WSJ's Take On the Week - TopPodcast.com

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Tech Stocks and AI Bonds Are Tumbling. Is the AI Trade in Trouble? Nov 01, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos dive into the shifting credit markets financing the massive artificial intelligence build-out, examining how tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet’s Google—alongside major investors like Blackstone—are funding the boom. They ask: Are sinking AI bonds and tech stock selloffs a sign that investor demand for computing power is cooling, or is it just a temporary market recalibration?

WSJ Heard on the Street writer Asa Fitch joins the show to break down the highly leveraged businesses funding the AI computing revolution. Fitch analyzes the financial mechanics of companies like CoreWeave, which lease AI computing power to other companies. Plus, they break down why heavily-indebted tech infrastructure is causing market anxiety, and why giants like Nvidia are banking on CoreWeave to survive.

This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, writer for WSJ’s Heard on the Street, 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

See How Anthropic Arrived at Its Mind-Boggling $40 Trillion Market Opportunity

Why Anthropic’s Rivals are Rooting for its IPO

Meta Plans up to $95 Billion in Financing to Power Its AI Growth

Two AI Chipmakers Make Up 34% of America’s Earnings Boom

Meta’s Muse Is Going Gangbusters. But Where Is the Payoff?

Why Nvidia Needs CoreWeave

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

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How AI Regulation Could Help the Public—and Investors Too Oct 25, 2026

Show notes

Could artificial intelligence surpass the internet in its transformative power? Jonathan Kanter, former assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under President Joe Biden, suggests it might and talks about the challenge of creating effective regulation—offering insights on shareholder value, company valuations, and overall market impact.

On this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried examine the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the complex path toward regulating it. They discuss with Kanter why meaningful AI oversight relies on a functional Congress, how the Supreme Court's "major questions doctrine" creates hurdles for regulatory agencies, and why ensuring AI safety carries even higher stakes than regulating the early version of the internet.

But first, our hosts analyze SpaceX’s recent earnings report, driven up by its massive AI potential and a possible merger with Tesla. They also unpack the volatility in the nascent market for AI-backed corporate bonds.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

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

Why AI’s Deepest Mind Believes the World Is About to Change Radically

The Weak Points in AI Bonds Are Becoming Clearer

Politicians Are Turning Against AI, but Your Pension Is Riding on It

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What the Midterm ‘Affordability Election’ Means for Markets Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

It’s election season again, and affordability is on the ballot for voters. High gas prices, energy costs and persistent inflation continue to squeeze households—what does that mean for the upcoming midterm elections and the stock market?

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos break down the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the sell-off in chip stocks and whether Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes are cooling the AI boom.

Then, Monica Guerra, head of policy and geopolitical strategy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, joins to discuss potential election outcomes, the possibility of a blue wave or divided Congress, and how local regulations on AI data centers and gridlock in Washington could impact investor portfolios and the S&P 500.

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 Six Years of Inflation Mean for the Midterms

Inside Bessent’s Treasury: Tension, Turnover and Unmet Economic Goals

Midterm Anxiety Mounts for GOP as Democrats Try to Expand Battleground

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Cash Is King in the Era of Higher Interest Rates Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

Interest rates are up, and high-yield savings accounts are back— so why is so much of your cash still under-earning? In this episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried explore why it’s time to rethink where your money sits and treat cash as a true asset class.

But first, Telis and Miriam explore how high interest rates are impacting the economy, from commercial real estate to private equity. Plus, they preview upcoming earnings from big banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and more.

Then, MaxMyInterest founder Gary Zimmerman joins the show to share practical ways to unlock higher savings yields. Zimmerman shares his perspective on how to think about where you put your cash in this high-rate environment. Plus: will AI change the banking landscape and how we manage our deposits?

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

Choosing the Right Bond Strategy for Today’s High-Yield World

Money Managers Are Asking Clients to Give the Bond Market Another Chance

Treasury Takes Aim at Tax-Avoiding Investment Strategies

Why Mortgage Bonds Are at Risk if Rates Rise—and if They Fall

Wealth Management Has a $3 Trillion Problem: Investors Are Keeping Too Much Cash

What Banks Stand to Lose From the Private-Credit Mess

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why the SEC’s Proposal to Get Rid of Quarterly Reporting Is Bad for Investors Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried and Heard on the Street columnist Jonathan Weil break down why U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest levels since 2002, and how the delay of highly anticipated IPOs from AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic could reshape the market. Next, they analyze whether these postponements are solely driven by AI safety concerns or if they signal broader weakness in the IPO market.

After the break, former SEC enforcement attorney Marc Steinberg joins the show to explain why the SEC’s controversial proposal to allow publicly held companies to elect semi-annual reporting could impact U.S. capital markets. He details the mechanical risks of this shift, arguing that reduced mandatory disclosure could trigger a wave of financial fraud and strip away essential investor protections.

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

Investors Don’t Want to Scrap Quarterly Reports. Companies Should Think Twice.

Here’s Why the Fed Is on Hold—Maybe for a While

Ohio State University Professor Tzachi Zach’s Tracker: SEC Semi-Annual Reporting Proposal Tracker (S7-2026-15)

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Making Sense of Sky-High Treasury Yields Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried is joined by guest co-host and WSJ markets reporter Sam Goldfarb to break down the unprecedented surge in the 10-year Treasury yield. Meghan Swiber, U.S. rates strategist at Bank of America, joins the show to discuss what influences these yields, and how a 5% yield affects everyday borrowing costs including mortgage rates, which are again topping 7%.

Swiber unpacks the Treasury Department's surprising buybacks, and how this strategy compares to the actions the Federal Reserve took to mitigate the effects of the last financial crisis. Plus, how is the market reacting to the Fed, which is trying to battle inflation by hiking rates?

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 Robust U.S. Economy Powers Through Rate Hikes and Rising Bond Yields

A Guide to Owning Bonds When They Are Selling Off

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Will Real Estate Protect Your Portfolio if the AI Bubble Bursts? Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried break down the conversation around AI safety and development, and how markets have reacted. Plus, OpenAI is now expected to have its initial public offering next year instead of this year. Will Anthropic follow suit? They also analyze the Federal Reserve's recent unanimous decision to hike interest rates, the mechanical impact of 10-year Treasury yields crossing 5%, and how these macroeconomic shifts are reshaping the bond market.

Next, Jefferies equity analyst Jon Petersen joins the show to explain how rising interest rates and limited supply are impacting real estate investment trusts (REITs). They also discuss the impact of AI on the sector. Are companies like Digital Realty and Equinix poised to fare well in the data center buildout? What about industrial REITs like Prologis and Stag Industrial? Plus, Petersen breaks down why the REIT sector could be a healthy safe haven for investors if the AI bubble bursts.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

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

Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears

Fed Delivers First Rate Hike in Years With Unanimous Vote

Malls Were Left for Dead. Now They Are the Top Performer in Commercial Real Estate.

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Breakthrough Cancer Vaccine Fueled a Biotech Rally. Can It Last? Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Despite a rough past week for the healthcare sector, pharmaceuticals and biotech stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 this year. Investors have gotten excited over cancer treatment breakthroughs for Moderna, Merck and Revolution Medicines—plus regulatory shakeups at the FDA. But is market hype running ahead of reality? Can the rally last?

On this week’s episode, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried are joined by WSJ’s Heard on the Street columnist David Wainer to discuss how AI and competition from China are shifting the market, where pharma M&A is headed next, and how everyday investors should navigate the sector.

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

Exclusive | Cheap Biologic Drug Alternatives Stall, Threatening U.S. Healthcare Savings

Hype for Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Is Running Ahead of the Math

China is a Threat to Biotech’s Massive Bull Run

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How AI Speculation Is Fueling the Small-Cap Stock Rally Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

On this week’s episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, host Miriam Gottfried and guest host Aaron Back, editor of WSJ’s Heard on the Street, preview the upcoming employment and inflation releases in advance of the Federal Open Market Committee’s September policy meeting. They analyze why these economic indicators will draw heightened focus under Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. Then Miriam and Aaron dig into Nvidia’s recent blowout earnings and whether we will see that echo in Broadcom’s earnings this week.

Next, Dan Rasmussen, founder and portfolio manager at Verdad Advisers, offers insight into the past year's small-cap stock surge following an extended period of underperformance relative to mega-caps. Rasmussen explains why private equity firms face a massive exit logjam from acquisitions of small companies due to inflated valuations. Finally, we ask Rasmussen: does value investing still work?

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

Inflation Was 3.4% in July, Down Slightly From the Previous Month

Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge Remains Above Target Range

Nvidia Reports Blowout Quarter, Says Demand for AI Chips Is Getting Even Hotter

Nvidia’s $279 Billion Supply-Chain Gamble

Nvidia Has Become a Banker to the AI Boom, Putting It on Dangerous Ground

Private-Equity Firms Are Sitting on a Nine-Year Backlog

A Better Mousetrap for Buying Small Stocks

Moderna Shares More Than Double on Success of mRNA Cancer Vaccine

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole Debut Means for Nervous Markets Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Miriam Gottfried and Telis Demos preview the upcoming Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium—one of the longest-standing central banking conferences in the world. They are joined by Columbia Business School professor and former Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin, as well as the Journal’s Chief Economics Correspondent Nick Timiraos, to break down Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s major move away from explicit forward guidance.

Together, they discuss why Wall Street is reacting with a "mini inflation scare" and rising long-bond yields, whether Warsh’s less-is-more communication strategy could undermine Fed credibility, and how his approach compares to Alan Greenspan’s legendary tenure. Plus, they examine what central bankers and investors need to watch for as Warsh prepares for his high-stakes speech in Wyoming.

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 Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Honeymoon With the Bond Market Is Already Over

Kevin Warsh Invokes Alan Greenspan to Shrink the Fed—and Strengthen Its Chair

Warsh Opens Press Conference Reaffirming Commitment to 2% Inflation

Bessent Leans Into His Role as America’s Bond Trader in Chief

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.