Mo News - The Interview

What does BlackRock actually do? How much influence does it have? And how much of what you’ve heard about it is true?

Mosheh sits down with John Kelly, BlackRock’s global head of corporate affairs, to demystify the world’s largest asset manager, which oversees roughly $15 trillion on behalf of its clients. Many listeners may have money invested with the company through a 401(k), pension, or other investments without realizing it.

The conversation explores BlackRock’s power, questions about its role in housing, public distrust of Wall Street, and the growing backlash against AI data centers.

They also discuss BlackRock’s Future Builders initiative, which aims to help 50,000 Americans prepare for careers in the skilled trades. Why is this financial giant investing in electricians, plumbers, and other skilled workers—and could those careers offer more opportunity as AI reshapes the job market?

Kelly, who previously held senior roles at Microsoft, Starbucks, and Roku, shares the company’s perspective on what these changes could mean for your work, savings, and retirement.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠@mosheh⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

As warnings mount that artificial intelligence could take millions of jobs, and even threaten humanity itself, Reid Hoffman argues we need a middle path: keep developing the technology while putting safeguards in place.

The billionaire LinkedIn co-founder, early OpenAI backer and former board member, and major Democratic donor joins Mosheh for a conversation about technology, money, and political power—and the future he’s helping finance.

Hoffman explains why he thinks extinction fears are overblown, how America should compete with China, and what lawmakers should require companies to do -- including kill switches and independent safety audits. They also discuss where AI leaders have failed the public, how workers can prepare, and his company Manas AI’s efforts to develop new medicines, including cancer treatments.

On politics, Hoffman weighs in on the midterms, why Democrats lost support in Silicon Valley, and his disagreements with democratic socialists. Mosheh challenges him on billionaires’ influence over elections, and asks what a 2028 presidential candidate would need to earn his support.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠@mosheh⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Baby-led weaning, sugar limits, picky eating: parents face a flood of advice about feeding their kids. How much of it holds up?Mosh talks with Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian, founder of @KidsEatinColor and author of the new book Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life.

We discuss what the research says about purées and finger foods, why picky eating isn’t necessarily a parenting failure, how to handle dessert and practical ways to feed kids well on a budget.

How worried should we be about AI, and who should be making the decisions about its future? Mosh sits down with Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Politico and Axios and current CEO of Axios, for a wide-ranging conversation about the technology reshaping our lives.

Jim explains why he takes warnings from AI researchers seriously, what’s at stake in the race with China, and what AI could mean for jobs, journalism and American politics.

They also get into Jim’s new book, ⁠Simplify: How to Do Less and Get More Done⁠. Jim shares how he’s applied that idea at Axios and in his own life: identifying the work that matters most, cutting obligations that consume time without adding much, and using AI to make life simpler instead of busier. It’s a conversation about the future, and how to spend your time well right now.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠@mosheh⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

2,753 people died at the World Trade Center site on September 11th, 2001, including members of the FDNY and NYPD, and hundreds who were working in the towers or visiting that day, plus the crew and passengers of the two hijacked planes that struck the buildings.

We wanted to remember the real people behind those numbers. And for that, Jill spoke to Erin Jackman, whose sister Brooke Jackman had just turned 23 when she was killed on September 11th. She was working on the 104th floor of the North Tower at Cantor Fitzgerald, a job she had only started two months earlier.

Erin recalls the frantic search for Brooke in the hours and weeks after the attacks, including her family’s visits to hospitals and putting up missing-person posters near Ground Zero. She also shares who Brooke was beyond the attack: a devoted sister and friend, an avid reader, and an aspiring social worker whose memory inspired her family to create the Brooke Jackman Foundation, a children’s literacy nonprofit providing books, school supplies, and family literacy programs.

For more information: ⁠Brooke Jackman Foundation⁠.

As part of Mo News’ special coverage marking 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Jill Wagner sits down with John Feal, a former Ground Zero demolition supervisor who was injured during the cleanup efforts. In the decades since, he founded the FealGood Foundation and became a leading advocate for first responders, survivors, volunteers and others who were injured or sickened by exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero.

In his new book, I Will Follow You Anywhere, Feal recounts the years-long fight to pass legislation like the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act: how his team organized their relentless lobbying efforts in Congress, built relationships across party lines, and refused to let perfect become the enemy of the good. He also talks about his close relationship with comedian Jon Stewart, and the lessons he learned from lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi about navigating Washington.

Feal also reflects on the responders and survivors who have died or continue to live with 9/11-related illnesses, the ongoing fight to expand healthcare coverage, and what he hopes a younger generation will remember about the attacks on September 11th and the days that followed.

