WSJ's Take On the Week

Episoade

• Why This Ex-Trump Economist Says the Fed Needs to Raise Interest Rates 31.05.2026 32min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos is joined by Heard on the Street editor Aaron Back to discuss the economy, inflation, and the appointment of the new Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. They are joined by Joe Lavorgna, Americas chief economist at SMBC and a former counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Lavorgna argues that the Fed has an inflation problem that is so entrenched that it calls for a hike.  Lavorgna breaks down how massive fiscal stimulus and the recent supply shock from the Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz closure have pushed inflation higher, making a disinflationary boom unlikely. He addresses the question of whether AI-induced productivity will be disinflationary, and how we’ll know.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com. Further ReadingTrump Picked Warsh for Fed Chair to Cut Rates. Markets Are Bracing for the Opposite. The Fed Keeps Getting Hit With New Shocks in Its Yearslong Inflation Fight For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• From Walmart to Wall Street: Who Is Really Winning in This Economy? 17.05.2026 34min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos analyze the K-shaped economy, contrasting flourishing corporate capital expenditures—driven by massive AI investment from companies like Nvidia—with the struggling consumer economy. They discuss Nvidia's risks ahead of its earnings this upcoming week, including rising chip costs and the troubles of its key customer OpenAI. The discussion shifts to soaring wholesale prices rising faster than consumer prices all while pressuring corporate margins. They also look ahead to earnings reports from retailers Target and Walmart, and preview earnings for Home Depot and Lowe's, which face headwinds from high mortgage rates and a muted spring housing market. After the break, Adam Josephson, founder of consumer-focused research company Sakonnet Research, joins the show to explain the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. He argues that a buoyant financial economy, where large banks are seeing asset growth from lending to hedge funds and private credit, is masking a deeper consumer weakness. Josephson discusses the gap between corporate earnings and everyone else. He says that while real average weekly earnings have seen little growth, corporate profit margins are at all-time highs. He details how this economic pressure on the consumer is reflected in falling box shipments, the rise of discount retailers, and the growing share of spending on healthcare. He warns that the market is being propped up by excessive financial leverage, and suggests ways investors can think defensively. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading OpenAI Misses Key Revenue, User Targets in High-Stakes Sprint Toward IPO Nvidia Is Buying the Chip Supply Chain  Housing Market’s Spring Is Shaping Up as a Bust After April Sales Were Flat Elon Musk Testifies He Was a ‘Fool’ to Fund OpenAI Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices Wholesale Inflation Shot Higher in April For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Billionaire Investor on the Data Center Boom and Oil's Breaking Point 10.05.2026 35min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos discuss what’s beyond the surge in semiconductor companies like Broadcom and Micron. They examine economist Ed Yardeni’s "Buzz Lightyear theory"—which says that demand for compute power will increase to infinity and beyond—that has led to S&P 500 earnings growth expectations surpassing the 2000 tech bubble peak. Plus, they analyze the impact of the fatal hantavirus outbreak on cruise-line stocks. After the break, billionaire philanthropist and former energy trader John Arnold joins Miriam and Telis at a live taping of the show at the WSJ’s Future of Everything event. Arnold offers an analysis of how the U.S.-Iran conflict is shaping oil markets and discusses the factors preventing crude oil from reaching initial forecasts of $150 to $200 a barrel. He details how the Iran war underscores America's energy-security strengths, which should prompt hyperscalers to prioritize the U.S. for data-center expansion over Middle Eastern alternatives. Finally, he talks about a new focus of Arnold Ventures—the call for guardrails on prediction markets and sports betting—arguing that gambling regulation should remain under state jurisdiction rather than the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading: Memory Makers Are the Hottest Thing in Tech. Are They Making Too Much Money? Why Almost Everyone Loses—Except a Few Sharks—on Prediction Markets The 33-Day ‘Atlantic Odyssey’ That Turned Into a Hantavirus Nightmare U.S. Regulator Sues New York State for Prediction Markets Crackdown For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Josh Brown’s ‘HALO’ Stocks Strategy: Investing in What AI Can’t Replicate 03.05.2026 37min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried examine the shifting power dynamics at the Federal Reserve as Kevin Warsh’s chair nomination moves toward confirmation. Then, they break down some of the biggest earnings reports from this week, including private markets giants Apollo Management, KKR, and Sixth Street Specialty Lending. Plus, they look ahead to Disney and McDonald’s earnings, and talk about how these companies are keeping up with consumers.  Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and co-host of The Compound and Friends podcast, explains his "HALO" framework—Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence—and why the era of "capital light" software dominance is facing an existential threat from AI. Brown details why physical incumbents like Caterpillar, McDonalds, and Walmart are emerging as the preferred AI trades, as investors seek refuge in companies with physical moats that cannot be replicated by large language models.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Wall Street’s Latest Bet Is on ‘HALO’ Companies With AI Immunity Wall Street Is Sorting Software Companies Into Winners and Losers Traders Now See Rate Hike as More Likely Than Rate Cut This Year  Senate Banking Committee Advances Kevin Warsh to be Next Fed Chair  Powell to Remain on Fed Board, Citing Legal Pressure From Trump Private-Credit Warning Signs Flash After Blue Owl Unloads $1.4 Billion in Assets An Exodus of Money Endangers Wall Street’s Private-Credit Craze For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Prediction Markets: Investing, Gambling or a Haven for Insider Trading? 26.04.2026 36min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos look at why the Magnificent Seven stocks—including Microsoft, Meta, and Google parent Alphabet—are losing their luster. Are investors finally demanding to see results from AI spending, or are they content with the continued AI infrastructure spending? Then, they dive into the residential real-estate cycle, where we’ve seen national rent growth hit a decade low. Could deeply discounted multifamily Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, be the value play of the year?  Then, Telis and Miriam confront prediction markets, which have been in the news lately for high-profile arrests of insiders accused of trading on confidential information. They are joined by former Susquehanna International Group trader Andrew Courtney, co-founder of prediction markets platform Kalshinomics, who digs into the mechanics of these zero-sum contracts, insider trading and the ongoing legal battles with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission over their classification. Courtney details how professional market makers provide the liquidity that distinguishes them from a bet against the house. And he gives his take on how investors should engage with prediction markets. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading U.S. Soldier Charged With Using Classified Information to Bet on Maduro’s Ouster  White House Warns Staff Not to Place Bets on Prediction Markets Amid Iran War Trio of Polymarket Accounts Made $600,000 Betting on Iran Cease-Fire Court Sides With Kalshi in Major Ruling for Prediction Markets The AI Spending Spree Is Far from Over The U.S. Has More Fancy Apartments Than It Is Able to Fill Rent Price Increase Puts Market on Path to Landlord-Friendly Environment For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Why This Economist Says Immigration Crackdown is Reshaping U.S. Job Growth 19.04.2026 33min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos take off with a conversation on airlines. Alaska, Southwest, United and American are all reporting this upcoming week. Telis and Miriam get into how these carriers are dealing with skyrocketing fuel prices. Plus, they explore why luxury giants like LVMH and Kering are cooling even as the S&P 500 clears the 7,000 mark. They also talk about the mounting political drama surrounding the nomination of Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve.  After the break, Miriam and Telis are joined by Wendy Edelberg, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank to get into how an immigration crackdown may explain why the U.S. jobs numbers have been so volatile. Edelberg explains why traditional job growth numbers are no longer a reliable gauge of economic health and why a "breakeven" rate of zero jobs might actually signal a strong market under the current immigration policy shift, and how the U.S. labor market is becoming like Japan’s. Finally, she offers some insight on why the Fed may need to rethink its calculus on interest rates as job growth potentially turns negative. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Spirit’s Bankruptcy Exit in Flux as Jet Fuel Prices Surge  Delta’s Ace in the Hole for Surging Jet Fuel Costs: Its Own Refinery  How Airline Passengers Are Being Hit by the Jet-Fuel Crunch  Facing Soaring Fuel Costs, Delta Tells Customers to Plan for Pricier Flights  Trump’s Fed Chair Pick Kevin Warsh Is Caught in an Unprecedented Standoff  Wall Street Is Whiffing on Its Economic Forecasts  Breaking Down the Booming March Jobs Report For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Why Carson Block Says AI and Passive Investing Could Break the Stock Market 12.04.2026 28min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, host Miriam Gottfried and guest host Peter Rudegeair are joined by prominent short seller Carson Block, CEO of Muddy Waters Capital, who explains how AI is poised to fundamentally reshape society, the economy and global markets. With hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft and Meta Platforms continuing to dominate major indices and the Federal Reserve maintaining a wait-and-see position, are we finally entering a short sellers’ market? Block breaks down what he sees as the inherent fragility of a market dominated by passive investing and argues that AI-driven job displacement could trigger a historic market correction. After the break, the conversation turns to the world of private credit, where Block sees practices that he finds troubling. He also weighs in on the SEC’s proposal to eliminate quarterly reporting requirements and whether such a move would hinder or help the work of short sellers. Finally, we look at Block’s rare long position in Snowline Gold, a junior gold mining company. Is this legendary market bear finally embracing his inner bull? This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading What to Do About the Stock Market’s Concentration What You Should Do About the Stock Market's Giant Problem Auto-Parts Supplier First Brands Files for Bankruptcy Jim Chanos, Short Seller Who Took On Enron and Tesla, to Close Hedge Funds Wall Street’s Pre-Eminent Short Seller Is Calling It Quits Black Swan Manager Sees Huge Rally, Then 1929-Style Crash Meme-Stock Investors, Opendoor CEO For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• How Emerging-Market Bonds Can Hedge Against U.S. Market Volatility 29.03.2026 29min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos break down the math behind current oil price fluctuations and what the market is signaling about the duration of the Iran conflict. Food manufacturers and producers ConAgra Brands, Cal-Maine Foods and McCormick are reporting their earnings this upcoming week. Will these companies continue to pass on some of their high expenses to customers or will they absorb the rising costs? And a couple of the show’s listeners share their takes on the oil vs. gold portfolio hedge.  After the break, Telis and Miriam are joined by Eric Fine, portfolio manager and head of active emerging market debt at global investment management firm VanEck. Fine explains the concept of fiscal dominance and why he believes the roles of developed and emerging markets have reversed. He makes the case for why bonds for countries like Brazil and Colombia may now offer more stability than U.S. Treasurys. Plus, they discuss why some emerging-markets strategies have been abandoned in favor of strict fiscal discipline.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Is It Time to Diversify Away From U.S. Stocks Into Global Markets Grocery Price Inflation: Customer Reactions Unilever in Talks to Separate Food Business and Combine It With McCormick Brazil’s Central Bank Cuts Rates; Future Actions Unclear Amid Middle East Conflict For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Will High Oil Prices Kill Demand? Why JPMorgan Says Book Your Travel Now 22.03.2026 32min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried analyze the Federal Reserve’s latest decision to hold rates steady—and the surprising shift in market expectations toward a potential hike. They break down Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s take on the Misery Index and whether stagflation is truly returning this year. The hosts also discuss what to watch for at the upcoming CERAWeek energy conference. After the break, Miriam and Telis are joined by Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities research at JPMorgan. Kaneva explains the math behind why oil could hit a $125 ceiling and why $90 marks the red line for global demand destruction. She details China's push for energy self-sufficiency, and shares critical advice for your summer travel plans.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Fed Holds Steady and Maintains Rate Cut Projection How Waiving the Jones Act for Oil Tankers Would Work Oil Markets' New Reality: The Gulf Disruption Isn’t Going to End Soon IEA Proposes Largest Ever Oil Release From Strategic Reserves Persian Gulf Oil Squeeze For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Why a Closed Strait of Hormuz Is a ‘Smoking Risk’ for Global Markets 15.03.2026 30min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried discuss how attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are sending shockwaves through the markets and pushing oil prices higher. They analyze how the most recent jobs report showing a 92,000 job loss in February – and rising inflation fears – have complicated the Federal Reserve’s mandate. Plus, the hosts look at how some of our listeners and viewers are adapting their portfolios to respond to the war in Iran.  After the break, Miriam and Telis are joined by James Stavridis, vice chairman of the Carlyle Group and a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, to discuss the tactical options and economic impact of a blockade by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The Admiral explains that it’s not just oil that won’t get through the strait. He outlines the investment opportunities emerging from the crisis, including unmanned naval drones and AI-driven warfare to the expanding role of private credit in the defense sector. Also, he shares three scenarios—including a breakthrough in Venezuela—that could bring oil prices back down. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Central Banks Could Tilt Hawkish as Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation Risks U.S. to Release 172 Million Barrels of Oil From Strategic Petroleum Reserve Oil Prices Continue to Rise Following IEA Release The Economic Winners and Losers of the Iran War Fertilizer Stocks Jump with Shipments Stuck at the Strait of Hormuz CPI Inflation Report February 2026 Iran Lays Mines in the Strait of Hormuz Hegseth: ‘No Clear Evidence’ Iran Mined Strait of Hormuz For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Is Bitcoin Still 'Digital Gold'? How Investors See It Now 08.03.2026 33min

  In this week’s episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried discuss why a surge in oil prices following U.S. strikes on Iran is fueling fresh inflation fears, and how the potential for a supply shock at the Strait of Hormuz could tie the Federal Reserve’s hands on interest-rate cuts. Next, our hosts analyze why we see some investors rotating back into enterprise software stocks such as Oracle and Adobe, both of which will report earnings in the coming week.  After the break, Marion Laboure, senior strategist and managing director at Deutsche Bank, joins the show to explain why bitcoin and gold are no longer correlated. She breaks down the wishful thinking that drove crypto valuations, explains why she views bitcoin less as a currency and more as an asset, and discusses how investors are viewing digital assets like bitcoin and stablecoins as part of an investment portfolio. Plus, how a new section in the proposed Clarity Act has banks and crypto exchanges debating over stablecoin yields… or “rewards. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Oil Prices Surge, Stocks Fall on Widening Iran War Investors Dial Back Fed Rate-Cut Bets Iran Conflict Spurs Rebound in U.S. Borrowing Costs Trump Urges Swift Passage of Crypto Bill Over Banks’ Objections Senate Passes Stablecoin Bill in Big Win for Crypto Industry For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• The Inflation Debate That Will Shape the Fed’s Plans for Interest Rates 01.03.2026 30min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried are joined by Rob Kaplan, vice chairman at Goldman Sachs and a former Federal Reserve president, to break down some big topics in markets. They discuss the market's reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Trump administration's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Then Kaplan explains why investors are repositioning into "HALO" stocks—short for Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence—like McDonald’s, Walmart and ExxonMobil. After the break, the conversation turns to the Federal Reserve’s new look at mortgage-market regulations and how freeing up bank capital could unleash funding in the housing market. Finally, Kaplan previews the March Fed meeting and the philosophical debate that will loom over the central bank under its potential new leadership: Should it wait to have inflation data in-hand or rely more on forecasting? This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Global Tariffs Trump Said He Signed Order for 10% Global Tariff Trump Boosts New Global Tariff to 15% After Supreme Court Setback Wall Street’s Latest Bet Is on ‘HALO’ Companies With AI Immunity Walmart Shares Are Expensive AI Insurance For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Could AI Disruption Fears Trigger a Software M&A Boom? 22.02.2026 29min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried and guest host Dan Gallagher, a tech columnist for Heard on the Street, chat with Jefferies software analyst Brent Thill about the recent turbulence in the business software market. They talk about the growing fears that AI will replace the need for traditional software-as-a-service, or SaaS, platforms like Intuit, Salesforce, and Workday. They analyze how the narrative around AI "vibe coding"—where businesses generate their own apps using simple text prompts—has led to a sharp selloff in cloud software stocks. They also note other factors weighing on the sector, including tech layoffs and the shift away from seat-based software pricing models and toward consumption-based metrics. After the break, Thill explains why he thinks the market's fears over AI disrupting major enterprise software are overblown. They explore why large companies won't trust AI with critical systems for payroll, accounting or taxes. Then Thill makes the case for why AI infrastructure and security companies remain safe bets, and why the current tech selloff and depressed valuations are setting the stage for a massive tech M&A boom driven by private-equity firms. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Threat of New AI Tools Wipes $300 Billion Off Software and Data Stocks AI Won’t Kill the Software Business, Just Its Growth Story What You Need to Know About the AI Models Rattling Markets Meta Overshadows Microsoft by Showing AI Payoff in Ad Business Thoma Bravo’s $34 Billion Fundraising Haul Bucks Private-Equity Slowdown IBM Strikes $11 Billion Deal for Confluent For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• The Consumer Shock From Tariffs Isn't Over. When Will Prices Peak? 15.02.2026 29min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos are joined by Frances Donald, chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada, to break down the K-shaped economy, where different groups are thriving financially while others struggle. They ask: How could Walmart hit a trillion-dollar market capitalization despite consumer sentiment near record lows? Next, Donald analyzes what could be hiding the true health of the American household, from front-loading purchases ahead of potential tariffs to buy now, pay later programs. After the break, Donald explains how the U.S. can sustain growth despite a massive wave of Boomer retirements. Then Donald breaks down why AI may no longer be a threat to the workforce but a necessary rescue for a shrinking labor pool. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading The Two-Speed Economy Is Back as Low-Income Americans Give Up Gains Weak Hiring, Layoff Plans Paint a Gloomy Labor-Market Picture Walmart Reaches $1 Trillion Market Cap as Its E-Commerce Boom For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Why This VC Says AI and Robotics Will Put Every Human Job at Risk 08.02.2026 33min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, our hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried get into why the market still hasn’t made up its mind on Kevin Warsh’s nomination as the Federal Reserve chair, and why gold and silver trades fell on the news. Then Telis says he’ll be looking at Coinbase and Robinhood’s earnings this week to help make sense of bitcoin's falling value. Our hosts then break down the software selloff that followed Anthropic’s release of new legal tools. After the break, Miriam is joined by Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, at WSJ Invest Live. They discuss his investment philosophy in the age of AI. Taneja explains why he waited for a $60 billion valuation to invest in Anthropic and shares his view on why market bubbles can actually be a force for good. He also provides his view on how AI and robotics could challenge every human skill within the next 20 to 30 years. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s private equity reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Saying You Want to Shrink the Fed Is One Thing. Doing It Is Another. Wall Street Can’t Decide Whether Kevin Warsh Will Be a Friend or Foe Threat of New AI Tools Wipes $300 Billion Off Software and Data Stocks AI Won’t Kill the Software Business, Just Its Growth Story The Week Anthropic Tanked the Market and Pulled Ahead of Its Rivals For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Will the Next Jobs Report Reveal the Real Cost of AI on Employment? 01.02.2026 33min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried are joined by WSJ economics reporter Justin Lahart to discuss why gold has smashed records, and how global instability and the "Sell America" trade has fueled the rally. Next, they look ahead to Amazon’s earnings to see if the e-commerce giant can prove AI investments are boosting the bottom line, as Meta did, or if ongoing layoffs signal deeper issues in the labor market. Justin also previews this week’s jobs report and explains why an upcoming benchmark revision might rewrite our understanding of the past year's job growth. Then after the break, Telis and Justin are joined by Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, to unpack whether AI is actually killing jobs. Brynjolfsson shares his research into how his research has found a decline in entry-level roles, but argues a productivity boom is imminent. Later, we ask him a fun question written by Google’s Gemini app.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s private equity reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading A Weaker Dollar Has Always Been Part of Trump’s Plan Dollar Gains, Yen Falls, After Bessent Says Strong Currency Is U.S. Policy Dollar Extends Slide After Trump Says He Isn’t Worried About Declines Meta Reports Record Sales, Massive Spending Hike on AI Buildout Amazon to Lay Off Around 16,000 Corporate Employees For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• The Risks Behind the Expected $5.3T AI Data Center Funding Boom 25.01.2026 31min

  We are knee deep into earnings season, and WSJ’s Take On the Week co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried dive right into what companies they’ll be keeping an eye on this week. Our hosts compare the divergent strategies of Chevron and ExxonMobil as they navigate geopolitical instability in Venezuela and a push for cheap oil from President Trump. Telis and Miriam highlight some rising and and not-so-rising stars in the AI story: Seagate and Meta. Then they look at the return of the “Sell America” trade amid recent policy volatility and tariffs After the break, Miriam is joined by Greg Peters, co-chief investment officer for public fixed income at PGIM, the asset management business of Prudential Financial, to discuss the risks facing the bond market. Peters explains why the market shrugged off recent concerns over Fed independence. Next, he shares how he hedges the winner-take-all risk in the AI buildout. And finally, Peters shares his biggest concern as an investor over the next year.  This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s private equity reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Chevron’s Dilemma in Venezuela: Support Trump’s Vision Without Losing Money Trump’s $50 Oil Price Goal Is Doable, but Painful AI Is Causing a Memory Shortage. Why Producers Aren’t Rushing to Make a Lot More. Meta Lays Off 1,500 People in Metaverse Division Trump Calls Off Tariffs on Europe Over Greenland Japan’s Long-Dated Bond Yields Hit Record Highs For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Why This Morgan Stanley Exec Says Tariffs Will Be Struck Down 18.01.2026 28min

