Podcasts

U.S. Bank Wealth Management senior fixed income strategist Dan Heckman joins markets reporter Aaron Weitzman to discuss two ever-increasingly important topics; infrastructure and pension, as well as interested rates and how overall municipal volume is on the rise. They also talk about how no matter who wins the presidential election in November, the outcome should translate to more spending on infrastructure.

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, in an in-depth chat with Bond Buyer northeast regional editor Paul Burton, explains how the state can rebound through infrastructure. He also talks about his push to require investment firms to reveal public pension fees, lessons learned from the 38 Studios debacle, and his teaching days in post-Katrina Louisiana early in his career.

The Texas Water Development Board chairman Bech Bruun sits down with markets reporter Aaron Weitzman to discuss a gambit of topics, including droughts in Texas and how those disastrous times have turned into learning experiences. They also discuss the history of the TWDB and its various programs as well as what it's like not only being an issuer in today's low interest rate environment but also what it's like being an issuer from Texas.

Muni finance expert James Spiotto of Chapman Strategic Advisors tells Bond Buyer northeast regional editor Paul Burton how the pension-funding and infrastructure-funding crises interweave, how the pension legal landscape is still developing and how the pension funding crisis even affects triple-A credits such as Seattle. Spiotto also drills down on what to expect from the new Puerto Rico oversight board and what to do about the commonwealth’s teetering economy.

The Bond Buyer’s Paul Burton and Andrew Coen in New York, and Yvette Shields in Chicago discuss how the Chicago Public Schools became such a mess in the capital markets, why small liberal arts colleges are struggling and the raging controversy over charter schools that has also been fodder for comedian John Oliver.

Steven Weyl, a Butler Snow attorney who practices in the public finance, tax incentives, and credit markets groups in Boston, joins Chip Barnett to discuss a number of regulatory topics including the bank direct placement market. He also talks about the roles and rules that surround municipal underwriters, advisors, placement agents and bond counsel.

Dean Fuleihan, New York City’s Director of Management and Budget, sits down with The Bond Buyer’s Senior Marker Reporter Chip Barnett to talk about the city’s fiscal 2017 budget. Fuleihan also discusses the city’s aging infrastructure and what it takes to get the right balance between maintaining the old and building the new.

In a chat with Senior Markets Reporter Chip Barnett, Daniel Berger, Municipal Market Data’s Senior Market Strategist and Gary Siegel, The Bond Buyer’s Federal Reserve expert, take a look back at the summer slowdown and look ahead to after Labor Day. They discuss the uncertain political situation and analyze what the Fed might do for the rest of the year. Note: After this podcast’s production, Fitch Ratings upgraded California’s rating to AA-minus from A-plus.

In a revealing chat with Bond Buyer northeast regional editor Paul Burton, markets reporters Chip Barnett and Aaron Weitzman analyze first-half issuance, green bonds, muni bond fund inflows, foreign investors, the possible return of Build America Bonds and the benefits of effective oversight.

Jonathan Davis, the retired chief financial officer of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, explores the challenges of mass transit nationwide with Bond Buyer Northeast regional editor Paul Burton. Davis drills down on core capacity, state of good repair, transit bond sales, security, the problems of the Washington Metro, millennial riders and the role of ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft as “first and last mile” for transit access.