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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

What CEOs Want From Trump

Surveys have shown that business leaders around the US are excited about Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But not all of the policies he’s promising appeal to every CEO. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, Business Roundtable CEO Josh Bolten joins host Saleha Mohsin to share what the business leaders he represents want from tax and trade policy — and Bloomberg’s Nancy Cook describes how Trump relishes one-on-one negotiations with fellow executives. Read more: US Executives Turn More Optimis...

Dec 06, 202414 min

Inside Mar-a-Lago: The New Center of American Political Power

Power brokers, administration nominees and even the prime minister of Canada have travelled to Mar-a-Lago in recent weeks to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at his resort, making it a new center of political power. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg wealth reporter Amanda Gordon joins host David Gura to discuss Trump’s use of Mar-a-Lago in the lead-up to his inauguration, the impact he’s had on the surrounding area and South Florida’s growing influence on national politics. See omnyst...

Dec 02, 202416 min

Why Trump’s Treasury Secretary Pick Is Reassuring Wall Street

After a messy, public competition between hopefuls, President-elect Donald Trump nominated hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to be the next Treasury secretary. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, hosts Saleha Mohsin and David Gura discuss why Trump chose Bessent, and how Bessent might approach the job. Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access to deep reporting, data and analysis from r...

Nov 25, 202414 min

Inside Trump’s Treasury Secretary Shortlist

Over the last week, President-elect Donald Trump has announced his nominees for the top jobs in his administration. But one key position that hasn’t been filled yet is Treasury secretary, and the person Trump picks will play a crucial role in shaping US economic policy. Senior Washington correspondent and host Saleha Mohsin joins David Gura to tick through the top candidates under consideration and how each might shape the Treasury’s priorities if chosen and confirmed. Read more: Bessent Hails T...

Nov 14, 202419 min

The Federal Reserve Sets Up for Rematch With Trump

Less than two days after Donald Trump won a second term, the Federal Reserve announced a rate cut. But speaking to reporters, Fed’s Powell faced difficult questions about the path forward for interest rates — and for him — under Trump. Bloomberg economic policy editor Kate Davidson joins host Saleha Mohsin to discuss how Powell’s answers today set up for a rematch between him and Trump over the Fed’s mission and independence. Read more: Trump’s Victory Casts a Shadow Over the Federal Reserve Bec...

Nov 07, 202414 min

Snipers and Steel Doors: Inside Efforts to Secure the US Election

As America heads to the polls for Election Day, thousands of poll workers and local officials are taking extreme measures to keep things running smoothly and to convince the public that they can trust the results. On today’s Big Take podcast, we hear from election officials and from Bloomberg national security reporter Chris Strohm on efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of the 2024 US election. Read more: ‘What Worries Me? Everything’: Officials Brace for US Election Day Become a Bloomber...

Nov 05, 202411 min

Can the World Count on the Dollar If It Can’t Count on Smooth Elections?

The world is watching for instability after the US election next week. If there’s a repeat of the chaos that followed the 2020 results, it could damage not just American democracy, but something else: the global financial system that America dominates. Today on the show, host Saleha Mohsin is joined by former Senator Pat Toomey to unpack what’s at stake for a world that runs on US dollars if a peaceful transfer of power is no longer a given in the world’s oldest democracy. Read more: Election-Vi...

Oct 31, 202413 min

It’s Close. Very Close.

Bloomberg News and Morning Consult have spent the past year polling voters in the seven key swing states that could decide the election: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. The results are in for the last poll before Election Day — and the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris could hardly be closer. Senior editor Wendy Benjaminson leads Bloomberg’s polling coverage. She joins Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin to unpack the state of the race and th...

Oct 23, 202412 min

How Courts Are Already Shaping the 2024 US Election

Since 2023, more than 165 lawsuits have been filed challenging nearly every dimension of this year's presidential election. Across 37 states, including all seven swing states, these court cases could determine who can vote, how they vote, and how those votes will be counted. Bloomberg’s Zoe Tillman is tracking these cases as Election Day nears, and joins host Saleha Mohsin to discuss the role courts will play in the outcome of the presidential race — and what this all means for public trust in t...

Oct 17, 202414 min

When Will We Know Who the Next President Is?

Will we know the result of the 2024 US Presidential election on election night? Or will the new normal look like 2020, when Americans had to wait days for the final call? Bloomberg politics reporter Gregory Korte joins Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin to break down what’s changed since former President Donald Trump began contesting the results of his 2020 loss, and what could happen if a drawn-out election call stokes uncertainty in the electoral process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Oct 10, 202415 min

Vance and Walz’s New Debate Tactic: Civility

In the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2024 US election cycle, Tim Walz and JD Vance had two objectives: Keep the momentum going for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, and do no harm. But one of the most surprising takeaways of the policy-forward debate was just how respectful the conversation was. Bloomberg senior editor Wendy Benjaminson joins host Sarah Holder to break down key moments – from the cordial to the confrontational – and what Vance and Walz’s performances mean for their...

Oct 02, 202415 min

Harris Gains Edge Over Trump on Economy in New Swing State Poll

For the past year, Bloomberg News and Morning Consult have been polling voters in swing states. Former President Donald Trump has had a consistent lead when it comes to the question of who voters trust on the economy. But a new poll of likely voters shows Vice President Kamala Harris closing that gap in key states. Today, senior editor Wendy Benjaminson joins the Big Take DC to dig into how this polling works and what we can learn from the results. Read more: Kamala Harris Holds Razor-Thin Lead ...

Sep 26, 202414 min

Could the Chinese Yuan Ever Replace the US Dollar?

Talk of de-dollarization has been gaining momentum among China, India, Brazil, Russia and South Africa in the wake of significant US led sanctions on Russia. Former US President and candidate Donald Trump has said the currency is under attack — and that any country that shuns it would face new tariffs on imports if he is elected. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Saleha Mohsin about the unique role the dollar plays in the world economy — and what, if anything...

Sep 24, 202416 min

Understanding Kamala Harris’ Plan for the Economy

Since Vice President Kamala Harris took over the Democratic presidential ticket, she’s faced criticism from voters who say they don’t know what she stands for. But we know two Bloomberg reporters who do: California bureau chief Karen Breslau, who’s been following Harris’ career for two decades, and Josh Wingrove, who covers her campaign. Today on the show, they join host Sarah Holder to discuss what we know about Harris’ economic message and what a Harris presidency could mean for everything fro...

Sep 19, 202414 min

The Fed Cut Interest Rates. Now What?

The Federal Reserve announced a highly anticipated rate cut of half a percentage point today — larger than many watchers anticipated. Which industries and companies will feel this interest rate cut the most, and what will it mean for everyday consumers? Bloomberg’s Enda Curran joins host Sarah Holder to talk about what effects we can expect to see as the rate cut ripples through the US economy and the world — and hits our wallets. Read more: Rent Is the Stubborn Part of the Inflation Story See o...

Sep 18, 202416 min

The Fed Finally Seems Ready to Pivot

This week, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates for the first time in over four years. And there’s debate over how big the cut will be and how soon it will impact the economy. Bloomberg’s Kate Davidson joins host David Gura to discuss this turning point for the economy, and what else Fed policymakers have in store for the future. Read more: Fed Ready to Unshackle US Economy With Soft Landing at Stake Further listening: What a September Cut Could Mean for the Economy and the Elec...

Sep 16, 202415 min

Buttigieg on Fixing America’s Travel Woes

The year started with the door of an airplane falling off mid-flight. Frustrations with air travel have mounted since then. It’s up to Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary, to address those problems — which include everything from Boeing’s woes to the shrinking value of airline loyalty points. Buttigieg joined the Big Take DC podcast in an exclusive interview to talk about the future of air travel, and his political future after his tenure in the Biden administration ends. See omnystudio...

Sep 13, 202417 min

Harris Trolled Trump. He Took the Bait.

In a wide-ranging debate on Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly put former President Donald Trump on the defensive. Harris leaned into her past as a prosecutor, needling Trump on issues ranging from immigration to the economy and abortion. He attempted to criticize her record and define her as a radical unfit for the presidency. Bloomberg senior editor Wendy Benjaminson and host David Gura unpack the viral moments from the night, analyze the candidates’ performance, and discus...

Sep 11, 202415 min

Trump Is Behind Harris on Fundraising. Will it Matter?

With two months until election day, Kamala Harris’ campaign is outpacing Donald Trump's on fundraising. But this late into the race, how much does money matter? Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin sits down with Bloomberg money and politics editor Laura Davison to break down both campaigns’ finances, how they might spend their money, and how much impact cash could actually have in the race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Sep 05, 202415 min

What NASA’s Reliance on SpaceX Means for Boeing

In June, two NASA astronauts flew to the International Space Station on a Boeing spacecraft for a week-long test mission. But problems with the machinery mean they’ll be stuck there for 8 months… and when they come back in February, they won’t be flying Boeing. Instead, they’re hitching a ride with the company’s biggest rival in commercial space travel: Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Today on the show: space reporter Loren Grush and Boeing reporter Julie Johnsson on the challenges facing Boeing’s space pro...

