Squawk Pod – NYT DealBook, Wrapped: Alex Karp, PM Netanyahu, & Erika Kirk (12/4/25)

Overview

This episode of Squawk Pod (December 4, 2025) recaps the key moments from the New York Times DealBook Summit, curated by and featuring interviews from CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin. The episode stitches together high-impact insights and debates from global leaders, CEOs, and political figures, zeroing in on issues of economic policy, political division, AI innovation, global crises, vaccine regulation, and the shifting definitions of progressivism and conservatism.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant: Economic Optimism Versus Market Jitters

• Trump Administration's Economic Team:

  • Speculation around Besant’s potential as next head of the National Economic Council if Kevin Hassett becomes Fed Chair. (02:32)
  • Concerns about candidates' independence from presidential influence, especially regarding interest rate decisions.
    • "Is President Trump going to put in someone that's just going to do what he wants and lower rates and his Fed independence in question?" – Joe Kernan (04:06)
  • Discussion about whether Trump's instincts for lower rates have coincidentally aligned with economic trends.

• Economic Outlook for 2026:

  • Besant downplays broad economic weakness, disputing Jamie Dimon’s warning about the economy slowing down.
    • "I am very optimistic about the economy next year. We've had a 15% growth in capex, and historically, capex is always followed by employment growth." – Andrew Ross Sorkin (06:44)
  • Acknowledges housing softness and the impact of Fed tightening but views AI-driven capex optimistically.

2. Dario Amodei (Anthropic CEO): AI’s Technological Promise and Economic Risk

• AI Bubble Concerns:

  • Amodei explains confidence in the technology but unease about monetization and capital allocation.
    • "I feel really solid. I think I'm one of the most bullish people around..." – Dario Amodei (07:45)
    • Warns that a ‘YOLO’ (you only live once) mentality from some industry players (hinting at OpenAI) may threaten the ecosystem if investments and infrastructure are mistimed. (08:25)

• AI Reliability and Consumer Trust:

  • Lighthearted but pointed exchange about current AI models giving inconsistent answers, sometimes dangerously wrong (e.g., mushroom identification memes).
    • "They do tell you stuff that they have no idea about...are they going to get better?" – Joe Kernan (09:20)
  • Sorkin admits regular inaccuracy in generative AI outputs, despite progress in video generation.

3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: ICC Arrest Threats & U.S. Political Backing

• Netanyahu Responds to ICC and New York City Politics:

  • On whether he’d visit New York given ICC warrants and threats of arrest from new administration:
    • "Andrew, I'll come to New York. Okay?...Yes, of course I will." – Benjamin Netanyahu (11:49)

• State vs. Federal Powers & Political Theater

  • Discussion about federal vs. state rights and the inconsistency of their invocation depending on political needs.

4. Paramount/Warner Bros. Deal: Board Independence and Corporate Governance

• Breakup Fees and Board Dynamics:
  • Paramount reportedly raising its Warner Bros. breakup fee offer to $5 billion.
  • Discussion of the difference between “disinterested” and “independent” board members, with a humorous note on meeting fatigue.
    • "If I've got disinterested board members, I don't want them on the board...I think the word should be independent board members." – Andrew Ross Sorkin (14:48)

5. Dr. Scott Gottlieb: FDA Vaccine Policy Uproar

• Editorial Crisis:

  • Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner, articulates grave concerns over new leadership—asserts Dr. Vinay Prasad and political appointees are fundamentally altering the vaccine approval process in ways that may restrict American access to crucial vaccines.
    • "They're systematically trying to dismantle components of the vaccine approval process to make sure vaccines won't be available." – Dr. Scott Gottlieb (22:31)
  • Heated debate about evidence standards, with Gottlieb warning of industry monopolies and stifled innovation if "immunobridging" studies are abandoned.

