In January 2024, the US Embassy issued a warning to all American travelers: Be careful using dating apps in Colombia. Eight men had been killed in two months — several of them after traveling to Medellin and using apps to connect with women online. 


Bloomberg’s Natalie Lung and Antonia Mufarech investigated and found an even darker situation. On today’s Big Take podcast, they join host Sarah Holder to explain how apps from US-based tech companies are being used for sex trafficking and child exploitation in Colombia — and why it’s so hard for the companies to keep criminals off their platforms.

In January 2024, the US Embassy issued a warning to all American travelers: Be careful using dating apps in Colombia. Eight men had been killed in two months &mdash; several of them after traveling to Medellin and using apps to connect with women online.&nbsp;
 Bloomberg&rsquo;s Natalie Lung and Antonia Mufarech investigated and found an even darker situation. On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, they join host Sarah Holder to explain how apps from US-based tech companies are being used for sex trafficking and child exploitation in Colombia &mdash; and why it&rsquo;s so hard for the companies to keep criminals off their platforms.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

How Facebook, Tinder and Airbnb Are Being Used for Sex Trafficking in Colombia

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/501ba382-cf0a-4236-937f-b29501797db3/transcript

The last few days have brought a flurry of developments in the Iran war.

As armed hostilities between the US and Iran resumed over the weekend, news broke that US Senator Lindsey Graham had died. Graham was a staunch supporter of Israel and of the war in Iran. And on Monday, President Trump declared US control over the Strait of Hormuz and demanded a 20% reimbursement rate for all cargo that moves through the waterway.

It’s not clear when the war with Iran will end. But when it does, the balance of power in the Middle East will look very different than it did before Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Peter Martin joins host David Gura to discuss the new alliances, revised trade routes and expanded battlefields that are reshaping the Middle East.

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Laura Newcombe; Reported by Peter Martin; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Suguira.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The last few days have brought a flurry of developments in the Iran war.
As armed hostilities between the US and Iran resumed over the weekend, news broke that US Senator Lindsey Graham had died. Graham was a staunch supporter of Israel and of the war in Iran. And on Monday, President Trump declared US control over the Strait of Hormuz and demanded a 20% reimbursement rate for all cargo that moves through the waterway.
It&rsquo;s not clear when the war with Iran will end. But when it does, the balance of power in the Middle East will look very different than it did before Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Peter Martin joins host David Gura to discuss the new alliances, revised trade routes and expanded battlefields that are reshaping the Middle East.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Laura Newcombe; Reported by Peter Martin; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Suguira.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The New Middle East Emerging From the War in Iran

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ddade724-0f4e-469f-8926-b4860149132b/transcript

The great famine of the 1870s killed 50 million people – and El Niño was a key driver. Another El Niño phase has just begun and it’s expected to be among the strongest. There are five times as many people in 2026 as there were in the 1870s and the planet is 1.4C hotter. So are we better prepared? 

In this weekend's listen, Bloomberg’s Akshat Rathi speaks with Mingfang Ting, professor of climate at Columbia University, about the natural phenomenon and its interaction with human-caused climate change.

Read more:
Bloomberg Green's deep dive on extreme heat

Thoughts or suggestions? Email zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

The great famine of the 1870s killed 50 million people &ndash; and El Ni&ntilde;o was a key driver. Another El Ni&ntilde;o phase has just begun and it&rsquo;s expected to be among the strongest. There are five times as many people in 2026 as there were in the 1870s and the planet is 1.4C hotter. So are we better prepared? In this weekend's listen, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Akshat Rathi speaks with Mingfang Ting, professor of climate at Columbia University, about the natural phenomenon and its interaction with human-caused climate change.
Read more:
<ul>
<li>Bloomberg Green's deep dive on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-extreme-heat-climate-change-data/">extreme heat</a></li>
</ul>
Thoughts or suggestions? Email zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

Weekend Listen: Is the world prepared for a 'super' El Niño?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/efd87dcf-03ae-4ab8-ba33-b484013bcae0/transcript

Some of the world’s top tennis players will face off at the Wimbledon finals this weekend. The players who make it to Centre Court have already achieved a bigger feat: a career as a tennis player.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Hannah Miller and The Athletic’s Matt Futterman break down what sets tennis apart from other sports and the challenges the tournaments and players face to stay profitable.

Further Listening : Rafael Nadal's Retirement Is So Great He Doesn't Miss Tennis

Read more: 


Grand Slam prize money is enormous. The economics of tennis tournaments is complicated


Wimbledon Investors Cash In With VIP Seats Costing Over $500,000


Matt Futterman’s book, The Cruelest Game, is available for pre-order

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Matt Futterman, Hannah Miller; Edited by Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Some of the world&rsquo;s top tennis players will face off at the Wimbledon finals this weekend. The players who make it to Centre Court have already achieved a bigger feat: a career as a tennis player.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Hannah Miller and The Athletic&rsquo;s Matt Futterman break down what sets tennis apart from other sports and the challenges the tournaments and players face to stay profitable.
Further Listening : <a href="bbg://news/stories/THQMJ7RKV2TD" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-07-06/the-mental-battle-behind-rafael-nadal-s-22-grand-slams-video" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/THQMJ7RKV2TD">Rafael Nadal's Retirement Is So Great He Doesn't Miss Tennis</a>
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6043299/2026/01/06/tennis-prize-money-grand-slams-revenue/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6043299/2026/01/06/tennis-prize-money-grand-slams-revenue/">Grand Slam prize money is enormous. The economics of tennis tournaments is complicated</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="bbg://news/stories/TGSA94T9NJLV" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-23/wimbledon-investors-cash-in-with-vip-seats-costing-over-500-000?srnd=undefined" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/TGSA94T9NJLV">Wimbledon Investors Cash In With VIP Seats Costing Over $500,000</a>
</li>
<li>
Matt Futterman&rsquo;s book, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746451/the-cruelest-game-by-matthew-futterman/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746451/the-cruelest-game-by-matthew-futterman/">The Cruelest Game</a>, is available for pre-order
</li>
</ul>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Matt Futterman, Hannah Miller; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Grueling Economics of Tennis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c79b12db-9065-4f2b-a7b8-b483012a670d/transcript

How Facebook, Tinder and Airbnb Are Being Used for Sex Trafficking in Colombia

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