Big Take

Copyright: 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia

Latest Episodes:

Big Banks are “Quiet Quitting” Their Climate Promises Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Big banks made big promises to help fight climate change. But as the world warms, those institutions are quietly cooling on their plans.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Alastair Marsh joins host Sarah Holder to break down why banks are rethinking their commitments, and what that could mean for the climate crisis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerry Seinfeld: The Last TV Billionaire? Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

Jerry Seinfeld is a billionaire, thanks in part to earnings from his iconic 1990s sitcom, Seinfeld. After co-creating and starring in the TV show, Seinfeld parlayed his comedy into big money – but changes to the entertainment industry could make it a challenge for others to follow suit.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg wealth reporter Annie Massa talks to host Sarah Holder about how the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued Seinfeld’s net worth for the first time, and what made his eponymous show such an enduring – and lucrative – classic.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Texas Border Town at the Center of the Immigration Debate Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Immigration has become a top issue for voters in the 2024 election cycle, but people on the border want action now — not after November.

On the Big Take podcast, Bloomberg's Washington Bureau Chief Peggy Collins visits Eagle Pass, Texas, to explore why the US-Mexico border is shaping up to be a dominant campaign issue and what the needs on the ground really are.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sentencing of Sam Bankman-Fried Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

In the nearly five months since a jury found Sam Bankman-Fried guilty, a narrative has started to take shape in crypto circles that the business model behind FTX was sound and that SBF would have been successful had he not dipped into customer funds.
But on the eve of his sentencing, Bloomberg’s Max Chafkin and Zeke Faux join The Big Take Podcast to discuss how they found — after interviewing insiders and carefully examining trial testimony and thousands of pages of documents — that fraud was at the very core of FTX’s meteoric rise.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Terminals Have a Black Market Problem Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite program touts itself as a source of reliable internet in hard-to-reach places. But there are some countries where Starlink’s services aren’t licensed, or where the company can’t do business because of US sanctions. And a Bloomberg investigation has found that Starlink kits are appearing in many of those markets anyway – with geopolitical consequences.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior editor Alan Crawford traces the burgeoning black market for Starlink terminals, from Sudan to Venezuela. And national security reporter Dan Flatley breaks down why US government officials are taking notice – and the hurdles to shutting the black market down.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employees Describe Pattern of Harassment and Drug Use in Citigroup Unit Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Citigroup was the first major Wall Street bank with a female CEO. But interviews with 22 people who worked in or closely with the bank’s equities division suggest a pattern of harassment and discrimination.

Bloomberg’s Paige Smith and Max Abelson join The Big Take podcast to share what their reporting uncovered, and what it says about the rest of Wall Street’s overdue #MeToo reckoning.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What TikTok Tells Us About China’s Soft Power Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill with an ultimatum for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance: sell the app, or be banned in the US.

Today on The Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Dan Flatley and Alex Barinka cover the national security concerns behind this bill and the potential geopolitical and tech industry consequences.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan Has a New Interest Rate: Zero. Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

For the first time in almost two decades, Japan has raised interest rates out of negative territory. The reason? Inflation has finally arrived in the country’s economy.

Today on The Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson and host Sarah Holder tackle what the change means for banks, business, and Japan’s economy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MLB Wants to Make It Big in Asia. Shohei Ohtani Can Help Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Major League Baseball has a big problem: it’s tapped out on new fans in the US. So it's looking abroad to Asia to bring in new ones. Japanese baseball prodigy Shohei Ohtani is crucial to that plan.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Janet Paskin discusses Ohtani’s meteoric rise, his $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his pivotal role in the league’s global ambitions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crypto Is Back. Bubble or Blastoff? Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Cryptocurrencies have been on a tear. Over the past few weeks, Bitcoin has been hitting all-time highs. And many say this is just the beginning.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Stacy-Marie Ishmael joins us to discuss crypto’s latest record-setting run: is it going to the moon or are we on the brink of another bubble?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.