Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend – February 13th, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stanovec deliver an in-depth look at the economic and business stories shaping the global landscape. From the AI-driven surge in energy demand and critical minerals, to the shifting dynamics in media, home improvement, and the booming wellness industry, they speak with company leaders and experts to dissect vital trends. Segment highlights include an interview with the CEO of Generac on the data center power boom, a panel on geothermal innovation, a deep dive into the US race for mineral independence, a nuanced discussion with Angie’s CEO on the home improvement sector, a reflective conversation with Tom Freston about the media world, and a foray into longevity and wellness trends.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Market Recap & Macroeconomic Trends

• Hosts Recap (02:18–03:17):
  • The week saw a stronger-than-expected US jobs report released midweek, sending Treasury yields higher.
  • AI-induced "scare trades" rattled various market sectors.
  • Global alliances continue to shift, fueling investor unease.
  • The episode sets out to focus on the intersection of AI-driven demand, energy, and critical minerals.

2. Generac CEO Aaron Jagdfeld: AI, Data Centers & The Power Grid

• Interview (05:22–14:09)

Discussion Highlights:

• Earnings Context: Generac missed Wall Street Q4 estimates, but shares rallied on a bullish 2026 EBITDA margin forecast, attributed to data center and commercial demand.
• Data Centers as a ‘Generational Opportunity’:
  • "For us, there's a direct AI play... you build a data center, you need to have backup power because even a second of downtime... there are commitments... and penalties." – Aaron Jagdfeld (08:52)
  • Entry into the data center market is driving a growth pivot, with large contract negotiations ongoing.
• Residential Sales Linked to Outages:
  • "Our residential business... really depends heavily on mother nature." – Jagdfeld (05:40)
  • Weather events (especially winter storms) drive consumer generator purchases more rapidly than summer outages due to home viability during cold unplugged periods.
• Policy & Fuel Shifts:
  • New construction laws in places like NYC limit natural gas hookups, but solutions include propane alternatives.
  • "You want to make sure that homeowners, businesses have access to emergency backup solutions... there’s unintended consequences of some policy." – Jagdfeld (10:35)
• Expansion & Supply Chain:
  • Recent facility acquisitions will double C&I output.
  • Supply constraints challenge: labor shortage and US manufacturing pressures.
• Quote: "Sometimes in business, you can be with a company for 30 years and never see something as interesting as this in terms of opportunity." – Jagdfeld (12:28)
• Notable Moment: Jagdfeld repeatedly stresses the “generational” nature of the data center power supply opportunity and highlights substantial ongoing investments.

3. Geothermal's Next Wave: Sage Geosystems CEO Cindy Taff

• Interview (17:35–27:41)

Discussion Highlights:

• Reframing Geothermal:
  • "We're tapping into hot, dry rock. This is what that next generation geothermal is." – Cindy Taff (03:17/19:31)
  • Unlike conventional methods reliant on volcanic pools, this approach can utilize 50–60% of global geothermal resources.
• Major Tech-Driven Growth:
  • Geothermal deals now signed with data center giants (e.g., Meta).
  • "If you expand to hot dry rock... between 5 and 7 terawatts," just in the US lower 48. – Taff (21:42)
• Supportive Policy Environment:
  • Bipartisan backing, recognition of geothermal’s momentum and federal executive order support.
• Risks & Realities:
  • Upfront capital and timelines are high, but ongoing water needs and seismic risks are comparatively low due to efficient water cycling processes.
  • "Losses are less than 2%... so you don't have to use a lot of makeup water." – Taff (26:14)
• Cost Path: At scale, next-gen geothermal could be competitive with wind and solar (6–7 cents/kWh).

4. US Critical Minerals Push: Antimony Plant JV & National Security

• Interview: Gary Evans (US Antimony) & Paul Andre Hewitt (America’s Gold and Silver) (28:52–39:27)

Discussion Highlights:

• Context: US plans a $12B strategic minerals stockpile to reduce reliance on China.
• Joint Venture Details:
  • New Idaho antimony processing facility (first since 1942), fast-tracked for completion within a year.
  • "This is a transformational deal... it allows us to supply antimony to the US from beginning to the end." – Hewitt (29:38)
• Supply Chain Dynamics:
  • US Antimony currently imports most supply; this JV enables rare domestic sourcing.
  • Facility uses patented hydromet technology for efficient processing.
• Government Partnerships & Security:
  • Existing DLA (Dept. of Defense) contracts for antimony bars: "We are the only approved company... for the government." – Evans (34:31)
• Price Floors & China:
  • Advocating for a $20/lb price floor to shield from Chinese market flooding.
  • Recent (2024) Chinese mine depletion and export halt have intensified the drive for domestic self-sufficiency.
• Quote: “You can’t fire a bullet without antimony... it’s in everything in the military.” – Evans (37:19)
  • Allies’ needs add to the urgency, with the US expected to supply its own and partners’ critical minerals.

