Gary Cohn & the Acquired Podcast Interview 7/16/25

Gary Cohn was National Economic Council Director in the first Trump administration, and now he’s weighing in on U.S. inflation data and the nation’s future monetary policy. If it were up to him, Cohn says he’d try cutting rates–just a little. Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal are hosts of Acquired, a podcast boasting interviews with guests like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, and Howard Schultz, as well as a million listeners per episode. Ten years into the project, Gilbert and Rosenthal discuss how they built such a loyal following–and how they monetized in the evolving media landscape. Plus, NYC Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani spoke directly to corporate America executives this week, and private assets may soon be part of 401(k)s.  Gary Cohn - 16:03Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal - 35:31 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: Federal investigations into prediction betting site Polymarket have been closed, a procedural vote on the $9 rescissions package passed in the Senate, SpaceX is planning an insider share sale, Tesla’s top North American sales executive has left the company, and a robot calls balls and strikes at baseball’s midsummer classic. 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. 

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.