Weak Payrolls, a Productivity Boom, and Disruptive Tech

Show from 03/06/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the surprisingly weak payroll report and how it contrasts with strong economic indicators like ISM data and retail sales, with the Professor suggesting rising productivity—potentially driven by AI—may explain how GDP remains strong with little job growth. They also review geopolitical tensions involving Iran, rising oil prices, and the Strait of Hormuz, with Siegel noting energy shocks could pressure markets but would not likely change the Fed’s near-term policy stance. (18:13) Jeremy continues with Sam Rines and Jeff Wenniger to analyze the oil spike, global geopolitics, and labor market data, including how weather disruptions and strikes may distort the jobs report and lead to a rebound in March employment. The group also discusses China’s economic outlook, energy constraints, and broader investment themes such as international defense spending and innovation cycles outside the U.S. The episode concludes with Jeremy interviewing Ian De Bode of Ando Finance and WisdomTree’s Maredith Hannon about tokenization, stablecoins, and how blockchain-based financial rails could reshape investing, trading hours, and global access to U.S. financial markets. Ian De Bode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idebode/ Maredith Hannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maredith-hannon/ WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments