Trump Hails Japan Alliance; Hurricane Melissa Nears Jamaica at Category 5 Strength

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Oct 28, 2025

Craig Allen, a Bloomberg meteorologist, shares gripping insights on Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm poised to wreak havoc on Jamaica, with winds threatening total structural failure. Jill Deesis, a Bloomberg correspondent in Hong Kong, discusses President Trump's groundbreaking meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, emphasizing enhanced defense spending and a murky $550 billion trade deal. The dynamics of US-Japan relations and the looming threat of Melissa make for an enthralling listen.

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INSIGHT

U.S.-Japan Partnership Emphasized

President Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized stronger defense and trade ties during their Tokyo meetings.
They signed broad documents including a pledge for Japan to fund $550 billion in U.S. projects, though details remain vague.

INSIGHT

Fed Decision Hampered By Data Gaps

The Fed faces uncertainty because missing data from the government shutdown complicates policy decisions.
Policymakers appear divided between cutting rates to support the labor market and those worried about rekindling inflation.

INSIGHT

Banks' Issues Seen As Isolated

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon called recent regional banking losses isolated rather than systemic.
He urged vigilance on underwriting while downplaying broader contagion risks.

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On today's podcast:
1) President Trump hailed the US’s alliance with Japan, reaffirming ties with a longstanding partner and praising new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her plans to ratchet up defense spending as the pair met in Tokyo. Trump also offered optimism that the two sides had overcome their trade disputes. The pair later signed documents on trade and critical minerals intended to formalize some elements of a trade deal brokered under Takaichi’s predecessor, which includes a nebulous pledge for Japan to fund $550 billion in US projects. But documents from the White House on Tuesday suggested that the agreements remained ill-defined. The trade document simply “noted with satisfaction swift and continued efforts by both countries, and confirmed their strong commitment to implementing” their trade deal.
2) Jamaican officials urged residents to brace for Hurricane Melissa as it tracked toward the island at Category 5 strength, packing intense rains and winds and threatening to cause widespread destruction. The storm’s winds are likely to cause “total structural failure,” the center said. That’s especially true for higher-elevation areas exposed to the brunt of the storm, where wind speeds could register as much as 30% stronger. If it maintains its strength, Melissa would be the first confirmed Category 5 storm — the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale — to hit Jamaica.
3) The Federal Reserve is expected to deliver a second straight interest-rate cut this week to support a wobbly job market. Any push to extend the easing cycle past October, however, may face renewed opposition from a group of officials who remain anxious over inflation. While the Fed’s dovish faction is, for now, winning the debate and securing lower rates, their rival camp of policymakers worry the cutting will go too far. Fresh data on consumer prices released Friday showed underlying inflation in the US rose in September at its slowest pace in three months. While that reaffirms the Fed’s plan to cut rates next week, the overall flat-lining of progress on cooling prices doesn’t bolster arguments for multiple additional cuts.

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