Big Take

Episodes

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  The Unexpected Rise of North Korea’s Economy 18.08.2026 20m

  North Korea was supposed to be broke and isolated. Now, it’s enjoying an unexpected economic boom. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg’s Cat Barton and host K. Oanh Ha unpack North Korea’s shift from pandemic-era hardship to a multibillion-dollar windfall, and discuss how the country’s newfound wealth is reshaping geopolitical alliances. Read more: Kim Jong Un Flouted Sanctions to Amass $22 Billion WindfallFurther listening: North Korea’s Nuclear Program Reaches Tipping Point for the US Watch, from Originals: Why Sanctions Aren’t Stopping North KoreaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Amazon Landed on Mamdani’s Labor Agenda 17.08.2026 19m

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a bill that would challenge the subcontractor model Amazon relies on for last-mile deliveries, and the company is spending millions to fight it. On today’s Big Take podcast, reporters Spencer Soper and Josh Eidelson unpack what this bill could mean for the delivery drivers — and corporate America’s reliance on subcontractors more broadly. Read more: Amazon Is in the Crosshairs of Mamdani’s Worker Agenda What Trump Delivered for Amazon We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Julia Press; Reported by Josh Eidelson and Spencer Soper; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Julia Weaver. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Our Town Chapter 2: This Dangerous Venture of Yours 14.08.2026 38m

  Diana looks into the town’s newest arrivals: What’s their deal — and who are their friends?Today on The Big Take: Chapter 2 of Our Town, a limited-run series from Bloomberg and The Big Take, hosted by Meribah Knight with Bloomberg’s Susan Berfield. Our Town tells the story of a battle over identity fought on one small town’s soil, where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs. New episodes of Our Town publish on Mondays, but you can listen early on Fridays right here in The Big Take feed. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.  Hosted by Meribah Knight with Susan Berfield Produced by: Rebecca Laks with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole BeemsterboerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  A Major Earthquake Challenges Colombia’s New Right-Wing President 13.08.2026 17m

  The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that devastated Colombia this week was also an immediate test for the country’s new Trump-aligned president. Abelardo de la Espriella, who campaigned on slashing Colombia's deficit and cracking down on armed rebel groups, now faces the prospect of  stalling coffee shipments and a costly relief effort, in his first week in office. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg’s Oscar Medina in Bogotá, Colombia, and Travis Waldron in Brasília, Brazil, about what this moment could mean for a divided Colombia — and for Latin America’s tilt to the right. Read more:  ‘Waiting for Any Sign of Life’: Colombia Reels After Quake Colombia Quake Toll Tops 260, Prompting Economic Emergency Colombia Earthquake Pressures President Right From the Get-Go We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Reported by Travis Waldron and Oscar Medina; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Chinese AI Model Rattling Silicon Valley and Washington 12.08.2026 17m

  The launch of Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 model has taken the tech world — and Washington — by storm, raising urgent questions about how a Chinese startup can suddenly rival the world's most powerful AI systems. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Mark Anderson about the distillation method behind Moonshot’s breakthrough and what it means for the high-stakes AI race between the US and China. Read more: Moonshot Plans IPO in Six Months After China AI BreakthroughSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Controversy at Phia, Phoebe Gates’ Buzzy Startup 11.08.2026 19m

  The online shopping app Phia raised over $43 million and captured media attention for its A-list investors and its high-profile co-founders — Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill Gates, and her college roommate and podcast co-host Sophia Kianni. But Bloomberg reporting suggests that Phia was pushing features that took credit for sales it didn’t drive. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg technology editor Olivia Solon shares her reporting on Phia and what the startup’s founders may have known about those features. Read more:  Gates Heir’s Shopping App Claimed Sales It Didn’t Drive Phoebe Gates Knew Phia Shopping App Took Credit for Sales It Didn’t Drive We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Olivia Solon. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Emma Munger. Senior Producer and Editor: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Hedge Fund Toolkit Behind the Yen Intervention 10.08.2026 17m

  US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s move to prop up the yen was as surprising as its impact was fleeting. By Monday, the yen lost half of its gains since last month’s intervention, raising questions about what comes next. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Daniel Flatley and Chris Anstey join David Gura to break down Bessent’s unorthodox currency strategy and to explore how far Bessent might be willing to go to support another country’s currency. Read more: How Bessent Brings a ‘Buy-Side’ Mindset to Economic Statecraft Behind Bessent Moves, Wall Street Sees a Bond-Market Angst Listen More: Why a Weak Yen Is America’s Problem Carry Trades, Explained Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Laura Newcombe and David Fox; Reported by Daniel Flatley and Chris Anstey; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Our Town Chapter 1: Sometimes You Find Silver 07.08.2026 45m

