Indonesia has embarked on an ambitious project to build a new capital city from scratch because Jakarta is overcrowded, polluted and sinking, fast.

But the multibillion dollar new city, Nusantara, was plagued with problems from the very start. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Faris Mokhtar about what went wrong, and what’s at stake for Southeast Asia’s largest economy if it fails.

Indonesia has embarked on an ambitious project to build a new capital city from scratch because Jakarta is overcrowded, polluted and sinking, fast.
But the multibillion dollar new city, Nusantara, was plagued with problems from the very start. On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Faris Mokhtar about what went wrong, and what&rsquo;s at stake for Southeast Asia&rsquo;s largest economy if it fails.

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

Indonesia Is Building a New Capital. It’s Not Going Well

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e9910d81-429e-4e11-92c3-b24f014226e8/transcript

 A 12-foot grim reaper becomes a neighborhood war cry, and the preacher-podcaster crosses the street.

Today on The Big Take: Chapter 4 of Our Town, a limited-run series from Bloomberg and The Big Take, hosted by Meribah Knight with Bloomberg’s Susan Berfield.

Our Town tells the story of a battle over identity fought on one small town’s soil, where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.

New episodes of Our Town publish on Mondays, but you can listen early on Fridays right here in The Big Take feed. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. 

Hosted by Meribah Knight with Susan Berfield Produced by: Rebecca Laks and David Fox with Julia Weaver and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Rebecca Laks and Ken Armstrong Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins and Rachael Lewis-Krisky Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer 

&nbsp;A 12-foot grim reaper becomes a neighborhood war cry, and the preacher-podcaster crosses the street. Today on The Big Take: Chapter 4 of Our Town, a limited-run series from Bloomberg and The Big Take, hosted by Meribah Knight with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Susan Berfield.
Our Town tells the story of a battle over identity fought on one small town&rsquo;s soil, where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.
New episodes of Our Town publish on Mondays, but you can listen early on Fridays right here in The Big Take feed. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>&nbsp;
Hosted by Meribah Knight with Susan Berfield Produced by: Rebecca Laks and David Fox with Julia Weaver and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Rebecca Laks and Ken Armstrong Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins and Rachael Lewis-Krisky Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer&nbsp;

Our Town Chapter 4: All Metal Mode

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f3ce4320-0d76-43dc-bea6-b4b4012494f0/transcript

With Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh set to deliver the biggest speech of his tenure on Friday, anticipation is spreading well beyond bankers and traders. Bond yields are rising, as global economies send up inflationary signals. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s efforts to tamp down rates by buying bonds may complicate the Fed’s approach. And the keynote speaker himself has suggested that he’s not comfortable sending messages about Fed intentions. So what can he say?

On today’s Big Take podcast, Odd Lots co-host Joe Weisenthal joins Sarah Holder to tee up Warsh’s speech at the Kansas City Fed’s symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the challenges facing Warsh and other global central bankers.

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Guest: Joe Weisenthal; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. 

Engineering by Emma Munger.

Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

With Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh set to deliver the biggest speech of his tenure on Friday, anticipation is spreading well beyond bankers and traders. Bond yields are rising, as global economies send up inflationary signals. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent&rsquo;s efforts to tamp down rates by buying bonds may complicate the Fed&rsquo;s approach. And the keynote speaker himself has suggested that he&rsquo;s not comfortable sending messages about Fed intentions. So what can he say?
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Odd Lots co-host Joe Weisenthal joins Sarah Holder to tee up Warsh&rsquo;s speech at the Kansas City Fed&rsquo;s symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the challenges facing Warsh and other global central bankers.
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 Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Guest: Joe Weisenthal; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.&nbsp;
Engineering by Emma Munger.
Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

US Fed Chair Warsh Takes the Mic

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/57d6459d-fbca-4d44-a89b-b4b3012b3273/transcript

Microdramas — mini soap operas designed to be watched on your phone — have become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Yang Yang and Bloomberg Businessweek’s Christopher Beam about how millions got hooked on the medium, the challenges studios face as they try to reach new audiences and how AI could transform it all.

Read more: China Has the World Hooked on Two-Minute Microdramas
China Brought 90-Second Microdramas to the US. Now Hollywood Wants In

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

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Victor Swezey; Reported by Yang Yang and Christopher Beam; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Sean Carter.

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

Microdramas &mdash; mini soap operas designed to be watched on your phone &mdash; have become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Yang Yang and Bloomberg Businessweek&rsquo;s Christopher Beam about how millions got hooked on the medium, the challenges studios face as they try to reach new audiences and how AI could transform it all.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-31/chinese-microdramas-go-global-as-ai-slashes-production-costs?srnd=phx-weekend_2">China Has the World Hooked on Two-Minute Microdramas </a><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-12/microdramas-take-hold-on-us-smartphones-after-rise-in-china">China Brought 90-Second Microdramas to the US. Now Hollywood Wants In</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 K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Victor Swezey; Reported by Yang Yang and Christopher Beam; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Sean Carter.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Indonesia Is Building a New Capital. It’s Not Going Well

In 1 playlist(s)

Big Take

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips