Squawk Pod AT&T CEO John Stankey & Treasury Sec. Bessent 2/13/26
Feb 13, 2026
John Stankey, AT&T CEO focused on fiber, wireless and AI integration. Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary leading financial enforcement and policy. They discuss a new whistleblower rewards program, Minnesota welfare fraud patterns, Fed nomination timing, AI-driven productivity and inflation, AT&T’s 60M fiber goal, satellite complements, and shareholder return plans.
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Report Fraud For Financial Rewards
- Submit credible tips to FinCEN if you know of fraud in government programs to potentially earn rewards.
- Rewards will come from recoveries and can be 10–30% of fines levied.
Real Examples From Minneapolis
- Scott Bessent pointed to Minneapolis daycare centers without children as examples of rampant program abuse.
- He described schemes where services were claimed but evidently didn’t exist and funds were misused.
Push For Fed Confirmation Hearings
- Scott Bessent expects Senate hearings for Kevin Warsh to proceed despite holds, to preserve Fed continuity.
- He argued timely hearings matter because Jerome Powell's term ends mid-May and continuity is important.