Big Take

By 2030, people over the age of 65 in the US will outnumber those under 18. That’s in part because people are living longer—a testament to modern medicine. But are our health systems and social programs equipped to support so many seniors at the same time? Bloomberg reporter Priya Anand brings us the details on a tech startup that’s trying to fill part of the void in senior care—and the challenges it’s facing. And health economist Jonathan Skinner talks about how the US can actually meet the needs of aging Baby Boomers. Read more: Assault Allegations Plague a $1.4 Billion Home Eldercare Startup 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.

Anti-immigration sentiment has been rising on the right in many countries around the world, including the US, UK, France and Italy–even as these nations are grappling with declining birth rates and aging work forces. Canada has decided to try an entirely different approach: welcoming in large numbers of immigrants to fill key jobs and boost the economy. So, how’s it working? Bloomberg reporter Randy Thanthong-Knight walks us through the ups and downs of this ambitious experiment. Read more: Mass Immigration Experiment Gives Canada an Edge in Global Race for Labor 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.

NOTE: This episode originally aired in December 2022.---In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, some of the biggest mortgage lenders in the US promised to extend billions in new loans to Black homebuyers. That hasn’t happened. Instead, the numbers are going in the opposite direction.Bloomberg senior economics writer Shawn Donnan joins this episode to talk about why banks have fallen short of the goal–and what it means for families across the country. Dedrick Asante-Muhammad of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition also joins to spell out what needs to be done to fix the problem. Read more: Big US Banks Fall Short on Promises to Create Black Homeowners 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.

We’re on the cusp of a natural – but significant – shift from a cooling weather phase known as La Niña to its considerable opposite–El Niño. This change will bring warming trends globally, and many unwelcome consequences. In some parts of the world, past El Niño events brought drought that destroyed crops and added to fire risks. In other regions, it led to flooding that destroyed homes. El Niños have caused inflation spikes, sapped economic productivity, strained power grids, and driven up food prices. And the extreme heat can also create public health emergencies. Bloomberg’s Ben Sharples and Brian K Sullivan tell us what to expect from this El Niño, and how it will impact our lives. Read more: This El Niño Threatens New Levels of Global Economic Destruction 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.

America’s affordable housing shortage has been getting worse for decades. Now, some states are trying to ease this crisis by enacting what's been called a “builder's remedy.” These are rules that override local zoning laws and allow developers to build housing in cities that fail to meet state targets. It’s one of several carrots and sticks governors are wielding to pressure cities into freeing up land for development. What will it take to build enough affordable places to live across the US? Bloomberg CityLab writers Kriston Capps and Sarah Holder highlight the pitfalls of the current housing shortage, and how states are getting creative to force change. Read more: Housing-Strapped States Reach for a Fraught Fix: the ‘Builder’s Remedy’ 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, Producers: Mo Barrow, Michael Falero. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As pressure mounts on lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence, another problem area of the technology is emerging: AI-generated images. Early research shows these images can be biased and perpetuate stereotypes. Bloomberg reporters Dina Bass and Leonardo Nicoletti dug deep into the data that powers this technology, and they join this episode to talk about how AI image generation works—and whether it’s possible to train the models to produce better results. Read more: Humans Are Biased. Generative AI Is Even Worse 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 enters a Miami courtroom today to hear federal criminal charges related to his handling of classified documents that he took with him when he left the White House. The former president also faces investigations into his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and whether he bears some responsibility for the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Bloomberg’s Sara Forden and Zoe Tillman dive into the details of the charges against Trump—and what happens next. Read more: Trump Indictment Highlights the Perils of Being His Lawyer 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.

South Korea’s stock market is one of the largest in Asia. The nation is home to huge conglomerates including Samsung and Hyundai. And yet Korea is still listed as an emerging market — not a developed one — by MSCI, the investment research firm that provides influential market indexes. Korea argues it should be elevated to MSCI’s World Index, where it would sit alongside the US, UK, Germany and other developed economic powers. The company is expected to decide this month. Bloomberg’s Youkyung Lee and Henry Ren join this episode to talk about why this move matters so much to South Korea — and why some companies and market watchers are having second thoughts about whether such a move is a good idea — or even worth it. Read more: Why Bringing a $1.8 Trillion Stock Market to the Big Leagues Could Backfire 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.

Cities up and down the eastern coast of the US are experiencing record levels of air pollution from the recent Canadian wildfire smoke. The worsening air quality and associated health risks recall another major set of wildfires in recent years: the Black Summer bushfires that devastated many parts of Australia in 2019 and 2020. We're bringing you this recent episode about the bushfires, as wildfires and their health consequences become more frequent in the US, Europe, and around the globe. Bloomberg reporters Amy Bainbridge and Angus Whitley join this episode to discuss what doctors have learned from Australia’s fires about the long-term health hazards of breathing wildfire smoke–especially for children.Read more: Wildfire’s Toxic Legacy Leaves Children Gasping for Air Years LaterListen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAKHave questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, African American activists, scholars, and elected officials have called for reparations to address the long legacy of slavery and racism in the US. Now, California is beginning to take action. The state has put together a reparations task force to make recommendations to lawmakers in this first attempt of its kind, which also hopes to serve as a template for other states. Who would be compensated, and how much would they receive? Bloomberg’s California Bureau Chief Karen Breslau joins this episode to share her reporting on the draft details of the plan. And Kamilah Moore, who chairs California’s Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, talks about their efforts to put numbers on injustice. Read more: California Puts a Price on Slavery’s Legacy and Draws a Blueprint for Reparations. 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.

European football is one of the world’s most popular sports, and billionaires, hedge funds, and sovereign wealth funds want a piece of it. They’re purchasing clubs, or stakes in them. But whether it’s for money, the love of the game, or positive PR—that depends on the owner. Bloomberg’s Giles Turner and Irene Garcia Perez join this episode to talk about the patchwork of club owners, and whether football is actually a winning investment. 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.

Since the 1940s, summer camp has offered adventure, lifelong friendships, and…much-needed childcare for families. But these days, it’s fraught with high prices and limited openings. Bloomberg reporter Claire Suddath and Businessweek contributor Lydia Kiesling join this episode to talk about why getting kids into summer camp has become such a pain point for many working parents. Read more: How Summer Camp Became Such a Hot Mess for Parents 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.

Syria is back in the 22-nation Arab League bloc after more than a decade of isolation. So what does this mean for countries outside the region, like the US? Bloomberg managing editor Sylvia Westall and reporter Daniel Flatley join guest host Rosalind Mathieson to talk about the impact of Syria’s reinstatement 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 months-long fight over raising the debt ceiling is finally over. That means the threat of the US defaulting on its debts, and the resulting economic crisis, is off the table – at least for the next two years. So what happened? And how will it shape the economy, the political climate, and future debt negotiations? Bloomberg Congressional reporter Steven Dennis and White House reporter Jordan Fabian join guest host Nancy Cook to break down what the final agreement says and the impact it will have. Read more: Debt-Limit Deal Clears Congress, Ending Threat of US Default 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 two recent open letters, leaders and developers of artificial intelligence called for a pause of large AI projects to take stock of their impact. In tandem, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, went to Congress to ask lawmakers to regulate his own industry. What can be done to keep developers in check while allowing innovation to flourish? Bloomberg AI reporters Dina Bass and Rachel Metz join guest host Craig Gordon to talk about these longtime AI whistleblowers and why the latest calls from industry leaders may be a sincere attempt to establish some rules of the road. Read More: Microsoft Calls for a New US Agency and Licensing for AI 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] podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolin\a, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producer: Rebecca Chaisson, Associate Producer: Sam Gebauer. Sound Design/Engineers: Raphael Amsili and Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hegang, a remote coal town in northern China that faced a mountain of debt, was forced to undergo an unprecedented financial restructuring. And it’s not alone. A local debt problem in some of China’s cities threatens to be a drag on the world’s second-largest economy for years to come. Bloomberg’s Colum Murphy and James Mayger join this episode from Beijing to talk about what’s happening in Hegang and other cities, and why China’s local debt challenges may be felt well beyond its borders. Read more: China’s $23 Trillion Local Debt Mess Is About to Get Worse 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] podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: 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.

What is Adidas without Yeezy? It’s making a lot less money for starters. Last year, longtime collaborator Ye — previously known as Kanye West — finally pushed executives too far with his outbursts and a series of anti-Semitic rants. Adidas cut ties on a collaboration worth billions. It left a gaping hole in Adidas’s profits and exposed the challenges that one of Germany’s biggest companies now faces. Bloomberg reporters Kim Bhasin and Tim Loh join this episode to walk through how it all unfolded, and where Adidas goes from here. Read more: Adidas After Yeezy 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.

Automation has crept into the way all kinds of products are manufactured, but machines have also been making inroads into a different type of industry: food services. Beyond touch screens and self checkouts taking over jobs once done by humans, restaurants and fast food chains are experimenting with robots to make your pizza and assemble your salad. Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Elizabeth Dunn joins this episode to talk about her reporting on Sweetgreen, a salad chain that’s taking its first leap into a largely automated experience in a Chicago-area location. And restaurant reporter Daniela Sirtori-Cortina looks at the public-facing side of restaurant automation. Read more: Sweetgreen Tests Robots to Make Faster, More Efficient Sad Desk Salads 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 knee for the holiday, so we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes. Enjoy, we'll be back tomorrow!-------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 Wes and the team? Reach us at [email protected] podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: 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.

The shale revolution has powered the US economy, shaken up oil markets, and shaped America’s foreign policy. That may soon begin to change as the growth in shale oil productions slows. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Javier Blas joins this episode to talk about how important the shale bonanza has been for the US, and what–if anything–can ultimately replace it. Read more: Wall Street Is Finally Going to Make Money Off the Permian 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.

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, first emerged in the 1990s as a way for employees to securely log in to their office computer from home. Now, VPN providers market them to people looking to protect their web searches, location, and personal data from advertisers and other prying eyes. They’re used for everything from streaming television shows to accessing websites blocked by authoritarian regimes. Bloomberg reporter Austin Carr joins this episode to talk about whether VPNs can live up to their promise to keep your online data safe and private. Read more: VPNs Are Going Mainstream, and So Are Their Trust Issues 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 dollar is the world’s most-used currency for global transactions. Now China aims to elevate its currency as an alternative. Over the past year, President Xi Jinping's government has struck deals linked to the yuan stretching from Russia and Saudi Arabia to Brazil and even France. Bloomberg reporter George Lei joins this episode to talk about how China’s efforts to create a rival to the dollar are going so far–and its goals for the future. And reporter Rebecca Choong Wilkins walks us through the geopolitics contributing to this currency competition.Read more: China Takes the Yuan Global in Bid to Repel a Weaponized Dollar 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 PGA Tour has long been the dominant force in US professional golf. But LIV Golf, an upstart backed with billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, has lured away some top names. Can players compete in both organizations’ events? That’s the question at the heart of a court case between the two rivals. Bloomberg reporters Malathi Nayak, Erik Larson, and Ira Boudway join this episode to talk about why golfers and fans are so animated by this rivalry—and where the dispute goes from here. Read more: Golf’s Thorniest Grudge Match Threatens the Game’s Old Order 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.

By now we’re all aware advertisers and apps collect data about our online lives. But the kind of information they compile about us–and the sheer amount of it–might surprise you. Dr. Johnny Ryan, an online tracking expert and senior fellow at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, joins this episode to explain how details about where you are, where you go, and what you look at are widely distributed. And it’s not just advertisers who want to get to know you. Bloomberg cybersecurity reporter Ryan Gallagher tells us about a company in Israel that sells this data to law enforcement and intelligence agencies around the globe. Read more: Your Ad Data Is Now Powering Government Surveillance. 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.

Who doesn't love a little Sunday extra? Our team here at The Big Take wants to introduce you to the 1A Podcast, hosted by Jenn White, from WAMU and NPR. This show looks beyond the headlines to get to the heart of the story, and it's one of our favorites. Bloomberg News collaborated with 1A this week for a series called Life and Debt. This bonus episode of 1A we are sharing is from that series, and it's all about student loan debt. As the Supreme Court is considering the fate of President Biden’s student relief plan, the pandemic-era pause on student loan payments is about to end — so where does this leave the 40+ million Americans who carry this debt?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Summer bushfires devastated Australia in 2019 and 2020. As wildfires become more frequent in the US, Europe, and around the globe, Bloomberg reporters Amy Bainbridge and Angus Whitley join this episode to discuss what doctors have learned from Australia’s fires about the long-term health hazards of breathing wildfire smoke–especially for children. Read more: Wildfire’s Toxic Legacy Leaves Children Gasping for Air Years Later 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.

Since the CHIPS and Science Act passed in 2022, the US Commerce Department has been working to create a network of research and development sites around the country, as part of the National Semiconductor Technology Center. The goal: to rebuild America’s domestic semiconductor capacity and competitiveness. Bloomberg reporter Eric Martin breaks down the CHIPS Act and what this tech center aims to accomplish. And Dr. Sarah Kreps, a government professor and Director of the Cornell University Tech Policy Institute, looks at the geopolitics and national security interests involved in moving US chip innovation forward. Read more: Biden Is Setting Up an $11 Billion Chips Network to Bolster US National Security. 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.

This week, world leaders will convene in Hiroshima, Japan for the annual Group of Seven summit. Bloomberg executive editor Flavia Krause-Jackson and news director Rosalind Mathieson join this episode to share what they’ll be watching for—both in the public eye and behind the scenes. Read more: China the Target of New G-7 Push Against ‘Economic Coercion’ 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.

Cases of avian flu in birds have hit record levels globally—but so far, there’s no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Bloomberg reporters Suzi Ring and Michelle Fay Cortez discuss how scientists are tracking the virus after lessons learned from Covid-19. Then, Dr. Richard Webby of the World Health Organization talks about how communities can respond to and prevent bird flu outbreaks. Read more: Bird Flu's Surge Has Scientists Seeking Clues to Prevent the Next Pandemic 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 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] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming soon: When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world’s richest 29-year-old, he pledged to donate his billions to good causes. But then his crypto exchange FTX collapsed Billions of dollars were missing, and Sam was in handcuffs. Those who knew him were left wondering — who was Sam really? A well-meaning billionaire who made a mistake? Or a calculating con man? From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal and what happens when “doing good” goes really really bad. Learn more here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spellcaster-the-fall-of-sam-bankman-fried/id1685258534See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg reporters Drake Bennett and Jordan Robertson join this episode to tell the wild, winding tale of Shannon You, a chemist once employed by Coca-Cola who was also in the business of stealing trade secrets–and attempting to take them to China. Read more: The Plot to Steal the Other Secret Inside a Can of Coca-Cola. 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 emergency restrictions on immigration that the Trump administration invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic expire tonight. The White House is now preparing for a surge of migrants crossing the Southern border seeking asylum. Bloomberg reporters Akayla Gardner and Justin Sink join this episode to talk about what the Biden administration is doing to avert turmoil. And immigration policy expert Doris Meissner makes the case for an overhaul of America’s immigration system. 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.

US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s failure to disclose lavish vacations paid for by a Texas billionaire have cast a harsh light on the High Court’s ethics rules—or lack of them. Bloomberg Supreme Court correspondent Greg Stohr joins this episode to talk about the fallout and why the justices are pushing back against greater disclosure rules. And Northwestern University law professor Steven Lubet explains what if anything can be done to require more transparency from the most powerful judges in the nation. Read more: Harlan Crow Paid Private-School Tuition for Clarence Thomas’ Grandnephew, Report Says. 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.

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power for two decades. But he now faces a challenge in the country’s May 14 elections from a candidate representing a coalition of opposition parties. Bloomberg journalists Beril Akman, Marc Champion and Sylvia Westall join this episode to talk about why this election matters not just for Turkey’s domestic future–but for the important role the nation plays on the world stage. 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.

President Joe Biden surprised exactly no one when he announced he’s running for re-election. But with high inflation, an uncertain economy, turmoil on the Southern border, and roiling culture wars–along with persistent questions about his age–can Biden persuade voters he deserves a second term? Bloomberg’s Nancy Cook, Jordan Fabian and Joshua Green join this episode to size up the early stages of the presidential race, and the top-of-mind issues that will decide who’ll win the White House in 2024. 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: Rebecca Chaisson, Associate Producer: Sam Gebauer. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 20, the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy rocket made its first test flight. And even though it exploded after just a few minutes in flight, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a failure. Bloomberg’s intrepid space reporter Loren Grush joins this episode to explain what’s ahead for SpaceX–and for NASA’s ambitious goal of getting people back to the moon this decade. Read more: Starship Explosion Shows Just How Far SpaceX Is From the Moon. 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: Raphael Amsili.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First Republic Bank is the latest financial institution to fail amid turmoil across the industry. Meanwhile, inflation is still high. Layoffs are rocking some industries. And labor shortages are throttling others. So… are we about to face the recession that economists have been predicting for months now? Today, Bloomberg reporter Reade Pickert and senior executive editor Chris Nagi read the tea leaves on where the economy is headed. Read more: First Republic Becomes Second-Largest Ever US Bank Failure. 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 tight US labor market has prompted several Republican-led states to roll back child labor laws, which are aimed at protecting teenagers by restricting where and how long they can work. Bloomberg Industry Group reporters Rebecca Rainey and Chris Marr join this episode to talk about where this is happening and who’s pressing for these changes. And labor historian Betsy Wood explains how today’s arguments about whether kids should be put to work mirror the same fights going back decades. Read more: States Look to Ease Child Labor Laws as Federal Scrutiny Grows 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.

With the economy in flux and prices continuing to rise, more consumers are saying yes to buy now, pay later offers. And not just for instant gratification on big-ticket items like a couch or a laptop. Struggling families are using it to spread out payments for essentials like food.Bloomberg reporters Augusta Saraiva and Paulina Cachero join this episode to talk about the popularity of buy now, pay later services–and the fees for those who fall behind on payments. And we hear from a single mother who reluctantly uses the services to help make ends meet. Read more: Americans Go Deeper Into Debt as They Use Buy Now, Pay Later Apps for Groceries. 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.

Europe’s ambitious climate targets are putting pressure on airlines and airplane makers to come up with sustainable alternatives to dirty jet fuel. Bloomberg reporters Siddharth Philip in London and William Wilkes in Frankfurt join this episode to talk about some ideas on the drawing table for cleaner jet engines–from battery powered concepts to aircraft that run on hydrogen. Read the story here: Why Europe Is Emerging as a Green Aviation Test Bed 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.

Pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers are at odds over a new class of drugs that have proven quite effective at helping people living with obesity lose weight. Bloomberg’s Robert Langreth and Emma Court join this episode to share their reporting on recent advancements in weight loss treatments–and the fight over who should pay for them. And Dr. Angela Fitch, a physician and president of the Obesity Medical Association, talks about the challenges of treating obesity. Read their reporting here: Good Luck Paying for Those $10,000 Obesity Drugs Everyone’s 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] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the rain-soaked year California has had, the ongoing issues of drought and limited water remain. Bloomberg reporters Peter Waldman, Mark Chediak, and Sinduja Rangarajan join this episode to talk about how farms that grow lucrative cash crops like almonds and pistachios are digging deeper and deeper wells to tap the state’s dwindling groundwater supply–leaving people in some communities with less to drink. Read the investigation here: Groundwater Gold Rush 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.

Teachers and students in the US are always on alert for the possibility of an active shooter entering their classrooms. Now hundreds of schools around the country are dealing with a new, anxiety inducing disruption: swatting. It’s when police rush to schools in response to fake threats intended to cause chaos. Bloomberg cybersecurity reporter Jeff Stone joins this episode to talk about the sharp rise of these events in recent months. And New York school district superintendent Matt Landahl shares what it’s like to receive these calls and manage the response in real time. 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.

Europe’s universal healthcare systems have long been held up as models for other parts of the world. But in many countries they are now under extreme strain. Chronic underfunding, an aging population and labor force, and continuing fallout from the pandemic mean these systems are sometimes failing their patients. Bloomberg reporters Naomi Kresge and Jonas Ekblom join this episode to explain how this happened and what governments are trying to do about it. And Dr. Tomas Zapata of the World Health Organization talks about how European nations can rebuild the healthcare workforce before it deteriorates. 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.

It’s been eight months since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. And already the hundreds of billions of dollars it contains for clean energy and slowing climate change—alongside private venture capital investments—are funding a wide array of climate technology projects, from decarbonization infrastructure to rust-based battery storage. Bloomberg climate reporter Eric Roston joins this episode with Akshat Rathi, a senior reporter and host of our sister podcast Zero. It’s a weekly show that explores the tactics and technologies taking us to a world of zero emissions. They talk with Wes about how climate tech is no longer a corner of the economy–it’s fast becoming the economy. And reporter Zahra Hirji joins to talk about some of the ways the IRA’s spending is starting to show up in our everyday lives. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3LpNSpZ 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 senior investigative reporter Olivia Carville is back with her latest reporting on TikTok. She explains how the superpopular app’s algorithm can serve up a stream of anxiety and despair to teens, including videos about eating disorders and suicide. And Jennifer Harriger, a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, joins to talk about the effect these messages can have on teens and young adults. Read the story: TikTok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids 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] podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: 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.

For decades, the United States and Saudi Arabia maintained an important strategic alliance, which gave the US access to Saudi oil in exchange for guaranteeing the kingdom’s security. But growing tensions between the two nations now threaten to rupture this relationship.Bloomberg’s Ziad Daoud, Tom Orlik, and Nick Wadhams join this episode to explain what’s behind the US-Saudi rift, and why it could have far-reaching consequences for the US economy and potentially the 2024 presidential election. Read the story: US-Saudi Oil Pact Breaking Down as Russia Grabs Upper Hand 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, inventors have tried and failed to make a smart gun. A company called Biofire now appears to have pulled it off. It uses both fingerprint scans and facial recognition so that only a registered user can fire it.But will anyone buy it? Will this technology become yet another point of contention between pro and anti-gun groups? Firearms advocates have long been skeptical of biometric weapons but they’ve also never run across one that actually worked. Bloomberg reporter Ashlee Vance joins this episode to talk about Biofire’s new smart gun, how it works, and what it’s like to use. We also hear from Biofire’s 26-year-old CEO Kai Kloepfer, who started working on the gun after the mass shooting in his home state of Colorado, when he was 15-years-old. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/43DMVBH 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 intelligence community was relieved when a suspect was arrested last week in the leak of highly sensitive classified documents about America’s friends and adversaries. But the fallout is far from over. The leaks are a huge embarrassment for the Biden administration, which is moving quickly to reassure the UK, Israel, and other allies. Bloomberg national security correspondent Courtney McBride joins this episode to talk about US efforts to repair the damage and shore up its credibility with leading partners around the world–and what the government is doing to prevent leaks like this from happening in the future. 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] podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: 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.