CNBC’s Kernen, Sorkin make up after viral sparring over coronavirus

CNBC’s Joe Kernen and Andrew Ross Sorkin made up on the air Thursday, one day after a heated exchange on live television over the coronavirus pandemic. 

The two made up in a lighthearted fashion, with the “Squawk Box” pair noting their 10 years together is longer than many marriages while pledging to disagree, but not be disagreeable.

The return to cordiality was introduced by Becky Quick, the show’s co-anchor.

“Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” Quick said while holding a bowl of popcorn. “Joe and Andrew, I’ll send it over to you.”

“Andrew, we’re good, right?” Kernen said.

“We’re good,” Sorkin replied.

“We’ve been together 10 years? That’s longer than many marriages, and we have our moments. We will disagree, but not be disagreeable,” Kernen pledged.

“Hear, hear. A hundred percent,” Sorkin agreed. “We’re having the conversation happening at everybody’s dinner table. It is a family and I’m grateful for it.”

“And I just want to say this to you, Joseph: You have one of the quickest minds in the entire world,” he added. “And I respect the hell out of it. And I learn from you every single morning. So thank you for that.”

On Wednesday, Kernen had accused Sorkin of panicking over the coronavirus’s impact on the economy, and Sorkin accused Kernen of abusing his position to help President Trump as the U.S. headed toward 100,000 total coronavirus deaths. 

“You panicked about the market, panicked about COVID, panicked about the ventilators, panicked about the PPE, panicked about ever going out again, panicked if we’d ever get back to normal,” Kernen told Sorkin. 

“Joseph, you didn’t panic about anything. One hundred thousand people died, Joe, and all you did was try to help your friend the president,” Sorkin shot back. “That’s what you did. Every single morning on this show. … You used and abused your position!”

Kernen, a 25-year veteran of “Squawk Box,” retorted by calling Sorkin’s claims “totally unfair.”

“I’m just trying to help investors keep their cool, keep their heads and as it turned out that’s what they should have done,” he said.