Four business days before he resigns on Inauguration Day, SEC Chair Gary Gensler reflects on his tenure at the agency, his relationship with the crypto community, and his legacy for investors across asset classes. In his exit interview before the SEC transitions to new leadership in a new administration, Gensler discusses legitimacy for various tokens on the blockchain, as well as the future of financial regulation. Plus, China is reportedly considering selling US TikTok to Elon Musk, and European regulators are eyeing big tech (again), and Starbucks is closing an open-door policy. 

Gary Gensler - 16:35

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

As Los Angeles fires continue, LA sports teams have partnered with Fanatics to contribute to the LA Fire Department Foundation and the American Red Cross. 100% of the proceeds from the “LA Strong” team-branded t-shirts will be donated; it’s part of Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s plan to support those affected by the devastation. CNBC’s Contessa Brewer offers insight on the efforts to rebuild from her location on the ground in LA. Billionaire investor Marc Lasry is doubling down on his sports investing strategy. He says, while he’s seeing debt financing opportunities in Northern Europe, he’s excited about the returns on sports leagues, especially women’s teams. After buying and selling the Milwaukee Bucks and investing in pickleball, Lasry says he has the cheat code for a successful sports investment. Plus, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg criticized Apple in a recent interview with Joe Rogan. 

Marc Lasry - 14:26

Contessa Brewer - 32:40

Michael Rubin - 38:55

In this episode:

Contessa Brewer, @contessabrewer

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The Department of Justice and the SEC have filed civil and criminal charges against short seller Andrew Left. In a rare pre-trial interview, Left sits down with Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the case, the trades in Nvidia, Tesla, and others that are under scrutiny, and what the litigation means for other activist short sellers, including their posts on social media. Plus, the latest jobs report blew past expectations, CEOs and companies are donating to President-elect Trump’s inauguration, and Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) has introduced a bill that could pave the way for the U.S. to purchase the Panama Canal, while the public considers the implications and debates the necessity of buying Greenland.

Andrew Left - 18:30

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Zach Vallese, @zachvallese

Today the nation remembers President Jimmy Carter, whose state funeral is taking place in Washington. Stuart Eizenstat, who served as White House Domestic Policy Advisor under President Carter, delivers one of the eulogies during the funeral; in an interview beforehand, he reflects on his time working with the late President, as well as Carter’s economic legacy. Private equity firms aren’t like they were in the 80s! Steve Klinsky co-founded Goldman Sachs’s Leveraged Buyout Group in 1981, and he’s led his own firm New Mountain Capital since 1999. He reflects on the way the business started, and the type and scale of work he does now. He and his colleagues expect more dealmaking in 2025. Plus, Meta will allow some eBay listings on Facebook Marketplace, and in southern California, fires persist uncontained. 

Emily Wilkins - 11:45

Stuart Eizenstat - 14:55

Steve Klinsky - 24:53

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

In a news conference lasting over an hour at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Trump discussed the addition of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada to the United States. Axios senior political reporter Marc Caputo explains that after over a decade of Donald Trump in American headlines, the public should take him seriously–at least some of the time. Trump also weighed in on the changes underway at Meta, including the shift from third party fact checking to a community notes model. Facebook’s first general counsel and former chief privacy officer Chris Kelly discusses what Mark Zuckerberg’s original intentions were, with his platform, and whether social media platforms should be “arbiters of truth.” Plus, fires continue to spread near Los Angeles, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has projected a timeline for useful quantum computing. 

Chris Kelly - 18:06

Marc Caputo - 28:34

In this episode:

Marc Caputo, @MarcACaputo

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

With just over a week left in her role as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan reflects on her four years regulating corporate mergers and acquisitions. In an extended sit down interview, she discusses her hopes for her successor and weighs in on big tech’s goals to stay big in the coming years. Meta is making big changes; the UFC’s Dana White will join the company’s board, and Meta is rolling out “community notes,” ending its third party fact-checking program in favor of a model similar to what’s used on X. Plus, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down.

Jon Fortt - 13:26

Lina Khan - 23:02

In this episode:

Jon Fortt, @jonfortt

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

After House Speaker Mike Johnson’s dramatic reelection, the lawmaker and President-elect Trump are reportedly planning a sweeping, multi-trillion dollar piece of legislation. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy discusses the GOP’s position heading into the inauguration, as well as the future of DOGE, potential tariffs, and Elon Musk’s role in the incoming administration. During his last weeks in office, President Biden is pushing through executive orders ahead of Trump 2.0. The fitness industry has weathered the pandemic and the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs in the past 5 years. Joey Gonzalez, Co-CEO and fitness bootcamp instructor at Barry’s, discusses the GLP-1 impact on his industry and his clientele. Plus, tech CEOs including Apple’s Tim Cook are donating to Donald Trump’s inauguration, and NYC congestion pricing has begun. 

Kevin McCarthy - 14:54

Joey Gonzalez - 30:00

In this episode:

Kevin McCarthy, @SpeakerMcCarthy

Joey Gonzalez, @BootcampJoey

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Bourbon Street in New Orleans has reopened with a heavy police presence after the New Year’s Day attack that killed 14 people. Walter Isaacson, a Tulane University professor and New Orleans resident, weighs in on the city’s resilience. Next, college football’s inaugural 12 team playoff brought a revenue surge to college sports. Sports Business Journal editor Abe Madkour discusses the blowouts and the tweaks that may come next season. Plus, President Biden has officially blocked Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion effort to buy U.S. Steel, a U.S. appeals court struck down the FCC’s landmark net neutrality rules, and the U.S. surgeon general issued a warning officially linking alcohol to cancer.

Walter Isaacson - 10:02

Abraham Madkour - 24:18

In this episode:

Walter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacson

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Happy New Year! 2025 brings executive turnover to multiple corporate teams, including Apple, which is replacing its CFO, and Disney, where Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman is helping find a successor to Bob Iger. Dartmouth Tuck School of Business professor Paul Argenti weighs the succession plans at both companies. And this January, we’re in the thick of cold, flu, RSV, and norovirus; former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses the uptick in illness this winter, as well as potential changes to the U.S. healthcare system. Plus, New York’s congestion pricing looms, and deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas prompted security concerns on New Year's Day.

Scott Gottlieb - 13:26

Paul Argenti - 25:32

In this episode:

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

In what U.S. Treasury officials described as a “major incident,” a state-sponsored Chinese hacking operation was able to access third-party software to tap into Treasury employees’ desktop computers. Theresa Payton, CEO of cybersecurity company Fortalice Solutions and former White House Chief Information Officer, discusses the implications of the hack. Next, CNBC’s Emily Wilkins breaks down why the last session of Congress is the least productive in the past several decades, enacting 427 pieces of legislation compared to numbers over 1,000 during other recent sessions. Plus, New York City congestion pricing is set to start as planned after a final ruling, and Elon Musk changed his name on X to “Kekius Maximus” and profile picture to Pepe the Frog. Happy New Year!

Steve Kovach - 09:35

Theresa Payton - 19:45

Emily Wilkins - 31:18

In this episode:

Theresa Payton, @TrackerPayton

Emily Wikins, @emrwilkins

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday at age 100. Roger Altman served as assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury under President Carter, and he reflects on former President Carter’s legacy in and after the White House. Next, The Wall Street Journal’s Tim Higgins discusses the rift between members of President-elect Trump’s inner circle and Elon Musk over immigration and H-1B visas. He explains about where Trump stands in the Musk-MAGA divide and examines Musk’s influence in political debates. Plus, Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause a law that could ban TikTok, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Treasury will need to take “extraordinary measures” to avoid the debt ceiling. While the world mourns Jimmy Carter, the business community also mourns HBO and Cablevision founder Charles Dolan. 

Roger Altman - 14:08

Tim Higgins - 27:52

In this episode:

Tim Higgins, @timkhiggins

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie