Yemen Attacks Houthis; Anthropic Researcher to Testify

SPEAKER_1 (0:02)

Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio, News.

Nathan Hager (0:10)

Good morning, I'm Nathan Hager.

Karen Moskow (0:11)

And I'm Karen Moskow. Here are the stories we're following today.

Nathan Hager (0:15)

Karen, we begin with the latest from the Middle East. Yemen's internationally recognized government has begun a full-scale campaign to take back territory held by Iran-backed Houthis. This follows weeks of escalating fighting between the militant group in Saudi Arabia and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, along with key Saudi energy infrastructure. We get the very latest from Bloomberg's head of Middle East coverage, Stuart Livingston Wallace.

Stuart Livingston Wallace (0:37)

As far as they're concerned, they want to just get rid of the Houthis altogether and effectively reunify Yemen.

So it's a bold intention. I would say history is not necessarily on their side. You know, we saw the better part of a decade of fighting in which the Houthis gained ground and gained control. And it's true that they didn't gain control over the whole of the country. So there are limits to their own power. So, like I say, past performance is no indication of future results, but you have to be a little bit skeptical going into this about whether they can make any headway.

Nathan Hager (1:08)

And Bloomberg's Stuart Livingston Wallace reports Saudi Arabia has asked Western governments for additional support. The UK is providing refueling aircraft while France is sending troops to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The US has said it will not provide extra support beyond the intelligence it already gives the Saudis.

Karen Moskow (1:24)

Meanwhile, Nathan, the US is making a major move after last week's arrest at an airbase it's been using in the UK for the Iran War. The Pentagon has removed all its bombers from Royal Air Base Fairford. The New York Times reports the withdrawal was carried out with unusual speed after threats of a new plot linked to Iran emerged over the weekend. The Pentagon says despite the pullout, personnel who operate the US bomber fleet are prepared to carry out precision strikes anywhere in the world.

Nathan Hager (1:52)

Now to the latest on the artificial intelligence debate, Karen. President Trump has named his Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, to help lead a White House task force on AI.

Clayton told the Wall Street Journal the president's goal for the group is to ensure, quote, that we stay the leaders in super intelligence and that the interests of the American people are put first. Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lena Kahn says she is sceptical.

Lena Khan (2:16)

What we've seen through and through from this administration is just mass elite impunity, including for corporate law breakers. So I think it's really going to be up to state attorneys general and also Democrats, if they win the House and the Senate, to do real investigation and oversight here.

Nathan Hager (2:30)

Former FTC Chair Lena Kahn appeared on ABCs this week, heard Sundays on Bloomberg Radio. The task force comes days after President Trump hosted nearly two dozen tech executives at the White House last week to discuss AI risks. The journal reports the group will have 120 days to prepare a report.

Karen Moskow (2:47)

Well, Nathan, the Supreme Court opens its new term with a case that could shield oil and gas companies from claims for billions of dollars being spent by cities, counties, and states to adapt to rapidly changing weather patterns, and Bloomberg's Amy Morris has more from Washington.

Amy Morris (3:03)

A years-long legal campaign to hold the oil industry accountable for climate change is at risk as the Supreme Court takes up a case that threatens to undercut dozens of lawsuits. ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy are asking the court to toss out a lawsuit by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado.

The case has significant implications, with one expert saying it would be within the Supreme Court's power to entirely shut down a whole category of climate accountability litigation. In Washington, Amy Morris, Bloomberg Radio.

Nathan Hager (3:33)

Amy, thanks. The high court enters its new term with trust in the institution at historic lows. A recent Gallup survey shows just 34% of Americans approve of the high court, and only 46% trust its decisions. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito says he's concerned about the Supreme Court's future.

Samuel Alito (3:51)

I am concerned about the escalation in public rhetoric in general, and about the things that people in important positions say about the Supreme Court as a whole and about individual justices.

Nathan Hager (4:10)

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito appeared on Fox News Sunday, and heard every Sunday on Bloomberg Radio.

Karen Moskow (4:16)

Well, Nathan, President Trump's chief economic advisor is calling on former Fed Chair Jay Powell to leave the Fed's board. The remarks come after an internal report released last week cited management failures in the renovation of the Fed's headquarters. Here's Kevin Hassett, head of the National Economic Council, who spoke to Fox News.