In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Gunjan Banerji and Telis Demos explore how the Federal Reserve’s independence, a government shutdown and volatility around tariffs are driving gold to hit record highs. Then, does videogame maker Electronic Arts’ $55 billion buyout signal a long-awaited M&A boom? Plus, they discuss the “debasement trade” and how concerns over the U.S. dollar are also fueling a rally in bitcoin ETFs issued by firms like BlackRock. 

Then after the break, Gunjan sits down with Neene Jenkins, head of municipal research at JPMorgan Asset Management, to dive into municipal bonds, which are used to fund infrastructure, highways, sewer systems and school districts. Is higher education issuing more debt because of federal challenges? Later, they discuss the sector's resilience to government shutdowns, and Jenkins answers a key question: How likely is a recession?

This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.

Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at <a href="mailto:takeontheweek@wsj.com">takeontheweek@wsj.com</a>.

To watch the video version of this episode, visit our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WSJPodcasts/podcasts">WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel</a> or <a href="https://www.wsj.com/video/series/wsj-take-on-the-week?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">the video page of </a>WSJ.com

Further Reading
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/municipal-bonds-may-not-remain-this-cheap-for-long-9ecf5584?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">Municipal Bonds May Not Remain This Cheap For Long</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/are-muni-bonds-still-a-darling-on-wall-street-it-depends-who-you-ask-d20bb0d9?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">Are Muni Bonds Still a Darling on Wall Street? It Depends Who You Ask</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/a-mystery-in-the-high-yield-muni-market-what-are-the-riskiest-bonds-worth-22b00e47?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">A Mystery in the High-Yield Muni Market: What Are the Riskiest Bonds Worth?</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/etfs-are-flush-with-new-money-why-billions-more-are-flowing-their-way-8d9cbfb7%20?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">ETFs Are Flush With New Money. Why Billions More Are Flowing Their Way.</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/luxury-housing-market-slowing-d3338a4b?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">A Once Unstoppable Luxury Housing Market Is Starting to Crack</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/electronic-arts-to-go-private-in-55-billion-deal-a4a4479c?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">Electronic Arts Goes Private for $55 Billion in Largest LBO Ever</a>

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">WSJ.com</a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/news/heard-on-the-street?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column</a>, and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">WSJ’s Live Markets blog</a>.

Sign up for the WSJ's free <a href="https://www.wsj.com/newsletters/markets-am?mod=WSJ_TOTWPOD">Markets A.M. newsletter</a>. 

Follow Gunjan Banerji <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gunjansb/?hl=en">here </a>and Telis Demos <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/telis-demos-b88b741">here</a>. 
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