Big Take

On Monday, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited France. Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try and sell him on the latest version of a peace deal, which has Ukrainian input. But after a phone call between Witkoff and a Russian counterpart, Zelenskiy is trying to shore up support among European allies — both to increase pressure on Trump to align with Ukraine and to garner more military support. On today’s Big Take podcast, national security team leader Nick Wadhams unpacks the state of play between Russia and Ukraine, the developments of the last few days and whether an end to the war could be in sight. Read more: US Says Ukraine Talks Productive as Witkoff Heads to RussiaWitkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to TrumpWitkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: TranscriptSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken Burns has been telling stories about America for almost 50 years. The lauded documentary filmmaker has a new series on PBS, The American Revolution, which charts the period before and after 1776. It will air internationally ahead of the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Mishal Husain asked Burns to join the show to mark Thanksgiving, looking at today’s America through the lens of its past and the characters who made history. 02:15 - The complexity of the American Revolution 04:00 - The underdog story 07:15 - The global significance of the American Revolution 13:43 - Mishal Husain’s connection to Lexington Green 16:15 - Why Ken Burns became a filmmaker 17:55 - “My mother’s gift in a funny way was dying” 19:20 - The Ken Burns Effect 20:15 - Hollywood actors as first person narrators 21:25 - Directing Josh Brolin as George Washington 22:00 - Why Tom Hanks didn’t want to be the voice of George Washington 23:00 - Filming reenactments 24:50 - The American Revolution is not over 29:10 Working for PBS, American Public Broadcasting 32:20 What is Ken Burns grateful for on Thanksgiving? Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goldendoodles, bernedoodles, labradoodles, cockapoos, everywhere you look, it seems like doodles — those fluffy, adorable poodle mixes — are taking over sidewalks, cafes and TikTok feeds. But the ubiquity of the muppet-like canines has also come with some doggy drama. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and producer David Fox head to New Jersey to meet a breeder who’s been navigating the doodle’s rise to fame. And writer Allie Conti examines the discourse around the industry: from its loudest critics to its devoted diehards. Read more: How Doodles Became A Billion-Dollar Business See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weeks before the Trump administration is expected to name its pick for the next US Federal Reserve chair, current White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett leads a group of five finalists. Whoever prevails will have the significant job of guiding the US through challenging economic times, while balancing the Fed’s long-standing independence against a hands-on president. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Fed reporters Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran join David Gura to discuss what the leading candidates bring to the job. Read more: Hassett Emerges as Frontrunner in Trump Fed Chair Audition See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a rare public comment on Taiwan from Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, relations between the two nations are at a historic low — and Beijing is ramping up its economic retaliation. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg’s James Mayger and Isabel Reynolds about the political calculation behind Takaichi’s move, the historical grievances fueling the dispute and the real economic risks facing Tokyo. Read more: China Asks Airlines to Extend Japan Flight Cuts Until March 2026 - Bloomberg Further listening: How APEC Become a Battleground for US-China Influence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, a federal judge threw out the criminal cases filed by the Department of Justice against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. When President Trump took office in January, he made it clear that retribution against his perceived political enemies was a key part of his second-term agenda. The cases against Comey and James were a high profile part of that strategy, and the White House does not seem inclined to accept this outcome. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg senior national political reporter Nancy Cook and Department of Justice reporter Chris Strohm to discuss the stakes of the Comey and James cases, the role the DOJ has played in carrying out Trump’s second-term agenda — and what to expect next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under new pressures over inflation and affordability, President Donald Trump has been talking up a plan to share tariff revenues with Americans, in the form of $2,000 checks. But there are several major problems with this plan — and he’s lacking support among some of his most ardent allies. On today’s Big Take episode, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg senior national political reporter Nancy Cook and US Treasury reporter Dan Flatley to discuss how Trump’s latest proposal fits into the economic debate that could define midterm elections – and how the Supreme Court, the Republican party and Trump’s own cabinet could throw a wrench in his plans. Read more: Trump’s $2,000 Tariff ‘Dividend’ Marks Throwback to Covid ChecksTrump’s $2,000 Tariff Check Idea Draws Republican ResistanceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stanford University Professor Fei-Fei Li has been at the forefront of artificial intelligence research for 25 years, which is why she’s been called the “godmother of AI.” In this conversation she tells Mishal Husain how she arrived in the US as a teenager after her parents decided to emigrate from China. She also talks about the high school teacher who inspired her and a deep love of physics, leading her to ask what she calls “audacious” questions. These days, amid her excitement about AI and its potential, she also is focused on what humans must do to build safeguards, and has a message for parents, too. 02:50 - AI is a “civilizational technology” 04:15 - “Technology is a double-edged sword” 05:45 - Being a tech CEO and an academic 06:45 - Falling in love with physics 08:00 - What is intelligence? 08:40 - Finding my first North Star 09:45 - Fei-Fei Li’s two key breakthroughs 14:52 - Moving from China to the US at 15 15:48 - Running the family shop taught me resilience 17:30 - “I wasn’t curious about nightclubs” 18:20 - My inspirational teacher 22:20 - “China is a powerhouse in AI” 23:00 - Creating 3D worlds with AI 27:20 - AI and the jobs market 28:40 - Are humans going to be replaced? 31:00 - “The machine overlord” 32:45 - What should parents tell their children? 34:40 - The AI bubble 36:00 - Powering the big data centres AI needs 37:20 - “I’m not a tech utopian or a dystopian” 38:00 - “My one worry is our teachers” 39:20 - “I’m conscious of my responsibility” 41:28 - Fei-Fei Li believes in timeless human values 42:00 - “My favourite book these days is Harry Potter” Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oxford University has repeatedly been slow to act when confronted with allegations of harassment, assault and inappropriate behavior by male academics, a new Bloomberg investigation has found. Katherine Griffiths, the city editor of Bloomberg’s London bureau, spoke to dozens of academics, staffers and women who have studied at Oxford to understand how the storied institution has handled misconduct concerns — and why it lags behind its peers. On this episode of the Big Take podcast, she shares her findings about the barriers to addressing misconduct at Oxford, and the lasting consequences for women. Read more: Oxford University Has Failed Women Over Harassment Concerns, Staff Say See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia released its third quarter earnings Wednesday, crushing estimates and easing Wall Street’s concerns about an AI bubble. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Tech’s Ed Ludlow sits down with David Gura to discuss his post-earnings interview with Jensen Huang – what the Nvidia CEO had to say about the company’s breakneck growth, so-called circular deals, and potential expansion into China. Read more: Nvidia’s Huang Says Company Has Plenty of New Chips to SellIt's OK, Nvidia Says There's No AI BubbleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a period characterized as “low-hire, low-fire,” the American labor market is seeing a surge of layoffs from companies like Amazon, Starbucks, UPS and Target. And that’s pushing more job applicants towards traditionally less-desirable occupations, like substitute teaching, traffic flagging and waste management. Today on the Big Take, Sarah Holder is joined by economic reporter Mike Sasso to discuss what’s happening in this often-overlooked corner of the labor market and what it means for the economy overall. Read more: The Job Market Is Heating Up — for Jobs That People Usually Don't Want See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is investing heavily in cutting-edge genetic experiments. It’s part of their quest to become a biotech superpower. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha, Bloomberg’s Karoline Kan and Oxford University geneticist Andy Greenfield discuss China’s pharmaceutical ambitions and the loose regulatory environment that allows the animal testing industry to thrive. Read more: China Pushes Boundaries With Animal Testing to Win Global Biotech Race See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apollo Global Management reinvented how pensions could be managed and paid out — by taking them over and moving the risks offshore. Other firms have followed suit and ushered hundreds of billions of dollars in American retirement savings into accounts that retirees and economists say are exposed to higher risk. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg reporters Alex Rajbhandari and Tom Schoenberg, who investigated this phenomenon and explain what it means for the people whose nest eggs ended up on private equity’s opaque balance sheets. Read more: The Offshoring of America’s Retirement SavingsWhen Wall Street’s Insurance Playbook Goes WrongSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For almost 40 years, Richard Moore was a career spy in Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Only his closest friends and family knew what he did for a living. When he was appointed chief of the agency in 2020, that changed: The name of the person in the top role is the only one made public. In his first broadcast interview since leaving his post in September 2025, Moore talks to Mishal Husain about managing China, the psychology of Vladimir Putin and why spies shouldn’t expect recognition. 03:00 - “I certainly haven’t left the world in a better place than I found it” 05:02 - China as an “opportunity and a threat” 07:20 - UK’s China spy scandal 09:44 China should “get their embassy” in London 10:22 - Getting the “tap on the shoulder” at Oxford University 14:16 - Telling your children you’re a spy 16:28 - What is spycraft really like? 22:00 - Intelligence work post 9/11 28:15 - “Putin has no intention of doing a deal” 33:46 - Strikes on Venezuela 40:00 - Life on the outside Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, Mackeys Ferry Sawmill in North Carolina relied on exporting its goods to China and Vietnam after a dip in domestic demand for high-quality hardwood. But President Donald Trump’s trade war with China dealt a blow that the mill’s owners say they couldn’t come back from. In July, just months after the president announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs, they decided to shut it down. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg economics reporter Shawn Donnan goes to the “Old North State” to understand the ripple effect of tariffs on one of the oldest industries in America and how the mill’s owner feels about Trump and his policies, one year after voting for him in the ballot booth. Listen more: The Most Worrying — and Reassuring — Signals in the US Economy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent weeks, a number of economic warning signs have put investors on edge, from growing skepticism over the possibility of an AI bubble to bankruptcies that have rocked the private credit market. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion columnist and senior markets editor John Authers and host David Gura tackle the question: How worried should we be about the US economy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When President Trump took office in January, he made it clear that retribution against his perceived political enemies was a key part of his second-term agenda. He’s used a variety of tools at his disposal — and with his encouragement, the Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg senior national political reporter Nancy Cook and Department of Justice reporter Chris Strohm to talk about how these cases are playing out and the new precedent they could set for future administrations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wall Street banks are on a hiring spree across India, recruiting workers for everything from software engineering to risk management as part of a decades-long shift away from support roles toward high-skill positions. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg’s Siddhi Nayak to look at India’s changing job landscape. What to expect as Wall Street continues to expand into its tech hubs – and how Donald Trump’s H1-B visa crackdown could accelerate that push. Further listening: Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Dashes Indian Workers’ American Dreams See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US economy appears remarkably resilient right now, but if you look closer, you’ll see a different picture emerge: a growing divide between America’s wealthiest consumers and everyone else. Economists call this kind of bifurcated economy “K-shaped.” And as the top and bottom of the K have diverged, the overall economy has also become more top-heavy and more fragile. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Peter Atwater – the economist who popularized the idea of a “K-shaped economy” during the pandemic – and Bloomberg reporter Catarina Saraiva, who covers the federal reserve and labor market. They examine why this gap is widening, how it’s showing up in company earnings reports and what it means for the country’s overall financial health. Read more: ‘Jenga Tower’ US Economy Teeters as Middle Class Pulls Back Spending See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you tell the history of a whole country through its women? And what can it tell us about the world today? These are the questions Russian-American journalist Julia Ioffe has set out to answer in her new book, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy. Having reported from, and on, Russia for publications including The New Yorker and Foreign Policy for more than a decade, Ioffe says she has repeatedly been asked to explain the actions and motivations of one man: Vladimir Putin. Motherland is, she says, partly a response to Putin, through her desire to show that Russia is much more than one person, let alone one man.In this conversation Ioffe talks to Mishal about reclaiming Russia’s women, about Donald Trump’s hollowing out of American institutions and why Putinism will endure. (Note: This podcast contains a discussion of sexual violence that some listeners may find distressing.) 02:30 - “I was born in a country that no longer exists” 03:55 - The anti-feminist at Lenin’s side during the Revolution 06:55 - Reluctancy to write about Russian women 12:55 - What a “horrible boyfriend” Vladimir Putin was 16:50 - Return to Russia, oligarch hunters and ‘trad wives’ 22:13 - Alexei Navalny, “the last shred of hope” 29:20 - Can Russia sustain the war in Ukraine? 32:32 - Trump’s assault on US institutions, faster than Putin 34:30 - American authoritarianism, risk of “one party state” Watch this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.