Private Equity, But for Dying Universities
Skyrocketing tuition costs, COVID and fewer high school graduates have been straining the survival of smaller American colleges, leading many to shut down. Now, some are joining a surprising new path: mergers and acquisitions. Bloomberg reporter Francesca Maglione sits down with Big Take host David Gura to discuss why some colleges are eager to merge with others, and what this new dynamic might mean for the future of higher education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 Sep 202413min
Could the Chinese Yuan Ever Replace the US Dollar?
Talk of de-dollarization has been gaining momentum among China, India, Brazil, Russia and South Africa in the wake of significant US led sanctions on Russia. Former US President and candidate Donald Trump has said the currency is under attack — and that any country that shuns it would face new tariffs on imports if he is elected. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Saleha Mohsin about the unique role the dollar plays in the world economy — and what, if anything, could replace it. Read more: The Dollar’s Dominance, ExplainedFurther listening: Odd Lots Podcast – How the US Dollar Became an International Weapon of WarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Sep 202415min
The Pager Attack Was a Deadly Warning About Supply Chains
Fighting has escalated in the Middle East after thousands of pagers and walkie talkies held by Hezbollah operatives exploded across Lebanon last week. That attack is the most recent example of supply chain interference — a global problem that national security officials say is now “rampant.” Bloomberg cybersecurity reporter Katrina Manson and defense and intelligence reporter Peter Martin sit down with Big Take host Sarah Holder to break down what we know about how and when the Hezbollah pagers were turned into bombs — and what countries like the US and China are doing to protect their supply chains from foreign infiltration. Read more: Exploding Pagers Raise Global Supply-Chain Security ConcernSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 Sep 202414min
The Genius Minds Behind the World’s Best Poker Bots
Computers have outplayed humans in chess and Go for decades. But poker was long considered unhackable. The game requires not just crunching numbers, but creativity and complex strategy. That only started to change about 10 years ago, when a new generation of unbeatable poker bots began to appear online. The makers of the technology remained in the shadows, so Bloomberg’s Kit Chellel set out to find them. On today’s Big Take podcast, he joins David Gura to share the story of how a group of Russian students invented the world’s best online poker bots and what that means for the multi-billion-dollar industry. Read more: The Russian Bot Army That Conquered Online PokerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20 Sep 202414min
California’s Controversial AI Bill Could Upend the Industry
A controversial AI safety bill was just passed by California’s legislature. It’s been spurned by OpenAI and Nancy Pelosi, championed by Elon Musk – and could radically reshape the future of the technology’s development not just in the state, but globally.On today’s podcast, host Sarah Holder speaks with California State Senator Scott Wiener, the author of SB 1047, about why he thinks California needs to take a lead in regulating AI. And Bloomberg tech reporter Shirin Ghaffary explains why even if the bill is vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the questions it has raised about AI regulation could be long-lasting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Sep 202416min
Apple’s Strategy to Rule the World
Apple is at a turning point. It ascended from a scrappy tech underdog to the most valuable company in the world through selling devices like iPhones, Macs and Apple watches. But now, a significant portion of its revenue comes from digital services.On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Austin Carr tells host Janet Paskin what this shift means for Apple’s appetite for risk, its battles with regulators in the US and Europe, and what that means for all of us.Read more: How Apple Rules the WorldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Sep 202413min
Janet Yellen’s Predictions for the US Economy
On today’s podcast, host David Gura speaks to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about everything from the health of the economy to negotiating with China. He also accompanies her on a trip to an IRS processing facility in Texas to talk about tax cheats and what to do about them. Read more: Yellen Says Jobs Report Confirms Labor Market ‘Quite Healthy’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Sep 202415min
Everything Is Content Now. Even Your Layoff
Eleven million people have been let go in the US so far this year. And the job market they’re entering isn’t easy: the latest jobs report showed the economy added just 142,000 jobs in August. But ever since the pandemic, the way we experience — and process — getting laid off has fundamentally changed. It’s no longer just a source of shame. It’s become social media content. Today on the show, host Sarah Holder speaks with a tech worker who’s at the forefront of the hottest new job market trend: posting publicly about your layoff. And Bloomberg reporter Jo Constantz explains what the shift in how we approach layoffs means for employees and employers everywhere. Read more: Losing Your Job Used to Be Shameful. Now It’s a Whole Identity Further listening: The Sahm Rule, Explained (By Claudia Sahm) Workers Are Getting Ghosted. Here’s Why See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 Sep 202415min
