Squawk Pod: Musk’s Mega-Merger, Disney’s New CEO, & Patriots CEO Bob Kraft - 02/02/26 | Audio Only

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 03, 2026 at 18:17  |  33:04  |  CNBC
Speakers
Julia Boorstin — Senior Media & Tech Correspondent
Joe Kernen — Co-Anchor, Squawk Box
Andrew Ross Sorkin — Co-Anchor, Squawk Box
Emily Wilkins — CNBC Reporter
Robert Kraft — Chairman and CEO, Kraft Group; Founder, Blue Square Alliance

Summary

The episode covers Elon Musk's SpaceX acquiring xAI to form a $1.25 trillion private company ahead of a possible SpaceX IPO, with hosts debating space-based AI data centers and antitrust implications. It also features Robert Kraft discussing the Blue Square Alliance's Super Bowl ad against antisemitism and the Patriots' Super Bowl run. Disney announced Josh D'Amaro as Bob Iger's successor, with CNBC's Julia Boorstin explaining the parks/experiences division's central role. The government shutdown may end soon, though the jobs report is delayed.

  • SpaceX is acquiring xAI in an all-stock deal valued at $1.25 trillion.
  • Hosts discuss space-based data centers, vertical integration, and potential antitrust concerns.
  • Disney named Josh D'Amaro CEO, with Dana Walden as president and chief creative officer.
  • Julia Boorstin notes parks/experiences are Disney's main operating income driver.
  • Robert Kraft promotes the Blue Square Alliance's Super Bowl ad against antisemitism.
  • Kraft discusses the Patriots' rebuild and Super Bowl appearance.
  • Emily Wilkins reports the shutdown may end today, but the jobs report is delayed.
Ideas
Julia Boorstin Senior Media & Tech Correspondent 29:48
Disney succession boosts parks profit engine
Disney's CEO succession is positive because Josh D'Amaro, who has run the parks and experiences segment, is becoming CEO while Dana Walden stays to oversee the entertainment IP engine. The parks/experiences division already generates about two-thirds of Disney's operating income and had three times the entertainment division's operating income in the most recent quarter, and Disney has a 10-year expansion plan including new cruise ships, Abu Dhabi, and the Epic Games/Fortnite partnership, making experiences the company's key profit and growth engine.
DIS MED
Up Next
21:46
Silver ‘Nowhere Near A Peak’ Says CEO Who Called Rally; Is $300 Next? | Shawn Khunkhun
The David Lin Report · Feb 03
8:43
Will this week's earnings deliver?
CNBC · Feb 03
4:46
Cisco president breaks down factors that could hold AI back
CNBC · Feb 03
4:12
BLS Will Delay the January Jobs Report Due to Shutdown
Bloomberg Markets · Feb 03
18:16
Blackstone’s Jon Gray: Stay Calm, Stay Positive, Never Give Up
Morgan Stanley · Feb 03

This CNBC video, published February 03, 2026, features Julia Boorstin discussing DIS. 1 trade idea extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Julia Boorstin  · Tickers: DIS