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Israel’s election campaign has been consumed by Iran, national security and the impact of three years of war, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, rarely straying from the theme. The vote will pit Netanyahu’s military hawkishness and religious nationalism against Eisenkot’s plans to fund Israel’s defense buildup through structural reforms that help bring down the government’s debt, which has soared in the past three years. Also this weekend, Halloween candy prices are reflecting cocoa's wild ride. Chocolate remains expensive even after cocoa prices retreated from peaks, pointing to persistent supply pressures in Ivory Coast and Ghana and manufacturers’ efforts to manage costs. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Rep. Dan Crenshaw, (R) Texas, on calls for expanding Ukraine’s access to Starlink over Russia and increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin to create leverage for peace negotiations. -  Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert, on how security, democracy and the war in Iran are shaping Israel’s election and argues that the country needs a change in its approach to settler violence in the West Bank. - Ignacio Canals Polo, Bloomberg Intelligence Consumer Staples & Food Analyst, on why chocolate prices are unlikely to make a quick return to their previous levels. Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa discuss the stories you might have missed this week on BTW. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine said limits on the speed of its SpaceX Starlink terminal connections had been lifted in overnight testing, a move that may ease the latest tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The defense ministry said Starshield was again working at speeds above 400 kilometers per hour after having been limited to about 161 km in recent days. Also this weekend, the founder of Linx Dating has seen demand for her services explode due to the wealth created by the artificial intelligence boom, with clients willing to spend heavily to solve a problem that dating apps haven’t. Fees start at $75,000 and can reach more than $500,000 for VIP service, with pricing largely based on duration of membership, complexity of the search and number of introductions. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Evan Gershkovich, Foreign Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, on his book “This Cursed Beautiful Land,” documenting his 2023 arrest on false espionage charges and 16 months in a Russian prison. - Johnny C. Taylor Jr, President & CEO of SHRM, on how employers and workers can navigate open enrollment, AI-driven job disruption, and growing generational divides in the workplace. - Amy Andersen, Founder & CEO of Linx Dating, on the newly wealthy AI professionals that are fueling demand for high-end matchmaking services. Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republican lawmakers blasted President Donald Trump for waiving new tariffs and sanctions on Russia, prompting the president to defend himself against members of his own party. GOP critics said Trump’s decision trampled on the will of Congress, which overwhelmingly passed a sanctions law last month championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, and would aide Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine. Also this weekend, France is grappling with the aftermath of a weekend of widespread protests that descended into clashes between police and demonstrators and sparked some of the worst street violence the country has seen in years, with looting and landmarks set on fire. The demonstrations drew more than half a million people to cities across the country on Saturday, but what started out as peaceful processions to complain about poor conditions in classrooms and hospitals and cost of living concerns soon deteriorated. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that more than 2,000 people nationwide had been arrested, including 855 in Paris. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Jeff Mason, Bloomberg News White House Correspondent, on President Trump facing backlash from the GOP over his Russia sanctions. - Bloomberg News Reporter Gaspard Sebag on the French protests over cost of living that have descended into violence. - Scott Detrow, Host of NPR's “All Things Considered” and author of “American Pope,” on how Pope Leo's years in Peru shaped his leadership.  - Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler's Senior Features Editor, on what nearly 800,000 reader votes reveal about travelers' favorite cities. Plus, David, Christina, and Lisa Mateo share the stories they've 'Bookmarked' this week. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump waived massive tariffs linked to Russian energy exports mandated in a law that he signed last month, as the measures complicated his push to lower diesel prices ahead of the US midterm elections. Trump invoked a waiver clause under the law, which was championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham as a way to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The law also codified and expanded sanctions targeting Moscow. “I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act. I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump said in an executive order released late Friday. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: Anthony Halpin, Bloomberg News Russia Economy & Government Editor and Jeff Mason, Bloomberg News White House Correspondent on President Trump's decision to halt new energy sanctions on Russia David Miliband, International Rescue Committee CEO on his recent trip to Ukraine and what his organization is doing to help those affected by humanitarian crises.  