United States Financial

Bloomberg White House Correspondent Kate Sullivan and Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Ron Brownstein are on Bloomberg This Weekend discussing President Donald Trump's midterm campaign push as Republicans defend increasingly competitive races in states including Ohio and Alaska. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, they examine how voter concerns about the cost of living, the Iran war and data centers are shaping the campaign as Trump seeks to rally Republican voters ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.

Schwab Head of Macro Research and Strategy Kevin Gordon tells Bloomberg This Weekend that AI-related technology stocks are supporting the broader market even as many individual companies have suffered significantly larger declines, highlighting increasingly narrow market leadership. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Gordon says a gradual Federal Reserve tightening cycle and a labor market that avoids widespread layoffs could support stocks, while investors are increasingly focused on whether companies sustain their enormous AI capital spending.

Bloomberg Brazil Country Chief Filipe Pacheco is on Bloomberg This Weekend as voters cast ballots in a closely contested presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, with smaller-party candidates also competing in the first round. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Pacheco explains the importance of turnout, the potential for an Oct. 25 runoff and concerns about possible foreign interference as Brazil conducts its election. Bloomberg's latest coverage confirms the race is tight and that a runoff will be held if no candidate wins a majority Sunday.

Taiwan's Representative to the US, Alexander Yui, tells Bloomberg This Weekend that Washington has reassured Taipei its Taiwan policy remains unchanged following President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as a $14 billion US arms package remains stalled. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Yui says Taiwan wants faster weapons deliveries and is deepening its economic relationship with the US through major investments in semiconductors and other industries.

America's college-age population is shrinking, putting pressure on universities with high fixed costs and fewer students to fill their campuses. Schools like Bowling Green State are responding by adding career-focused programs and trying to stand out in a crowded market, while institutions that fail to adapt are facing cuts, closures and economic fallout for the towns that depend on them.

Bloomberg Pursuits Senior Features Writer Thu-Huong Ha tells Bloomberg This Weekend about spending 48 hours in Singapore without relying on a smartphone, navigating a city where transportation, payments, dining and government services are deeply integrated with digital technology. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Ha says the experiment required more patience and effort but also made her more observant of her surroundings and convinced her there is value in experiencing boredom without immediately reaching for a screen.

Bloomberg Intelligence Chief US Interest Rate Strategist Ira Jersey tells Bloomberg This Weekend that softer September jobs data give the Federal Reserve room to hold rates steady in October, but persistent inflation could still lead policymakers to raise rates again in December and early next year. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Jersey says strong economic growth and loose fiscal policy are also contributing to higher global bond yields, keeping pressure on central banks to restrain inflation.

Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Gautam Mukunda tells Bloomberg This Weekend that voluntary safeguards may not be enough to manage AI risks because competitive and financial pressures can push companies to prioritize growth over safety. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Mukunda discusses the White House's new AI task force, Anthropic's planned IPO and broader questions about whether increasingly advanced AI systems can be safely governed.

Bloomberg Mideast Energy Correspondent Anthony Di Paola tells Bloomberg This Weekend that the G7's 100 million-barrel emergency release is already pushing fuel prices lower but is likely to provide only temporary relief as refinery constraints and Middle East disruptions keep diesel supplies tight. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Di Paola says China's oil demand and escalating risks around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea will be key factors determining where global energy prices go next.

China spent decades building a dominant position across rare-earth mining, processing and magnet manufacturing, leaving the US dependent on a foreign supply chain for materials essential to everything from vehicles and wind turbines to electronics and defense systems. MP Materials is now trying to rebuild that chain domestically, moving from its Mountain Pass mine in California into refining. But catching up will take more than finding minerals: the US still faces higher costs, limited processing capacity, opaque pricing and a Chinese lead that industry experts say took roughly 25 years to build.

Bloomberg Pursuits reporter Sarah Rappaport tells Bloomberg This Weekend that luxury travelers are increasingly seeking tiny hotels with as few as one to six rooms, combining the privacy of a villa with personalized high-end hotel service. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Rappaport says the trend is spreading across Europe and the US as travelers seek exclusivity, fewer crowds and unusual experiences in restaurants, museums and historic properties.

Washington Institute research director Dana Stroul tells Bloomberg This Weekend that the US military buildup in the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, is expanding President Donald Trump's options as diplomacy with Iran remains stalled and Washington weighs its approach to the Houthis in Yemen. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Stroul says US economic sanctions and the naval blockade are putting significant pressure on Iran but have not yet produced major concessions on the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's nuclear program or its regional activities.