Squawk Pod

After over 10 years of opposition to the idea, the SEC finally approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs to begin trading. In this cryp-tastic episode, Grayscale’s Michael Sonnenshein discusses his firm’s spot bitcoin ETF offering and ARK Invest’s CEO and CIO Cathie Wood discusses details of her firm’s own offering. The two weigh in on the fee wars, the long journey to regulatory legitimacy, and the next milestone for digital assets. Plus, hear Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s first reaction to the approval, and Pomp Investments’ Anthony Pompliano’s expectations for the future of bitcoin.  Michael Sonnenshein - 06:12Cathie Wood - 18:26 In this episode: Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11 Jan 202426min

As the crypto community anxiously awaited the SEC’s decision on spot Bitcoin ETFs, the SEC’s X account tweeted a false start. As of Wednesday morning, the Bitcoin ETFs had not been approved, but the crypto market popped briefly on the fake post. The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched its largest attack yet in the Red Sea. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis discusses the latest attack in context with his own history taking on the Somali pirates in the region a decade ago. And Boeing is inspecting 737 Max 9 aircrafts after the Alaska Airlines incident last weekend. Former NTSB investigator Greg Feith explains what safety checks and balances should be in place for the manufacturing giant. Plus, CNBC’s Julia Boorstin is in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show with the newest tech in autos, beauty, social media, and even refrigerators, and Mark Zuckerberg is in Hawaii, raising beef–literally.  Greg Feith - 10:51Admiral James Stavridis - 21:37 Julia Boorstin - 25:40 In this episode: Julia Boorstin, @JBoorstinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

10 Jan 202428min

Kevin McCarthy gives his first interview since leaving his role as House Speaker, weighing in on the 2024 election, supporting former President Trump, and the opportunities afoot for the Republican Party. Semafor business and finance editor Liz Hoffman has a scoop: a group of lawyers and investors are planning a lawsuit, targeting corporate DEI policies and claiming those policies have hurt shareholders. Boeing CEO David Calhoun is under pressure to fix the fuselage issues on the now-grounded 737 Max 9 crafts after the Alaska Airlines incident over the weekend. Plus, Tiger Woods and Nike are parting ways after 27 years, and European grocer Carrefour will no longer carry PepsiCo products.  Kevin McCarthy - 10:33Liz Hoffman -  30:32 In this episode:Kevin McCarthy, @SpeakerMcCarthyLiz Hoffman, @lizrhoffmanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew 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.

9 Jan 202434min

171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircrafts have been grounded after a door plug blew out of a plane in the middle of an Alaska Airlines flight over the weekend. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau explains what happened on that flight and what happens now at Boeing and the airlines that carry these crafts. Former FAA Administrator and pilot J. Randolph Babbitt discusses industry concerns and airline safety regulation. The crypto community awaits the SEC’s decision on spot Bitcoin ETFs; former SEC chair Jay Clayton is expecting an approval. Clayton, also an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, weighs in on the reckoning for higher education leadership in the wake of antisemitism on campuses and the resignation of Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay. Plus, Elon Musk’s recreational and prescription drug use is reportedly worrying his SpaceX and Tesla boards.  Phil LeBeau - 2:13Randy Babbitt - 10:26Jay Clayton - 18:30 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkPhil Lebeau, @LebeaucarnewsKatie 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 Jan 202430min

The last jobs report of 2023 came in much better than economists expected, but former Fed Vice Chair Roger Ferguson projects a cautious road forward. Other good economic news: America’s burgeoning electric vehicle industry. U.S Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is seeing the “diminishment of demand” for gasoline in America, but she’s confident in the country’s EV manufacturing future, from charging stations to battery supply chains. Despite good economic news, American sentiment remains low. Harvard Professor and happiness scholar Arthur Brooks explains the mismatch between ‘good news’ and unhappy Americans; he’s calling for more optimistic leadership in Washington. Plus, the NCAA and ESPN have inked an 8-year, $920m deal, and Pepsi is in a price war with Carrefour. Roger Ferguson - 3:10Jennifer Granholm - 14:25Arthur Brooks - 28:50 In this episode:Jennifer Granholm, @SecGranholmArthur Brooks, @arthurbrooksBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickMichael Santoli, @michaelsantoliSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanKatie 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.

5 Jan 202438min

Eli Lilly will now sell weight loss drugs directly to consumers. In a big move, the drugmaker has announced LillyDirect, a platform that uses telehealth to improve consumer access to weight loss drugs like Lilly’s Mounjaro and its recently approved Zepbound. CNBC’s Bertha Coombs explains the impact LillyDirect will have on health care and on pharmacy benefit providers like those of CVS, UnitedHealth, and Cigna. Primary care physician Dr. Kavita Patel underscores the health care access problem that millions of Americans face, and whether Eli Lilly’s effort could alleviate some of those pressures. Plus, CNBC’s Jon Fortt sees Apple’s 2024 going two very different directions after 2023’s stock strength and sales weakness. Microsoft keyboards are ready for their biggest change in almost 30 years, and the market’s Santa Claus rally is officially behind us–maybe.  Bertha Coombs - 14:05Dr. Kavita Patel - 24:11Jon Fortt - 31:22 In this episode: Dr. Kavita Patel, @kavitapmdBertha Coombs, @berthacoombsJon Fortt, @jonforttBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickMichael Santoli, @michaelsantoliSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanKatie 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 Jan 202434min

Claudine Gay has resigned from her post as Harvard University President amid plagiarism allegations and pressure from Harvard’s donors. Crisis management expert Eric Dezenhall explains the shareholder mindsets of the university’s donors and the role they play in the future of higher education and the workforce. Another shareholder fight is underway at Disney; activists ValueAct and Blackwells are backing Bob Iger and Disney in the ongoing proxy battle with another activist investor, Nelson Peltz’s Trian. Plus, the family that went viral for their “Christmas Jammies” video in 2013 has amassed millions of followers across platforms since then. Kim and Penn Holderness discuss how they turned a family music video into a business with 7 revenue streams, joining the rising tide of the creator economy.  Eric Dezenhall - 17:30Kim & Penn Holderness - 25:05 In this episode:Kim Holderness, @KimDHoldernessPenn Holderness, @pennholdernessBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickRobert Frank, @robtfrankMichael Santoli, @michaelsantoliKatie 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.

3 Jan 202433min

2024 trading begins after a strong market finish to 2023, with the Nasdaq 100 closing its best year since 1999. Just over 300 days before the 2024 election, former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is pushing for an option outside of President Biden and President Trump. Once on the Presidential ticket himself, Lieberman started nonprofit No Labels, which hopes to offer a third, bipartisan, centrist “unity ticket” to the Americans unsatisfied with the current political playing field. Plus 2023 was the year of weight loss drugs for pharma companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb sits on the boards of Illumina and Pfizer, and he expects more good news–and more secondary benefits–from weight loss drugs on the market. Plus, Michigan is celebrating a big sports weekend, and X is now worth 71.5% less than when Elon Musk bought it, according to Fidelity, one of the co-investors that backed his takeover. Joe Lieberman - 12:30Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 24:46 In this episode: Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickRobert Frank, @robtfrankMichael Santoli, @michaelsantoliKatie 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.

2 Jan 202428min