Episode · Squawk Pod
AI Safety with a Facebook Whistleblower & A $110B Media Merger 10/2/26
2 Oct 2026 · 34 min
Episode · Squawk Pod
2 Oct 2026 · 34 min
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen wrote a memoir of her time at Facebook, during which she leaked documents to The Wall Street Journal to shed light on what (and when) Facebook knew about the potential harms of its algorithms. The memoir is now part of the basis for “The Social Reckoning,” a film designed as a follow up to “The Social Network.” Frances Haugen herself explains how the world of AI is different from that of social media, and the role big tech can play in self regulation on both. Plus, former MTV CEO Michael Wolf discusses the $110B merger of Paramount Warner Bros, expected…
Squawk Pod is a daily, guided curation of the top moments and takeaways from CNBC’s flagship morning show, “Squawk Box”, anchored by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Each day, the podcast includes news making interviews, perspective and analysis from iconic guest hosts, and slices of
7 Oct 2026 · 42 min
It’s day two of a new media behemoth under David Ellison’s Skydance umbrella. Founding partner of Puck Matt Belloni details the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, and he considers the giant’s headwinds, including cable’s declining profits and ~$80 billion in debt. Michael Lewis wrote “Moneyball,” “The Big Short,” “Going Infinite,” and “The Blind Side,” and he’s now out with a new book: “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State.” The bestselling author discusses government efficiency and his own dive into the federal workers who resisted in the early days of Elon Musk’s DOGE effort. Plus,…
6 Oct 2026 · 36 min
28 days from the midterms, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) reflects on his tenure in government as documented in his new book, “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents.” Sen. Tillis shares his own regrets and his hopes for a Republican Party under pressure from a fractured voter base. As AI innovation continues to spark moral and ethical questions about humanity, machines, and the dignity of work, religious leaders have begun to participate in discussions of the technology’s future. Reverend Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, discusses the paths forward for…
5 Oct 2026 · 37 min
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has been picked to serve as AI czar, leading a “Super Intelligence Force” to address growing concerns about AI. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is suggesting people “accept some bad things” in exchange for the benefits of AI. Professor, columnist, author, and happiness expert Arthur Brooks counsels AI users to retain control of their relationships in the AI era, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) discusses potential AI regulation. Plus, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent goes on the record about the bond market, nearly 200 were hospitalized in Siberia…
1 Oct 2026 · 47 min
Google is the latest tech giant to release its own AI agent as concerns about AI safety persist both inside and outside the tech industry. Elon Musk biographer, professor, and student of history Walter Isaacson discusses the AI doomsday narrative and the personality clashes behind the AI headlines. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky weighs in on the future of AI agents, including his own efforts to build one and the larger rhetoric problem that Silicon Valley has, when it comes to AI. Chesky issues a wake up call to his fellow tech leaders. Plus, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is moving to Paramount-WBD, and…
30 Sep 2026 · 46 min
After President Trump hosted tech and AI leaders at the White House on Tuesday, the group ultimately agreed to an “Accord on Super Intelligence.” Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, in the room for the meeting, discusses the significance of the accord and liability issues for AI. While Axios has reported that Jay Clayton could be one of President Trump’s candidates for AI Czar, Clayton is focused on the outcomes of Tuesday’s meeting. Author of “The Infinity Machine” Sebastian Mallaby weighs in on the accord as well, addressing Dario Amodei’s relationship with the President and the…
30 Sep 2026 · 22 min
One week after a friendly summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, CNBC details an aggressive plot by China to infiltrate one of the United States’ most important institutions: the Federal Reserve. This explosive documentary delves into the incredible saga of a Chinese spy's effort to obtain secrets from the inner confines of the US top bank. It's a tale of sex, money, deceit and betrayal that put some of the country’s vital economic and financial secrets at risk. With exclusive access to new documents, audio, photos and text messages, CNBC's Senior…
9 Oct 2026 · 37 minNew
In a move that’s pushing telecom stocks lower, SpaceX has agreed to purchase a nationwide spectrum portfolio. Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson explains how this move fits into the rest of Musk’s vision for connectivity around the world–and around the solar system. As concerns about AI-fueled job displacement mount around the world, Chieh Huang–founder of Boxed–has started a new re-training venture for laid off employees. Huang explains how Pelgo translates layoffs and employer investment into a more skilled, less anxious workforce. Plus, Starbucks could be prepping to acquire Chipotle,…
8 Oct 2026 · 35 minNew
President Trump has suggested that the U.S. may initiate more attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure, and tariffs remain on center stage as the midterm elections draw nearer. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer discusses both from the White House North Lawn. Mathematician and NYU professor Tristan Buckmaster has been working on solving the Navier-Stokes Problem for years; now OpenAI agents have solved it, but Buckmaster believes his work was used in the process. The mathematician discusses his conversations with OpenAI’s leadership and his own concerns about models training on private…
29 Sep 2026 · 48 min
As tech titans head to the White House for a meeting, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) discusses his expectations for the meeting, the future of AI guardrails, and the upcoming midterm elections. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is zeroing in on big tech’s tax breaks and the AI data center build out. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins responds to Anthropic’s “existential risk to humanity” in its IPO prospectus. Chair Atkins underscores his own mission to keep America’s IPO market strong. Paul Atkins - 08:30 Speaker Mike Johnson - 20:26 Sen. Elizabeth Warren - 38:35 In this episode: Paul Atkins,…
28 Sep 2026 · 51 min
In an extended interview, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explains the company’s newest AI safety software–part of an effort to create a modern web browser for AI. Huang makes the case to innovate and understand technology before attempting to regulate it. Then, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek unveils his memoir, “Inside the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth.” Chapek recounts his long career at Disney and his tumultuous two and a half years as CEO, before being replaced by the very leader he succeeded: Bob Iger. Chapek reflects on the dramatic and disappointing end to his…