  In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, Telis Demos and Gunjan Banerjii—in her final appearance as regular co-host—are joined by incoming co-host Miriam Gottfried. Our trio get into the high-stakes bidding war between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery and why Netflix shareholders may be skeptical of the deal. Then the hosts dive into the historic rally in gold and silver, and whether the debasement trade is back after news of an investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Plus, they look at what upcoming earnings might reveal about how President Trump’s affordability agenda is playing out. After the break, Telis and Miriam are joined by Monica Guerra, head of U.S. policy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, to discuss how investors should position themselves for a midterm election year. Guerra explains that gridlock in Congress has historically led to market outperformance. She also shares a bold prediction that the Supreme Court could strike down President Trump’s tariffs. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s private equity reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.comFurther Reading Why Democrats Aren’t Threatening Another Shutdown This Time The Winners and Losers From 2026’s Mix of Tax and Benefit Cuts For Years, Powell Avoided Fighting Trump. That’s Over. Gold Breaks Through $4,600 on Fed Concerns, Haven Boost Democrats See Path to House Control in 2026 For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• HBO’s ‘Industry’ Creators on Banking Culture, Risk, Fraud and Short Selling 11.01.2026 28min

  In this special edition of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried and WSJ banking reporter Alexander Saeedy go inside the high-stakes world of HBO’s financial television drama “Industry.” They are joined by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, former bankers turned co-creators of the show, to unpack how real-world market dynamics inspire the series. Down and Kay reflect on their early careers at Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, and explain why season 4 shifts away from the fictional trading floor of Pierpoint to the new frontiers of fintech, short selling and media.  The group compares the financial series’ plotlines to real-world reporting on 100-hour workweeks and the mental health toll on junior bankers. They also take a look at the gamification of finance—from meme stocks to Polymarket—how a new generation is redefining risk, and the "cult of personality" driving financial fraud. Later, the creators weigh in on a hypothetical "cutthroat" trade: How would the show’s characters Harper Stern and Eric Tao play the Venezuela reopening trade? Polymarket has a data partnership with Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where we cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading ‘Industry’ Season 4 Review: From Banks to Boudoirs on HBO ‘Industry,’ the Hit Show About Finance, Leaves Bankers Scratching Their Heads How Bank of America Ignores Its Own Rules Meant to Prevent Dangerous Workloads Bank of America Urges Bankers to Sound Alarm on Overwork After WSJ Investigation 110-Hour Workweeks Drove Young Bankers at a Boutique Firm to the Brink Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• WSJ’s Take On the Year: Market Trends to Watch in 2026 04.01.2026 33min

  AI’s surge in demand for memory and storage drove some of 2025’s biggest stock market winners, including hard-drive makers Seagate Technology and Western Digital, and AI chip maker Micron Technology. Retail trading platform Robinhood also put up a blockbuster year and made its S&P 500 debut. And the bidding war by Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery propelled the entertainment giant into a top market performer. Not all companies fared as well, with those tied to health care and consumer brands flagging through last year. A major reset of expectations in October cratered Fiserv’s stock, putting the payment processing company near the bottom of the barrel. What awaits in the year ahead? For our first episode of 2026, co-host Telis Demos along with WSJ Heard on the Street Editor Aaron Back and Heard Columnist David Wainer tackle audience questions about what to expect for the year and offer their own predictions for investors and the U.S. economy. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where we cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Flood of AI Bonds Adds to Pressure on MarketsAre Stock Analysts Useless? For Trump, the Warner Megadeal Talks Are All About CNN Runaway Insurance Costs Bring Back Talk of Price CapsAI Data Centers, Desperate for Electricity, Are Building Their Own Power Plants For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices