United States Financial

Iceland will vote August 29th on whether to resume accession talks with the European Union, with recent polling showing a narrow advantage for the "yes" side. RUV Correspondent Ingólfur Bjarni Sigfússon joins Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend and explains that debate is being shaped by security concerns, economic uncertainty and Iceland's strategic position in the North Atlantic, while opponents warn about sovereignty and control over fisheries.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to return to Britain with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after six years in the US, with their children set to begin school there in September. Bloomberg News Reporter Tiwa Adebayo explains to David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend that the surprise move brings Harry closer to King Charles as he undergoes cancer treatment, while questions remain over the family's security and Harry's strained relationship with Prince William.

The Trump administration is preparing additional measures to isolate Iran's economy, but further pressure could mean targeting China, the dominant buyer of Iranian oil. Joining Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the situation with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini is Bloomberg News Senior Editor Wendy Benjaminson.

Chrystia Freeland says a tentative US-Canada trade agreement may prevent new US tariffs from taking effect, but only if Canada makes major concessions including easing retaliation, allowing US alcohol back into provincial stores and aligning with Washington on some digital issues. Existing US tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts would remain, though at lower levels. Freeland says that would mark a major shift from Canada's long-held position that such tariffs violate USMCA, and could hurt both countries, especially US manufacturing and the Detroit-Windsor auto supply chain. This interview was recorded on Aug. 20.

Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal, Lisa Abramowicz, Tracy Alloway and Tom Keene preview the Jackson Hole Symposium as all eyes will be on Fed Chairman Kevin Marsh and his first annual symposium address.

US colleges are confronting a prolonged demographic squeeze as the number of high school graduates, after peaking in 2025, is projected to decline 13% through 2041, putting particular pressure on regional schools with limited endowments. Joining David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend is Carleton College Professor of Economics Nathan Grawe who explains that institutions are cutting programs, competing harder for students and emphasizing affordability and return on investment, while inflation-adjusted tuition at public four-year colleges has fallen 7% over the past decade.

The US is preparing a new campaign of economic pressure on Iran after diplomacy and months of fighting failed to produce a durable settlement, with President Donald Trump warning countries against maintaining trade ties with Tehran. Atlantic writer and Columbia University Institute of Global Politics Distinguished Fellow Kim Ghattas is on Bloomberg This Weekend and explains to hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini that sanctions remain a blunt tool that will deepen hardship for ordinary Iranians, but Tehran's weakened regional network and growing economic strain could make the latest pressure campaign different from those of the past 47 years.

Dachshunds are enjoying a global popularity boom, climbing to No. 5 in the American Kennel Club's 2025 rankings as owners embrace their small size and outsized personalities.  The surge is supporting everything from breed meetups to dachshund cafes, even as owners contend with health concerns including intervertebral disc disease, which may affect roughly one in four dachshunds. Joining Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss all things Dachshund is Bloomberg News Bangkok Bureau Chief Randy Thanthong-Knight.

US spirits exports to Canada fell 70% from March through December 2025 after most provinces removed American alcohol from their shelves, while exports elsewhere rose 2.5%. American Whiskey Association President & CEO Michael Bilello is on Bloomberg This Weekend and says restoring market access is only the first challenge, American whiskey producers also need to rebuild demand among Canadian consumers after more than a year of trade tensions.

Former Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove joins Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend to discuss the current state of the international intelligence community.  Dearlove says that UK-US intelligence cooperation remains close but expressed concern about politicization and personnel changes inside the CIA, an issue that has also drawn scrutiny amid broader changes across the US intelligence community.

Bloomberg News Executive Editor for Canada Derek Decloet joins David Gura and Christina Ruffini on Bloomberg This Weekend and explains that Canadians are frustrated but not necessarily surprised after last-minute US-Canada negotiations collapsed, triggering 50% US tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods and a dollar-for-dollar retaliation pledge from Ottawa.

Joining Bloomberg This Weekend is Bloomberg Radio host of "Masters in Business" Barry Ritholtz and he tells hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's bond-market moves may provide short-term relief but cannot override persistent inflation, rising debt and the forces setting long-term yields.