Vic and Marcus discuss rising inflation driven by energy costs and the impact on consumers, travel, and wage growth. They examine newly confirmed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh and debate whether AI investment and market enthusiasm are creating an economic bubble. The episode covers healthcare job growth becoming a key driver of California’s economy, major healthcare venture funding activity, and the resignation of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and what it could signal about the future of regulation. Additional topics include declining overdose deaths, changes to PBMs after Optum Rx moves to a fee-based model, Hims & Hers struggling after the GLP-1 shift, General Catalyst’s healthcare transformation efforts, US and China negotiations, and broader conversations around healthcare, policy, and technology.

Links

Story 1: CPI

1:44 - Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices WSJ

3:24 - Prices at the Pump Are Wiping Out Wage Gains WSJ

Story 2: New fed Chair

4:51 - Kevin Warsh Is Confirmed as Fed Chair in 54–45 Senate Vote WSJ

Story 3: Jobs

11:42 - U.S. Adds 115,000 Jobs in April With Solid Hiring Across Sectors WSJ

13:43 - Cisco to Shed Jobs for All-In AI Push WSJ

14:21 - Forget Tech and Hollywood. California Is Powered by Healthcare Jobs. WSJ

Story 4: VC rundown

15:14 - Chromie Health picks up $2M in pre-seed funding, launches SMS AI-powered nurse staffing agent Fierce Healthcare