Politics News

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) criticizes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over his inconsistent statements on tariffs & inflation during the House Financial Services Committee hearing. He also talks about what changes need to be made with ICE to support DHS funding, and suggests breaking ICE & DHS funding into separate packages. Representative Casten speaks with Joe Mathieu and Julie Fine on the late edition of Bloomberg’s “Balance of Power.” (Source: Bloomberg)

US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China discussed trade and geopolitical flashpoints, including Taiwan, during a Wednesday call ahead of a planned face-to-face meeting later this year. Trump cast the call as “excellent” and “long and thorough,” adding that the two spoke about increasing Chinese purchases of US soybeans to 20 million tons for the current season as well as buys of oil and gas and “airplane engine deliveries.” Trump said China committed to importing 25 million tons of American soybeans “for next season.” The two leaders also discussed his planned visit to China in April, broader trade issues, Russia’s war in Ukraine and Taiwan, Trump said, adding the talk was “all very positive!” Bloomberg Economics Chief Geoeconomics Analyst Jennifer Welch joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. She speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)

Stock investors are positioning for a decisive election victory by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi this Sunday, betting that a strong mandate will allow her to consolidate power and push through expansive fiscal policies.

US Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, says radical left-wing protesters are deliberately obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the violence in Minnesota is "unacceptable." He speaks on "Balance of Power: Evening Edition." (Source: Bloomberg)

Keir Starmer is not the first Labour prime minister to be plunged into crisis by Peter Mandelson. It’s not even the first time it’s happened to Starmer. The difference is that members of his own party are now starting to number his days as leader.

The nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia is expiring. What comes next won’t make the world safer, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Andreas Kluth says. (Source: Bloomberg)

Traders are watching out for signs of weak demand at Thursday’s sale of 30-year Japanese government bonds, just days before Sunday’s closely monitored lower house election.

Democrats and Republicans remain far apart, but public pressure is building.

Colombia’s electoral authority barred presidential frontrunner Iván Cepeda from participating in a key primary, dealing a blow to his leftist coalition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on US President Donald Trump to send more weapons for his military to put it in a better position to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.

Voters look set to back Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s vision of a more assertive Japan. Markets are wary.

On today's episode of Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec discuss President Trump’s call with China’s President Xi Jinping ahead of Trump's expected April visit to China. Bloomberg Economics Chief Geoeconomics Analyst Jennifer Welch weighs in. Then, Bloomberg News Senior Reporter Myles Miller gives an update on the DHS pulling 700 agents from Minneapolis. Also, Alpine Saxon Woods Chief Market Strategist Sarah Hunt weighs in on the rotation trade as AI worries continue to weigh on software stocks. Plus, ConnectOne CEO Frank Sorrentino on the state of bank consolidation and the bank's customer base. Finally, Axel Merk of Merk Investments as gold and silver recover from a recent rout. (Source: Bloomberg)

French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomat traveled to Moscow earlier this week to hold a series of rare face-to-face meetings with Russian officials as Europe seeks closer involvement in Ukraine peace talks.

On the early edition of Balance of Power, Bloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu discusses the White House's move to scale down the number of federal agents in Minneapolis. On today's show, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis, Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center Visiting Democracy Fellow Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Heather Conley. (Source: Bloomberg)

Heather Conley, nonresident senior fellow at AEI and former deputy assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said that the Trump administration is engaging in a dance with Iran as the US tries to bring the country to the negotiating table. Conley said that the State Department has signaled they are trying to keep different options available as they try to keep Iran on a diplomatic track. (Source: Bloomberg)

Chile’s President-elect José Antonio Kast is cultivating ties with Europe’s far right on a multi-day tour this week, reviving his socially conservative agenda that he had toned down at home during his campaign.

The Democratic Republic of Congo will ship copper to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through a US-backed partnership with Mercuria Energy Group Ltd., as the Trump administration looks to challenge China’s dominance over the supply of key metals.

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said the actions by federal immigration agents demonstrate they don't have proper training for the mission and the majority of Americans views them as "out of control." Landrieu said that "systems of accountability" are important for ensuring trust in law enforcement as Democrats push for ICE agents to "unmask." (Source: Bloomberg)

The man who attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump while he was golfing in September 2024 was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury.

"I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t have an opinion," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says when asked if President Donald Trump has the authority to fire a member of the Federal Reserve board over a policy disagreement by Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York during a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee. (Source: Bloomberg)