Jason Schreier, Bloomberg News Video Game Reporter on the upcoming release of GTA VI Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saudi Arabia said 12 people were killed and 309 were injured Saturday in an attack on the Riyadh airport, the deadliest incident in an intensifying conflict with Yemen’s Houthis. Saudi civil aviation authorities said that airport operations were suspended temporarily while the damage was being assessed. Some of the injured were in critical condition. The US warned its citizens to avoid the airport in the Saudi capital. One of the people killed was an American, according to Saudi Arabia. The UK described the latest incident as “serious” and airlines including Kuwait’s national carrier scrapped flights. Also this weekend, President Donald Trump demanded that Volodymyr Zelenskyy halt attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested he should consider stepping aside as Ukraine’s president, escalating a fight centered on securing more diesel supplies for the US ahead of the midterm elections. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday as he unleashed an angry critique of Zelenskyy, saying Ukraine needs a leader “who can make a deal” with Russia. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini speak with: - Abeer Abu Omar, Bloomberg News Middle East Correspondent on the Riyadh airport incident, and Alex Kokcharov, Bloomberg Economics Geoeconomics Analyst on President Trump's statement that "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president." - Herman Chan, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior US Banks Analyst on what to expect when Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Citi report earnings this week, and BMO Capital Market Senior Economist Jennifer Lee on what's ahead for CPI, PPI, and retail sales. - Shawn Donnan, Bloomberg News, Senior Economics Writer, on why populists are losing their war on globalization. Plus, David, Christina, and Lisa Mateo share the stories they've 'Bookmarked' this week. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian authorities said they had completed precautionary measures following the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East after nearly 5,000 laboratory tests found no dangerous pathogens. The 28-year-old employee had been diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and had been vaccinated against the dangerous infections she handled, Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said, citing the results of an investigation. No accidents involving pathogenic microorganisms were found at the institute and required safety procedures had been followed, he said. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: Dr. Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine Dean on the dangers of pneumonic plagues. Jesse Cole, Owner of the Banana Ball Championship League on the inaugural Banana Bowl, and how "Banana Ball" is changing the sports entertainment landscape. Fashion Designer Francis Pierre Laborne on his viral hand-made handbags.Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers.For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/vid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Justice Department isn’t reopening a criminal investigation into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for cost overruns related to the central bank’s building renovation project. Attorney General Todd Blanche didn’t rule out continuing to look into the project’s oversight and potentially take action if evidence of wrongdoing came to light. Blanche commented on a report released this week by the Fed’s Office of Inspector General that found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Powell connected to the $2.4 billion project. The report identified a series of missteps that led to surging costs for the renovation, which had been initially budgeted at $1.3 billion in 2020. Also this weekend, President Donald Trump said he appointed Jay Clayton, his director of national intelligence, to help lead a White House task force on artificial intelligence as the fast-moving technology raises concerns about its safety risks. Clayton was the most prominent name cited by Trump in a social post announcing the creation of the group, which he said will coordinate the US government’s engagement on AI, including with consumers and the companies building it. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini speak with: - United States Attorney General Todd Blanche in an interview with Bloomberg News Senior National Reporter Myles Miller, on why the Justice Department is expanding investigations into alleged election crimes ahead of the midterms. - Gautam Mukunda, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist, on the White House's new AI task force and whether AI can be safely governed. - Thu-Huong Ha, Bloomberg Pursuits Senior Features Writer, on what it's like to take a trip to Singapore without a smartphone, and how the city is deeply integrated with technology. Plus, David, Christina, and Lisa Mateo share the stories they've 'Bookmarked' this week. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump declared at a rally in Alabama that his economic agenda had helped attract investment and jobs in a midterm campaign pitch to a state that has long been staunchly Republican. New AP polling indicates that Americans are unhappy with how President Trump is handling the economy. Also this weekend, a fraud investigator known online as “The Profiler,” tells Bloomberg This Weekend that AI is helping scammers create increasingly convincing fake recruiters and job listings that can lead victims to surrender money and sensitive personal information. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg News Senior White House Correspondent, on President Trump's campaign stops and the separatist movement in Alberta. - Jay Jones, “The Profiler,” on the scam jobs populating LinkedIn and how to protect yourself from becoming a target. - Sarah Rappaport, Bloomberg Pursuits Lifestyle Writer, on the popularity of small luxury hotels with room counts in the single digits. Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran said it’s awaiting a definitive US response to a seven-day proposal for reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz but won’t soften its conditions, after President Donald Trump voiced his rejection. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country wouldn’t allow freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while sanctions and a US blockade remain in place. Also this weekend, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signaled he will set out proposals to introduce new levies to pay for a reformed social care service. Speaking at the start of his party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Burnham pledged that he would begin to give more detail in the coming days, saying he would outline a comprehensive plan to voters ahead of the next general election, which has to be held before August 2029. In the interim he pledged to maintain Labour’s manifesto commitments not to increase income tax or tax on employees’ national insurance contributions. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini speak with: - Michelle Jamrisko, Bloomberg News White House & National Security Editor, on the latest between the US and Iran as indirect talks in New York failed to overcome disagreements over sanctions, the US blockade, and the Strait of Hormuz. - Rep. Don Beyer, (D-VA) who serves on the Ways and Means Committee and Co-Chairof AI Caucus, on the recent AI incidents that have increased the urgency for federal safeguards. - Daybreak Europe Anchor Caroline Hepker, on what to expect from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first Labour Party conference as leader. - Bryan Pietsch, Bloomberg News, Washington DC Breaking News Editor, on how the Kennedy Center's closure has displaced its musicians. - David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group, Co-Founder and Host of “The David Rubenstein Show,” on his new book "Inside the Owner's Box" For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s lavish welcome of Xi Jinping this week marked a high point for stability in a US-China relationship that’s seen a lot of lows. Now, the Chinese leader is pushing to lock in more favorable terms on Taiwan and trade while he still can. President Trump said he would meet again with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November, following what he said was a successful summit in Washington. Also this weekend, A powerful coastal storm set to slam the Eastern Seaboard is threatening New York City with damaging winds and flooding across the five boroughs through Sunday. Up to 6 inches of rain are expected to fall in the area beginning late Friday, according to the US National Weather Service, with 50 mile-an-hour wind gusts in Manhattan. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini speak with: - Stephen Engle, Bloomberg News Chief North Asia Correspondent, and Shannon Kingston, ABC News State Department Reporter, on the outcomes of the Trump-Xi Summit, and the latest from the United Nations General Assembly. - Bloomberg News Meteorologist Craig Allen on the predicted impact of the Nor'easter storm hitting the East Coast. - Alexandra Marvar, Writer & Photographer, on how AI is changing birding and threatening once tech-free sports. Plus, Christina, David, and Alexis Christoforous play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg This Weekend is live from the Qatar Economic Forum in New York City.  Qatar is setting up a dedicated platform to manage and grow its wealth fund’s domestic portfolio worth hundreds of billions of dollars, marking a radical reshaping of the gas-rich country’s sovereign investing landscape. The platform, Doha Investment, will seek to accelerate long-term value creation and boost private-sector participation in the Gulf nation’s economy, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts Christina Ruffini and David Gura speak with: - Steven Mnuchin, Former US Treasury Secretary and Liberty Strategic Capital Founder & Managing Partner, on the long-term opportunity he sees in the Middle East. - Dr. Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Qatar and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who says mediators are exchanging proposals in an effort to restart negotiations between the US and Iran. - Qatar Airways Group CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater, on passenger demand remaining resilient despite regional conflict and higher jet fuel costs. -  Bloomberg News State Department Reporter Eric Martin, on Marco Rubio's foreign policy role in the Trump Administration. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway to be replaced by his son Howard, and will become chairman emeritus of the company. Buffett will remain a member of the board, and his son, a director of the company since 1993, will step into the top role, responsible for the company's culture and values. The move is the latest stage in the succession process at the company, following Greg Abel's replacement of Buffett as chief executive officer earlier this year. Also this weekend, New York City is hiring dozens of sophisticated sleuths to sift companies’ own data for evidence that they might be ripping off consumers. Sam Levine, commissioner of the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, is building a 36-person bureau of data scientists, technologists and economists who will extract and analyze what he describes as “billions of records” to help New York City build cases against predatory corporations and practices.  On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts Christina Ruffini, David Gura, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Republican Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, on his new book "Off Ramp," and his call to stop the contempt that is fueling polarization and political violence. - Bloomberg News Insurance Reporter Alexandre Rajbhandari, on Warren Buffett stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway Chairman, and what to expect from Howard Buffett. - NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine, on how his department is unrolling new programs to fight against consumer fraud. - Bloomberg Businessweek Senior Editor Dimitra Kessenides, on Bloomberg's ranking of the best business schools. Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders of the world's biggest artificial intelligence platforms say it's time to slow the development pace of their most advanced models, citing escalating risks of the technology. Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei will implement new safety steps, including third-party evaluators, and is calling on the industry to support a broader downshift. The move to slow AI development comes as anxiety about severe risks has begun to enter the mainstream, driven by warnings from within the industry that AI poses a growing threat to national security and the global economy. Also this weekend, as drones become cheaper, faster and harder to detect, cities far from traditional battlefields are confronting the challenge of protecting civilians without creating new risks from falling debris or costly interceptions. On today’s show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo speak with: - Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), who urges Congress to act on AI risks. - Morgan Meaker, Bloomberg Weekend Senior Writer, on how governments are searching for defenses that can keep up with rapidly evolving drone threats. - Isabel Woodford, Journalist & Features Writer, on the therapists experimenting with AI "twins" to give patients greater access. Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa discuss the stories you might have missed this week on BTW. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has observed construction activity at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a site suspected of housing nuclear-related activities. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said there are indications of movement around the construction site, but no concrete information on activities taking place there. The IAEA's board of governors has referred Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council for non-compliance with requirements related to its atomic activities. Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned this week, warning that labs are racing toward systems they may not be able to control. Evan Hubinger, who leads Anthropic’s alignment science work, said he sees a greater than 10% chance that AI causes human extinction within the next decade. The figure is clearly subjective, but it shows the depth of concern among leading safety researchers that alignment efforts will fall behind. OpenAI announced in August it is pacing progress to meet the safety standards required by new capability levels, including temporarily slowing frontier training while it strengthens alignment, monitoring and security. The faster capabilities advance, the more quickly safety work must catch up — even as some techniques behind those gains make models harder to understand and monitor. That leaves labs deciding when safety concerns justify slowing progress, even as competition pushes them to keep advancing. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts Christina Ruffini and David Gura speak with: Ernest Moniz, Former US Energy Secretary and CEO of the EFI Foundation on Iran's nuclear program and the tight global supplies of diesel Max Tegmark, Professor Conducting AI Research at MIT and Chair of the Future of Life Institute on loss-of-control risks of AI agents Tom Orlik, Bloomberg Economics, Chief Economist on higher interest rates being the new normal Plus, Christina, David, and Lisa Mateo play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens said her home state of Michigan is bearing much of the economic fallout from the trade dispute with Canada. The latest round of tariffs began when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks collapsed on Aug. 21. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs on US goods set to take effect on Sept. 8, and it’s unclear whether the two countries will reopen negotiations anytime soon. Michigan’s economy relies heavily on cross-border trade and the auto industry, making it particularly vulnerable to the dispute. Canada was Michigan's largest export market in 2025 with exports totaling $23 billion, according to data from the International Trade Administration. A Gallup poll shows 71% of Americans approve of labor unions and a record 47% want them to have more influence, while 52% of Republicans also approve.  AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler says unions are organizing around wages, AI and the midterms. This comes as House Republicans investigate whether some unions improperly used member dues for political activity, allegations Shuler rejects. On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts Christina Ruffini and Jeff Mason speak with: Representative Haley Stevens (D-Michigan), on the effect of the trade war between the US and Canada on Michigan Representative Kevin Kiley (I-California), on this week's Republican Convention ahead of the midterms Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO President on the rise in labor union membership and their desire for more influence Plus, Christina, Jeff, and Lisa Mateo play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers. For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.