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There is a growing prevalence of AI-generated deepfake political advertisements in the current midterm election cycle, including a deepfake resembling Billie Eilish, and a Texas Senate race ad showing a deepfake of Democrat James Talarico singing about transgender children. Bloomberg News corporate lobbying and influence reporter Emily Birnbaum discusses with hosts of Bloomberg This Weekend David Gura and Christina Ruffini the broader implications for election integrity, especially as the AI industry commits significant funding toward midterm elections.

Senator Alan Armstrong (R-Oklahoma) joins David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend and says permitting reform not additional federal spending is the most effective way to lower housing and energy costs, arguing regulatory delays have created infrastructure bottlenecks that drive up prices for consumers.

For many American farmers, Canada and Mexico have become indispensable export markets at a time when trade disputes, weak commodity prices, and rising costs are already straining the agricultural economy. Iowa farmer Stu Swanson says many producers are operating on dwindling hope as financial pressures mount. CoBank CEO Tom Halverson argues that trade deals have helped US exports to Canada and Mexico grow roughly 600% since NAFTA's creation. As negotiations begin, farmers are less focused on expanding the agreement than on preserving certainty and avoiding new disruptions that could further weaken an already fragile farm economy.

Americans are increasing spending on their pets beyond traditional preventative care, with the US pet market projected to grow from approximately $150 billion today to over $250 billion in the next decade. Bloomberg Intelligence consumer staples analyst Diana Rosero-Pena joins Bloomberg This Weekend with David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and special dog correspondent Brutus to provide insights into the future of pet retail.

Bloomberg News Andean Bureau Reporter Andreina Itriago is on Bloomberg This Weekend explaining concerns that the official casualty figures in Venezuela after the earthquake are likely underreported, with many more deaths expected as rescue efforts continue and bodies are recovered. Itriago explains to hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini that the government's capacity to conduct search and rescue operations is described as very limited, with much of the initial response carried out by local citizens rather than state forces.

Despite a ship being struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday and another incident over the weekend, some vessels continue to travel the strait on both the Iranian and Omani sides. However, overall traffic remains significantly reduced compared to pre-conflict levels, with daily ship movements down from over 140 in February to approximately 30-40 currently. Bloomberg News Energy & Commodities Reporter Stephen Stapczynski joins Bloomberg This Weekend to explain to hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini that safety concerns persist, causing ship owners, captains, and energy exporters to reassess the risks of passage through this critical waterway.

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Europe has been experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures soaring to historic highs, particularly in France where temperatures were above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Bloomberg News Weather & Climate Reporter Joe Wertz and Climate Reporter Emma Court are on Bloomberg This Weekend to warn that such extreme heat events are likely to become more frequent globally, potentially driving up costs and contributing to what is being termed 'climate inflation,' placing additional financial burdens on consumers.

Technology stocks closed out a volatile week sharply lower as investors reassessed the sustainability of the AI trade, with concerns over rising semiconductor costs, memory pricing and capital spending. Bloomberg Intelligence Global Head of Technology Research Mandeep Singh and Bloomberg News Macro Strategist Cameron Crise also explain to hosts of Bloomberg This Weekend David Gura and Christina Ruffini the evolving US restrictions on advanced AI models, the cooling IPO market, and questions over whether AI companies can generate enough revenue to justify soaring valuations amid rising costs.