Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran named the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its new supreme leader and President Trump called $100 oil a “small price to pay,” with neither side showing any sign of deescalating a war now entering its 10th day. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, won a “decisive vote” in Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Sunday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one of Iran’s most powerful and feared organizations, pledged full obedience to the new leader in a statement. Trump, meanwhile, said the US and Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic was worth any near-term pain because it would bring long-lasting benefits.
2) Equities tumbled as deepening turmoil in energy markets sent oil above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022. Bond losses accelerated while the dollar hit the highes level in nearly two months. Futures for the S&P 500 fell 1.5% as the opposing sides in the US-Israeli war against Iran showed little sign of backing down after more than a week of conflict. Brent soared 15% after Middle Eastern producers cut output, stoking fears of an inflation shock that pushed the 10-year Treasury yield five basis points higher to 4.19%. Selling swept across regions and asset classes as the geopolitical flareup added fresh stress to markets that are already under pressure from AI disruptions and worries about the potential for cracks in credit markets.
3) Authorities are investigating potential terrorism links to two suspects in custody over what New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said was an improvised explosive thrown near Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence, people familiar with the investigation said. While Tisch did not elaborate on the investigation, people familiar with the investigation said the suspects — identified as Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi by the commissioner — told detectives they believed the leader of an anti-Muslim protest near Mamdani’s residence had insulted their religion and described the devices as retaliation. Investigators also found the men had watched Islamic State propaganda videos before the protests, the people said. Authorities on Saturday arrested a total of six people connected to the broader unrest stemming from the anti-Muslim demonstration outside the residence near East End Avenue and East 87th Street starting at about 11 a.m. local time. Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor.
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Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week.
In the US – a look ahead to U.S CPI data, along with a focus on 3 stocks for the week ahead.
In the UK – a look ahead to Paris nuclear talks.
In Asia – a look ahead to legislative elections in Vietnam.
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US employers unexpectedly cut jobs in February and the unemployment rate rose, raising doubts about the health of the labor market. Nonfarm payrolls decreased 92,000 last month after a strong start to the year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out Friday. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.4%. The decline in payrolls partly reflected a decrease in health care employment due to strike activity.
Bloomberg Surveillance broke the numbers and got instant reaction from:
Claudia Sahm, Chief Economist at New Century Advisors
Nadia Lovell, Head of Global Equity Strategy at UBS Global Wealth Management
Jennifer Lee, Senior Economist at BMO Capital Markets
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Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran fired a barrage of missiles and drones targeting countries across the Persian Gulf overnight, while Israel renewed airstrikes on the Islamic Republic in a war that’s entered a seventh day with no end in sight. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain were among those that came under renewed attack from the Islamic Republic, while Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran and Beirut. The war has left at least 1,332 people dead in Iran so far, and dozens of others have been killed elsewhere in the region in retaliatory strikes. The Pentagon said six US troops have been killed, all in the first two days of fighting. President Trump said the US continues to “totally demolish” Iranian forces, telling NBC he wanted to “clean out” Iran’s leadership structure and he had names in mind to take over.
2) The US House voted down legislation to force a halt to US strikes on Iran as a handful of Democrats joined a nearly united Republican party in rejecting the measure. The 219-212 vote Thursday against the war powers resolution was largely symbolic, since it would have had to pass both chambers and the Senate’s version of the measure failed a procedural vote on Wednesday. The outcome allows President Trump to proceed in a conflict with uncertain costs, consequences and economic effects that commands far less initial political support than the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American public turned against both those wars.
3) President Trump removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary after months of controversy and announced he would replace her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. Trump posted on social media Thursday that the move would take effect March 31. He said that Noem would take a role as a special envoy for the Western Hemisphere. The change marks the first time Trump has replaced a Cabinet member during his second term. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a social media post that the administration will work to confirm Mullin “as quickly as possible.” A White House official didn’t respond to a question about whether he would also serve in an acting capacity before a possible Senate confirmation.
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Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) The US-Israeli war on Iran entered a sixth day with no sign of easing, as the Islamic Republic said its retaliation against American strikes would escalate. Arab states across the Persian Gulf reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones overnight and into Thursday. Israel is carrying out waves of airstrikes on Tehran, hitting military and intelligence assets, following attacks on Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. President Trump said on Wednesday that the US was “doing very well on the war front.” The White House said American forces had struck more than 2,000 targets and were moving toward “complete and total control of Iranian airspace,” while the Islamic Republic’s regime had been “absolutely crushed.” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said retaliatory attacks will intensify in coming days, according to the Nour news agency. Tehran will target Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility if the US seeks regime change, Iran’s semi-official ISNA said.
2) The Senate voted 53 to 47 against a measure that would have required congressional approval for President Trump’s military operations against Iran, and similar war powers resolutions are expected to fail in the House. Most Republicans have backed Trump’s decision to bypass Congress, arguing he is constitutionally authorized, though several have warned that support is not unlimited -- particularly if the conflict becomes prolonged or involves ground troops. Some GOP lawmakers expressed concern privately about oversight and the lack of hearings, while Democrats have pledged to repeatedly force war powers votes despite slim chances of passage.
3) Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said he thinks it’s still appropriate to continue cutting interest rates given that it’s too early to take a stance on the impact of war in the Middle East on the US economy. Oil prices surged after the US and Israel launched attacks across Iran over the weekend, and investors marked down the odds of Fed rate cuts in 2026. Some Fed officials speaking this week have suggested it raises uncertainty over the outlook — a development Fed watchers have interpreted as possibly keeping the central bank on hold for longer.
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