GameStop’s Ryan Cohen, a Stapler, & Billionaire Ken Langone 7/15/25

Billionaire philanthropist, Home Depot co-founder, and donor to Andrew Cuomo’s NYC mayoral bid Ken Langone sits for an extended conversation about local politics and the national economy. Langone explains his faith in Cuomo and his perspective on Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani. GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen made his name on social media at the height of the meme-stock craze; now, he’s auctioning off an infamous stapler (and his underwear) on eBay. In a very rare interview, Cohen discusses GameStop’s past and its future. Plus, Starbucks has called corporate employees back to the office four days a week, and Nvidia plans to resume sales of a key AI chip to China.  Ryan Cohen - 14:40Ken Langone - 29:02 In this episode:Ryan Cohen, @ryancohenJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

President Trump is threatening more tariffs on Mexico and the EU, in addition to last week’s threats to Canada. CNBC’s Megan Cassella reports on the likelihood of those tariffs taking effect and the impact the threats have on economic alliances, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses the tariffs’ impact on the U.S. economy. One of the potential contenders for next Federal Reserve Chair, Hassett discusses the White House’s frustration with sitting Fed Chair Jay Powell, as well as the independence of the central bank. Plus, bank earnings are on deck this week, and Kraft Heinz may be planning to spin condiments off from foods.  Megan Cassella - 03:43Kevin Hassett - 20:06Leslie Picker - 37:37 In this episode:Leslie Picker, @LesliePickerMegan Cassella, @mmcassellaJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: “Superman” tops the weekend box office, online spending surged thanks to Amazon Prime Days, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is traveling in China, exports from China grew last month, and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is warning about the dangers of private credit – while he wants to up the firm’s investment in private credit markets. Squawk Box is hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin.  Follow Squawk Pod for the best moments, interviews and analysis from our TV show in an audio-first format. 

100 days on the job, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary discusses HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s complicated stance on vaccines and the future of public trust in American health care agencies. The White House is mounting pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell; Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought explains that he’s pushing the central bank on its monetary policy and, more recently, on its building renovations. Plus, President Trump is threatening a 35% tariff on Canada, and Jamie Dimon is speaking out on global markets and on NYC Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Megan Cassella - 5:06Dr. Marty Makary - 18:24Russell Vought - 38:04 In this episode:Megan Cassella, @mmcassellaJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkMelissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: President Trump announces new tariffs on Canada, Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels in Asia, Google will provide cloud-computing services for the U.S. government, Apple is prepping a new range of product releases, and Flutter comes closer to buying FanDuel. Squawk Box is hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin.  Follow Squawk Pod for the best moments, interviews and analysis from our TV show in an audio-first format. 

Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) stood firm on his “no” vote on President Trump’s megabill. He explains why the legislation’s additions to the deficit were too high for him to change his vote, and why he proposed a spending “leash” as a compromise. Rockefeller Capital Management CEO Greg Fleming digs into market performance in 2025. We were due for an adjustment, he says, but the U.S. stock market is resilient, and American exceptionalism is not over yet. Plus, X CEO Linda Yaccarino is stepping down, Ferrero Rocher is buying cereal company WK Kellogg, Nvidia has touched the $4T market cap threshold, and President Trump is threatening a 50% tariff against Brazil for political reasons.  Megan Cassella - 7:41Rand Paul - 21:14Greg Fleming - 34:59 In this episode:Sen. Rand Paul, @RandPaulMegan Cassella, @mmcassellaJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkContessa Brewer, @contessabrewerRobert Frank, @robtfrankKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

In another leadership change, Apple’s COO and presumed Tim Cook successor Jeff Williams has announced his retirement. CNBC’s Steve Kovach discusses Apple’s recent turnover and its strategy to rise to investor and innovator expectations in the AI race. Ripple has selected BNY to be custodian of its stablecoin; CEO Brad Garlinghouse explains his vision for crypto and institutional finance ahead of his testimony in crypto hearings on Capitol Hill. Plus, Philadelphia has ended the worker strike that left garbage pickup stalled, two Squawk Box guests (both named Kevin) may be vying for top spot at the Federal Reserve, and President Trump is threatening more tariffs on pharmaceutical companies.   Brad Garlinghouse - 13:41Steve Kovach - 21:29 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkMelissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: SpaceX is preparing to sell insider shares, the China unit of Starbucks has attracted offers for a potential stake sale, valuing that business at up to $10 billion, Boeing completed delivery of the most planes since December 2023, the TSA has officially changed shoe policy at airports, and Philadelphia workers have reached a deal with the city, nearing an end to a labor strike that halted garbage collection. Squawk Box is hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin.  Follow Squawk Pod for the best moments, interviews and analysis from our TV show in an audio-first format. 

CEO and President of Atlantic Council Fred Kempe discusses how the Trump administration’s renewed push for trade deals with foreign partners are being factored into the markets–or not. Meta has lured another AI executive to its team with a multi-million dollar compensation package–this time, it’s Ruoming Pang from Apple. Wired Senior Writer Lauren Goode discusses the ongoing tech battle for top AI talent. Plus, the TSA may be changing shoe requirements at the airport, Elon Musk is releasing a new version of his AI bot Grok, and Courtney Reagan reports on the best deals for Prime Day shoppers.  In this episode:Lauren Goode, @LaurenGoodeFred Kempe, @FredKempeCourtney Reagan, @CourtReaganMegan Cassella, @mmcassellaJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkMelissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBCKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Megan Cassella - 03:18Courtney Reagan - 16:57Fred Kempe - 23:15Lauren Goode - 35:42

In the latest phase of the Trump administration’s tariff strategy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the foreign nations without deals by August 1st would end up with the tariffs enacted in April. Sec. Bessent then announced that the administration will make “several” trade-related announcements within the next 48 hours, signaling imminent progress even as U.S. tariff deadlines remain in flux. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams discusses his independent bid in the city's mayoral race, including the politics of Andrew Cuomo and the campaign promises of the Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani. Plus, Elon Musk is forming his own political organization called the "America Party," and CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports on the negative reaction from some Tesla stockholders.  Phil LeBeau - 7:37Scott Bessent - 13:06Eric Adams - 30:29 In this episode:Sec. Scott Bessent, @SecScottBessentEric Adams, @NYCMayorBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY