Big Take

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Latest Episodes:

Big Take News Wrap: UN General Assembly. US-Iran Prisoner Swap. UAW Strike Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Catch up on some of the week’s biggest stories from the US and across the globe. Bloomberg’s Rosalind Mathieson, Mario Parker and Ben Sills join this episode to talk about the major issues on the table at the United Nations meeting in New York; the Biden administration’s push for a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia; and the ongoing US auto workers strike.

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Geopolitics Is Shaking Up Economic Alliances Sep 21, 2023

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Bloomberg’s Shawn Donnan and Maeva Cousin join this episode to explain how rising political tensions around the world are leading to a re-ordering of trade and commerce into rival economic blocs.

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Here's How Workers Describe Dollar General. Brace Yourself Sep 20, 2023

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The Dollar General retail chain has 19,000-plus locations, more than Walmart and Wendy’s combined. Its business model is to open in towns too small to support bigger retailers, sell necessities at low prices and keep staff to a minimum, sometimes as few as one or two people per shift. This bare bones approach has led to profits but also numerous OSHA citations and millions of dollars in proposed fines against the company since 2017.

Bloomberg reporters Josh Eidelson and Brendan Case join this episode to talk about their reporting on Dollar General, what current and former employees say about what it’s like to work there–and how the company has responded.

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It’s Tough Being A Blue City In A Red State Sep 19, 2023

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Bloomberg Businessweek national political correspondent Joshua Green joins this episode to describe a political phenomenon that’s emerging in parts of the US: red states encroaching on blue cities. In Nashville, Austin and elsewhere, Republican legislatures have successfully used supermajorities to block liberal reforms and enact conservative policies.

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What Do Striking US Auto Workers Want? Sep 18, 2023

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On Friday, US auto workers started an unprecedented strike against all three of the legacy Detroit carmakers. If the standoff isn’t resolved quickly, it could ripple through the US economy.

Bloomberg’s Detroit Bureau Chief David Welch joins this episode to talk about what the union is demanding–and whether the companies will give them what they want.
Read more: How Auto Executives Misread the UAW and Ignited a Historic Strike

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India Flexes Its Growing Global Power Sep 15, 2023

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There were many global issues on the table at the G-20 summit in New Delhi. But arguably the real center of attention at the India meeting was India itself–and the ambitious agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Daniel Ten Kate join this episode to discuss what came out of the gathering of leaders—and how India is asserting itself on the world stage.

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Low Pay, Long Hours, Rude Customers. Retail Workers Have Had It Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

Retail work has always been hard – long hours and weekend shifts on your feet, a lower pay scale and dealing with disgruntled customers. But in our post-pandemic economy, those issues have only been amplified with shoppers behaving badly and wages not keeping up with inflation, while employees take on ever-expanding roles. As a result, many workers are deciding the job just isn’t worth it.

Bloomberg’s Devin Leonard and Rebecca Greenfield explain the decline of retail workers’ sense of value and respect that is leading them to quit in droves. And retail reporter Olivia Rockeman talks about the broader challenges facing brick and mortar stores as they try to compete with growing online sales.

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Carbon Capture’s Make Or Break Moment Sep 13, 2023

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Since the 1970s, carbon capture and storage (CSS) has been held up as one potential tool to help combat global warming. The idea is to capture carbon dioxide released in the production of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, and store it deep underground–instead of letting it escape into the atmosphere. But despite billions of dollars spent, the technology hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Bloomberg’s Stephen Stapczynski and David Stringer report that now is the make or break time for carbon capture to prove its worth, and they join this episode to talk about whether it’s up to the challenge of slowing climate change.

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‘Made In Mexico’ Is The New ‘Made In China’ Sep 12, 2023

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For decades, companies looking to lower costs have resorted to offshoring—moving their manufacturing to China and other nations in Asia. But US-China tensions and a desire to simplify long, complex supply chains are now leading a growing number of businesses that serve US customers to do the reverse—“nearshoring.” They’re relocating some or all of their operations to Mexico.

Bloomberg’s Maya Averbuch and Leda Alvim join this episode to talk about Mexico’s manufacturing boom in everything from electric vehicles to baked goods—and why it’s a critical moment for the country’s economy.

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Companies Are Pressing Return-To-Office. Workers Want To Stay Remote. Sep 11, 2023

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By now, most people across the globe have returned to pre-pandemic routines like traveling and going to the movies. But when it comes to where they work, many remote employees want to leave their offices in the past. Bloomberg’s Matthew Boyle joins this episode to discuss companies’ ongoing battle to lure employees back to in-person work, and where the return-to-office movement has gained the most traction around the world.

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