1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. You're listening to the 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch Just Live weekdays at 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: noon Eastern on Applecarplay. 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 2: And then roudo with the Bloomberg Business app. 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: Listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts, or watch 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: us live on YouTube. 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 3: It's the Tuesday edition of Balance of Power here on 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 3: Bloomberg Radio, on the satellite and on YouTube. I'm Joe, 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 3: Matthew and Washington and glad you joined us. This is 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 3: a big deal, of course here in the DMV, as 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 3: we like to call it, the mid Atlantic region, but 12 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 3: of course nationally there is an impact from this bridge 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 3: collapse that happened in the wee hours this morning in Baltimore, 14 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,319 Speaker 3: the Key Bridge. If you're with us on YouTube, we're 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 3: showing you pictures here, horrifying pictures of what is left 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 3: at the scene here, a bridge essentially underwater after being 17 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 3: struck by a cargo ship that ran out of power. 18 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 3: As it turns out, around one thirty in the morning. 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 3: This is of course a major commuter route and a 20 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 3: major trade route there in the Baltimore port, in fact, 21 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 3: the number one port for autos for the past thirteen 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: years running we're learning a lot about the Francis Key Bridge. 23 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 3: Here the fire chief James Wallace briefing reporters earlier in 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 3: the morning. They have pulled two people out of the water. 25 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 3: There are as many as seven from what we understand, 26 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 3: they're still looking for so this is still a rescue 27 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 3: operation before we start talking about timelines and rebuilding and 28 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 3: the rest of it. This is a major test for 29 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: authorities and for politicians elected officials in Baltimore and in Maryland. 30 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 3: And that's where we start our conversation with Bloomberg Radio's 31 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 3: Amy Morris. Amy, I woke up this morning and heard 32 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 3: local news coverage that wasn't telling me a lot until 33 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 3: I turned to Bloomberg Radio and heard what you were 34 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 3: doing with Tom Keen. And I first want to thank 35 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 3: you for bringing us the insights that we needed. So 36 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 3: much of this has to do with text and the 37 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 3: importance of this bridge for the community and for the 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 3: nation in terms of a trade route is difficult to overstate. 39 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 3: In this case, speak to us about what it means 40 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 3: for the city. 41 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 4: Let's start from the granular perspective, right, you have thirty 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 4: one thousand people who take this bridge every single day. 43 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 5: That's eleven million, and some change every year. 44 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 4: And last night thirty one thousand people took this bridge, 45 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 4: and this morning the bridge is gone. They're waking up 46 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 4: to no more bridge. And it has been a staple 47 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 4: in the Baltimore area for so long. 48 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 5: It's part of the landscape. It is a landmark, and 49 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 5: it's an. 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 4: Historic bridge as well. It's been there since nineteen seventy seven. 51 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 4: And did you know that its birthday was this past Saturday. 52 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 4: It's forty seven years old. 53 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 3: Remarkable, it was up to code. According to Wesmore. This 54 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 3: it's not necessarily an infrastructure story. This is an emergency 55 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 3: preparedness story. And we're going to, I'm sure, learn a 56 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: lot more about the communications between that cargo ship. But 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 3: they did send a mayday call before they hit the. 58 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 4: Brit they did, and that a small amount of time 59 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 4: between that may day call and when the bridge collapsed 60 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 4: was just enough time for Maryland officials to scramble and 61 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 4: keep people from going on the bridge. 62 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 5: There were already some people on. 63 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 3: The bridge, as you mentioned, tell us about that. There 64 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 3: are people then who could have been on the bridge 65 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 3: who were stopped. Is that fair to say? 66 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 4: That is fair to say, But they would not speak 67 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 4: to that at the press conference, but they did speak 68 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 4: to is that there was construction going on on the bridge. 69 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 4: You know, it's overnight. It's a major highway, so they're 70 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 4: going to save all of the road work for when 71 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 4: nobody's there. 72 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 5: And there were several. 73 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 4: Construction workers filling potholes, handling the concrete on the bridge. 74 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 5: They say the bridge was up to code, but they 75 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 5: were just you know, doing a little maintenance and they 76 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 5: went into the water. 77 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, tell us about the rescue operation. I refer to 78 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 3: as many as seven. Do we have any more detail? 79 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 3: We've heard six thrown around? Where are we know? 80 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 4: I've heard six are still unaccounted for. And those are 81 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 4: all the construction crew I see. And we heard a 82 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 4: lot about the rescue operation and how it was a 83 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 4: big challenge, especially at one point thirty in the morning 84 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 4: because it was so dark, you had so many currents, 85 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 4: the tide was coming in. And this is an area 86 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 4: for people who are not familiar with the Baltimore Bay 87 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 4: or the Baltimore Port area, it's the currents are a 88 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 4: big deal. It's a rough area, and especially since this 89 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 4: is the river that leads into that port. 90 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 5: Yes, so that made the search and rescue even that 91 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 5: much more difficult. 92 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 3: Great work today, Amy Morris. We're all proud to be 93 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 3: working with Amy Morris today, have Bloomberg ready and appreciate 94 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 3: your being with us here to get things started on 95 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 3: balance of power. Our colleague Andrew O'Day, who also lives 96 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 3: in the Baltimore area, described this earlier as Baltimore's Golden 97 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 3: gate Bridge. It's difficult without living there to understand the 98 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 3: significance of it in the community, and we wanted to 99 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 3: start granular with Amy Morris and Widening now to talk 100 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 3: about the economic impact. As I mentioned, this is the 101 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 3: most important port in America for autos. Think of the 102 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 3: economic impact on that sector a loan, and that's why 103 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 3: we wanted to talk with Brendan Murray, who's covering this 104 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 3: for us as Bloomberg's trades are and used to live 105 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: here in the DC Baltimore area. Brendan, it's great to 106 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 3: see you. The economic impact is it possible to quantify yet? 107 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 6: Well, look, this is ifport that does about eighty billion 108 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 6: dollars in global trade a year, so that works out 109 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 6: to about six and a half billion per month, so 110 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 6: you know every day it's closed, it's hundreds of millions 111 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 6: of dollars of economic impact that are not flowing through 112 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 6: this port. These are you know, these are good jobs, 113 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 6: high paying jobs on the docks and and and the 114 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 6: industrial areas around there. So if if maritime traffic and shipping, 115 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 6: you know, needs to come to a halt for weeks 116 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 6: or months, however long it's going to take, that's going 117 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 6: to be a big hit to the to the folks 118 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 6: who work in and around the port. 119 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: So shippers like merrisk as saying that they are re routing. Now, 120 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 3: what are the options available for shippers? 121 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 6: The main ones that the shipping lines are looking at 122 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 6: would be New York, New Jersey, UH, Norfolk, the Port 123 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 6: of Virginia. 124 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 7: UH. 125 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 6: There's also UH Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. Those 126 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 6: are also UH. And the big question is which which 127 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 6: of these other ports can handle the added import of 128 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 6: an export of automobiles like you mentioned. And you know 129 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 6: that's not something that you you know, you can do 130 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 6: if you're not if you don't have the equipment for it, 131 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 6: if you don't have the parking lot. You know, the 132 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 6: ports that handle a lot of cars have these massive 133 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 6: parking lots where the cars sit until they're you know, 134 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 6: put on trucks or trains, you know, off on their way. 135 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 6: So it's not that you can just you can't just 136 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 6: turn a ship from Baltimore to any any port with 137 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 6: with your with the with a load of cars. You 138 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 6: know that that kind of thing has to be worked 139 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 6: out pretty well in advance. So uh yeah, it's gonna 140 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 6: cost some some headaches and some congestion, uh for the 141 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 6: next several weeks from the people that I talk to, 142 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 6: until until the kind of initial shock of this can 143 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 6: be absorbed. 144 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 3: That's for sure. We have to remind ourselves as well. 145 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: Carnival and Royal Caribbean, two cruise lines that use that 146 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: port actively, we're going to be understanding, I'm sure over 147 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 3: the next twenty four to forty eight hours exactly how 148 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 3: much reach this collapse will have. Brendan, thank you for 149 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 3: jumping on with us. Brendan Murray covers this for a 150 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: living our trade czar here with an eye of course 151 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: on the port of Baltimore. We're going to have much 152 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: more for you on the story throughout the hour. My 153 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: colleague Kaylee Lynes, who of course you hear every day 154 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 3: on this broadcast, has made her way to Baltimore and 155 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 3: we'll bring us live coverage from the scene as soon 156 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: as she gets set up there, with attention paid to 157 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: our other major story here in the world of politics, 158 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 3: and that is the day of days for Donald Trump. 159 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 3: If you were with us yesterday, we got a trial date. 160 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 3: Of course, we also had a remarkable development in the 161 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 3: civil case against Donald Trump, course questioning the value of 162 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 3: his companies as he's presented them. That led to a 163 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 3: four hundred and fifty four million dollar penalty and he 164 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: has to post bond. An appeals court yesterday brought that 165 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: bond payment down by about two thirds, making life a 166 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 3: lot easier for Donald Trump, especially as he watches his 167 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: spack take off today. This new digital world's truth social 168 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 3: thing has put about three billion dollars in his bank account, 169 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 3: or at least it will when he's able to sell 170 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 3: those shares a couple of months down the road. But 171 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 3: as we consider the value of Trump Inc. And look 172 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 3: at the potential impact on his political career in the 173 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: throes of a campaign, we wanted to talk to Tim O'Brien, 174 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,719 Speaker 3: who literally wrote the book on Donald Trump and his finances. 175 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 3: Of course, the senior executive editor of Bloomberg Opinion with 176 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 3: us from New York. Tim O'Brien, it's great to see you. 177 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: I could only imagine what was going through your mind 178 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 3: yesterday when that appeals court dropped the bond payment that 179 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 3: Donald Trump will have to face. Why is the court 180 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 3: going easy on him? 181 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 8: Well, I think, Joe the I think the court, the 182 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 8: appellate court, has signaled. I think that they think the 183 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 8: lower court clearly overreached and that they you know, I 184 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 8: think both in terms of the size of the judgment 185 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 8: and possibly in some of the other associated penalties. You know, 186 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 8: they also stayed a ruling that kept Trump's two eldest 187 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 8: sons out of the business, as well as a number 188 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 8: of other restrictions that Arthur and Gore on the lower 189 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 8: court judge imposed. So I think that that's a leading indicator, 190 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 8: possibly that they're going to scale back the judgment on appeal. 191 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 8: What surprised me was that they did this now as 192 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 8: an interim measure. You know, I don't a typical defendant 193 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 8: doesn't get that kind of treatment, I think, and Trump 194 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 8: had already ended. I mean, Trump had had these varying 195 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 8: pardon me, he had these varying accountings of whether or 196 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 8: not he could actually pay into escrow the amount of 197 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 8: money he needed as a as a to essentially collateralize 198 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 8: the judgment against him. You know, a year ago under oath, 199 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 8: he said he had four hundred million dollars in cash 200 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 8: on hand and that was growing substantially each month, and 201 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 8: then more recently he said, I actually don't have the money, 202 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 8: and then he took to social media last Thursday and said, 203 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 8: actually I have five hundred million dollars. So he's either 204 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 8: been lying or very very forgetful, or he spends money 205 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 8: at the speed that some people turn queas and arts 206 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,239 Speaker 8: on and off. Be that as it may, he had demonstrated. 207 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 8: I think that he had, by his own words, that 208 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 8: he had the wherewithal to pay the court judgment. So 209 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 8: I don't know why the court decided to intercede at 210 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 8: this moment in time. 211 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: That was unusual. It is pretty yeah, pretty remarkable. 212 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, you and I get a party. 213 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 8: If you and I get a party ticket and we 214 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 8: don't pay it, you know, the fine goes up on 215 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 8: a pretty regular basis. 216 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 3: So folks are getting nervous. Wonder folks are getting nervous 217 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 3: about the idea of seizing property. Letitia James had already 218 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 3: marked a couple in Westchester County and it looks like 219 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 3: they will not have to be seized. Now does that 220 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 3: play into this decision? 221 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 8: Well, I think she probably actually would have seized his 222 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 8: entire portfolio because it's so complex. Some of the real 223 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 8: estate can't be used as collateral against a bond, so 224 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 8: she would have to get you know, equity in some 225 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 8: of these properties. She would have gone for all the 226 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 8: low hanging fruit versus brokerage accounts as bank accounts. I 227 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 8: don't think his truth social stake is as as robust 228 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 8: as that has become, is something that any kind of 229 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 8: surety company would have wanted as collateral because the value 230 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 8: obviously has a great possibility at changing, including going down substantially, 231 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 8: So it would have been very complex. And he holds 232 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 8: all of this. He's got about you know, four hundred 233 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 8: and fifteen or so shell companies under the Trump organization umbrella, 234 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 8: and only seventy of those produced revenue, So anyone attaching 235 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 8: ascents had a lot of homework in front of them. 236 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 8: So I think she would have done a sweeping, taken 237 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 8: an undertaken a sweeping effort to get her hands on 238 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 8: as much as she could. 239 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 3: You wrote a piece that went up on the eighteenth 240 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 3: of this month that plays into what we're talking about here. 241 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 3: Tim Trump's empty pockets make him an overseas mark. Pretty 242 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: remarkable when you consider someone who is cash poor even 243 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 3: though they claimed to be a billionaire, and the vulnerabilities 244 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 3: that that might present, the liabilities and should Americans be 245 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: watching well, Joe, I. 246 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 8: Think that's been there since he made his first tour 247 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 8: through the White House. He has not been shy about 248 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 8: trying to monetize the presidency. As we know when he 249 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 8: was running back in twenty fifteen and twenty sixteen, he 250 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 8: was trying to get a real estate done deal done 251 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 8: at the same time in Moscow, he you know, he 252 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,719 Speaker 8: pulled in millions of dollars from the hotel that he 253 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 8: owned near the White House that was host of foreign 254 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 8: dignitaries and emissaries. So that's oh, we lurked around him, 255 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 8: and it has raised his question of whether or not 256 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 8: he's making objective for policy decisions, or whether or not 257 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 8: someone has their hooks into him. That's even more true 258 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 8: now if he had to scramble to pay big court judgments, 259 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 8: which by the way, he may still have to Even 260 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 8: though the fine in this case is but the bond 261 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 8: amount has been reduced, I still think it pressures him 262 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 8: because he's already had to post over I think one 263 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 8: hundred million dollars in the EG and Carrol case, and 264 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 8: you add, you know, another two hundred million to that, 265 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 8: I think, you know, I think that significantly cuts into 266 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 8: his cash pile, and that raises issues about his ability 267 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 8: to operate his company. So that makes him possibly vulnerable 268 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 8: to any foreign entity that would like to make a 269 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 8: smart investment in a possible future president. 270 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 3: The boom and bust cycle has been a whole of 271 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 3: Donald Trump's career. I think we can say, and I 272 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 3: wonder just in our remaining moment here, Tim, and I 273 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 3: don't want to set you up with some big think question, 274 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 3: but just to frame this in our remaining moment, Donald 275 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 3: Trump here he is again on the verge of, you know, 276 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 3: bringing another three billion dollars, coming down to the line, 277 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 3: almost failing. How does he continue to reconstruct this scenario? 278 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 8: He is both the luckiest man on the face of 279 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 8: the earth, and he is also an amazing grifter who 280 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 8: is able to I think, pursue things most people don't 281 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 8: without much embarrassment, and he stays in the battle and 282 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 8: he knows right now, I think that he needs the 283 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 8: insulation of the presidency to protect himself from what could 284 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 8: be some fairly existential court judgments. And you know this 285 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 8: spack could not have arrived at a more perfect moment, because 286 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 8: otherwise he would have emburried. 287 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 3: It's financial master. Yes, isn't that the truth? He's, of 288 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 3: course the author of Trump Nation, but also runs our 289 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: opinion section on the Terminal and at Bloomberg dot Com. 290 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 3: Senior executive Editor Bloomberg Opinion. Tim O'Bryan, Tim, thank you. 291 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast kens 292 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: just live weekdays at noon Eastern on Applecarplay and enron 293 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: Oto with the Bloomberg Business App. You can also listen 294 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: live on Amazon Alexa from our flagship New York station, 295 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: Just Say Alexa Play Bloomberg eleven thirty. 296 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 2: So, Larry, welcome. 297 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 9: It's good to have you here on the day of 298 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 9: your annual Chairman's letter to the investors. And it's a 299 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 9: bit of a different, I think letter from what you've 300 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 9: done before. Personal starts with your parents, right, and they're earning, 301 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 9: saving for retirement and include your grandkids as well. Yes, 302 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 9: the retirement crisis. Give us your diagnosis of that problem 303 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 9: right now. 304 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 10: Well, somebody I've been writing about for years, but I 305 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 10: emphasize it in this letter. And you know, all my 306 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 10: letters have been based on some long term issues. And 307 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 10: let me be really truthful about my letters. My letters 308 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 10: are a reflection of my conversation with clients. 309 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: So it is. 310 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 10: And so over the past year, I heard more and 311 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 10: more conversation about retirement or retirement crisis from many parts 312 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 10: of the world, from middle class developing countries to developed countries. 313 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 10: The acute problem here in the United States is that 314 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 10: we have still fifty seven million Americans who don't have 315 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 10: any savings or any retirement plan. So security is a 316 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 10: fantastic foundation for retirement. But if that's how you have 317 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 10: when you retire, you're going. 318 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 2: To be living in. 319 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 10: Poverty, below the poverty line, because it just is. It's supplemental, 320 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 10: but it's not meant to be the totality of what 321 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 10: you have in retirement. 322 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: And the whole concept that we're aging, we're you know, 323 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 2: we're all living longer. 324 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 10: And I think one of the big narratives I had 325 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 10: to reflect in twenty twenty three was the miracles of medicine. 326 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 10: When we talk about the drugs like a zumpec and 327 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 10: all the different weight loss drugs, how that is extending life. 328 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 10: It's conquering kidney disease and liver disease and heart disease 329 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 10: and joint disease. And then there are new medicines now 330 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 10: for dementia that extends life. So you think about the 331 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 10: miracles of technology and how it transforms our lives and 332 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 10: extends our life. There is not a dialogue in America 333 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 10: or most places about can't we afford that longevity and 334 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 10: our entire retirement system was based on statistics that were 335 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 10: created fifty years ago, whereby most Americans retired between sixty 336 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 10: and sixty two then, but most Americans then. 337 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 2: Passed away at sixty seven. 338 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 10: And today, statistically a couple sixty years old in good health, 339 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 10: one of them is going to live over ninety. And 340 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 10: so the other question is should we re evaluate how 341 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 10: we work and how long we work because we all 342 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 10: need purpose in life, and in most plays most people 343 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 10: get find purpose. Obviously maybe with their grandchildren, their children, 344 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 10: their their community. 345 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: Many people find purpose in. 346 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 10: Their jobs and the thought of retiring at sixty with 347 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 10: thirty more years or a thirty year year life in 348 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 10: front of you. These we need to have a dialogue. 349 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 10: We need to have a conversation. And you know, I'm 350 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 10: an optimist. I am very optimistic about the long term 351 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 10: vitality of our markets. I'm bullish on capitalism. The reason 352 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 10: why I'm bullish is when I read the newspapers every 353 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 10: morning and listen to Bloomberg and other news organizations, it's 354 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 10: full of scary things. 355 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 2: We talk about the problems. 356 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 10: We talk about all the problems life, but we solve 357 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 10: problems through conversation. And the one area where we have 358 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 10: no conversation is the affordability of retirement and the whole 359 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 10: concept of retirement. And we need to start a global 360 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 10: and most importantly and national dialogue. 361 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 9: So in your letter you have a very powerful, i think, 362 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 9: diagnosis of the problem, not just the United States but global. Yes, 363 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 9: we are living longer, we need more money therefore to live. 364 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 9: At the same time, there's also a bit of a 365 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 9: pin there to capitalism and particularly capital markets and the 366 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 9: extraordinary things they've done, what they can do. Connect the 367 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 9: two of those up. Could we use the capital markets 368 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 9: to address at least some of the problem we're talking about, 369 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 9: and let me be very specific. Social security you mentioned 370 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 9: is really in trouble. Should we be taking the Social 371 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 9: Security Trust Fund what's left of it and put it 372 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 9: into capital markets. 373 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 10: We need to put it in a long term investment. 374 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 10: I mean, we have a system of pay as you go. Okay, 375 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 10: there are other countries like Australia that have a whole 376 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 10: unique system whereby you're contributing. But there are right now 377 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 10: in Congress there are a number of senators and congressmen 378 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 10: that are talking about rehabilitating our security pool and maybe 379 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 10: contributing big block of money into it so it has sufficiency. 380 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 10: But to me, as I said, social security is just 381 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 10: a foundation of retirement. We need to really educate our 382 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 10: citizens about the need for savings. 383 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: We see worldwide. 384 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 10: Most people who are really thrifty, they keep most of 385 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 10: their money in a bank account. Like in Japan, almost 386 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 10: there's a high savings rate of eighteen percent. Most of 387 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 10: that isn't a bank account. In Europe there's a high 388 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 10: savings rate of fifteen ish percent. Most of that's in 389 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 10: a bank account. That is not going to provide you 390 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 10: the adequacy of the compounding of what capital markets can do. 391 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,719 Speaker 10: But probably one of the big conversations I've had with 392 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 10: so many political leaders is the connection of retirement and 393 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 10: the capital markets. When you think about the vitality of 394 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 10: the US capital markets so much it's based on the 395 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 10: long term money of pension funds of our whether it's 396 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 10: a defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan. And Americans 397 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 10: are more optimistic and so we have a higher investment 398 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 10: in equities beyond any other society. And so in my 399 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 10: conversation with many political leaders as they think about retirement, 400 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 10: and Japan is a great example. 401 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 2: The Kashida government just this. 402 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 10: Past October raised the amount of tax deductibility to put 403 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 10: in your four to one k. 404 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 2: They double the size. 405 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 10: And it's not a coincidence that the Japanese equity market 406 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 10: since October is up thirty percent, and it's because we're 407 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 10: seeing more and more money that it is going into 408 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 10: the long term capital markets. So not only does it 409 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 10: give financial returns for those who are retiring and saving 410 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 10: for retirement, but it's a big foundation for domestic companies 411 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 10: to have local investing in your own companies. If you 412 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 10: look at the United States, are our equity markets generally 413 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 10: traded a two to three pe racial higher than any 414 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 10: place in the world. Now, you could argue we have 415 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 10: better companies and an a place in the world, but 416 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 10: you also have to attribute this to that we have 417 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 10: a larger retirement system in terms of what we invested. 418 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 2: Now, that doesn't mean we need and we need more. 419 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 10: We need more money for more people to be putting 420 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 10: it into their system. 421 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 9: Take it a step further, because something you're very involved 422 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 9: in Blackrock is is alternative investments. 423 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: Yes, the private markets, credit. 424 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 9: Debt, things like that. Should we be changing the rules 425 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 9: so we can put our four to one kse our 426 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 9: iris into private markets. 427 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 10: I believe there are some great areas of private markets 428 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 10: that are going to be great investments for retirement, and 429 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 10: I would channel that more towards infrastructure because infrastructure has 430 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 10: a long maturity, It has a higher coupon, but it 431 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 10: has a lower profile of returns and what I would 432 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 10: say other areas of the private markets, so it has 433 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 10: more a good corridor of returns, but higher probabilities of 434 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 10: meeting those returns. And so yes, we need to be 435 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 10: relooking at how we think about investing, whether that is 436 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 10: going to be in private equity or infrastructure. 437 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 2: I do believe you know, we need to be putting more. 438 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 10: Long dated assets into retirement and so that you could 439 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 10: so that you could meet the returns that you need 440 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 10: to have the pool of money that we require during retirement. 441 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 9: Something else you mentioned was our longevity, which has increased substantially. 442 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 9: We all benefit from that. That's a good thing, exactly 443 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 9: planning at the same time, Should we be encouraging, as 444 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 9: you suggested a letter, people working longer. Should we making 445 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 9: a possible facility thing. Should we frankly increase the age 446 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 9: for social security? 447 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 10: That is not for me to make a decision, but 448 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 10: I think we need to have a conversation. Look at 449 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 10: you and I are the same age. Okay, we are 450 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 10: working longer. We have find purpose and what we do. 451 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 10: The founder of Bloomberg, Mike, is still working. I believe. 452 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 10: I believe for those who can and they find purpose 453 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 10: and work, my gosh, work as long as you can. 454 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 10: If you find blessings, if you find purpose and other things, 455 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 10: do that. But I do believe we need to discuss 456 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 10: these opportunities. 457 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 2: I don't think the average citizen knows that. 458 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 10: You know the extent of how much longer we're going 459 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 10: to be able to live. You know, so the beauty 460 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 10: and the miracles of medicine has allowed us to live 461 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 10: you know, ten, fifteen, twenty years longer than two generations ago. 462 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 10: And so, but we haven't changed our system of retirement 463 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 10: or our system of social security. So the most important 464 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 10: thing we need to do, David, is have a conversation, 465 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 10: and through that conversation, I think most people are going 466 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 10: to elect to do things, maybe working longer, We're electing 467 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 10: to be more, to be more involved in how they 468 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 10: put their money to work for retirement. 469 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 9: As I say in your letter, you talk a lot 470 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 9: about the success of the capital markets, all that they've accomplished. 471 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 9: At the same time, you do mention the problem with 472 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 9: particularly US debt. You think it's more urgent than anytime. 473 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 9: I think you said you can remember in your lifetime. 474 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 9: Put those two things together. To what extent has the 475 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 9: success of the capital markets come, specifically because we've taken 476 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 9: more debt on the public balance sheet. We've shifted debt 477 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 9: from private balance sheets to public balance sheets. 478 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 2: No question. 479 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 10: Let's just use a statistic, and I think when I 480 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 10: talk about this statistic, I get frightened. 481 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 2: In the year. 482 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 10: Two thousand, the US deficit was eight trillion dollars today 483 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 10: it's thirty four trillion dollars. So twenty three years later 484 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 10: we increased our deficit by twenty six trillion dollars. So 485 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 10: for the first two hundred and thirty forty years, we 486 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 10: increased our deficit the eight trillion, and in the last 487 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 10: twenty three years we went we increased it by twenty 488 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 10: six trillion dollars. I think that speaks volumes of what's 489 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 10: happening in our country today. The problem with these type 490 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:25,360 Speaker 10: of deficits is and now, with and I believe higher 491 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 10: interest rates for longer, the cost of financing our deficits 492 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 10: are going to erode more and more of our of 493 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 10: our disposable income as a country. 494 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 2: And I do. 495 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 10: Believe there we're getting to a point where our public 496 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 10: debt is going to start up crowding out private capital, 497 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 10: and we're going to have structurally higher interest rates. 498 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 9: What can the private sector do to trigger some action 499 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 9: in that regard. I mean, you're the head of the 500 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 9: largest asset manager in the world. IRY think it's not 501 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 9: just you, but you have some influence. At this point, 502 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 9: we have Candide running for president who aren't even talking 503 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 9: about this. 504 00:26:58,240 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: That's not even a conversation. 505 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:06,199 Speaker 10: So in my letter, I talk about the need for 506 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 10: more public private investments. Well, the United States is one 507 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 10: of the last countries where we've had private capital investing 508 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 10: in our infrastructure. And I believe if we changed our policies, 509 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 10: privatized our airports and privatized maybe our ports and having 510 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 10: private capital investing that then our public spending could be 511 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 10: rededicated to more urgent social needs, more urgent needs, elevating 512 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 10: our education, elevating issues around social security and healthcare. 513 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 2: And so I. 514 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 10: Believe the need is to rethink what is a role 515 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 10: and responsibility of a public sector for the development of 516 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 10: better twenty first century infrastructure. 517 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 2: We know that we are going to have. 518 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 10: To digitize our entire economy, we know we're going to 519 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 10: have to move forward on carbonization. These require huge pools 520 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 10: of money. Allow the private sector to be part of that. 521 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 10: We have this enormous functional capital markets that can provide 522 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 10: the capital we as a country must use it more 523 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,959 Speaker 10: often and access the role of private sector. 524 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 2: And so I think we still. 525 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 10: You know, that does not change the course of our deficits, 526 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 10: but we could certainly reallocate some of our monies into 527 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 10: more urgent issues and I would say, and my letter 528 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 10: speaks about it to we need to grow our economy 529 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 10: so our deficits are a smaller component of our GDP. 530 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,479 Speaker 10: That is the bigger issue. If we continue to just 531 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 10: grow at two percent and we have these type of deficits, 532 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 10: that's when the deficits really are going to be a. 533 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 2: Problem out five and ten years. 534 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 9: But you suggest three percent, is that realistic? 535 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 2: We need that has to be our target. 536 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 10: We need to find ways of growing at three percent 537 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 10: instead of just cutting taxes, or we need to find 538 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 10: ways of insenting private capital to be investing more. 539 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: We need to encourage growth, and we need to. 540 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 10: Be and this is a debate now and there's a 541 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 10: lot of people talking against this. We need to embrace 542 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 10: our capitalism because our capitalism has shown to be the 543 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 10: best economic force in the world. 544 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 9: And finally, Larry, let's come back to the personal here 545 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 9: for a moment. As you mentioned, you and I happened 546 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 9: to be exactly the same age, right, we're boomers. Yes, 547 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 9: we have some responsibility to the succeeding generation that I'm 548 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 9: not sure with delivering on how much of your letter 549 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 9: was really saying to us boomers. We owe it to 550 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 9: our children and our grandchildren to get our arms around 551 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 9: these problems. 552 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 10: We were born at a great economic moment. It's we 553 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 10: all have a responsibility to try to recreate that environment 554 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 10: for our grandchildren and hopefully make a better outcome for 555 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:49,960 Speaker 10: our children. But now at our age, we've got to 556 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 10: be focused on the future for our grandchildren. 557 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 9: Okay, Larry, thank you so much. Really great to have 558 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 9: you here. That's Larry Fink, He's Black chairman and CEO. 559 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 9: Joe back to you. 560 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 3: David Weston, thank you. Fascinating conversation, having read mister Fink's 561 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 3: letter this morning and something that we were looking forward to. 562 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 3: Recalling the conversation that we were having here in Washington 563 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 3: about the retirement age just days ago, and I want 564 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 3: to hear from the panel on this. Rick Davis is 565 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 3: with us here along with Brad Howard, as we dig 566 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 3: into the politics of this, Recalling the conversation about social 567 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 3: security in the budget that emerged Rick Davis from the 568 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 3: Republican Study Committee. Highly controversial, it actually addressed the issue 569 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 3: and recommended increasing the age for retirement. This is something 570 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 3: that neither presidential candidate will touch. Right now, we're going 571 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 3: back to the old lock box. Here is it time 572 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 3: to start having this conversation out loud. 573 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 11: Well, you kind of started that conversation at the presidential 574 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 11: level when you interviewed Nicki Haley this primary cycle and 575 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 11: got heard talking about Social Security. And the bottom line is, 576 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 11: I think what Larry Fink points out is just a 577 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 11: fact Berkans are living longer, We're being more productive in 578 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:06,719 Speaker 11: that old age. Medicine has given us a new chance 579 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 11: to extend our lives, and yet public policy isn't following 580 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 11: any of that. And as you point out, Rick Scott 581 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 11: in the Republican Study Committee and Nikki Haley have said 582 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 11: something about needing to reform Social Security. It is on 583 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 11: the brink of being a financial disaster, and yet presidential 584 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 11: candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden seem to feel like 585 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 11: it's some kind of toxic third rail that you can't 586 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 11: talk about in politics, and you. 587 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 7: Know you'd be a disaster if you did. 588 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 11: I think Americans are more sophisticated than that, and I 589 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 11: think a national dialogue is exactly what Larry Fink has 590 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 11: calm for and I think it's a smart move on 591 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 11: his part. 592 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 3: With the Democratic view, Brad Howard in our remaining moment 593 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 3: in this conversation, Brad, We've got an eighty one year 594 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 3: old president. All we do is talk about age around 595 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 3: here in Washington, d C. How come we can't have 596 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 3: this conversation. 597 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 12: Well, look, the critics, it isn't that we're having. The 598 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 12: conversation is that the Republican proposal immediately makes seniors bear 599 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 12: the burden of the bad decisions of Washington. And I 600 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,719 Speaker 12: think Democrats want to look at it more holistically, like 601 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 12: there's there's ways you can tax the wealthy, or to 602 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 12: help ensure the longevity of a SOB Security Trust fund, 603 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 12: there's other mechanisms like why are millionaires and billionaires getting 604 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 12: so security benefits? Those are questions that Democrats are asking, 605 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 12: So I think why no. The criticism is that they're 606 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 12: looking at it from this angle. But let me say like, 607 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 12: there was a strong momentum behind a bipartisan national commission 608 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 12: that would look at the nation's debt, including entitlement spending, 609 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 12: which is so security and medicare. It made it through that. 610 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 12: It was the Scott Peters Bill. It made it through 611 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 12: the Budget Committee on a bipartisan vote, and Democrats were 612 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 12: willing to go forward with this. Who killed it was 613 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 12: Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform because they 614 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 12: left on the table the idea of raising taxes to 615 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 12: help ensure the longevity of SOB security. So you know, 616 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 12: both sides have are are to blame here, but again 617 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 12: the criticism and not that they're bringing it up. The 618 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 12: criticism is their proposal to do. 619 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 3: So a right Howard and Rick Davis are great panel. Today. 620 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch 621 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: us live weekdays at noon Eastern on Applecarplay and then 622 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: Brounoto with the Bloomberg Business app. Listen on demand wherever 623 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts, or watch us live on YouTube. 624 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,479 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Tuesday edition of Ballance of Power. I'm 625 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:28,479 Speaker 3: Joe Matthew in Washington. Normally I would say alongside Kaylee Lines, 626 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 3: but Kaylee is in Baltimore today having responded to the 627 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 3: bridge collapse this morning, and we want to bring you 628 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 3: up to date on what is happening there because the 629 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 3: administration is now responding. It's not just local officials. We 630 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 3: heard from Joe Biden live here on this program just 631 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 3: within the last hour, pledging that the federal government will 632 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 3: pay for the bridge replacement in full. They will not 633 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 3: wait to find out who was at fault or whether 634 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 3: the shipping line is liable in this case. After the 635 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 3: Dolly lost power that cargo ship and slammed into the bridge, 636 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 3: bringing it down. Most of that bridge underwater right now, 637 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 3: and Kaylee joins us from the scene. Kaylle, we understand 638 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 3: the Transportation Secretary is on his way there today. 639 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 13: Yes, we do expect, Joe, that Secretary Buddha Jedge will 640 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 13: be coming here to view the scene to partake in 641 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:17,319 Speaker 13: the efforts, which, of course, right now is still a 642 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 13: search and rescue effort as we speak, at the invitation 643 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,760 Speaker 13: of Governor Wesmore. We have not yet seen the Secretary arrived, 644 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 13: but of course we'll keep all on Bloomberg television and 645 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 13: radio posted as we do have developments here, and of 646 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 13: course he will likely reiterate what we have heard, as 647 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 13: you said from the President, that the federal government is 648 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 13: going to be leading this effort in terms of financing 649 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 13: the reconstruction of this bridge. Of course that could be 650 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,319 Speaker 13: a figure in the billions of dollars potentially, and of course, 651 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 13: before any reconstruction effort can be underway, they do have 652 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 13: to clear out just the debris that is currently in 653 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 13: the river behind me. Keeping in mind that basically the 654 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 13: entirety of this bridge collapsed and started to be at 655 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,479 Speaker 13: least partially submerged. It is going to take some time 656 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 13: to get all of that out, to clear out the waterway, 657 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 13: not just so the bridge can be reconstructed or that 658 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 13: project can begin, but also so that the port can 659 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 13: be reopened and that ships can transit this waterway. Once again, 660 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:08,479 Speaker 13: it's worth keeping in mind here as we think about 661 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 13: the timeline, which could be potentially very long. Governor Moore 662 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 13: talked about it being a long haul project earlier this 663 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 13: morning at a press conference, but also the question of 664 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,600 Speaker 13: how quickly this financing can be secured. When President Biden 665 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 13: said he does intend for the federal government to pick 666 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 13: up the tab on this, he said that he does 667 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 13: expect Congress will approve that. But we know that this 668 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 13: president hasn't had an immense degree of ease in asking 669 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 13: Congress for money and that passing in an expeditious matter. Joe, 670 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,359 Speaker 13: we all know what just happened with government funding. Of course, 671 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 13: there is a supplemental request, including emergency aid for US 672 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 13: allies like Ukraine and Israel, that still hasn't been acted. 