Verizon CEO, Gen Z on Capitalism, & DC’s Weekend Progress 04/22/24

Becky Quick is in Omaha, Nebraska, awaiting the tens of thousands of Berkshire Hathaway investors attending the company’s annual shareholders meeting, where Warren Buffett will hold court. This year is the first annual meeting without the late Vice Chair Charlie Munger; Berkshire Hathaway lead director Sue Decker sits down with Becky Quick to discuss Munger’s legacy and the future of Berkshire. Plus, CEOs of Berkshire’s portfolio companies join Becky, BNSF CEO Katie Farmer, who discusses the headwinds for her railway business, and Brooks Running CEO Dan Sheridan, who’s eyeing running business in China. Plus, longtime shareholder and GAMCO CEO Mario Gabelli stops by, for an extended conversation about the markets, media consolidation, and Warren Buffett’s leadership. Tune into CNBC’s TV and digital channels this weekend to catch every minute of the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting coverage. Sue Decker 5:21Dan Sheridan 17:16Katie Farmer 24:48Mario Gabelli 32:54In this episode:Mario Gabelli, @MarioGabelliBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Approximately 300 people were arrested when the NYPD responded to protests at Columbia University and the nearby City College of New York. New York City Mayor Eric Adams discusses the city’s crackdown on college campus protests, the radicalization of youths, the immigration crisis, and more. House Select Committee on China Member Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) discusses the Biden administration’s sanctions on Chinese companies over suspected support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, as well as the fate of TikTok in the U.S. The Federal Reserve is holding rates steady; Stifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza breaks down the next steps in the Fed’s inflation fight. Plus, Tesla has reneged internship offers amid layoffs, and the National Labor Relations Board says Amazon CEO Andy Jassy broke federal labor law in his interviews with press. Mayor Eric Adams - 15:49Ro Khanna - 28:24In this episode:Eric Adams, @NYCMayorRo Khanna, @RoKhannaLindsey Piegza, @LindseyPiegzaJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Overnight, NYPD officers entered Columbia University’s campus and made roughly 100 arrests of protesters. Lawyer Jay Edelson filed a lawsuit against the school on behalf of a Jewish student who argues that the university failed to provide a safe learning environment. Edelson discusses the case and the stakes for schools across the country. Axios and Politico co-founder Jim VandeHei looks ahead to the 2024 election and former President Donald Trump’s plans for the country, should he win another term. Plus, Starbucks stock took a spill after its latest quarterly report, and cannabis is headed for a downgrade from the FDA.  Jay Edelson - 13:52Jim VandeHei - 26:05 In this episode:Jim VandeHei, @JimVandeHeiJay Edelson, @jayedelsonJoe Kernen,@JoeSquawkBecky Quick,@BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin,@andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Paramount Global is replacing CEO Bob Bakish with three executives in the Office of the CEO. Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni explains the uncertain future for the media company, as well as the possible outcomes for shareholders. Actor Edward Norton has spent enough time in board meetings to know that it’s time to bring corporate governance decisions into 2024. He says his new tech company Zeck is his hope for streamlined board meetings. CNBC’s Steve Liesman says the latest Fed survey respondents are pushing their rate cut forecasts further out. On college campuses, tensions are escalating; Columbia protesters stormed and occupied a university building. Trump Media stock has been on a roller coaster, and NBCUniversal is reportedly preparing a bid for NBA rights. Plus, CNBC is your ticket to this Saturday’s Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting with Warren Buffett. If you’re a shareholder and have a question for the Oracle of Omaha or his board, submit it to [email protected]. Our own Becky Quick will select a few of those submissions to ask during the meeting.  Steve Liesman - 04:47Matt Belloni - 12:44Edward Norton - 18:09 In this episode:Edward Norton, @EdwardNortonMatthew Belloni, @mattbelloniJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Elon Musk took a brief surprise meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, securing tentative approval for self-driving Teslas in China. America’s college campuses are divided over the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. involvement in it; former SEC Chairman and Ivy League educator Jay Clayton discusses the sentiment among activists and young people across the country. Retired real estate developer Bruce Ratner issues a warning for his industry. The man behind the redeveloped Times Square and Downtown Brooklyn is also on the board of Memorial Sloan Kettering, and he’s pushing for early cancer detection in his new book. Plus, regulators seized Republic First Bank in the first bank failure of 2024, and journalists are catching up on the jokes from this weekend’s White House correspondents’ dinner.   Jay Clayton - 12:23Bruce Ratner - 23:19 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Former President Donald Trump's political allies are crafting a plan to increase his influence over the Federal Reserve, potentially even making him an "acting" member of the central bank’s board, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nick Timiraos, the Journal's Chief Economics Correspondent, discusses the implications if Trump wins in November. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb weighs in on Moderna's partnership with OpenAI, the AI drug revolution, his own AI venture, and updates on the bird flu presence in America’s pasteurized milk. Plus, CNBC's Steve Kovach breaks down Alphabet and Microsoft earnings and explores the future of AI investment for the megacap tech companies. Nick Timiraos - 10:08Steve Kovach - 17:22Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 22:12.In this episode:Nick Timiraos, @NickTimiraosScott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinZach Vallese, @zachvallese

