Davos 101: A Preview of the World Economic Forum 2026

Good morning, BRU Daily Show. I'm Neil Freiman. And I'm Toby Howell. Today, why the heck are we in Switzerland? I'll tell you why. We're at the World Economic Forum in Davos. It's Monday, January 19. Let's ride. Good morning. Today is Martin Luther King Junior Day in The United States, a federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of the civil rights giant. It's also designated as a national day of service, pushing Americans to get involved in their local communities and volunteer a great message today and every day. As for this morning's show, it's a unique one. As you may have heard last week, Toby and I are in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, the biggest annual gathering of business leaders and officials anywhere on the planet. Today's episode, which we recorded late last week, will give you a preview of what's expected to happen at Davos, why it's important, and how much Toby will pay for a hot dog. We're gonna be here all week bringing you the pod live from snowy Switzerland. It's our first World Economic Forum, so our goal is to have our lanyards on straight first and foremost, but also to be the eyes and ears on the ground for you guys. We'll be conducting some interviews with founders, but also just catching the vibe. What are the movers and shakers of the global economy talking about? Is the deep state real? And if it is, do they also wear lanyards? It should be fun, and we'll bring you guys along for the entire ride. But first, a word from our sponsor, Indeed. Hey, Neil. Bet you're pretty jealous. I'll be in Davos this week for the World Economic Forum. Toby, I'm here too. Oh, I thought this was a me thing. Nope. You're not that special. And Indeed is here as well. They'll share real time insight into the global labor market and how leaders can navigate the workforce challenges and opportunities ahead. Thankfully, Indeed's helping business leaders and hiring professionals dive into these perspectives through their global labor market and workforce trends report. These insights include where job opportunities are growing, where skills shortages and mismatches could impact business performance, how immigration patterns are shaping workforce capacity, and how AI is transforming job skills and employer adoption. Together, these insights help leaders prepare for what's next and make better workforce decisions grounded in real time data. Learn more at indeed.com/davos. That's indeed.com/davos. President Trump is the main attraction at this year's forum. For the first time since 2020, Trump is descending upon Switzerland with the largest US delegation ever in tow. Trump at Davos is little like oil in water on paper given his American first policies that tend to class with the forum's historical emphasis on global cooperation. But given the attention he's paid to the global chess board in his second term, there will be plenty to to discuss with other attendees. The CEO of …