Big Take

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

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Oil and Gas Made the University of Texas Rich. Can Green Energy Make It Richer? Thursday, July 24, 2025

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.

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After US-Japan Trade Deal, What’s Next in Trump’s Trade War Wednesday, July 23, 2025

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.

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Trump’s Tariffs Force Europe to Rethink Ties With China Tuesday, July 22, 2025

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.

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What Worries Former Pentagon Chief Robert Gates Monday, July 21, 2025

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.

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Mayor Eric Adams on the Future of New York City Sunday, July 20, 2025

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.

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Yes, Those Locked Shelves Are as Pointless as You Think Friday, July 18, 2025

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.

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What Is Jane Street? And Why Are Regulators Watching It? Thursday, July 17, 2025

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. Read more: Jane Street’s Trading Secrets Spill Into Open and Face Rivals’ ScrutinySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Murder on Rainbow Mountain Wednesday, July 16, 2025

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.

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The Leaked Phone Call that Plunged Thailand Into Crisis Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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.

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How Copper Tariffs Affect Everything You Touch Monday, July 14, 2025

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.

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America’s Flood Mitigation Math Problem Friday, July 11, 2025

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.

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Wall Street Banks Are Battling for Japan’s Top Young Talent Thursday, July 10, 2025

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.

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OPEC+ Makes a Big Bet on Oil Demand Wednesday, July 9, 2025

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.

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China's Plans to Make AI a Utility Tuesday, July 8, 2025

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.

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The White House Wanted ‘90 Deals in 90 Days.’ There’s One Day Left Monday, July 7, 2025

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.

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A Farewell to an American Icon: The Penny Friday, July 4, 2025

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.

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With Tax Bill, Trump Ushers in New Era of Executive Power Thursday, July 3, 2025

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.

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The Great Car Buying Bonanza Is (Probably) Over Wednesday, July 2, 2025

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.

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The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive Tariffs Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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.

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Cruises Are So Back — And Straining Port Cities Monday, June 30, 2025

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.