Squawk Pod

TechCheck Day 2! On our second day as a new show, CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, Jon Fortt and Deirdre Bosa talk to Twitter’s Former CEO Dick Costolo about Grab, SPACs, valuations and how Bitcoin keeps climbing higher. Then, Affirm’s Founder & CEO Max Levchin weighs in on the future of payments and gives us a gutcheck after the company’s IPO earlier this year. We also hit the J&J news of the day and Julia Boorstin talks Facebook’s plan to delve deeper into the dating space. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 6 people in nearly 7 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients developed a rare type of blood clot, the FDA and CDC have recommended a pause on administering that vaccine in the United States. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell digests the news and what it means for the rest of the J&J vaccine recipients, and Dr. Kavita Patel, a practicing physician and former health official in President Obama’s administration, considers the pause’s impact on vaccine supply, timeline goals, and vaccine hesitancy among Americans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, CNBC launched its newest daily podcast, TechCheck. Each day, CNBC’s Jon Fortt, Carl Quintanilla and Deirdre Bosa bring you the boldest ideas and most influential names in the tech industry. This bi-coastal program dives deep into stocks focused on new technologies and trends while highlighting the latest news out of iconic companies, FAANG heavyweights, social media darlings, streaming giants, red-hot disruptors and more. Available to listen daily by 12:30pm ET / 9:30AM PT. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Corporate leaders are speaking up about social justice, voter suppression, and the role of the American CEO. Yale School of Management’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld organized a Zoom call with over 100 prominent CEOs to discuss their collective response to Georgia’s voting law, and calls from the public and from government officials to speak out--or not. Sonnenfeld shares key takeaways from that massive virtual conversation. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb is looking ahead to a world of vaccination validations and variants; he considers the likelihood of fraudulent vaccination cards and how society will navigate restricted access to public health information. Plus, the team breaks down Fed Chair Jay Powell’s “60 Minutes” appearance, a record at the Masters, and a new business idea for EV charging stations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CEO of retirement services provider TIAA and former Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve Roger Ferguson shares why corporate America should be speaking out against Georgia’s controversial voting law. He discusses his decision to co-sign the letter penned by Black American executives urging their fellow CEOs to speak up for equality and democracy. Plus, in light of Jamie Dimon’s annual letter, Ferguson considers fintech’s role in the financial ecosystem, and in light of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on the U.S. economy, Ferguson shares his own optimistic outlook for a global recovery. The rise of crypto has created “ripples” for the rest of the financial sector, especially for trading platform Robinhood, CNBC’s Kate Rooney reports. Joe, Becky, and Andrew digest the Amazon union vote and Procter & Gamble’s advertising strategy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Axios business editor Dan Primack and RiverFront Investment Group senior market strategist Rebecca Felton consider Jamie Dimon’s suggestion that big banks like his own JPMorgan ought to look out; fintech is coming for them, and their money. Schools and employers are weighing pros, cons and legal limits to mandated vaccinations and vaccination disclosures. Wharton’s Management Department Chairperson Professor Nancy Rothbard posits that in the workplace, incentives may be a more effective, less alienating strategy than requirements. CNBC’s Jim Cramer, a small business owner himself, is looking--without success--to state and federal guidelines to shape his own vaccine policy for employees. Plus, AstraZeneca’s vaccine has hit yet another troubling snag abroad, and a brand new airline is ready to hit the tarmac as soon as the pandemic subsides. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a 66-page-long iteration of his annual shareholder letter, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon shares his expectations for America’s economic future, in both the immediate and long term. He’s bullish on the U.S., but wary of political and social dysfunction across the country. Pollster and political strategist Frank Luntz is urging leaders to choose their words wisely. A new survey reveals that Americans are broadly opposed to carrying a vaccine “passport,” but not a “verification” or “certification.” Rhetoric around vaccinations in this country could, according to Luntz, mean “the difference between life and death.” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has spoken out in favor of raising corporate tax rates, although his business won’t be affected by any of President Biden’s proposed changes. Plus, Kim Kardashian has hit billionaire status, turning her high-profile lifestyle into a highly profitable income. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NYC-based nonprofit Robin Hood has teamed up with corporate giants like Starbucks, McKinsey, and Goldman Sachs to launch NinetytoZero, an initiative aimed at eliminating the 90% wealth gap between white and Black families in the United States. Robin Hood CEO Wes Moore underlines how corporate decisions to hire and promote Black talent and invest in Black-owned businesses can make a tangible difference in America’s wealth disparity. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon discusses his involvement in the initiative, acknowledging the role Wall Street plays in issues across the rest of the country. Solomon addresses junior banker burnout and equity market transparency in his first interview since the “Goldman Sachs 13” controversy and the Archegos Capital billion-dollar fiasco originally made headlines. Plus, Americans are getting back to live sports, and China’s breaking into the crypto economy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leaders across corporate America, from Coca-Cola and Delta to the MLB, have spoken out against Georgia’s controversial voting law. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) defends the legislation, and suggests that non-lawmakers should stick to their own businesses. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses the increased rates of vaccinations, cases of Covid-19, and offers the vaccinated population a word of advice: remain careful. Plus, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing for a global minimum corporate tax, and GameStop’s saga continues, now with more cash. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nick, a 15-year-old CNBC fan, started his Twitter account @Live_News_Nick at the beginning of the pandemic in hopes of kickstarting a reporting career. Becky Quick sits down with Nick--via Zoom--to swap stories about covering financial news and pursuing a career in TV. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.