Microsoft’s Big Gaming Deal; The Cost of Streaming; Palihapitiya’s ‘Nobody Cares’

Microsoft announced it will buy video game giant Activision Blizzard in a $68.7 billion all-cash deal. Under the deal, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who has faced calls to resign over the cultural problems within his company, will remain CEO during the transition. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and CNBC contributor, discusses the omicron Covid variant and says its global spread is inevitable. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reports on China’s latest efforts to tamp down a recent uptick in Covid-19 infections, just weeks before the Olympics. Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya triggered a backlash on social media after saying during a recent episode of his podcast that “nobody cares” about the ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in China. Palihapitiya now says his comments “lacked empathy.” Plus, Netflix raised monthly prices for its streaming service in the U.S and Canada, bringing the premium plan up to $19.99 per month. In this episode: Dr. Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMD Eunice Yoon, @onlyyoontv Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie