Fast Food Economy & America’s AI Regulation 2/12/26

In a newsmaking interview, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discusses the government’s plan to incentivize whistleblower tips on fraud, money laundering, and sanctions violations following the Trump administration’s focus on federally funded social welfare programs in Minnesota. Sec. Bessent also shares his expectation that the Senate confirmation of Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh to proceed, despite Sen. Thom Tillis’s effort to block it. Plus, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Joe Kernen sits down with AT&T Chairman & CEO John Stankey to discuss the infrastructure of the future internet, including fiber optics and satellites. Sec. Scott Bessent - 04:33John Stankey - 33:17 In this episode:Scott Bessent, @SecScottBessentJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York State Assemblymember Alex Bores (D) has garnered national attention for his plan to regulate AI, both in New York and across the nation. He explains his view that regulation could support American competitiveness, rather than hinder it. Restaurant Brands chairman Patrick Doyle has a unique view of consumers through the Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons brands. After years of implementing an effective tech strategy at Dominos, Doyle discusses his plans for fast food innovation. Plus, Emily Wilkins reports on the House’s vote to overturn President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Cisco stock dropped 7% after earnings, and Corning stock is outperforming its own recent history. Emily Wilkins - 09:28Patrick Doyle - 21:16Asm. Alex Bores - 29:18 In this episode:Alex Bores, @AlexBoresEmily Wilkins, @emrwilkinsKelly Evans, @KellyCNBCSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a short delay from the brief government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has released January’s jobs data. In a better-than-expected report, the BLS revealed 130,000 jobs added in the first month of 2026, and the agency revised numbers previously reported. CNBC’s Steve Liesman and Rick Santelli join Groundwork Collaborative’s Kitty Richards and The Heritage Foundation’s Peter St. Onge to digest the numbers and what they mean for the Fed and for politics. Plus, Ford reported its worst quarterly earnings miss in years, and innovation in AI is taking a bite out of another sector: financial services.  Jobs Panel - 16:15 In this episode:Kelly Evans, @KellyCNBCRobert Frank, @robtfrankSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanRick Santelli, @RickSantelliBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kalshi won big on Super Bowl Sunday, hosting over $1 billion in trading volumes. CEO and co-founder Tarek Mansour discusses prediction markets, insider trading concerns, and market surveillance. President Trump’s effort to limit institutional investors buying single family homes has run into snags on Capitol Hill. RXR Chairman and CEO Scott Rechler discusses the initiative, affordable housing, and NYC’s uptick in office leasing and luxury home sales. In the latest reports on big tech’s AI capital expenditures, Google parent Alphabet is looking to fund its AI spending by selling rare 100-year bonds. President Trump is reportedly aiming to get big tech firms to make a voluntary pact on data centers and energy. The President is also aiming to repeal the Obama-era legal basis for federal greenhouse gas regulation. Scott Rechler - 13:11Tarek Mansour - 27:55 In this episode:Tarek Mansour, @mansourtarek_Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Please, not that one” Adam Anderson and his wife Brianne thought near the start of their rare disease journey when a doctor listed Tay-Sachs Disease as a potential diagnosis for their young son Drew. Rarer than rare, this genetic metabolic disorder causes progressive brain and spinal cord damage that can lead, often, to death in early childhood.80% of rare diseases have a genetic origin. Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffering from a rare disease can trace the root cause of their symptoms back to an abnormality in their genetic code. For generations, there was no way for doctors to track this. But advances in genetic testing have made it so we can unlock the secrets hidden in our DNA faster than ever before.After losing Drew in 2019, Anderson’s life took on a new path. He ran for local office in Florida and became a leader in rare disease policy, creating a new genetic screening program allows parents of newborns to receive free whole genome sequencing at birth, putting the state at the forefront of newborn screening.Join us in advancing awareness and understanding of rare diseases. Visit CNBC.com/Cures to access clips, resources, or to sign up for our weekly newsletter.Follow Becky Quick on X: @BeckyQuickFollow Adam Anderson on X: @AdamAndersonFLPlease share your thoughts or rare disease story in the comments, and join us on The Path. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses America’s economic trajectory, including the jobs market and productivity, inflation, and President Trump’s pick for new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh. Direct-to-consumer telehealth Hims & Hers made waves last month when it announced a cheaper, compounded obesity pill similar to Wegovy. Now, after the FDA warned against compounded GLP-1s, Hims & Hers is backing off. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses competition in obesity drugs, Novo Nordisk’s lawsuit against Hims & Hers, and the importance of vaccines. Plus, the pharma and AI ads at Super Bowl LX, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a supermajority in a snap election, and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports on the legislative efforts to address the U.S. housing affordability crisis. Emily Wilkins - 10:09Kevin Hassett - 19:21Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 30:10In this episode:Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkinsBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hong Kong media tycoon and vocal Beijing critic Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, President Trump has reversed his position on the Nexstar-Tegna broadcast TV deal, Hims & Hers has pulled its weight loss pill claiming to compete with Wegovy’s obesity pill, Block may lay off 10% of its workforce, and Kroger could be planning to hire a former Walmart executive as its next CEO.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The morning of Once Upon A Farm’s IPO, co-founders Jennifer Garner and John Foraker sit down with Andrew Ross Sorkin. They discuss the company’s distribution and mission, connecting social good with accessible nutrition. As Capitol Hill fights over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) underscores his commitment to constituents demanding lawmaker action on ICE operations nationwide. Plus, Robert Frank goes “Inside Wealth” to report on Elon Musk’s road to becoming a trillionaire, and software and financial services stocks have had a volatile week, in the thick of earnings season.  Robert Frank - 7:29Jennifer Garner & John Foraker - 16:59Sen. Chris Coons - 28:56 In this episode:Chris Coons, @ChrisCoonsRobert Frank, @robtfrankBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After each company reported quarterly results, Amazon stock is lower on AI spending plans, Reddit shares are up on strong guidance for 2026, Roblox is up on a smaller-than-expected loss, and Affirm issued upbeat guidance for the full year. Plus, Coca-Cola is discontinuing an 80-year-old product in the U.S. and Canada: frozen Minute Maid juice concentrate.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shares of Google parent Alphabet fell after its quarterly report, despite beating estimates. Citi analyst Ron Josey explains the weight of AI spending on profit margins. After President Trump gave an interview to NBC’s Tom Llamas, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) discusses the President’s pick for Fed chair, Kevin Warsh. Sen. Moreno also weighs in on the Department of Justice’s case against the current Fed chair, Jay Powell. Ahead of the Super Bowl, CNBC’s Contessa Brewer reports on the weekend wagers boosting traffic on sportsbooks and prediction markets. Jonathan Cohen, author and head of the American Institute for Boys and Men Sports Betting Policy Hub, underscores the risks of game day bets for financial and mental wellbeing. Plus, fallout from the Epstein files continues. Ron Josey - 4:42Senator Bernie Moreno - 17:12Contessa Brewer - 27:08Jonathan Cohen - 31:57 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.