Squawk Pod

Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary focused on storm recovery and law enforcement perspectives. Walter Isaacson, biographer and commentator on leadership, reflects on America’s reputation and CEO reactions. They discuss the Minneapolis shooting fallout, corporate calls for calm, DHS funding tensions, and winter travel disruptions in multiple short conversations.

Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance who served time and was later pardoned, discusses life after prison and his current projects like Giggle Academy. He recounts his prison experience and the pardon process. He clarifies Binance’s ownership and U.S. posture, weighs in on regulation and competition, and offers a market outlook for crypto in 2026.

Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of DeepMind and architect of AlphaGo and the Gemini models, explains how DeepMind unified Google’s AI stack. He discusses rolling Gemini into products, Apple’s Siri choosing Gemini, paths toward AGI, model specialization, compute needs, competition, and AI’s effects on jobs and enterprise winners.

David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, a leader in global investment banking. He discusses economic growth and AI-driven investment. He talks about how incentives affect factory spending and the lag to see real projects. He weighs geopolitical uncertainty against business confidence, debates Arctic security and Greenland, and tackles consumer credit caps and housing affordability.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer overseeing public policy and global engagement. He discusses Meta’s $600B AI infrastructure bet and the role of nuclear power. He lays out ambitions for personal superintelligence and Llama’s future. He covers geopolitics, US-China AI rivalry, and navigating tougher European regulation.

Rene Haas, CEO of Arm Holdings and leader in semiconductor CPU IP licensing, explains Arm’s presence across smartphones, data centers, and wearables. He discusses Arm’s neutral role with big tech, AI running from cloud to watches, and the push for extreme energy efficiency. He also covers supply-chain strains, China’s model efficiency, and the inevitability of advanced AI growth.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Gates Foundation, shares insights from the World Economic Forum in Davos. He unveils a $50 million partnership with OpenAI to enhance healthcare in 1,000 African clinics using AI tools. Gates discusses how AI will assist patients in their native languages and examines its implications for job efficiency and productivity. He also touches on rising childhood deaths, the importance of global health investments, and the geopolitical challenges affecting support for Africa.

Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, leads an AI company dedicated to safe and reliable models. At the 2026 World Economic Forum, he highlights how Anthropic prioritizes enterprise clients, who desire smarter models over consumer engagement. Dario discusses the economic impact of AI, emphasizing the need to diffuse its benefits globally rather than concentrating them in wealthier areas. He also explores the challenges of planning for uncertain revenue growth and the importance of strong relationships with enterprise clients.

In a compelling conversation, President Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States and businessman, joins Joe Kernen in Davos. He outlines a bold framework for Arctic negotiations over Greenland and emphasizes America’s unique role in its security. Trump also delves into U.S. strategies regarding Iran’s nuclear threats and proposes a 10% cap on credit card interest rates to alleviate consumer burdens. Additionally, he gives insights into the next Federal Reserve chair, expressing critiques of current leadership.

In a captivating conversation, Barry Diller, the dynamic Chairman of IAC and Expedia Group, shares insights from his illustrious six-decade career in media and tech. He discusses his buy-grow-spin strategy at IAC, the lucrative potential of online dating, and the importance of 'creative conflict' in decision-making. Diller emphasizes the value of direct communication with employees, the risks he took with Expedia, and the significance of curiosity in his success. His leadership playbook merges instinct, willfulness, and execution for sustained innovation.