WSJ's Take On the Week - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Why This Economist Says Immigration Crackdown is Reshaping U.S. Job Growth Apr 19, 2026

Show notes

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.

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Why Carson Block Says AI and Passive Investing Could Break the Stock Market Apr 12, 2026

Show notes

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?

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.

Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

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How Emerging-Market Bonds Can Hedge Against U.S. Market Volatility Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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 High Oil Prices Kill Demand? Why JPMorgan Says Book Your Travel Now Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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 a Closed Strait of Hormuz Is a ‘Smoking Risk’ for Global Markets Mar 15, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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.

Is Bitcoin Still 'Digital Gold'? How Investors See It Now Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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.

The Inflation Debate That Will Shape the Fed’s Plans for Interest Rates Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

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?

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.

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.

Could AI Disruption Fears Trigger a Software M&A Boom? Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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.

The Consumer Shock From Tariffs Isn't Over. When Will Prices Peak? Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.

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 This VC Says AI and Robotics Will Put Every Human Job at Risk Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

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.

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.