Bloomberg Businessweek

Cole Smead, CEO and portfolio manager at Smead Capital Management, on energy markets and oil supply risks. Marcelo P. Lima, founder of Heller House, on fintech efficiency, layoffs and AI implications. Michael Contopoulos, deputy CIO at Richard Bernstein Advisors, on equities, bonds and liquidity. They discuss oil spikes from Middle East conflict, inflation and bond moves, fintech cost cuts, and portfolio positioning amid volatility.

Marianne De Backer, CEO of Vir Biotechnology and leader in immune-powered medicines, talks about VIR-5500, a PSMA-targeting T‑cell engager for advanced prostate cancer. She discusses striking early trial signals, imaging-confirmed tumor responses, plans to expand into combination studies, and a strategic 50-50 partnership with Astellas to speed development.

Weekend conversations cover business, politics and culture in short, lively segments. The team previews the week with interviews of journalists and political figures. Practical listen-and-watch details round out the show.

Jumana Besic, TV anchor and Middle East commentator, offers regional situational reporting from Gulf locations. Dan Williams, Jerusalem-based correspondent, provides on-the-ground coverage from Israel. They discuss US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump’s call for regime change, missile exchanges and airspace closures, Gulf states’ push for de-escalation, and wider geopolitical ripple effects.

Chris Rauser, Bloomberg Pursuits editor-at-large who covers lifestyle and menswear trends. Chris Miller, Tufts professor and author of Chip War, expert on semiconductors and geopolitics. Chris Beam, Businessweek writer who reported on prediction markets. They discuss prediction markets and regulation, semiconductor supply chains and AI-driven demand, and creative ways to spend or invest a bonus.

Eric Weiner, Bloomberg News senior editor who covers equities and market moves, breaks down today's market drama. He discusses market reactions to the Anthropic-Pentagon clash and how AI funding and private-credit strains ripple through stocks. Short takes on bank risks, valuation uncertainty in private AI deals, and the potential labor-market impact of automation.

Conversation centers on why heart disease is the leading killer of women and why rates are rising in younger females. They explore what counts as heart disease, from coronary problems to rhythm and structural issues. The discussion highlights pregnancy complications as unique risk factors. They also examine reasons women are underdiagnosed and what health metrics to track.

Jaime Tarabay, national security reporter covering congressional probes and closed-door testimony. Chris Miller, historian and author of Chip War, analyzing semiconductor geopolitics. They discuss Block’s massive AI-driven staffing cuts and the rise of internal AI tools. Then they explore how AI is reshaping chip demand, supply chains, export controls, and long-term industrial policy.

Libby Cantrill, PIMCO public policy chief, offers quick takes on State of the Union market ripple effects. Ed Ludlow, Bloomberg Tech co-host and tech reporter, breaks down Nvidia’s booming sales guide and AI industry dynamics. They discuss Nvidia’s revenue surprise, supply and margin pressures, China compute questions, and how AI capex is reshaping suppliers and software winners.

Martin de los Santos, CFO of MercadoLibre and finance leader for Latin America’s biggest tech company. He discusses Q4 results and why heavy spending pressured margins. He talks about scaling Mercado Pago and boosting financial inclusion. He outlines e-commerce growth drivers like free shipping in Brazil and credit offerings. He also addresses logistics, marketing spend, and regional risks.