Squawk Pod: Paths Forward: Venezuela’s Leadership & Rare Disease Regulation - 01/08/26 | Audio Only

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 08, 2026 at 18:20  |  31:59  |  CNBC
Speakers
Joe Kernen — Co-Anchor, Squawk Box
Tom Friedman — New York Times Columnist
Scott Gottlieb — Former FDA Commissioner; Board Member (Pfizer, Illumina, UnitedHealth); Partner at NEA (Venture Capital)
Becky Quick — Co-Anchor, Squawk Box

Summary

The episode covers the uncertain path forward in Venezuela after Maduro's removal, with Tom Friedman arguing that oil companies need democracy, rule of law, and legal certainty before investing. It also discusses Trump's defense budget and buyback criticism, and features a CNBC Cures conversation with Dr. Scott Gottlieb on rare disease regulation and gene therapy advances.

  • Tom Friedman warns Venezuela's mafia regime remains without a democracy pathway, complicating oil investment.
  • Trump's push for $50 oil could pressure major oil companies and shale drillers near break-even.
  • Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion military budget and weapons restocking needs support defense stocks.
  • Trump criticized defense buybacks, dividends, and executive pay, singling out Raytheon/RTX.
  • Scott Gottlieb sees gene therapy technology advancing and cell/gene therapy approvals becoming more mainstream.
  • Regulatory hurdles remain for ultra-rare disease trials; Congress could provide targeted FDA authorities.
  • CNBC Cures initiative focuses on rare disease awareness and patient challenges.
Ideas
Joe Kernen Co-Anchor, Squawk Box 7:32
Defense demand supported by restocking need
The U.S. has depleted a lot of weapons and faces a dangerous world, so defense companies should benefit from the need to restock. This supports a constructive view on defense stocks.
ITA MED
Tom Friedman New York Times Columnist 11:45
Venezuela oil re-entry faces legal risks
Removing Maduro while leaving the corrupt mafia regime in place means oil companies Exxon, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron lack legal structure, rule of law, security, and debt resolution; expecting them to quickly rebuild and pump Venezuelan oil is an illusion.
CVX XOM COP HIGH
Tom Friedman New York Times Columnist 17:17
Trump's $50 oil harms producers
Trump's political goal of $50 oil to lower gasoline prices before the midterms would be very problematic for major oil companies and is close to break-even for shale drillers, pitting political interests against oil company economics.
XOP MED
Scott Gottlieb Former FDA Commissioner; Board Member (Pfizer, Illumina, UnitedHealth); Partner at NEA (Venture Capital) 25:03
Cell and gene therapies becoming mainstream
Gene therapy technology has advanced through AAV vectors, lipid nanoparticles, and synthetic capsids; FDA has moved toward a reproducible pathway for rare diseases, and cell/gene therapy approvals are approaching 10 per year, making them more mainstream despite regulatory hurdles.
Cell and gene therapy HIGH
Scott Gottlieb Former FDA Commissioner; Board Member (Pfizer, Illumina, UnitedHealth); Partner at NEA (Venture Capital) 27:40
Base editing shows good clinical success
Base editing is a promising gene therapy approach because it modifies a patient's existing gene rather than delivering a whole new gene; Beam and Verve are advancing this technology with good clinical success.
Verve BEAM MED
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This CNBC video, published January 08, 2026, features Joe Kernen, Tom Friedman, Scott Gottlieb discussing ITA, CVX, XOM, COP, XOP, Cell and gene therapy, Verve, BEAM. 5 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Joe Kernen, Tom Friedman, Scott Gottlieb  · Tickers: ITA, CVX, XOM, COP, XOP, Cell and gene therapy, Verve, BEAM