Private health insurance companies are in the spotlight, as public frustration with the American health system grows. Wendell Potter was once vice president of Cigna, until the work convinced him to quit the industry completely. In a recent op-ed, Potter highlights the pressure shareholders have placed on public health companies, and where the industry can go from here. Next, The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern shares her top tech gift ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers. On her list are yearly digital subscriptions and paid password managers. Plus, avoids-a-shutdown-but-leaves-a-big-mess-for-trump-and-republicans-in-2025.html">lawmakers avoided a government shutdown, President-elect Trump has taps-ex-treasury-official-miran-as-chair-of-council-of-economic-advisers.html">new picks taps-apprentice-producer-mark-burnett-as-special-envoy-to-the-united-kingdom.html">for his administration, and the Lion King prequel fell flat during its box office opening weekend.

Emily Wilkins - 02:28

Wendell Potter - 14:37

Joanna Stern - 23:45

In this episode:

Wendell Potter, @wendellpotter

Joanna Stern, @JoannaStern

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

A government shutdown looms this Friday, and Congress is scrambling to find a funding bill that both parties will approve. The rush comes after President-elect Trump (and Elon Musk) scrapped a bill, and then republicans-say-they-have-deal-to-avert-government-shutdown.html">a short term bill backed by both Trump and Musk failed to pass on Thursday. Emily Wilkins reports from DC on plans for “plan C,” and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) discusses the likelihood of another funding fight after the holidays. Kentucky distiller Michter’s is bracing for the possibility of a 50% tariffs on exports to the EU. CEO Joe Magliocco explains the strain of tariffs on the whiskey business, as well as President-elect says-european-union-must-buy-us-oil-and-gas-in-trade-ultimatum.html">Trump’s overnight tariff threat to the European Union. Plus, there’s a new bipartisan push to extend the deadline to ban TikTok. 

Sen. Markwayne Mullin - 18:17

Emily Wilkins - 27:33

Joe Magliocco - 33:47 

In this episode:

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, @SenMullin

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

The Friday night deadline is looming for Congress to avoid a government shutdown after President-elect Trump, with the help of Elon Musk, gop-trump-musk-government-shutdown.html">sunk a compromise government funding bill. Representative Pete Sessions (R-Texas), DOGE Caucus Co-Chair, discusses where the negotiations stand and says he wants a “clean” continuing resolution without extraneous items. Next, Yale School of Management’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld shares CEO sentiment on tariffs and RFK Jr., based on a Yale survey of 200 top executives. Sonnenfeld weighs in on leaders like Jeff Bezos visiting Mar-a-Lago ahead of the inauguration. Plus, markets sunk on the Fed’s 25 basis point rate cut and its signals for 2025. 

Rep. Pete Sessions - 16:42

Jeff Sonnenfeld - 26:53

In this episode:

Rep. Pete Sessions, @PeteSessions

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, @JeffSonnenfeld

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Congressional leaders have unveiled a 1,547-page releases-short-term-funding-bill-as-deadline-nears-to-avert-a-holiday-shutdown.html">stopgap spending bill that intends to avoid a government shutdown by the end of the week. The bill includes funding for disaster aid and farmers, reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, pay raises for lawmakers, and more. CNBC’s Emily Wilkins has the latest on the hurdles Congress faces to pass the legislation. Next, MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough discusses the funding bill, as well as the influence of DOGE on Congress and whether there should be a congressional stock trading ban. Plus, Cris Krebs, SentinelOne chief intelligence officer and former CISA Director, gives his insights on cybersecurity threats under the incoming Trump administration.

Joe Scarborough - 21:45

Chris Krebs - 32:30

In this episode:

Emily Wilkins, @emrwilkins

Joe Scarborough,@JoeNBC

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan sits down with Becky Quick on the Bank of America trading floor. He discusses his market outlook for 2025, the current state of the consumer, the Federal Reserve’s next move, and the incoming Trump administration, including M&A and tariffs. Next, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) discuss their bipartisan bill: the “Take It Down” Act would force social media companies to remove graphic deep fakes. Plus, Friday is the deadline for funding the government, Trump vows to “knock out” drug industry middlemen, and former TV host watson-sentenced-prison-ozy-media.html">Carlos Watson is sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.

