Big Take

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.

The United States has struck more than a dozen boats off the coast of Venezuela over the last two months, killing more than 60 people. The Trump administration says it’s targeting narco-traffickers. But critics at home and abroad have decried the attacks and challenged their legal basis. Meanwhile, President Trump has overseen a buildup of force in the region. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg National Security Reporter Nick Wadhams, Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser and host David Gura take stock of the concentration of American military force in the Caribbean. They break down why President Trump is taking aim at Venezuela right now — and discuss what could happen next. Read more: Nobel Peace Prize Winner: US Escalation Is ‘Only Way’ to Free Venezuela See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ongoing US government shutdown has broken historic records — and its economic consequences could prove even longer-lasting. Today on the Big Take, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg’s Gregory Korte and Megan Scully, who cover the White House and Congress, to talk about the shutdown’s impacts across sectors — and what it could take to break the logjam. Read more: The US Government Shutdown Is the Longest Ever. Why Does This Keep Happening? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zohran Mamdani clinched New York City’s mayoral race by campaigning against wealth inequality and promoting affordability. Now, he faces the challenge of delivering on the promises that got him elected while coming to the table with the city’s wealthiest residents, who have an outsized influence on the city’s politics, economy and revenue. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg reporters Emily Flitter and Fola Akinnibi and speaks with Kathryn Wylde, the CEO of the Partnership for New York City, which represents the interests of the city’s business community. They discuss what Mamdani’s victory means for Wall Street and how he plans to win over the 1 percent. Read more: Wall Street Drops Fear of ‘Hot Commie Summer’ in Overture to MamdaniAllow Zohran Mamdani to Reintroduce HimselfNew York’s Golden Handcuffs: Why the City Has a Special Hold on the RichSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian nations are walking a tightrope between Washington and Beijing – juggling trade, tech and security pressures as the heavyweights vie for influence. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Adam Farrar, Bloomberg’s senior geoeconomics analyst for Asia Pacific, to unpack what may have been overlooked at the APEC summit as the Xi-Trump show came to town. Read more: Xi Calls for Stable Supply Chains After Sealing Trump Truce Further listening: Trump Got an ‘Amazing’ Meeting. China Got Much-Needed Time Listen and follow The Big Take Asia on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time the United States saw layoff numbers this high was during the Covid-19 pandemic. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg US Economy reporter Julia Fanzeres and host David Gura tackle the layoff wave of 2025: what it reveals about the state of the US economy — and what it means for the workers swept up in it. Read more: Wave of US Layoffs Flash Early Warning Sign for Job Market See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three weeks after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado finds herself supporting US intervention in her native country. Mishal speaks to Maria Corina on recent US boat strikes, Nicolas Maduro’s fate and the need for strength to secure peace. 03:24 - "I had to go into hiding" 03:51 - Impact of the Nobel Peace Prize 05:38 - US Military build up 10:21 - Prospect of US ground strikes 13:10 - Is Machado speaking to the Trump Administration? 16:00 - Prospect of regime change 18:50 - Venezuela after Maduro 23:04 - Machado's economic vision 26:04 - What is the Venezuelan opposition planning next? 28:23 - "We are ready to take our government" 34:22 - Why Machado thinks this time is different 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.

The WNBA is bigger than ever. From soaring ticket sales and to record TV viewership, the W is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. But since last year, the WNBA and its players’ union have been in tense negotiations over the cut that players get from that success. A deadline to reach a deal has been extended another 30 days, but the sticking points remain. On today’s Big Take Podcast, Bloomberg reporter Jennah Haque, Good Game host Sarah Spain and Seattle Storm Guard Lexie Brown break down the state of play, from proposals on the table for revenue sharing to questions about the league’s financial picture. Read more: As Billions of Dollars Pour Into Women’s Sports, Players Seek a Bigger Cut Further listening: Good Game with Sarah SpainFull Circle with Lexie Brown & Mariah Rose—Power to the PlayersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China announced a one-year truce in their trade war, capping six contentious months of negotiations and retaliatory tariffs between the world’s two largest economies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Global Trade Editor Brendan Murray and Executive China Editor John Liu join host David Gura to parse the details of the new US-China trade agreement — and why both countries are moving forward without a permanent deal. Read more: Trump and Xi Put Limits on Their Trade War in a ‘12 Out of 10’ Summit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, following its 25-basis-point cut in September. But amid a government shutdown limiting key data and questions about who will succeed Chair Jerome Powell, what comes next is anyone’s guess. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporters Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran join host David Gura to break down the path forward for the central bank: from the shutdown’s impact on its decision-making to the leading contenders for Powell’s position when his term ends in May. Read more: Powell Says December Rate Cut ‘Far From’ Forgone Conclusion Here Are the Five Contenders to Replace Powell as Fed Chair The Economic Data Lost in a Shutdown See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US-China tariff war has upended global manufacturing, forcing companies like Chicago-based Learning Resources to fundamentally change how and where its products are made. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, K. Oanh Ha heads to Vietnam, where the toymaker has begun shifting the production of its popular children’s toys. We examine how the company is managing its complex shift from China – where its toys have been made for decades – what the factory boom means for communities on the ground in Vietnam and how all of this will impact consumers. Further listening: The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive Tariffs Xi’s Top Bargaining Chip Is a Trade War Game Changer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running North America’s largest transportation network is no easy task. Janno Lieber, the CEO and Chair of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in charge of everything from upgrading ancient train infrastructure to advancing long-delayed expansion plans. He’s now also dealing with potential federal funding cuts for two of his agency’s signature projects – expanding the Second Avenue Subway into East Harlem and building a new commuter rail tunnel to connect New York and New Jersey. Today on the show, Lieber sits down with host Sarah Holder to discuss his approach to running the agency in the face of these threats, his thoughts on NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s free bus proposal, and his advice for other cities who want to up their public transit ambitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After successfully pushing for Brexit, political disruptor Nigel Farage announced his retirement. Last year, he returned to frontline politics as the leader of Reform UK, an insurgent party that’s never held national power but is now polling ahead of Labour and the Conservatives. Mishal speaks with Farage about dismantling consensus politics, Britain’s future relationship with the European Union and what he thinks Donald Trump is getting right. 4:02 - “We’ve not had enough change” 7:10 - Working in the City of London in the 1980s 11:46 Alignment with the European Union 13:33 “Everything in life’s about risk” 16:24 “Make Britain Great Again” 21:00 The Bank of England 25:19 “Putin is a very bad dude” 30:15 Immigration and ICE raids 35:12 Economic plans 46:14 Reading to prepare for government Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYSYou 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.

On day 23 of the second-longest government shutdown in American history, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sits down with Big Take Host David Gura to talk about the shutdown, the NYC mayoral race and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last decade, Nana Regional Corp. — an Alaska Native corporation based in a small community roughly 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle — has won contracts worth more than $1 billion to run and support ICE detention facilities around the US. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg investigative reporter Polly Mosendz and KOTZ news director Desiree Hagen look into how a company that once focused on local Alaskan industries, like mining and hospitality, became an ICE detention giant — and why some shareholders are starting to push back. This story was reported in collaboration with KOTZ and Alaska Public Media. KOTZ, a partner station of Alaska Public Media, has received donations from local businesses, including Nana, in the past. Read more: Why Small Towns Are Hooked on ICE Detention See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s dominance of rare earths has given Xi Jinping powerful leverage over Donald Trump ahead of their expected meeting next week. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate dig into how China is weaponizing rare earths and what the economic standoff means for a trade deal and the future of US-China relations. Read more: Xi Is Never Giving Up His Newfound Leverage Over Trump Further listening: Xi’s Bromance Diplomacy Is Challenging Trump’s World Order The Rebel Army Behind One of the World’s Major Rare-Earth Supplies See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the biggest names in tech and Hollywood are training their sights on Warner Bros. Discovery, the media and entertainment conglomerate that owns HBO Max, CNN and TNT. The first party to make an offer was Paramount Skydance, the newly-merged company helmed by David Ellison. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins host David Gura to share his reporting on why Ellison wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery — and what more consolidation would mean for Hollywood, the news business and consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just seven minutes, thieves in France made off with a cache of royal necklaces, tiaras and earrings in a robbery at Paris’s famous Louvre — shutting down the world’s busiest museum and setting off an international manhunt. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg’s Paris Bureau Chief Alan Katz on the brazen theft that evokes a Hollywood caper, the latest in the investigation and what might happen to the priceless jewels. Read more: A 7-Minute Louvre Heist Leaves Behind DNA and Dropped Crown See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney talks to Mishal Husain about trade battles, Vladimir Putin's miscalculations and what he's learned from Donald Trump. 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.