Here's Why Russia's Elections Matter For Putin

European governments say Russia is stepping up a campaign of sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incursions against countries that support Ukraine. As the incidents become more brazen, how far can Moscow push without provoking a stronger NATO response? Bloomberg’s Caroline Hepker speaks to Nordic Managing Editor Kati Pohjanpalo to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans and Democrats moved the boundaries of Congressional districts in an effort to bolster support ahead of the US midterms. But the blue wave of Democrat gains saw the partisan manipulation of maps largely fail to deliver. Our Opinion columnist Mary Ellen Klas joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 60/40 investment strategy relies on balancing risks: when equities drop, bonds tend to gain. The approach has long been a staple for investors, but persistent inflation is damaging its appeal. Our Macro Strategist Simon White joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than half a million people joined protests in France over the cost of living, with some demonstrations descending into rioting and looting. President Macron has promised a hard line, but his government is squeezed between the markets and the barricades ahead of a presidential election. Italy, Belgium and Portugal have also seen protests as weak growth and living standards fuel anger across Europe. Our Opinion Columnist Lionel Laurent joins Caroline Hepker to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outcome of the US midterm elections will have major policy implications across the board. But a Democratic sweep of Congress could also slow the data-center build-out and dampen the AI rally that has driven stock markets to repeated record highs in recent months. Markets Live strategist Tatiana Darie joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diesel prices have jumped much more than crude oil since the start of the Iran war, hitting all-time highs in the US and in Europe. A key fuel for industries, diesel powers agricultural harvests and ground transport for goods globally. Our oil strategist Julian Lee joins Stephen Carroll to explain how high prices at the pump are a major political and economic issue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is building a major manufacturing advantage in higher-value industries, from electric cars and batteries to robotics and renewable energy. This year Chinese exports are on course to be about 80% higher than in 2019, putting manufacturers across the world under growing strain. Governments are responding with tariffs and trade barriers, but pushing back against China isn’t straightforward. Our senior economy and government reporter James Mayger joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stock markets in the US, Europe and Asia are moving toward nearly round-the-clock trading, responding to growing overseas demand and competition from always-on crypto and prediction markets. But longer trading hours don’t necessarily mean better markets. Thin overnight liquidity could bring wider spreads, sharper price swings and new operational risks. Bloomberg TV Markets Managing Editor Dan Curtis joins Stephen Carroll to discuss the race toward 24-hour trading, and why more time to trade could come at a cost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As artificial intelligence has evolved from the stuff of sci-fi movies to an app ordinary people have installed on their phones, tech leaders and some AI insiders have talked about the potential for it to escape human control and wreak havoc on society. In recent weeks, those fears have become impossible to ignore. Our Bloomberg Tech Europe Anchor Tom Mackenzie joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russians will go to the polls on 18-20 September to elect members of the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament. It's a tightly managed institution under President Putin, and his party's control of it is unlikely to be threatened. The vote will function, however, as a litmus test for a war-fatigued authoritarian system. Tony Halpin, who leads Bloomberg's team covering Russia, joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.