Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Netflix and Intel. In the UK – a look ahead to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In Asia – a look ahead to China GDP data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump accepted Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize medal at a White House meeting on Thursday as she tries to get back in his good graces while the future of her country is being shaped by the US. Trump, in a social media post hours later, called it a “great honor” to meet Machado, and described her as a “wonderful woman who has been through so much.” Machado, who has been shut out of Venezuela’s leadership transition since US forces ousted President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3, said she gave Trump the medal as “a recognition of his unique commitment with our freedom.” 2) Denmark and Greenland are stepping up lobbying of US lawmakers in an effort to head off President Trump’s push to take control of Greenland. A group of US senators is set to meet members of the Danish parliament in Copenhagen on Friday. The trip follows a week of meetings in Washington by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen with members of Congress on the heels of talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, also participated. High-level talks between Denmark, Greenland and the US earlier this week ended in a stalemate over the future of the world’s largest island, though officials agreed to set up a working group to manage the diplomatic dispute. Trump has repeatedly insisted the US needs to control the territory, an ambition that remains unresolved and has been rejected time and again by both Copenhagen and Nuuk.3) President Trump threatened to deploy US military forces to Minnesota in order to quell protests in response to violent encounters involving federal immigration agents. The 1807 law allows the president to use regular military troops on US soil for domestic law enforcement. It was last invoked during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Trump’s ultimatum could further fray tensions in Minneapolis, where on Wednesday a federal officer shot a man in the leg. The incident occurred one week after the fatal shooting of a local woman who was a US citizen by an ICE agent, which touched off the demonstrations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Tensions in Minneapolis escalated again Wednesday night after a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest. Homeland Security says the Venezuelan man fled in a vehicle, crashed, and then struck an officer with a shovel as two others joined the struggle. City leaders condemned ICE’s presence, urging the agency to “leave the state immediately,” while Police Chief Brian O’Hara warned of growing unrest. The shooting occurred as tensions between protesters and immigration enforcement officers continued to flare in the city following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good last week.2) Denmark said a “fundamental disagreement” remained after a high-stakes meeting with the US over Greenland as several countries including Germany said they’d send military personnel to the Arctic island. Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, agreeing to establish a working group that’s set to gather within weeks to plot the way forward, while the US refrained from backing down on its demands. On Thursday, Germany’s “exploration mission” will arrive in Nuuk as European nations begin to work out how to ensure security in the region.3) President Trump faulted Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the main obstacle to an agreement to end the war Russia launched against his country four years ago. Trump, in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “ready to make a deal,” Reuters reported. When pressed on what was impeding a deal, Trump replied, “Zelenskiy,” Reuters said. Trump has oscillated between blaming Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach an accord, which he had claimed during his 2024 presidential campaign could be easily resolved. The US has prepared further sanctions should Trump decide to act on Russia’s continued rejection of a peace deal. US and Ukrainian officials have said they’ve made significant progress on a 20-point plan to end the fighting, however Kyiv and Moscow remain at an impasse over a number of issues including territorial control of areas Russia claims that remain under Ukrainian control.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump dismissed Jamie Dimon’s criticism over the Justice Department probe into the Federal Reserve, saying the JPMorgan Chase & Co. chief executive officer was “wrong” to suggest he was undermining the independence of the central bank. Earlier Tuesday, Dimon expressed concern about the investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the cost of the central bank’s headquarters renovation and his subsequent congressional testimony about the project. Trump said he would press ahead with plans to announce Powell’s replacement within “the next few weeks” despite the backlash to the probe, which has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers — including a threat by Senator Thom Tillis, a retiring North Carolina Republican and swing vote on the Senate Banking Committee. Tillis has said he would block new nominations to the Fed until the matter is resolved.2) More than 2,500 people have been killed in Iranian protests that have swept the nation, activist groups said, as Tehran continued its crackdown despite President Trump’s threat of action over mounting fatalities. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported 2,571 deaths as of Wednesday, up from about 500 at the start of the week and amid speculation the actual toll could be dramatically higher. On Tuesday, Trump urged Iranians to continue protests against the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.3) Top diplomats from Greenland and Denmark are gearing up for the test of a lifetime as they work to persuade the Trump administration to back off on its demands for the Arctic territory that threaten to break up the NATO defense alliance. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his counterpart from Nuuk, Vivian Motzfeldt, will face US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday, just hours after the island’s prime minister said that if made to choose, Greenland would opt for Denmark.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump faced rare opposition from key Republican lawmakers after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell accused the Department of Justice of launching a grand jury investigation to pressure and intimidate the central bank. Senator Thom Tillis, a key Republican on the Banking Committee who isn’t running for reelection, vowed quickly Sunday night to oppose any Trump nominees to the Fed until the matter is resolved. Other Republican senators, including former Bridgewater Associates CEO Dave McCormick, offered more measured pushback on Monday. Tillis’s threat is a potential roadblock to Trump’s plans to bend the bank to his will. Opposition from Tillis would likely deadlock any Fed nominee on the Senate Banking Committee, which is divided 13-11 between the two parties. And under current Senate rules, it takes 60 votes to successfully discharge a contentious nomination from a committee and Democratic senators are highly unlikely to come to Trump’s aid.2) Minnesota officials are suing over the “unprecedented surge” of US immigration authorities in the state, taking the Trump administration to court days after a federal agent shot and killed a Minneapolis woman. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the state accused the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem of deploying thousands of officers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul out of a “desire to punish political opponents and score partisan points.” The state is arguing that the deployment unconstitutionally violates its sovereignty and is retaliation against its Democratic-elected leadership. Minnesota officials allege the administration’s policies — such as having officers wear masks — violate state laws and that agents are illegally using excessive force and making warrantless arrests of people they suspect aren’t authorized to be in the US.3) President Trump said he is imposing a 25% tariff on goods from countries “doing business” with Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the government in Tehran that has been rocked by widespread protests. Trump posted on social media on Monday that the new duty would be “effective immediately,” without providing details about the scope or implementation of the charges. The action has the potential to disrupt major US trading relationships across the globe. Iran’s partners include not only neighboring states, but large economies including India, Turkey and China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank had been served grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department threatening a criminal indictment, a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s attacks on the institution. In a forceful written and video statement released Sunday evening, Powell said the action was related to his June congressional testimony on ongoing renovations of the Fed’s headquarters. But he said the move “should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.” In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, President Trump denied having any knowledge of the DOJ’s investigation into the central bank.2) Top diplomats from Denmark and Greenland will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC on Wednesday, TV2 reports. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt are set to attend the meeting, the Danish broadcaster says, citing a calendar from the US Department of State, which also notes that changes to the schedule may occur. Denmark is banking on the meeting in Washington to defuse President Trump’s renewed push on Greenland and to help reset strained ties with the US over the strategic island.3) Iran’s Foreign Minister said security forces have “full control” of the country after two weeks of ongoing upheaval, accusing Israel and the US of fomenting the nationwide protests in which hundreds of people have been killed. Abbas Araghchi repeated claims by the Iranian government that “rioters and terrorists” had killed police and civilians and destroyed public property using “daesh-style violence,” referring to the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Protests in Iran erupted on December 28th after a sudden collapse in the value of the currency. More than 540 have been killed in the protests and over 10,000 arrested, according to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, which is tracking demonstrations in 186 cities across Iran’s 31 provinces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to U.S CPI data and bank earnings. In the UK – a look at what to expect from the UK’s property market moving forward. In Asia – a look ahead to China trade figures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The investigation into the killing of a US citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis this week is being complicated by clashes between federal and local officials, with the FBI taking control over the objections of Governor Tim Walz. State authorities questioned whether a federal probe could be trusted, especially given comments by Trump administration officials that seemed to exonerate the officer. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that after it was invited to participate in the probe of Wednesday’s shooting, federal officials later decided the state wouldn’t get access to evidence or interviews. As tense protests continued for a second day, Walz said he ordered the state National Guard to be “staged and ready” to assist with protecting infrastructure and aiding local law enforcement if needed. 2) The fate of the majority of President Trump’s tariffs is in the hands of the US Supreme Court, which could rule as soon as today on the legality of the sweeping levies. Lower courts ruled in 2025 that the tariffs were issued illegally, but the import taxes remained in place to allow the Trump administration to make its case before the Supreme Court. At a hearing on November 5th, the justices appeared skeptical that Trump had the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs under a 1977 law that gives the president special powers during emergency situations. The tariffs in question include levies of between 10% and 50% on most imports, imposed by Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.3) A band of House Republicans bucked party leaders to join Democrats in passing a measure to restore expired Obamacare subsidies through the end of President Trump’s term, as rising health care costs drive midterm election anxieties. The House voted 230-196 Thursday to send a three-year extension of the expired tax credits to the Senate. Seventeen Republicans supported the measure. The measure is unlikely to overcome Republican opposition in the Senate, but several of the Republican defectors said they hoped a strong showing in the House would increase pressure on the Senate to reach a bipartisan compromise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a woman during a confrontation in Minneapolis, sparking an uproar over the presence of ICE agents in the city and heightening political divisions around the Trump administration’s migrant crackdown. The Wednesday shooting — caught on video and shared widely on social media — happened during what federal officials described as a targeted operation amid a broader immigration effort. President Trump and his allies cast it as an incident of self-defense, a view that the mayor of Minneapolis called a “garbage narrative.” The deadly incident fueled a national debate over Trump’s efforts to send heavily armed federal agents into US cities in his push for mass deportations, with operations ramping up last year from Chicago to Los Angeles.2) US forces seized two more sanctioned oil tankers as part of its energy quarantine of Venezuela, signaling that the Trump administration will ratchet up its pressure campaign days after capturing President Nicolas Maduro. The first ship, the M/V Bella 1, was seized in the Atlantic south of Iceland after a chase that began weeks ago when the vessel evaded capture near Venezuela and registered under a Russian flag in a bid to protect itself. The Pentagon then announced the seizure of the M/T Sophia, another sanctioned vessel that officials said had been conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.3) US officials are rushing to come up with options for business deals and other ways to step up links to Greenland, taken by surprise by President Trump’s renewed demand to take over the island, people familiar with the matter said. Trump has long wanted the territory for what he says are security reasons. But after a flurry of activity on the issue early last year, including a trip there by his vice president, once-urgent efforts to realize the president’s vision moved to the back burner, according to sources. On Tuesday, the White House said it wouldn’t rule out military action, while European leaders issued an unprecedented warning to dissuade Washington from trying to seize territory from a NATO ally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said Venezuela would relinquish as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the US, worth roughly $2.8 billion at the current market price, announcing the cargoes would be sold with proceeds benefiting both countries. The announcement late on Tuesday, which came with few details, marked a significant step up for the US government as it seeks to extend its economic influence in Venezuela and beyond after the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. It’s also a blow to China, previously the top buyer of the country’s oil and a close partner. The volumes cited by Trump would represent about 30 to 50 days of Venezuelan oil production before the US’s partial blockade of the country — much reduced from historic levels.2) President Trump won’t rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland, the White House said, escalating tension with Denmark, a fellow NATO member, over a dispute that’s surged back into public view following the ouster of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Trump is considering many ways of achieving his goal of acquiring the Arctic island, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the notion of military action in a briefing with lawmakers on Monday, instead signaling that an invasion was not imminent and that the goal was to buy the island from Denmark, the Wall Street Journal reported.3) President Trump implored Republicans to turn around their political fortunes ahead of November’s midterm elections, warning that if Democrats retake control of Congress, he would be impeached for a third time. Trump offered a familiar blueprint for majority parties, which historically have lost seats in off-year elections: blaming their troubles on messaging problems and insisting that voters just aren’t seeing their achievements. Trump predicted the GOP would pull off an “epic” victory and defy those trends. Yet polls showing Americans’ dissatisfaction with his leadership and the state of the economy bode poorly for Republicans’ chances of keeping control of Congress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Ousted Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to US charges in a narco-terrorism case against him, kicking off an extraordinary legal battle with major geopolitical ramifications. The US accused Maduro over the weekend of using his positions in government for a quarter of a century to enrich himself and help transport cocaine into the country. The toppling of Maduro reverberated around the world and signaled President Trump’s willingness to reconfigure the global order. 2) Venezuela’s government is reasserting itself after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, swearing in Delcy Rodríguez as acting president and flashing warning signs that a new wave of repression has begun. As the government continued to churn inside the presidential palace Miraflores, Venezuela’s military counterintelligence officials have been patrolling the streets of Caracas, according to at least two witnesses. At least seven journalists and members of the press were detained on Monday morning and early afternoon, most of them at the National Assembly and its surroundings, according to the national press workers syndicate.3) President Trump suggested the US may subsidize efforts by energy companies to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry as his administration seeks to convince firms to invest in the country days after ousting strongman Nicolás Maduro. Trump said the project to have US oil industry companies expand their operations in the country could be “up and running” in less than 18 months, in an interview Monday with NBC News — a timeframe starkly at odds with estimates from energy industry experts, while oil companies have been largely silent about their willingness to reinvest in Venezuela.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said the US needs “total access” to Venezuela as questions mount about the country’s leadership following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela, has asked the US to work with her country, striking a more conciliatory tone toward the Trump administration after her initial outrage at Maduro’s capture. It’s a sharp turnaround from the remarks she made in the hours after US forces snatched Maduro on Saturday and launched a series of targeted strikes in the capital and nearby cities. 2) The future of billions of barrels of Venezuelan oil that foreign companies are entitled to under current agreements has been thrown into doubt following Washington’s capture of President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Gold and silver advanced, with investors weighing heightened geopolitical risks following the US capture of Maduro. Gold is fresh from posting its best annual performance since 1979, hitting a series of records throughout last year with support from central-bank buying and inflows to bullion-backed exchange-traded funds. Three successive rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve were also a tailwind for precious metals, which don’t pay interest.3) The US’s shock intervention in Venezuela will likely choke oil flows to China, although the short-term impact will be softened by large volumes of sanctioned crude being stored at sea. China is the major buyer of crude from the South American country, but that trade now looks in jeopardy after the seizure of Maduro over the weekend. President Trump said the US would run the country and American companies would rebuild its oil industry and sell a “large amount” to global buyers, including current customers and new ones, without specifically mentioning China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump said the US would run Venezuela until a transition could be organized, hours after a US operation captured leader Nicolás Maduro, ousting the strongman from power after months of mounting military and economic pressure on his regime.“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said Saturday at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. “So we don’t want to be involved with having somebody else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years.”Trump said the US administration of Venezuela would include deploying US oil companies to the country, though indicated that his embargo “on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect” and that US forces would stay on alert. Bloomberg's Joe Mathieu and Christina Ruffini speak with: Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. Jeanne Sheehan Zaino, Democracy Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center and Bloomberg Politics Contributor & Lester Munson, Principal of the International Practice at BGR Group and Republican Strategist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to what’s in store for commodities and housing in 2026. In the UK – a look at the culinary and cultural trends to watch for in Europe next year. In Asia – a look ahead to why the Reserve Bank of Australia may be set to pivot to interest rate increases in the new year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Zohran Mamdani unapologetically promised to lead New York City as a democratic socialist during a frigid inauguration ceremony on the steps of City Hall, a warning to those who believed he might moderate his positions after taking office. The nearly two-hour long event Thursday featured speeches by two of the US’s most liberal members of Congress, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a frequent target of President Trump, also had a speaking role. The ceremony served as a not-so-subtle statement of resistance to White House policies from the nation’s largest city.2) The Trump administration stepped up a pressure campaign against Venezuela’s oil exports by sanctioning companies based in Hong Kong and mainland China, along with related oil tankers it accused of evading restrictions. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday added four companies with links to Venezuela’s oil industry to its specially designated nationals and blocked persons list, while also sanctioning four vessels connected with those firms. The US already has a list of vessels and companies under sanction for their connections to Venezuela’s oil trade. But targeting Chinese firms doing business there is rare, and could be a signal to Beijing to steer clear of the stand-off between the Trump administration and the regime of Nicolás Maduro. China is Venezuela’s biggest customer for oil exports, which represent about 95% of Venezuela’s revenue.3) President Trump pledged in a late night social media post that the US will come to the rescue of Iranian protesters if they are attacked by Islamic Republic authorities. The post, around 3 a.m. Washington and late morning in Iran on Friday, comes after protests erupted this week in Tehran after the currency slumped to a record low, worsening an economic crisis in a country already wracked by sanctions. Demonstrations have since spread to other parts of the country, setting off clashes between civilians and security forces. Trump didn’t provide any specifics on what actions he would consider taking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial Intelligence and Big Tech dominated market sentiment in 2025. Now, we look to what may come in the new year. In this episode, Nathan Hager speaks with Wedbush Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst Dan Ives and Deepwater Managing Partner and Co-Founder Gene Munster. Ives and Munster offer their short and long-term outlook for the technology industry heading into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Covid-era subsidies that help Americans pay for Obamacare health plans will expire today. It will result in more than 20 million Americans paying higher premiums next month. Democrats have tried to extend the additional support beyond the December deadline, but Republicans have balked, citing the cost of some $350 billion over the next decade. Meantime, a handful of House Republicans have joined Democrats in a maneuver that will put a three-year extension of the subsidies to a vote next month. 2) Russia and Ukraine struck each other’s Black Sea ports overnight, damaging infrastructure including an oil refinery. A drone attack on the Russian coastal city of Tuapse damaged a berth at the port and equipment at the local refinery, according to a statement from the emergency services. Fires at both sites were put out, while several residential buildings were also damaged. Two people were hospitalized. The Tuapse refinery, owned by Rosneft PJSC, has a processing capacity of about 240,000 barrels a day and produces mainly fuel oil, naphtha and diesel for export. In Ukraine, Russian forces struck the port city of Odesa, injuring at least six people and damaging residential properties and infrastructure, according to the local authorities. Some residents are without power, water and heating.3) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran should heed President Trump Warning's about not restarting its nuclear program. Speaking Tuesday to Fox News, he added that Iran is 'trying to' rebuild its missile capacity at new sites, and said he is aligned with Trump on wanting to give the new Syrian government a chance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) President Trump’s campaign to end the war in Ukraine faced new complications on Monday when Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would revise his country’s negotiating position after the Russian leader claimed Ukrainian drones targeted his residence. Putin told Trump of his decision in a call Monday, according to the Kremlin, even as Kyiv cast the Russian allegations as a fabrication aimed at derailing the peace process. Trump addressed the dispute while speaking to reporters in Florida, saying that Putin had told him about the purported attack during their discussion. The US president, seeming to side with Putin, said he was “very angry.” 2) President Trump expressed concern that Iran is moving to rebuild its nuclear capabilities and bolster its ballistic missile program after strikes by the US and Israel earlier this year, and threatened to target the country again to prevent Tehran from stockpiling weapons. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are we are going to have to knock them down,” Trump said Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president also said he would support Israel in strikes if Iran continued with its ballistic missile program, which Netanyahu highlighted earlier this year as “existential” threat along with Tehran’s nuclear development. 3) President Trump said the US struck a facility inside Venezuela, in what would be a significant escalation in its campaign against alleged drug trafficking operations there. Trump’s reference to an attack within Venezuela would mark the first time the US has announced a land strike in the country. The administration has raised pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro by bombing boats in the region and implementing a blockade to disrupt the country’s oil exports. Separately, the US carried out another strike on an alleged drug boat in international waters on Monday, US Southern Command announced on X, sharing a 22-second video showing a vessel being destroyed in a fiery explosion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said he made “a lot of progress” in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over a possible peace deal, but that it might take a few weeks to get it done and there’s no set timeline. The pair met at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort Sunday, where they had lunch and later spoke on the phone with a group of European leaders to brief them on their progress. Among the major sticking points left to be resolved: the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which is partially occupied by Russian forces. Trump told reporters the issue was still unresolved, but “getting a lot closer.”2) President Trump has another high profile meeting on the docket at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon. The two aim to boost a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, which faces challenges as it looks to move into a more complicated second phase. That phase involves rebuilding Gaza under international supervision, creating an international security force and normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab world.3) China kicked off military maneuvers around Taiwan that will include live-fire drills, a move that comes after the US announced one of its biggest arms packages ever for the self-run democracy. The exercises starting Monday would involve the army, navy, air force and Rocket Force, the Chinese military said in a statement. The exercises named “Justice Mission-2025” would “test the actual combat capability of theater troops in joint operations.” The People’s Liberation Army said in a separate statement that from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday it would hold live-fire exercises in five blocks around Taiwan, saying “any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter” the area.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. John Authers, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist, discusses the five forces that broke Capitalism Tim Craighead, Bloomberg Intelligence Bloomberg Intelligence Global Chief Content Officer, describes the European stocks to watch in 2026 John Lee, Bloomberg Intelligence APAC content manager, looks at what we can expect from Asian stocks in 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he plans to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump “in the coming days,” signaling optimism about reaching a peace deal to end Russia’s almost four-year war.“A lot could be decided before the New Year,” Zelenskiy said Friday in a Telegram and X post after receiving an update from Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s top negotiator with the US and head of the National Defense and Security Council. The Kyiv Post reported earlier that Zelenskiy is expected to travel to Florida, where Trump is spending the Christmas break, as soon as Sunday. It cited a person familiar with the matter who wasn’t identified. Kyiv and Washington are seeking to align on a 20-point peace plan to present to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the provision of strong security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5, and a global post-war development program for Ukraine.2) The US launched a military strike in Nigeria against Islamic State targets in a security and intelligence collaboration with the African nation’s government, which has been struggling to contain increasing levels of terrorist attacks in parts of the country. President Trump said he directed American forces to carry out “a powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS. Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed the “precision hits on terrorist targets” and said it remains engaged with international partners including the US to address the “persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.”3) Gold, silver and platinum jumped to all-time highs to extend a historic end-of-year rally for precious metals, with support from escalating geopolitical tensions and US dollar weakness. Frictions in Venezuela, where the US has blockaded oil tankers and ramped up pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro, have added to the precious metal’s haven appeal. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a key gauge of the US currency’s strength, was down 0.7% for the week, its biggest drop since June.