The Penta Podcast Channel

In today's Macrocast, Tony, John, and Brendan tackle the latest inflation data, China's disastrous COVID policies, and Elon Musk's bid to buy Twitter. Most of all, the group discusses whether the U.S. is finally over the worst of core inflation. Supply chain challenges will persist, but could demand for goods cool down soon? Show Notes: -Read the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data here. -Read HPS' latest jobs day fact sheet here.

On this week's HPS Insights, we are bringing back a great conversation with Linda Goler Blount, the President & CEO of the Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI), on BWHI's work to help protect and advance the health of Black women and women of color. Hosted by HPS Partner Stacy Kerr and Managing Director Kriston McIntosh, the group dives into the impact of COVID-19 on the Black community and the potential for future action to remove discriminatory barriers to accessing quality healthcare. 

On today's Macrocast, Tony Fratto and Brendan Walsh are joined by Ben Koltun, Director of Research at Beacon Policy Advisors, LLC, to discuss the state of reconciliation efforts in Congress and how—once again—Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) are at the center of it all. The crew also dives into recent news coming out of the Federal Reserve, which is looking to stick the landing between curbing inflation and averting a recession.Show Notes: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) "throws cold water on BBB revival" Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) supported a $1.5 trillion topline Build Back Better figure with offsets Governor Lael Brainard's Federal Reserve speech on inflation Walmart to Pay First-Year Truck Drivers as Much as $110,000 Upcoming Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement and Monetary Policy Report on 4/13

In this edition of the Macrocast, HPS Partner Matt McDonald and CivicScience's John Dick join Tony, John, and Brendan to discuss a series of new data releases this week. Friday's strong jobs report clashes with another poor Economic Sentiment Index reading, as inflation looms large in consumers' minds. Will the Fed hike interest rates by 50 basis points? And do investors trust them to do so without triggering a recession?Show NotesRead the latest Economic Sentiment Index from HPS and CivicScience here. Read HPS' jobs fact sheet for March 2022 here. 

In this episode of HPS Insights, Mark Slaga, Global Practice Lead for Digital Workplace Services at Kyndryl, joins host Bryan DeAngelis to reflect on how the way we work has changed since the onset of the pandemic two years ago. Mark, who has led Kyndryl's work guiding Fortune 500 companies through the transition to remote and hybrid work, shares his insights into which COVID-induced changes are here to stay and which will fade.  Above all, businesses will need to give all employees, regardless of where they work, equal opportunity to excel at work and participate in company culture.Read more about Mark Slaga here.Learn about Kyndryl's Digital Workplace Services practice here.

In today's episode, veteran U.S. Treasury official Mark Sobel joins Tony, John, and Brendan to unpack the growing concerns around dollar dominance. The group discussed why dollar dominance is here to stay, sanctions' impact on its power, why other currencies like China's RMB don't pose a threat to the dollar's global role, as well as behind the scenes insights on why the Fed won't be making any statements on the dollar anytime soon. Show Notes: Mark Sobel is U.S. Chairman at the Official Monetary And Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). A veteran U.S. Treasury official, Mark has been at the forefront of international financial diplomacy for two decades, serving as the Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for international monetary and financial policy and representing the US. on the International Monetary Fund executive board. Check out his bio and Twitter. OMFIF is an independent think tank for central banking, economic policy and public investment, providing a neutral platform for public and private sector engagement worldwide.   OMFIF: Website and Twitter Mark Sobel's Article: Russia sanctions, the renminbi and the dollar’s future: The Red Herring Returns

On this episode of HPS Insights, Managing Director and in-house Russia expert Stratton Kirton is joined by fellow Managing Director and former Senate Appropriations Committee staffer Jonathan Graffeo to discuss the various impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They touch on energy market volatility, congressional Ukraine aid in the recent Omnibus bill, the impact of sanctions, and more. Tune in!Show Notes: Historic Context And Economic Background Of Russia's War On Ukraine, Stratton Kirton and Jessica Soforenko, Hamilton Place Strategies Senate Passes $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill That Includes Aid for Ukraine, Siobhan Hughes and Teresa Mettela, The Wall Street Journal What’s the historic connection between high oil prices and recession?, Samantha Fields, Marketplace Guest Biographies: Stratton Kirton, Managing Director, Hamilton Place Strategies Jonathan Graffeo, Managing Director, Hamilton Place Strategies

In today's episode of the Macrocast, Tony, John, and Brendan are joined by special guest Brai Odion-Esene, HPS alum and founder of SW4 Insights, a D.C.-based advisory firm providing intelligence and strategic counsel. The group chats about recent Federal Open Market Committee developments and some of the relevant stakeholders and factors that impact Fed decision making. In the second half of the episode, the conversation shifts towards recent market impacts resulting from sanctions on Russia; particularly in the nickel and wheat markets.    Show notes: Brai Odion-Esene's biography Analyses from SW4 Insights  London Metal Exchange

On the first edition of Macrocast Live, Tony, John, and Brendan are joined by three economic policy experts with decades of experience watching markets: Victoria Guida of Politico, Jim Pethokoukis of AEI, and Nathan Sheets of Citi. They discuss inflation dynamics, future Fed actions, and the impact of geopolitical turmoil on the global economy. This is an episode you do not want to miss! Show Notes: Jim's Substack: Faster, Please!  Jim's Twitter: @JimPethokoukis Victoria's Twitter: @vtg2 Victoria's Latest Work From Politico Guest Biographies Victoria Guida: Economics reporter covering the Federal Reserve, Treasury, and broader economy for Politico. Victoria has spent her Washington career writing about bank regulations, monetary policy, and trade negotiations. Jim Pethokoukis: The Dewitt Wallace Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he writes and edits the AEIdeas blog, hosts a weekly podcast, "Political Economy with James Pethokoukis," and writes the substack Faster, Please!  Nathan Sheets: Citi's Global Chief Economist, where he oversees the global economics team and leads research across all areas of economics. During the Obama administration, Sheets served as Undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury for International Affairs.