A $6.5B Gift for Kid Accounts & OpenAI’s ‘Code Red’ 12/2/25

Michael and Susan Dell have gifted $6.5 billion to 25 million investment accounts for American children, adding momentum to the Invest America Act. Tech investor Brad Gerstner has long been a proponent of this initiative, and he explains how and why it will work for Americans and the American capitalist system. Then, chairman of Heaven Hill Max Shapira discusses how the largest family-owned and operated distillery in the U.S. has weathered 90 years of changes in consumer tastes and liquor regulation. Plus, OpenAI’s Sam Altman has declared a “code red” in the face of ChatGPT competition, Costco is suing the Trump administration over tariffs, and crypto has suffered a massive plunge.  Eamon Javers - 10:37Brad Gerstner - 15:40Max Shapira - 40:17 In this episode:Eamon Javers, @eamonjaversBrad Gerstner, @altcapJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amid Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales, owner of The Locavore Caroline Weaver discusses consumers shopping locally this holiday season. President Trump told reporters over the weekend that he’s decided on his pick for the next Fed Chair, prompting renewed conversation about reported front-runner Kevin Hassett. Economist Mohamed El-Erian considers the big economic picture, including the Federal Reserve’s path forward. Plus, Nvidia is taking a $2 billion stake in Synopsys and an Airbus glitch affected planes flying over the holiday weekend.  Caroline Weaver - 15:40Mohamed El-Erian - 23:28 In this episode:Mohamed El-Erian, @elerianmBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie 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 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: President Trump says he’s made his choice for next chair of the Federal Reserve, Disney had brought in more than $500 million globally on the “Zootopia 2” box office, South Korean police are investigating a data breach at e-commerce site Coupang, data analytics firm Databricks is in talks to raise $5 billion at a valuation topping $134 billion, and UnitedHealth Group will reportedly sell off its last South American business. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Black Friday kicks off the official holiday shopping season. Shopify president Harley Finkelstein shares his platform’s real-time shopping data and highlights the shifting trends among shoppers in 2025. So far this Black Friday, consumers are buying skincare, athletic wear, and vitamins and supplements. On Amazon, the platform’s head of Prime Video U.S. global sports and advertising Jay Marine discusses Black Friday football streams and holiday shopping deals. CNBC’s senior retail reporter Courtney Reagan is covering the holiday from a New Jersey mall; though the cadence of shopping has shifted over the years, Reagan reports on the longstanding importance of Black Friday for retailers. Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for “serious” peace talks with Ukraine, and a data center issue caused a major outage at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.   Courtney Reagan - 14:45Harley Finkelstein - 19:12Jay Marine - 26:34 In this episode:Harley Finkelstein, @harleyfJay Marine, @jaymarineCourtney Reagan, @CourtReaganRobert Frank, @robtfrankSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: the CME temporarily halted trading for futures, foreign exchanges, and commodities due to a data center issue, the SEC is investigating Jefferies’s relationship with a bankrupt auto parts maker, Alibaba has begun selling its AI smart glasses in China, Apple is challenging India’s antitrust penalty law, and Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ clocked the biggest opening day in China for any Hollywood animated film.  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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Americans prep their Thanksgiving feasts, one hotline is bracing for its busiest day of the year. Nicole Johnson, director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, explains the most common turkey questions. Then, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks shares advice for navigating family dynamics, handling holiday anxiety, and finding common ground at the dinner table. Plus, Nvidia says its GPUs are a generation ahead of Google’s AI chips, and Campbell’s Soup responds to leaked audio claiming its food is made for “poor people.” Arthur Brooks 13:34Nicole Johnson 21:14 In this episode:Nicole Johnson, @butterballArthur Brooks, @arthurbrooksBecky 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.

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: after quarterly results, Urban Outfitters is trading higher and shares of Deere, HP, and Workday are lower. Plus, Medicare negotiated lower prices for over a dozen covered medications including Ozempic. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discusses the U.S. relationship with China after President Trump’s call with President Xi. In a wide-ranging interview, Sec. Bessent addresses the global soybean trade, the upcoming announcement of a new Federal Reserve Chair, and the economic future of America. Then, longtime Democratic Presidential Campaign advisor James Carville discusses his own party’s future. Carville wants Democrats to embrace economic rage and run on a platform of populism–the party’s path out of its current ‘abyss.’ Plus, Google is reportedly pitching its own AI chips to customers, and NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani is positioning his transition team ahead of a January 1 start.  Secretary Scott Bessent - 15:57James Carville - 34:12 In this episode:Scott Bessent, @SecScottBessentJames Carville, @JamesCarvilleBecky 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.

New York City Mayor-elect Mamdani and President Trump met at the Oval Office, Russia-Ukraine peace talks are underway in Geneva, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has teased an announcement from the Trump administration on health care. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discusses rising cost pressures on Americans and addresses concerns about aid for farmers who’ve been hit by tariffs. Plus, chef, restaurateur, TV host, and author Lidia Bastianich is cooking up meals that nourish body and spirit this holiday season. She discusses rising costs for consumers and shares her methods for satisfying moments around the dinner table–including a tip for extra special turkey.  Sec. Brooke Rollins - 16:03Lidia Bastianich - 31:16 In this episode:Brooke Rollins, @SecRollinsJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky 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.

The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: airports expect the busiest day of the holiday travel week to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, DOGE has been officially dissolved ahead of schedule, Kohl's is keeping its interim CEO on as CEO proper, the FBI is investigating a hack of SitusAMC, a technology vendor for real estate lenders, and Eli Lilly has become the first health care company to reach a $1 trillion market cap. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.