Brian Moynihan - 15:03

Amy Klobuchar & Ted Cruz - 34:12

In this episode:

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, @SenAmyKlobuchar

Sen. Ted Cruz, @SenTedCruz

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Zach Vallese, @zachvallese

Drones have been spotted flying above New Jersey over the past several days, sparking concern among residents and local lawmakers. New Jersey Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is urging action and clear communication from the federal government to quell public concern. Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson discusses Musk’s DOGE leadership and his relationship with President-elect Trump. A former news editor, Isaacson weighs in on ABC’s $15M defamation settlement with Trump and the flow of CEOs visiting Mar-a-Lago. Plus, the President-elect is reportedly considering privatizing the U.S. Postal Service, and Apple plans to introduce a foldable iPhone.

Mikie Sherrill - 14:49

Walter Isaacson - 23:51

In this episode:

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, @RepSherrill

Walter Isaacson, @WalterIsaacson

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

President-elect Trump has reportedly signals-readiness-to-mend-ties-with-us-ahead-of-trump-inauguration.html">invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for his inauguration next month. CNBC Beijing Bureau chief Eunice Yoon says it’s unlikely that Xi will attend, but shares her insight on Trump’s China policy, including the threat of tariffs and his stance on Taiwan. Next, Spanx founder Sara Blakely has a new venture: a high-heeled sneaker called “Sneex.” The self-made billionaire discusses her entrepreneurship journey and inspiration, from shapewear to shoes. Plus, Amazon reportedly plans to donate $1M to Trump’s inauguration, egg-prices-may-soon-flirt-with-record-highs-supplier.html">higher egg prices are back, just in time for the holidays, and mysterious drone sightings continue over New Jersey.

Eunice Yoon - 15:35

Sara Blakely - 23:38

In this episode:

Eunice Yoon, @onlyyoontv

Sara Blakely, @sarablakely

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

New bipartisan legislation in Washington care-stocks-fall-after-warren-pbm-bill-brian-thompson-shooting.html">aims to break up pharmacy benefit managers after years of scrutiny on PBMs from Congress and the FTC. Health care insurance executive Mark Bertolini is now CEO of Oscar Health, and he spent years leading Aetna and CVS Health. Today, he reflects on American health care, his vision for an improved system, and his own security detail in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder. In a wide ranging and very personal conversation, Bertolini shares his experience with 18 years of chronic pain and the treatment that changed his life. Plus, Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) is explaining his edited Spotify wrapped, and Elon Musk is inching closer to trillionaire status, thanks to a reaches-record-boosted-by-64percent-pop-since-trump-election-victory.html">new Tesla stock milestone.  

Mark Bertolini - 17:42

In this episode:

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

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Two major corporate deals withered on Tuesday. A judge blocked the pending $25 billion merger of grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons, and President Biden reportedly plans to block U.S. Steel’s $14.1 billion sale to Nippon Steel. Dealmaking on public markets will continue in 2025, according to Lead Edge Capital founding partner Mitchell Green. The Alibaba, Uber, and Spotify backer discusses the IPO window as we wind down 2024. His rationale for a slow year for market debuts: many of the best companies raised enough capital in 2021 and 2022 to hold off on an IPO. Plus, Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka discusses the potential impact of President-elect Trump’s tariff plans on the supply chain and consumer prices. 

Mitchell Green - 14:35

Gene Seroka - 23:31

In this episode:

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

mangione-murder-charge-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson.html">New York prosecutors have charged Ivy League grad Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, court records show. Though a manhunt is over for now, the health care industry may be ready for change. Next, Carnegie Endowment senior fellow Karim Sadjapour examines the power vacuum in Syria and the new leadership’s agenda for the nation. Plus, Dunkin' Donuts is making waves, but not just in your cup—find out why they’re showing up in bathrooms. And as the holiday travel season ramps up, The Points Guy Brian Kelly shares his top tips on how to maximize travel rewards and save this season.

Karim Sadjapour - 16:17Brian Kelly - 26:43In this episode:Karim Sadjadpour, @ksadjadpourBrian Kelly, @thepointsguyBecky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

Cameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY