Aaru, Iran, & an AI Horror Story 3/20/26

Aaru cofounders Ned Koh, Cameron Fink, and John Kessler discuss their company’s AI-driven shakeup of the market research industry and their journey building it—as teenagers. Legendary venture capitalist Katie Haun backed BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure company being acquired by Mastercard for $1.8B. Haun discusses the deal and growing connections between blockchain technology and fintech. Plus, Dan Murphy reports on the latest in the Iran War, Amazon is planning a smartphone comeback, and an AI controversy has struck a horror novel.    Dan Murphy - 02:54 Aaru Cofounders - 17:50 Katie Haun - 32:03   In this episode: Dan Murphy, @dan_murphy Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Baby KJ was a pioneer before he was even a year old.  Born in 2024 with a rare, life-threatening genetic mutation, Nicole and Kyle Muldoon’s son is the world’s first patient to receive successful personalized gene editing therapy.  Doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine collaborated to create a unique drug just for KJ, to treat his disorder known as severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency. After spending the first months of his life in the hospital, KJ’s medical breakthrough came with his first dose in February 2025 when he was 6 months old.    Now, a busy toddler and youngest brother, KJ is a piece of medical history – and he just started to walk.    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.    Learn more about rare disease – and what to do in a diagnosis – at  the National Organization for Rare Disorders: https://rarediseases.org/   Follow Becky Quick on X: @BeckyQuick   Please 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.

As the funding shutdown of the DHS wears on, TSA agents and regional airports are under pressure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discusses the looming airport shutdowns and his concern about national security amid funding squabbles on Capitol Hill. CNBC’s Dan Murphy reports on the latest strikes in the Gulf region and the potential long term effects for oil supply. Former EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager discusses Europe’s relationship with the U.S. in wartime, including the bloc’s perspective on AI innovation, independence, and propping up the EU’s own strength. Plus, the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged, and Micron reported blowout earnings, but the stock fell on concerns of chip supply crunch.   Dan Murphy - 03:41 Sec. Sean Duffy - 16:32 Margrethe Vestager - 28:59   In this episode: Sean Duffy, @SecDuffy Dan Murphy, @dan_murphy Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Dubai, CNBC’s Dan Murphy reports on the latest in the Middle East as Iran retaliates against other states in the region. CEO of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt discusses the state of antisemitism in the U.S., weighing in on university campus changes and potential bias in anti-Iran War sentiment. Plus, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is calling OpenClaw “the next ChatGPT,” and MSNow’s Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski and HSBC’s Racquel Oden discuss their Know Your Value venture, highlighting financial fluency among women.    Dan Murphy - 02:45 Jonathan Greenblatt - 13:30 Mika Brzezinski & Racquel Oden - 24:01   In this episode: Jonathan Greenblatt, @JGreenblattADL Dan Murphy, @dan_murphy Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie 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.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses President Trump’s resolve in the Iran War, as well as the conflict’s timeline. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is preparing for the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s pick for DHS Secretary, Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma). In addition to the hearing, Sen. Paul discusses his opposition to the Iran War. Plus, the Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott discuss the regulatory and “NIMBY” hurdles to solving America’s affordable housing crisis.   Kevin Hassett - 4:57 Senator Rand Paul - 17:33 Jonathan & Drew Scott - 28:35   In this episode: Rand Paul, @SenRandPaul Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie 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.

Starting the third week of the war in the Middle East, Morgan Stanley’s chief of U.S. equity strategy Mike Wilson discusses the energy and broader markets and considers the likelihood of a recession in the short term. On the ground in Dubai, CNBC’s Dan Murphy reports on Iran’s strikes on the UAE’s critical energy infrastructure and transportation hub. The Strait of Hormuz is pivotal to the conflict; President Trump is reportedly planning a coalition of naval escorts through the channel key for the world’s energy supply. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera offers her perspective on the oil markets, investor sentiment, and geopolitics. Plus, the U.S. and China are holding trade talks in Paris, and a federal judge has blocked subpoenas to the Federal Reserve in the criminal investigation of Jerome Powell.    Steve Liesman - 13:13 Mike Wilson - 19:12 Michelle Caruso-Cabrera - 27:48   In this episode: Dan Murphy, @dan_murphy Steve Liesman, @steveliesman Robert Frank, @robtfrank Michael Santoli, @michaelsantoli Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie 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.

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China are rising ahead of a high-stakes summit in Beijing now less than three weeks away. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer discusses the administration’s new trade investigations, the state of relations with China, the impact of the Iran war, and President Trump’s tariff agenda. Then, with TSA workers set to miss their first paycheck of the shutdown, former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson explains what the Senate’s funding fight could mean for airport staffing and air travel. Plus, CNBC’s Robert Frank on Democrats’ plan to raise taxes on the rich, and CNBC’s Dan Murphy on the drone strike that hit Dubai’s financial district Friday morning.   Jamieson Greer -13:18 Robert Frank - 24:13 Jeh Johnson - 30:24   In this episode: Robert Frank, @robtfrank Jamieson Greer, @jamiesongreer Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Zach Vallese, @ZachVallese Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More than 30 countries have agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves as the war-driven supply shock sends crude above $100 a barrel. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright discusses America’s plan to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the effort to stabilize oil prices, and whether the U.S. Navy could help escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Then, CNBC’s Dan Murphy reports on Iran’s escalating attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure across the Gulf. And, Defense Department CTO Emil Michael takes aim at Anthropic’s AI models over concerns about ideology in military supply chains. Plus, Elon Musk unveils the new Tesla-xAI project “Macrohard,” and CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on the Trump administration’s next tariff steps.   Sec. Chris Wright - 15:39 Emil Michael - 33:28   In this episode: Sec. Chris Wright, @SecretaryWright Eamon Javers, @EamonJavers Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie 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.

Microsoft is backing Anthropic in its skirmish with the Trump Administration’s Pentagon, arguing a temporary restraining order would avoid disrupting the military’s use of AI. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis maintains his blockade on voting for Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh as long as there is a still a DOJ criminal investigation against current Chair Jerome Powell, and key traffic remains stalled in the Strait of Hormuz.  Then, entrepreneur, author and sometime politician Andrew Yang warns today’s young people could struggle in a job market changed by the speedy rise of AI technology.  And CNBC’s Robert Frank looks into what the wealthy are buying at auction – to stave off worries from volatile markets.    Sign up for CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter: https://www.cnbc.com/newsletter/inside-wealth/   Andrew Yang     20:37 Robert Frank    34:04   In this episode: Andrew Yang, @AndrewYang Robert Frank, @robtfrank Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie 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.

Chevron and Shell are nearing their first big production deal in Venezuela since the capture of Nicolas Maduro, Disney names its next president of Disneyland Resort, Senate aids get approval to use three AI chatbots for work, the Trump Administration restarts Global Entry after a pause, and Softbank’s Japanese Payment app PayPay sets a price range for its IPO.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.