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Big Take

Bloomberg and iHeartPodcastswww.bloomberg.com

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

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Episodes

Checking the Math on Trump’s $2,000 Checks

Under new pressures over inflation and affordability, President Donald Trump has been talking up a plan to share tariff revenues with Americans, in the form of $2,000 checks. But there are several major problems with this plan — and he’s lacking support among some of his most ardent allies. On today’s Big Take episode, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg senior national political reporter Nancy Cook and US Treasury reporter Dan Flatley to discuss how Trump’s latest proposal fits into the ec...

Nov 24, 202518 min

Harassment Concerns at Oxford Went Unaddressed for Years

Oxford University has repeatedly been slow to act when confronted with allegations of harassment, assault and inappropriate behavior by male academics, a new Bloomberg investigation has found. Katherine Griffiths, the city editor of Bloomberg’s London bureau, spoke to dozens of academics, staffers and women who have studied at Oxford to understand how the storied institution has handled misconduct concerns — and why it lags behind its peers. On this episode of the Big Take podcast, she shares he...

Nov 21, 202521 min

Nvidia Silences AI Skeptics (For Now)

Nvidia released its third quarter earnings Wednesday, crushing estimates and easing Wall Street’s concerns about an AI bubble. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Tech’s Ed Ludlow sits down with David Gura to discuss his post-earnings interview with Jensen Huang – what the Nvidia CEO had to say about the company’s breakneck growth, so-called circular deals, and potential expansion into China. Read more: Nvidia’s Huang Says Company Has Plenty of New Chips to Sell It's OK, Nvidia Says There's N...

Nov 20, 202518 min

The Hot Market for Jobs No One Wants

After a period characterized as “low-hire, low-fire,” the American labor market is seeing a surge of layoffs from companies like Amazon, Starbucks, UPS and Target. And that’s pushing more job applicants towards traditionally less-desirable occupations, like substitute teaching, traffic flagging and waste management. Today on the Big Take, Sarah Holder is joined by economic reporter Mike Sasso to discuss what’s happening in this often-overlooked corner of the labor market and what it means for th...

Nov 19, 202515 min

China Tests the Limits in the Race for Biotech Power

China is investing heavily in cutting-edge genetic experiments. It’s part of their quest to become a biotech superpower. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha, Bloomberg’s Karoline Kan and Oxford University geneticist Andy Greenfield discuss China’s pharmaceutical ambitions and the loose regulatory environment that allows the animal testing industry to thrive. Read more: China Pushes Boundaries With Animal Testing to Win Global Biotech Race See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Nov 18, 202520 min

How Private Equity Got Its Hands on Billions in Americans’ Retirement Money

Apollo Global Management reinvented how pensions could be managed and paid out — by taking them over and moving the risks offshore. Other firms have followed suit and ushered hundreds of billions of dollars in American retirement savings into accounts that retirees and economists say are exposed to higher risk. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg reporters Alex Rajbhandari and Tom Schoenberg, who investigated this phenomenon and explain what it means for the p...

Nov 17, 202519 min

They Voted for Trump. His Tariffs Took Down Their Family-Owned Sawmill

For years, Mackeys Ferry Sawmill in North Carolina relied on exporting its goods to China and Vietnam after a dip in domestic demand for high-quality hardwood. But President Donald Trump’s trade war with China dealt a blow that the mill’s owners say they couldn’t come back from. In July, just months after the president announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs, they decided to shut it down. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg economics reporter Shawn Donnan goes to the “Old North State” to under...

Nov 14, 202521 min

The Most Worrying — and Reassuring — Signals in the US Economy

In recent weeks, a number of economic warning signs have put investors on edge, from growing skepticism over the possibility of an AI bubble to bankruptcies that have rocked the private credit market. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion columnist and senior markets editor John Authers and host David Gura tackle the question: How worried should we be about the US economy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 13, 202517 min

Trump Promised Revenge. He’s Using the DOJ to Make It Happen

When President Trump took office in January, he made it clear that retribution against his perceived political enemies was a key part of his second-term agenda. He’s used a variety of tools at his disposal — and with his encouragement, the Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg senior national political ...

Nov 12, 202518 min

Wall Street Speeds Up India Expansion

Wall Street banks are on a hiring spree across India, recruiting workers for everything from software engineering to risk management as part of a decades-long shift away from support roles toward high-skill positions. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg’s Siddhi Nayak to look at India’s changing job landscape. What to expect as Wall Street continues to expand into its tech hubs – and how Donald Trump’s H1-B visa crackdown could accelerate that push. Further...

