Marcus and Vic unpack a turbulent week of global and economic shifts — from the Israel-Palestine ceasefire and U.S. government shutdown to rising layoffs, job stagnation, and Wall Street’s growing fixation on AI. They dive into China’s rare earth dominance, Trump’s trade maneuvers, and the growing tension between free markets and government control. In healthcare, they cover California’s crackdown on PBMs and private equity, telehealth funding freezes, labor strikes, and AI-driven innovations from Google and Microsoft. The hosts close with major biotech deals, the crypto market’s resilience, and an existential look at AI’s power, risk, and global race for dominance.
Links
2:25 - The Unofficial Jobs Numbers Are In and It’s Rough Out There WSJ
5:08 - Strong Bank Earnings Push S&P 500 Higher WSJ
6:42 - China, Betting It Can Win a Trade War, Is Playing Hardball With Trump WSJ
10:46 - China’s Rare Earth Restrictions Aim to Beat U.S. at Its Own Game NYT
12:11 - The Small Company in Europe Caught in the Big Trade War Between the U.S. and China NYT
19:15 - Powell Keeps Fed on Track to Lower Rates Again WSJ
23:24 - Seattle startup Brook.ai raises $28M to expand remote care platform GeekWire
25:45 - OutcomesAI raises $10m seed funding for AI nursing model Hospital Mgmt
28:34 - WellTheory Raises $14M to Expand Autoimmune Care Platform MedCity
29:29 - Vega Health launches out of stealth to help health systems purchase, monitor AI Fierce Healthcare
30:17 - ŌURA Snags $900M to Expand Smart Ring Globally MedCity
31:42 - California passes laws targeting PBMs, private equity Healthcare Dive
33:52 - AstraZeneca Strikes Drug-Pricing Deal With Trump Administration WSJ
35:32 - Medicare telehealth, hospital-at-home payments on hold Modern Healthcare
39:05 - Big Changes Are Coming for 2026 Medicare Plans. What You Need to Know. WSJ
40:57 - 31,000 Kaiser Permanente workers begin strike in Northern California, Hawaii Healthcare Dive
42:55 - To Find Workers, Hospitals Are Training Teenagers WSJ
45:07 - Hims & Hers to Offer Treatments for Menopause, Perimenopause WSJ
47:18 - Novo Nordisk to Acquire Akero Therapeutics for Up to $5.2 Billion WSJ
48:06 - Johnson & Johnson to Split Off Orthopedics Business WSJ
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