Aug 29, 202417 min

Harris and Trump Make Their Case to Black Voters

For decades, the Democratic Party has counted on support from Black voters. But former President Donald Trump has tried to leverage voter dissatisfaction with Democrats to bite into the party’s edge with that key demographic. And for a while, it seemed to be working – until the first Black woman to lead a major presidential ticket shook up the race. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, host Saleha Mohsin hears from voters and speaks to Bloomberg reporters Akayla Gardner and Hadriana Lowenkron about h...

Aug 24, 202418 min

The US Election Could Hinge on Seven State Economies

Seven key states will play an outsized role in determining the outcome of the 2024 US election. A new analysis from Bloomberg found that as a group those states’ economies pose a challenge for Kamala Harris and an opening for Donald Trump. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, host Saleha Mohsin goes inside this “battleground economy” with Bloomberg senior writer Shawn Donnan and hears directly from voters on how this economic reality is influencing the communities that will choose between Trump and H...

Aug 15, 202416 min

Donald Trump’s Journey From Crypto Skeptic to Bitcoin Booster

Last weekend, Donald Trump became the first American president to address a crypto conference, telling an audience in Nashville that “if Bitcoin is going to the moon, I want America to be the nation that leads the way.” It’s a stark contrast from five years ago, when Trump said Bitcoin’s value was based on “thin air.” Is his conversion from crypto skeptic to crypto cheerleader real – or just a canny attempt to get donations? On today’s Big Take DC podcast, host David Gura speaks to Bloomberg inv...

Aug 01, 202418 min

On US Trip, Netanyahu Covers His Bases

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to DC was set to be high-stakes, as he arranged to meet with President Biden and former President Trump. But Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy complicated an already delicate balancing act. On today’s Big Take DC podcast, host David Gura speaks with Israel bureau chief Ethan Bronner and national security reporter Nick Wadhams about what’s at stake for each of these leaders, the latest prospects for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas...

Jul 25, 202417 min

Biden Stepped Down. Will Democratic Donors Step Up?

Joe Biden’s decision not to run for reelection leaves the Democratic nominee that replaces him with an unprecedented challenge: running a successful presidential campaign in under four months. That will take a lot of money. On today’s Big Take podcast: How much could that campaign cost? Gregory Korte and Laura Davison, who cover money and politics for Bloomberg, dig into that question, Kamala Harris’s fundraising edge and how Democratic donors are reacting to the news. Read more: Joe Biden Bows ...

Jul 22, 202419 min

Donald Trump Sits Down With Bloomberg Businessweek

Former President Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination at the party’s convention this week, just two days after an attempted assassination at a campaign rally over the weekend. Prior to that attack, and shortly before his first debate with President Joe Biden, Trump laid out his vision for a second term in a wide-ranging, 90-minute interview with journalists from Bloomberg Businessweek . Reporter Nancy Cook and editor Brad Stone take host David Gura inside that conversation, where they...

Jul 16, 202418 min

The Trump Shooting Changes Everything About 2024

On Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Even in a country with a history of assassinations and attempts, it is unprecedented. Bloomberg national politics reporter Gregory Korte and senior editor Wendy Benjaminson join hosts Saleha Mohsin and Sarah Holder to discuss how the assassination attempt changes everything in the 2024 election - and how political violence has previously shaped America. See omnystud...

Jul 15, 202413 min

Biden’s Fight to Get Back in the Game

The fallout from President Joe Biden’s debate performance is continuing to ripple through Washington, as prominent Democrats, donors, and world leaders are questioning his ability to win… and to lead. As US allies converge on Washington for the NATO summit and Congressional Democrats scramble for unity, all eyes are on Biden. Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin talks with Bloomberg White House and politics reporter Jordan Fabian about what’s at stake for Biden in yet another make-or-break week. See o...

Jul 11, 202416 min

Will Kamala Harris Replace President Biden?

In the fallout from Biden’s performance in the first presidential debate, a leading name has emerged as the president’s natural replacement: Vice President Kamala Harris. White House and politics reporters Akayla Gardner and Gregory Korte join Big Take host Sarah Holder to unpack why the calls for a Harris candidacy are surfacing now, her access to Biden’s war chest and who else could be a contender. Read more: Kamala Harris Is Having a Surprise Resurgence as Biden’s Campaign Unravels See omnyst...

Jul 04, 202415 min

Democratic Panic Follows the First 2024 Presidential Debate

From big questions about Biden’s performance that have sent Democrats into panic over whether he should be on the ticket to Trump’s misleading statements on January 6th, the first 2024 US presidential debate may have been billed as a rematch, but it was full of surprises. Inside the spin room in Atlanta, Big Take host David Gura talks to Bloomberg senior politics editor Wendy Benjaminson and politics reporter Stephanie Lai to dig into those moments, discuss what the candidates said about inflati...

Jun 28, 202419 min
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