Treasury Sec. Bessent, AI Control, & the White House Press Pool 9/21/26

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is fresh off a meeting with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, just a few days before the meeting between President Trump and President Xi this week. Sec. Bessent shares takeaways from his own meeting, including his perspective on AI competition between the U.S. and China and the regulatory responsibility of AI developers. Plus, Sec. Bessent discusses the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike and President Trump’s decision to revoke credentials from CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists in the White House press pool. CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on the joint lawsuit CNN, MS Now, and Politico filed against the Trump administration in response. In a discussion about AI safety and ethics, Stuart Russell, University of California at Berkeley professor and president of the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI, considers the likelihood of maintaining control of AI as it grows more capable. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has dismissed many AI concerns as “doomsday narratives.”  Eamon Javers - 03:56Stuart Russell - 14:16Sec. Scott Bessent - 30:35  In this episode:Scott Bessent, @SecScottBessenEamon Javers, @eamonjaversJoe 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.

Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft AI CEO, says artificial intelligence models need to stay aligned with humanity’s interests and says that, for his peers in the technology industry, it’s the most responsible path.  This conversation caps off a week of warnings about AI from guests on Squawk Pod.  The New York Knicks had to pause single-game ticket pricing for the season ahead when a glitch led to some eye-poppingly large numbers.  Sports manager Rich Kleiman is bullish on the future of the sports economy – with so much choice for consumers in how and where they want to cheer on their favorite athletes.  And, the end of an era in Omaha as Warren Buffett announces he is stepping down as chairman of the board of Berkshire Hathaway after a 60-plus-year run.  Mustafa Suleyman - 19:18Rich Kleiman - 34:14  In this episode:Mustafa Suleyman, @mustafasuleymanRich Kleiman, @richkleimanJoe 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 Federal Reserve delivered a much-anticipated rate hike, part of new Chair Kevin Warsh’s goal to combat inflation. CNBC’s Steve Liesman reports on President Trump’s reaction to the rate-setting committee's unanimous move, and former Vice Chair Roger Ferguson describes what could happen to the economy now.  Rahm Emanuel, former Ambassador and former Chicago Mayor, on the personal politics of today’s Democratic Party.  Plus, OpenAI discloses new instances of AI models breaking past guardrails.  Steve Liesman - 04:25Roger Ferguson - 11:31Rahm Emanuel - 25:59  In this episode:Steve Liesman, @steveliesmanJoe 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.

Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, and Dario Amodei discussed AI guardrails at the Salesforce conference this week, each with a different perspective on safety and innovation. In a Wall Street Journal piece, Reciprocal Research director Cameron Berg argues that AI systems are being built faster than humans can understand them. He pushes for study of the “science of the AI mind” in this modern era of science fiction. Billionaire mutual funder Ron Baron made literal billions from his long-term bets on Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX companies. In an extended conversation, he discusses data centers in space, dystopian robots, and the potential tie-up of Tesla and SpaceX. Plus, bitcoin fell after the Clarity Act failed to pass the Senate, and diesel prices hit a record high.  Ron Baron - 15:54Cameron Berg - 48:52 In this episode:Ron Baron, @BaronCapitalCameron Berg, @camhbergJoe 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.

Seven weeks away from the midterm elections, Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) discusses his own reelection campaign, the future of the Democratic Party, and rumors of his own run for President. Gov. Moore also weighs in on regulating data centers and their energy consumption. Manufacturing company Flex is spinning off its power and cloud business, and CEO Revaithi Advaithi explains her role in the AI infrastructure ecosystem and the long road of power development in the U.S. Plus, President Trump and Jensen Huang have weighed in on AI regulations, warnings, and guardrails.  Gov. Wes Moore - 14:06Revathi Advaithi - 30:59  In this episode: Gov. Wes Moore, @iamwesmooreRevathi Advaithi, @RevathiAdvaithiJoe 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.

 Leaders in AI have joined a refrain to slow the pace of innovation as fears of AI’s risk to humanity mount. Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Satya Nadella, and Elon Musk have all commented on the concerns, while President Trump insists that competing with China is paramount. Former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, now an Independent, calls on President Trump to use his executive power to pause AI IPOs until regulation is passed. CNBC’s Leslie Picker reports on the IPO timeline for Anthropic and OpenAI amid the calls for a slowdown. Plus, Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson considers methods for humans to maintain control of AI.  Leslie Picker - 19:36Joe Manchin - 24:49Walter Isaacson - 42:31 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Manchin, @Sen_JoeManchinLeslie Picker, @LesliePickerKatie 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.

25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Squawk Box remembers those who were lost and those who rebuilt. KBW CEO Tom Michaud, spared that day by mere chance, remembers the third of his colleagues who were killed in the south World Trade Center tower. Michaud also celebrates the heroism and unity that came after that day and highlights ways to foster a resilient community in New York today. In 2026, AI is becoming a flashpoint for concern and for unity. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has suggested that cybersecurity companies stoking the fires of alarm, while President Trump dismissed AI fears and OpenAI’s Sam Altman held a company all-hands after AI researchers shared concerns publicly. Plus, August’s CPI report has raised the likelihood of an interest rate hike from the Fed.  Tom Michaud - 15:13Steve Liesman - 26:14 In this episode: Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinSteve Liesman, @steveliesmanKatie 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.

Former Google Design Ethicist Tristan Harris is now co-founder and president of the Center for Humane Technology, and he explains the alarm from AI researchers, executives, and investors on rogue and “uncontrollable” AI. Harris comments on AI regulation, leadership, the new opinion piece from Paul Tudor Jones, and recent departures from frontier labs like Anthropic. Canada’s Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre discusses the U.S.-Canada trade relationship and the future of his country’s politics. Plus, President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Democrat Senator John Fetterman spoke at the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas. Tristan Harris              18:34Pierre Poilievre           37:39 In this episode: Joe 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.

Microsoft has teamed up with the American Federation of Teachers to create guardrails for AI in classrooms. Microsoft President Brad Smith and AFT President Randi Weingarten discuss data protections for students using AI as well as the ongoing challenge of matching the paces of AI safety and AI innovation. A year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) has released his book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt.” Gov. Cox discusses the importance of bipartisan discussion in a healthy democracy, and addresses concerns about data center construction in his state. Plus, a report from the Telluride Film Festival and an Anthropic researcher has resigned in a surprising and scathing social media post.   Brad Smith & Randi Weingarten - 16:42Gov. Spencer Cox - 34:26 In this episode: Joe 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.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods–including on U.S. steel and dairy–have taken effect as fallout continues from the collapse of trade talks last month. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is celebrating AGI after OpenAI released GPT-6 while the lab’s chief scientist issued a warning about AI scaling. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, discusses fraud in America’s healthcare system, global drug pricing and innovation, and the widespread impact of obesity drugs. Plus, a new documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was unveiled at Telluride, and investor Kevin O’Leary has taken possession of an $11 million Shohei Ohtani baseball card. He explains how he’s diversifying his own portfolio with collectible assets like this one.  Dr. Mehmet Oz - 12:47Kevin O’Leary - 31:02 In this episode: Dr. Mehmet Oz, @DrOzCMSKevin O’Leary, @kevinolearytvBecky 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.