
Claure, Lee & Mnuchin on Growth in a Complex Economy
Marcelo Claure, Co-Chairman & Partner, Brightstar Capital Partners & CEO & Founder, Claure Group; Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner, Granite Asia; and Steven T. Mnuchin, Founder & Managing Partner, Liberty Strategic Capital & Former Secretary, US Department of the Treasury discuss strategies for pursuing growth in a complex global economy with Bloomberg's Erik Schatzker at the 2025 Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg. (Source: Bloomberg)
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Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Israel's US Broker Sells Record Debt for Nation During Gaza War
Israel has raised a record $5 billion through its US-based broker dealer, Israel Bonds, since the start of the war with Hamas, boosting its ability to finance the 20-month ongoing conflict. The amount is more than double that raised by the organization in similar time frames prior to the war, which started with the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023 and spread to include battles with other Iran-backed groups.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - Qatar's US influence strategy goes much deeper than you think
In the long history of foreign influence in Washington, few countries have played the game with the same audacity as Qatar. Flush with natural gas wealth and unchecked ambition, this tiny Gulf monarchy has spent two decades embedding itself into the American system — buying influence across academia, media, and now the highest levels of government. With President Trump back in the White House, that investment is bearing fruit. One of the clearest and most brazen examples came in the form of the luxury jet, valued at over $400 million, reportedly offered as a gift to the Trump presidential library after his term ends. The timing and scale raised eyebrows even among seasoned diplomats. It was Pam Bondi, who served as a registered foreign agent for Qatar, who reviewed and approved the legal framework for the deal. This isn't just optics—it appears to be a bribe, wrapped in diplomatic niceties. And now that Trump is president again, the question of what Qatar expects in return is no longer theoretical. But the jet is only the beginning. In addition to the Attorney General, several key Trump allies have close financial or lobbying ties to Doha: Although Trump senior political adviser Susie Wiles never worked for Qatar, she worked at a firm that lobbied for its embassy. Kash Patel, a Trump national security insider, reportedly consulted for Qatar-linked interests. Steve Witkoff, a longtime Trump associate, sold his struggling Park Lane Hotel in 2023 to Qatar's sovereign wealth fund for $623 million. This isn't diplomacy — it's leverage, cultivated within a president's inner circle. This isn't about Trump. Qatar's influence campaign began long before his return to the White House. From 2001 to 2021, U.S. universities received $13 billion in foreign donations. Qatar alone contributed $4.7 billion, far more than any other country. Much of that went to Middle East studies programs, many accused of promoting anti-Israel narratives and enabling a rise in antisemitism on campuses. That influence has now spilled into Congress. Add the $256 million Qatar has spent on lobbying since 2016 — ranking it seventh globally — and a clearer picture emerges of a foreign government shaping U.S. policy through money and access. But it's not just how much Qatar spends — it's what it supports. Qatar is the chief financial backer of the Muslim Brotherhood, a radical Islamist group designated as a terrorist organization by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. That backing helped trigger the 2017 Gulf blockade. It also remains the principal patron of Hamas, which murdered over 1,200 Israelis — mostly civilians — on Oct. 7, 2023. As the world recoiled, Hamas leaders living in luxury in Doha celebrated, untouched and unrepentant. Qatar has hosted Hamas leadership since at least 2012 while claiming neutrality. Then there's Al Jazeera, Qatar's state media empire. Its English-language service projects professionalism to Western audiences, but its Arabic broadcasts amplify Hamas propaganda, attack U.S. allies, and promote radicalism. Gulf states cited the network as a central reason for the 2017 rupture. Qatar also funded extremist groups during the Syrian civil war, fragmenting the opposition and radicalizing the conflict. Now, with a new regime in Damascus led by a former jihadist turned 'statesman,' Qatar is again positioning itself as a 'neutral broker.' It has lobbied for and helped alongside Saudi Arabia secure U.S. sanctions relief for 'new Syria.' The irony is stark: the same state that fueled the conflict now seeks to rehabilitate the forces it once empowered, cloaking ambition in diplomacy. Meanwhile, Qatar's ties to Iran — with whom it shares the world's largest natural gas field — have allowed it to serve as a go-between with Tehran. In practice, this 'diplomacy' has delayed pressure on Iran's nuclear program, giving it space to advance. Given Qatar's financial ties to Trump insiders such as Witkoff, one must ask: Whose interests are truly being served? Even more troubling are reports that leaks about potential Israeli strikes on Iran during Trump's first term may have come from officials linked to Qatar-friendly networks. Now, Trump's calls for Israeli restraint have prompted speculation in Jerusalem: Is Qatar's voice echoing from the White House? Qatar understands the American media environment, too. It has ramped up outreach to conservative outlets, including Fox News, knowing its influence over Trump supporters and Trump himself. Doha isn't betting on diplomacy, but on narrative control. The stakes are enormous. If a foreign regime with a record of backing terrorists and destabilizing allies can shape U.S. policy through money, media, and access, the question isn't whether Qatar is dangerous — it's whether we're still capable of recognizing foreign interference when it happens in plain sight. Trump's return to the Middle East last month was billed as a signal that America is open for business. But, in a region fluent in transactional politics, it may be read another way — that American favor is for sale. Igor Desyatnikov is a global macro fund manager and a graduate student in political science and international security at Harvard University with a focus on the post-Soviet space. He contributes to Geopolitical Monitor on foreign policy and security issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
