Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

On today's podcast:
1) New York City is poised to get pummeled with more than a foot of snow this weekend, a test for new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as a massive weather system lands on the region threatening power outages, airline delays and transit system problems. New York’s Central Park may get dumped with as much as 16 inches (41 centimeters) of snow starting Sunday morning, the heaviest of the season. That comes as the storm that will hit Southern states with ice moves into the Northeast, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. Washington, Philadelphia and Boston are also expected to see snowfall. If the forecast holds, it would be the biggest snowstorm to hit Manhattan since 2021, based on snowfall records at Central Park.
2) The US wants to rewrite its defense agreement with Denmark to remove any limits on its military presence in Greenland, people familiar with the matter said, in what’s become a focal point for negotiators looking to meet President Trump’s demand for control over the territory. The original agreement, signed in 1951 and amended in 2004, says the US must “consult with and inform” Denmark and Greenland before it makes “any significant changes to United States military operations or facilities in Greenland.” The people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said American negotiators want to rework that language to make sure the US faces no restrictions at all as it makes its plans.
3) The Kremlin said the “territorial issue” remains unresolved after President Vladimir Putin held late-night talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on the latest peace plan for ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. There’s “no hope of achieving a long-term settlement” to the war until Russia’s demands for territory in Ukraine are accepted, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said in an audio recording on Telegram early Friday. That’s even as he characterized the almost four hours of negotiations in the Kremlin as “exceptionally substantive, constructive.” Talks will continue between US, Russian and Ukrainian representatives in the United Arab Emirates on Friday and Saturday. Separately, Witkoff and Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, will discuss bilateral Russia-US economic matters in Abu Dhabi.

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Intel gave a lackluster forecast for the current quarter after manufacturing problems hampered a comeback bid, a disappointment for investors who anticipated more of a boost from new products.
First-quarter revenue will be $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion, the company said in a statement Thursday. The midpoint of that range fell short of the $12.6 billion estimated by analysts. The company expects to break even in earnings per share, excluding certain items. Wall Street had projected a profit of 8 cents a share.

Intel is struggling with its manufacturing yields — the percentage of usable chips coming out of its factories — making it harder to fill orders. The once-dominant semiconductor company has spent years trying to restore its technological edge and recover from market share losses, and this is one more setback.

Intel shares fell about 5% in extended trading Thursday following the report.

For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with Ivan Feinseth, Research Director and Chief Investment Officer at Tigress Financial Partners.

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On today's podcast:
1) President Trump said he would refrain from imposing tariffs on goods from European nations opposing his effort to take possession of Greenland, citing a “framework of a future deal” he said was reached regarding the island. The decision, which Trump announced Wednesday on social media, marks a stark reversal for a president who has repeatedly attempted to coerce Europe over Greenland. It came after a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Still, Trump did not detail the parameters of the so-called “framework” and it was unclear what the agreement entails, especially since Denmark earlier Wednesday ruled out negotiations over ceding the semi-autonomous island to the US.
2) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to commit Russian assets that remain frozen in the US to rebuild Ukrainian regions damaged during the war after a peace treaty is concluded. Putin also said he could give $1 billion from the US-based assets - frozen to punish Putin for his 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine - to President Trump’s proposed Board of Peace. The offer has been discussed with the US, Putin said, and he plans to talk about it more Thursday during a meeting with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.
3) US Supreme Court justices suggested they are wary of President Trump’s effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over unproven mortgage-fraud allegations, saying the move could upend the Fed’s independence and rattle markets. Hearing arguments in Washington Wednesday, conservative and liberal justices alike sharply questioned US Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who urged the court to let Trump oust Cook for the time being while her lawsuit goes forward. Trump’s own appointees were among the skeptics. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the president’s position would “weaken if not shatter the independence of the Federal Reserve.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked whether the risk to financial markets was reason for “caution on our part,” though she also suggested she wasn’t ready to fully embrace Cook’s position.

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On today's podcast:
1) President Trump expressed confidence that the European Union would continue to invest in the US even if he imposed new tariffs related to his quest to take control of Greenland, a proposal that has angered leaders on the continent. The president’s rare appearance in the White House briefing room came ahead of his departure Tuesday night from Washington for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he will confront European leaders who are furious over his bid to take over the territory of a fellow NATO ally, Denmark. Earlier Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Trump’s threats were a “mistake” that would violate the deal he forged last year with the bloc. Officials in Europe have begun drafting plans to retaliate, which could set off a tit-for-tat that may scuttle the accord.
2) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned European nations against ramping up their military presence on Greenland and assailed France over calls to conduct a NATO exercise as European leaders brace for President Trump’s arrival at Davos. Bessent questioned the message European allies were sending following the recent decision by Denmark and seven other NATO countries to deploy a handful of officers to the island, which Trump has said he wants to make a part of the US.
3) Months after President Trump attempted to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over unproven mortgage fraud allegations, the case will get a hearing before the Supreme Court. The justices are scheduled to consider whether Trump can oust Cook while the legal fight over the allegations proceeds. The case is one element in an effort by Trump to exert more control over the Fed and pressure officials to significantly cut interest rates. Trump has repeatedly attacked Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who has resisted the president’s demands to resign.

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Netflix delivered fourth-quarter results that largely beat Wall Street estimates but issued a cautious forecast for the months ahead, citing higher program spending and the cost of closing its deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

The streaming leader said Tuesday it plans to increase spending on films and TV shows by 10% in 2026 while forging ahead with plans to buy the studio and streaming business of Warner Bros., a deal that would unite two of the world’s largest entertainment companies. Netflix spent about $18 billion on programming last year, with subscribers growing almost 8% to top 325 million.

For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with:

• Bloomberg News Senior Editor and Entertainment Team Leader Chris Palmeri
• Eric Clark, Chief Investment Officer at Accuvest Global Advisors
• Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Media Analyst Geetha Ranganathan

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On today's podcast:
1) President Trump said he will meet with several parties over his ambition to take control of Greenland during the upcoming World Economic Forum. Trump said in a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning that he had a “very good telephone call” with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, concerning the Danish territory. The remarks came shortly after he restated his desire to take over Greenland, which has spooked NATO allies and prompted stern opposition from EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron. Meantime, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from European countries rallying to Denmark’s side in his pursuit of Greenland, a dramatic escalation in the standoff that sparked strong pushback from some of the US’s closest allies.
2) President Trump’s so-called Board of Peace for Gaza is beginning to take shape, even as Israel voiced rare objections to parts of the US president’s plan to build on the fragile ceasefire in the region. China has been offered to join the proposed Board of Peace, as Trump heads to Davos to advance his plan for the Palestinian enclave. The US president has invited a range of world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to become founding members of the board. It’s part of his 20-point plan to ensure a lasting peace and reconstruction of Gaza, following two years of devastating war between Israel and militant group Hamas in the Palestinian territory. President Trump also confirmed that he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the proposed board.
3) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump could announce his pick for the next Federal Reserve chair as soon as next week, amid intense anticipation over the White House’s search for a new central-bank chief. “We have four fantastic candidates — it will be up to the president, and I would imagine that he will have an announcement maybe as early as next week,” Bessent said in remarks at a press conference Tuesday at Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum. The process of picking a successor to current Chair Jerome Powell is seen as a four-person race, with BlackRock Inc.’s Rick Rieder, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Fed Governor Christopher Waller and former governor Kevin Warsh as the final contenders after a long-search that has been led by Bessent.

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On this special MLK Holiday edition of Bloomberg Daybreak, host Nathan Hager discusses:

• Stocks are coming off three straight years of double digit gains..What will 2026 hold? We hear from Cameron Dawson, the Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth and Lori Calvasina, head of US equity strategy, RBC Capital Markets
• Lost in the recent controversy over the investigation into Jay Powell and the Fed...Is monetary policy. Next week the central bank makes its first rate decision of the year. For more, we speak with Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent Michael McKee and Anna Wong, Chief US Economist for Bloomberg Economics
• We also look at the current status of Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives. For that we speak wit Bloomberg's Equality Reporter Jeff Green and Bloomberg reporter Heather Landy.

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Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week.

• In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Netflix and Intel.
• In the UK – a look ahead to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
• In Asia – a look ahead to China GDP data.

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On today's podcast:
1) President Trump accepted Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize medal at a White House meeting on Thursday as she tries to get back in his good graces while the future of her country is being shaped by the US. Trump, in a social media post hours later, called it a “great honor” to meet Machado, and described her as a “wonderful woman who has been through so much.” Machado, who has been shut out of Venezuela’s leadership transition since US forces ousted President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3, said she gave Trump the medal as “a recognition of his unique commitment with our freedom.” 
2) Denmark and Greenland are stepping up lobbying of US lawmakers in an effort to head off President Trump’s push to take control of Greenland. A group of US senators is set to meet members of the Danish parliament in Copenhagen on Friday. The trip follows a week of meetings in Washington by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen with members of Congress on the heels of talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, also participated. High-level talks between Denmark, Greenland and the US earlier this week ended in a stalemate over the future of the world’s largest island, though officials agreed to set up a working group to manage the diplomatic dispute. Trump has repeatedly insisted the US needs to control the territory, an ambition that remains unresolved and has been rejected time and again by both Copenhagen and Nuuk.
3) President Trump threatened to deploy US military forces to Minnesota in order to quell protests in response to violent encounters involving federal immigration agents. The 1807 law allows the president to use regular military troops on US soil for domestic law enforcement. It was last invoked during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Trump’s ultimatum could further fray tensions in Minneapolis, where on Wednesday a federal officer shot a man in the leg. The incident occurred one week after the fatal shooting of a local woman who was a US citizen by an ICE agent, which touched off the demonstrations. 

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On today's podcast:
1) Tensions in Minneapolis escalated again Wednesday night after a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest. Homeland Security says the Venezuelan man fled in a vehicle, crashed, and then struck an officer with a shovel as two others joined the struggle. City leaders condemned ICE’s presence, urging the agency to “leave the state immediately,” while Police Chief Brian O’Hara warned of growing unrest. The shooting occurred as tensions between protesters and immigration enforcement officers continued to flare in the city following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good last week.
2) Denmark said a “fundamental disagreement” remained after a high-stakes meeting with the US over Greenland as several countries including Germany said they’d send military personnel to the Arctic island. Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, agreeing to establish a working group that’s set to gather within weeks to plot the way forward, while the US refrained from backing down on its demands. On Thursday, Germany’s “exploration mission” will arrive in Nuuk as European nations begin to work out how to ensure security in the region.
3) President Trump faulted Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the main obstacle to an agreement to end the war Russia launched against his country four years ago. Trump, in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “ready to make a deal,” Reuters reported. When pressed on what was impeding a deal, Trump replied, “Zelenskiy,” Reuters said. Trump has oscillated between blaming Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach an accord, which he had claimed during his 2024 presidential campaign could be easily resolved. The US has prepared further sanctions should Trump decide to act on Russia’s continued rejection of a peace deal. US and Ukrainian officials have said they’ve made significant progress on a 20-point plan to end the fighting, however Kyiv and Moscow remain at an impasse over a number of issues including territorial control of areas Russia claims that remain under Ukrainian control.

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