5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 9/12/2025

Paramount Skydance may be preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told employees that the company must rebuild trust, internally. Ivanka Trump is partnering with Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya to combat food waste through her company, Planet Harvest. Both entrepreneurs discuss the food supply chain and their new project, and Trump reflects on nearly a decade of friendship with the late Charlie Kirk. Plus, Jesse Cole, owner of the exhibition dancing baseball team Savannah Bananas, discusses the viral entertainment and athletic team that has captured the hearts of millions on social media. Finally, Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin reflect on three decades of collaboration under the “Squawk Box” name.  Ivanka Trump & Hamdi Ulukaya - 15:26Jesse Cole - 29:01 In this episode:Ivanka Trump, @IvankaTrumpHamdi Ulukaya, @hamdiulukayaJesse Cole, @YellowTuxJesseJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: Lawyers for President Trump are asking an appeals court to let his bid to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook continue before next week’s Open Market Committee meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent continues interviewing candidates for next Fed chair, Adobe shares are heading up, RH is under pressure, and AI tech firm Super Micro has begun to ship Nvidia Blackwell chips worldwide. 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.

On this somber day, Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin remember Charlie Kirk and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on Kirk’s assassination, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joins former Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp to discuss America’s future and our current political environment. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein discusses his wary optimism about the state of America’s economy, and another longtime guest of Squawk Box helps celebrate the show’s 30 years on air: Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman, David Rubenstein.  David Rubenstein - 02:52Eamon Javers - 15:40Kevin McCarthy & Heidi Heitkamp - 22:42Lloyd Blankfein - 36:11 In this episodeEamon Javers, @eamonjaversJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

In an extended interview, Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf shares his perspective on the health of America’s economy, including the dichotomy between low and high income consumers and the real impact of tariffs on U.S. businesses. Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin has been building sports businesses since his first appearance on Squawk Box in 1999. Now, he’s growing his company’s sportsbook and collectibles businesses and answering questions about his own IPO. Plus, Lisa Cook will remain Federal Reserve governor for now, Klarna is going public on the NYSE, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison has surpassed Elon Musk as the world’s richest person, thanks to a stock surge after Oracle’s earnings report.  Charlie Scharf - 19:38Michael Rubin - 37:26 In this episodeMichael Rubin, @michaelrubinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: the Supreme Court will hear the White House’s appeal of lower court rulings that many of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, India and the US are talking about tariff policy on social media, Apple stock is down after the company announced new iPhone models, Microsoft is looking to use artificial intelligence tools from Anthropic, and Gamestop …won’t stop. 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.

Two longtime guests of Squawk Box help celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary: sports and entertainment entrepreneur Ted Leonsis and famed stock investor Mario Gabelli. Founder and CEO of Monument Sports and Entertainment Ted Leonsis discusses a potential IPO and the future of his teams, including the Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics. Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors, shares his investment thesis amid a reopened IPO window. Plus, OpenAI is reportedly exploring an exit from California, and Rupert Murdoch’s succession saga has reached a resolution–for now.  Ted Leonsis - 10:08Mario Gabelli - 22:50 In this episode:Ted Leonsis, @TedLeonsisMario Gabelli, @MarioGabelliJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discuss the latest Gallup poll results: American support for capitalism has hit a new low. In a lively discussion, the two share their ideas for the country’s future, as well as the rise of support for socialism and solutions to the nation’s affordability crisis. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses the agenda of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including restricting access to vaccines. Plus, FHFA Director Bill Pulte has called for Fed governor Lisa Cook to resign over allegations of mortgage fraud, but his own family is now in the spotlight for a similar issue. President Trump joined the crowds at the U.S. Open Men’s Finals in New York, and Squawk Box kicks off a celebratory week! It has been 30 iconic years of ‘squawking’ on TV, as of this summer.  Vivek Ramaswamy & Rick Scott - 16:01Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 27:53 In this episode:Vivek Ramaswamy, @VivekGRamaswamyRick Scott, @SenRickScottDr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMDBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: Robinhood, Applovin, and Emcor will join the S&P 500 later this month, chipmaker ASML will reportedly take a board seat at French startup Mistral AI, OpenAI has reportedly raised its projected cash burn to $115 billion through 2029, the newest “The Conjuring” had the highest grossing opening weekend at the box office out of any of the nine films in the franchise, and two winners will split the $1.8 billion Powerball Jackpot. 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.

Tesla is asking investors to approve another outsized pay plan for CEO Elon Musk of nearly $1 trillion. Tesla Chairwoman Robyn Denholm says the plan was designed to keep Musk “motivated and focused on delivering for the company.” Then, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick discusses the U.S. decision to lower tariffs on Japan, President Trump’s broader tariff agenda and the state of the economy where August’s payroll numbers came in significantly below expectations. Plus, CNBC’s Eamon Javers breaks down a ProPublica investigation into mortgages held by Trump cabinet members, and CNBC’s Angelica Peebles highlights the key takeaways from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's Senate hearing. Javers 3;42Peebles 10:44Denholm 20:27Lutnick 33:35 In this episode: Howard Lutnick, @howardlutnickAngelica Peebles, @angelicapeeblesEamon Javers, @eamonjaversBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: President Trump is planning substantial tariffs on semiconductor companies that don’t move production to the United States, bidders are lining up for a portion of Starbucks’ China operations, AI start-up Anthropic will stop doing business with Chinese majority-owned firms, the Trump Administration is abandoning a plan to force airlines to pay passengers for cancellations and PBS has cut about 100 staff positions due to  cut in federal funding. 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.