The Big Take

Since President Trump kicked off his reelection campaign in November 2022, his net worth has more than doubled — to roughly $6.4 billion. No modern American president has positioned his family to make so much money while in the White House. Today on the show, Bloomberg reporters Max Abelson and Annie Massa join host David Gura to discuss the sources of the Trump family’s wealth — from cryptocurrencies and sneakers to Trump-branded towers in the Middle East. Read more: The Trump Family’s Money-Making MachineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump has been cranking up the pressure on India, a country the US has courted as a strategic counterweight against China. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on the country, a higher rate than many other major economies in Asia. But he didn’t stop there. This week, he’s threatened to raise the levy even higher. His message to India is clear: Stop buying Russian oil. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen joins K. Oanh Ha to unpack the historical and economic ties that have kept Russia and India close and discuss why that relationship is now being tested on the world stage. Read more: Trump Vows to Ramp Up India Tariffs in Escalation of Russia Spat Further listening: Is Trump’s Trade War Strategy Working?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the data collected by the apolitical Bureau of Labor Statistics was seen as a gold standard — informing decisions made by the Federal Reserve, global business leaders and even presidents. But now, after President Trump’s firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following a disappointing July jobs report — that could change. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Molly Smith joins host Sarah Holder to discuss the potentially sweeping policy ramifications of a shake-up at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As President Donald Trump’s goalposts for his trade war continue to shift, Big Take host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg’s global trade editor Brendan Murray to discuss where things stand and how Trump has dramatically shifted America’s approach to international trade deals.Read more: How Trump Let $1 Trillion Worth of Imports Escape His Tariff HammerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US housing market just posted its slowest spring season in more than a dozen years. Experts are pointing to a combination of factors: high prices, elevated mortgage rates and economic uncertainty in America. So what would it take to turn things around? Big Take host Sarah Holder spoke with Bloomberg housing reporter Prashant Gopal and real estate agents in major markets about the challenges for buyers and sellers. Read more: US Housing Market Posts Worst Spring Selling Season in 13 YearsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump signed the Genius Act, the US’s first major federal cryptocurrency legislation, earlier this month. The law focuses on one type of cryptocurrency: stablecoins. So, what exactly is a stablecoin? On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Emily Mason joins host Sarah Holder to break down what stablecoins are, how they work and what their wider adoption could mean for the crypto industry, banks and consumers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is building the largest power plant the world has ever seen, in a very remote corner of Tibet. But the $167 billion hydropower dam has environmentalists and neighboring countries concerned. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Menaka Doshi speaks to Bloomberg’s Dan Murtaugh about the engineering and geopolitical challenges, and the impact construction will have on the country’s economy.Read more: Xi Ties His Legacy and China’s Economy to $167 Billion Dam Further listening: China's Plans to Make AI a UtilitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, the impact of President Trump’s aggressive trade policy has largely felt theoretical. But with an Aug. 1 tariff extension on the horizon and a consequential week ahead for the president’s broader economic agenda, the cracks are beginning to show. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior economic writer Shawn Donnan joins David Gura to break down the tariff fallout hiding in plain sight, and which sectors and countries are being hit the hardest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss Sullivan’s tenure in the Biden White House, the consequences of President Trump’s cuts to foreign assistance and government staff, and what Sullivan sees as the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the current administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With more than $50 billion under management, Harvard has the largest college endowment in the United States. But the University of Texas is not far behind. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Janet Lorin joins host David Gura to discuss how the University of Texas harnessed land and oil to build the second-largest endowment in higher education and why it’s now adding new kinds of energy — and new ventures — to its portfolio. Read more: Oil-Rich University of Texas Wants to Cash In on AI, Crypto and PowerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Zoellick and Mike Froman spent years crisscrossing the globe as US Trade Representatives for George W. Bush and Barack Obama, respectively. They hammered out deals that accelerated an era of free trade.As President Donald Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline approaches and Japan strikes a major deal with his trade team, David Gura brings the two former trade officials together to get their take on the president’s efforts to reshape the global economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, top European Union leaders are traveling to Beijing for a high-level summit which could set the tone for the relationship between the EU and China for years to come. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Alan Crawford examine the shifting ties between Brussels and Beijing and the effect Trump is having on the relationship. Read more: US Tariffs Are Changing Europe’s Approach to Chinese Investment Further listening: The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive TariffsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over many decades of public service, Robert Gates has served as secretary of defense for two presidents and the director of the CIA.On today’s Big Take podcast, Gates sits down with host David Gura and shares his perspective on what makes this moment one of “the most perilous” in history.It’s the first of several interviews David did with some of the biggest names in foreign policy and national security at the Aspen Security Forum. We’ll publish those conversations on The Big Take over the next couple of weeks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams didn't run in the Democratic primary. But he'll be on the ballot in November, running as an independent against Zohran Mamdani and probably a couple of other candidates as well. So what is his vision for addressing affordability? What can the Mayor do about crime, trash, and other quality of life issues? On this episode of Bloomberg's Odd Lots, we're joined by Eric Adams to talk about the city's future and his plan for securing re-election. Read more: Ex-NYPD Commissioner Sues Adams Over ‘Systemic Corruption’ Adams’ Fundraising Doubles Mamdani’s Since Shock NYC Primary See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been to a store like CVS, Walgreens or Target in the last few years, you may have noticed a trend: more and more essentials are locked up behind plexiglass walls. The strategy started as an anti-theft measure. But there’s little evidence that it’s worked. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Amanda Mull takes host Sarah Holder through the causes and consequences of the retail lock-up era — and how it’s changed the way we shop. Read more: Retailers Locked Up Their Products—and Broke Shopping in AmericaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jane Street is one of Wall Street’s most profitable and secretive firms. And when Indian regulators accused it of market manipulation earlier this month, it rocked the finance world. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg finance reporter Katherine Doherty joins host Sarah Holder to go inside Jane Street’s unique trading strategy, and what new regulatory scrutiny could mean for the high frequency trading industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At over 16,000 feet, Peru’s Rainbow Mountain is hard to reach — and its bright colors are hard to miss on social media. After a community effort to build an access road and usher in tourists succeeded, fame has proven to be a blessing and a curse for the Indigenous community that sits beneath it. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Marcelo Rochabrun and Sarah Holder trace how the community turned Rainbow Mountain into a global tourism destination — and the money, violence and tragedy that followed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked phone call between Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen has ignited a significant political crisis in Thailand, leading to large-scale protests and her suspension from office. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Patpicha Tanakasempipat about the political fallout and its impact on the powerful Shinawatra clan, which has dominated Thai politics for almost three decades. Read more: Humbled Thai Billionaire Is a Warning to Trump-Era PopulistsFurther listening: What Thailand's Same-Sex Marriage Victory Means for the EconomySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, President Trump sent markets into a tizzy, when he proposed tariffs on one of the world’s most valuable commodities: Copper. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s economic statecraft reporter Joe Deaux joins host David Gura to discuss the president’s ongoing push to bring copper manufacturing back to the US. Why 50% levies on copper could affect everything from your car and iPhone to the nation’s electrical grid, and what the copper industry is doing to get ahead. Read more: Trump’s 50% Copper Import Tariff Said to Include Refined Metal Once-in-a-Generation Copper Trade Upends a $250 Billion MarketSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Big Take podcast, we examine what the disaster in Kerr County, Texas reveals about the growing risk of flooding across the country as the climate changes — and the difficult economic choices facing communities grappling with these new risks. Read more: No Alerts Heard in Deadly Texas Flash Flood as 161 Still MissingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan’s hottest banking talent is in high demand as Wall Street goes all out to woo new hires with fancy dinners, strong-arm tactics and higher salaries. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Lisa Du talks to host K. Oanh Ha about why firms are resorting to extreme measures and the problems they face in hiring top talent. Further listening:Can’t Get Enough of Matcha? Too Bad – Japan Is Running LowSouth Korea Has Plenty of Botox But Not Enough Doctors Why China’s Investment Bankers Are Breaking Up With CapitalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPEC+, a coalition of some of the world’s top oil producers, surprised markets over the weekend with plans to boost production by more than half a million barrels a day. The increase comes at a time when investors are worried about oversupply. So what was behind the decision? Bloomberg’s Joumanna Bercetche breaks it all down with Big Take host David Gura from Vienna, where members of the oil cartel and executives from around the world are gathered for the Ninth OPEC International Seminar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a remote part of China's northwestern Xinjiang region, dozens of data centers rise from the desert. A Bloomberg analysis of investor and tax documents and company filings found Chinese companies plan to buy more than 115,000 high-tech Nvidia chips — chips the US has banned from being exported to China – to power these centers, which could then be used for training AI models. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Andy Lin and James Mayger about the story, and what it means for China’s AI master plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late April, shortly after President Trump’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs sent markets reeling, the White House announced a 90-day pause on when those tariffs would go into effect.That pause is about to end and while the Trump administration has announced a few tentative trade agreements — including one with the UK and another with Vietnam — they’re nowhere near 90. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Brendan Murray and host David Gura discuss what the White House has accomplished, what it hasn’t and where the trade war goes from here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the penny has cost more to produce than it’s worth. Now, the US government is finally stopping production of the one-cent coin for good. So, how did we get here? And what does it mean for those little Abraham Lincolns stuck behind your couch cushions? On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Steven Dennis takes us through the life and death of the penny, and explores what it reveals about the way the US government works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of legislative wrangling, the House passed President Trump’s signature tax bill, sending it to his desk just before his July 4 deadline. It's the latest in a sweep of major victories on legislative, military and legal fronts, all of which could impact how Trump enacts his agenda going forward. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s White House and government editor Mario Parker joins Sarah Holder to discuss what the events of the last two weeks could mean for the rest of Trump’s term — and for the future of executive power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The auto sector saw buyers race to dealerships after President Trump announced 25% tariffs on car imports and parts from outside the US. And according to new data this week, sales from major automakers appear to be losing steam ahead of Trump’s July 9 tariff deadline. Today on the Big Take, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg’s Detroit bureau chief David Welch to break down how Trump’s trade war could impact car companies including Tesla, GM and Ford, and what that means for car buyers heading into the summer shopping season. Read more: US Auto Sales Lose Steam After Tariff-Induced Shopping SpreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s trade war has thrown American businesses, which source everything from aircraft parts to baby strollers from China, into chaos. Now some companies are challenging the president’s tariff rulings in the courts. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the toy company Learning Resources, and Bloomberg’s Lucille Liu, to talk about the impact of the trade war on US importers and Chinese manufacturers and what it ultimately means for American consumers. Read more: Chinese Toymaker Takes Drastic Action to Survive Trump’s TariffsFurther listening: Live from Hong Kong: Why China Can Afford to Wait for a Deal, and the US Can’tThe US and China’s High-Stakes DiplomacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cruise industry is an outlier right now. Even as US summer travel is down, cruise companies are setting sail with record numbers of passengers this year. But as the industry tries to keep up with this demand, it’s facing growing pains in the port cities it relies on most. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Redd Brown travels to Galveston, Texas — a port city that’s at the center of the industry’s ambitious expansion plans, and that is wrestling with the challenges that opportunity brings. Read more: Why Two Million Tourists Are Boarding Cruise Ships on a Texas IslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Zohran Mamdani won the first round of the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, making him the presumptive party nominee and the early favorite to win November's general election. Endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, he's proposing rent freezes, universal childcare, higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy, free buses, and city-run grocery stores.On today’s Big Take podcast, we’re featuring an interview Mamdani did with Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway for the Odd Lots podcast a few weeks ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last week, the Buss family, longtime owners of the Los Angeles Lakers, announced that they would sell the franchise for a record-breaking $10 billion valuation. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg’s sports business reporter Randall Williams break down what we know about the deal so far and discuss why America’s wealthiest families seem to be getting out of the game. Read more: Los Angeles Lakers Confirms Majority Stake Sale to Mark Walter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of 2025, Gap was cool again. The legacy American brand had started to turn around sales and rebuild its image. It was in the middle of a splashy ad campaign with the actress Parker Posey. Influencers were posting its clothes online. But then President Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporters Amanda Mull and Lily Meier walk host Sarah Holder through Gap’s history, its recent re-invention and the challenges it faces now. Plus, we hear from Richard Dickson himself. Read more: Inside Gap’s Last-Ditch, Tariff-Addled Turnaround PushSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is Iran’s biggest trading partner, and sources about 14% of its oil from the country. Between China’s economic relationship with Iran and its ongoing trade negotiations with the US, the conflict between Israel and Iran, and especially US involvement, has put China in a difficult position. Today on Big Take Asia, host Oanh Ha is joined by John Liu, who oversees Bloomberg’s China coverage from Beijing, to discuss what’s at stake for China in Iran and how the conflict could change China’s game plan – not just in the Middle East, but on the global stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump lashed out at Iran and Israel today over concerns that a ceasefire between the two was already breaking down. But going from a fragile truce to lasting peace is complicated, particularly as Iran tries to advance its nuclear ambitions. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who helped negotiate an Iran deal reached in 2015, and with Bloomberg’s Nick Wadhams. They discuss the current state of Iran’s nuclear program, what’s succeeded at the negotiating table in the past and President Trump’s objectives as he tries to broker a deal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conventional wisdom used to be that war in the Middle East would send oil prices soaring. Not anymore.On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion’s Javier Blas and host Sarah Holder talk about the emergence of the US as the world’s largest oil producer — and how that new power dynamic is playing out in the war in Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States conducted airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend, marking a dramatic escalation of the US’s involvement in Israel’s deepening war with Tehran.On today’s Big Take Podcast, Bloomberg national security and intelligence reporter Natalia Drozdiak and Israel Bureau Chief Ethan Bronner join host Sarah Holder to talk through what led to President Trump’s decision to strike, how the surprise attack happened and what comes next. Read more: A Weakened Iran Can Still Inflict Pain on the US — and the WorldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global tariff wars, multi-country travel bans, detentions and phone-seizures at the border. President Trump’s “America first” policies create a grim picture for one group in particular: international tourists. Foreign visitors to the US have been on the rise since the pandemic, with analysts previously expecting 2025 to be a bumper year for tourism. That is, until President Trump’s second term began. This drop in tourism is forecasted to cost the American economy $12.5 billion this year. On Today’s episode of the Big Take, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg reporter and Big Take Asia host K. Oanh Ha to look at the state of the tourism industry in the US, and where in the world tourists are going instead. Read more: Trump’s $12 Billion Tourism Wipeout The US Is on Track to Lose $12 Billion in Travel Revenue in 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the debate about President Trump’s tax bill — known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — plays out among lawmakers in Washington, there’s been increasingly heated criticism of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. It calculates the costs and savings from the bill — including from the White House. On today’s episode of the Big Take, host Saleha Mohsin sits down with CBO director Phillip Swagel to hear how his agency churns out economic forecasts from inside the center of a political storm. Further listening: Stephen Miran Explains Why There’s No Secret Dollar PactSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teams from China used to dominate international hacking competitions, until Beijing ordered them to stop attending and take part only in domestic tournaments. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Jamie Tarabay about how tournaments are helping boost China’s cyber-espionage capabilities and what that means for the world. Read more: Chinese Hacking Competitions Fuel the Country’s Broad Cyber Ambitions - BloombergSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump was in Canada this week for the Group of Seven summit. But after dinner on Monday night, Trump left early, citing the conflict in the Middle East. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura speaks with Bloomberg’s Nick Wadhams in Calgary to unpack what Trump’s move could mean for Ukraine, the Middle East, trade — and for G-7 summits going forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conflict between Iran and Israel has been simmering for decades — but escalated rapidly in the last few days after Israel bombed key nuclear facilities in Iran. As world leaders convene for the G-7 in Canada this week — many are concerned about the prospect of continued fighting and a broader regional conflict. Today on the Big Take podcast, Golnar Motevalli, who covers Iran for Bloomberg, joins host Sarah Holder to discuss the on-the-ground reality in both countries, the choices facing their heads of state and what other world leaders might do to encourage a deescalation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Big Take, we bring you a new episode of Trumponomics, straight from the live stage at Bloomberg’s Hong Kong Invest conference. Stephanie Flanders leads a panel from the Hong Kong Invest conference to unpack the latest round of high-stakes trade talks between the US and China, exploring why Beijing may still have the upper hand and how far any decoupling of the two economies will go. She's joined by Robin Xing, Chief China Economist at Morgan Stanley, Lotus Asset Management Chief Investment Officer Hao Hong, and Bloomberg reporter Rebecca Choong Wilkins. Further reading: Why China Can Afford to Wait for a Deal, and the US Can’tSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.