The EU's Economy and Productivity Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis discusses efforts to tap frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, talks with China over rare earths and pressure over Europe's ESG rules. He spoke to Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll in Brussels.

The EU's Economy and Productivity Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis discusses efforts to tap frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, talks with China over rare earths and pressure over Europe's ESG rules. He spoke to Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll in Brussels.

Listen for today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. Get informed from Bloomberg's 3,000 journalists and analysts.

Listen for today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. Get informed from Bloomberg's 3,000 journalists and analysts.

Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition

EU's Dombrovskis Talks Ukraine Support, ESG Rule Pressure

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5d916030-067e-4496-b3fc-b38d0093415a/transcript

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) European Union leaders will hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to discuss President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat as they explore possible retaliatory measures.

(2) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent amplified President Donald Trump’s message to European allies that the US won’t back down on taking over Greenland, saying the continent is too weak to ensure its security.

(3) US President Donald Trump’s trade threats toward European governments over Greenland raise the possibility the latter may trim their holdings of US assets, supporting the euro, according to a Deutsche Bank AG strategist.

(4) Gunboat capitalism. MAGA Marxism. Techno-feudalism — whatever you call it, Donald Trump is upending the global economy as it has been viewed from Davos, the Swiss summit synonymous with wealth and power.

(5) China’s economy lost more momentum last quarter even as it met the government’s target in 2025, in another year of lopsided growth that will be hard to sustain in an era of protectionism around the world.

(6) Across the western world, governments are turning toward a familiar source of funds to address their fiscal challenges: the wealthy.

Podcast Conversation: Europe Has the Weapons for Greenland Tariff War 

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) European Union leaders will hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to discuss President Donald Trump&rsquo;s latest tariff threat as they explore possible retaliatory measures. (2) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent amplified President Donald Trump&rsquo;s message to European allies that the US won&rsquo;t back down on taking over Greenland, saying the continent is too weak to ensure its security. (3) US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s trade threats toward European governments over Greenland raise the possibility the latter may trim their holdings of US assets, supporting the euro, according to a Deutsche Bank AG strategist. (4) Gunboat capitalism. MAGA Marxism. Techno-feudalism &mdash; whatever you call it, Donald Trump is upending the global economy as it has been viewed from Davos, the Swiss summit synonymous with wealth and power. (5) China&rsquo;s economy lost more momentum last quarter even as it met the government&rsquo;s target in 2025, in another year of lopsided growth that will be hard to sustain in an era of protectionism around the world. (6) Across the western world, governments are turning toward a familiar source of funds to address their fiscal challenges:<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-19/wealth-tax-from-california-to-london-debt-hit-governments-eye-up-the-rich"> the wealthy</a>. Podcast Conversation: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-01-18/greenland-tariffs-eu-has-the-weapons-for-new-trump-trade-war">Europe Has the Weapons for Greenland Tariff War&nbsp;</a>

Trump Rocks Europe Ties, Greenland Tariff Retaliation, ‘Soak the Rich’ Battle Cry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0be3e0b4-8ad1-4028-b73d-b3d7006d0b6c/transcript

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) US officials have renewed the threat of possible military action against Iran after President Trump suggested the country's regime may have averted strikes by pledging not to execute protesters. America's envoy to the UN warned that 'all options are on the table' and that President Trump is a man of action.

(2) Heightened US-Iran rhetoric comes as Bloomberg Economics has found that Donald Trump is following through on a greater share of his threats in his second term as President. As Bloomberg's chief geo-economics analyst Jennifer Welch puts it, the shift suggests "Tehran shouldn't bet on TACO", referring to a popular investor shorthand for 'Trump Always Chickens Out'.

(3) President Donald 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.

(4) Wall Street’s five giant banks reported a record $134 billion of trading revenue from last year and an upswing in dealmaking. Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer Ted Pick started summing up his outlook after Wall Street’s banner year for trading with four words: “The setup is ideal.”

(5) China is pulling the plug on a key advantage held by high-frequency traders, removing servers dedicated to those firms out of local exchanges’ data centers, according to people familiar with the matter.

(6) The dramatic sacking of a senior Conservative and his defection hours later to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK all-but ended the chances of any deal to unite the British right, confirming the next general election as the most widely contested in decades.