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special Christmas edition of Bloomberg Daybreak, host Nathan Hager speaks with: Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer at Newedge Wealth and Brian Levitt, Global Market Strategist at Invesco discuss what we should expect from markets in 2026 Amanda Agati, Chief Investment Officer at PNC, breaks down the cost of the 12 days of Christmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The US Justice Department released another tranche of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, including some that add fresh pressure on President Trump over his past relationship with the late, disgraced financier. The trove includes thousands of additional pages of material related to investigations of Epstein, including a 2020 email from a prosecutor that contains new detail about Trump’s trips on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s, which the president has said never took place. There are also fresh details on Epstein’s relationships with financial firms and figures.2) The US Supreme Court has refused to let President Trump start deploying National Guard troops in Chicago, dealing a setback to his drive to use the military in liberal cities across the country. Rejecting a Trump request in a 6-3 decision, the court on Tuesday left in force a judge’s ruling that has blocked the deployment since Oct. 9. The president wanted to use hundreds of troops to aid immigration enforcement in the third-largest US city. The court said the legal provision Trump sought to invoke probably doesn’t permit deployment of the National Guard in situations where the president wouldn’t have authority to send in active-duty military. The court said that under federal law, the president can deploy the armed forces to help execute the laws only in “exceptional” circumstances.3) A federal judge says the Trump administration can move ahead with a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, providing a setback for US technology companies that rely on hiring skilled foreign workers. US District Judge Beryl Howell said in a ruling Tuesday that President Trump’s move to radically increase the cost of the popular visa is lawful. The decision provides a boost to the administration’s campaign to restrict immigration and push demand for US workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which sued to block the proposal, can appeal. Howell rejected the Chamber’s argument that the president doesn’t have the power to impose the fee, finding that his proclamation was issued under “an express statutory grant of authority to the President.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) President Trump warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to challenge the US, and vowed to keep oil seized from a supertanker but declined to say if he’s seeking to oust the Venezuelan leader. “He can do whatever he wants to do, whatever he wants to do, if he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” Trump told reporters at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday evening. Asked if he would try to push Maduro out, he responded, “That’s up to him.” Trump spoke after the US stepped up its blockade of tankers going to and from Venezuela over the weekend, boarding a non-sanctioned ship owned by a Hong Kong-based entity on Saturday and pursuing a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Another very large crude carrier, the Skipper, was intercepted on Dec. 10. 2) During Monday's press conference, Trump also said he believed “people are very angry that pictures are being released” that connect them to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, days after the Justice Department released a new tranche of files tied to the late financier. Trump said he hated to see former President Bill Clinton, who appeared frequently in the release, being tarnished by the association, describing the situation as “terrible.” The Epstein files, and the fight over their disclosure, have sparked infighting among Trump’s supporters, adding to the political headwinds that the president is facing heading into next year’s midterm elections. 3) President Trump reiterated his desire for US control over Greenland on Monday, after announcing plans to appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the island. The president said Landry was “a deal-maker-type guy” who could help execute his vision for taking control of the territory. The president also said his desire was not rooted in Greenland’s energy or mineral reserves — saying the US had plenty of resources — but that he did not believe Denmark had devoted enough spending to protect the island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The US’s pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela has intensified a blockade that the Trump administration hopes will cut off a vital economic lifeline for the country and isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro. The US Coast Guard chased the US-sanctioned Bella 1 on Sunday as it was en route to Venezuela. It boarded Centuries, a ship owned by a Hong Kong-based entity, on Saturday — the first non-sanctioned vessel to be targeted. Another very large crude carrier, the Skipper, was intercepted on Dec. 10. The moves on three separate vessels represent the most concerted attempt to date to sever the financial links sustaining a government that Washington says is led by a drug-trafficking cartel, and one that it has also recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro has so far withstood the onslaught, but the blockade is beginning to limit hard currency and to hurt an already battered economy.2) Democratic lawmakers said they plan to explore “all legal options” after the Justice Department announced it will not release all documents about the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein by the Friday deadline, threatening to prolong a high-stakes political fight as the midterm elections come into view. The US Justice Department released thousands of pages of pictures, phone records and notes from investigations into notorious sex offender on Friday, revealing new details about the late financier’s relationships with prominent business leaders and politicians. The department said more files will be released in coming weeks because the volume of material was too much to process by the Friday deadline set by Congress, sparking rebukes from many Democrats. The tranche included heavy redactions, a step intended to comply with the provisions of the law including protections for survivors and other accommodations.3) A Supreme Court ruling that scraps President Trump’s tariffs — and refunds the import fees collected — would create a major “administrative problem,” the president’s top economic adviser said Sunday. “We really expect the Supreme Court is going to find with us,” Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CBS’s Face the Nation. Even if the court didn’t find in the Trump administration’s favor, Hassett argued it would be “pretty unlikely that they’re going to call for widespread refunds because it would be an administrative problem to get those refunds out there.” The Supreme Court is weighing a legal challenge to tariffs Trump imposed on dozens of nations under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Administration officials have drawn up options for reimposing import taxes in case of an adverse ruling, while publicly maintaining that a court defeat is unlikely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to U.S GDP data and a tech outlook for 2026. In the UK – a look at UK politics and what 2026 may hold in store for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In Asia – a look ahead to the challenges facing China’s economy in 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Officials have found the dead body of the suspected shooter in a Brown University rampage and the murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in his Boston-area home. The suspected shooter — Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national who was a former student at Brown — took his own life, Providence Chief of Police Oscar Perez said at a press briefing on Thursday night. Meantime, the Trump administration halted the US green card lottery program, which it said was used by the suspect. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X that she’s asking US Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.2) A trove of Justice Department records tied to Jeffrey Epstein is set for release Friday, part of a long-awaited public reckoning over the convicted sex offender’s ties to elites and years of alleged abuse. The documents could shed new light on government investigations dating back nearly two decades. President Trump, who had previously resisted efforts to unseal the files, signed legislation last month mandating their release, while the Justice Department has yet to specify a time for publication.3) European Union leaders have agreed to loan Ukraine €90 billion ($106 billion) for the next two years in a bid to strengthen Kyiv’s hand at the negotiating table and keep the war-torn country afloat. The EU will fund the loan through joint debt raised on the capital markets and backed by the bloc’s budget, a significant pivot from the preferred plan to use Russian assets frozen on European soil. The decision came early Friday morning after marathon talks at a summit in Brussels. Ukraine won’t need to repay the loan until Moscow compensates Kyiv with reparations — and in the meantime, the Russian assets will remain immobilized in the EU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump looked to reassure Americans concerned about the rising cost of living by announcing plans to award a special holiday payment to military service members and roll out new housing reforms in the new year. Trump announced the plans Wednesday during a prime-time address from the White House, which he used to extol his accomplishments from his first year back in the White House and convince voters they should still blame his predecessor for persistent economic anxieties. Trump’s biggest announcement was a move to award service members $1,776 payments, a decision that should provide a holiday boost to 1.45 million Americans.2) The US has approved a package of arms sales to Taiwan worth up to $11 billion — one of its biggest ever — a move that drew criticism from Beijing. The approvals announced late Wednesday by the State Department cover a broad range of equipment, including missiles, drones and artillery systems aimed at strengthening the democracy’s defenses. The package includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, valued at up to $4.05 billion and howitzer guns worth about $4 billion. The total value of the weaponry is up to $11.154 billion, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The State Department said that the final amount would be lower depending on factors such as budget authority and military needs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun later said his nation “strongly opposes and condemns” the US arms sale. 3) European Union leaders will try to overcome staunch resistance to both a funding plan for Ukraine and a massive trade deal with South America during a summit in Brussels starting Thursday — insisting that the bloc’s reputation is on the line. The gathering has taken on unusually high stakes as the EU is up against deadlines on both fronts. Officials say the EU’s Ukraine funding plans could fall apart if no agreement is found at the summit, forcing everyone back to the drawing board. And the trade pact with the Mercosur bloc — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — may enter a prolonged freeze if the EU can’t approve it before a tentative signing ceremony on SaturdaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going into and leaving Venezuela, ratcheting up pressure on Caracas as the US builds up its military presence in the region. The move threatens to choke off the economic lifeblood of a country that was already under severe financial pressure. But it will have a less profound impact on global markets due to the diminished status of Venezuela’s oil industry. The OPEC member’s crude output has slumped about 70% through more than 25 years of socialist rule to less than 1 million barrels a day. It could potentially rebound if the governing regime were to change.2) The US is preparing a fresh round of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to increase the pressure on Moscow should President Vladimir Putin reject a peace agreement with Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. The US is considering options, such as targeting vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to transport Moscow’s oil, as well as traders who facilitate the transactions, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The new measures could be unveiled as early as this week.3) OpenAI is in initial discussions to raise at least $10 billion from Amazon.com Inc. and use its chips, a potential win for the online retailer’s effort to broaden its AI industry presence and compete with Nvidia Corp. The deal under discussion could value OpenAI north of $500 billion and see it adopt Amazon’s Trainium chip, a person with knowledge of the matter said, asking to remain anonymous to describe private negotiations. Talks, however, are at a preliminary stage and terms could change, the person added. A deal would mark a win for Amazon’s fledgling semiconductor division. While Nvidia dominates the market for the powerful chips required to create AI platforms, developers such as Meta Platforms Inc. are starting to explore rival offerings from the likes of Alphabet Inc.’s Google.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) US negotiators offered more significant security guarantees to Kyiv as part of President Trump’s renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war, but the effort still appeared part of a bid to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on territory. The Trump administration offered to provide Ukraine with strong “Article 5-like” security guarantees — a reference to NATO’s mutual defense clause — as part of the current deal to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, a US official told reporters, without providing any details. Later on Monday, Trump said a negotiated end to the war was “closer than” ever and that the US was working with Europe on security guarantees. But then he appeared to suggest Ukraine ought to give up land as part of the deal. 2) Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested and booked for the murder of his parents, the Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner. The son was being held in jail in Los Angeles on no bail, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement on X. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing consideration on Tuesday. Reiner, who directed 1980s classics like The Princess Bride and This Is Spinal Tap, was found dead Sunday at his home with his wife, both of whom appeared to have died from stab wounds, NBC News and other outlets reported, citing a source close to the family.3) Shock over a shooting rampage at Brown University over the weekend is giving way to frustration over the lack of video footage and suspects. Authorities in Providence, Rhode Island, said Monday they hadn’t identified any new persons of interest in the shooting that killed two people and injured nine on the Ivy League campus Saturday afternoon. A person detained earlier was released late Sunday, and officials have said a lack of clear security-camera footage from inside the Barus & Holley engineering building where the shooting took place has slowed the search.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) Brown University, mourning two students killed during a shooting rampage Saturday, sent students home and called off final exams, classes and assignments for the fall semester. A blanket of snow covered the campus and downtown Providence, Rhode Island, on Sunday morning as the Ivy League school reeled from its first encounter with mass violence. Students recounted barricading themselves in their homes, waiting out the shelter-in-place orders by huddling together in the dark for hours as a manhunt ensued for the suspect who opened fire as the undergrads were preparing for exams. The shooting interrupted the second day of finals on Brown’s campus, shattering the calm in a study session in the Barus & Holley engineering building. 2) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state leaders pledged to strengthen gun laws a day after a father and son killed 15 people in the nation’s deadliest terror attack. The National Cabinet has tasked police ministers and attorneys-general to explore options including caps on the number of firearms an individual can hold, limits on open-ended licenses, stricter rules on the allowed types of guns and modifications, and a requirement that license holders be Australian citizens. Albanese also said in a statement following an emergency National Cabinet meeting that ministers pledged to eradicate antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism. 3) Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner, who helmed 1980s classics like The Princess Bride and This Is Spinal Tap, died Sunday in murky circumstances that triggered a police investigation. He was 78. Reiner was discovered in his Los Angeles home alongside wife Michele Singer Reiner, both of whom appeared to have died from stab wounds, NBC News and other US outlets reported, citing sources close to the family. Representatives for Reiner didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the November jobs report and quarterly earnings from Nike. In the UK – a look ahead to the Conference of Paris. In Asia – a look ahead to the next monetary policy decision from the Bank of Japan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Global stock gauges have record highs in their sights after a week in which affirmation that the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate easing cycle remains intact helped clear the way for a year-end rally. Europe’s Stoxx 600 rose as much as 0.5% to a fresh peak. A measure for Asia advanced to less than 2% from its all-time high. S&P 500 futures were slightly lower after the benchmark posted a new closing milestone in the previous session, when gauges for blue-chip and small-cap US stocks also pushed into record territory.2) Broadcom Inc., a chip company vying with Nvidia Corp. for AI computing revenue, slumped after its sales outlook for the red-hot market failed to meet investors’ lofty expectations. The shares fell about 5% in premarket trading on Friday, following unsettling commentary from Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan on a conference call with analysts. He said the company has a backlog of $73 billion in AI product orders that will be shipped over the next six quarters — a number that disappointed some investors. But Tan sought to clarify that the figure was a “minimum.” 3) President Trump said the US would be willing to contribute assistance to Ukraine as part of a security agreement to end the war with Russia, but continued to express frustration with the pace of talks. Still, he expressed disappointment that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had not more readily signed off on an American peace plan, adding to pressure on officials in Kyiv who pushed back on an earlier US proposal seen as too accommodating to Moscow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) US forces intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a serious escalation of tensions between the two countries. A senior Trump administration official referred to the ship as “a stateless vessel” that was last docked in Venezuela. Bloomberg News was first to report the seizure. The US action may make it much harder for Venezuela to export its crude, as other shippers are now likely to be more reluctant to load its cargoes. Most of the nation’s oil goes to China, usually through intermediaries, at steep discounts owing to sanctions risk. Brent futures edged higher after the news.2) A coalition of Ukraine’s allies will discuss a bid to move swiftly on President Trump’s peace proposal on Thursday as Kyiv’s forces carried out their first-ever attack on Russian Caspian Sea oil production. Leaders from more than 30 countries that are part of the so-called coalition of the willing group will hold a virtual meeting, their second this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address. Allies will discuss the state of peace talks and the latest draft plan that Ukrainian officials sent to Washington overnight, people familiar with the planning said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to brief participants on an exchange they had with Trump on Wednesday.3) A market party after the Federal Reserve’s policy decision came to an abrupt halt within hours as a plunge in Oracle Corp.’s shares reawakened concerns over tech-stock valuations. Now investors are left to ponder whether they will still get a Christmas rally. The MSCI All Country World Index had been a whisker away from its peak before changing course, while gold snapped what would have been a three-day winning streak. The earlier gains were a reflection of enthusiasm following the Fed’s latest interest rate cut and Chair Jerome Powell’s upbeat assessment of the US economy. The upbeat mood faded after Oracle’s stock plunged on the company’s below-consensus sales and spending increase that rekindled worries over tech shares’ expensive valuations. That caused Nasdaq futures to slump as much as 1.6% and 10-year Treasury yields to drop by three basis points at one point.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Stocks are marking a second straight day of restrained moves as traders await the Fed’s outlook for interest rates in 2026 after an expected cut at Wednesday’s policy announcement.2) President Donald Trump said people were “starting to learn” the benefits of his tariff regime as he sought to convince voters his administration was moving to address affordability concerns, taking to the road in hopes of countering a mounting political vulnerability.3) Paramount Skydance Corp. and Netflix Inc. — the entertainment heavyweights locked in a bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. — are girding for a battle they predict will stretch well into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The US president’s son-in-law. One of the largest alternative-asset managers. The CEO’s father who fleetingly commanded a fortune exceeding Elon Musk’s. Paramount Skydance Corp.’s hostile takeover bid Monday for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. brought together an array of banks, billionaires and sovereign-wealth funds, all with the aim of torpedoing Netflix Inc.’s deal last week.2) President Donald Trump granted Nvidia Corp. permission to ship its H200 artificial intelligence chip to China in exchange for a 25% surcharge, a move that lets the world’s most valuable company potentially regain billions of dollars in lost business from a key global market.3) Stocks wavered and US bond yields softened from a two-month high as traders held off on making big bets ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final interest-rate decision of 2025. S&P 500 futures were little changed after the US benchmark halted a four-day rally. A dayslong slump in US Treasuries has curbed risk appetite as traders grow cautious about the pace of rate cuts beyond Wednesday’s policy meeting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Donald Trump raised potential antitrust concerns around Netflix Inc.’s planned $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., noting that the market share of the combined entity may pose problems.2) The Trump administration on Monday plans to unveil a long-awaited farm aid package, according to a White House official, offering $12 billion in assistance to a key base of support hit hard by low crop prices and the impact of the president’s tariff policies.3) Yardeni Research now recommends effectively going underweight the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks versus the rest of the S&P 500, expecting a shift in earnings growth ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to next week’s Fed decision and earnings from Oracle and Adobe. In the UK – a look ahead to the Blackhat cybersecurity conference. In Asia – a look ahead to China consumer and producer price data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its film and TV studios and HBO Max streaming service to Netflix Inc., according to people familiar with the discussions. Netflix is offering a $5 billion breakup fee if regulators don’t approve the deal, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the discussions are private. The two companies could announce a deal as soon as in the coming days, assuming talks don’t fall apart, the people said. The move suggests Netflix has pulled ahead of Paramount Skydance Corp. and Comcast Corp., who were also competing for the asset. Prior to the closing of the sale, Warner Bros. — valued at more than $60 billion overall — will complete the planned spinoff of cable channels including CNN, TBS and TNT.2) The US lobbied several countries in the European Union in an effort to block EU plans to use frozen Russian central bank assets to back a massive loan to Ukraine, according to European diplomats familiar with the matter. US officials argued to member states that the assets are needed to help secure a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow and should not be used to prolong the war, said the diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.3) India will pay about $2 billion to lease a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia, according to people familiar with the matter, finalizing delivery of the vessel after roughly a decade of talks just as President Vladimir Putin makes a visit to New Delhi. Talks for leasing the attack submarine from Russia had stalled over the years because of price negotiations, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. The two sides have now agreed on the deal, with Indian officials visiting a Russian shipyard in November.