Bloomberg Businessweek

You've probably heard of the pink tax—that additional price women pay to exist in the same world as men. Now meet the double tax, the compounded cost of racism and sexism or the pink tax and then some.The Double Tax dares to ask why it’s so expensive to be a woman in America and why it doesn’t have to be this way. In The Double Tax, Harvard researcher Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman summarizes the disparities that women face as they navigate life’s biggest moments. Not only do the numbers reveal that women incur higher costs than men, but also that Black and white women lead vastly different lives, marked by dramatic gaps in job opportunities, salaries, housing costs, childcare access, and generational wealth. She coins this gap as the “double tax,” the compounded cost of racism and sexism. She speaks with Bloomberg's Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec, and Norah Mulinda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring some of our favorite conversations of the week from our daily radio show "Bloomberg Businessweek Daily."Hosted by Carol Massar and Tim StenovecHear the show live at 2PM ET on WBBR 1130 AM New York, Bloomberg 92.9 FM Boston, WDCH 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. Metro, Sirius/XM channel 121, on the Bloomberg Business App, Radio.com, the iHeartRadio app and at Bloomberg.com/audio.You can also watch Bloomberg Businessweek on YouTube - just search for Bloomberg Global News.Like us at Bloomberg Radio on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @carolmassar @timsteno and @BWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy.Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.A federal judge rejected as improper Justice Department subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve Board seeking records relating to its renovations of its headquarters and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments to Congress about the project.US District Judge James Boasberg said the government had advanced no evidence to justify the subpoenas and said they clearly reflected an “improper motive” of retaliating against Powell over policy differences. Jeanine Pirro, who leads the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, called the ruling wrong and said they would appeal the decision.The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The Fed declined to comment.“A mountain of evidence suggests that the government served these subpoenas on the Board to pressure its Chair into voting for lower interest rates or resigning,” Boasberg said. “On the other side of the scale, the government has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime; indeed, its justifications are so thin and unsubstantiated that the court can only conclude that they are pretextual.”DOJ issued subpoenas to the Fed in January threatening a criminal indictment, Powell said at the time. The subpoenas are related to the Fed’s ongoing $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters in Washington and testimony Powell provided about the construction before the Senate Banking panel last year.Powell, in an unusually forceful video response to the subpoenas, characterized the investigation as motivated by the Fed refusing to set interest rates according to the preferences of President Donald Trump.Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor, has been nominated by Trump to replace Powell when the latter’s term as chair ends in May. North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has vowed to block any Fed nominations as long as the DOJ investigation of Powell remains unresolved. Tillis reiterated that commitment this week.Today's show features: Elliot Stein, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Litigation Analyst Mike Collins, PGIM Fixed Income Managing Director & Executive Portfolio Advisor Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar CEO Katrina Manson, Bloomberg News Reporter covering Tech and National Security See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today the world of private equity and credit is a rancid pool of conflicts and illegality that cannot possibly be seen as superior to public markets. Private equity executives even enjoy special tax provisions from Congress for "carried interest" to reward them for their efforts in soaking investors. Advocates of private schemes like crypto tokens, which are explicitly not considered securities, buy and sell Members of Congress like chattel.Chris Whalen, former banker and risk analyst weighs in on the latest concerns in private credit on the back of this week’s headlines including JPMorgan Chase restricting some lending to private credit funds after marking down the value of certain software-linked loans in its portfolios. AS well as Morgan Stanley and Cliffwater capping withdrawals from their private credit fundsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy.Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Iran’s new supreme leader said the Strait of Hormuz should remain shut and Tehran will look to open other fronts in the war if the US and Israel persist with their attacks.In his first public comments since succeeding his father at the weekend, Mojtaba Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would seek to ensure the critical waterway for oil and gas stays effectively closed — maintaining a choke on supplies that’s triggered a surge in global energy prices.His statement — published on state media on Thursday — came as US President Donald Trump said preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons and being a threat to the Middle East is “of far greater interest and importance to me” than the cost of oil.The defiance shown by both leaders indicates that the war in the Middle East isn’t close to a de-escalation after almost two weeks of fighting. Israel launched a fresh wave of large-scale strikes across Iran on Thursday, while the Islamic Republic stepped up attacks on Dubai and shipping assets.Today's show features: Jennifer Welch, Bloomberg Economics Chief Geoeconomics Analyst Rockford Weitz, Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Professor of Practice & Director of the Maritime Studies Program Jason Greenblath, American Century Investments Senior Portfolio Manager Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair (Ashley Fliehr) has joined Self-Care Is For Everyone (SCIFE) as the brand’s first Angel Investor and official Brand Champion. Ashley’s investment will directly fund SCIFE’s expansion from a viral apparel-led advocacy brand into a multi-platform mental health media and product company. For Ashley, this investment is deeply personal — as an elite performer who has navigated the pressures of global visibility, injury, reinvention, and resilience, she believes mental strength and emotional well-being are foundational to long-term success. Backing SCIFE is her commitment to normalizing self-care conversations and ensuring mental health support is accessible, aspirational, and stigma-free for the next generation. She speaks with Bloomberg's Carol Massar and Norah Mulinda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy.Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.A key measure of US inflation was tame at the start of the year. But another metric is shaping up to paint a very different picture.Wednesday’s report on the consumer price index showed core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, was mild in both January and February — a pleasant surprise as companies tend to raise prices at the turn of the year. Yet economists expect another gauge, one preferred by the Federal Reserve and set for release on Friday, was probably rather strong in both months.The fact that the personal consumption expenditures price index has been outpacing the CPI is already unusual. Typically it’s been the other way around, as a higher weighting on housing costs in the CPI tends to keep that measure relatively elevated.Now the wedge appears to be deepening. Should the core PCE rise 3.1% in the year through January as economists expect, it would exceed the annual core CPI by one of the widest margins in decades.The divergence began before the Iran war, which has sent oil prices sharply higher and renewed risks of a broader acceleration in inflation. That puts the Fed in a tough spot. While policymakers are broadly expected to leave interest rates unchanged next week, a sustained pickup in price pressures would make it difficult for officials to justify resuming rate cuts in coming months to shore up a fragile labor market.The PCE price index, a product of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, draws from the CPI for several price categories. In the wake of the latest CPI data, economists were quick to boost their forecast for the February core PCE price index, which is due April 9. Several projected it would rise 0.4% for a second month, with some penciling in a bigger pickup.Today's show features: Yelena Shulyatyeva, The Conference Board Senior US Economist, on today's CPI reaction as we count down to next Fed decision Gerry Doyle, Bloomberg News Global Defense Editor on Iran’s Cheap, Plentiful Weaponry Puts US Military Under Strain Gary Evans, US Antimony CEO on the company's $27M award from Dept of Defense under the Defense Production Act Ellen Wald, Transversal Consulting & Atlantic Council Senior Fellow on the latest in the oil markets See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will become Iran’s next supreme leader, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency announced, taking over after his father was killed in an attack by the US and Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the third person to lead the Islamic Republic and the first example of hereditary succession since the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy in the 1979 revolution. Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected the country’s next supreme leader in a “decisive vote,” according to Fars. The vote took place hours before the result was made public. Alex Vatanka, Middle East Institute Senior Fellow, joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss Mojtaba Khamenei's ascent and what it means for Iran and global relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Energy markets whipsawed for a second consecutive day as investors raced to interpret rapidly shifting comments from the Trump administration over the war in Iran. Oil prices plummeted after Energy Secretary Chris Wright erroneously posted — and then deleted — a message that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, only for White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to subsequently