Squawk Pod

Jack Dorsey’s Square is acquiring Australian buy-now-pay-later company Afterpay in a $29 billion deal that deepens its foothold in digital payments. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses potential booster vaccines to curb continuing illness, and he considers the CDC’s data delivery and transparency. Plus, Disney's latest box office debut is straight out of the jungle, and an infrastructure package could mean a smoother ride for road trippers in the years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2 Aug 202128min

The Covid Delta variant is likely infecting more people than are being recorded, according to former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He discusses transmission and hospitalization rates and responds to concerning data from an internal CDC presentation obtained by The Washington Post. Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie considers what the variant data means for leisure travel, and explains why he hasn’t required vaccinations for his own employees or passengers. Scarlett Johansson and Disney are at odds after “Black Widow'' was released in theatres and on Disney+ on the same day. The actor claims the simultaneous push breached her contract, and Disney has fired back at the lawsuit. Plus, in the wake of Robinhood’s public debut, the stock hasn’t quite lived up to its promise--at least, not yet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30 Juli 202129min

Vlad Tenev, Robinhood CEO, says meme investing is no joke, “it’s a real thing.” Free stock trading app Robinhood surged in popularity among retail investors through the Covid-19 pandemic and the meme stock mania of 2021. The company sold shares in its Nasdaq launch at $38 a piece, valuing it over $30 billion. Tenev celebrates Robinhood’s IPO, the role of ‘payment for order flow’ in the next generation of investing, cryptocurrencies, and what the road to the public market means to him personally. Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Kernen and Morgan Brennan look for lessons for Robinhood in the legends of IPOs-past and …. Kernen on cruise control. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

29 Juli 202131min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she’s skeptical that Bitcoin will prove to be a reliable hedge against inflation over the long run, a key reason some investors choose to own it -- and why she’s warning for tighter regulation, suggesting it will help root out “snake oil salesmen” and may shore up the confidence of investors in the nascent asset class. And, Warren’s tax proposal on the wealth of ultra-millionaires and billionaires garnered a lot of attention from Wall Street during the early days of the 2020 Presidential campaign. In a striking - and at times fiery - exchange, billionaire and Home Depot founder Ken Langone joins the Squawk Box gang to discuss the possible policy’s impact on the richest of rich Americans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 Juli 202134min

Beijing’s sweeping regulatory crackdown on technology, education, food delivery and property sectors has sent shockwaves across global markets, driving Chinese markets down. Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital Management says it's 'unconscionable' for global fund managers to invest in China. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reports from a tutoring company in China as new rules in that once under-the-radar industry shed light on the demographic and industrial changes in the world’s second-largest economy. Tesla releases a better-than-expected second-quarter earnings report, and the electric vehicle maker passed $1 billion in quarterly net income for the first time, but Elon Musk is leaving the chat. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau breaks down the headlines with Joe Kernen, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Morgan Brennan. Plus, Bitcoin levels off after Amazon denied a rumor that it would start accepting the token as payment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

27 Juli 202133min

Luxury electric vehicle maker, Lucid Motors, debuts today under the ticker LCID. Lucid’s first electric vehicle, the $77,000 Lucid Air, is expected to be delivered to customers in the second half of 2021. Peter Rawlinson, chief executive officer at Lucid Motors, discusses the trading debut and the future of electric vehicles. Ratings for the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony were down 36% compared to 2016. Axios Media Reporter, Sara Fischer, and CNBC’s Jabari Young weigh in on the ratings, logistical challenges, and the latest news from Tokyo. Bitcoin surged to its highest level since mid-June today, trading as high as nearly $40,000, after a recruitment ad suggested that Amazon may start accepting the cryptocurrency for payment. Plus, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reports on the tensions between the U.S. and China …. and Joe Kernen is taking his bets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 Juli 202131min

Everybody’s online. Twitter’s second-quarter earnings came in stronger than analysts had anticipated as revenue grew 74% year over year in the quarter due to “a broad increase in advertiser demand.” Twitter’s Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal breaks down the earnings results, Bitcoin, and fighting misinformation on the platform. The Covid-19 Delta variant is highly-contagious. Former FDA Commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb says he expects businesses and organizations to take a more authoritative position on vaccination requirements once full regulatory approval is given. He also weighs in on the virus, variants and vaccines at the Tokyo Olympics. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk checks in from the much-delayed start of the 2020 Games.. Plus, China is stepping up restrictions on the private education industry, which is hitting some U.S. companies and the hard seltzer market may be oversaturated. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

23 Juli 202135min

A failed Senate test vote dealt a blow to the bipartisan infrastructure framework, but the plan could have a chance to move forward again as soon as Monday. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg believes there will be an infrastructure deal and said the Biden Administration’s “not trying to get gold-plated water pipes, just ones without lead.” AT&T beat analysts’ estimates for monthly phone bill paying subscriber additions in the second quarter, fueled by more Americans converting to 5G phones. Axios media reporter Sara Fischer discusses AT&T’s earnings report and what investors should know about the company’s outlook. Plus, Elon Musk speaks at a Bitcoin conference and PG&E’s decision to bury around 10,000 miles of power lines in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

22 Juli 202130min