Squawk Pod

Katie Haun, venture capitalist behind Haun Ventures and investor in fintech and blockchain. Ned Koh, co-founder of Aaru building AI simulation models for market and policy use. They discuss Mastercard buying BVNK and the future of stablecoins. They show how Aaru models human behavior and real-world validation. Other highlights touch on AI-created books, Iran war impacts, and Amazon’s rumored AI smartphone.

Kyle Muldoon, father who lived his son’s diagnosis and hospital journey, and Nicole Muldoon, mother who navigated care and the choice for personalized therapy. They recount life-threatening neonatal complications, a transfer to CHOP, the family’s decision to pursue experimental personalized gene editing, infusion day, early signs of improvement, leaving the hospital after 307 days, and hopes for broader rare-disease research.

Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, talks TSA staffing strains, DHS funding risks, and national security pressures. Margrethe Vestager, former EU competition chief, explores Europe-U.S. relations, AI governance, and Europe's push for strategic autonomy. They discuss airport operational threats, vetting concerns, transatlantic cooperation, and the race to build independent AI capacity.

Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL chief fighting antisemitism and hate. Dan Murphy, CNBC correspondent reporting from Dubai on Middle East and energy. They cover Iran's retaliatory strikes, regional shifts among Gulf states, oil pipeline and market impacts, rising antisemitism and campus climates, and efforts to boost women's financial fluency and wealth management.

Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky and Homeland Security Committee chair, critiques nominee vetting, trading concerns, and opposes the Iran war. Kevin Hassett, economist and White House NEC director, analyzes the Iran conflict timeline and effects on oil and the U.S. economy. Jonathan and Drew Scott, twin home renovators, tackle regulatory, NIMBY, and cost hurdles to fixing affordable housing.

Steve Liesman, CNBC economics reporter, breaks down recent Fed legal developments in plain terms. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, journalist-turned-CEO, parses oil markets and geopolitical leverage. Dan Murphy reports from Dubai on strikes affecting energy and transport. Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley strategist, lays out market positioning and recession odds. The conversation centers on energy infrastructure, oil moves, legal Fed implications, and regional tensions.

Robert Frank, CNBC business reporter explaining Democratic tax proposals. Jeh Johnson, former DHS secretary on TSA pay and national security risks. Jamieson Greer, USTR leading U.S.-China trade probes and talks. They discuss U.S.-China trade pressure, new Section 301 investigations, how the Iran conflict affects trade and energy, and the impact of DHS funding fights on TSA staffing and travel.

Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary managing Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases amid Iran-driven oil shocks. Dan Murphy, CNBC Middle East correspondent reporting from Dubai on attacks and regional market fallout. Emil Michael, Defense Dept. CTO overseeing AI adoption and negotiating safeguards with vendors. Short takes on SPR swaps, tanker escorts through Hormuz, Iran’s strikes on shipping, and Pentagon disputes with an AI provider.

Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and author who warns about AI reshaping jobs for young workers. Robert Frank, CNBC wealth reporter who tracks record art and supercar auctions. They discuss Microsoft backing Anthropic in its clash with the Pentagon, rapid AI advances threatening entry-level white-collar roles, policy ideas like taxing AI agents, and why the wealthy are piling into collectibles amid market volatility.

Big oil firms edge toward a major Venezuela production deal. Lawmakers approve use of Gemini, ChatGPT and Copilot for official work. The Global Entry program is restarting after a recent pause. Japan’s PayPay signals an IPO price range as it heads toward a Nasdaq listing. News about leadership changes at a major theme park company also makes the roundup.