Bloomberg Opinion

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck is taking credit for Walmart's decision to roll back some of its diversity efforts. But he doesn't deserve it. 🔗 Read my column for Bloomberg Opinion on why Walmart seems to be letting him control the narrative: https://lnkd.in/dVrY8khJ 📽 And watch this video for the tldr version:

Wild week in the US-Mexico relationship. My bottom line: Trump won’t be convinced with economic orthodoxy lessons but rather with unambiguous moves that address his concerns new column for Bloomberg Opinion (🎁 link) https://lnkd.in/dPxaEa5W

Right-wing activist Robby Starbuck declared another win last week, and it was a big one. Walmart, America’s largest private-sector employer, is rolling back some of its diversity efforts. And Starbuck is taking credit for it. It sets a chilling tone for corporate America’s diversity efforts that a company with the resources of Walmart is pulling back on its commitment to DEI. But it’s even worse that retailing giant is allowing Starbuck to give the impression that he and his movement are fully responsible for the reversal. In fact, some of the concessions that Starbuck takes credit for aren’t really concessions at all but moves that were already underway. And in other cases, Walmart did not go as far as Starbuck’s other targets. And yet Walmart has let Starbuck drive the narrative. It all reads like a cooperative communications effort between the two parties — likely the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations that probably looked something like this: Starbuck got to break the news, claim victory and take credit, while Walmart preempted a nasty public battle but didn’t have go as far as other Starbuck's other targets in order to get him to go away. For Bloomberg Opinion, I look at why this sets a dangerous precedent.

Welcome to a world where every day is #BlackFriday, and every scroll could lead to your next purchase. Kyla Scanlon explains why 🎥 🛍️

On Monday, Warren Buffett announced that he was donating more than $1 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to four family foundations — a continuation of his commitment to give away the vast majority of his wealth to charity rather than pass it on to his family. With the announcement, Buffett put out a memo that was less about the nuts and bolts of the donation than the importance of getting your affairs in order at the end of your life. Close readers of Buffett know that this is his MO. Below the surface, his musings are often steeped with advice about leadership and management. But at 94, Buffett is clearly thinking about his mortality and acknowledges that “father time always wins.” More than ever, he seems determined to pass on not just lessons about what makes a good investment but what makes a good life. Here are my takeaways: 1️⃣ Don't create dynasties (or nepo babies). 2️⃣ Acknowledge your good fortune. 3️⃣ Be transparent about your future plans. 4️⃣ Live below your means. 5️⃣ Tell your kids you're proud of them. Read my full column for Bloomberg Opinion.

There’s a mental model of the US energy system built around the idea that the president has a secret valve under the Resolute Desk. In reality, energy flows are driven by economics. Which is why the oil and gas bit of Trump’s Treasury pick Scott Bessent’s 3-3-3 plan isn’t likely to work out (see the chart below). Meanwhile, Trump is threatening tariffs against its biggest source of crude oil imports - and de facto strategic reserve - Canada. And it’s not even January yet. Read about it here at Bloomberg Opinion https://lnkd.in/eUYcFbm8

Tesla’s market cap has soared back anove $1 trillion since Trump’s election win. Without reasoning too heavily on this, it has nothing to do with EVs but maybe something to do with AVs: autonomous vehicles. Tesla doesn’t have any AVs but it has marketed its ADAS systems as if they can drive vehicles on their own. The resort to calling FSD “supervised” - a meaningless phrase - reflects growing scrutiny of all this by federal agencies. Hence, the return of Trump as friend-in-chief to Elon Musk may have boosted expectations that such scrutiny will now ease. Moreover, Republicans may be planning another run at federal AV policy. It’s questionable how necessary this is, but I suspect it would involve sweeping preemption of state laws. AV lobbyists might rejoice, but having Musk at or close to the wheel on this risks damaging overreach for a sector that still needs to win trust from society. Read about it here at Bloomberg Opinion https://lnkd.in/eVGkjj4b

🗓️ Five days a week: That’s the new return-to-office policy at Jeff Bezos’ The Washington Post and at Amazon. It’s also the RTO recommendation Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have announced for the US federal government. Many executives have expressed views that those who aren’t working five days in the office are less valuable or less committed. "But these assumptions are dead wrong. The employees likeliest to stay after the imposition of a strict, five-day in-office mandate are not necessarily the most talented or the most committed, but those convinced they have no better employment options; those close to retirement; and those who live nearest the office. That’s not exactly strategic talent management," writes Sarah Green Carmichael. Read her full column for Bloomberg Opinion: https://lnkd.in/ew8pPmaX

Watching another chaotic United Nations climate confab end in disappointment brings to mind that old saw, incorrectly ascribed to Winston Churchill, about America always doing the right thing, but only after it has exhausted every alternative. Except in this case the world’s polluting nations are stuck in the “exhausting alternatives” phase and are quickly running out of time to do the right thing. Gift link to my column for Bloomberg Opinion #cop29 #climate #climatefinance https://lnkd.in/edbUeR6X

Watching another chaotic United Nations climate confab end in disappointment brings to mind that old saw, incorrectly ascribed to Winston Churchill, about America always doing the right thing, but only after it has exhausted every alternative. Except in this case the world’s polluting nations are stuck in the “exhausting alternatives” phase and are quickly running out of time to do the right thing. Gift link to my column for Bloomberg Opinion #cop29 #climate #climatefinance https://lnkd.in/edbUeR6X