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Big Take DC

Bloomberg and iHeartPodcastswww.iheart.com

We’re taking The Big Take to DC. Every Thursday, Bloomberg’s Saleha Mohsin digs into how money, politics, and power shapes Washington - and the consequences for voters across America.

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Episodes

Doing the Math on Trump’s Tax Bill

As the debate about President Trump’s tax bill — known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — plays out among lawmakers in Washington, there’s been increasingly heated criticism of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. It calculates the costs and savings from the bill — including from the White House. On today’s episode of the Big Take, host Saleha Mohsin sits down with CBO director Phillip Swagel to hear how his agency churns out economic forecasts from inside the center of a political storm...

Jun 19, 202515 min

What Happens Next in Los Angeles?

Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg national immigration reporter Alicia Caldwell joins host David Gura from Los Angeles to discuss the protests over ICE immigration raids, the clash between California and the federal government and how this fight could play out in other cities and in the courts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 09, 202514 min

What’s Driving Europe’s Political Shift to the Right?

Poland’s election of a Trump-backed conservative nationalist president early this week is part of a larger shift to the right across the European continent: Much like in the US, conservative, nationalist and right-wing parties are gaining traction. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Rodney Jefferson and David Gura discuss the growing cultural divide behind Europe’s rising conservative movements and what their growth could mean for migration, climate policy and the future of the EU. See omn...

Jun 05, 202518 min

The Dollar’s Dominance Is Unwinding in Asia

As Donald Trump tries to remake global trade, the dollar’s historic dominance in Asia is under pressure. After Taiwan’s currency saw the biggest surge against the dollar in almost 40 years in early May, some money managers are saying the spike signals the acceleration of a bigger trend of moving investments back home. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Rebecca Choong Wilkins talks to Bloomberg’s Ruth Carson about what’s driving Asia’s shift away from the greenback and what a rewiring of glob...

May 29, 202517 min

Stephen Miran Says There’s No Secret Dollar Pact

Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Stephen Miran has been a key voice in the Trump administration’s efforts to re-shape US economic policy, from near universal tariffs to a tax bill still in progress. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, Miran sits down with host Saleha Mohsin to talk about market volatility, the deficit and currency policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 22, 202517 min

President Trump’s Plans to Monetize the Middle East

President Trump is wrapping a whirlwind trip to the Middle East — complete with a flurry of proposed investment deals , controversial gifts and a major shift in US-Syria policy. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Joumanna Bercetche joins host David Gura to unpack the biggest headlines from the president’s tour of the Persian Gulf and discuss what they tell us about his larger plans for the region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 15, 202517 min

Inside Trump’s First 100 Days

President Trump will celebrate 100 days back in office this week. The milestone comes amid a US-China trade war, ongoing conflict overseas and high-stakes battles over the future of higher education. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove joins host David Gura to take stock of how Trump has used the last three months to reshape everything from global trade and immigration to the American presidency — and what they reveal about the road ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Apr 28, 202519 min

How Trump’s Tariffs Are Hitting Global Economic Growth

The International Monetary Fund released a forecast this week projecting that global GDP will grow just 2.8% — down half a percentage point since US President Donald Trump unleashed a raft of tariffs on April 2. Their projection for US GDP growth was particularly grim: Down nearly an entire percentage point from expectations earlier this year. And they’re not alone. As economists try to measure the potential outcome from the current trade war and the whiplash of on-again-off-again tariffs, Bloom...

Apr 23, 202516 min

Can Trump Tell Powell ‘You’re Fired'?

President Trump’s attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell just keep coming. Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg’s Michael McKee and Saleha Mohsin join Sarah Holder and David Gura to ask: Can the president actually fire Powell? And what impact could his ongoing threats have on the US dollar and global financial markets? Read more: Markets Are Discovering the Real Trump Trade Is ‘Sell America’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 21, 202519 min

Who Will Blink First in the US-China Trade War?

As the trade war between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping continues to escalate, economists around the world are asking who will blink first. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s John Liu and Jennifer Welch join host David Gura to discuss what it will take for both presidents to come to the negotiating table, how the current state of China’s economy impacts its positioning in the trade war and why hardball tactics are unlikely to work this time around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Apr 17, 202519 min

What the Heck Just Happened in the Bond Market?

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for global markets. As President Trump goes back and forth about the size and scope of his tariffs, Bloomberg is watching one market especially closely: bonds. US Treasuries are widely seen as one of the world’s safest assets, especially in periods of financial volatility. But will they hold? On today’s episode of the Big Take DC, hosts Sarah Holder and Saleha Mohsin sit down with Bloomberg chief correspondent Liz Capo McCormick to unpack a week of sharp sello...

Apr 09, 202514 min

Trump Announces Sweeping New Tariffs. What’s Next

Trump announced the steepest American tariffs in more than a century, with a 10% tariff on all exporters to the US and even higher duties on some 60 nations. China now faces a tariff well above 50% on many goods. On today’s Big Take, Bloomberg reporter Josh Wingrove joins host David Gura to discuss Trump’s “huge” announcement, and how it will reshape global trade. Read more: Trump Tariffs Everyone, With Rate on China Set to Soar Above 50% Further listening: The World Is Paying for Trump’s China ...

Apr 03, 202521 min

Princeton’s President Responds to Attacks on Higher Education

The Trump administration is targeting higher education. Colleges and universities across the United States are faced with the threat of funding freezes over their handling of free speech, anti-semitism and transgender issues, among other topics, on campus. Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber joins host David Gura to discuss the newly announced freeze on some federal grants, the role of academic research, Princeton’s commitment to free speech and more. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Apr 01, 202533 min

Elizabeth Warren Wants Democrats to Fight

Senator Elizabeth Warren has been shaping US policy for years. She helped create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after the 2008 financial crisis, has been a senator since 2013 and ran for president in 2020. Today, she’s a key voice in the Democratic Party’s opposition to President Trump's agenda and the priorities of a Republican-controlled Congress. Ahead of Thursday’s confirmation hearing of Trump’s Securities and Exchange Commission Chair nominee, Paul Atkins, Big Take host David Gur...

Mar 26, 202531 min

How A Key Trump Economic Adviser Thinks about Tariffs

Before November last year, Stephen Miran was a little known economist, but a week after President Trump’s election he published a paper that set the financial world on fire. “A User’s Guide to Restructuring the Global Trade System” calls for a weaker US dollar and big tariff hikes. Now he’s working from the White House as President Trump’s new Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He sat down for a live interview with Saleha Mohsin, talking about tariffs and currency policy. Rea...

Mar 24, 202513 min

Decoding the Fed With Randy Quarles

It’s a busy week for the Federal Reserve, between Trump’s nomination of a new vice chair for supervision on Monday and an anticipated rate decision on Wednesday. To unpack all the news, host Saleha Mohsin sits down with former Fed and Treasury official Randy Quarles to talk about regulation, DOGE and Trump’s approach to the Fed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 18, 202516 min

Trump's Trade War Comes for Metals

After weeks of uncertainty that ricocheted through markets, President Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from every country in the world went into effect on Wednesday morning. Immediately after, Canada and the EU retaliated. Now, investors, automakers and American consumers are wondering how it will hit the economy. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, host Saleha Mohsin is joined by Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove to explore what Trump’s metals tariffs could mean for domestic manufacturing ...

Mar 13, 202516 min

What Trump’s Address Reveals About the Path Ahead

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump appeared before a joint session of Congress for the first time since the start of his second term. It was his fifth such appearance, and he celebrated what he saw as early wins in his first 43 days back in office — and spoke about what’s next on his agenda. Bloomberg Businessweek national correspondent Josh Green and Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin explore what the speech reveals about Trump’s vision for trade, the US economy and America’s role in geopolit...

Mar 05, 202516 min

The $500 Billion Medicare Overpayment Claim

More than half of Americans enrolled in Medicare receive their coverage from a private insurer through a program called Medicare Advantage. But according to whistleblowers, some of those companies may be overcharging the government and getting billions of taxpayer dollars in the process. Several Justice Department investigations have followed those claims. On today’s Big Take podcast, we hear from one of those whistleblowers and Bloomberg health-care reporter John Tozzi about how Medicare Advant...

Feb 25, 202516 min

How Trump Is Turning to Russia to End the War in Ukraine

Monday marks the three year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And over the last few days, Trump has revealed his approach to ending the conflict. It would reverse years of US foreign policy in the region and has, so far, left Ukraine out of direct conversations with Russia. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, Bloomberg reporter Iain Marlow takes us inside the historic US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia and explains what Trump’s pivot in policy and alliances could mean for America’...

