I spent almost all of today at what I consider to be one of the most impressive uh days of the year for our business and it's Andrew Ross Orcin's Dealbook Conference, but it was the start of the day that I can't get out of my mind, Ally. And in Andrew's first interview, he sat down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, >> who I will say when Scott was nominated for the job, you know, it was talk it was going to be Scott Besson. It could have been Howard Lutnik.He has an extraordinary resume. He has an enor ...

Industrial Policy & Government Intervention - The speaker expresses reservations about government equity stakes in companies, preferring loan-based support similar to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation's approach [3][4] - The speaker contrasts current industrial policy with past practices, noting the oil industry's self-reliance during crises without government bailouts [4] - The speaker criticizes the concept of "too big to fail" banks, arguing it creates unfair competition for regional banks [5] Market & Economic Indicators - Gasoline sales are flat year-over-year, but prices are down 10-12%, suggesting reduced consumer driving [6][7] - Diesel sales are up 35% year-over-year, indicating strong commercial activity, potentially driven by onshoring [7] - The speaker suggests monitoring diesel sales in the third quarter to gauge the sustainability of the current economic activity [9] Retail & Consumer Behavior - The economy is K-shaped, with luxury shopping centers experiencing double-digit sales increases while middle-market retailers like Red Lobster struggle with flat sales and heavy discounting [10][11] - McDonald's price increases are encroaching on casual dining restaurants [11] - Consumers are trading down from higher-priced alcoholic beverages like margaritas to cheaper options like beer [14] - Consumers, especially younger demographics, are increasingly buying smaller quantities of alcohol for immediate consumption rather than larger quantities for later use [15][17]