Big Take

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Latest Episodes:

Trump Takes Europe to the Brink on Greenland Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In an unprecedented speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Donald Trump ruled out taking Greenland by military force, but made his case for the US purchasing what he described as a “large piece of ice” — and vowed to “remember” if he didn’t get his way.

On today’s Big Take podcast, executive editor Flavia Krause-Jackson joins host David Gura to recap Trump’s stunning speech, the swift reaction from his peers and NATO allies and what, ultimately, could come next.
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Flavia Krause-Jackson; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Alex Sigura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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Inside ICE’s Plan to Build Detention ‘Mega Centers’ Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

ICE has been open about its aggressive detention and deportation targets. And now, the agency has its sights set on a new kind of facility to house the people it arrests: converted warehouses that could detain 5,000 or more people.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporters Fola Akinnibi and Sophie Alexander take host Sarah Holder inside their team’s reporting on the agency’s latest push to expand its detention capacity, the lucrative government contracts that companies are vying for and mounting concerns around safety for detainees.

Further listening: Why Small Towns Are Hooked on ICE Detention

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Sophie Alexander and Fola Akinnibi; Edited by Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and David Fox; Engineering by Katie McMurran; Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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Trump’s Economy, One (Second) Year In Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

This week marks the end of President Trump’s first year back in office. His busy economic agenda included global tariffs, deregulation, tax cuts and so much more.

The deep and dramatic changes the Trump administration proposed and imposed have fundamentally changed the way the US does business. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg’s Nancy Cook and Mark Niquette discuss which initiatives have had the biggest impact so far and which are likely to last.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Nancy Cook and Mark Niquette; Edited by Tracey Samuelson and Patrick Hirsch; Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran; Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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The Domino Effect of the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

For Beijing, the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was a mixed bag -- an embarrassing surprise, a wake-up call over its alliances in Latin America and an opening to step up on the world stage, according to Nicholas Burns, the former US ambassador to China.

On today’s Big Take, host David Gura and Ambassador Burns discuss how President Donald Trump’s military actions and threats are reshaping China’s relationships across the Pacific and the Taiwan Strait—and how the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” could ultimately hand China a global edge.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Yang Yang and Naomi Ng; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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Trump’s Latest Target: Corporate Landlords Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Since the 2008 financial crisis, private equity firms and other large investors have bought hundreds of thousands of homes across the US, expanding their footprint in the American real estate market. But President Trump blindsided the industry with a Truth Social post last week, announcing he would push for a ban on Wall Street investors scooping up single-family homes.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg real estate reporter Patrick Clark and Bloomberg CityLab reporter Kriston Capps join host Sarah Holder to explain how big investors got a slice of the US housing market and whether pushing them out would actually put a dent in the country’s affordability crisis.

Editor's Note: Updated to remove reference to Pretium comment.

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Patrick Clark and Kriston Capps; Edited by Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by David Fox and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Alex Sugiura; Senior Producer Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer Julia Weaver; Executive Producer Nicole Beemsterboer

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Pressure Is Mounting on Iran's Regime Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Weeks of protests in Iran started over the high price of food and essential goods. They quickly engulfed the nation and, before long, were met with deadly force by the Iranian regime’s security forces.

The violent crackdown has drawn international condemnation and President Trump has offered protestors his support.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and International Crisis Group’s Iran Project Director Ali Vaez discuss how we got here, the existential threats facing the Iranian regime and what could come next if it falls.

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Minnesota v. ICE Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This week, following the deadly shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, the state of Minnesota sued the federal government in a bid to kick out thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg immigration reporter Alicia Caldwell and the National Immigration Law Center’s Efrén Olivares to discuss how a rapid evolution under President Trump has reshaped ICE — and how states are responding to unprecedented waves of federal enforcers.

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Powell Makes His Case to The American People Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

On Sunday night, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced that the US Department of Justice had served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas threatening a criminal indictment over a costly renovation of the central bank’s building.

It was a watershed moment in the escalating tension between the Trump administration and the US central bank.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Fed reporters Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran to discuss what this means for one of the most important financial institutions in the world, for Powell, for the White House — and where things could go from here.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran; Edited by Naomi Shavin.

Fact-checking by David Fox and Julia Press; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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Why Trump Wants Venezuela’s Oil Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

After the Trump Administration’s strike on Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, there’s one word on everyone’s mind: oil. President Trump has big plans for the country’s vast reserves, which today account for just 1% percent of global production.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg Opinion’s Javier Blas talk through the Trump Administration’s gamble on Venezuela’s oil, how the president plans to convince the energy industry to invest in the country’s aging infrastructure, and why its resources are key to the administration’s plans at home and abroad.

Listen more: Oil Prices Could Get Cheaper Despite Venezuela Blockade

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Javier Blas; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Simon Casey.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Venezuela, Is Greenland Next? Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Within days of the US raid on Venezuela, President Donald Trump and his administration turned their attention to Greenland, renewing European fears that the US would try to take territory belonging to its longtime NATO ally, Denmark.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Sanne Wass in Denmark and Joe Deaux, who covers Greenland, join host Sarah Holder to discuss what days of escalating rhetoric around the strategically located Arctic island could mean for Denmark, Russia and the future of NATO.

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