Big Take

Watching footage of Russian attacks on Ukraine, Jonathan Tseng thought: That could happen here, too. So from his home in Taiwan, Jonathan — Tseng Sheng-Guang in Chinese — resolved to take up arms against Russia. He left his wife, son and his beseeching mother in June 2022 to join the ranks of foreign fighters in Ukraine. His decision mirrored his own fears about unwelcome aggression on Taiwan, should China move beyond decades of warnings and threats, and into open conflict, against the island it claims as its own. Bloomberg reporter Yang Yang spent several months looking for and talking to Jonathan’s family, friends and fellow soldiers in Ukraine, in order to understand more about what drove a young Taiwanese man to battle a neighboring aggressor, and what happened to him there. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elections this year will determine the leadership of 40% of the world’s population, spanning the United States, to Taiwan, to Mexico, to Senegal. On today’s Big Take podcast: What democracy’s big test means for the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We here at Big Take are big fans of our colleagues and friends over at the Elon, Inc podcast from Businessweek, hosted by David Papadopoulos. Please enjoy this episode, and hop on over to subscribe to their feed if you like what you hear!---- Were we talking about almost any other executive, the report by the Wall Street Journal over the weekend about Elon Musk’s alleged drug use would have qualified as a bombshell. The article contends the chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla has used a collection of substances. This, according to the Journal’s unidentified sources, has caused consternation within Musk’s companies, with Tesla board members and SpaceX executives privately expressing concerns that the alleged drug use may be making Musk unreliable and erratic. But it’s not clear that many people, either inside or outside Musk’s companies, are genuinely worried. Musk mostly laughed off the report, offering a jokey response suggesting that any drugs he was taking should be seen as performance enhancers and noting that he’d passed government-mandated drug tests “after that one puff on Rogan”—a reference to a 2018 interview with Joe Rogan during which he smoked marijuana. Investors have been largely unmoved by all of this, partly because during the period that Musk is alleged to have indulged in illicit substances, he also made them a great deal of money. And Musk has mostly gone back to his regular schedule of boosting conspiracy theories proffered by election deniers, white nationalists and other assorted right wing influencers. On this episode, we are joined by Loren Grush, a Bloomberg aerospace reporter and author of the NASA history, The Six, to discuss why these drug allegations haven’t hurt Musk and why a labor dispute involving SpaceX employees might be a bigger threat in the long run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of every year, Wall Street’s best and brightest release their predictions about where the economy is heading next. Markets reporter Sam Potter has pored through this year’s financial tea leaves – thousands of pages of them – and joined the show to share the most significant takeaways. Overall, there’s optimism about a “soft-ish” landing, disinflation, and continued consumer strength. But the consensus view has missed the mark before, and 2024 will bring new unknowns, from interest rate changes to technological advances to global elections. We walk through the possibilities, and the stakes: What can we expect if Wall Street is right? And what happens if they’re wrong? Read more: Here’s (Almost) Everything Wall Street Expects in 2024 Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://www.bloomberg.com/bigtakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, here's an episode you might have missed. Taylor Swift’s monumental success is due to her talent as a performer — as well as her business acumen. Bloomberg’s Devon Pendleton and Claire Ballentine join this episode to talk about how the pop star has taken ownership of her music, built a fiercely loyal fan base–and become a billionaire in the process. Read more: Taylor Swift Vaults to Billionaire Ranks With Blockbuster Eras Tour Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Michael Falero and Mo Barrow. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, here's an episode you might have missed. Catalytic converters are a vital part of emissions reduction in gas-powered vehicles. But that’s not why they’ve been making headlines. Thieves across the US have been sawing them off cars because they contain precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium. Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Evan Ratliff is here to tell the tale of a $500 million catalytic converter theft ring—and how local police departments and federal law enforcement brought it down. Read more: How Cops Cracked a $500 Million Catalytic Converter Crime Ring Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers Michael Falero and Mo Barrow. Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, here's an episode you might have missed. Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw and Sohee Kim join this episode to talk about Bang Si-Hyuk, South Korea’s enormously successful music mogul. The billionaire has built a K-pop empire with bands like BTS and New Jeans, and he’s now looking to expand on that model with a new, global act based in the US. Read more: The K-Pop Mogul Behind BTS Is Building the Next BTS Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Federica Romaniello, Associate Producer: Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, here's an episode you might have missed. Taiwan’s current Vice President, ​​Lai Ching-te, leads the polls in the upcoming January presidential election. The winner will have a lot to contend with–and at the top of the list is how to keep the peace with China amid rising tensions. Bloomberg Businessweek editor Joel Weber sat down with Vice President Lai for several wide-ranging interviews in Taiwan. Joel and Taipei deputy bureau chief Cindy Wang join this episode to talk about the challenges the next president will face in preserving a democratic Taiwan, and public concerns about the possibility of military conflict with China. Read more: Taiwan’s Election Is All About War Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Michael Falero and Mo Barrow Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, here's an episode you might have missed. Bloomberg’s Pratik Parija and Kai Schultz join this episode to discuss why the packaged food and beverage industry has its sights set on India—and what that means for the health and wellbeing of the 1.4 billion people who live there. Read more: Junk Food's $30 Billion Opening Is India's Next Health Crisis Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Federica Romaniello, Associate Producer: Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. She’s been an astronaut, a scientist and the president of the United States. Now Barbie is a movie star. Bloomberg’s Kelly Gilblom joins this episode to talk about Mattel’s bet that the $100 million Barbie movie debuting July 21 — and the launch of the company’s entertainment division — will revive its biggest brand, reel in new fans and help it reclaim the No. 1 spot of global toymaker. Read more: Mattel's Risky Bet on a Feminist Barbie Movie Just Might Work Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Mo Barrow, Michael Falero Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. The number of rat-related complaints in American cities has spiked in recent years. In the most overrun cities – Chicago, Washington, DC and New York – officials are stepping up efforts to find and kill them. New York is going so far as to hire a rat czar in charge of stamping them out. Good luck with that. Cities have tried and failed for decades to control rats. So what can be done to contain the population of these rapidly reproducing rodents? To answer that question, Big Take podcast producers Kathryn Fink, Rebecca Chaisson and Sam Gebauer hit the streets with a rat control squad in Washington and rodentologist Dr. Bobby Corrigan in New York. We also speak with New York Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The good news: we can bring rats under control. The bad news: human nature means we probably won’t. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Rebecca Chaisson, Associate Producer: Sam Gebauer. Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. About half of the enriched uranium that nations around the world use for nuclear power comes from Russia. It supplies almost a quarter of America’s 92 nuclear reactors and dozens of other plants across Europe and Asia. The US is now trying to change that with a big push to build up its own capabilities. Bloomberg’s Jonathan Tirone and Will Wade join this episode to talk about what it will take for the US and its allies to free themselves from Russian uranium. Read more: The Manhattan Project to Wean the World Off Russian Uranium Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Federica Romaniello, Associate Producer: Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. Google is able to collect a lot of information about the people who use its products on their phones, including where they are at any given time. A growing number of police departments across the US are seeking to obtain this data from Google to help solve crimes. Bloomberg’s Davey Alba and Julia Love join this episode to weigh the pros and cons of using location data in law enforcement, and the privacy concerns it raises. And Travis Staab, a police detective in Arizona, shares how he and his colleagues have used the information to track down suspects. Read more: Google User Data Has Become a Favorite Police Shortcut Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Sam Gebauer, Christine Driscoll, Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Mary Pilon joins this episode to talk about the promise–and challenges–of building a fanbase for the Women’s Football Alliance, an all-female, full-contact league that has 60 teams in four divisions across 32 states. And we head to a nighttime practice of the DC Divas, to hear from the players and coaches about why they love the game and what it means for women to play tackle football. Read more: Women Tackle Football With a Full-Contact League of Their Own. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Mo Barrow, Michael Falero Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed. The global pet economy is expected to reach nearly half a trillion dollars by 2030. After a pandemic surge in pet adoptions, more people are buying ever more expensive food and toys for their furry friends. But beyond these routine costs, a growing number of owners are also shelling out thousands for veterinary care to treat complex illnesses and keep their pets alive for longer. Bloomberg reporters Brendan Case and Nacha Cattan join this episode to give an expansive view of the industry, including how new diagnostic tools and medications are extending pet lifespans—and wearing down owners’ wallets. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Rebecca Chaisson, Associate Producer: Sam Gebauer. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions continue to grow between China and the big economic powers in Europe and the United States. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas are adding global uncertainty. As new geopolitical fault lines form, some nations are emerging as winners, according to an analysis of trade and investment data by Bloomberg Economics and Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg’s Maeva Cousin and Shawn Donnan join Scarlet Fu to walk through the findings, discussing the five winners and what’s happening there. Read more: These Five Countries Are Key Economic ‘Connectors’ in a Fragmenting World Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] episode was produced by: Federica Romaniello and Sam Gebauer. Sound Design/Engineer: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve suffered the slights of US public transportation in recent years, brace yourself for more grief. Transit agencies across the country have been grappling with reduced ridership and revenues since the pandemic. By next year, billions of dollars in emergency aid is slated to dry up, making matters that much worse. Budget shortfalls are likely to affect millions of Americans who rely on public transportation every day. Bloomberg reporter Skylar Woodhouse joins host Scarlet Fu to discuss overburdened and underfunded public transportation agencies—including some of the country’s largest—and the financial squeeze pushing them even closer to collapse. Read More: America’s Subways and Buses Face Deep Service Cuts as Federal Money Ends Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We here at The Big Take are big fans of our colleagues and friends over at the Elon, Inc podcast from Businessweek, hosted by David Papadopoulos. Please enjoy this episode, and hop on over to subscribe to their feed if you like what you hear!---- When Elon Musk announced his new AI chatbot “Grok” last month, almost everything about it looked like a publicity stunt or a vanity project or both. The product was seemingly built over a matter of months, it was only available to a small group of X users and its chief selling point was Musk’s promise it wouldn’t be constrained by the “woke mind virus.” He boasted that Grok’s chatbot was “based”—a slang term meaning unapologetically right wing—and posted fratty memes meant to emphasize Grok’s dominance over market-leading competitor ChatGPT. None of this inspired confidence. But with Grok now available to paying users of Musk’s social media platform, the reviews are coming in. And they’re surprisingly positive. This week we are joined by Bloomberg reporter Shirin Ghaffary, who has been testing out the new chatbot and comparing it ChatGPT and Google’s Bard chatbot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past year has been relentless for news, with indictments of a former US president, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Earth’s hottest year on record. It was a big year, too, for equality news in the US — including headlines that corporations made good on their 2020 vows to hire more people of color. But 2023 also saw challenges to affirmative action and access to abortion medication, and there are more questions for the year ahead. Will a diverse pool of workers hired in 2021, largely to entry-level jobs, be retained and promoted? How will working parents and especially mothers, who benefited from pandemic-era flexible work, weather shrinking childcare options? Bloomberg Equality reporter Kelsey Butler and Businessweek senior writer Claire Suddath join Nancy Cook to discuss these and other stories they’re watching. Read more: The Fight for Equality in 2023 Is a Very Long Game Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg News Now is a comprehensive audio report on today's top stories. Listen for the latest news, whenever you want it, covering global business stories around the world. on Apple: trib.al/Mx9TCh1 on Spotify: trib.al/T4BG8s4 Anywhere: trib.al/O4EX6BASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During its last two terms, the US Supreme Court and its six-member Republican-appointed supermajority showed its power to shape important policy issues that affect all Americans, bringing down significant and highly controversial rulings on abortion, student loan forgiveness and affirmative action. So what’s next? Bloomberg Supreme Court reporter Greg Stohr looks ahead at which cases are likely to be of greatest consequence this term—spanning gun rights, reproductive rights, speech on social media and how much power federal agencies should have. And later, we look at Donald Trump’s federal prosecutions, one of which is already before the court thanks to an extraordinary request from Special Counsel Jack Smith. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is a key swing state for next year’s presidential election – and despite Democrats controlling the state’s legislature and holding the governor’s seat, former President Donald Trump is ahead in polls. The latest Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll revealed that 46% of voters in the state said they would vote for Trump, and 42% backed President Joe Biden. The Big Take podcast sits down with Bloomberg’s Wendy Benjaminson and Jeff Green to dig into the data and understand what’s happening on the ground in this key swing state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most American voters are dissatisfied with both President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump. Barring any health surprises (Biden is 81 and Trump is 77) or other major twists (Trump is a defendant in four felony prosecutions), one of them is almost certainly going to win when voters go to the polls on Nov. 5, 2024. How are these two, currently unpopular candidates poised to become their parties’ presidential nominees without so much as a serious challenge? Bloomberg Businessweek national correspondent Joshua Green talks with Nancy Cook about how voters and donors are feeling about another Trump-Biden matchup. Read more: Who’s Ready for a Trump-Biden Rematch? Anyone? Hello? Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is facing the world's biggest exodus of millionaires and growing capital outflows. Yet at least one group is bucking the trend -- the growing number of ultrawealthy Chinese youth who are returning to the mainland.Rising geopolitical tensions, and the perception of increasing hostility abroad toward Chinese nationals, have led children of some of China's richest people to eschew what used to be coveted overseas jobs and foreign citizenship, and recalibrate to a life at home where the mantra is “stay humble, stay quiet." Bloomberg's K. Oanh Ha and Selina Xu explain how we got here, and how it will affect US-China relations.Read more: China’s Ultra-Rich Gen Zs Flock Home as Global Tensions RiseListen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of living in America has increased significantly since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic triggered a sudden deceleration of the world’s largest economy. Three years later, the spike in inflation that followed is finally easing as the US Federal Reserve aims optimistically for a soft landing. But that doesn’t mean the price of goods and services is falling back to Earth—at least not right away. Bloomberg reporters Reade Pickert and Jennah Haque crunched the numbers to see just how much more Americans are shouldering in their everyday expenses compared with pre-pandemic levels. Read more: Just How Bad Is the US Cost-of-Living Squeeze? We Did the Math Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reports of crimes targeting Jews, Muslims and Arabs have risen around the world in since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and the Israeli military’s retaliatory operation in Gaza. While previous conflicts in the Middle East also sparked a backlash outside the region, this time it is more intense and the wave of hate may be far from cresting, according to advocacy groups, former law enforcement officials and analysts. In this special edition of The Big Take, Stephen Carroll examines how these communities are confronting a global surge in hate speech and hate crimes. Read more: A Wave of Hate Crime Unleashed by Israel-Hamas War Is Testing the World Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With winter falling in Ukraine and Russia’s war there poised to enter its third year, supporters of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are nervous about whether they will have enough arms and military aid to support their defense. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has captured world attention. In the US, Senate Republicans have blocked $66 million in emergency Ukraine aid. And further out, Kyiv is closely watching the 2024 presidential prospects of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who has praised Russia’s Vladimir Putin and threatened to pull the US out of NATO. To discuss the prospects for Kyiv, Bloomberg’s Kyiv Bureau Chief Daryna Krasnolutska and Alberto Nardelli, Correspondent-at-large for Europe, join Rosalind Mathieson. Read more: Ukraine’s Struggle for Arms and Attention Gives Putin an Opening Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is selling, lending and donating weapons to its allies all over the world, but its supply chain can't keep up. Increased demand from America's allies, along with a three-decade trend of consolidation in the defense sector, has strained the stockpile of bullets, artillery shells and other weaponry that the country itself might need in the event of a war. The Big Take podcast sits down with Retired Army Major General John Ferrari and Bloomberg News reporter Courtney McBride to understand how the country got here and what it would take to boost production now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the globe, the housing boom is ending. In the US, a freeze is approaching, creating a barrier to entry for new homebuyers. In countries like New Zealand, Canada, Germany and France, a shortage of homes is colliding with a slowdown of new construction due to higher borrowing rates. And in the UK, landlords are bracing for pain as floating rate mortgages reset and the cost of living hits the highest level in a generation. Bloomberg’s Kara Wetzel and Ari Altstedter join this episode for a look at how the housing market is adjusting to higher interest rates, leaving homeowners trying to keep pace and buyers struggling to enter the market. Read more: Higher Interest Rates Are Shattering Housing Dreams Around the World Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We here at The Big Take wanted to introduce you to our colleagues and friends over at the Elon, Inc podcast from Businessweek, hosted by David Papadopoulos. Please enjoy this episode, and hop on over to subscribe to their feed if you like what you hear!----This time we assess the aftermath of an especially gonzo week in the life of Elon Musk—one in which the billionaire CEO delivered the first production units of his company’s latest vehicle (the Cybertruck), weighed in on his preferred candidates for the 2024 election (neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden) and offered a message to the chief executive of one of America’s most beloved brands (“Go f— yourself”). Such trash talk and worse has left Musk somewhat isolated, with advertisers like Disney still avoiding his social media platform over his endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode includes some disturbing descriptions of sexual acts and assault. If you have kids around, you might want to use headphones. And please take care when listening. Artificial intelligence and “generative AI” tools – think ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion – have become ingrained in our daily lives as a way to make aspects of work and life easier when used for its intended purpose. But many of them are open-source and widely available, giving users free rein to alter publicly available photos of people – including images taken from social media – to depict events that never happened in real life. These images are called “deepfakes” and increasingly, they’re being altered in sexually explicit ways and posted online without consent. While the photos are fake, the harm inflicted is real. Bloomberg’s Olivia Carville and Margi Murphy join this episode to describe the fallout when deepfake creators use AI to alter images and videos. Despite the harm to victims, there is little legal recourse under US law. Read more: No Laws Protect People From Deepfake Porn. These Victims Fought Back Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's attention has been on the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine. But US military planners and strategists are laser focused on China’s military capability and the possibility of a Taiwan invasion.Bloomberg’s Peter Martin joins this episode to talk about what Pentagon officials are watching for and whether China’s warfighting capabilities can match its substantial buildup of military hardware. Read more: Can China Fight? The Russia-Ukraine War Offers Warnings Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 80% of new homes built for sale in the US are in homeowners’ associations, or HOAs, or similar communities, which are governed by a board charged with keeping up shared spaces. HOAs maintain an often strict code to create an idyllic landscape across a neighborhood intended to protect property values. And for that, they charge monthly dues ranging from hundreds to more than $1,000. On top of that, seemingly small violations can draw big fines. About 20 states allow HOAs to claim the property, even over the bank, if an owner is behind on fees or fines. The Big Take podcast shares the story of a family that bought a new home in an idyllic HOA community, only to face foreclosure after falling behind on HOA fines and fees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg’s Israel Bureau Chief Ethan Bronner and contributor Fadwa Hodali join host Rosalind Matheison for the latest on the truce between Israel and Hamas as negotiations continue over the release of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's real estate market was once valued at more than $50 trillion. It made up a full quarter of the country's entire economy and made millions of people really rich. Now, it's in tatters, and upending hundreds of thousands of lives.In this episode, Bloomberg's Lulu Chen and Janet Paskin zoom in on the story of Huailan - a 35-year-old mother of two in North East China - and how her life took a sharp turn when Country Garden, China's biggest developer, defaulted. Read more:China Drafts List of 50 Property Firms Eligible for FundingChina’s Property Crisis Is Upending Tens of Thousands of LivesListen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg reporters Shawn Donnan and Claire Ballentine join this episode to discuss the results of a new Harris Poll for Bloomberg News, which found that the US Federal Reserve’s rapid increase in interest rates—aimed at fighting inflation—have more middle-class Americans worried about the economy than a year ago, even amid near-record employment. Read more: Middle-Class Americans Are Rattled by Fed’s Fight Against Inflation Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re taking a break today for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here’s a favorite episode from August that you might have missed. We’ll be back on Monday with a new episode. Have a great weekend. And thanks for listening! America’s first major offshore wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean is now under construction 15 miles south of Nantucket, off the coast of Massachusetts. Once complete, the 800-megawatt project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. But with inflation and rising interest rates stifling progress on some other wind projects, will the Biden administration reach its 2030 goal of generating 30 gigawatts of power from offshore turbines? Bloomberg’s Will Wade went out to see the Massachusetts project, and he joins this episode to explain the promise–and the problems–of erecting wind power on such a large scale. And Nick Schulz, a commercial diver working on the project, describes what it's like to build a massive turbine installation in deep water. Read more: Atlantic’s Biggest Offshore Wind Turbine to Rise Next Week in US Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re taking a break today for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here’s a favorite episode from October that you might have missed. We’ll be back on Monday. Thanks for listening! Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw and Sohee Kim join this episode to talk about Bang Si-Hyuk, South Korea’s enormously successful music mogul. The billionaire has built a K-pop empire with bands like BTS and New Jeans, and he’s now looking to expand on that model with a new, global act based in the US. Read more: The K-Pop Mogul Behind BTS Is Building the Next BTS Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, so here's an episode you might have missed. We'll be back on Monday with a new episode. The US Space Force, established in 2019, is the first new branch of the military to be created since 1947, and its mission is vast: defend US interests in space. But what exactly is the Space Force? And what does defending US interests in space mean or look like practically? As the nearly $900 billion defense spending bill winds its way through Congress, Wes went to the Pentagon to sit down with General David Thompson, the Vice Chief of Space Operations to learn what US interests in space are, and how the branch is developing. Bloomberg cybersecurity reporter Katrina Manson joins later to describe her visit to Space Command in Colorado and the importance of the US keeping a watch on its adversaries in zero gravity. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode originally aired on 7/26/23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, so here's an episode you might have missed. We'll be back on Monday with a new episode. Hundreds of thousands of people charged with crimes in the US each year are incarcerated while they await trial. Often it’s because they can’t afford to pay bail. New York City’s pretrial supervised release program aims to change that. A judge can opt to release some defendants under the supervision of a caseworker, who monitors their progress as they await their day in court. Bloomberg’s Fola Akinnibi and Sarah Holder join this episode to talk about how the program works, the fraught politics around it–and why it may become a blueprint for other cities and states. Read more: America Is the World Leader in Locking People Up. One City Found a Fix Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode originally aired 9/25/23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, so here's an episode you might have missed. We'll be back on Monday with a new episode. Even with a looming recession, high interest rates and a tight labor market, small businesses have been opening at record rates over the last few years, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. They’ve also been the primary driver of job creation in the US. Bloomberg reporter Enda Curran dug into why small businesses are having a moment—and the challenges owners are facing in this uncertain economy. Plus, meet the owners of a bakery and a microbrewery who discuss how they’ve been keeping their businesses afloat. Read more: The Pandemic Small-Business Boom Is Fueling the US Economy Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode originally aired on 10/2/23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catch up on some of the week’s biggest US stories. Bloomberg’s Mario Parker, Megan Scully and Zoe Tillman join this episode to talk about the Congressional stopgap bill that has temporarily averted a government shutdown; the latest on Donald Trump’s legal battles; and the narrowing Republican presidential field. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congress averted a government shutdown with days to spare. The way lawmakers did it — by leaving out deep spending cuts and relying on a bipartisan coalition to pass the bill — has already put House Speaker Mike Johnson on thin ice with some hardliners in his party. That disdain for compromise among members of the right flank of the GOP is one of the factors that cost the previous speaker his job. None of the infighting came as a surprise to former Representative Denver Riggleman, who served one term in Congress as a Republican for Virginia’s fifth congressional district before losing a primary challenge from a more conservative candidate. Like many in his party, Riggleman supported small government, the Second Amendment, and border security — but he also supported legalizing marijuana and providing some exceptions for abortion. “I was told I was a new type of Republican,” Riggleman said on the Big Take podcast. On this episode, Riggleman shares the story of his brief and explosive tenure in congress. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The transition from combustion engines to electric vehicles is well under way. It's a critical part of a historic transformation that will soon affect all consumers and businesses alike. In the race to dominate the market for EVs, China has been the standout as US companies struggle to become competitive. Bloomberg’s Colin McKerracher and Malcolm Scott join host Rosalind Mathieson to dig into how the EV revolution is shaking up the global economy. Read more: EV Market’s Surge Toward $57 Trillion Sparks Global Flashpoints Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg’s Paige Smith and Scott Carpenter join this episode to talk about why the subprime auto loan market is thriving—and what that means for lower-income car owners who face high interest rates and the possibility of losing their vehicles. Read more: How Wall Street Makes Millions Selling Car Loans Customers Can’t Repay Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg’s Ashlee Vance joins this episode to talk about his exclusive reporting on Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant startup that’s gearing up for its first human clinical trial. Read more: Elon Musk’s Brain Implant Startup Is Ready to Start Surgery Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Bloomberg, we’re always talking about the biggest business stories, and no one is bigger than Elon Musk. In this new chat weekly show, host David Papadopoulos and a panel of guests including Businessweek’s Max Chafkin, Tesla reporter Dana Hull, Big Tech editor Sarah Frier, and more, will break down the most important stories on Musk and his empire. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Nike, Bud Light, Target and Disney have in common? They’re all brands that have been caught up in America’s political and culture wars. Corporations once tried to stay out of politics. Now they often find themselves under pressure from customers to take a stand on issues including racial discrimination, police violence and LGBTQ rights. And that’s sometimes led to protests and calls for boycotts. Bloomberg Businessweek’s national correspondent Joshua Green reports that many CEOs must now weigh which poses a bigger risk to their brands—speaking up or staying quiet. Read more: No One Understands Corporate Boycotts Like This Former Trump Researcher Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the pandemic, the US government granted millions of homeowners a temporary pause in their mortgage payments. Hundreds of thousands of military veterans were among those who participated in the program. After the pause lifted, they thought they would pick up their payments where they’d left off. For many of them, that wasn’t the case. Bloomberg's Caleb Melby and Polly Mosendz join this episode to explain why veterans across the country have found themselves battling lenders that are threatening to foreclose on their homes—and what if anything is being done to help them. Read more: Veterans Got a Mortgage Break. Now They're Losing Their Homes Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is still playing the Republican presidential primary field. With a little more than two months until the first caucus, the four-term Republican governor still hasn't made a pick. And he’s a major voice in his party — someone who some Republicans and independents wish had run for president himself. He instead chose to advise other candidates in the race. “Republicans could be in real trouble in ’24,” Sununu told Senior Washington Correspondent Saleha Mohsin. “We lost in ’22.” Mohsin spoke with Sununu over Zoom about the third Republican presidential primary debate and what the 2024 election means for the future of the party.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.