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

Three years ago, Bob Lee, a tech executive famous for creating Cash App, was found stabbed in San Francisco. His killing set off a wave of online fury. Reporter Shawn Wen takes us back to the turbulent days before his killer was arrested, when misinformation and rumors ran rampant. Several tech industry leaders decried violent crime in San Francisco, including David Sacks, who “bet dollars to dimes” that Lee was stabbed by “a psychotic homeless person,” and Elon Musk, who called the city “horrific.”

Three years ago, Bob Lee, a tech executive famous for creating Cash App, was found stabbed in San Francisco. His killing set off a wave of online fury. Reporter Shawn Wen takes us back to the turbulent days before his killer was arrested, when misinformation and rumors ran rampant. Several tech industry leaders decried violent crime in San Francisco, including David Sacks, who &ldquo;bet dollars to dimes&rdquo; that Lee was stabbed by &ldquo;a psychotic homeless person,&rdquo; and Elon Musk, who called the city &ldquo;horrific.&rdquo;

Foundering: Tech Executive’s Death Prompts San Francisco Doom Loop Panic

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b829b30a-c8ab-46c3-b94c-b42f015dec2a/transcript

The Strait of Hormuz is now open. In a social media post Friday morning, Iran’s Foreign Minister wrote that Iran will be letting ships through the vital waterway for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon. Oil prices fell, and President Trump celebrated. But Iran’s announcement came with a big caveat: Travel must use a “coordinated route,” specified by Iran.

On today’s Big Take, host David Gura and Bloomberg’s Middle East breaking news editor, Patrick Sykes, talk through Iran’s dramatic reversal, how open the Strait of Hormuz really is — and how long the latest ceasefire might hold.

This is a developing story. We are live blogging at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe.

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and David Fox; Reported by Patrick Sykes; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

The Strait of Hormuz is now open. In a social media post Friday morning, Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister wrote that Iran will be letting ships through the vital waterway for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon. Oil prices fell, and President Trump celebrated. But Iran&rsquo;s announcement came with a big caveat: Travel must use a &ldquo;coordinated route,&rdquo; specified by Iran.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take, host David Gura and Bloomberg&rsquo;s Middle East breaking news editor, Patrick Sykes, talk through Iran&rsquo;s dramatic reversal, how open the Strait of Hormuz really is &mdash; and how long the latest ceasefire might hold.
This is a developing story. We are <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2026-04-17/iran-war-latest">live blogging</a> at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and David Fox; Reported by Patrick Sykes; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Strait of Hormuz Is Open. Now What?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/43a4992c-dda4-4885-b612-b42f0148a350/transcript

The atmosphere was grim at this week’s IMF and World Bank spring meetings, as global central bankers grappled with economic shocks from the war in Iran, AI and mounting debt.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Stephanie Flanders — Bloomberg’s head of Economics and Politics and host of Trumponomics — and senior economic writer Shawn Donnan to discuss the IMF’s revised global growth forecast and whether governments are equipped to contain the next economic crisis.

Read more: The World’s Anti-Recession Guardrails Are Weaker Than Ever

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Stephanie Flanders and Shawn Donnan; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran

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

The atmosphere was grim at this week&rsquo;s IMF and World Bank spring meetings, as global central bankers grappled with economic shocks from the war in Iran, AI and mounting debt.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Stephanie Flanders &mdash; Bloomberg&rsquo;s head of Economics and Politics and host of&nbsp;Trumponomics &mdash; and senior economic writer Shawn Donnan to discuss the IMF&rsquo;s revised global growth forecast and whether governments are equipped to contain the next economic crisis.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-04-12/imf-world-bank-to-meet-in-dc-this-week-as-iran-shock-looms">The World&rsquo;s Anti-Recession Guardrails Are Weaker Than Ever</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Stephanie Flanders and Shawn Donnan; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Iran and Global Debt Cloud IMF-World Bank Meetings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2f6aed93-bdba-416a-a1d6-b42e01482829/transcript

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

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