Feb 20, 202514 min

The Battle Over USAID Is Heating Up

President Trump’s attacks on a key international aid agency, USAID, has left its work frozen and kicked off a fierce legal battle between his administration and US courts over its future. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, we hear from Bloomberg’s Simon Marks and health care workers on the ground in Nairobi about how the fight playing out more than 7,000 miles away is affecting HIV treatment there. And national security editor Nick Wadhams explains why Trump has taken aim at USAID and what a guttin...

Feb 13, 202517 min

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on DOGE, Taxes and the Fed

Nine days after his swearing in, Scott Bessent sat down with Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin at the US Treasury Department. They discussed topics in his purview dominating the headlines — Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts, tariffs — and his plans for taxes, trade, the Fed and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 06, 202522 min

Trump Is Trying to Take Control of Spending From Congress. Will It Work?

Trump says the president should be able to decide how to spend taxpayer money – not Congress. Part of his plan? Impoundment: A controversial maneuver that could wrest control of trillions of dollars in federal spending away from Congress. Bloomberg politics reporter Gregory Korte joins Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin to explain what impoundment is, the pushback against Trump’s efforts and how the battle over its legality could play out. Is there an idea in the news that you want explained? Email ...

Feb 04, 202514 min

The Tariff Wars Are Here — And They’re Messy

Is it a trade war or is it whiplash? On Saturday, President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods. On Sunday, he said tariffs were coming for the European Union, too. The tariffs were initially supposed to take effect at 12:01 am Tuesday morning eastern time, but since that weekend announcement, the tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods have been delayed for one month. Meanwhile, the tariffs on Chinese goods are proceedin...

Feb 03, 202518 min

How Trump and Musk Are Testing Boeing’s Path to Recovery

It’s been a tough stretch for Boeing. Its new CEO Kelly Ortberg is trying to rebuild public trust and turn the company’s finances around, all while navigating pressure from President Trump to deliver new Air Force One jets and working with the founder of one of Boeing’s chief rivals, Elon Musk. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior aerospace reporter Julie Johnsson joins host David Gura to explain the turbulent road ahead for the US planemaker. Read More: Elon Musk’s Air Force One Scruti...

Jan 29, 202514 min

The Most Influential Person in Davos Isn’t There

With Donald Trump back in the White House, global business leaders attending the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week seem to be falling into line with the US president’s “America First” agenda. Today on the show, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg’s Ted Mann about Trump’s influence over Davos, and the CEOs who missed the opening of the conference — including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg — but had front-row seats at his inauguration. Read more: ‘Whic...

Jan 22, 202514 min

How Scott Bessent Made His Way Into Trump’s Inner Circle

Scott Bessent is President-Elect Trump’s pick to be the treasury secretary, a role that spans oversight of the $28 trillion market for US government debt to economic sanctions. Today on the show, Big Take DC’s Saleha Mohsin joins host David Gura to discuss the tightrope act that landed Bessent the nomination: winning over both MAGA and Wall Street. Read more: How Scott Bessent Won Over MAGA and Wall Street See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 16, 202515 min

The ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ Cyber Threat

US intelligence officials say that a hacking campaign known as “Volt Typhoon” has the potential to disrupt critical infrastructure systems in Guam — a significant hub for the US military that holds particular importance in US-China relations. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, Bloomberg national security reporter Katrina Manson shares what she’s learned about the threat and how it could limit America’s ability to push back if China were to invade Taiwan. Read more: The US’s Worst Fears of Chinese H...

Jan 08, 202514 min

Antony Blinken: The Exit Interview

In his final month as the United States’ chief diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is racing around the globe, responding to conflicts in the Middle East and the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. During a stop in New York, he sat down with host David Gura to talk about how he is preparing to hand over the country’s sprawling foreign policy portfolio to the incoming Trump administration. Read more: Syria: Blinken Says US Weighs Sending Officials for Talks - Bloomberg See omnystud...

Dec 19, 202417 min

Market-Moving US Economic Data Is Under Threat

From inflation data to unemployment rates, the US government releases numbers every month that move markets and shape policies. But the agencies responsible for gathering that data are struggling — and President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to find cuts across agencies could further strain their resources. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, Bloomberg economics editor Molly Smith joins host Saleha Mohsin to dig into what’s at stake if the federal government scales back on its investment in economic ...

Dec 12, 202414 min
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