Jill Wagner (⁠@jillrwagner⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.

What happened inside Air Force One as America came under attack—and inside the Situation Room a decade later as the U.S. closed in on Osama bin Laden?

As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell gives us hisfirsthand account of both defining moments and everything in between. Morell was President George W. Bush’s intelligence briefer on September 11th and later helped President Obama assess whether bin Laden was really hiding in Pakistan before the raid that killed him.

Morell recounts what Bush was asking as Air Force One moved between secure locations, how he identified al-Qaeda as the likely perpetrator and why bin Laden was able to escape from Afghanistan. He also takes us inside the deliberations over the Abbottabad raid—including the warning he gave Obama about how uncertain the intelligence remained.The conversation examines the failures that preceded 9/11 and what the Clinton and Bush administrations could have done differently. Morell also addresses conspiracy theories about that day, why bin Laden would view himself as partly successful given the state of the world 25 years later, how 9/11 should be taught to a new generation, and the biggest threat facing the country today.

The Lindsay Clancy trial has sparked a national conversation about postpartum psychosis and maternal mental health. In this episode, Mo News Producer Sari Soffer sits down with Dr. Noa Sterling, an OB-GYN and mental health expert, for a broader conversation about the Clancy trial, postpartum mental illness, and why many women fall through the cracks in the existing medical system.

The conversation covers the differences between intrusive thoughts, postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis; risk factors like sleep deprivation and bipolar disorder; and the challenges of diagnosing and treating serious postpartum mental health conditions. They examine the systemic barriers for new mothers including a fragmented health system, lack of sustained support, and the burden to coordinate their own care during a time of intense struggle. They also discuss what better postpartum care could look like.

Dr. Noa Sterling is also the creator of a paid app called Obi, which helps women through pregnancy and postpartum. She has made the following resources available free for the Mo News audience:

- Mental Health Support Guide: Everything You Need to Know: https://www.obipregnancyapp.com/your-mental-health-support-guide-start-here/

- A Letter to the Partner of Someone Struggling With Their Mental Health Postpartum: https://www.obipregnancyapp.com/to-the-partner-of-someone-struggling-with-postpartum-mental-health/

If anything in this conversation resonated with you or someone you love, Postpartum Support International's HelpLine is ⁠1-800-944-4773⁠, call or text, and 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Many of us have felt stuck professionally, like we’ve lost our spark, or are too old to follow our dreams. Entrepreneur David Thurston's new memoir, The Spiral Staircase: Why I Stepped Off a Rocket Ship to Build a Cathedral, is filled with insight and advice to help you get back on track.

Jill sat down with Thurston, where he provided lessons from his own career journey. Thurston built a hair color brand called Pulp Riot from scratch, scaled it globally, and sold it to L’Oréal for nearly $100 million, all in under two years. But then, at the peak of success, he walked away, took a year off, and asked himself: What kind of company, and what kind of life, do I really want to build?

Four years later, David and Alexis bootstrapped a new hair color brand, Danger Jones, which is taking on the industry’s largest color houses by focusing on the professional artist community rather than traditional corporate marketing.

The conservation is an honest look at what it takes to create something new, take on the biggest players in the industry, and create “work-life fusion” – not necessarily “work-life balance.” And why all the money in the world doesn't buy happiness.

Jill Wagner (⁠⁠⁠@jillrwagner⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.

Americans consistently say they want less division in Washington. But our political system often rewards confrontation over cooperation.

In this episode, Mosheh sits down with Brad Porteus, founder of ⁠Bridge Grades⁠, a new effort to change those incentives. Instead of rating politicians based just on ideology, Bridge Grades scores every member of Congress on how well they collaborate across party lines—looking at bipartisan legislation, public rhetoric, and relationships with colleagues from the other side.

They discuss why so many lawmakers believe working together can actually hurt their political careers, whether voters can help change those incentives, and why collaboration doesn't have to mean compromising your principles. They also explore surprising findings from the data—including conservatives and progressives who earn top marks—and whether a new way of evaluating elected officials could lead to a healthier Congress over time.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

A growing bipartisan movement wants to amend the U.S. Constitution to take back control of the amount of money in American politics.

In this episode, Mosheh sits down with Jeff Clements, CEO of ⁠American Promise⁠, to unpack how Supreme Court decisions like Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United transformed campaign finance, helping usher in an era of $20 billion election cycles, super PACs, and dark money.

They explore why the U.S. has become such an outlier among democracies when it comes to campaign spending, why Congress has repeatedly failed to change the system, and how the courts—not lawmakers—have largely dictated the rules for the past 50 years.

Clements explains why his organization is pursuing a constitutional amendment instead of another campaign finance law, how 25 states have already backed the effort, and why he believes the movement is gaining momentum. They also debate whether money should be considered protected speech under the First Amendment—and what could change if Americans, rather than the courts, once again had the power to set the rules governing money in elections.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Resilience is often talked about as a personality trait—something you either have or you don't. But according to Dr. Tara Narula, resilience is more like a muscle: it can be built, strengthened, and may have a profound impact on our health.

Mosheh sits down with Dr. Tara Narula, Chief Medical Correspondent for ABC News, practicing cardiologist, and author of the new book ⁠⁠The Healing Power of Resilience⁠⁠.

Drawing from both her medical expertise and her own experience navigating a serious health scare during medical school, Dr. Narula explains the science behind resilience and why it is deeply connected to physical health, heart health, and longevity.

The conversation explores stress, loneliness, relationships, religion, uncertainty, and the habits that help people recover from life's inevitable challenges. Tara also shares why she believes roughly 80% of cardiovascular disease may be preventable, what chronic stress is doing to our bodies, and the practical steps people can take today to become healthier, more resilient, and better equipped for whatever comes next.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

The biggest sporting event on the planet is underway, with more than five billion people expected to follow the World Cup over the next month. But for many Americans, the World Cup is still something new: dozens of teams, unfamiliar players, and traditions that can seem foreign to casual fans.That's why we called Roger Bennett.

Roger, founder and host of the Men in Blazers podcast and media network, has spent decades helping Americans understand and fall in love with soccer. His new book, We Are The World (Cup), traces the history of the tournament and the moments that made it the most-watched event on Earth.

In this conversation, Roger breaks down everything casual fans need to know: the teams to watch, the stars who could define the tournament, the favorites and dark horses, Team USA's chances, and the biggest storylines on and off the field.We also discuss how soccer went from an afterthought in America to one of the country's fastest-growing sports, what this World Cup says about the United States at this moment in time, and why the tournament remains one of the few events capable of bringing the entire world together.

Whether you're a lifelong soccer fan or watching your first match, this is your World Cup primer.

Prediction markets have quickly become a major force shaping conversations around elections, sports, the economy, and breaking news. But as platforms like Kalshi grow in popularity, so do questions about whether they are fundamentally different from gambling — and whether they should exist at all.

In this episode, Mosheh sits down with Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour for an in-depth conversation about the company's rapid rise and the controversy surrounding it. Kalshi is a sponsor of Mo News, but this interview was conducted independently, with no advance review of questions and no topics off limits.

Mosheh presses him on some of the toughest questions submitted by the Mo News audience, including concerns about gambling addiction, market manipulation, insider trading, youth participation, and whether prediction markets provide real value to society. The conversation explores the origins of Kalshi, how prediction markets work, and why Mansour believes they can be a powerful tool for forecasting the future. We also talk about how the platform works with law enforcement and regulators.

They also discuss the growing legal and political battles over prediction markets, why some states are trying to ban them, how the gambling industry is fighting them, how Kalshi differentiates itself from sportsbooks and other betting platforms. Whether you're a Kalshi user, a skeptic, or simply curious about one of the fastest-growing trends in finance and politics, this conversation offers a deeper look at the debate surrounding prediction markets and their future.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Peter Hamby joins us to break down the high-stakes political races shaping California ahead of the June 2 primary — from the crowded governor’s race to the increasingly unpredictable battle for mayor of Los Angeles.

Hamby, host of Snapchat’s “Good Luck America,” political correspondent at Puck, and host of the “Powers That Be” podcast, explains why Democrats in America’s bluest major state remain divided and without a clear frontrunner to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. The conversation dives into the frontrunners, whether former Fox News host Steve Hilton has a chance to win statewide as a Republican, and Newsom’s role in the race as he looks to 2028.

The episode also explores the fascinating Los Angeles mayoral race, where incumbent mayor Karen Bass is facing a surprising surge from reality TV star and influencer Spencer Pratt. Hamby explains why Pratt’s social media-first campaign strategy is resonating with some voters — and whether it represents a new playbook for modern political campaigns.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Is there such a thing as having too much ⁠empathy⁠? That's a theory gaining the support of some of the world’s richest people following the release of a new book by Gad Saad, a Canadian marketing professor and frequent critic of liberal policies.

Saad is an evolutionary psychologist, professor at the University of Mississippi, host of The Saad Truth podcast, and author of the No. 1 New York Times bestselling book Suicidal Empathy, where he argues that Western societies are embracing forms of empathy and compassion that can ultimately become self-destructive.

We dive into the ideas that have made him both influential and controversial: immigration, gender, identity, culture, free speech, and what he sees as larger changes happening across the West.

Some listeners may strongly agree with Gad. Others may take major issue with his framing, philosophy and conclusions. But these are ideas increasingly shaping conversations—especially on the political right—and we thought it was worth digging into them directly.

Please note: Parts of this discussion include provocative examples and references to sexual violence that some listeners may find difficult.

Technology reporter Joanna Stern spent the last year using artificial intelligence for nearly everything: healthcare questions, travel, productivity, parenting challenges, customer service, and even an AI-generated romantic companion. In this episode, Joanna joins Mosheh on the podcast to discuss her new book, ⁠I Am Not a Robot⁠, which offers a firsthand look at how AI is reshaping daily life — whether we want it to or not.The conversation covers both the practical benefits and growing concerns around AI’s rapid integration into society: self-driving cars, AI-assisted medicine, and the ways AI is helping entrepreneurs and creators work faster than ever before. But they also discuss some of the biggest questions still ahead: job losses as companies automate entry-level work, parenting in an age of AI-powered toys and companions, and the surprising emotional pull of chatbot relationships amid a growing loneliness crisis.Stern — formerly a senior personal technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal and now the ⁠founder of The New Things tech news website⁠— also breaks down the global race toward artificial general intelligence, the growing backlash against AI companies and CEOs, and why she believes the biggest challenge ahead may be preserving human connection in a world increasingly designed to remove friction from everyday life.You can learn more about Joanna’s work at ⁠The New Things⁠ and find ⁠I Am Not a Robot⁠ wherever you get your books.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Happy Mother's Day! For this special episode, Mosheh sits down with Melissa Garson -- author, life coach, and his mother-in-law- -- for a conversation about happiness, parenting, relationships, and emotional resilience. Melissa opens up about her own childhood, the values she tried to instill in her daughter Alex (Mosheh’s wife), and what it's been like to see Alex become a mother herself.

They also discuss her book, Recipe for Real Happiness, in which Melissa draws on her work in positive psychology to share practical tools for building happiness and emotional resilience--including "four simple ingredients" of love, gratitude, learning, and mindfulness.

The conversation touches on gratitude journals, communication in marriage and family life, social media’s effect on self-worth, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who leave you feeling better, not worse.

They also discuss how meditation can help us “bounce back faster” from life’s challenges — and close the episode with a live, guided meditation you can participate in, in real time.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

A shaky ceasefire, soaring gas prices, global shipping threats, and fears about the broader world economy — the Iran conflict has entered a volatile new phase with enormous stakes for the people of Iran, the Middle East, the U.S., and markets around the world.

To make sense of this moment, Mosheh speaks again with Jason Rezaian — who spent 544 days imprisoned by the Iranian regime and has deep knowledge of the country and the regime.

Recorded at the McCain Institute Sedona Forum in Arizona, the conversation explores whether the war has actually weakened the regime, why Rezaian believes Iranian freedom fighters may now be in a worse position, and how Tehran is adapting through propaganda, repression, and survival tactics.

They also discuss the Strait of Hormuz standoff, the threat to the global economy, rising gas prices, hostage diplomacy, internet blackouts inside Iran, the fractured Gulf alliance, and what the Trump administration still may not fully understand about the Iranian leadership.

Plus: Rezaian discusses his new work at The Washington Post helping exiled journalists from countries like Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, and Sudan continue reporting from abroad.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

For years, America’s counterterrorism focus centered on the Middle East. But according to the top U.S. military commander overseeing Africa, ISIS and al Qaeda have set up new headquarters on the continent.
In this special conversation recorded live at the McCain Institute Sedona Forum, Mosheh sits down with General Dagvin Anderson, head of AFRICOM, who warns that Africa has become the new “epicenter of global terrorism.”
The discussion explores the growing presence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates across the continent, including fears that an Al-Qaeda-linked group could soon seize control of Mali’s capital. General Anderson explains how terror groups are recruiting young people through jobs and economic opportunity before ideology, why Somalia has become one of America’s most active counterterrorism battlefields, and what worries him most about the current intelligence gaps in the region.
Mosheh and General Anderson also dive into the larger geopolitical battle unfolding across Africa — from Russia extracting gold and uranium to fund its war effort, to China expanding influence through infrastructure projects, media campaigns, and journalist training programs.
The conversation also covers critical minerals, information warfare, America’s global standing, and why the future of Africa could shape the future of global security and U.S. national interests for decades to come.

Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.