Big Take

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney talks to Mishal Husain about trade battles, Vladimir Putin's miscalculations and what he's learned from Donald Trump. You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The competition for America’s wealthiest shoppers is heating up, with credit card companies like American Express and Chase using every perk in the book to enroll new cardholders. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Amanda Mull tracks how the leading credit card companies are using perks, promotions and points to win the business of the 10 percent of Americans responsible for nearly 50 percent of the country’s discretionary spending. Who will win this high-stakes game – and what’s the cost to the rest of us? Read more: Inside the Credit Card Battle to Win America’s Richest ShoppersTake Bloomberg’s Quiz: Which Premium Credit Card Is Right For You?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are holding their annual meetings in Washington, DC and so is the Institute of International Finance. It’s brought a who’s who of central bankers and finance ministers to the US capital — in the midst of a government shutdown — to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy. Bloomberg reporters and editors from all over the world have also made the pilgrimage to Washington, including Brendan Murray, who oversees global trade coverage, along with Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, the hosts of Odd Lots. On today’s Big Take podcast, they join host David Gura to share what they’re hearing at official events and on the sidelines of these meetings and what it reveals about the health of the economy and global markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold always shines during uncertain times, but escalating tensions between the US and China and signals from the Federal Reserve that we could see at least one more rate cut this year have propelled gold – and silver – to record highs. Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg precious metals reporter Jack Ryan and host Sarah Holder talk about what’s pushing up gold’s value — and what history can teach us about how this gold rush could end. Read more: Gold (XAUUSD) Trades Near Record on Fed Rate-Cut Sign, US-China Tensions - Bloomberg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korean companies are offering workers tens of thousands of dollars (tax free) to have babies. But are cash incentives enough to address the country’s record-low fertility rates? K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Hyonhee Shin explore on today’s Big Take Asia podcast. Read more: Korean Companies Pay Employees Huge Sums to Have More Kids See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an unexpected place starting to feel the impact of US President Donald Trump’s trade war: Kentucky. Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove visited Governor Andy Beshear, the Democrat leading the red state, to understand the economic consequences tariffs have had on Kentucky’s manufacturing industry – and its iconic bourbon. Wingrove sits down with host Sarah Holder to talk about their conversation and his time in the bluegrass state. Read more: Kentucky Governor Grapples With Tariffs, Says 2028 Call Can Wait - Bloomberg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Myanmar is the world’s third-largest producer of rare earths and a critical supplier for neighboring China. But rebels have recently taken control of most of the country’s mines — creating a complicated situation for Beijing and for global supply chains. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and reporter Timothy McLaughlin discuss the Kachin Independence Organization’s control of a majority of Myanmar’s rare-earth mines, how the change is shifting Myanmar's political dynamics and what the group’s growing influence could mean for the future of rare earths. Read more: A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China’s Border See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Escalating international and economic pressure led to a new peace deal in Gaza. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder is joined by Bloomberg’s Joumanna Bercetche, Fares Alghoul and Galit Altstein to discuss the factors that brought Israel and Hamas to the negotiating table, what they’ve agreed to so far and the outlook for the region after more than two years of war. Read more: Israel Says Gaza Ceasefire Now in Effect After Hostage Deal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAI and AMD. OpenAI and Nvidia. Oracle and OpenAI. Nvidia and Oracle. There is so much AI-on-AI dealmaking happening in the industry right now, it can be hard to keep track of who has a deal with who — and increasingly, it seems everyone has a deal with everyone else. Today on the Big Take, host Sarah Holder speaks with technology reporter Emily Forgash about the AI giants making circular deals — and why some analysts and experts are concerned about the trend. Read more: OpenAI, Nvidia Fuel $1 Trillion AI Market With Web of Circular Deals See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in history, Japan’s ruling party has elected a woman as its leader. Sanae Takaichi, 64, is an unconventional figure — and now she’s on track to become Japan’s first female prime minister. