It’s Not Just You. There Are a Lot of Layoffs Happening
The last time the United States saw layoff numbers this high was during the Covid-19 pandemic. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg US Economy reporter Julia Fanzeres and host David Gura tackle the layoff wave of 2025: what it reveals about the state of the US economy — and what it means for the workers swept up in it. Read more: Wave of US Layoffs Flash Early Warning Sign for Job MarketSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 Marras 10min
WNBA Players Want More of the League’s Revenue. Can They Get It?
The WNBA is bigger than ever. From soaring ticket sales and to record TV viewership, the W is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. But since last year, the WNBA and its players’ union have been in tense negotiations over the cut that players get from that success. A deadline to reach a deal has been extended another 30 days, but the sticking points remain. On today’s Big Take Podcast, Bloomberg reporter Jennah Haque, Good Game host Sarah Spain and Seattle Storm Guard Lexie Brown break down the state of play, from proposals on the table for revenue sharing to questions about the league’s financial picture. Read more: As Billions of Dollars Pour Into Women’s Sports, Players Seek a Bigger Cut Further listening: Good Game with Sarah Spain Full Circle with Lexie Brown & Mariah Rose—Power to the Players See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Loka 20min
Trump Got an ‘Amazing’ Meeting. China Got Much-Needed Time
On Thursday, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China announced a one-year truce in their trade war, capping six contentious months of negotiations and retaliatory tariffs between the world’s two largest economies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Global Trade Editor Brendan Murray and Executive China Editor John Liu join host David Gura to parse the details of the new US-China trade agreement — and why both countries are moving forward without a permanent deal. Read more: Trump and Xi Put Limits on Their Trade War in a ‘12 Out of 10’ SummitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 Loka 14min
Is the Fed Flying Blind?
On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, following its 25-basis-point cut in September. But amid a government shutdown limiting key data and questions about who will succeed Chair Jerome Powell, what comes next is anyone’s guess. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporters Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran join host David Gura to break down the path forward for the central bank: from the shutdown’s impact on its decision-making to the leading contenders for Powell’s position when his term ends in May. Read more: Powell Says December Rate Cut ‘Far From’ Forgone Conclusion Here Are the Five Contenders to Replace Powell as Fed Chair The Economic Data Lost in a ShutdownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Loka 18min
An American Toymaker Struggles to Break Up With China
The US-China tariff war has upended global manufacturing, forcing companies like Chicago-based Learning Resources to fundamentally change how and where its products are made. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, K. Oanh Ha heads to Vietnam, where the toymaker has begun shifting the production of its popular children’s toys. We examine how the company is managing its complex shift from China – where its toys have been made for decades – what the factory boom means for communities on the ground in Vietnam and how all of this will impact consumers. Further listening: The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive TariffsXi’s Top Bargaining Chip Is a Trade War Game ChangerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Loka 27min
New York’s MTA Chief on Trump’s Funding Threats
Running North America’s largest transportation network is no easy task. Janno Lieber, the CEO and Chair of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in charge of everything from upgrading ancient train infrastructure to advancing long-delayed expansion plans. He’s now also dealing with potential federal funding cuts for two of his agency’s signature projects – expanding the Second Avenue Subway into East Harlem and building a new commuter rail tunnel to connect New York and New Jersey. Today on the show, Lieber sits down with host Sarah Holder to discuss his approach to running the agency in the face of these threats, his thoughts on NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s free bus proposal, and his advice for other cities who want to up their public transit ambitions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Loka 21min
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Shutdown Day 23
On day 23 of the second-longest government shutdown in American history, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sits down with Big Take Host David Gura to talk about the shutdown, the NYC mayoral race and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Loka 28min
How Did an Alaska Native Corporation Become an ICE Detention Giant?
Over the last decade, Nana Regional Corp. — an Alaska Native corporation based in a small community roughly 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle — has won contracts worth more than $1 billion to run and support ICE detention facilities around the US. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg investigative reporter Polly Mosendz and KOTZ news director Desiree Hagen look into how a company that once focused on local Alaskan industries, like mining and hospitality, became an ICE detention giant — and why some shareholders are starting to push back. This story was reported in collaboration with KOTZ and Alaska Public Media. KOTZ, a partner station of Alaska Public Media, has received donations from local businesses, including Nana, in the past. Read more: Distant ICE Detention Centers Bring Money—and Anger—to an Alaska Native CommunityWhy Small Towns Are Hooked on ICE DetentionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 Loka 17min