  Oh, the things you can find with an inquisitive mind – and a metal detector.Today we’re bringing you Chapter 1 of Our Town, a limited-run series from The Big Take, hosted by Meribah Knight with Bloomberg’s Susan Berfield. The series tells the story of a battle over identity fought on small town soil, where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.  The limited-run series will publish on Fridays in The Big Take. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Meribah Knight with Susan Berfield  Produced by: Rebecca Laks with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Situation at Situational Awareness 06.08.2026 18m

  Situational Awareness, a hedge fund run by a 24-year-old hailed as “Nostradamus of AI”, swelled to $45 billion in assets until a mix of highly leveraged bets, short sellers and a market swoon threw it into crisis. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Katherine Burton and Hema Parmar join Sarah Holder to discuss how risky bets led the fund to the brink and whether the episode speaks to broader vulnerabilities among hedge funds investing in AI. Read more:  The 24-Hour Race to Salvage Situational Awareness’ AI Bets Bloomberg Opinion: Hedge Fund’s 439% Return Should Have Been the Warning Situational Awareness Returns to Investing With $400 Million Bet Listen to Money Stuff Podcast: No Kiddie Pool  We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Katherine Burton and Hema Parmar; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Introducing: Our Town 06.08.2026 1m

  When new neighbors move into Gainesboro, Tennessee, a small town at the foothills of Appalachia, locals are confused. Who are these self-proclaimed pioneers? And what do they want with their little town?Locals soon discover the new arrivals are connected to something much larger: A network of far-right Christians who have ties to Washington and are backed by venture capital. This is a story about a battle over identity fought on small town soil with small town spunk. Where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs. Episode 1 will be available to Big Take listeners Friday, August 7.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The $19 Billion Menopause Economy 05.08.2026 19m

  For generations, women have struggled to access information about menopause and how best to treat its symptoms. Social media and the rise of telehealth have filled some of that gap, giving way to a $19 billion economy. But is the commercial menopause marketplace serving women or leaving them behind? On today’s Big Take podcast, health and science journalist Kristen V. Brown explores the benefits and risks of the menopause treatment gold rush, and we hear from a woman who spent years navigating the vast market herself. Read more: The Menopause Gold Rush Is Failing Women We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Kristen V. Brown; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why a Weak Yen Is America’s Problem 04.08.2026 17m

  As the Japanese yen hit a 40-year low against the US dollar, Japan's government stepped in to support its currency. And it has a powerful ally in US President Donald Trump, who is putting the US financial might behind the historic currency intervention in what he called a “signal of friendship.” On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha sits down with chief Asia foreign exchange correspondent Ruth Carson to unpack how the yen fell so far, what it could take to get it back on track and what’s at stake for the global economy. Read more: Bessent Says Yen Level Problem for Japan, Other Currencies  Further listening: Carry Trades, Explained Could the Chinese Yuan Ever Replace the US Dollar? We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng, Yang Yang, Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Reported by Ruth Carson; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Tracey Samuelson. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger and Taka Yasuzawa. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Big Oil’s Big Wartime Profits 03.08.2026 17m

  US crude prices fell below $80 for much of the day Monday as oil traders factored in a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But even as reports of imminent peace deals or attacks jolt oil markets, fuel prices at US gas stations have remained high. Late last week, US oil companies Exxon and Chevron reported their biggest profits in years. On today’s Big Take podcast, oil reporter Mitchell Ferman joins host Sarah Holder to explain why oil companies are built for global conflict. Read more:  Big Oil Set to Reap Profit Bonanza From Soaring Fuel Prices Exxon, Chevron Steer Windfall Profits Into Paying Down Debt We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Laura Newcombe; Reported by Mitchell Ferman; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Weekend Listen: Why Private Credit Got Entangled With Insurance 02.08.2026 51m

  Insurers have quietly become a major driver of the private credit boom, with numerous private equity shops striking deals with insurance companies or buying them outright. But the entanglement with private credit is also changing the insurance industry itself, raising a number of questions about risk and regulation. In this week's Weekend Listen, Odd Lots speaks to Andrew Granato and Pranjal Drall, authors of a new paper, “Private Credit's State Backstop: How Private Equity Socializes Risk Through Insurers," examining the relationship between private credit and insurance. Granato (an assistant professor at the UT Austin Law School) and Drall (JD-PhD student in Financial Economics at Yale) talk to us about how PE got so interested in insurance in the first place, how both sides benefit from the relationship, and why taxpayers might ultimately be on the hook. Read more:Blue Owl Surges as Leaders Stress It’s More Than a Direct LenderAres $29 Billion Private Credit Fund Sees Uptick in Non-Accruals Only Bloomberg - Business News, Stock Markets, Finance, Breaking & World News subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots Subscribe to the Odd Lots NewsletterJoin the conversation: discord.gg/oddlotsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Future of the Democratic Party Runs Through Michigan 31.07.2026 18m

  The path to the future of the Democratic Party — and to the White House in 2028 — may well run through Michigan. The state’s upcoming Democratic primary election is a highly anticipated showdown between a Democratic-Socialist-backed candidate and a centrist one, who are vying for both a crucial seat in the US Senate and a major say in the party’s priorities. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with senior political correspondent Nancy Cook and Bloomberg Opinions’ Ronald Brownstein to unpack the stakes of the Democratic primaries in this midterm cycle and what they could reveal about the party’s future. Read more:  How the Michigan Primary Could Shape the Midterms Democrats’ 2028 Map Reshapes the Fight Between Left and Center   We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Nancy Cook and Ronald Brownstein; Edited by Naomi Shavin. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Sean Carter. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  ‘Skimpflation’ Could Be the Sneakiest Consumer Grift 30.07.2026 16m

  From margarine to chocolate treats, some brands are swapping in cheaper ingredients to save money on their most beloved products. It’s a trend known as “skimpflation.” But what happens when consumers start to notice? On today’s Big Take podcast, Stacey Vanek Smith hears from Brad Reese, grandson of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup creator, about his crusade against the practice, the multi-million-dollar cottage industry that’s formed around it and the economic conditions that got us here in the first place. Read more: How Brands Sneak In Cheaper Ingredients to Protect Their Profit Margins We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Can We Trust Election Prediction Markets? 29.07.2026 18m

  With the US midterms fast approaching, voters and the media are increasingly looking to a new forecasting tool: prediction markets. The leading platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket, have been touted as a truth serum for political forecasting — arenas for mass betting that reveal what people really think when they’ve got money on the line. But a new Bloomberg investigation has found evidence that these markets are vulnerable to manipulation. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg investigative reporter Liam Vaughan dig into what can happen when prediction markets mix with politics — and how cheap and easy it can be to sway them. Read more: How a Few Hundred Dollars Could Manipulate Election Prediction Markets We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Victor Swezey and David Fox; Reported by Liam Vaughan; Edited by Tracey Samuelson. Fact-checking by Julia Press; Engineering by Alex Sugiura. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How India’s Cockroach Party Became a Political Force 28.07.2026 18m

  Weeks of student-led protests forced the resignation of India’s education minister, in a rare public setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, guest host Rebecca Choong Wilkins and Bloomberg reporter Atul Dev discuss how India’s cockroach movement grew from a satirical online joke into a powerful anti-Modi protest and why its economic grievances resonate so deeply among young Indians at this moment. Read more: Awakened Indian Students Hand Modi One of His Biggest SetbacksIndia Youth Protests End as Modi Bows to Group’s Demands Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Naomi Ng; Reported by Atul Dev; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott, Paddy Hirsch and Julia Weaver.  Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Julia Press; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa, Alex Sugiura, Emma Munger Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Trump Rebuilds His Tariff Wall, Brick by Brick 27.07.2026 16m

  As President Trump paused strikes on Iran over the weekend, he ratcheted up pressure on another front: his renewed trade war. On Friday, the US president imposed levies of 10 or 12.5% on 60 economies, the first in many steps to rebuild the tariff wall destroyed when the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s IEEPA tariffs in February. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s global trade editor Brendan Murray sits down with host David Gura to break down the latest tariffs, what they reveal about the administration’s new strategy and whether they’ll hold up in court. Read more: Trump Rebuilds Tariffs With New Levies on 60 Economies How Trump’s Section 301 Tariffs Are Being Challenged in Court Watch more: US Trade Rep. Greer on China Relations and Section 301 Tariffs We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Weekend Listen: Can the US Actually Tax Billionaires? 26.07.2026 23m

  As wealth becomes increasingly concentrated — and artificial intelligence threatens to shift even more income from workers to investors — has the US tax system become outdated? On this Weekend Listen, Trumponomics' Stephanie Flanders speaks with Harvard professor Jason Furman, a former economic adviser to President Barack Obama, and Bloomberg reporter Caitlin Reilly about wealth taxes, capital gains, inheritance and whether taxing America's richest is politically or constitutionally possible. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.