Podcast Conversation: Why We’re All Trading Happy Hours for the Bathhouse

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) US officials have renewed the threat of possible military action against Iran after President Trump suggested the country's regime may have averted strikes by pledging not to execute protesters. America's envoy to the UN warned that 'all options are on the table' and that President Trump is a man of action. (2) Heightened US-Iran rhetoric comes as Bloomberg Economics has found that Donald Trump is following through on a greater share of his threats in his second term as President. As Bloomberg's chief geo-economics analyst Jennifer Welch puts it, the shift suggests "Tehran shouldn't bet on TACO", referring to a popular investor shorthand for 'Trump Always Chickens Out'. (3) President Donald Trump accepted Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado&rsquo;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. (4) Wall Street&rsquo;s five giant banks reported a record $134 billion of trading revenue from last year and an upswing in dealmaking. Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer Ted Pick started summing up his outlook after Wall Street&rsquo;s banner year for trading with four words: &ldquo;The setup is ideal.&rdquo; (5) China is pulling the plug on a key advantage held by high-frequency traders, removing servers dedicated to those firms out of local exchanges&rsquo; data centers, according to people familiar with the matter. (6) The dramatic sacking of a senior Conservative and his defection hours later to Nigel Farage&rsquo;s Reform UK all-but ended the chances of any deal to unite the British right, confirming the next general election as the most widely contested in decades. Podcast Conversation: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-16/why-saunas-bathhouses-cold-plunge-pools-are-so-popular-right-now?srnd=phx-mishal" data-destination="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-16/why-saunas-bathhouses-cold-plunge-pools-are-so-popular-right-now?srnd=phx-mishal">Why We&rsquo;re All Trading Happy Hours for the Bathhouse</a>

Iran ‘Can’t Count On 'TACO’, Trump Given Nobel Medal, Swiss Immigration Fears

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e45e42f4-753b-49d6-a009-b3d4006e4de3/transcript

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said a “fundamental disagreement” remained after a meeting of top diplomats in Washington, while announcing an agreement to form a high-level working group on Greenland amid threats of a US takeover.

(2) President Donald Trump indicated that he might hold off on attacking Iran for now after saying he was reassured by sources “on the other side” that the government in Tehran would stop killing people involved in widespread protests.

(3) President Donald 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.

(4) Donald Trump’s tariff war occupied US allies for much of last year. Now, President Xi Jinping is welcoming a procession of leaders looking to mend fences with the world’s other major economy.

(5) Elon Musk’s xAI is disabling the ability for people to use its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot to create sexualized images of real people, following widespread criticism that the company was allowing women and children to be victimized by the tool.

(6) An astronaut in need of doctors' care departed the International Space Station with three crewmates on Wednesday in NASA's first medical evacuation.

Podcast Conversation: Alcohol Use May Be Declining, But Consumers Still Want That Buzz

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said a &ldquo;fundamental disagreement&rdquo; remained after a meeting of top diplomats in Washington, while announcing an agreement to form a high-level working group on Greenland amid threats of a US takeover. (2) President Donald Trump indicated that he might hold off on attacking Iran for now after saying he was reassured by sources &ldquo;on the other side&rdquo; that the government in Tehran would stop killing people involved in widespread protests. (3) President Donald Trump faulted Ukraine&rsquo;s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the main obstacle to an agreement to end the war Russia launched against his country four years ago. (4) Donald Trump&rsquo;s tariff war occupied US allies for much of last year. Now, President Xi Jinping is welcoming a procession of leaders looking to mend fences with the world&rsquo;s other major economy. (5) Elon Musk&rsquo;s xAI is disabling the ability for people to use its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot to create sexualized images of real people, following widespread criticism that the company was allowing women and children to be victimized by the tool. (6) An astronaut in need of doctors' care departed the International Space Station with three crewmates on Wednesday in NASA's first medical evacuation. Podcast Conversation: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-14/glp-1s-edibles-contribute-to-changing-habits-around-drinking-alcohol#:~:text=But%20that%20very%20human%20interest,will%20continue%20to%20do%20so." data-destination="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-14/glp-1s-edibles-contribute-to-changing-habits-around-drinking-alcohol#:~:text=But%20that%20very%20human%20interest,will%20continue%20to%20do%20so.">Alcohol Use May Be Declining, But Consumers Still Want That Buzz</a>

Allies Deploy To Greenland, Signals Iran Attack On Hold, Xi Welcomes Leaders

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/69f6b2c4-564b-4f0d-93aa-b3d3006c9a06/transcript

EU's Dombrovskis Talks Ukraine Support, ESG Rule Pressure

Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition

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