5. The Home Improvement Crunch: Angie CEO Jeff Kip

• Interview (43:33–53:39)

Discussion Highlights:

• Financial Performance: Q4 earnings missed expectations; revenue declines, forward guidance cautious.
• Product/Platform Pivot:
  • Shift from network affiliates to proprietary user experiences: "We no longer auto-match homeowners to pros; they're only matched when the homeowner affirmatively chooses the pro." – Kip (46:09)
  • Proactively removed subpar (below 3.5 star) professionals to boost service quality.
• AI & Channel Diversification:
  • Integrations underway with Amazon Alexa and other major LLM providers to future-proof discovery and booking processes.
• Consumer Behavior:
  • Notable compression in job size/revenue per job; homeowners show some caution amid lower consumer confidence.
  • Predominantly non-discretionary repairs (e.g., leaky roofs) anchor demand.
• Labor Shortages:
  • Fewer new skilled trades entering the industry: "You’re losing more businesses and more skilled professionals than you’re adding every year." – Kip (53:12)

6. The Media Industry’s Past and Future: Tom Freston (MTV, Comedy Central, Viacom)

• Interview (54:58–71:49)

Discussion Highlights:

• Cable’s Evolution & Decline:
  • “[Media] is in a constant state of flux, always... influenced by technology.” – Freston (55:53)
  • Sees better synergy with a Warner Bros–Netflix combination than more “legacy” tie-ups.
• MTV Legacy & Analytical Reflections:
  • MTV’s original music focus morphed for survival and business as remote controls, competition, and later the Internet siphoned viewership.
  • “It’s like seeing your old high school on fire... they haven't really put much effort into MTV for 15 years." – Freston (59:26)
  • MTV could be rejuvenated for the digital era as a curator, given brand strength.
• Comedy Central’s Vision:
  • Competitive reaction to HBO, invented the genre-defining South Park and served as a launching pad for a generation of talent.
  • “Outside of Lorne Michaels… I don’t know of any other entity that’s been able to discover and cultivate as much comedic talent.” – Freston (71:16)
• Reality TV’s Rise & Social Media’s Double-Edged Sword:
  • The Real World was born out of budget constraints but marked the dawn of a now-dominant genre—one that later spawned shows like The Apprentice.
  • "It's a reveal of mankind at its best and its worst." – Freston (67:10)
• Media Democratization:
  • The removal of traditional guardrails has empowered new creators, with mixed cultural results.
  • “All the guardrails and program standards... have vanished.” – Freston (67:56)

7. Bloomberg Pursuits: The Modern Quest for Longevity (Wellness Feature)

• Panel: Justin Ocean & Nicole Torres (75:31–86:51)

Discussion Highlights:

• Longevity Industry’s Boom:
  • Wellness is a trillion-dollar sector, but blue zone communities stand out—numinous longevity across Sardinia, Japan, etc.
• Social Bonds vs. Solitude:
  • “In these Blue Zones, the focus is not really on living longer, it really is on living better.” – Torres (78:15)
  • Research indicates that being part of a community and eating/socializing together extends life more than high-tech personal health regimes.
  • US/UK cultures lean towards isolation—“In 2023, 26% of Americans ate every meal alone.” – Massar (81:01)
• Sauna & Bathhouse Revival:
  • Ancient traditions are trending anew in the US and UK, filling gaps in connection, spirituality, and third spaces.
• Wearables & Wellness Stress:
  • “Are these wearables... actually working... or just needlessly stress us out?” – Torres (86:08)
  • Explores the ambiguous relationship between constant data monitoring and actual mental/physical health.

Notable Quotes

• On AI Power Needs & Opportunity:
  "This is, again, we keep using that word generational, but it's true. Sometimes in business, you can be with a company like I have for over 30 years and maybe never see something as interesting as this in terms of opportunity." – Aaron Jagdfeld, Generac (12:28)

• On US Mineral Security:
  "You can't fire a bullet without antimony… it's in everything in the military." – Gary Evans, US Antimony (37:19)

• On Longevity & Community:
  "Living a good and high quality life where you're surrounded by a lot of people… often leads to a longer life than being totally isolated." – Nicole Torres, Bloomberg Pursuits (78:15)

• On MTV’s Legacy:
  "It's sort of like looking back and seeing your old high school on fire... They haven't really put any money or effort into MTV for, I don't know, 15 years or so." – Tom Freston (59:26)

• On Guardrails in Media:
  "All the guardrails and program standards... have vanished." – Tom Freston (67:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:18-03:17 | Weekly economic/market recap | | 05:22-14:09 | Generac CEO: AI, data centers, power grid evolution | | 17:35-27:41 | Sage Geosystems CEO: New geothermal, the AI power demand challenge | | 28:52-39:27 | US Antimony & America’s Gold/Silver: Mineral JV & security | | 43:33-53:39 | Angie CEO: Home improvement, AI, consumer trends, labor shortages | | 54:58-71:49 | Tom Freston: MTV, Comedy Central, media industry’s past & future | | 75:31-86:51 | Bloomberg Pursuits: Longevity, community, saunas, wearables |

Episode Tone & Style

The tone throughout is conversational, expert yet accessible, with probing questions, humor (especially in the Freston segment) and a persistent theme of unpacking large economic transitions for the business-minded listener. Speakers balance optimism (on technological solutions, growth sectors) with realism about policy, labor, and societal headwinds.

Final Thoughts

This episode provides a thorough, current, and often candid snapshot of transformative trends—from the hard edge of industrial and energy strategy to reflections on how technology reshapes industries, communities, and individual well-being. If you missed the episode, this summary distills the key voices, their insights, and the actionable details on the people and shifts defining today’s complex economy.