President-elect Donald Trump said he is nominating Scott Bessent, who runs macro hedge fund Key Square Group, as the next US Treasury Secretary, enlisting a key adviser to manage the sweeping economic agenda he has vowed to enact in a second term. Bloomberg Balance of Power hosts Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz offer instant reaction.

President-elect Donald Trump said he is nominating Scott Bessent, who runs macro hedge fund Key Square Group, as the next US Treasury Secretary, enlisting a key adviser to manage the sweeping economic agenda he has vowed to enact in a second term. Bloomberg Balance of Power hosts Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz offer instant reaction.

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

Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

SPECIAL REPORT: Trump Nominates Scott Bessent To Lead US Treasury

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c3a194d5-2840-46dc-8c12-b2310009ed87/transcript

On today's podcast:
1) President Trump indicated he’ll make changes to his administration’s deportation crackdown in Minnesota after the killing of two US citizens during immigration raids sparked nationwide uproar. The president said he was sending US border czar Tom Homan — who is seen as relatively measured compared to rivals, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — to Minneapolis in a bid to deescalate tensions. Trump also spoke with top Democratic officials in the state. He told Governor Tim Walz, who he has derided as “grossly incompetent,” that he would consider independent investigations into the shootings and reducing the number of federal agents in his state. The president described a subsequent conversation with Jacob Frey as “very good” and said Homan planned to meet with the Minneapolis mayor on Tuesday “in order to continue the discussion.”
2) Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK wouldn’t have to choose between the US and China, as he heralded “significant opportunities” for British businesses ahead of his trip to Beijing this week. In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, Starmer dismissed questions about whether he was seeking stronger ties with China at the expense of the UK’s relationship with its closest allies. Starmer’s trip to China — the first by a British prime minister in eight years — comes on the heels of a similar delegation by Canadian counterpart Mark Carney that drew fresh tariff threats from President Trump. 
3) President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on goods imported from South Korea to 25%, citing what he said was the failure of the country’s legislature to codify the trade deal the two nations reached last year. Trump in a social media post on Monday said the new rate would apply to autos, lumber, pharmaceutical products and “all other Reciprocal TARIFFS.” Under the existing agreement, the president set a 15% levy on South Korean exports. If implemented, the move could have wide-ranging effects on major South Korean companies that export to the US, such as Hyundai Motor Co., which sent 1.1 million vehicles to America in 2024. 

On today's podcast: 1) President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;indicated he&rsquo;ll make changes to his administration&rsquo;s deportation crackdown in Minnesota after the killing of two US citizens during immigration raids sparked nationwide uproar. The president said he was sending US border czar&nbsp;Tom Homan&nbsp;&mdash; who is seen as relatively measured compared to rivals, including Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;Kristi Noem&nbsp;&mdash; to Minneapolis in a bid to deescalate tensions. Trump also spoke with top Democratic officials in the state. He told Governor&nbsp;Tim Walz, who he has derided as &ldquo;grossly incompetent,&rdquo; that he would consider independent investigations into the shootings and reducing the number of federal agents in his state. The president described a subsequent conversation with&nbsp;Jacob Frey&nbsp;as &ldquo;very good&rdquo; and said Homan planned to meet with the Minneapolis mayor on Tuesday &ldquo;in order to continue the discussion.&rdquo; 2) Prime Minister&nbsp;Keir Starmer&nbsp;said the UK wouldn&rsquo;t have to choose between the US and China, as he heralded &ldquo;significant opportunities&rdquo; for British businesses ahead of his trip to Beijing this week. In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, Starmer dismissed questions about whether he was seeking stronger ties with China at the expense of the UK&rsquo;s relationship with its closest allies. Starmer&rsquo;s trip to China &mdash; the first by a British prime minister in eight years &mdash; comes on the heels of a similar delegation by Canadian counterpart&nbsp;Mark Carney&nbsp;that drew fresh tariff threats from President Trump.&nbsp; 3) President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;threatened to hike tariffs on goods imported from South Korea to 25%, citing what he said was the failure of the country&rsquo;s legislature to codify the trade deal the two nations reached last year. Trump in a social media&nbsp;post&nbsp;on Monday said the new rate would apply to autos, lumber, pharmaceutical products and &ldquo;all other Reciprocal TARIFFS.&rdquo; Under the existing agreement, the president set a 15% levy on South Korean exports. If implemented, the move could have wide-ranging effects on major South Korean companies that export to the US, such as&nbsp;Hyundai Motor Co., which&nbsp;sent&nbsp;1.1 million vehicles to America in 2024.&nbsp;

Minnesota Backlash Spurs Policy Shift; Trump Vows to Raise Tariffs to 25% on South Korean Goods

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/64917854-2257-4d5e-8e8c-b3df00aca3c3/transcript

On today's podcast:
1) US power grids are expected to grapple with unprecedented seasonal demand and the threat of blackouts after a damaging winter storm coated parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic in ice — leaving brutal cold in its wake. More than 800,000 homes and businesses nationwide are currently without electricity as snow and ice wreak havoc on local distribution lines. Grids so far have avoided larger system-level cuts, but frigid wind chills will likely persist all week, testing seasonal power-demand records from New England to Texas. In the New York metropolitan area, commuter lines run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be operating with modified schedules on Monday, while at least one private bus operator, Boxcar, used by New Jersey workers, suspended its service because of the inclement weather.
2) Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer vowed to block a massive spending package next week unless Republicans strip funding for the Department of Homeland Security, dramatically increasing the risk for a partial US government shutdown. Schumer’s announcement came on the same day that a Border Patrol agent shot and killed an American intensive care unit nurse in Minnesota during protests over the immigration crackdown in that state. The man was identified by state and local officials as Alex Pretti. Democratic opposition to the funding package potentially affects not just Homeland Security but also the departments of Defense, Labor, Education, State, Treasury and Health and Human Services. The effects would be widespread, including possibly delaying the next Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
3) President Trump threatened Canada with 100% tariffs against all its exports to the US if it makes a trade deal with China, escalating tensions between the US and its northern neighbor. Trump, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney as “Governor Carney,” said the Canadian leader was “sorely mistaken” for opening up his country to more business from China, including a recent deal allowing an increase in Chinese electric vehicle exports. Trump and key administration officials have denounced that bilateral agreement and warned of potential consequences, including an additional levy for Canadian goods, portending a difficult renegotiation for the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement scheduled in the summer.

On today's podcast: 1) US power grids are expected to grapple with unprecedented seasonal demand and the threat of blackouts after a damaging winter storm coated parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic in ice &mdash; leaving brutal cold in its wake. More than 800,000 homes and businesses nationwide are currently without electricity as snow and ice wreak havoc on local distribution lines. Grids so far have avoided larger system-level cuts, but frigid wind chills will likely persist all week, testing seasonal power-demand records from New England to Texas. In the New York metropolitan area, commuter lines run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be operating with modified schedules on Monday, while at least one private bus operator, Boxcar, used by New Jersey workers, suspended its service because of the inclement weather. 2) Senate Democratic leader&nbsp;Chuck Schumer&nbsp;vowed to block a massive spending package next week unless Republicans strip funding for the Department of Homeland Security, dramatically increasing the risk for a partial US government shutdown. Schumer&rsquo;s announcement came on the same day that a Border Patrol agent shot and killed an American intensive care unit nurse in Minnesota during protests over the immigration crackdown in that state. The man was identified by state and local officials as Alex Pretti. Democratic opposition to the funding package potentially affects not just Homeland Security but also the departments of Defense, Labor, Education, State, Treasury and Health and Human Services.&nbsp;The effects would be widespread, including possibly delaying the next Bureau of Labor Statistics report. 3) President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;threatened Canada with 100% tariffs against all its exports to the US if it makes a trade deal with China, escalating tensions between the US and its northern neighbor. Trump, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney as &ldquo;Governor Carney,&rdquo; said the Canadian leader was &ldquo;sorely mistaken&rdquo; for opening up his country to more business from China, including a recent deal allowing an increase in Chinese electric vehicle exports. Trump and key administration officials have denounced that bilateral agreement and warned of potential consequences, including an additional levy for Canadian goods, portending a difficult renegotiation for the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement scheduled in the summer.

Winter Storm Pummels East Coast; Dems Threaten Shutdown After Latest Minneapolis Killing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bf475faa-1b40-40d8-9182-b3de00b07ee8/transcript

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 Tesla and some of the biggest names in tech.
In the UK – a look ahead to the UK Prime Minister’s visit to China.
In Asia – a look ahead to Apple’s earnings and why business in Asia is a key focal point.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week.
<ul>
<li>In the US &ndash; a look ahead to earnings from Tesla and some of the biggest names in tech.</li>
<li>In the UK &ndash; a look ahead to the UK Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to China.</li>
<li>In Asia &ndash; a look ahead to Apple&rsquo;s earnings and why business in Asia is a key focal point.</li>
</ul>

Daybreak Weekend: US Tech, UK PM Visits China, Apple Earnings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0ffca222-dfdd-43b5-aae6-b3db0134ca7d/transcript

SPECIAL REPORT: Trump Nominates Scott Bessent To Lead US Treasury

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