WSJ's Take On the Week
The Wall Street Journal
WSJ's Take On the Week brings you the insights and analysis you need to get a leg up on the world of money and investing. We cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance. Join The Wall Street Journal's Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried in conversation with the people closest to the hot topics in markets to get incisive analysis on the big trades, key players in finance and business news. The duo will bring actionable insights to a range of investors and business leaders while also entertaining a broader audience with lively, relatable conversations. Episodes drop Sundays.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Jan 18, 2026 • 28min
Why This Morgan Stanley Exec Says Tariffs Will Be Struck Down
Monica Guerra, Head of U.S. Policy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, shares her insights on positioning investors for a midterm election year. She predicts that gridlock in Congress often leads to market gains and boldly forecasts the Supreme Court may strike down Trump's tariffs. Guerra explains that fiscal constraints make $2,000 tariff-funded checks unlikely, while emphasizing burgeoning opportunities in defense and tech sectors. Her analysis highlights how geopolitical risks influence market dynamics and the significance of bipartisan agreements.
18 snips
Jan 11, 2026 • 29min
HBO’s ‘Industry’ Creators on Banking Culture, Risk, Fraud and Short Selling
Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, former bankers and co-creators of HBO's Industry, delve into the gritty realities of banking culture and the show's evolution. They discuss how fintech and short selling have shaped Season 4, alongside the mental health struggles of junior bankers. The duo also explores the allure of financial fraud and the intricate dynamics of real-world trading. Finally, they evaluate a hypothetical trade that tests the moral compass of their characters, Harper and Eric, in a high-stakes scenario.
43 snips
Jan 4, 2026 • 34min
WSJ’s Take On the Year: Market Trends to Watch in 2026
Aaron Back, an Editor at WSJ's Heard on the Street known for his market insights, and David Wainer, a columnist who focuses on the food, health care, and consumer sectors, discuss the volatile landscape of 2025 and predictions for 2026. They explore the AI-driven surge in hard-drive and chip makers, like Seagate and Micron. The duo also dives into Robinhood's market debut and the fierce Netflix-Paramount bidding war while outlining big losers like Fiserv and struggling healthcare stocks amid changing policies.
16 snips
Dec 21, 2025 • 39min
How This Fed Hawk Views the Economy, Inflation, AI and Jobs
In this engaging discussion, Nick Timiraos, Chief Economics Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, joins Beth Hammack, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, to share insights on the current economic climate. Hammack highlights cautious optimism regarding inflation and labor markets, discussing challenges in hiring and pricing pressures. She emphasizes the significance of Fed independence and the role of the chair in shaping policy. The conversation also touches on the implications of AI for productivity and potential shifts in the Fed's approach to interest rates.
11 snips
Dec 18, 2025 • 19min
Inside China’s Pursuit of Tech Dominance–and What It Means for the U.S.
Peter Landers, Asia business editor for The Wall Street Journal, shares insights on China's tech landscape. He discusses the rapid advances in AI and robo-taxis, emphasizing how affordability could set new global standards. The conversation explores China's ambition to become a self-sufficient tech leader, focusing on high-speed rail and the complexities of U.S.-China relations regarding chip production. Challenges in reporting from China are also addressed, highlighting the tight restrictions faced by journalists.
43 snips
Dec 14, 2025 • 26min
Why a Crack in the AI Boom Could Trigger a Recession
Ajay Rajadhyaksha, global chairman of research at Barclays, dives deep into the evolving relationship between AI and the economy. He clarifies that AI is slowing new hiring and pressuring wages, rather than causing job losses. Rajadhyaksha highlights that substantial AI investments are fueling economic growth, but warns that a decline in such spending could trigger a recession. He also points to Japan and Korea as promising markets for AI opportunities, shedding light on the contrasting fates of private startups and established tech firms.
35 snips
Dec 7, 2025 • 30min
Why the Fed’s Balance Sheet Matters as Much as Its Interest-Rate Decision
Nate Werfel, head of market structure at BNY and former New York Fed official, dives into the complexities of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet. He highlights how liquidity in the financial system affects everyday consumers, especially during mortgage financing. By recalling the 2019 repo spike, Nate discusses the risks of scarce reserves and their impact on funding costs. He also emphasizes the crucial role of a liquid Treasury market in preventing crises like the Silicon Valley Bank failure, linking balance-sheet choices to interest-rate policies.
20 snips
Nov 23, 2025 • 30min
Is It Time to Diversify Away From U.S. Stocks Into Global Markets?
Luca Paolini, Chief Global Strategist at Pictet Asset Management, dives into the importance of U.S. investors looking beyond their borders. He presents the 'great convergence' thesis, predicting that economies like Germany and Japan will catch up with the U.S. Paolini also discusses the waning strength of the dollar, linked to risks of inflation and fiscal issues. He suggests that reallocating investments into non-U.S. equities and emerging markets can diversify portfolios effectively, making a case for balancing risk and seizing global growth opportunities.
48 snips
Nov 16, 2025 • 29min
How Trillions in New AI Debt Will Test the Bond Market
Guy LeBas, the Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott, discusses the profound implications of AI financing on the corporate bond market. He highlights how tech giants may need to issue trillions in new debt to fund expansive data centers, potentially expanding the investment-grade bond market by 20% annually. LeBas also addresses the risks of this heavy issuance, the impact of new accounting rules on financing, and whether the emerging AI bubble could spill into the bond market.
15 snips
Nov 9, 2025 • 33min
Amazon and Netflix Are Winning: Can Old-School Media Compete?
Michael Nathanson, founder of MoffettNathanson, and senior analyst Robert Fishman dive into the media industry's fierce competition. They discuss the necessity of global scale for traditional media to stand against giants like Netflix and Amazon. The conversation highlights the potential for a Paramount Skydance merger and whether it could break the cycle of previous mergers failing to deliver shareholder value. They also explore how tech companies reshaped the landscape, leaving legacy media to adapt or risk obsolescence.
