Big Take

We're taking a break this week, so here's a favorite you might have missed. We'll be back with fresh episodes next week. Record temperatures in Texas and across the southern US this summer put immense strain on the electric grid, as residents battled the heat by cranking up the AC. But experts say grid pressure could get even worse this winter. Bloomberg’s Naureen Malik joins this episode to discuss whether America’s infrastructure can support an increasingly electrified economy—and what can be done to avoid mass blackouts in the coming months. Read more: America’s Biggest Power Source Wasn’t Built for Extreme Weather Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.This episode originally aired in June 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This favorite episode explores the influence of AI in politics and how it can create and spread misinformation. It discusses the challenges of regulating AI in political campaigns and the difficulties in distinguishing between real and fake content. The episode also covers the use of AI tools in campaign messaging and the concerns surrounding their political use. It raises anxieties about the dangers of deep fakes and the efforts of technology companies to combat misinformation.

We're taking a break this week, so here's a favorite episode you might have missed. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back with new episodes next week. People around the world rely on satellites for their internet connections, credit card transactions–and even to keep track of time. Last year, a suspected Russian-led satellite hack exposed how vulnerable they are to security breaches, from individual hackers seeking to pilfer information for profit and governments looking to weaken their adversaries. Bloomberg reporter Katrina Manson joins this episode to discuss the fallout of the hack, and what companies and governments are doing to harden their systems against future attacks. Plus, James Pavur, a hacker and Pentagon cybersecurity expert, walks us through how satellites are compromised, and what we can do to keep our own data from being stolen.  Read more here: The Satellite Hack Everyone Is Finally Talking About. Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net. This episode originally aired in March 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's economic slowdown and its potential impact on the global economy, Xi Jinping's strategy of running the economy 'cold' to avoid excessive debt and address real estate risks, challenges in China's property sector, Joe Biden's concerns about China's economy, and the collaboration between IBM and Red Hat for a hybrid cloud solution.

The podcast discusses the US's dependence on Russian uranium for nuclear power, the efforts to build up domestic capabilities, and the reopening of a uranium conversion facility. It explores the challenges of reducing dependency on Russian uranium and the shifting geopolitical landscape in the uranium market.

Donald Trump says he’ll be a no-show tonight at the first Republican debate of the 2024 US presidential campaign. Still, at least one of his rivals for the party nomination is expected to take square aim at the former president: Chris Christie. The former New Jersey governor who once supported Trump is now his loudest Republican critic. So far, his low ranking in the polls suggests that attacking the most popular man in the party is not the way to win over Republican voters. But does Christie really have his eye on the White House, or does he just hope to stop Trump from moving back in?Bloomberg Businessweek national correspondent Joshua Green has been following Christie on the campaign trail, and he joins this episode to answer the question on the minds of Republicans across the country: What does Chris Christie really want?  Read more: Chris Christie Is Absolutely, Totally 100% Anti-Trump. For Now Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.This episode was produced by: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Mo Barrow, Michael Falero. Sound Design/Engineer: Gilda Garcia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now we’re familiar with the many ways hackers and scammers try to fool us into handing over our personal data–and our money. But the thieves keep getting more sophisticated. And now they have a powerful new tool at their disposal: artificial intelligence, which can mimic websites, financial documents and even our faces and voices. In this episode, Bloomberg’s Nabila Ahmed and Adam Haigh talk about the new wave of financial fraud that’s taking shape–and how banks and governments are racing to keep up. Read more: Deepfake Imposter Scams Are Driving a New Wave of Fraud Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America’s first major offshore wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean is now under construction 15 miles south of Nantucket, off the coast of Massachusetts. Once complete, the 800-megawatt project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. But with inflation and rising interest rates stifling progress on some other wind projects, will the Biden administration reach its 2030 goal of generating 30 gigawatts of power from offshore turbines? Bloomberg’s Will Wade went out to see the Massachusetts project, and he joins this episode to explain the promise–and the problems–of erecting wind power on such a large scale. And Nick Schulz, a commercial diver working on the project, describes what it's like to build a massive turbine installation in deep water. Read more: Atlantic’s Biggest Offshore Wind Turbine to Rise Next Week in US Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Iran recently announced a surprise agreement: Both nations will release prisoners, and the US will unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue. Bloomberg’s Courtney McBride joins this episode to discuss what we know about the terms of the deal, and what it suggests about the possibility of renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Plus, Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, weighs in on what’s ahead for the Iran-US relationship. Read more: Iran Transfers US Citizens From Prison in Step Toward Deal Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK  Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg reporters Roxana Tiron and Megan Scully discuss the recent congressional hearing on UAPs, exploring the interest in UFOs, claims of a government cover-up, and the potential threat UAPs pose to national security. Astronomer Seth Shostak shares his perspective on the possibility of alien spacecraft. The discussion delves into the difficulties in explaining UAPs and the skepticism surrounding UFO sightings as evidence of extraterrestrial life. The chapter also touches on the likelihood of the existence of extraterrestrial life and the need for stronger evidence. Overall, the podcast sheds light on Washington's sudden fascination with UAPs and the ongoing debate over their origins.