Balance of Power

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.

The Trump administration is signaling to allies that it has no immediate plans for a ground invasion of Iran, even as it deploys thousands of troops to the Middle East, people familiar with the matter said.

The people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, cautioned that President Donald Trump could change his mind at any moment or go ahead with an attack. They said the troops could serve a variety of roles, including to help with evacuations of American citizens but also to create a sense of strategic ambiguity about US intentions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the US can achieve its objectives in Iran without the use of ground troops but their presence gives Trump options.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe speaks with:
Bloomberg White House Correspondent Courtney Subramanian.
Former US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder.
Bloomberg Wall Street Week Host David Westin.
Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis and Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center Visiting Democracy Fellow Jeanne Sheehan Zaino.
Bloomberg Congressional Correspondent Erik Wasson.
Republican Congressman Troy Downing of Montana.
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Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.

US President Donald Trump sent conflicting signals on the prospect that talks with Iran would bring a halt to the nearly month-long war, further roiling global energy markets.

“I say they’re lousy fighters, but they’re great negotiators, and they are begging to work out a deal,” Trump said Thursday during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that,” he said, and separately threatened to intensify military action if talks failed.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe speaks with:
Bloomberg Europe Correspondent Oliver Crook.
Republican Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina.
Democratic Congresswoman Suzan DelBene of Washington, Chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis and Rebelle Communications CEO Laura Fink.
Former White House National Security Communications Advisor Rear Admiral John Kirby (Ret.).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe speaks with:
Bloomberg Economics Senior Geoeconomics Analyst Adam Farrar.
Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman of Indiana.
Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis and Bellwether Government Affairs CEO Arshi Siddiqui.
Bloomberg Markets Live Managing Editor Kristine Aquino.
Center for Strategic and International Studies Middle East Program Director Mona Yacoubian.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.

President Donald Trump signaled that Iran had offered a “present” as a show of good faith in negotiations the US leader has claimed are ongoing to end a 25-day conflict that’s upended global markets, even as he deploys more troops to the Middle East.

Trump wouldn’t detail the gift, “worth a tremendous amount of money,” but confirmed it was related to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. A Thai ship passed through the vital waterway earlier on Tuesday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

“We’re in negotiations right now,” Trump told reporters at the White House, noting that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are all involved. Still, Trump’s optimism contrasted with the Pentagon’s movement of more ground troops to the region.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe speaks with:
Bloomberg White House and National Security Editor Michelle Jamrisko.
Atlantic Council Fellow and former US Ambassador Daniel Fried.
Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center Visiting Democracy Fellow Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Bluestack Strategies Founder Maura Gillespie.
Third Way Executive Vice President Jim Kessler.
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An update of reports that the US and Iran are engaged in indirect negotiations over the conflict -- as well as the outlook for a potential $200 billion supplemental defense package -- led Bloomberg Intelligence's Washington Policy Pulse on March 23. While a defense package would benefit contractors like Lockheed Martin, we expect Congress to slow walk any ask. We also discussed forthcoming legislation seeking to ban prediction markets, as well as the Fed's recent Basel III endgame rule, which we expect will lower capital requirements for banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America. Finally, we reviewed the White House's policy framework on artificial intelligence.

The Bloomberg Intelligence Financial Policy weekly call is designed to provide investors an opportunity to learn about the most recent relevant policy research, information regarding forthcoming political catalysts and other on-goings within Washington DC.

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