Diplomacy, Dollars & Distractions

A softer tone from President Trump toward China sends markets surging — then retreating. Reuters breaks down how tariff threats, rare-earth tensions, and a possible Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea shaped global trade and investor confidence.

Wall Street’s rebound, driven by AI and semiconductor optimism, faces new tests as tech earnings roll in. Barron’s and Investopedia explain whether this rally is a breather or the calm before a correction.

At home, the U.S. government shutdown drags into another week, leaving federal workers in limbo and markets uneasy. iHeart News reports prediction markets now expect the standoff to last through mid-November.

On the culture front, dot.LA highlights LA Tech Week 2025 — where startups, creators, and investors converge even as Washington stalls. And in sports, the Dodgers and Brewers face off in the NLCS while global golf eyes Delhi for the DP World India Championship.

Plus, Apple’s Eddy Cue sounds the alarm on streaming overload, researchers predict stronger meteor showers ahead, and the stars — literal and economic — continue to realign.

Today’s episode was hosted by Marshall Huang.