Big Take

We're taking a break this week, so here's a favorite you might have missed. We'll be back with fresh episodes next week. Record temperatures in Texas and across the southern US this summer put immense strain on the electric grid, as residents battled the heat by cranking up the AC. But experts say grid pressure could get even worse this winter. Bloomberg’s Naureen Malik joins this episode to discuss whether America’s infrastructure can support an increasingly electrified economy—and what can be done to avoid mass blackouts in the coming months. Read more: America’s Biggest Power Source Wasn’t Built for Extreme Weather 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] episode originally aired in June 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a pause this week, so here's a favorite episode you might have missed. Thanks for listening. We'll be back with new episodes next week. As the saying goes: a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on. As AI is increasing productivity across industries, it’s also raising concern about how to regulate its output and keep it from putting many of us out of work. And as the next campaign season approaches, another question comes into focus: What about its potential to quickly create and spread misinformation about political rivals? Bloomberg’s Laura Davison and Emily Birnbaum raise the curtain on the little regulated and largely vexing ability to disseminate political hay and deepfakes via a chatbot. Read more: AI Is Making Politics Easier, Cheaper and More Dangerous 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] episode originally aired in July 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break this week, so here's a favorite episode you might have missed. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back with new episodes next week. People around the world rely on satellites for their internet connections, credit card transactions–and even to keep track of time. Last year, a suspected Russian-led satellite hack exposed how vulnerable they are to security breaches, from individual hackers seeking to pilfer information for profit and governments looking to weaken their adversaries. Bloomberg reporter Katrina Manson joins this episode to discuss the fallout of the hack, and what companies and governments are doing to harden their systems against future attacks. Plus, James Pavur, a hacker and Pentagon cybersecurity expert, walks us through how satellites are compromised, and what we can do to keep our own data from being stolen. Read more here: The Satellite Hack Everyone Is Finally Talking About. 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 in March 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s economic slowdown is catching the attention of countries around the world as they brace for a possible hit to their own economies. Bloomberg’s Rebecca Choong Wilkins and Tom Hancock discuss why President Xi Jinping is avoiding a big stimulus package and instead allowing China’s economy to run “cold”—and how long it may take to turn things around. Read more: Run It Cold: Why Xi Jinping Is Letting China’s Economy Flail 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.

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 Wes and 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.

Donald Trump says he’ll be a no-show tonight at the first Republican debate of the 2024 US presidential campaign. Still, at least one of his rivals for the party nomination is expected to take square aim at the former president: Chris Christie. The former New Jersey governor who once supported Trump is now his loudest Republican critic. So far, his low ranking in the polls suggests that attacking the most popular man in the party is not the way to win over Republican voters. But does Christie really have his eye on the White House, or does he just hope to stop Trump from moving back in?Bloomberg Businessweek national correspondent Joshua Green has been following Christie on the campaign trail, and he joins this episode to answer the question on the minds of Republicans across the country: What does Chris Christie really want? Read more: Chris Christie Is Absolutely, Totally 100% Anti-Trump. For Now 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] 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.

By now we’re familiar with the many ways hackers and scammers try to fool us into handing over our personal data–and our money. But the thieves keep getting more sophisticated. And now they have a powerful new tool at their disposal: artificial intelligence, which can mimic websites, financial documents and even our faces and voices. In this episode, Bloomberg’s Nabila Ahmed and Adam Haigh talk about the new wave of financial fraud that’s taking shape–and how banks and governments are racing to keep up. Read more: Deepfake Imposter Scams Are Driving a New Wave of Fraud 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.

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.

The US and Iran recently announced a surprise agreement: Both nations will release prisoners, and the US will unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue. Bloomberg’s Courtney McBride joins this episode to discuss what we know about the terms of the deal, and what it suggests about the possibility of renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Plus, Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, weighs in on what’s ahead for the Iran-US relationship. Read more: Iran Transfers US Citizens From Prison in Step Toward Deal 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 recent congressional hearing on unidentified aerial phenomenon–also known as UAPs– gave a high-profile platform to what we used to call UFOs. But why now–and was this a substantive government inquiry or a summertime Washington diversion? Bloomberg’s Roxana Tiron and Megan Scully join this episode to make sense of the hearing and claims that UAPs may pose a threat to national security. And astronomer Seth Shostak gives his view of theories that some UAPs may be alien spacecraft. Read more: Close Encounters With UFOs Described to Congressional Committee 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.

Donald Trump was indicted on Monday for the fourth time since he left office. But this sweeping case, which zeroes in on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, is different from the other criminal cases brought against him in New York, Florida and Washington, DC. Most notably: the former president has been charged under racketeering laws often associated with efforts to prosecute mobsters. And some of Trump’s closest aides are also charged in the 41-count indictment, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, along with 16 other people.Bloomberg’s Zoe Tillman and Erik Larson join this episode to talk about how the case will unfold from here–and why Trump will have a harder time securing a pardon–or avoiding prison–if he’s convicted. Read more: Trump’s Fourth Indictment: Five Ways Georgia Is Different 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.

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 Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might think America’s top 10 percent would consider themselves rich – but a new Bloomberg survey finds that many of them don’t feel that way. Bloomberg’s Craig Giammona and Claire Ballentine join this episode to share what they learned when they asked people across the country a simple but not-so-simple question: How rich or poor do you feel today? Plus, Yale social psychologist Michael Kraus discusses how perceptions of wealth shape our well-being, sense of self and relationship to others. Read more: Miami to Austin, Where Your Paycheck Would Go Further 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.

Catch up on some of the week’s biggest stories from the US and across the globe. Bloomberg’s Marc Champion, Courtney McBride and Jordan Fabian join this episode to discuss the latest on the US presidential race and the coming Republican debates; rising tensions in the Black Sea; and the uneven global economic recovery. Plus, the stories they’ll be keeping a close eye on in the weeks ahead. 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.

Real estate planners often think about how to reduce a project’s carbon footprint. A new apartment complex under construction in Arizona is taking that idea one step further. Culdesac Tempe is designed to be entirely car-free. And not just for the good of the climate but as a lifestyle choice for people who want to get rid of the hassle and expense of a car-centric existence. But will large numbers of people really choose to ditch their cars altogether? Bloomberg’s Ira Boudway went to Arizona to find out. Read more: This Development Wants Residents to Ditch Their Cars. In Phoenix. 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.

When Tesla built the Model 3 — the first electric car for the masses — it was a breakthrough for the company and the start of a new chapter for the auto industry. A lot has changed since then, so Bloomberg rebooted a survey of 5,000 owners to ask how things held up. This time, their answers had a lot to do with the man behind the cars. Bloomberg’s Tom Randall shares some key takeaways from this new survey. Read more: Tesla Owners Have Soured on Elon Musk, But Still Love Their Model 3s 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 Inflation Reduction Act has given the US an edge in future manufacturing, with billions of dollars in incentives to lure battery plants and chip makers to the US. But it’s also led to tension with close allies that can’t match the amounts the US is offering companies. Bloomberg’s Brian Platt, Gabrielle Coppola and Enda Curran join this episode to talk about how this competition—and the race to keep up with China—is reshaping the global green economy. Read more: Subsidy Wars Heat Up With US Allies Forced to Pay Up or Lose Out 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.

Three months into the writers’ and actors’ strike, the role of artificial intelligence in Hollywood has emerged as a central issue in the dispute between studios and creatives. Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins this episode to discuss how studios are already using AI—and why writers and actors are so concerned about what it means for their livelihoods. Read more: AI in Hollywood Has Gone From Contract Sticking Point to Existential Crisis 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.

Despite global efforts to slow the effects of climate change, July was the hottest month on record in over 125,000 years. The good news is, powerful new technology not available just a few years ago can help turn things around, if we get serious about taking action. Bloomberg’s Eric Roston, Zahra Hirji and John Ainger join this episode to discuss what it will take—and how much it will cost—to stop the warming of the world. Read more: An Overheating Planet Requires Extreme Climate Solutions 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.

Donald Trump is expected to appear today in federal court in Washington, DC, where he faces criminal conspiracy charges that allege he interfered with the 2020 presidential election. It’s the third criminal case against the former president. Bloomberg’s Sara Forden and Zoe Tillman discuss what they’ll be watching for in the courtroom, as well as how Trump’s legal peril will shape his campaign in the weeks and months ahead. Read more: Trump Prepares for First Court Date in DC on New Federal Charges 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.

In early January, after a grueling 15 rounds of voting, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated some concessions with members of the far-right Freedom Caucus – more congressional power in exchange for their votes – to secure his speakership. McCarthy is now feeling the squeeze of their influence in several battles consuming the House. Bloomberg’s Megan Scully and Billy House join guest host Craig Gordon for a play-by-play of how the Freedom Caucus is exerting their brawn.Read more: McCarthy Ramps Up Talk of Potential Biden Impeachment 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.

In what’s being hailed as a ‘Great Reset,' how the world does business looks very different now than it did before Covid. Bloomberg Markets magazine sent reporters all around the globe to see what the new order of global trade looks like on the ground. Bloomberg’s Brendan Murray, Malcolm Scott and Jenny Leonard join guest host Rosalind Mathieson to discuss what they found. Read more: War, AI and Climate Change Shake Up $32 Trillion in Global Trade 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 European Union became one of the first in the world to take wide-reaching action to regulate artificial intelligence when it passed a draft law in June. The proposal would put new guardrails around the use and development of artificial intelligence, including curbing the use of facial recognition software and increasing ChatGPT’s transparency. Bloomberg’s Jillian Deutsch joins guest host Rosalind Mathieson to talk about how the EU pulled ahead in the race to regulate AI, and why concerns are growing about AI being overregulated. Columbia Law School Professor Anu Bradford discusses what the global effect will be if this far-reaching regulatory framework is enacted into law. Read more: Big Tech Wants AI Regulation — So Long as Users Bear the Brunt 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 Biden administration is preparing a new plan to cancel debt for some student loan borrowers, after the Supreme Court struck down its original attempt last month. Guest host Nancy Cook sits down with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren to ask how she’s advocating for the Biden administration’s plan B for student loan debt and why the issue has become such a hot button topic in Washington. Bloomberg’s Akayla Gardner forecasts what’s next as the political fight over student debt rages on. Read more: Biden Administration to Forgive $39 Billion in Student Debt 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] 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.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to power with a string of superlatives. She’s the country’s first female prime minister, and she’s brought in the most right-wing government in decades. Now, nine months into her term, she faces a series of tests: on China, the war in Ukraine and a looming EU recession. Bloomberg’s Chiara Albanese and Alessandra Migliaccio join guest host Rosalind Mathieson to talk about Meloni’s rise to power and where she plans to take Italy next. Read more: Giorgia Meloni Seeks to Cement Power by Remaking Corporate Italy 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 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] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American-made guns are pouring into countries all over the globe, even more so after the US made it easier to export guns in 2020. Even as America’s mass shootings horrify the world and gun-crime rates rise in many of the importing countries, the US government is playing a key role as the firearm industry’s booster and concierge. Bloomberg’s Michael Riley, David Kocieniewski and Patpicha Tanakasempipat join this episode to talk about one gunmaker, Sig Sauer. It has benefited the most from the push for more gun exports and has found a large customer base in Thailand. Read more: How the US Drives Gun Exports and Fuels Violence 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]. Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates gun-safety measures, is backed by Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, park rangers in South Africa have tried to stop poachers who kill rhinos for their valuable horns. But it’s impossible to keep up–and rhinoceros populations have continued to fall. Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Jonathan Franklin reports that now, the rangers are taking a creative new approach to outmaneuver the poachers—and protect the animals. Read more: A Rhino Is Worth More Dead Than Alive 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 trying something new today. Instead of bringing you just one important story, we’re rounding up some of the week’s biggest news from the US and across the globe. Bloomberg’s Nancy Cook, Craig Gordon and Rosalind Mathieson join this episode to discuss the latest from the 2024 campaign trail, the war in Ukraine and the high stakes talks between the US and China. Plus, they tell us what stories they’ll be keeping a close eye on in the weeks ahead. 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.

Meta’s new Twitter-like social media platform called Threads is signing up users at a record pace. But will it last–and will it be a “Twitter killer”? Bloomberg Businessweek writer Max Chafkin is…skeptical. He says that after years of explosive growth, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are facing big challenges. Many longtime users are spending less time each day scrolling through their feeds. Max joins this episode to talk about why people are putting down their phones and choosing to spend more time IRL. Read more: Threads, Twitter and the No-Attention 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] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven percent of US households and businesses lack basic broadband internet. The Biden administration plans to remedy that with $42 billion in federal broadband infrastructure grants that will be split up among the fifty states and US territories. Bloomberg telecommunications reporter Todd Shields joins this episode to discuss how local governments will spend this money, and what it will take to bridge the so-called digital divide. And Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, describes the challenges of bringing broadband to rural America. Read more: Biden Touts Billions for Broadband in Economic Pitch to Voters 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.

The US Battery Belt, which stretches from Michigan to Georgia, has emerged as a regional hub for building electric vehicle batteries and other components critical to emerging technologies. But the push to bolster US manufacturing—soon to be flush with billions of dollars from Washington—is rubbing up against a shortage of skilled workers. Bloomberg reporters Mackenzie Hawkins and Reade Pickert join this episode to talk about Tennessee, a key Battery Belt state, where an education-focused plan is underway to recruit and train tomorrow’s workforce. Read more: The US is Building Factories Again, But Who Will Work There? 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.

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 Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world can’t wait for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which starts later this month. Ticket sales are on track to smash records, and viewership has grown significantly since its 1991 inception. But when it comes to equity between the men’s and women’s tournaments, there’s still a long way to go. Bloomberg’s Jennah Haque joins this episode to talk about why the Women’s World Cup still lags behind the men’s tournament in pay, prize money and all-important media rights–and what’s being done to close the gap. Read more: World Cup Turns Up the Pressure for TV to Embrace Women's Soccer 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 epic crash and burn of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX crypto empire in November was huge global news. Eight months later, the crypto world is still feeling the after-shocks—with embarrassed celebrity endorsers, a scrubbed stadium logo and billions of dollars drained from the accounts of ordinary people. Bloomberg’s Hannah Miller and Allyson Versprille join this episode to talk about the next big challenge for crypto exchanges: Washington. Federal agencies are taking a hard look at new regulations to police cryptocurrencies and protect investors–and taking legal action against some of the industry’s biggest players. Read more: Crypto Gets Its Moment of Clarity, But Not the One It Wanted 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] episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Mo Barrow, Rebecca Chaisson, Michael Falero and Federica Romaniello, Associate Producers: Sam Gebauer and Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineers: Raphael Amsili and Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the saying goes: a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on. As AI is increasing productivity across industries, it’s also raising concern about how to regulate its output and keep it from putting many of us out of work. And as the next campaign season approaches, another question comes into focus: what about its potential to quickly create and spread misinformation about political rivals? Bloomberg’s Laura Davison and Emily Birnbaum raise the curtain on the little regulated and largely vexing ability to disseminate political hay and deepfakes via a chatbot. Read more: AI Is Making Politics Easier, Cheaper and More Dangerous 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.

For decades, India has been a top player in global pharmaceuticals. But its drug regulatory system came under scrutiny after toxic chemicals were found in Indian-produced medicine that led to the deaths of scores of children in Gambia. Bloomberg reporter Zachary Mider and contributor Swati Gupta discuss their investigation into a pharmaceutical company and the ripple effects of its supply chain across the globe. Read more: Poisoned Cough Syrup Killed Kids. Authorities Cut the Investigation Short 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.

What it means to be a conservative has changed dramatically in the decades since Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Bloomberg Opinion’s Global Business Columnist Adrian Wooldridge argues not all of that change has been for the better. He joins this episode to talk about why he believes conservatism in the US and UK has lost sight of its roots—and what conservatives can do to find their way back. Read more: Conservatism Is In Crisis — But Can Be Rescued 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.

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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year’s NATO summit begins next week in Vilnius, Lithuania—and once again, the alliance’s response to the war in Ukraine is top of mind. Bloomberg’s Natalia Drozdiak and Niclas Rolander discuss this year’s agenda, including the implications of expanding NATO as Sweden’s membership bid hangs in the balance. 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 American middle class is feeling the squeeze: inflation, wages that haven’t kept up, higher interest rates and fluctuating markets are all adding up to a loss of collective wealth. Bloomberg’s Shawn Donnan and a team of journalists are following the economic lives of two dozen middle class families across the country as we head into the 2024 election. In this first installment we hear from four of them. What does it mean to be middle class in America today–and how will their shifting fortunes influence the way they vote? Read more: The US Middle Class's Economic Anxiety Will Decide the 2024 Election 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 Big Take team is taking a break for the Fourth of July holiday in the US, so we wanted to share this episode you might have missed. Back tomorrow!---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 Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected]. This episode was originally released May 15, 2023, and 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.

Record temperatures in Texas and across the southern US are putting immense strain on the electric grid, as residents battle the heat by cranking up the AC. But experts say grid pressure could get even worse this winter. Bloomberg’s Naureen Malik joins this episode to discuss whether America’s infrastructure can support an increasingly electrified economy—and what can be done to avoid mass blackouts in the coming months. Read more: America’s Biggest Power Source Wasn’t Built for Extreme Weather 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 Supreme Court is wrapping up yet another eventful term, with decisions in major cases that will have a lasting impact on Americans’ lives. Bloomberg’s Greg Stohr and Zoe Tillman join this episode to talk about how in recent years, the high court has become more willing to assert its power and enhance its role among the three branches of government. At the same time, ethics controversies and rising public perception that the justices are sometimes overtly political have lowered confidence in the court. Read more: An Aggressive Supreme Court Reshapes the US as Its Standing Erodes 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 introduction was updated on Friday, 6/30 to reflect the two Supreme Court rulings out Friday morning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, telecommunications companies were vying for a lucrative contract to upgrade Denmark’s cellular network to 5G. The competition came down to two finalists: The Swedish telecom Ericsson, and the Chinese technology giant Huawei. Then things got weird. Bloomberg Businessweek writers Jordan Robertson and Drake Bennett are back again with another captivating investigation–this one featuring eavesdropping, a drone and the frantic hunt for a suspected leaker. Read more: When a Huawei Bid Turned Into a Hunt for a Corporate Mole 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.

For decades, Germany has been the driving force of Europe’s economy. But now, as it emerges from a winter recession, the nation’s resilience is showing signs of breaking down–and that could mean trouble for the rest of the continent. Bloomberg’s William Wilkes and Jana Randow join from Frankfurt to talk about why Germany has lost its economic edge–and what it will take to get it back. Read more: Europe’s Economic Engine Is Breaking Down 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] episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Federica Romaniello, Associate Producer: Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineers: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of Americans depend on public assistance programs to help pay for food and make ends meet. But it’s not always easy for them to manage the red tape required to keep those benefits coming. Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Bryce Covert joins this episode with the story of a nonprofit called Code For America. It works with states to make navigating government bureaucracies less of a hassle. And we also hear from Code For America’s Genevieve Miller. Read more: How Many People Does It Take for the Government to Send a Text? 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.

Moscow is quiet again after an armed insurrection in Russia over the weekend ended as quickly as it began. But the uprising has left President Vladimir Putin weakened in the eyes of many Kremlin watchers, including US and European officials. Bloomberg’s Flavia Krause-Jackson joins this episode to talk about what this unprecedented threat to Putin’s authority means for his hold on power. And how turmoil inside the Kremlin and at the top of the military could further complicate Russia’s war in Ukraine. 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.

Americans love beef, and always have. But when it comes to the meat they actually choose to eat, chicken takes the crown. Bloomberg’s Matt Townsend and Leslie Patton join this episode to explain how poultry came to dominate the American diet. And historian Emelyn Rude shares what the past can tell us about where the industry goes from here. 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.

Microsoft is a household name when it comes to Word docs, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, but it’s not the first name many people think of when it comes to cool new tech. At least until recently. The company’s big investment in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has now launched it to the forefront of tech innovation. Bloomberg Businessweek writer Max Chafkin joins this episode to tell the story of how the company that once brought us Clippy the interactive paperclip became a power player in the new frontier of artificial intelligence. Read more: Microsoft’s Sudden AI Dominance Is Scrambling Silicon Valley’s Power Structure 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.