Trumponomics

Join Mishal Husain as she dives deep into the minds of world leaders, business moguls, and cultural icons. She reflects on her BBC career and shares unforgettable political interview highlights. Expect tough questions that challenge leaders and a sneak peek into engaging conversations with creators like Jesse Armstrong and Shonda Rhimes. With a focus on head, heart, and soul, this podcast promises essential conversations that reveal the changing landscape of our world.

Arthur Kroeber, co-founder of Gavekal Dragonomics and author, dives into the intricacies of the US-China trade war. He reveals how recent events have tilted power dynamics in favor of Beijing, especially through their control of rare-earth exports. Kroeber discusses the concept of 'weaponized interdependence,' illustrating how both nations are leveraging their economic ties as tools of power. He also highlights the complexities multinational companies face, from rising compliance costs to strategic uncertainties, all amid a backdrop of mutual deterrence.

Bill Dudley, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Bloomberg Opinion columnist, shares insider insights on central banking. He discusses the Fed's tightrope act of managing sticky inflation while facing labor market challenges. Dudley highlights the looming threats to Fed independence due to political pressures, particularly from Donald Trump. He elaborates on how AI and tariffs may impact inflation forecasts and warns against the consequences of a politicized central bank on future economic stability.

In this engaging discussion, Jason Furman, former chair of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors and now a Harvard professor, dives deep into the implications of soaring government debt. He evaluates the U.S. debt landscape and warns of a potential debt-interest spiral. Furman highlights the critical role of Social Security and Medicare in fiscal solvency. Additionally, the conversation touches on market vulnerabilities versus U.S. resilience, the impact of quantitative easing, and the evolving landscape of digital currencies and tariffs in stabilizing fiscal health.

Matthew Glassman, a senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute, and Anna Wong, chief US economist for Bloomberg Economics, discuss the current government shutdown's unique political stakes and its potential economic fallout. They address how this standoff may signify a deeper struggle over presidential power and the administration’s strategic use of shutdown leverage. Wong highlights the fragile labor market's implications, while Glassman analyzes how political messaging could sway public opinion and influence outcomes.

Alessandra Galloni, the Editor-in-chief of Reuters, and Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-chief of The Economist, dive into the challenges of reporting in the Trump era. They discuss how their newsrooms adapt to press freedom constraints and navigate the complexities of geopolitics in coverage. Insights include the impact of restricted access to the White House, the need for fair-minded reporting, and the implications of Trumponomics on global relations. They also touch on managing journalist safety and mental health amidst political turbulence.

Michael Deng, a Geoeconomics Technology Analyst at Bloomberg, and Chetna Kumar, a Geoeconomics Analyst specializing in India’s tech sector, delve into the implications of Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee. They discuss how this change will heavily impact U.S. industries that rely on foreign tech talent, particularly smaller firms. Chetna highlights a potential silver lining for India, suggesting that the fee could spur growth in domestic R&D and capabilities. The duo also debates whether this policy risks pushing specialized talent elsewhere and the broader geopolitical repercussions.

In this insightful discussion, Shelly Banjo, Bloomberg's Managing Editor for Global Business, and Ian King, Senior Reporter focusing on semiconductors and telecom, delve into Trump's disruptive influence on corporate America. They explore how CEOs are adjusting to increased government involvement, the choreography involved in White House dealings like those with Intel and NVIDIA, and whether this marks a transition to state-guided capitalism. Their expertise sheds light on the current geopolitical landscape and implications for the tech industry.

Tom Orlik, Chief Economist for Bloomberg Economics, and Jamie Rush, Director of Global Economics at Bloomberg, dive into the complexities of rising interest rates and their broad implications. They discuss how global factors like defense spending and deglobalization contribute to higher borrowing costs. The conversation highlights the intricate relationship between inflation, long-term borrowing, and investor expectations, all while underscoring the challenges governments face in this evolving economic landscape.

Anna Wong, Chief US Economist for Bloomberg, and Ed Harrison, Senior Strategist and author of the Everything Risk newsletter, dive into the paradox of the stock market reaching record highs amid economic uncertainty. They discuss why investors are holding onto stocks despite concerns of overvaluation, explore the impact of tariffs on profitability, and analyze the relationship between interest rate expectations and market performance. The conversation also touches on the delicate balance of Federal Reserve policies and ongoing economic turbulence.