Musk Floats Mega-Merger, United CEO on Airfares & Fuel 10/21/26

SpaceX shares jumped after it reported surging revenue growth and Elon Musk floated a potential merger of the company with Tesla. Altimeter Capital’s Brad Gerstner says Musk needs to make sure a deal is fair for Tesla shareholders and expects at least a 30% premium to where the stock trades today. United Airlines slashed its profit outlook as fuel costs continue to bite. CEO Scott Kirby says airfares will have to go up in order for carriers to be profitable. Brad Gerstner - 18:18Scott Kirby - 47:44 In this episode:Brad Gerstner, @altcapPhil LeBeau, @LebeaucarnewsJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinRyan Anastasio, @Ryan_Anastasio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Europe, it’s an autumn season of unrest. Council on Foreign Relations President Michael Froman discusses protests across France, Belgium, Italy, and other EU nations as politics, affordability, and upcoming elections collide for frustrated citizens. Froman also considers the path forward for the war in Ukraine, particularly after President Trump, Russian President Putin, and Chinese President Xi are considering a trilateral meeting about the conflict. OpenAI is reportedly aiming to accelerate fundraising before its own IPO and before Anthropic’s IPO, and Chinese tech giants Bytedance, Alibaba, and Tencent have placed massive chip orders from Nvidia. Plus, Director of Villanova’s Sports Law and Business Program Andrew Brandt is ready for the first NBA faceoffs of the season. The most anticipated game will tip off at Madison Square Garden, where LeBron James will make his season debut at the Knicks and 76ers match-up. Michael Froman - 17:31Andrew Brandt - 28:26 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the White House, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett emphasizes consumer sentiment as key to interpreting economic and inflation data. As national cases of the measles rise, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses public health and the FDA’s launch of its Rare Disease Framework Initiative for drug development.  Russian President Putin has floated a summit between himself, Chinese President Xi, and President Trump to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, reportedly not included in that summit, has suggested that the U.S. government’s actions have hindered Ukraine’s war defense, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has fired back at President Zelenskyy’s accusations. Plus, the Elizabeth Holmes documentary scored the largest open for a non-music documentary in two decades, Anthropic has announced an intention to donate 5% of its shares to a “public benefit fund,” and Elon Musk has pledged a SpaceX share to every child in America. Kevin Hassett - 15:32Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 28:13 In this episode:Scott Gottlieb, @scottgottliebMDJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The White House “Super Intelligence” task force held its first meeting yesterday amid growing calls to regulate AI. The group’s chair Jay Clayton joins us on his takeaways from the meeting and why the U.S. needs to be wary of foreign espionage attempts related to AI. Singer and songwriter John Legend’s pet food brand “Kismet” is sponsoring an upcoming Halloween dog parade in New York City. The EGOT-winner talks about why he built the business and his growing portfolio outside of music. Plus, Fed chairman Kevin Warsh refrains from signaling whether there will be another interest rate hike this year and Netflix replaces its Chief Content Officer. Steve Liesman                   02:44Jay Clayton                        17:39John Legend                      34:47 In this episode:John Legend, @johnlegendSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Investors are rotating out of tech stocks amid growing concerns around record-high interest rates and possible overspending on artificial intelligence. Rockefeller Capital CEO Greg Fleming, a Wall Street veteran, discusses his take on the markets and the policy driving unease. New York City Comptroller Mark Levine sent a letter to Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei asking the company to delay its upcoming IPO. He says the listing will distract the company from focusing on safety and that the U.S. needs federal regulation on AI. Plus, Ukraine says it will restart strikes on Russian oil refineries and Berkshire Hathaway makes a $330 million investment in Bending Spoons. Greg Fleming                    21:11Mark Levine                      39:26 In this episode:Mark Levine, @NYCComptrollerJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fighting intensified overnight in the Middle East between Saudi-backed forces and Iran’s Houthi rebel allies. Former Biden White House Senior Advisor Amos Hochstein tells us why the U.S. has been sitting out the conflict and that he’s stopped understanding U.S. strategy in the region. Fanatics is upping its advertising spend in its gambling business as it looks to compete with industry giants Fanduel and DraftKings. Founder & CEO Michael Rubin says he believes it is a good long-term business despite persistent headwinds. Plus, the FBI arrests an OpenAI employee who allegedly planted a recording device in a conference room and more Senators come out against President Trump’s diesel deal with Russia. Eamon Javers                   06:04Amos Hochstein             16:09     Michael Rubin                  26:55 In this episode:Eamon Javers, @EamonJaversAmos Hochstein, @amoshochsteinMichael Rubin, @michaelrubinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinRyan Anastasio, @Ryan_Anastasio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amid growing concerns about valuations and the AI boom, legendary investor Paul Tudor Jones joins for his take on the markets and his outlook for the new year. He predicts a strong fourth-quarter post the midterm elections but warns of challenges in 2027 due to negative flow pictures in the stock market. Author and professor Adam Grant is out with a new book, “Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World.” He says we need to engage in “deep talk” when meeting someone new and ask questions that we would normally wait to ask at a second or third meeting. Plus, Anthropic warns AI models could soon copy themselves across home devices and hackers target French supermarket fridges. Paul Tudor Jones                    11:53Adam Grant                             38:59 In this episode:Paul Tudor Jones, @ptj_officialAdam Grant, @AdamMGrantJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tensions are heightened in the Middle East following a deadly attack on Saudi Arabia’s airport in Riyadh. CNBC’s Dan Murphy joins from the region with the latest, while Brian Sullivan reports on the move in oil and President Trump’s claim of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Amid growing concerns about rogue AI agents and personal security, XMTP Labs Co-Founder & CEO Shane Mac describes how an agent shared his personal bank statement in a work group chat. Plus, Nvidia is reportedly in talks to buy open-source startup Reflection AI and “The Social Reckoning” disappoints at the box office. Dan Murphy                      02:34Brian Sullivan                    18:49Shane Mac                         35:12 In this episode:Dan Murphy, @dan_murphyBrian Sullivan, @SullyCNBCShane Mac, @ShaneMacJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a move that’s pushing telecom stocks lower, SpaceX has agreed to purchase a nationwide spectrum portfolio. Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson explains how this move fits into the rest of Musk’s vision for connectivity around the world–and around the solar system. As concerns about AI-fueled job displacement mount around the world, Chieh Huang–founder of Boxed–has started a new re-training venture for laid off employees. Huang explains how Pelgo translates layoffs and employer investment into a more skilled, less anxious workforce. Plus, Starbucks could be prepping to acquire Chipotle, and the Gulf Coast is bracing for Hurricane Isaias. Walter Isaacson           17:29Chieh Huang               32:06 In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Trump has suggested that the U.S. may initiate more attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure, and tariffs remain on center stage as the midterm elections draw nearer. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer discusses both from the White House North Lawn. Mathematician and NYU professor Tristan Buckmaster has been working on solving the Navier-Stokes Problem for years; now OpenAI agents have solved it, but Buckmaster believes his work was used in the process. The mathematician discusses his conversations with OpenAI’s leadership and his own concerns about models training on private work. Plus, CNBC’s Contessa Brewer is in Macao for the NBA’s latest push, and a missed email at UPS resulted in China’s receipt of U.S. F-35 parts.  Contessa Brewer  - 04:39 Jamieson Greer - 11:34 Tristan Buckmaster - 24:24 In this episode:Amb. Jamieson Greer, @USTradeRepJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinContessa Brewer, @contessabrewerRyan Anastasio, @Ryan_Anastasio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.