The Federal Trade Commission voted for a nationwide ban against noncompete agreements, which companies use to prevent employees from taking jobs with competitors in the same industry. FTC Chair Lina Khan addresses the agency's decision for the ban, as well as the potential impacts on businesses and workers. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican colleagues faced opposition when they appeared at Columbia University amid ongoing protests against Israel's conflict with Hamas. Robert Kraft, New England Patriots owner and founder of the Kraft Group and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, discusses the recent protests at Columbia University and other campuses and the concerning rise of antisemitism and his efforts to combat it. Plus, the Biden administration introduces new rules for airlines, mandating automatic cash refunds and prohibiting surprise fees. Lina Khan - 04:05Robert Kraft - 24:14 In this episode:Lina Khan, @linakhanftcJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Google has fired 50 employees over sit-in protests at the office. Yale Lecturer Joanne Lipman and The Verge’s Alex Heath discuss activism in the office, and tech’s inflection point with its employees. Jason Furman, a Democrat economist, is making his case against President Biden’s student debt relief plan, arguing that it will make inflation worse. CNBC’s Steve Liesman is breaking down U.S. productivity data and what it means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, the Federal Trade Commission has voted to ban non-competes for employee contracts, Jamie Dimon is speaking out with his concerns for the economy, and Meta’s AI glasses are getting an update.  Joanne Lipman & Alex Heath - 19:35Steve Liesman - 27:14Jason Furman - 30:28 In this episode:Joanne Lipman, @joannelipmanAlex Heath, @alexeheathSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanJason Furman, @jasonfurmanJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Elite university campuses are fraught with tension as students clash with each other and college administrations over the Israel-Hamas War. Over 100 students have been arrested from pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Yale, NYU, and Columbia campuses, videos of brazen antisemitism have gone viral, and one Rabbi in Columbia’s community encouraged Jewish students to go home for their own safety. NYC Rabbi David Ingber explains the escalations and safety concerns, while donor and Columbia Business School alumnus Leon Cooperman discusses the responsibilities of higher education institutions. Plus, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz maps out the Federal Reserve’s road ahead, and Elon Musk is at odds with Australia’s Prime Minister over posts on X.  Rabbi David Ingber - 12:11Leon Cooperman - 22:44Joseph Stiglitz - 26:26 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

At Columbia in New York, protests and antisemitism on campus have prompted a day of remote learning for student safety, as well as commentary from Mayor Eric Adams. In DC, the House has passed a series of bills securing aid funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, as well as the divest-or-ban TikTok bill. CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports on the legislation and its impact on Speaker Mike Johnson’s career. In the thick of Wall Street’s earnings season, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg discusses his company’s latest financial results and inflation’s pressures on consumers. Plus, pollster Frank Luntz is taking stock of Gen Z’s opinions on capitalism and democracy. He urges corporate America to pay attention to their grievances.  Emily Wilkins - 03:16Frank Luntz - 09:55Hans Vestberg - 19:42 In this episode:Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkinsJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie