The Musk-Putin Talks: A WSJ Report & Joe Lonsdale’s Weigh-In 10/25/24

After leaving Chipotle to lead Starbucks, CEO Brian Niccol has a plan to turn the iconic coffee brand around. Niccol sat for an exclusive interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin after his first eight weeks at the helm of Starbucks; he’s learning from three straight quarters of declining sales and implementing menu, pricing, and timing changes to the coffee chain. Next, SharkNinja manufactures appliances like robot vacuums, air fryers and ice cream makers, and CEO Mark Barrocas says, those are just the beginning. He discusses the company’s diversification and the impact tariffs could have on his business. Plus, a district attorney ordered Elon Musk to attend an emergency court hearing over his pledge to award $1 million to registered voters in Pennsylvania, eBay’s current quarter guidance fell short of expectations, and Comcast is exploring a separation of its cable networks business. Brian Niccol - 12:21Mark Barrocas - 24:12 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Silicon Valley is split over the 2024 US Presidential election - Elon Musk and Mark Cuban are making waves, while Mark Zuckerberg has chosen to sit this one out. Chris Kelly, Kelly Investments founder and former Facebook general counsel and chief privacy officer, discusses the role of business leaders in this election, the future of Crypto, and Kelly’s support for Vice President Kamala Harris. CNBC’s Robert Frank reports on shares of Trump Media and its rollercoaster trading session. Trump owns nearly 57% of the company, which operates the Truth Social platform. His stake at Monday’s closing price was worth upward of $5.4 billion. Plus, Reddit’s bet on AI pays off and Starbucks ditches its olive-oil infused coffee.Chris Kelly - 2:27In this episode:Robert Frank, @robtfrankBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

A Donald Trump presidency could be worse for the federal budget than a Harris presidency, according to a new report from the Committee For a Responsible Federal Budget. Either way the election goes, CNBC’s Eamon Javers says the deficit will grow. CNBC’s Steve Liesman considers why neither politicians nor the broader public seem to care about America’s soaring debt, and shares his concerns about the deficit’s economic impact. A week out from election day, Axios co-founder Mike Allen says the MAGA-World is confident. While the election seems like a coin flip, it could end up a landslide for either candidate. Plus, Trump Media shares surged and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos published an op-ed defending the newspaper’s decision against endorsing a presidential candidate this election cycle. Mike Allen - 30:35 In this episode:Mike Allen, @mikeallenEamon Javers, @EamonJaversSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Donald Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, kicking off his final appeal to voters as election day approaches. One rally speaker, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida), joined the Squawk set the morning after, discussing a rally joke that sparked controversy and the vitriol surrounding this year’s election. Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Maryland) suggests that votes for Vice President Harris are votes for a forward-looking administration, and weighs in on the political tension across the country. Next, Robinhood is joining the election betting game alongside platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. Despite polls indicating a close race, betting platforms favor former President Trump to win the White House. Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour discusses betting market accuracy, as well as competition between the betting platforms. Plus, Boeing announced a capital raise of $18.9 billion, and McDonalds has returned its Quarter Pounder to the menu following the E. coli outbreak. Tarek Mansour - 27:21   Rep. Byron Donalds, fmr. Rep. Donna Edwards - 11:03  In this episode: Rep. Byron Donalds, @ByronDonaldsFmr. Rep. Donna Edwards, @DonnaFEdwardsTarek Mansour, @mansourtarek_Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Elon Musk has spoken to Russian President Vladamir Putin multiple times since 2022. CNBC’s Eamon Javers discusses the details of the report and what we know so far, including what Putin reportedly asked of Musk, and whether these conversations were known by the US government. Joe Lonsdale, Palantir co-founder and long-time friend of Elon Musk, says he thinks it’s highly unlikely Musk broke rules related to national security. Lonsdale also discusses U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East and the potential of a Department of Government Efficiency, should Donald Trump win the election. Plus, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella asked for pay reduction in the wake of cybersecurity issues within the company, and tickets to this year’s World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees have a steep price. Javers - 02:33Lonsdale - 20:28 In this episode:Eamon Javers, @EamonJaversJoe Lonsdale, @JTLonsdaleBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

The Federal Reserve will make its next decision on interest rates immediately following election day. Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh is advising his former colleagues at the central bank to do less talking, and more thinking. Warsh considers the meaning of inflation, the role of the Fed, and offers his perspective on the last decision to cut rates by 50 basis points. The morning after Vice President Kamala Harris’ town hall with Anderson Cooper on CNN, pollster and strategist Frank Luntz explains why Harris may be struggling to win over persuadable voters. Steve Liesman breaks down CNBC’s latest election survey and explains the margin for error in both state and national polling. Plus, Boeing machinists on strike rejected the company’s latest labor contract, and Peloton’s stock is surging after an investor’s bullish comments. Kevin Warsh      19:11Frank Luntz        36:44 In this episode: Phil LeBeau, @LebeaucarnewsSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman discusses why, after years as a “centrist,” he is supporting Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Comparing the Harris campaign with Trump's, the hedge funder says a Trump win is “in the best interest of the country.” Ackman also discusses the spread of misinformation online–including in his own posts. Plus, a conversation about treasury yields evolves into a spirited political debate, and billionaire Warren Buffett tells CNBC he will not endorse any political candidates, despite impersonators and misinformation about him on social media.  Bill Ackman - 19:17 In this episode:Bill Ackman, @BillAckmanBecky Quick,@BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer,@Kramer_Katie

Billionaire and legendary investor Paul Tudor Jones is raising alarms about the U.S. government’s fiscal deficit and the increased spending proposed by both presidential candidates. In an extended interview, he warns that more spending could trigger a sell-off in the bond market. In managing his portfolio, Paul Tudor Jones is betting on commodities and the Nasdaq–but not on fixed income. Plus, Federal Reserve presidents Neel Kashkari and Mary Daly are speaking out on monetary policy, Nike renews its contract with the NBA and WNBA, and TGI Friday’s is filing for bankruptcy. Paul Tudor Jones    13:06 In this episode:Paul Tudor Jones, @ptj_officialBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban hit the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris this weekend in battleground states Arizona and Michigan, while fellow billionaire Elon Musk campaigned for former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Cuban discusses why he’s supporting Harris, why he finds Donald Trump’s tariff plans to be “insane,” and explains that he’ll continue speaking his politics in spite of name calling on social media. Plus, Starboard Value has amassed a significant stake in Kenvue, consumer products brand formerly owned by Johnson & Johnson, and Disney announced a plan for chairman and for Bob Iger’s  CEO successor reveal. Mark Cuban: 4:10Alex Sherman: 30:23 In this episode:Mark Cuban, @mcubanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinZach Vallese, @zachvallese

Israeli military forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Thursday, the architect of the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel last year. Council on Foreign Relations president emeritus Richard Haass considers whether Sinwar’s death will be a turning point in the war in Gaza.  Next, MIT’s Simon Johnson was awarded the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences this week. Though he’s newly decorated, he emphasizes the importance of intellectual discourse in democracy. In election news, billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk are hitting the (separate) campaign trails to support their respective picks for president, and Donald Trump’s gains on the election betting platform Polymarket may be inflated by a few big betters. Plus, CVS share prices plummeted as the company replaced its CEO. Richard Haass - 21:14Simon Johnson - 35:18 In this episode:Richard Haass, @RichardHaassSimon Johnson, @baselinesceneBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie