Big Take

It’s estimated that half a million or more people around the world die of influenza each year. And many of these deaths could be prevented with a highly effective, widely used flu shot.Now, the mRNA technology we became familiar with during the development of the Covid vaccine is being used to create a new flu shot that promises to work better than the current hit-or-miss version. It also offers the potential to bundle covid, flu, and other common viruses into a single shot. But with vaccine skepticism running high, will people actually take it? Bloomberg biotech reporter Angelica Peebles joins this episode to explain how the new flu shot is made, how it works, and whether it can shift how we receive and think about vaccinations. 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 tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons is approaching its 50th anniversary and it has never been more popular, attracting players of all ages to its analog charms. Now Hasbro, the toy company that owns it, is betting D&D can be brought into the digital age and become a big moneymaker. Bloomberg correspondent Felix Gillette joins this episode to talk about why Dungeons & Dragons is having a cultural — and economic — moment, and why it might not be so easy to persuade diehard fans to pay for a digital experience. Gaming retail store owner Lauren Bilanko shares what it’s like to run a business that caters to the D&D crowd. Read more here: Dungeons & Dragons’ Epic Quest to Finally Make Money. 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 episode was recorded before a federal appeals court ruling partly granted the Biden administration’s request to put on hold a Texas court decision overturning FDA approval of the abortion pill. The appeals court allowed restrictions that were lifted since 2016 to be reinstated.For details on the ruling read more here.The appeals court decision leaves mifepristone on the market while a Justice Department appeal works its way through the courts. It overrules a lower court decision in Texas that sought to stop the sale of the drug completely.But it did agree with one part of the ruling. It left in place a lower court order that blocked changes that the FDA has made since 2016 that made mifepristone more easily available.The ruling means that unless the US Supreme Court intervenes by Friday, mifepristone will no longer be approved for use after the seventh week and cannot be dispensed by mail.Bloomberg journalists Kelsey Butler, Cynthia Koons, and Madlin Mekelburg join this episode to explain what’s at stake if mifepristone becomes unavailable. And Supreme Court correspondent Greg Stohr talks about what’s ahead for these cases, which may well end up in the Justices’ hands. 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 downplayed military spending. But after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government reversed its longstanding ban on sending weapons into war zones, and announced a plan to spend an additional 100 billion euros to upgrade its armed forces. Bloomberg senior editor Alan Crawford joins this episode to explain why the country’s defense industry is booming—and why that’s dividing a public wary of a German military resurgence. And military analyst Dr. Bastian Giegerich makes the case for why Germany should be spending even more to prepare for current and future threats. 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.

There’s a whole lot happening in the economy that’s impacting your wallet. Inflation is slowing down, but it’s still high. Layoffs have rocked every industry. And rent prices keep surging. Is it a good time to quit your job–or ask for a raise? Should you buy a house (if you can find one)? And which investments are safe when markets are all over the place? Bloomberg personal finance journalists Claire Ballentine and Craig Giammona join this episode to share advice about what to do with your money in volatile times. Read more: What to Do With Your Money—and Your Life—in a Wild New 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.

Florida’s governor–and likely presidential candidate–Ron DeSantis has pledged billions to restore Florida’s Everglades. Among other good things, that will help lower Florida’s carbon footprint and potentially combat some of the effects of climate change. But you won’t hear him boasting about those benefits. As a Republican trying to lure away Donald Trump’s voters with promises to attack “woke” policies, he says he’s “not a global warming person”, opposes restrictions on fossil fuels, and often downplays the environmental upsides of his own policies.Bloomberg national reporter Michael Smith joins this episode to talk about the Florida Governor's mixed environmental record–and how he’s walking a very fine line between shoring up Florida’s natural resources and alienating Republican primary voters he hopes will carry him to the White House. Read more on this story: DeSantis Fights for Everglades As He Neglects Climate 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.

We’re taking a break today for the holiday. Here’s a favorite episode from December that you might have missed–and one that’s still very much in the news. We’ll be back on Monday with a new episode. Have a great weekend. And thanks for listening! Our insatiable appetite for meat, eggs and cheese means there are billions of chickens, pigs and cows the world over. One consequence: animal agriculture is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants like ammonia and nitrogen. In Europe, governments are starting to crack down—demanding farms dramatically cut the size of their herds to meet environmental goals. Farmers are, to put it mildly, furious. Bloomberg reporter Diederik Baazil joins this episode from Amsterdam to talk about how farmer’s protests against the new rules are boiling over in the Netherlands. And Wes also catches up with reporter Agnieszka de Sousa, Bloomberg’s “food czar” based in London, for a look at how this problem has spread across Europe–and possible ways to fix it. 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 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.

Iran and Saudi Arabia surprised many governments in March when they announced an agreement to restore diplomatic relations–ending a seven-year freeze. Just as surprising: The deal was brokered by China. Bloomberg correspondents Golnar Motevalli and Sam Dagher join this episode to explain how this landmark agreement came together and what each side hopes to gain from it. And Jonathan Fulton, a nonresident senior fellow for Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, talks about China’s critical role in this deal and the nation’s growing ambitions as a global power broker. 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.

More than 400 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in U.S. state legislatures this year, and more than twenty have been signed into law. That’s greater than the last five years–combined. Some of these pieces of legislation seek to outlaw access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. Others would make it easier to ban books from school libraries. Bloomberg reporter Ella Ceron joins this episode to talk about the momentum behind this push and which states are pressing ahead with these bills. We also hear from Democratic state senator Shevrin Jones of Florida—where ten anti-LGBTQ bills are on the table—about the political battle in his state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tucked into President Biden’s massive Inflation Reduction Act is a pot of money–$15 million–for the Internal Revenue Service to study a long-talked-about idea: Building an online IRS platform that would enable taxpayers to file their taxes easily and for free. If it moves ahead, it could mean an end to frustratingly complex forms and fees to accountants and tax prep companies. There are plenty of obstacles in the way. Some politicians and industry groups in Washington are already lining up against it. And it’s not clear Americans would trust the IRS to calculate their refund–or how much they owe. Bloomberg reporters Laura Davison, Brody Ford, and Ben Steverman join this episode to talk about the promise—and potential pitfalls—of a public filing option for all. 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.

There’s been a ton of news coverage and commentary around Donald Trump’s indictment in New York on Thursday. But the Manhattan case is only one of several criminal investigations and civil cases swirling around the former president—from the US Justice Department’s inquiry into the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol and the investigation of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, to probes of Trump’s business practices. Bloomberg legal reporters Zoe Tillman and Erik Larson join this episode to look beyond the Manhattan indictment and assess Trump’s other legal entanglements, and where things go 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.

Last May, the Oak Ridge National Lab, run by the US Department of Energy, unveiled Frontier–the world's fastest supercomputer. It’s capable of performing a quintillion calculations per second, breaking what's called the exascale barrier. The system requires its own power plant, 6,000 gallons of water to keep it cool, and a highly trained staff to operate. So what can it do? And who gets to use it? We set out for Knoxville, Tennessee to try to wrap our brains around Frontier’s limitless potential. See more about Frontier here: It Takes 6,000 Gallons of Water to Cool the World’s Fastest Supercomputer 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.

If you’re a working parent, finding childcare is almost certainly a source of stress in your life. It’s often a struggle to find an opening and when you do, it can be crazy expensive. This presents a tough choice: pay for childcare to be able to work, or become a caregiver and forgo a second income. And for single parents, there is no choice at all. Bloomberg reporter Olivia Konotey-Ahulu has been covering the growing discontent of parents in the UK. And Simon Workman is co-founder of Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies, which consults with US states to find ways to support the needs of young children and their families. They both join this episode to look at how the US and UK can fix their broken childcare systems–and highlight countries that are doing it right. 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.

Guardianships in the US are supposed to help vulnerable people who can’t help themselves. But a Bloomberg Law investigation reveals a loosely regulated system in which those placed under guardianships can find themselves trapped, and sometimes exploited, by the people entrusted with their care. Bloomberg Law correspondents Ronnie Greene and Holly Barker join this episode to discuss their five-part series on how the system works—and doesn’t work—and what can be done to fix it. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3zgHQBk 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.

There’s at least one thing Democrats and Republicans in Washington have in common: suspicions about TikTok’s ties to China. The Biden administration and members of congress from both parties are urging the social media platform’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to sell its stake in TikTok or risk being banned in the US. Sound familiar? That’s because two and a half years ago, former President Trump sent a very similar warning that ultimately went nowhere. Bloomberg reporters Alex Barinka and Anna Edgerton join this episode to talk about this latest chapter in the standoff between the US government and TikTok. Plus, what a congressional hearing with TikTok’s CEO revealed about national security concerns surrounding the app. 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.

A lot has been said about the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. But one important thing revealed by those closely scrutinized failures has largely gone unnoticed: the changing relationship between governments and banks. Bloomberg Editor-In-Chief John Micklethwait joins this episode to talk about how the idea that finance is an arm of the state is back–and why that will have far-reaching consequences for the way the world works. 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 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.

As the technology powering artificial intelligence keeps improving, it’s getting harder to tell the difference between human and machine. And that means companies are looking to capitalize on its uses.ChatGPT’s maker OpenAI is quickly rolling out new iterations, like the more powerful version of the product called GPT-4. Google has introduced its own version, albeit with some early stumbles. And Elon Musk also has his eye on the AI space. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Parmy Olson and technology reporters Dina Bass and Rachel Metz have reported extensively on the rise of ChatGPT and other forms of AI. They join this episode to talk through the upsides–and significant downsides–of a bot that can appear to write and sort of think for you, and what it looks like when humanlike machines become a bigger part of our daily work and lives. 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 story of Apple’s rise to become the world’s most valuable company is also the story of its relationship with China. Apple’s vast manufacturing and supply chain operation there has been one of the keys to its success.So why is Apple looking to expand its operations to India and other countries? Bloomberg’s chief technology correspondent Mark Gurman joins this episode to look at how shifts in the global economy, and rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, have led Apple to diversify where it makes its products. And Taipei-based senior reporter Debby Wu talks about the challenges the company faces in trying to recreate its success in other countries. 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 Federal Trade Commission is weighing restrictions on many non-compete agreements in employment contracts. These clauses dissuade workers from switching jobs and impact roughly one in five Americans—including physicians, hair stylists, even fast food workers. Bloomberg reporter Leah Nylen joins this episode to explain the FTC’s efforts to dial them back. And reporters Jo Constantz and Josh Eidelson, and White House editor Mario Parker, talk about how non-competes became a way for companies to freeze employees in place—and how the move to restrict them is part of a larger push by the Biden administration to bolster workers’ rights. 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 sanctions against Russia are supposed to cut off Moscow’s access to all kinds of goods, including semiconductors, which are used in missiles and drones. But US officials allege a secret supply chain has illegally funneled these chips, some of them American-made, to Russia, where they’ve been used in weapons deployed against Ukraine. Bloomberg reporter Ben Bartenstein joins this episode to talk about one alleged chip smuggling scheme. And US national security editor Nick Wadhams explains why sanctions can slow—but not always stop—Russia and other sanctioned nations from getting what they want. Read more here: Web of Secret Chip Deals Allegedly Help US Tech Flow to Russia 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 months, Israeli citizens—including CEOs, doctors, hedge fund executives, lawyers, and soldiers—have protested in the streets against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to diminish the authority of the nation’s Supreme Court. The government aims to give Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the power to overrule the court’s decisions with a simple majority vote. It could have far-reaching consequences within Israel—and for its standing as a strong democracy in a volatile region of the world. Bloomberg’s Israel Bureau Chief Ethan Bronner joins this episode from Tel Aviv to talk about what’s at stake—and why so many Israelis from all walks of life are demanding Netanyahu withdraw the plan. Read more: https://bloom.bg/408gubM 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 White House and Congress are battling over raising the nation’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. If they don’t act and the US defaults on its debt this summer, the economic shockwaves will be felt across the nation and around the world. Even so, the conventional wisdom in many parts of Washington and Wall Street seems to be: don’t worry, in the end of course they’ll reach a deal. But relying on conventional wisdom is often…unreliable. Though congressional leaders managed to overcome their differences and raise the debt ceiling in the past–often at the 11th hour, after all the brinkmanship had played out–what if this time is different? Bloomberg journalists Liz McCormick and Erik Wasson join this episode to game out the scenarios and gauge how concerned we should be about the possibility that the rancor and acrimony in Washington will lead to a debt default for the first time in US history. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3JkoEqX 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 years now, we’ve been hearing that autonomous vehicles are just around the corner. Google, Uber, General Motors, Tesla, and other companies invested huge sums in hopes of realizing the dream of a car that drives itself on the open road.And yet, after more than a decade of effort and prototypes, driverless cars still appear to be a long way off. Why is that? Bloomberg reporter Max Chafkin joins this episode to talk about the industry’s persistent roadblocks — and what’s ahead. And Anthony Levandowski, a pioneer and early champion of driverless car technology, explains why it continues to be such a difficult puzzle to solve. 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 biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis is stoking fears of a larger financial meltdown across regional US banks. Silicon Valley Bank, a key lender for startups and the tech industry, collapsed last week. As regulators take over, many people around the country are left wondering if their own money is safe. Bloomberg personal finance reporter Suzanne Woolley joins this episode to talk about what the collapse of SVB means for everyday savers and investors. And Ben Bain, who leads Bloomberg’s coverage of how Washington regulates Wall Street, explains how the government has responded and the plan to stem the bleeding now — and prevent future failures. 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.

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] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, India’s Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to legalize same-sex marriage. Bloomberg reporters Muneeza Naqvi and Kai Schultz join this episode from New Delhi to explain India’s rapid march toward affirming rights for LGBTQ people, and how a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage would be felt not just within the country but across Asia and beyond. Then, Gurchaten Sandhu, program director at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association in Geneva takes a step back to talk about which countries have advanced marriage equality and where it is still outlawed. 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 future of US competitiveness is taking shape in a field in Licking County, Ohio. It’s the site of a new Intel semiconductor plant, part of the Biden administration’s effort to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, with a focus on high tech products like semiconductors.But those ambitious plans have exposed a looming problem: The number of skilled workers needed to build factories and fill those jobs is shrinking. It’s a demographic reality that will only become more acute in the decades to come. Bloomberg senior economics writer Shawn Donnan joins this episode to explain why America’s workforce is shrinking, and what a labor shortage now means for the nation’s manufacturing future. And Gabriela Cruz Thompson of Intel Labs talks about how a big company like hers plans to recruit workers in an increasingly competitive job market. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3J0Z9KV 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.

Two significant advances in science and technology are helping us examine our own planet, as well as galaxies near and far. The first is the James Webb Space Telescope—an instrument that’s already transmitting game-changing data from a million miles away. The second is NASA’s SWOT mission, named for its exploration of Earth’s surface water and ocean topography. Using remote sensing technology, it aims to be the first-ever global survey of its kind. Bloomberg space reporter Loren Grush joins this episode to share why these endeavors are important not just for science but also to help us make decisions about our everyday lives. Plus, we meet some of the people behind these projects—and those whose work will be shaped by the wealth of information beaming back to Earth. 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.

Traffic stops are the most common way people come into contact with the police. After the January death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten following a police stop in Memphis, some cities are trying to limit how often these stops occur. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and the state of Virginia have taken measures to curb stops for minor violations, which disproportionately affect people of color–and sometimes turn violent. Bloomberg reporters Sarah Holder and Fola Akinnibi join this episode to talk about why traffic stops have become such a widespread problem, and how police departments are responding to limits to their authority. And Philadelphia councilman Isaiah Thomas explains how his legislation aims to increase public safety. 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 his 1961 farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower famously warned about the dangers of the business of war–what he called the “military industrial complex.” Now, more than six decades later, that warning still rings true. The US military is the most powerful – and expensive – in the world, but the Pentagon bureaucracy is vast, inefficient, and often slow to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Bloomberg reporters Peter Martin, Courtney McBride, and Roxana Tiron join this episode to talk about their deep reporting about concerns inside and outside the Pentagon that the US military is in danger of falling behind rivals including China, and what the Defense Department is doing to change. Michèle Flournoy, a former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, also joins to give perspective on how the Pentagon works, what it does right, and what it needs to do better. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3JiAnXW 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.

One unexpected consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: It highlighted how just a handful of countries–notably Russia and China–supply much of the fertilizer needed to feed the world. Amid geopolitical tensions and humanitarian concerns, the race for fertilizer has become a priority for the U.S. and its allies. Bloomberg reporter Elizabeth Elkin joins this episode to talk about how concerns about fertilizer shortages have nations looking for alternatives. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3KUmT62 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.

Pras Michel, the famed rapper and founding member of The Fugees, goes on federal trial later this month. The US government has charged him with numerous crimes related to his dealings with the fugitive Malaysian businessman allegedly at the center of one of the largest financial scandals in history. Michel maintains he’s innocent. This real-life international tale of intrigue involves a long cast of characters, including A-list Hollywood celebrities, the Chinese government, and both the Obama and Trump White Houses. Bloomberg reporters Anthony Cormier, Jason Leopold and Matthew Campbell have captured the whole saga in a story for Businessweek and they join this episode to tell us what they found. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3ZiFi0W 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.

Startups pioneering invasive and noninvasive devices that interact with the brain seek to alleviate everything from ALS symptoms to epilepsy to treatment-resistant depression. In this episode, a look at the science behind this rapidly advancing technology.Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurointerventionist and CEO of Synchron, gives us a tour of his lab in Brooklyn, New York, where his company is developing an implant that allows paralyzed people to control devices. Then Bloomberg reporter Sarah McBride joins Wes for a look at other startups making these brain-computer interfaces–and 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.

Twelve years after the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, Japan is now considering restarting its shuttered nuclear reactors to combat rising energy prices. It’s a slow process, and one where the government and the public are conflicted about the advantages and risks of nuclear power.Around the world, countries that turned off their reactors in the wake of Fukushima, or have closed old or expensive reactors, are doing a similar about-face, with rising energy prices and clean energy commitments changing their calculus. That’s inevitably raised questions about the safety of potentially running these aging behemoths to more than double their expected lifespan. Bloomberg’s Japan energy reporter Shoko Oda joins this episode to talk about the country’s decision to restart its nuclear reactors and lingering anti-nuclear sentiment in the country. Power and renewable energy editor Will Wade also joins to describe how governments around the world are rethinking their nuclear stances, squeezed by rising energy prices and climate targets. And Dr. Jessica Lovering of Good Energy Collective, a pro-nuclear think tank, makes an advocate’s case for how nuclear power fits into the mix for clean energy over the next 30+ years. Read more about this story here: https://bloom.bg/3m9HTvi 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 takes hundreds of pounds of aluminum to build Ford’s “Truck of the Future,” the electric F-150. A lot of that aluminum comes from a long, complicated supply chain that it would be difficult to describe as environmentally friendly. The chain begins in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, at a mine with a legacy of pollution. It leads next to a refinery down the Amazon River where thousands of people are suing, claiming the industry harmed the fragile ecosystem, contaminated their water, and made them sick. Bloomberg senior reporters Sheridan Prasso and Jessica Brice join this episode to talk about their investigation–and how Ford responded to what they found. Read the investigation: https://bloom.bg/3xRXC4V 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 Biden’s plan to forgive federal student loan debt for millions of Americans has been frozen since a handful of Republican-led states sued to stop it. They argue the president doesn’t have the power to wipe away billions of dollars of debt on his own. It’s now up to the US Supreme Court to decide if they’re right.Bloomberg Supreme Court correspondent Greg Stohr joins this episode to talk about the arguments on both sides, and where the 6-3 conservative majority might come down. And personal finance reporter Claire Ballentine explains what happens next for Americans with student debt if the court upholds Biden’s plan–or knocks it down. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3ktdt6P 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.

As Nigerians decide on a new president, the country’s economy is reeling. Nigeria’s public debt is growing, inflation is soaring, and half of adults can’t find steady work. People wait in line for hours at gas stations to fill their cars and light their homes with generators because the shaky power grid can’t keep up. Kidnapping for ransom is a growing problem. What can be done to turn things around? Bloomberg journalists Neil Munshi in Lagos, Nigeria and Ruth Olurounbi in Abuja, the capital, join this episode to talk about what’s at stake in this election–and how the candidates vying for the job say they’ll address these problems. Then, Cheta Nwanze, lead partner at SBM Intelligence, explains why it’s so difficult to attract companies, and money, to Africa’s largest economy. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3XUUzU5 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.

February 24 marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin believed the country’s military would be defeated quickly and Kyiv, the capital, would fall. Instead, Ukraine’s clever, nimble — and motivated — military has fought back Russia’s forces despite being vastly outgunned. But the war has taken a terrible toll. Thousands of people have died. Cites have been devastated and millions of displaced Ukrainians are now living as refugees in other countries. Bloomberg journalists Daryna Krasnolutska and Marc Champion in Kyiv, and Rosalind Mathieson in London join this episode to take stock of all that has happened in the past year, and what lies ahead for Ukraine. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3IL2hMf 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.

Around the world, a looming problem is making workers nervous–and angry. People in many countries are living longer, and at some point governments will run out of money to pay their retirement benefits.One solution some politicians are pushing: raising the retirement age for workers. Which…is about as popular as it sounds.So what is the answer? Ben Sills, who leads Bloomberg’s government and economics coverage in Europe, and White House and politics reporter Nancy Cook join this episode to sort through the tough economics and fraught politics of retirement. And pensions reporter Amy Bainbridge, personal finance reporter Ainsley Thomson, and senior editor Emily Cadman talk about how governments all over are trying to get hold of the problem before it becomes a crisis. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3SapcUf 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 for President’s Day here in the US. So here’s one of our favorite stories you might have missed. We’ll be back tomorrow with a new episode. Thanks for listening!Here’s a random yet important fact: Copper is one of the very best conductors of electricity of all metals. And that matters, because as we move toward a world in which more and more things in our lives plug in or charge up–not just your phone, but electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines that will power the future–copper is in increasingly high demand. Some of the richest reserves of copper are found in Southern Africa. But getting it from deep underground and trucking it thousands of miles to buyers can be a harrowing journey. Without more production or new mines, the world could be looking at shortages, and soaring prices for copper and the products that use it. Reporters James Attwood and Yvonne Yue Li join this episode to explain what a coming copper shortage could mean for us all. And reporter Matthew Hill describes his trip to a huge mine in Zambia, where he descended thousands of feet to see copper being blasted from the rock. 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 hard to believe, but the 2024 presidential election is already off and running, and there’s grumbling in both parties. Some Republicans want to put Donald Trump behind them, and some Democrats worry 80-year-old Joe Biden might not be up to the long slog of a presidential campaign. Bloomberg’s managing editor for US government Flavia Krause-Jackson, national political correspondent Joshua Green, and White House correspondent Jordan Fabian join this episode to tell us what to pay attention to–and what’s just noise. 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 earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria have left millions of people in desperate need of help. But those seeking to bring food, medicine, and supplies into the country face daunting obstacles. Syria’s government wants to control aid shipments and who gets them. Strict economic sanctions imposed on Syria’s government by the US and Europe make it difficult to conduct any transactions there. Governments, banks and humanitarian aid groups are sometimes wary of triggering penalties if their work is seen as violating the sanctions, even despite a temporary easing of the restrictions for earthquake relief. Sylvia Westall in Dubai, who leads Bloomberg’s government coverage in the Middle East, and Nick Wadhams in Washington, DC, who oversees reporting on US national security and foreign policy, join this episode to talk about how sanctions and the Syrian government are complicating efforts to assist earthquake victims. And Jennifer Higgins of the International Rescue Committee describes how her organization is clearing these hurdles to bring help where it’s needed most. 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 2020, the enormously popular heartburn medication Zantac was pulled from store shelves after samples were found to contain the probable carcinogen NDMA. The drug has since been re-introduced with a new formula that is considered safe to use as directed.But tens of thousands of people who took the old version of the drug, made with the active ingredient ranitidine, are now suing Zantac’s maker, then called Glaxo and now known as GSK. They claim the medication gave them cancer and are seeking compensation. The company is pushing back, saying there is no conclusive evidence or scientific consensus that ranitidine can degrade and form NDMA in harmful amounts under normal conditions.Reporters Anna Edney, Susan Berfield, and Jef Feeley dug into the claims and counterclaims for Bloomberg Businessweek, and they join this episode to talk about Zantac’s rise and fall and where these lawsuits are headed. And Dr. Jaap Venema, chief science officer at US Pharmacopeia, explains how potential carcinogens get into drugs–and what pharmaceutical companies and government agencies are–and should be–doing to ensure the safety of the medications we take. Read the story: https://bloom.bg/3Yxzno2 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.

Buying a new car today is more painful than ever. Auto prices have risen a shocking 30% in just the past few years. Many used cars aren’t much cheaper. The pandemic crunch is partly to blame – high demand and scarce supply caused prices to spike along with everything else. But car prices remain astronomical even though those shortages have largely eased. For a lot of middle class Americans, a new car is now out of reach.And that’s just fine with some major automakers. Bloomberg reporters David Welch and Keith Naughton join this episode to explain why General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co., among other companies, are embracing scarcity and high prices as the new normal.At the same time, China is ramping up production and rising as a leading carmaker. Reporter Tom Hancock describes how the country is churning out millions of electric and gasoline-powered vehicles for customers around the world, with one notable exception: the US. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3E48mQY 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.

New York and other cities have struggled to fully bounce back from the pandemic, in part because many people who can work from home either part or full time are choosing to do so. That means a lot less money is being spent in shops and restaurants. Expensive office buildings are standing partially empty and fewer passengers are paying subway and bus fares. Reporters Emma Court and Donna Borak join this episode to talk about how work from home is transforming city life and costing downtowns billions. Tracy Hadden Loh, a fellow at Brookings Metro, explains how, as she puts it, cities can reinvent themselves to be go-to places not just between the hours of 9-5, but 5-9. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3jOsY8Z 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 the same time China’s government is working to manage the fallout overseas from the surveillance balloon shot down by the US, it’s also struggling to contain another problem at home—a wave of covid cases that’s overwhelmed the country. Late last year, people in cities across China protested in the streets against the government’s Covid Zero lockdowns. In response to the unrest, President Xi Jinping eased the restrictions, and China is opening back up. As anticipated, millions of people once again out and about has led to a massive surge in Covid cases and deaths. As the virus has rapidly spread throughout China, the government has struggled to keep up. Hospitals are overwhelmed and even basic medicines like ibuprofen are sometimes impossible to find.Bloomberg journalists John Liu in Beijing and Xiao Zibang in Singapore join this episode to talk about how China is coping with the health crisis, how citizens in some cities and rural areas are stepping in where the government has fallen short, and where things go 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.

The new season of Bloomberg's Foundering podcast retraces the life and gruesome death of John McAfee. In the 1980s and ’90s, the McAfee name was synonymous with computer antivirus software, and he helped establish the modern cybersecurity industry. But afterward, his life took a strange and dark turn. He was accused of murder, an allegation he denied, and then went on the lam. He sought to reinvent himself as a cryptocurrency guru and as a candidate for US president. Reporter Jamie Tarabay interviews McAfee’s colleagues, acquaintances, investigators and family members to demystify lies he told throughout his life, reveal the secrets he kept and resolve questions surrounding his public and decades-long self-destruction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Iran approaches the 44th anniversary of the revolution it finds itself at a junction. US and European Union sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy. Thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to protest the Islamic government’s strict religious laws, and the brutality of its security forces in crushing dissent. Thousands of protesters have been arrested, and some have been put to death. Yet despite international economic pressure and rising internal discontent, there are few signs that Iran’s government is weakening. Bloomberg senior international affairs correspondent Marc Champion joins the episode to discuss the turmoil happening now. Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, joins to weigh in on tensions between Iran and the West that could boil over and how governments might prevent that from happening. Read more: https://bloom.bg/3x6sGgL 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.

If you’re a comic book or sci-fi fan, you’ve likely read about the far-off idea of hitching a ride on an asteroid and mining it for precious metals and ice. But it’s not science fiction anymore. In this episode, we’ll take a look at two real-life asteroid-mining missions in the works.Dr. Dante Lauretta, who leads NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, talks about what they’ve gathered from the Bennu near Earth asteroid, which will arrive back home later this year. We also speak with Matt Gailich, co-founder and CEO of AstroForge–a company sending up two missions this year with the ultimate goal of mining asteroids for platinum and other valuable metals needed for electric cars and other technology. Bloomberg’s space reporter Loren Grush then joins to give a bigger-picture view of other breakthroughs on the horizon in the fast-growing race to space. Learn more: https://bloom.bg/3YaZK32 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.