5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 12/12/2025

President Trump has signed executive orders on AI, the Federal Reserve has voted to reelect 11 of its dozen federal bank presidents, Costco shares are slightly lower after that company’s quarterly report, NASCAR has settled an antitrust lawsuit brought by two of its teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan, and Elon Musk has confirmed reports that SpaceX plans to IPO next year. 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.

The Federal Reserve has announced a 25 basis point rate cut as President Trump inches closer to naming his pick for next Federal Reserve chair. CNBC’s Sharon Epperson explains the decision’s impact on consumers and personal finance. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) discusses the independence of the Fed and Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery assets. Famed “big short” investor Steve Eisman shares his perspective on the markets, including the AI thesis that he’s “paying attention to every day.” Eisman also gives a personal PSA after his breast cancer diagnosis. Plus, Oracle shares tumbled after reporting its quarterly numbers, the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, and Cisco stock eclipsed a record set in 2000. Sharon Epperson - 16:06Steve Eisman - 19:58Senator Elizabeth Warren - 34:55 In this episode:Elizabeth Warren, @SenWarrenSharon Epperson, @sharon_eppersonBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe 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.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) is co-leading his party’s congressional commission on AI, and he highlights bipartisan efforts to legislate AI and technology safety. Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton, now U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, discusses AI regulation and affordability and crime in the city. Plus, President Trump is inching closer to announcing his pick for Fed Chair and CNBC’s Emily Wilkins reports on the Republican reactions to President Trump’s plan to allow Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China.  Emily Wilkins - 6:48Jay Clayton - 18:19Rep. Josh Gottheimer - 44:51 In this episode:Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkinsJosh Gottheimer, @RepJoshGBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe 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.

The price of Warner Brothers Discovery could creep higher as both Paramount and Netflix ready to up their offers in a possible bidding war, computer memory maker and Nvidia supplier SK hynix is considering listing shares in the U.S., Disney is nominating former Apple executive Jeff Williams to join its board, Eli Lilly will spend $6 billion to build a manufacturing plant in Alabama, and European company Delivery Hero says its evaluating its strategic options after a stock slump. 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.

Walmart is now the largest company to switch its public listing exchange, debuting trading on the Nasdaq today. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon discusses his soon-ending tenure and the company’s new focus on AI and technology. Then, Republican strategist Scott Jennings discusses capitalism, the evolution of conservatism in the United States, and his new book, “A Revolution of Common Sense.” Plus, President Trump will allow Nvidia to ship its H200 AI chips to approved customers in China, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has launched a hostile bid for Warner Brothers Discovery after the WBD announced Netflix as its winning bidder.  Doug McMillon - 17:57Scott Jennings - 34:57 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe 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.

Sitting National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is shortlisted to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Director Hassett weighs in on monetary policy–despite not being in the role quite yet. As the media world digests Netflix’s winning bid for Warner Brothers Discovery’s film and streaming assets. Former MTV president Michael Wolf explains Netflix’s position in the industry and the battle for eyeballs. Plus, Elon Musk is firing back at the European Union after the bloc fined X $140m, and changes are afoot at Berkshire Hathaway just as Warren Buffett readies to hand the CEO reins to his successor Greg Abel.  Kevin Hassett - 20:47Michael Wolf - 39:27 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe 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.

IBM is reportedly in talks to acquire Confluent, CRH, Carvana, and Comfort Systems are being added to the S&P 500, the Trump administration will forgive the remaining $11m civil fine against Southwest Airlines, the Trump administration will unveil its aid package for farmers, and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” won the box office this weekend. 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 https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Netflix has reached a deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery film and streaming assets, ending a dramatic bidding war between Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix. Andrew Ross Sorkin, Becky Quick, and Joe Kernen examine the terms, the break-up fees, the regulatory risks, and the math for shareholders with CNBC’s David Faber. Together, they consider whether Paramount Skydance owner David Ellison will pay the breakup fee and what players are willing to pay for key intellectual property. Entertainment journalist and Puck founding partner Matt Belloni offers his insight from sources inside Hollywood and warns, many creatives in the industry are not happy about the deal. David Faber - 10:41Matt Belloni - 21:05 In this episode:Matt Belloni, @MattBelloniDavid Faber, @davidfaberBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew 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.

Docusign shares fell even after the company raised its full year outlook, Hewlett Packard Enterprise missed Wall Street’s expectations for its fourth quarter revenue, shares of Ulta Beauty are on the rise after the company raised its forecasts for full year revenue, Apple has announced key leadership transitions, and Costco is adding President Biden’s Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to its board after announcing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over tariffs earlier this week.  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.

The 2025 New York Times DealBook Summit has wrapped, and Andrew Ross Sorkin is back on the Squawk Box set to discuss the highlights with Joe Kernen. He shares the best moments from interviews with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palantir’s Alex Karp, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Turning Point USA’s Erika Kirk, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Secretary Bessent, separately, is reportedly in consideration to lead the National Economic Council, should current NEC director Kevin Hassett be named the next Federal Reserve Chair. Then, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb discusses his concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to regulating vaccines. Dr. Scott Gottlieb - 17:27In this episode:Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew 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.