• Political Overlap with Anti-Vax Sentiment:

  • Direct mention of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine influence on current regulatory direction.
    • "I think Secretary Kennedy has been very honest about his intentions. I think Prasad, not so much..." – Dr. Scott Gottlieb (23:40)

• Need for Evidence and Access:

  • Gottlieb challenges whether Americans truly want to see vaccines (e.g., flu, pneumococcal) disappear due to regulatory overreach.
    • "Americans need to make a decision. Do they want access to the flu vaccine? Even if you choose not to take it, do you want it to be available or not?" – Dr. Scott Gottlieb (26:51)

6. DealBook Summit Recap: Top Moments

Alex Karp (Palantir CEO): Progressivism, Party Realignment, and Moral Clarity

• Progressive Identity Crisis:
  • Karp forcefully insists he hasn't shifted; it's the definition of ‘progressive’ that has changed.
    • "The idea that what's being called progressive is in any way progressive is a complete farce...Being progressive doesn't mean just, oh, it feels so good to be involved in dysfunction...that's not progressive. That's honestly cowardly." – Alex Karp (31:04)

California Governor Gavin Newsom: Democratic Party’s Path Forward

• Post-Election Analysis:
  • Newsom addresses Democratic losses and the need for the party to appear "more culturally normal."
    • "We have to be more culturally normal." – Gavin Newsom (33:08)
  • Cites inflation, interest rates, and messaging as key factors, debates California as a Democratic blueprint.

Erika Kirk (Turning Point USA): Forgiveness, Youth, and GOP’s Future

• Personal and Political Healing:
  • On leading Turning Point USA after Charlie Kirk's assassination:
    • "It's a conversation that's being had that is...uncomfortable and riling things up. But I think it's healthy..." – Erika Kirk (36:16)
  • Discusses forgiving Charlie’s assassin during the funeral—emphasizes authenticity and faith.
    • "That was not something preplanned. That was not...I'm not going to say something I don't truly believe." – Erika Kirk (36:58)
  • Shares Charlie Kirk’s role as a hoped-for peacemaker between President Trump and Elon Musk, symbolically achieved at his funeral.

Notable Quotes By Segment (with Timestamps)

• Besant on Economy:
  "I am very optimistic about the economy next year..." — Andrew Ross Sorkin (06:44)

• Dario Amodei on AI Risk:
  "I think there's a real dilemma deriving from uncertainty in how quickly the economic value is going to grow..." — Dario Amodei (08:25)

• Netanyahu on Visiting NY:
  "Andrew, I'll come to New York. Okay?...Yes, of course I will." — Benjamin Netanyahu (11:49)

• Gottlieb on Vaccine Policy:
  "They're systematically trying to dismantle components of the vaccine approval process to make sure vaccines won't be available." — Dr. Scott Gottlieb (22:31)

• Karp on Progressives:
  "The idea that what's being called progressive is in any way progressive is a complete farce." — Alex Karp (31:04)

• Newsom on Democrats:
  "We have to be more culturally normal." — Gavin Newsom (33:08)

• Erika Kirk on Forgiveness:
  "That was not something preplanned. That was not...I'm not going to say something I don't truly believe." — Erika Kirk (36:58)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Summary | |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:32 | Trump’s economic team speculation; Fed/NEC discussion | | 06:44 | Besant on U.S. economic outlook, capex, and optimism | | 07:45 | Amodei on AI’s technological and economic risks | | 11:49 | Netanyahu vows to visit New York despite ICC threats | | 17:54 | Dr. Gottlieb on FDA changes and vaccine accessibility | | 31:04 | Alex Karp on meaning of ‘progressive’ and party realignment | | 33:08 | Newsom on Democrats needing to be “more culturally normal” | | 36:16 | Erika Kirk on forgiveness and leading conservative youth |

Memorable Moments

• Humor & Host Banter:

  • Misunderstanding of “disinterested” vs. “independent” board members.
  • Running joke about the “Joe GPT” AI model and generative AI’s flaws.

• Emotional Impact:

  • Erika Kirk’s live processing and faith-driven forgiveness at her husband’s funeral.
  • The symbolic coming together of Trump and Musk, as envisioned by Charlie Kirk.

• Intellectual Fireworks:

  • Karp’s unguarded critique of modern progressivism.
  • Newsom’s public introspection about the Democratic Party’s future.
  • Gottlieb’s alarm at regulatory threats to biotechnology and vaccine innovation.

Summary

This post-DealBook Summit edition of Squawk Pod offers a spirited, high-stakes survey of the major controversies and conversations shaping U.S. policy, technology, and culture as 2025 closes. The episode is notable for its tight curation of political candor, economic clarity, and philosophical self-examination, delivered in the voices of the country’s most influential figures—accompanied by the blend of skepticism, humor, and genuine curiosity that Squawk Box audiences know and love.