Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer 12/30/25 — Episode Summary

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Jim Cramer (CNBC)
Guests: Tim Cook (Apple CEO), Wendell Weeks (Corning CEO)

Overview: American Innovation and Rebuilding Domestic Manufacturing

This episode centers on Apple's unprecedented $600 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing over the next four years, highlighted by a deep dive into Apple’s partnership with Corning in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Host Jim Cramer features interviews with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Corning CEO Wendell Weeks, exploring the economic, technological, and social ripple effects of investing in American small towns, fortifying domestic supply chains, and catalyzing innovation in both glass manufacturing and semiconductors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ripple Effect of Apple’s U.S. Investments

• Apple’s $600 Billion U.S. Commitment

  • Tim Cook describes Apple’s broad U.S. manufacturing expansion, up from a $1 billion pledge in 2017 to $600 billion now, impacting 79 factories and supporting 450,000 jobs across all 50 states. (03:29, 28:03)
  • Cook's emphasis: “We are putting $600 billion to work in the next four years. And so it is an extraordinary commitment.” (03:29–03:56)

• Harrodsburg, KY as a Case Study

  • Corning’s plant, now 100% dedicated to Apple, produces all the ceramic shield glass for iPhones and Apple Watches globally.
  • Wendell Weeks: “We’re going to triple production, we’re going to increase our workforce by 50%.” (15:09)
  • The partnership is framed as a model for reviving small-town America through advanced manufacturing jobs and innovation.

• The Domino Effect & Supply Chain Strategy

  • Cook notes the “ripple effect” of Apple’s presence attracting domestic and foreign suppliers, fueling a local economic boom.
  • Quote: “If we come, there will be more companies coming. It's a domino effect kind of thing.” (04:45)

2. Collaboration: Innovation at the Heart

• Corning’s Unique Role

  • Only Apple receives Corning’s most advanced glass, a result of two decades of R&D collaboration.
  • Wendell Weeks: “Everything we do for Apple is 100% only for Apple. [...] This high integration makes it almost impossible to replicate.” (17:44, 17:43)

• Ceramic Shield & Future Technologies

  • The new ceramic shield for iPhones/Apple Watches is “about 50% stronger than the first.”
  • Ongoing joint engineering teams are working on “three new generations of manufacturing processes.” (15:09–15:29)

3. The National and Global Context

• “Enterprise vs. Government” Investment

  • Cramer asks if private sector investment “is better than anything the government can do.”
  • Cook: “I think [...] the government has a role in terms of regulation and setting leadership...I think there’s a role for each party.” (04:54–05:23)

• Balancing International Relationships

  • Cook reassures that despite tensions (China, India), Apple maintains “very open line[s] of communication.” Engagement and diplomacy are part of the modern CEO’s role. (07:40–08:11)
  • “Engagement is so important in all of these countries...that’s what we try to do, is bring the best of ourselves to those countries.” (08:11)

• Tariffs, Policy, and Competition

  • Cramer queries if tariffs truly bring jobs back. Cook: “They're a motivating factor for many businesses,” but innovation and competitiveness are crucial. (35:13–35:23)

4. Social Responsibility & The Future of Work

• “Social Compact” and Community Impact

  • Weeks describes Corning’s philosophy of staying committed to towns for generations: “We view that as a social contract...when we dedicate a plant in a community.”
  • Corning adapts, reinventing facilities as industries change, ensuring longevity and multigenerational employment. (26:25–27:37)

• Education, Workforce, and Manufacturing Academies

  • Cramer raises the necessity of education to match new manufacturing demands.
  • Cook mentions Apple's “manufacturing academy in Detroit...to train small and medium businesses.” (05:36, 38:48)
  • He notes the importance of developing curriculum and collaborating with community colleges.

• AI and Young Workers’ Fears

  • On job loss fears: “My advice is to follow your passion and find something that helps other people...you can earn a great living.” (39:40–39:52)

5. The Glass and Semiconductor Supply Chain

• Repatriating Key Components

  • Apple is working with partners (TSMC, Global Wafers, Amcor, Applied Materials) to build semiconductors and related chip components in the U.S. (16:11, 20:35–21:36)
  • “We are beginning the process this year of building system on a chips in Arizona with TSMC.” (16:11)

• Integration and Exclusivity

  • Strict separation between what Corning provides Apple (exclusive innovation) and what it offers other clients like Samsung.
  • “If you want to work with us to innovate...we’ll be happy to work with you...But Apple’s materials are Apple’s materials.” (18:43–19:00)

6. Health, Technology, and Broader Vision

• Apple Watch as a Health Platform

  • With new FDA approval, Apple Watch can now measure hypertension, possibly notifying “1 million people in the first year alone...” (25:15)
  • Cook regularly receives stories from users whose lives were saved by health features. (25:34)

• Expanding Impact Beyond Electronics

  • Corning’s advancements aren’t limited to mobile—they’re rapidly growing in the datacenter business and solar manufacturing (largest ingot wafer plant in Michigan).
  • Wendell Weeks: “If...scale up [glass in data centers] happens, we’ll be two to three times as big [in enterprise business].” (44:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tim Cook on Scale of Investment:
  “It's quantum. It's quantum. And we're so proud of it. We're proud to be making a difference in people's lives.” (10:29)

• Wendell Weeks on Innovation & Partnership:
  “We have Apple people here all the time, they're in our labs...this type of high integration makes it almost impossible to replicate.” (17:44)

• Cook on Tariffs & Policy:
  “They're a motivating factor for many businesses and I hope that there are other factors as well...It's not just one thing. It's innovation plus cost, competitiveness plus quality.” (35:23)

• Cook on Modern CEO Responsibilities:
  “Did you ever think...the role of a CEO would be a global ambassador...make peace with India, with China, with the White House? ... It's a privilege of a lifetime.” (32:18)

• Cook on International Manufacturing:
  “It's not really bringing it back because that manufacturing was not here to begin with...A lot of advanced manufacturing can be done in this country and be done competitively in this country now.” (33:01)

• Cook’s Advice to Young People:
  “My advice is to follow your passion and find something that helps other people. And if you can find the intersection of those two things...you can earn a great living.” (39:52–40:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ripple Effect: Main Street and Apple’s Investment (02:12–04:54)
• Corning-Apple Partnership & Products (12:24–15:54)
• Supply Chain, Semiconductors & American Jobs (16:11–21:36)
• Health Tech Feature: Apple Watch & Hypertension (24:30–25:34)
• The Social Compact & Multi-Generational Impact (26:25–27:37)
• The $600 Billion Question—Implementation & Scale (27:37–29:30)
• CEO as Global Ambassador & Policy Elements (32:18–34:49)
• Education, Manufacturing Academy, & AI Future (38:32–40:47)
• Corning’s Broad Innovation: Datacenters & Solar (41:33–47:45)

Flow, Tone, and Closing Thoughts

Jim Cramer’s signature enthusiasm and direct questioning set a tone of investigative excitement: “It’s better than anything the government can do, isn’t it?” (04:54) The conversations are open, with both Cook and Weeks sharing pride in American innovation and their companies’ leadership roles in reshoring advanced industry. Stories of multigenerational workers and the integration of manufacturing, education, and technology underpin a hopeful, ambitious message about the future of U.S. manufacturing, the resilience of small towns, and the opportunities available for the next generation.

Summary prepared for those who want an in-depth but approachable overview of the episode’s core themes, memorable dialogue, and actionable insights regarding Apple and Corning’s transformative role in American industry.