Having a Baby? This Company Will Give You $72,000
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 KidsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 Loka 202515min
The Front Lines of Trump's Trade War? Look at Kentucky
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 - BloombergSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Loka 202517min
The Rebel Army Behind One of the World’s Major Rare-Earth Supplies
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 BorderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Loka 202516min
The International Pressure That Led to the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire
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 DealSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Loka 202521min
The AI Deals Raising Fears of a New Tech Bubble
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 DealsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 Loka 202515min
The Rise of Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ and Its Political Shift to the Right
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 - BloombergSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Loka 202519min
Pay Up Or Move Out: The Americans Losing Their Homes to ‘Zombie’ Mortgages
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 LoansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 Loka 202520min
Will the Shutdown Lead to DOGE 2.0?
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.
5 Loka 202542min