5 Ways To Fix What's Quietly Breaking Your Business
5 ways to fix what's quietly breaking your business Most business owners carry weight they don't need. They lug around problems so familiar they've stopped noticing the strain. These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level. The business becomes a trap rather than the freedom vehicle it was meant to be. Recognizing what's holding you back is the first step toward breaking free. When I was running my (now exited) social media agency, I realized how many things I had been carrying that weren't serving me. Old offers that no longer excited me. Clients who weren't the right fit. Systems that worked but didn't scale. Once I let these go, everything changed. My business became lighter, more focused, and significantly more profitable. Most founders get stuck in patterns that once worked but no longer serve them. They run on autopilot, doing things the way they've always done them without questioning if there's a better approach. These old habits become invisible anchors holding them in place while competitors sail past. Smart entrepreneurs know that yesterday's decisions don't need to dictate tomorrow's direction. Something that once worked no longer serves you. Old offers, old clients, old plans. Just because it worked once doesn't mean it belongs in your future. Clear the clutter or stay stuck. You launched that service three years ago. It brought in good money. You built systems around it. But now it's draining your energy and taking time away from what excites you. Your business evolves, and so do you. Not everything gets to come along for the ride. Take a hard look at your offers, clients, and projects. Which ones light you up? Which ones make you want to check your phone instead of doing the work? Ruthlessly evaluate what deserves your energy going forward. Cut what doesn't. Do it right now. Trying to please everyone becomes the fastest way to dilute your value and spread it thin. You end up with generic marketing, forgettable offers, and a business that looks like everyone else's. Stand for something or fall for anything. Be more you. When you try to appeal to everyone, you end up connecting with no one. Your message becomes so watered down that it lacks real impact. The most successful businesses are built on strong opinions and clear values. They repel the wrong people and attract the right ones. Pick your lane. Know exactly who you serve and why. Let go of the fear that specializing means missing opportunities. When you narrow your focus, you become the obvious choice for the right people. Specificity sells. Too many people mistake busywork for real progress. Endless tweaking, replying, planning. If it's not moving the needle, it's in your way. Every hour spent on low-impact tasks is an hour stolen from what matters. Stop being the bottleneck to your own business. Look at your calendar and to-do list. How much of it actually moves your business forward? How much just makes you feel productive without delivering results? The business owners who buy back their time know the difference. Create a "not to do" list. What tasks can you eliminate, automate, or delegate? What meetings can you cancel? What communication channels can you close? Your most valuable resources are your focus and time. Guard them fiercely. Protect your attention like your income depends on it. Because it does. Low standards in high places undermine everything. One wrong hire, one weak collaborator, one draining client. Cutting ties is essential, even if it seems harsh. Every day you tolerate mediocrity is a day you send the message that excellence isn't your standard. That client who always pays late, questions your expertise, or creates unnecessary drama? They're actively preventing you from serving clients who value your work. The C-player on your team doesn't just underperform themselves. They lower the bar for everyone around them. It's your name above the door. So get serious. Raise your bar. Be clear about your expectations. When someone or something doesn't meet them, be prepared to walk away. Fast. The quality of your business can never exceed the quality of the people in it. Many struggle with the fear of being seen. They play small because it feels safe. They hide behind logos, teams, or vague language. The moment you stop dodging the spotlight, your business changes. Fear manifests in countless ways. You don't call yourself an expert. You refer keen prospects to other people when you think the job is too big for you to handle. You get imposter syndrome. You stay middle of the road so you don't rock the boat. But people buy from people, not boring brands. Stop hiding. Step into the spotlight. Own your expertise. Share your journey, including the struggles. Your offers become more valuable because they're uniquely yours, and now people know you better. Your marketing becomes more effective because it connects on a human level. Drop everything weighing you down and build the business you're capable of building. Instead of carrying things you never needed, let go and move on. Clinging to what once worked, trying to please everyone, mistaking busy for productive, tolerating low standards, or riding the fear of being seen. At least one of these is weighing you down. Identify, release, and continue on your path. Access my most life-changing ChatGPT prompts.