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Kevin Hassett may not have the ability to deliver the rapid pace of interest rate cuts President Trump would like, even if he is approved as the next Federal Reserve Chair, said Gregory Peters, co-chief investment officer at PGIM Fixed Income. Peters made the remarks amid rising talk that Hassett, the White House National Economic Council Director, may ease monetary policy aggressively to please Trump if he is picked to run the Fed. But the PGIM fund manager suggested that — since Fed rate decisions are ultimately decided by committee — Hassett won’t have the power to deliver on his own. Peters’ remarks were in response to a Financial Times report that bond investors, including those on the borrowing advisory committee, have voiced concerns to the US Treasury about Hassett’s potential appointment as the Fed chief.2) President Trump’s aides and allies are discussing the possibility of making Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent the top White House economic adviser — in addition to his current job — should the president pick Kevin Hassett as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, according to people familiar with the matter. Tapping Bessent to lead the White House’s National Economic Council would allow him to consolidate oversight of Trump’s economic policies if Hassett — the current NEC director — becomes the next leader of the US central bank, an announcement Trump has hinted at in recent days. If Bessent is also named to the NEC, he would become the chief arbiter of the administration’s economic portfolio spanning the purview of both the Treasury Department and White House. It would also give Bessent a West Wing office, granting him even more physical proximity to the president.3) The Pentagon watchdog concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked endangering American troops and the US mission against Houthi rebels in Yemen when he shared attack plans on the Signal messaging app, a person familiar with the matter said. The acting Pentagon inspector general’s classified report, delivered to a Senate committee yesterday, said Hegseth violated government policies by using his personal phone and Signal to transmit the information, which was marked “Secret.” The person describing the contents of the report asked not to be identified discussing private information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin held “very useful” talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner though the sides failed to reach agreement on a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The negotiations lasting almost five hours were “constructive and very informative,” though “a compromise hasn’t been reached yet” on the critical issue of territorial control, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow. A possible meeting between Putin and President Trump “will depend on what progress is being made,” Ushakov added.2) Republicans averted an upset in a Tennessee-based US House race Tuesday, a relief to President Trump and his congressional allies. Matt Van Epps, the Trump-backed Republican candidate, was projected to win by the AP, NBC News and Decision Desk HQ, an election analysis website. Trump praised the GOP victory in a social media post and Van Epps declared victory. Yet even in victory, voters in a district Trump won overwhelmingly just over a year ago swung away from Republicans, the latest data point in a trend that is raising alarm about the GOP’s prospects in next year’s midterm elections, as Van Epps’ victory came about only after Republicans surged resources and expended political capital in a strident GOP district that would typically be considered safe.3) President Trump said he plans to announce his selection to lead the Federal Reserve in early 2026 and teased National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett as his possible choice on Tuesday, fueling further speculation about the next leader of the US central bank. Hassett is seen as the likely choice to succeed Powell, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News last week, and Trump nodded to that position at a separate event shortly after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Trump’s comments offer a clearer timeline for the announcement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has been overseeing the selection process, previously said the pick could be revealed around Christmas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) US envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, who claimed a key Ukrainian city had fallen to Russia on the eve of talks about a potential peace plan to end his war. Putin said Russian troops had taken the city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region in a video announcement posted late Monday by the Kremlin, an advance that would be Russia’s most significant on the battlefield in nearly two years. Ukraine’s Military Staff spokesman Bohdan Senyk denied its forces had lost the city in a message early Tuesday. Bloomberg isn’t able to independently verify the claims of either side. Witkoff is due to hold talks with Putin on Tuesday on the latest proposals for ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine following negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida. Amid fears in Europe that the plan risks rewarding Russian aggression by forcing Kyiv into a deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the latest version “looks better” during a visit to Paris on Monday to meet with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.2) The White House defended the Pentagon’s handling of a September attack on an alleged drug-running boat and denied that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given an order to kill everyone on the vessel, rebutting a report that had led to allegations of possible war crimes. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed there were two strikes on the vessel in the Sept. 2 attack but stressed the actions were lawful amid a deadly domestic opioid crisis in the US. The comments signaled Trump continues to support Hegseth, who came under fresh scrutiny after the Washington Post reported Friday that he ordered the attack and demanded that those strikes kill everyone on board. That report led to accusations that the US military was committing war crimes in the waters off the coast of South America.3) Almost $1 billion of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated during another sharp drop in prices on Monday that brought fresh momentum to a wide-ranging selloff. Bitcoin slid as much as 8% to $83,824 in New York, bringing its decline since early October to almost 30%. Ether dropped as much as 10% to as low as $2,719, and is down 36% over the past seven weeks. The market downturn has been even tougher on smaller, less liquid tokens that traders often gravitate toward because of their higher volatility and typical outperformance during rallies. A MarketVector index tracking the bottom half of the largest 100 digital assets is down almost 70% this year. The crypto market is on shaky ground after a weeks-long selloff that began when some $19 billion in levered bets were wiped out in early October as President Trump whipsawed markets with threats of higher tariffs, data compiled by tracker Coinglass show. That was just days after Bitcoin set an all-time high of $126,251.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.