Since 2020, Salesforce CEO and co-founder Marc Benioff has been on a mission to plant and preserve one trillion trees. The idea behind his initiative, 1t.org, is simple: A tree is good at taking carbon dioxide out of the environment. And more trees mean more greenhouse gas removal. Four years, millions of dollars, and dozens of pledges from non-profits, NGOs, national governments, and private companies later – how close is Benioff to one trillion trees? Today, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomber...
May 03, 2024•16 min
Omaha, Nebraska, is billionaire Warren Buffett’s hometown. A quirk in the state’s election law also means it could wind up deciding the 2024 presidential election. On this episode, Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin talks to Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb and Bloomberg White House reporter Josh Wingrove, who traveled to Nebraska, to understand the fight to secure Omaha’s vote and the possibility of Warren Buffett entering the fray. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 02, 2024•16 min
Canada has seen rapid immigration-fueled population growth in recent years. That’s boosted its economy, but housing production hasn’t kept up. The limited supply and growing demand has exacerbated an existing affordable housing crisis and inspired calls not only to build more, but to impose stricter limits on immigration. A similar dynamic is playing out across advanced economies like Australia and the UK. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder speaks with Bloomberg’s Randy Thanthong-Kni...
May 01, 2024•15 min
At the end of last year, the Chair of the US Federal Reserve hinted at cutting interest rates – staving off an expected recession. It was a welcome surprise for many people watching the markets. Five months into 2024, he’s poised to pivot again. On today’s Big Take, host David Gura talks with Fed editor Kate Davidson and Bloomberg Economics’ Anna Wong about the Fed’s latest moves and what to expect from this week’s Federal Open Market Committee Meeting. Further Listening: The Federal Reserve's T...
May 01, 2024•15 min
Experts have long held up Australia’s 32-year-old “superannuation” system as the retirement model to follow. But as countries all around the world are bracing for a “silver tsunami” of aging baby boomers, even Australians worry they don’t have enough saved. Today, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg’s Amy Bainbridge discuss what makes this system so super — and why it’s still falling short. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 29, 2024•14 min
Protestors at universities across the country have been demanding that their institutions divest from companies that are tied to Israel or the war in Gaza, a demand universities have long rejected as antisemitic. On today’s Big Take podcast, Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg higher education reporter Janet Lorin and California reporter Eliyahu Kamisher about what’s really inside endowment funds and why universities are unlikely to yield to the calls of disclose and divest. See omnystudio.com/liste...
Apr 27, 2024•14 min
The US public’s trust in the media, and the government, is markedly low. A recent Gallup poll found only about 30 percent of Americans trust the media — and Pew Research found only 16 percent trust their government. Bloomberg’s Jason Leopold is using records to try to change that. He’s filed over 9,000 requests through the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA — a Cold War era law meant to ensure the right to transparency from the US government. On today’s episode, Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin a...
Apr 25, 2024•14 min
Gucci was once a symbol of red-carpet luxury, but its brand, along with its sales numbers, is faltering. This Tuesday, Gucci’s parent company Kering reported its latest earnings: Gucci’s comparable revenue dropped by 18% in the first quarter this year. Kering also warned that recurring operating income will continue to plummet in the first six months of this year. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Angelina Rascouet and Sara Forden talk about what went wrong at the house of Gucci, and how ...
Apr 24, 2024•15 min
The discovery of natural gas in Qatar back in the 1970s was a transformative economic windfall for the country and its long-time rulers, the Al Thani royal family. Since then, the Al Thanis have been spending that money to build Qatar’s global brand – while strengthening diplomatic ties with powerful, and sometimes unlikely, allies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg wealth reporter Devon Pendleton joins host Sarah Holder to trace the meteoric rise of Qatar and its royal family, and discuss ...
Apr 23, 2024•18 min
The US and the Philippines kicked off one of the largest military exercises in waters near the South China Sea on Monday. These joint military drills take place annually but this year’s come amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines. The countries are sparring over control of the waterway, which is rich in energy reserves. On today’s Big Take, host Oanh Ha and Bloomberg Senior Editor Bill Faries break down why who controls this vast body of water matters for South East Asia and the ...
Apr 22, 2024•15 min
Divyendra Jadoun, known as “The Indian Deepfaker,” is having a pretty busy year. The 31-year-old has built a business around making deep fakes for politicians in India — campaign-style videos where candidates appear to address voters by name. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Bangalore-based AI reporter Saritha Rai and EU policy reporter Jillian Deutsch join host David Gura to explore the growing demand for these campaign deep fakes, concerns about disinformation, and the challenges of re...
Apr 19, 2024•17 min
Tires and doors falling off mid-flight. A top US official stranded because of a 737 jet maintenance issue. Boeing is facing the ire of US lawmakers, scrutiny from its key regulator, and pressure from Wall Street ahead of an earnings report — all as it struggles to rebuild trust with passengers after a string of crises. On today’s episode, Big Take DC host Saleha Mohsin digs into Boeing’s rise and fall with reporter Julie Johnsson, global aviation editor Benedikt Kammel, and long-time pilot and a...
Apr 18, 2024•20 min
Cocoa has never been so expensive. That’s bad news for players all along the chocolate supply chain: from farmers, to chocolatiers, to chocolate lovers. In today’s episode, we travel from a farm in Ghana to Jacques Torres’ chocolate factory in Brooklyn, on a journey to understand the origins of a cocoa crisis – and what it means for the future of chocolate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 17, 2024•17 min
In a frightening trend, scammers are catfishing teen boys and trying to extort them — and there have been tragic outcomes. The FBI says this type of crime, which it calls “sextortion,” is one of the fastest growing crimes targeting children in the US. Today, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg investigative reporter Olivia Carville about how teen boys are targeted online — and how these crimes impact the victims and their families. This episode discusses sensitive topics, including suicide. If yo...
Apr 16, 2024•20 min
Over the weekend, Iran deployed hundreds of drones and missiles in an attack on Israel. Now, Israel weighs its response as US officials and their allies try to prevent further escalation. On today’s Big Take podcast, Israel bureau chief Ethan Bronner and national security editor Nick Wadhams join host David Gura to discuss what happened over the weekend, and where this conflict could go from here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 15, 2024•18 min
Bluey , the Australian animated TV show about a family of Blue Heeler dogs, is worth $2 billion. But is Bluey worth that without the show’s auteur Joe Brumm in the picture? The release of a special extended episode coming this weekend is sparking rumors about the smash-hit sensation. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Devin Leonard and Reyhan Harmanci join host David Gura to talk about the beloved program, the secret to its broad appeal, and the challenge of managing Bluey ’s commercial su...
Apr 12, 2024•17 min
A Japanese company’s bid to buy US Steel has sparked a fight with the United Steelworkers union — and put the company at the center of the 2024 presidential contest. Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg reporters Joe Deaux and Josh Wingrove join host David Gura to trace why the deal came to a halt, how the company fits into Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s brands of political nostalgia, and why the fate of this deal could have an outsized impact on the election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Apr 11, 2024•16 min
It’s college acceptance season and many students are facing a decision: prestigious private universities versus cheaper public options. But if they’re looking at college as an investment in their future, there are some metrics worth considering. Today on the Big Take podcast, personal finance reporters Paulina Cachero and Francesca Maglione join host Sarah Holder to dig into data on the return on investment at colleges and universities in the US. And given the ballooning price of higher educatio...
Apr 10, 2024•17 min
India is posting some of the most robust economic growth rates right now in the world. And with China slowing, India could become the new engine of global economic growth. But it will take strategic investments, increased labor participation and more for India to achieve its economic ambitions. Today on the show, Bloomberg’s New Delhi-based economics and politics reporter Dan Strumpf joins host Sarah Holder to discuss India’s roadmap, and what its success could mean for the rest of the world. Se...
Apr 10, 2024•17 min
The US-China relationship saw several years of instability — including a trade war, China’s Covid-Zero policy and the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon above the United States. And now, with both sides keen to resume cooperation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is wrapping up a trip to China with strong words about the country’s manufacturing strategy and its alleged support of Russia’s war effort. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 08, 2024•13 min
Argentina’s president Javier Milei has made waves since taking office in December. From his plans to abolish his country’s central bank and replace its peso with the dollar, to his efforts to reverse previous administrations’ moves to build closer ties with China, Milei is charting a perilous – and untested – new course for a country long-rankled by inflation and economic instability. Today on the Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait sits down with host David Gura to dis...
Apr 06, 2024•16 min
After years of letting the private tax e-filing industry run the show, the IRS is finally piloting an online tool that’s supposed to make tax season easier – and free – for thousands of taxpayers in a dozen states. On this episode of The Big Take podcast, we explore how the idea got off the ground, who can use it, and whether the program could ever compete with the powerful private tax-filing industry. Corrects date the Free File Alliance was launched in podcast published April 4. See omnystudio...
Apr 04, 2024•17 min
When Wall Street investors Tom Wagner and Greg O’Hara took over Hertz, they had ambitious plans. They aimed to revolutionize the car rental business by bringing a record number of electric vehicles into Hertz’s fleet, including 100,000 Teslas. And when Hertz’s IPO launched in 2021, it seemed Wagner and O’Hara had just made a visionary deal. EVs were hot when Hertz started buying them. But as Bloomberg reporters Erik Schatzker and David Welch tell host Sarah Holder, the company would soon discove...
Apr 03, 2024•20 min
With the stock market hitting record highs, many are wondering if it will continue to soar or come crashing down. One way to tell what’s on the mind of investors is to look at the options market. Bloomberg’s Carly Wanna tells host David Gura that average daily call volume on the VIX, often called the “fear gauge,” was up in the first quarter. So, should we be worried that traders are preparing for the possibility of a big downturn? Today on the show, what's driving markets to all-time highs, and...
Apr 02, 2024•12 min
Big banks made big promises to help fight climate change. But as the world warms, those institutions are quietly cooling on their plans. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Alastair Marsh joins host Sarah Holder to break down why banks are rethinking their commitments, and what that could mean for the climate crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 01, 2024•13 min
Jerry Seinfeld is a billionaire, thanks in part to earnings from his iconic 1990s sitcom, Seinfeld. After co-creating and starring in the TV show, Seinfeld parlayed his comedy into big money – but changes to the entertainment industry could make it a challenge for others to follow suit. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg wealth reporter Annie Massa talks to host Sarah Holder about how the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued Seinfeld’s net worth for the first time, and what made his eponymous...
Mar 29, 2024•13 min
Immigration has become a top issue for voters in the 2024 election cycle, but people on the border want action now — not after November. On the Big Take podcast, Bloomberg's Washington Bureau Chief Peggy Collins visits Eagle Pass, Texas, to explore why the US-Mexico border is shaping up to be a dominant campaign issue and what the needs on the ground really are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 28, 2024•18 min
In the nearly five months since a jury found Sam Bankman-Fried guilty, a narrative has started to take shape in crypto circles that the business model behind FTX was sound and that SBF would have been successful had he not dipped into customer funds. But on the eve of his sentencing, Bloomberg’s Max Chafkin and Zeke Faux join The Big Take Podcast to discuss how they found — after interviewing insiders and carefully examining trial testimony and thousands of pages of documents — that fraud was at...
Mar 27, 2024•20 min
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite program touts itself as a source of reliable internet in hard-to-reach places. But there are some countries where Starlink’s services aren’t licensed, or where the company can’t do business because of US sanctions. And a Bloomberg investigation has found that Starlink kits are appearing in many of those markets anyway – with geopolitical consequences. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior editor Alan Crawford traces the burgeoning black market for Starlink ter...
Mar 26, 2024•16 min
Citigroup was the first major Wall Street bank with a female CEO. But interviews with 22 people who worked in or closely with the bank’s equities division suggest a pattern of harassment and discrimination. Bloomberg’s Paige Smith and Max Abelson join The Big Take podcast to share what their reporting uncovered, and what it says about the rest of Wall Street’s overdue #MeToo reckoning. Read more: Harassment and Drugs Plagued a Citigroup Division for Years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
Mar 25, 2024•17 min