Nov 11, 202518 min

Why a K-Shaped US Economy Is Raising Red Flags

The US economy appears remarkably resilient right now, but if you look closer, you’ll see a different picture emerge: a growing divide between America’s wealthiest consumers and everyone else. Economists call this kind of bifurcated economy “K-shaped.” And as the top and bottom of the K have diverged, the overall economy has also become more top-heavy and more fragile. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Peter Atwater – the economist who popularized the idea of a “K-shape...

Nov 10, 202514 min

What’s Trump’s Venezuela Endgame?

The United States has struck more than a dozen boats off the coast of Venezuela over the last two months, killing more than 60 people. The Trump administration says it’s targeting narco-traffickers. But critics at home and abroad have decried the attacks and challenged their legal basis. Meanwhile, President Trump has overseen a buildup of force in the region. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg National Security Reporter Nick Wadhams, Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser and host Da...

Nov 07, 202515 min

How the Longest Government Shutdown Is Impacting the Economy

The ongoing US government shutdown has broken historic records — and its economic consequences could prove even longer-lasting. Today on the Big Take, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg’s Gregory Korte and Megan Scully, who cover the White House and Congress, to talk about the shutdown’s impacts across sectors — and what it could take to break the logjam. Read more: The US Government Shutdown Is the Longest Ever. Why Does This Keep Happening? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Nov 06, 202518 min

Mamdani Won on Affordability. Can He Win Over NYC’s 1 Percent?

Zohran Mamdani clinched New York City’s mayoral race by campaigning against wealth inequality and promoting affordability. Now, he faces the challenge of delivering on the promises that got him elected while coming to the table with the city’s wealthiest residents, who have an outsized influence on the city’s politics, economy and revenue. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg reporters Emily Flitter and Fola Akinnibi and speaks with Kathryn Wylde, the CEO of the ...

Nov 05, 202519 min

How APEC Become a Battleground for US-China Influence

Asian nations are walking a tightrope between Washington and Beijing – juggling trade, tech and security pressures as the heavyweights vie for influence. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Adam Farrar, Bloomberg’s senior geoeconomics analyst for Asia Pacific, to unpack what may have been overlooked at the APEC summit as the Xi-Trump show came to town. Read more: Xi Calls for Stable Supply Chains After Sealing Trump Truce Further listening: Trump Got an ‘Amazing’ Meetin...

Nov 04, 202519 min

It’s Not Just You. There Are a Lot of Layoffs Happening

The last time the United States saw layoff numbers this high was during the Covid-19 pandemic. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg US Economy reporter Julia Fanzeres and host David Gura tackle the layoff wave of 2025: what it reveals about the state of the US economy — and what it means for the workers swept up in it. Read more: Wave of US Layoffs Flash Early Warning Sign for Job Market See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 03, 202511 min

WNBA Players Want More of the League’s Revenue. Can They Get It?

The WNBA is bigger than ever. From soaring ticket sales and to record TV viewership, the W is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. But since last year, the WNBA and its players’ union have been in tense negotiations over the cut that players get from that success. A deadline to reach a deal has been extended another 30 days, but the sticking points remain. On today’s Big Take Podcast, Bloomberg reporter Jennah Haque, Good Game host Sarah Spain and Seattle Storm Guard Lexie Bro...

Oct 31, 202520 min

Trump Got an ‘Amazing’ Meeting. China Got Much-Needed Time

On Thursday, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China announced a one-year truce in their trade war, capping six contentious months of negotiations and retaliatory tariffs between the world’s two largest economies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Global Trade Editor Brendan Murray and Executive China Editor John Liu join host David Gura to parse the details of the new US-China trade agreement — and why both countries are moving forward without a permanent deal. Read more...

Oct 30, 202515 min

Is the Fed Flying Blind?

On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, following its 25-basis-point cut in September. But amid a government shutdown limiting key data and questions about who will succeed Chair Jerome Powell, what comes next is anyone’s guess. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporters Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran join host David Gura to break down the path forward for the central bank: from the shutdown’s impact on its decision-making to the leading contenders for Po...

Oct 29, 202518 min

Tariffed: The Toymaker That Took on Trump Part One

The US-China tariff war has upended global manufacturing, forcing companies like Chicago-based Learning Resources to fundamentally change how and where its products are made. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, K. Oanh Ha heads to Vietnam, where the toymaker has begun shifting the production of its popular children’s toys. We examine how the company is managing its complex shift from China – where its toys have been made for decades – what the factory boom means for communities on the ground in Vi...

Oct 28, 202527 min

New York’s MTA Chief on Trump’s Funding Threats

Running North America’s largest transportation network is no easy task. Janno Lieber, the CEO and Chair of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in charge of everything from upgrading ancient train infrastructure to advancing long-delayed expansion plans. He’s now also dealing with potential federal funding cuts for two of his agency’s signature projects – expanding the Second Avenue Subway into East Harlem and building a new commuter rail tunnel to connect New York and New Jersey....

Oct 27, 202522 min

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Shutdown Day 23

On day 23 of the second-longest government shutdown in American history, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sits down with Big Take Host David Gura to talk about the shutdown, the NYC mayoral race and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 24, 202529 min

How Did an Alaska Native Corporation Become an ICE Detention Giant?

Over the last decade, Nana Regional Corp. — an Alaska Native corporation based in a small community roughly 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle — has won contracts worth more than $1 billion to run and support ICE detention facilities around the US. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg investigative reporter Polly Mosendz and KOTZ news director Desiree Hagen look into how a company that once focused on local Alaskan industries, like mining and hospitality, became an ICE detention giant — and w...

Oct 23, 202517 min

Xi’s Rare Earths Bargaining Chip Is a Trade War Game Changer

China’s dominance of rare earths has given Xi Jinping powerful leverage over Donald Trump ahead of their expected meeting next week. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate dig into how China is weaponizing rare earths and what the economic standoff means for a trade deal and the future of US-China relations. Read more: Xi Is Never Giving Up His Newfound Leverage Over Trump Further listening: Xi’s Bromance Diplomacy Is Challenging Trump’s World Order The...

Oct 22, 202519 min

The Race to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery

Some of the biggest names in tech and Hollywood are training their sights on Warner Bros. Discovery, the media and entertainment conglomerate that owns HBO Max, CNN and TNT. The first party to make an offer was Paramount Skydance, the newly-merged company helmed by David Ellison. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins host David Gura to share his reporting on why Ellison wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery — and what more consolidation would mean for Hollywood, the news busine...

Oct 21, 202517 min

A Brazen, 7-Minute Jewelry Heist at the Louvre

In just seven minutes, thieves in France made off with a cache of royal necklaces, tiaras and earrings in a robbery at Paris’s famous Louvre — shutting down the world’s busiest museum and setting off an international manhunt. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg’s Paris Bureau Chief Alan Katz on the brazen theft that evokes a Hollywood caper, the latest in the investigation and what might happen to the priceless jewels. Read more: A 7-Minute Louvre Heist Leaves Behind DNA a...

Oct 20, 202513 min

Amex v. Chase: Who Will Win the Battle for America’s Top Shoppers?

The competition for America’s wealthiest shoppers is heating up, with credit card companies like American Express and Chase using every perk in the book to enroll new cardholders. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Amanda Mull tracks how the leading credit card companies are using perks, promotions and points to win the business of the 10 percent of Americans responsible for nearly 50 percent of the country’s discretionary spending. Who will win this high-stakes game – and what’s the cost ...

Oct 17, 202519 min

Why Global Economic Leaders Are Predicting a Slowdown

This week, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are holding their annual meetings in Washington, DC and so is the Institute of International Finance. It’s brought a who’s who of central bankers and finance ministers to the US capital — in the midst of a government shutdown — to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy. Bloomberg reporters and editors from all over the world have also made the pilgrimage to Washington, including Brendan Murray, who oversees global ...

Oct 16, 202520 min

What’s Driving The Rush to Invest in Gold

Gold always shines during uncertain times, but escalating tensions between the US and China and signals from the Federal Reserve that we could see at least one more rate cut this year have propelled gold – and silver – to record highs. Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg precious metals reporter Jack Ryan and host Sarah Holder talk about what’s pushing up gold’s value — and what history can teach us about how this gold rush could end. Read more: Gold (XAUUSD) Trades Near Record on Fed Rate-Cut Sign...

Oct 15, 202517 min

Having a Baby? This Company Will Give You $72,000

South Korean companies are offering workers tens of thousands of dollars (tax free) to have babies. But are cash incentives enough to address the country’s record-low fertility rates? K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Hyonhee Shin explore on today’s Big Take Asia podcast. Read more: Korean Companies Pay Employees Huge Sums to Have More Kids See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Oct 14, 202515 min
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