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson about Takaichi’s path to power, why her politics aren’t resonating with some Japanese women and what her leadership could mean for Japan’s economy and its relationship with the United States. Read more: Japan Braces for Shift to Right Under ‘Iron Lady’ Fan Takaichi - Bloomberg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’re called “zombie” mortgages: old second loans from the subprime era that many homeowners had good reason to believe were canceled or forgotten. Now, years later, debt collectors are coming after the money. And they’re ready to foreclose if people can’t pay. It sounds like a horror story, but a new Bloomberg investigation has found that it’s a terrifying reality — and hundreds of thousands of homeowners could be at risk. On today’s Big Take podcast host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg data journalist Noah Buhayar look at what a trove of records from one debt collection company tells us about how the industry operates as a whole and why cashing in on dormant mortgages has become big business. Read more: How Debt Collectors Spin Riches from Zombie Loans See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Big Take, we hear from our colleagues over at Everybody's Business, Stacey Vanek Smith and Max Chafkin. This week’s topics include a possible return of DOGE-like cuts due to the shutdown, the wild ride of crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and a very surprising economic indicator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing number of colleges and universities across the US are trying to address dwindling student enrollment and tight finances by opening their doors to an unusual source of revenue: contracts with retirement communities, on or near campus. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Elizabeth Rembert heads back to school to learn what happens when baby boomers and Gen Z students share quads and classrooms: from intergenerational friendships to growing pains. Read more: Baby Boomers Now Live Next to 18-Year-Olds at Colleges Across US See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rent is too high…even for high-earning New Yorkers. In the wake of unprecedented rent hikes, residents across America's largest city are finding that not even a six-figure salary can protect them from the squeeze. On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg Real Estate Reporter Paulina Cachero and Fiscal Policy Institute Chief Economist Emily Eisner about New York City’s stressed rental market, the domino effect it has on everyone and the proposals on the table to fix it. Read more: Even New York City’s Wealth Renters Can’t Avoid the Housing Crisis Listen more: Odd Lots - Zohran Mamdani, the Socialist Who Could Be NYC's New Mayor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US government shutdown will have serious implications for the collection and distribution of federal economic data used to gauge the health of the US economy — including the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs reports and Consumer Price Index. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg White House reporter Gregory Korte and economics editor Molly Smith join host David Gura to talk about what the government shutdown means for economic data and how it could impact policymakers, investors and everyday Americans. Read more: How the US Government Shutdown Will Affect Key AgenciesRepublicans Weigh Big Cuts as Senators Grasp for Shutdown DealUS Firms Shed 32,000 Jobs in ADP Report After Data AdjustmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI needs a lot of energy — and a new Bloomberg investigation has found that those soaring costs are being passed on to consumers who live near data centers. On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg reporters Josh Saul and Leonardo Nicoletti about the AI boom’s impact on power bills, how utility companies are handling surging demand and the implications for communities with centers in their backyards. Read more: AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US government is facing its first potential shutdown in nearly seven years, and the clock is ticking. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Congress editor Megan Scully and host David Gura break down the political incentives for President Trump, the Republican Party and for Democrats — and discuss what’s at stake for the economy if a shutdown comes to pass. Read more: US Economy Will Only Get Murkier If Key Data Is Delayed in Shutdown See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kindbody employee discovers the company is helping an imprisoned billionaire father multiple children through surrogates and egg donors. In this episode, reporter Jackie Davalos investigates Greg Lindberg's "baby project" and what it illustrates about America's unregulated fertility industry. Read more: IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kindbody implements quotas requiring doctors to perform more lucrative procedures, internal company documents show. In Episode 4 of IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story, patients report being pushed toward expensive IVF cycles and questionable add-ons. Bloomberg’s Jackie Davalos investigates how financial pressure drove medical decisions at the struggling fertility chain—including one woman's painful and seemingly unnecessary procedure that would leave her questioning everything. Read more: IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent surprised markets when they signaled broad economic support — including a potential $20 billion swap line — for Argentinian President Javier Milei amid deep financial and political uncertainty in South America’s second-largest economy. So, what’s behind this gesture and how would it work? On today’s episode, Bloomberg’s Patrick Gillespie joins Big Take host David Gura from Buenos Aires to unpack what US support could mean for Milei as he faces a referendum on his economic agenda. Read more: US Readies $20 Billion Rescue to Help Milei Win In Argentina See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.