incremental steps toward a stable Middle East. In the U.S., a judge has blocked the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health's research funding. Dr. Scott Gottlieb addresses the potential impacts of these funding reductions on clinical studies, and he considers potential cuts to the FDA, as well. Elon Musk is leading an investor group’s $97.4B offer to take over OpenAI; CEO Sam Altman confirmed to CNBC, he is not taking it seriously. Plus, President Trump has paused enforcement of a law banning US companies from bribing foreign officials, claiming it puts American firms at a disadvantage. Amos Hochstein - 15:49Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 28:34 In this episode:Amos Hochstein, @amoshochsteinDr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

11 Feb 35min

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win their second Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 59. In interviews before and after the game, President Trump announced he would ask Elon Musk to review the Education Department’s spending and suggested “irregularities” at the Treasury. CNBC’s Eamon Javers wraps up the latest Trump administration headlines, and NEC Director Kevin Hassett addresses President Trump's comments on the Treasury and his newly announced tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum. Plus, EDO CEO Kevin Krim discusses the Super Bowl’s winners and losers–in commercials, that is.  Kevin Hassett   17:30Kevin Krim         33:26 In this episode:Eamon Javers, @EamonJaversJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

10 Feb 38min

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) are pushing bipartisan legislation to ban Chinese AI app DeepSeek on government devices. The two lawmakers discuss their concerns about CCP espionage on American data. Also in Washington, the Trump administration offered buyouts to millions to federal workers as part of a “deferred resignation” program, but a federal judge paused the offer just 11 hours before the deadline to accept. President of the American Federation of Government Employees Everett Kelley discusses Elon Musk’s effort to trim the budget fat, arguing that there’s a better way to go about doing it. Plus, the US economy added 143,000 jobs in January, and new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assures the American people that DOGE’s access to the Treasury is an “operational review, not an ideological review.” Reps. Josh Gottheimer & Darin LaHood - 14:38Everett Kelley - 24:56 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

7 Feb 29min

DOGE’s cuts in Washington have begun; former Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney explains the costs of running the government, the friction between Congress and the White House, and Elon Musk’s grand plan for efficiency. As we close in on the Super Bowl, CNBC’s Contessa Brewer reports on the game day bets, and sports entrepreneur Rich Kleiman discusses the networking opportunities for NFL players on and off the field in New Orleans. Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s longtime NBA agent, also weighs in on NBA trades. Plus, U.S. lawmakers are pushing to ban DeepSeek on government devices. Mick Mulvaney - 18:24Rich Kleiman - 34:19 In this episode:Rich Kleiman, @richkleimanContessa Brewer, @contessabrewerJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

6 Feb 43min

China has retaliated against President Trump’s tariffs with trade restrictions on American imports. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon is on the ground in Beijing, reporting on the CCP’s strategy. In DC, CNBC’s Megan Cassella explains the status of tariff negotiations between the U.S. and both Canada and Mexico. Amazon Prime Vice President Jamil Ghani weighs in on the tariffs’ impact on his own business. Amazon’s competitors Temu and Shein may feel the squeeze from President Trump’s executive order eliminating a de minimis provision. Amazon’s Chinese sellers may also get hit by these changes. Plus, tech investor and Tesla bull Cathie Wood shares her big ideas for 2025. The Ark Invest CIO and CEO explains why she’s long bitcoin, humanoid robots, and robotaxis.  Cathie Wood - 17:30Jamil Ghani - 34:23 In this episode:Cathie Wood, @CathieDWoodEunice Yoon, @onlyyoontvMegan Cassella, @mmcassellaSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanMichael Santoli, @michaelsantoliBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

4 Feb 39min