concede no such operation had occurred. But, the spokeswoman said, the US military was “drawing up additional options” to address any attempt by Iran to constrain trade through the vital artery. Later Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump posted his own flurry of messages on social media. First, Trump insisted the US had “no reports” of mines being placed, but then urged Iranian forces to remove any explosives they may have laid. Next, Trump said the US was “using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers” to target mining ships. Minutes later, the president reported that the US had “hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats” and promised “more to follow.”Today's show features: Kevin Gordon, Schwab Head of Macro Research & Strategy as markets digest a flurry of geopolitical headlines Bloomberg Balance of Power Co-host Joe Mathieu as the White House says the US Navy has not escorted a tanker through the Strait Mark Gurman, Bloomberg News Managing Editor for Global Consumer Tech on Apple's new $599 MacBook Neo Anurag Rana, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Technology Analyst on Oracle's blockbuster earnings report See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As fans of FX’s new limited series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette search for real-life versions of the characters' wardrobes, they're running into roadblocks. According to Google Trends, searches for “Calvin Klein 90s” shot up 850% in the US the week Love Story premiered. When customers found more fleece joggers and graphic tees on its website than the sleek basics they were looking for, some turned to secondhand sellers. PVH Corp., the apparel conglomerate that bought the Calvin Klein brand from the designer of the same name in 2003, declined to comment on its CBK strategy—or lack thereof—citing a quiet period ahead of its next earnings release. Dina Katgara, Bloomberg News Consumer Reporter, joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. She speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy.Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump made an emphatic declaration on Friday about his intentions in the widening Middle East war: He’d accept no deal with Iran other than “unconditional surrender” and pledged the US “will work tirelessly” to restore the country’s economy if a new leader is installed whom he deems acceptable.Nearly a week in, the military campaign has sent oil prices soaring and roiled equity and bond markets across the globe. The online missive showed the president — who campaigned as a pro-peace candidate — is digging in on policies that threaten to tear his fragile political coalition apart.The revolt of “Make America Great Again” influencers including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Marjorie Taylor Greene, along with several GOP politicians, has produced a chorus of betrayal. “No one should have to die for a foreign country,” Kelly said on her radio show this week.Their backlash comes after Trump has already tested his base’s loyalty with an earlier strike on Iran and an operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolas Maduro that represent the kind of military adventurism he’d built his political career on rejecting, as well as his handling of the Epstein files, which frustrated some MAGA devotees who expected the swift and full transparency he promised.At the same time, the Iran campaign risks alienating the more-casual Trump voters who cast a ballot for him hoping he’d shore up the economy, and see Middle East conflict as a distraction — or even a hindrance. Gasoline prices this week rose to their highest level at any time during a Trump presidency.Today's show features: Nancy Cook, Bloomberg News Senior National Economic Correspondent on Big Take: ‘MAGA Is Split': Trump Digs In on Iran War, Divides Loyalists Jennifer Welch, Bloomberg Economics Chief Geoeconomics Analyst on ongoing impact of Iran/Hormuz on gas prices, inflation/stagflation, energy and other commodities prices Madison Muller, Bloomberg News Health Reporter on Novo Drops Hims & Hers Lawsuit and Will Sell Wegovy on Site, FDA Plans to Loosen Testing Rules to Boost Biosimilar Drugs Bloomberg News White House Editor Jordan Fabian on President Trump Says War with Iran is ‘Very Complete' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring some of our favorite conversations of the week from our daily radio show “Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.” Hosted by Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec Hear the show live at 2PM ET on WBBR 1130 AM New York, Bloomberg 92.9 FM Boston, WDCH 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. Metro, Sirius/XM channel 121, on the Bloomberg Business App, Radio.com, the iHeartRadio app and at Bloomberg.com/audio. You can also watch Bloomberg Businessweek on YouTube - just search for Bloomberg Global News. Like us at Bloomberg Radio on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @carolmassar @timsteno and @BWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Oracle Corp. and OpenAI have scrapped plans to expand a flagship artificial intelligence data center in Texas after negotiations dragged over financing and OpenAI’s changing needs. The collapsed talks created an opening for Meta Platforms Inc. to step in and consider leasing the planned expansion site in Abilene, Texas, from developer Crusoe, according to people familiar with the matter. Nvidia Corp., the leading AI chipmaker, helped facilitate Meta’s discussions with the developer, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The shifting plans underscore the complexity of building out AI data centers, which are expected to cost in the tens of billions of dollars and require cooperation from a wide swath of partners. The campus being developed by Crusoe in Abilene is part of the highly publicized Stargate project, which was announced last year at the White House with President Donald Trump. While the 1,000-acre site continues to be built, and several parts are up and running, Oracle and OpenAI elected not to go forward with tentative plans to lease a large expansion, the people said. Oracle and OpenAI are using Nvidia’s AI semiconductors at the Stargate site. With Crusoe seeking a tenant, Nvidia became involved to ensure its products would still fill the expanded data center rather than that of rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc., said the people. Nvidia paid a $150 million deposit to Crusoe and began helping court Meta as a tenant for the expansion, the people said.Today's show features: Ed Ludlow, Bloomberg Tech co-host on Oracle and OpenAI End Plans to Expand Flagship Data Center Ellen Wald, President of Transversal Consulting and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, on oil markets James Crombie, Bloomberg News Senior Editor on Credit, on how broad credit markers are reacting to war and inflation Drive to the Close with Sevasti Balafas, CEO at GoalVest Advisory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carlsmed is a commercial-stage medical technology company pioneering AI-enabled personalized spine surgery solutions with a mission to improve outcomes and decrease the cost of healthcare for spine surgery and beyond. They are focused on becoming the standard of care for spine fusion surgery. They've been using technology and AI-enabled 3D surgical planning and implants personalized for each patient. Mike Cordonnier is the co-founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Carlsmed, he also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on the company's earnings and commercial & growth strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women who go on to develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have characteristic levels of neuroactive steroids, molecules derived from the hormone progesterone, in their blood during the third trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. These molecules influence the brain’s stress response and emotional regulation. Dr. Lauren Osborne is Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Department of OBGYN at Weill Cornell Medicine and she discusses how postpartum depression affects many families, how common is it, and why has it historically been underdiagnosed or overlooked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. President Donald Trump’s war with Iran threatens to deal a severe blow to a global economy still grappling with the impact of his historic tariff hike. For Europe, sustained higher energy prices would take the economy to the brink of recession. For the US, they would place the Federal Reserve in an impossible position — stuck between a war that pushes inflation higher and a president demanding that interest rates come down. For China, the end of discounted Iranian oil imports adds to strain from Trump’s tariffs and a real estate collapse.In the first days of the fighting, the intensity is high and the endgame uncertain. Bloomberg Economics has modeled scenarios for what lies ahead, and what they mean for oil prices, major economies, and the future of Iran.It is, of course, possible that Washington and Tehran find an off-ramp, oil settles back at its pre-escalation average of $65 a barrel, and the global economy dodges a blow. The latest signs, though, suggest there’s worse to come. Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery is closed. Qatar has shuttered the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas facility. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively paralyzed. Oil and gas prices have already rocketed higher. Stocks have taken a hit. Treasury yields have risen as traders curb bets on Fed cuts. In a severe scenario, Bloomberg Economics assumes that with Trump warning of a “big wave” of attacks, Israel aiming at the fall of the Islamic Republic and Tehran betting it can outlast its adversaries, the fighting grinds on. Intensified Iranian strikes set refineries and ports ablaze or knock out pipelines, bringing energy production to a halt.Today's show features: Jennifer Welsh, Bloomberg Economic Chief Geoeconomics Analyst, on Iran War Oil Shock Threatened to Unleash Wave of Global Inflation Jeff Mason, Bloomberg News White House Correspondent on Trump Replacing Kristi Noem as Homeland Chief After Rocky Tenure Bloomberg News Chief Correspondent for Private Capital Davide Scigliuzzo on latest developments in private credit Drive to the Close with David Busch, CEO and CIO of Trajan Wealth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, traders on the two major prediction market platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket, were furiously debating whether Cardi B’s dancing onstage at the Super Bowl constituted a “performance.” Now the sites’ traders—and some outside observers—are up in arms over the markets that allowed users to bet on Iran’s future. Another day, another moral, legal and philosophical minefield for these businesses. Chris Beam, Bloomberg Businessweek Contributor writes how the Iran-related controversies generated by Kalshi and Polymarket say a lot about how the two companies are positioning themselves in the sector, as well as in the debates over what role prediction markets should play in our society. Chris speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.Sebastian EscobarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Traders were on Wednesday awaiting further details of President Donald Trump’s plan to guarantee the free flow of energy shipments through the Persian Gulf, as the shipping industry warned the proposal may struggle to restore confidence after attacks effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption threatens to sever seaborne energy trade between some of the world’s largest producers and key consuming nations, heightening risks for global markets. Brent crude was little changed after jumping more than 10% this week, while European gas prices slipped following the biggest rally in four years. Trump said Tuesday the US would offer insurance backstops and naval escorts for commercial vessels transiting the region, seeking to reassure markets rattled by a spiraling conflict involving Iran. Multiple attacks on vessels in recent days have choked off traffic through the narrow waterway.The world’s largest shipping industry association said it was seeking clarification on how the US-led convoy system would operate, warning that protecting every tanker in the region would be “unrealistic.” Officials at two major commodity trading houses said they doubted the measures would materially reduce the danger of attack, even with military escorts in place. “Nothing is sure and we need immediate clarity,” said Khalid Hashim, managing director of Precious Shipping Pcl, a Thai firm that owns bulk carriers. “Lives are at risk, cargoes are at risk, ships are at risk. We need immediate cover that protects us from all this,” he said. Today's show features: Bloomberg News National Security Team Leader Nick Wadhams on whether Iran is seeking an onramp to the ongoing war Steve Moore, Co-Founder of Unleash Prosperity and a former Trump Economic Advisor, on the US economic and monetary policy outlook Bloomberg News Consumer Tech Reporter Samantha Kelly on Apple’s latest product launch event and new low-priced laptop Bloomberg News Economic Editor Molly Smith with instant reaction to the latest Federal Reserve Beige Book release See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MongoDB shares tumbled 22% Tuesday after the database software company gave weaker-than-expected forecasts for full-year revenue and first-quarter adjusted earnings. The figures are reviving concern about expansion amid an intensifying product race and signaling rising competitive intensity and slower expansion of customer wallets, according to research from Bloomberg Intelligence. MongoDB's 2027 revenue guidance implies a roughly 600-bp deceleration vs. 2026, while the operating-income view trails consensus.  Chirantan “CJ” Desai is the President and Chief Executive Officer of MongoDB, a position he assumed in November. He discusses the company’s latest earnings report and the impact of artificial intelligence as he looks to allay investor fears following the stock price's biggest drop since last March. CJ speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. A selloff in stocks and bonds was trimmed as assurances on American action to secure shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war pared what had been an over 9% surge in oil. Following an earlier slide in the S&P 500 that reached 2.5%, the equity benchmark dropped less than 1%. President Donald Trump said the US will escort and insure tankers and other vessels through the world’s most-critical energy chokepoint. Oil prices waned in post-settlement trading, with Brent trading near $80 a barrel. The war in the Middle East reverberated across the region, with Israel bombarding Tehran in a fresh wave of strikes. The Islamic Republic fired missiles at Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, with Doha saying targets weren’t limited to military interests. Qatar and Iraq halted production at major energy sites. With the conflict disrupting shipments, fuel costs have been on the rise. A sustained surge in prices for diesel — used in freight, power and heating — could add to the cost of transportation — a key inflation component. Gasoline has also surged, intensifying those risks. Today's show features: Connor Teskey, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, on the company’s expansion in infrastructure and transition investing Lynn Martin, President of the New York Stock Exchange, on the IPO pipeline, issuer readiness, and broader market valuation John Rogers, Founder and CEO of Ariel Investments, on value investing strategies and the debate over US exceptionalism vs. market concentration risk Alex Rodriguez, Chairman & CEO of A-Rod Corp, on sports as an institutional asset and rising valuations, as well as the latest season of The Deal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.