SpaceX has surged past expectations - and many of the most valuable companies in the U.S - in its meteoric stock debut. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins believes enthusiasm for Elon Musk’s space company can fuel demand for more initial public offerings. President Trump is at the G-7 meeting of world leaders in France, as negotiations on the wars in Iran and Ukraine continue. Megan Cassella reports on the latest from the summit. And, do sports or pets make you happier? Arthur Brooks on the science behind what our brains love. Megan Cassella 5:38 Paul Atkins 13:29 Arthur Brooks 25:20 In this episode: Paul Atkins, @SECPaulAtkins Arthur Brooks, @arthurbrooks Megan Cassella, @mmcassella Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SpaceX Making IPOs Great Again & Does Your Dog Love You? 6/16/26

Squawk Pod

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** Squawk Pod

## Participants

- **Becky Quick** (None)
- **Joe Kernan** (None)
- **Megan Cassella** (CNBC)
- **Paul Atkins** (Securities and Exchange Commission)
- **Arthur Brooks** (Harvard University)

## Transcript

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[SPEAKER_01] Hey Fidelity! What's it cost to invest with the Fidelity app? Start with as little as $1, with no account fees or trade commissions on US stocks and ETFs. Hmm, that's music to my ears. I can only talk.

[SPEAKER_08] Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Zero dollar commission does not apply to customers designated by Fidelity as a professional equity trader. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a service fee of $100. See details at Fidelity.com slash commissions. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC member NYSE SIP.

[SPEAKER_03] Bring in show music, please.

[SPEAKER_11] Hi, I'm CNBC producer Katie Kramer. Today on Squawk Pod. Have you heard about SpaceX? Elon Musk's massive Wall Street public offering has the company on a meteoric rise. Will other mega IPOs follow suit? We got the SEC chair on and woo, our IPOs hot. Let's go, baby. Paul Atkins of the Securities and Exchange Commission on the enthusiasm.

[SPEAKER_02] Well, I think it's a great testament to the US capital markets.

[SPEAKER_11] And the goals.

[SPEAKER_02] But the real story is the other ones that are in the pipeline and how we need to make our markets more predictable and attractive for companies to go public.

[SPEAKER_11] Then Arthur Brooks, professor and columnist on what's good for us and the personal scandals that probably aren't good for politics.

[SPEAKER_03] So private life and public life. But the truth is, if that's all you know about a politician, that's a good indicator of performance. That's a good indicator of ethics. That's a good indicator of character. And if that's all you know, that's actually something worth voting on.

[SPEAKER_11] Plus, President Trump at the G7 summit, our Megan Casella reports. The European leaders have really wanted to see the US step up more. And jobs, artificial intelligence taking a toll at the headcount of another tech high flyer.

[SPEAKER_04] Was it the workforce bloated or is it AI?

[SPEAKER_11] It is Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. Squawk Pod begins right now.

[SPEAKER_03] Stand back to you by in three, two, one. Cue it, please.

[SPEAKER_05] Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Squawk Box right here on CNBC. We are live from the NASDAQ market site in Times Square. I'm Becky Quick, along with Joe Kernan. Andrew is off t...

SpaceX Making IPOs Great Again & Does Your Dog Love You? 6/16/26

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.

SpaceX Making IPOs Great Again & Does Your Dog Love You? 6/16/26

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.