673 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,840 Speaker 13: On by the House, so we'll see just how quickly 674 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 13: it can work its way through the workings of the 675 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,759 Speaker 13: federal government as state officials are responding here in real 676 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,040 Speaker 13: time today, that's for sure. 677 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 3: Kayleie, We're really glad that you could get there and 678 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,319 Speaker 3: bring this information to us. Thank you for being at 679 00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 3: the scene. You'll be hearing from Kaylee of course throughout 680 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 3: the day here on Bloomberg Radio and TV, my partner 681 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 3: here on Balance of Power doing the good work that 682 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 3: you're hearing. We started our broadcast talking with Amy Morris 683 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,799 Speaker 3: from Bloomberg Radio, who really brought home the impact that 684 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 3: this has on a local level. We're going to talk 685 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 3: a lot in the days and weeks ahead about the 686 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:21,840 Speaker 3: national impact, maybe even international economic impact on trade. The 687 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 3: biggest port in America for autos, the ninth largest overall 688 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:32,080 Speaker 3: coal shipments being brought to a standstill now for some 689 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 3: six weeks. But if you live in the Baltimore area, 690 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 3: this is your home. It's actually known or was as 691 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 3: the Golden gate Bridge of Baltimore, was part of the 692 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 3: skyline there and this is something that is hitting the 693 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 3: community hard. We're actually hearing now from the sports teams 694 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:51,920 Speaker 3: in Baltimore. The orioles out with a statement that says, 695 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,800 Speaker 3: in part, Baltimore, We're a tight knit and resilient city. Together, 696 00:36:56,360 --> 00:37:01,239 Speaker 3: we will get through this. The Baltimore ravens similar. We 697 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 3: know that the Baltimore community will stand together in the 698 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 3: aftermath of this tragic event. We'll have a lot more 699 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 3: for you on the later edition of Balance of Power, 700 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 3: starts at five pm Washington time here on Bloomberg TV 701 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 3: and Radio, in a conversation with former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, 702 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 3: among others, who will join us to talk about the 703 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 3: impact and the recovery. Here on a day that we 704 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:25,400 Speaker 3: would typically be leading with the new Bloomberg Swing State Pole, 705 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 3: we got new numbers out this morning. There has been 706 00:37:28,239 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 3: so much breaking news so far today I haven't had 707 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 3: a chance to get to it until now, And as 708 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 3: we heard from Joe Biden ahead of his trip to 709 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 3: North Carolina, the news is quite good for him. The 710 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:41,399 Speaker 3: blue wall we talk so much about may in fact 711 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:43,920 Speaker 3: be in place for him by the time we vote, 712 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 3: if the trajectory remains intact in the polling that we've seen. Bloomberg, 713 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,440 Speaker 3: of course, working with morning consults on this on the 714 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 3: monthly this has been a rolling pole, if you will, 715 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 3: or a monthly pole that we've been updating in the 716 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 3: seven swing states that will likely to side the election, 717 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 3: will likely pick the next president of the United States. 718 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:07,239 Speaker 3: The headline on the terminal Biden erases Trump's lead in 719 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 3: blue wall states he needs to win, and to that end, 720 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:14,560 Speaker 3: we bring in Eli Yoakley, US politics analyst that morning 721 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 3: consult our partners on this poll. Eli, It's great to 722 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:19,320 Speaker 3: see you back. Where is Joe Biden making headway? 723 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 14: Things are looking a little better for President Biden since 724 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 14: we last checked in on this. Joe Biden has improved 725 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:30,320 Speaker 14: his standing in Michigan, a very key states his reelection. 726 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:33,839 Speaker 14: He's made improvements in Nevada, and in North Carolina, and 727 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:37,279 Speaker 14: in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Look, he's above water for the 728 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:41,279 Speaker 14: first time in our survey since October in Wisconsin. This 729 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 14: is positive forward movement. But look, he still faces a 730 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:50,279 Speaker 14: very tough electorate this year. We've seen some signs of 731 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 14: improvement in terms of the favorability rating, how folks are 732 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 14: thinking about the economy, the kind of news voters are 733 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 14: taking away about the president. But in a number of 734 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 14: these states he's still trailing President Trump. 735 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:07,120 Speaker 3: And to be tied in Pennsylvania. Let's be honest, Eli, 736 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:09,319 Speaker 3: this is home for Joe Biden. He's been to that 737 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:11,839 Speaker 3: state I think more than any other since he's been 738 00:39:11,880 --> 00:39:14,440 Speaker 3: in office. He went up there to drop his budget, 739 00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:17,760 Speaker 3: He's delivered some very important speeches. He calls Scranton home. 740 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 3: Whether you buy into that narrative in the biography, is 741 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 3: that the first place the campaign needs to get to work. 742 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,239 Speaker 14: I mean, he's spent a tremendous amount of time there. 743 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,560 Speaker 14: It's like I'm running joke that he goes there every month. 744 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 14: He goes there a lot. It's an important state for him, 745 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:39,719 Speaker 14: it's an important state for Democrats. I think one thing 746 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:42,040 Speaker 14: that he's going to need to lean into there is 747 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:45,520 Speaker 14: convincing voters that the economy at the local level has 748 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 14: actually improved. 749 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:48,279 Speaker 7: It's one of the worst states right now. 750 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:50,480 Speaker 14: We saw a trend across all of these states we 751 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:54,480 Speaker 14: tested where economic sentiment, the kind of the way people 752 00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:57,320 Speaker 14: are thinking about the direction of the economy, has gone 753 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:00,560 Speaker 14: on the rise across the swing safe map, and it's 754 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:04,480 Speaker 14: been driven by perceptions of their local economy. Pennsylvania has 755 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,400 Speaker 14: one of the states where that is still underwater. The 756 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,240 Speaker 14: President has an opportunity here to try to make that case. 757 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 14: But right now it's not breaking to the same extent 758 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,320 Speaker 14: that it is in places like Wisconsin, where he finally 759 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:16,320 Speaker 14: has a lead over Trump. 760 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 3: Something we said about peaking late in this game. Eli, 761 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 3: if you're Joe Biden and you're looking out across the 762 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:26,839 Speaker 3: next eight months, here you see people feeling better about 763 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:29,720 Speaker 3: the economy now, knowing that interest rates might be coming, 764 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:32,400 Speaker 3: knowing that you have twice as much cash on hand 765 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 3: as Donald Trump. When you look to I guess across 766 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 3: the valley here to November. If you're this campaign, do 767 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:42,560 Speaker 3: you not see the stars aligning. 768 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 7: I think that it's early in this campaign. 769 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:48,759 Speaker 14: I mean a good chunck of voters a couple months 770 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:51,160 Speaker 14: ago didn't even think that Donald Trump would be denominated, 771 00:40:51,239 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 14: or they. 772 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 7: Weren't so sure. 773 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:55,040 Speaker 14: A number of voters still say that the American people 774 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 14: are not paying attention to this, or at least hadn't 775 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 14: been paying attention to this to the extent that Washington is. 776 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 14: I think we're seeing signs that more voters are paying attention. 777 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 14: I think that folks are taking note of as Biden 778 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:10,040 Speaker 14: would cast, at the threat of another Trump presidency. That 779 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:12,879 Speaker 14: is something that he's going to need to rely on, very, 780 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 14: very heavily to try to rebuild that anti Trump coalition 781 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,040 Speaker 14: that got him the White House in the first place. 782 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:22,320 Speaker 14: It wasn't really a pro Biden coalition that got across 783 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:24,840 Speaker 14: the finish slide four years ago. It was an anti 784 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 14: Trump coalition, and you're starting to see signs in places 785 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 14: like Wisconsin that is materializing. Some of this is driven 786 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:34,919 Speaker 14: by independent voters, who are far more likely to cast 787 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:37,560 Speaker 14: their vote if they're supporting Joe Biden as a vote 788 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 14: against Donald Trump than a vote for the incumbent. This 789 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 14: negative energy activates folks, and the Biden campaign is going 790 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:47,000 Speaker 14: to need to spend a lot of time in the 791 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:49,400 Speaker 14: coming months to try to revive that as it builds 792 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 14: up perceptions of its own handling of the presidency. 793 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:58,600 Speaker 3: Spending time with Eli Yoakley at Morning consult, Eli, I'm 794 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 3: really struck by something that everyone seems to agree on here, 795 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:05,960 Speaker 3: Progressives as well as Donald Trump supporters eat the rich. 796 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:08,520 Speaker 3: This is something that came out of the poll here. 797 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:13,240 Speaker 3: Those sixty nine percent those you pulled in seven swing 798 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 3: states favor higher taxes on billionaires, even Americans making over 799 00:42:18,560 --> 00:42:20,600 Speaker 3: four hundred thousand dollars a year. What else can you 800 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:21,399 Speaker 3: tell us about this? 801 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,640 Speaker 14: Yeah, it turns out that the vast majority of the 802 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:26,040 Speaker 14: American people like taxing the rich. 803 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,280 Speaker 7: It's very popular. And by the way, it's very popular 804 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:29,759 Speaker 7: among Trump supporters too. 805 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,400 Speaker 14: I mean, over half of Donald Trump's support support taxing 806 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:37,560 Speaker 14: people who make over four hundred thousand dollars A good 807 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:39,800 Speaker 14: number of them, about a third, which which is a 808 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 14: lot of Republicans support tax raising taxes on corporations. This 809 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,239 Speaker 14: is the two major parties maybe finding a place of 810 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 14: agreement on a populist policy, which is maybe the American 811 00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 14: people think the rich are making too much money right now. 812 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 7: We saw some of this. 813 00:42:55,560 --> 00:43:00,200 Speaker 14: Emerge during the inflation discussion early in Biden's presidency, where 814 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:03,920 Speaker 14: a lot of voters were blaming corporations for being greedy. 815 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:04,319 Speaker 3: Yeah. 816 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:06,840 Speaker 14: I think this is an underlying current in American politics. 817 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:10,040 Speaker 14: So Donald Trump has had a lot of luck allowing 818 00:43:10,040 --> 00:43:12,560 Speaker 14: the Republican Party to tap into it's where I think 819 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:15,920 Speaker 14: people normally are with the Democratic Party. But if you 820 00:43:15,920 --> 00:43:18,799 Speaker 14: could see if he moves forward in this campaign and 821 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 14: maybe try to offer some compromises to restore his twenty 822 00:43:22,239 --> 00:43:26,520 Speaker 14: fifteen tax cuts for all Americans, maybe a place of 823 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:29,520 Speaker 14: possible common ground in the next presidency. 824 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 3: Well, that's how does that help Trump? Though? This is 825 00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 3: the man behind the twenty seventeen tax cuts. He's a billionaire. 826 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,359 Speaker 3: This is actually what we're talking about. He wants to 827 00:43:39,360 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 3: lower the corporate tax rate, doesn't he? 828 00:43:41,960 --> 00:43:42,360 Speaker 7: Yeah. 829 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:44,640 Speaker 14: I think it helps Trump in the sense that a 830 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:47,840 Speaker 14: good number of people associate the Republican Party more with 831 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,600 Speaker 14: people like them than they did before he took over. 832 00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:55,120 Speaker 14: He is rebuilding a populist regardless of his wealth and 833 00:43:55,160 --> 00:43:56,360 Speaker 14: his billionaire status. 834 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:58,800 Speaker 7: He has helped rebuild the Republican. 835 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:00,960 Speaker 14: Party's brand as a party of the cares more about 836 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:04,200 Speaker 14: everyday Americans. The other thing that stands out in this, 837 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:07,480 Speaker 14: by the way, is the American people seem inclined to 838 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:10,640 Speaker 14: be on board with some of his tariff discussion. He's 839 00:44:10,640 --> 00:44:15,520 Speaker 14: talked a lot about raising of tariffs on some foreign imports. 840 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,000 Speaker 7: The American people seem to be there. 841 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 14: That seems like something that might raise costs for everyday folks. 842 00:44:22,360 --> 00:44:27,120 Speaker 14: But this going after big business is more protectionist bent 843 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:31,520 Speaker 14: in America's populist bit in American politics is something that 844 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 14: is becoming a bit of a unifier this year. 845 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:38,560 Speaker 3: That's pretty remarkable. I guess the populist election, even if 846 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,399 Speaker 3: it doesn't always agree with one candidate or the other, 847 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:44,000 Speaker 3: you go with the message. Eli. We've been talking a 848 00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:47,799 Speaker 3: lot about third parties lately. No Labels is scratch and 849 00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 3: looking for a candidate. Here, RFK Junior is trying to 850 00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:53,439 Speaker 3: make news. You put up a running mate today, even 851 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:55,440 Speaker 3: though he's only on a couple of ballots. Is this 852 00:44:55,560 --> 00:44:59,120 Speaker 3: going to be a factor in pulling and actual election 853 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 3: results in the November. 854 00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:04,520 Speaker 14: I mean, some of these states are so close. I mean, Pennsylvania, Michigan, 855 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:09,239 Speaker 14: Wisconsin are tight, tight races. A couple points here and 856 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 14: there matter a lot. I think what stood out in 857 00:45:11,680 --> 00:45:15,360 Speaker 14: this latest survey is that RFK does pull from President 858 00:45:15,640 --> 00:45:18,440 Speaker 14: Biden along with folks like Cornell West and Jill Stein. 859 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:21,360 Speaker 7: It's going to be something to watch. I mean, RFK 860 00:45:21,560 --> 00:45:22,520 Speaker 7: keeps getting. 861 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:24,960 Speaker 14: More popular in all of these surveys. There's not been 862 00:45:25,080 --> 00:45:28,120 Speaker 14: much of an effort against him yet, and we're still 863 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:29,920 Speaker 14: going to see what kind of balance he can get on. 864 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:30,759 Speaker 2: But you know, the. 865 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:33,279 Speaker 14: Presidence of some of these third party candidates, especially when 866 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:36,400 Speaker 14: so many voters dislike both of the major party candidates, 867 00:45:36,640 --> 00:45:39,399 Speaker 14: is obviously something that both side Saints watched and right 868 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:41,680 Speaker 14: now it does appear to be a bit of a 869 00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:42,880 Speaker 14: challenge for President Biden. 870 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:47,680 Speaker 3: Fascinating stuff here with so much time left. Eli. You know, 871 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:52,279 Speaker 3: we started this campaign cycle warning everybody don't read into 872 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:55,480 Speaker 3: national polls too much. Here there's too much time to go, 873 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:59,600 Speaker 3: and this poll really seems to underscore that argument. If 874 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:02,680 Speaker 3: you're not looking specifically at Wisconsin, if you're not looking 875 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:06,080 Speaker 3: specifically at Pennsylvania, for instance, these are two that we've 876 00:46:06,080 --> 00:46:08,520 Speaker 3: really isolated in our conversation here, you have no idea 877 00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:10,280 Speaker 3: what's going on in this campaign. 878 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:13,560 Speaker 14: Yeah, I mean we always think of our national surveys 879 00:46:13,560 --> 00:46:15,640 Speaker 14: as a leading indicator. I mean, we saw some of 880 00:46:15,640 --> 00:46:17,919 Speaker 14: this in the national data we collected after the State 881 00:46:17,960 --> 00:46:20,080 Speaker 14: of the Union that fewer voters were concerned about the 882 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:24,800 Speaker 14: president's age. Since Donald Trump won the Super Tuesday contest, 883 00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:27,760 Speaker 14: we started to see this race solidify in a very 884 00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:30,360 Speaker 14: tight way. But the importance of what we're doing every 885 00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:33,840 Speaker 14: single mompp helps explain to the American people what's happening on 886 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:35,480 Speaker 14: the ground in some of these key states and pick 887 00:46:35,560 --> 00:46:36,760 Speaker 14: up some of these small movements. 888 00:46:36,800 --> 00:46:39,080 Speaker 7: They're going to matter a lot come November. 889 00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:41,959 Speaker 3: Are we going to be talking about a blue wall 890 00:46:42,080 --> 00:46:42,799 Speaker 3: in November. 891 00:46:43,520 --> 00:46:45,600 Speaker 14: We're always talking about a blue wall. Well, we talked 892 00:46:45,640 --> 00:46:48,799 Speaker 14: about a blue wall, will be talking about Arizona. We've 893 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,160 Speaker 14: already heard folks start talking about North Carolina and we'll 894 00:46:51,160 --> 00:46:52,359 Speaker 14: see how that pans out. 895 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:55,320 Speaker 7: But it does appear that, you know, folk places. 896 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:57,319 Speaker 14: Like Wisconsin and Michigan are going to be a big 897 00:46:57,360 --> 00:46:58,320 Speaker 14: deal come November. 898 00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 3: You come on today, Eli, Thanks for listening to the 899 00:47:04,760 --> 00:47:08,120 Speaker 3: Balance of Power podcast. Make sure to subscribe if you 900 00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:11,640 Speaker 3: haven't already, at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, 901 00:47:12,040 --> 00:47:14,520 Speaker 3: and you can find us live every weekday from Washington, 902 00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:17,720 Speaker 3: DC at noontime Eastern at Bloomberg dot com.