Inflation Trends - Inflation has continued to cool, with World Economy Weighted Inflation decreasing from 4.4% to 3.3% in 2025, aided by low supply chain pressures and moderated wage growth [1][4] - The setup for an inflationary spike similar to 2021/22 is not present, as global money growth is rising but velocity is falling [2] Economic Conditions - Inflation in the 2-4% range is favorable for equities, providing companies with pricing power and top-line growth, but concerns arise when inflation approaches 4% [3] - The U.S. faces higher inflation risks due to aggressive fiscal spending, erosion of central bank independence, and a positive output gap, while other countries like Germany, Japan, France, and Canada have negative gaps [4][5] Long-term Inflation Outlook - Inflation has eroded purchasing power by over 20% in the past four years, and while portfolio returns have kept pace, long-term inflation is expected to be higher and more volatile than in the 2010s [6] - Secular factors are becoming more inflationary, with globalization trends shifting from disinflationary to inflationary due to tariffs and supply chain diversification [7] Policy and Debt Implications - Erosion of central bank independence poses risks for monetary policy effectiveness, particularly in the U.S. and some developing countries, while fiscal spending is rising globally, which may increase inflation [8] - Total debt is disinflationary as it crowds out investment, and significant levels of debt exist in the economy [9] Technological Impact - Technology that enhances productivity is generally disinflationary, but current capital expenditures on AI infrastructure are inflationary, contributing to inflationary cyclicality [10] Investment Strategies - To mitigate the risks of higher and more volatile inflation, equities, especially those with dividend growth, are recommended as a defense, along with real asset exposure [11]

Event Overview - Bloomberg House roundtables at WEF26 bring together influential leaders for candid conversations [1] - Discussions focus on shaping business, finance, and policy [1] Participation - Curated groups participate in forward-looking discussions [1]

AI Policy & Strategy - The US government lacks a coherent AI strategy regarding China, oscillating between restricting and allowing chip exports, creating uncertainty [3][4] - The absence of a clear AI strategy raises concerns about the US's preparedness for the future development of AI [11] - There's a perceived lack of accountability regarding AI policy, with concerns about conflicts of interest in the government's AI leadership [19][20][21] US-China AI Competition - Nvidia has been granted permission to sell advanced chips to China, potentially narrowing the AI gap between the two countries [1] - National security concerns exist regarding China's advancement in AI, potentially conflicting with the desire to benefit American companies like Nvidia [5] Economic & Social Impact of AI - AI development is leading to a rapid concentration of wealth, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities [16] - Concerns exist about job displacement due to AI and the potential risks of super intelligence and autonomous weapons [14] - The American public is tense about the implications of AI and questions the overall strategy [11] Political Influence & Policy Making - There are suggestions that political influence and personal enrichment may be driving AI policy decisions [7][9] - Some political figures are raising concerns about surveillance, job displacement, and the need for thoughtful AI development [17][18]

Political Stance & Defiance - Indiana Republicans rejected a Trump-backed effort to rig the state's congressional map, with 21 Republicans crossing party lines [1] - The rejection followed a month-long pressure campaign from the White House, including threats of primary challenges and violent threats [2] - The Indiana Republicans' stance is seen as a message that such tactics won't work, potentially impacting other states [12][13] Policy & Principles - The Indiana State Senator emphasized the importance of traditional Republican values and policies that make sense for the long term, not just transactional policies [4] - The vote was not just a mere policy debate but a hugely consequential decision with ripple effects [11] - Bad policy stays forever, highlighting the long-term impact of legislative decisions [9] Political Consequences & Courage - There were threats of political consequences from the White House, including potential primary challenges backed by significant funding (2-3 million dollars) [6][7] - Despite the threats, some Republicans prioritized their principles and the will of their constituents over their seats [4][8] - One senator highlighted that money is not everything, emphasizing the importance of work ethic, policy, and listening to constituents [18]

We're less than 30 days away from 2026, and we are entering the year with a macro setup unlike anything we've seen in years.James Foord is an economist by trade and has been analyzing global markets for the past decade. He leads the investing group The Pragmatic Investor where the focus is on building robust and truly diversified portfolios that will continually preserve and increase wealth. The Pragmatic Investor covers global macro, international equities, commodities, tech and cryptocurrencies and is des ...

Social Media Engagement - Tesla community is urged to actively engage on LinkedIn to influence regulators [1] - The goal is to amplify Tesla's message on LinkedIn, a platform favored by regulators for external communications [1] - The call to action emphasizes maintaining a positive tone while advocating for Tesla [1] Regulatory Influence - Tesla is focusing on LinkedIn as a key platform for communicating with regulators [1] - The strategy involves leveraging the Tesla community to make an impact on regulatory discussions [1]

🇺🇸 POLICY: U.S. FDIC Chief Says First GENIUS Act Regulations Heading for Proposal This Month.@jesseahamilton reports:https://t.co/uL02huOyzd ...

RT Zatoichi🌊 (@Zatoichi42)Op_ Return and inscriptions are two distinctly separate issues and must be treated as such.Everything has its proper time.Priority one is to restore sane control of op_return. This should be addressed separately. The strategy and tactics of that battle can be kept clear and coherent only if it's not mocked up with unnecessary distractions.There are a few outcomes and a possibility of compromise that doesn't involve a fork.Long game is always best, as it preserves the power of polic ...

Governments are pushing the policy to its limits https://t.co/lcvzjtvmyn ...

Policy Analysis - Target's new policy is being evaluated for its potential impact, questioning whether it is unconventional, practical, or a combination of both [1] Business Strategy - The article explores the business implications of Target's new policy [1]