Diana looks into the town’s newest arrivals: What’s their deal — and who are their friends?

Today on The Big Take: Chapter 2 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 with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Diana looks into the town&rsquo;s newest arrivals: What&rsquo;s their deal &mdash; and who are their friends? Today on The Big Take: Chapter 2 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 with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

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

Our Town Chapter 2: This Dangerous Venture of Yours

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/010a12b1-29de-43b2-a9b1-b4a5015f21e7/transcript

When new neighbors move into Gainesboro, Tennessee, a small town at the foothills of Appalachia, locals are confused. Who are these self-proclaimed pioneers? And what do they want with their little town?

Locals soon discover the new arrivals are connected to something much larger: A network of far-right Christians who have ties to Washington and are backed by venture capital. 

This is a story about a battle over identity fought on small town soil with small town spunk. Where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.

When new neighbors move into Gainesboro, Tennessee, a small town at the foothills of Appalachia, locals are confused. Who are these self-proclaimed pioneers? And what do they want with their little town? Locals soon discover the new arrivals are connected to something much larger: A network of far-right Christians who have ties to Washington and are backed by venture capital. This is a story about a battle over identity fought on small town soil with small town spunk. Where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.

Our Town

After amassing US land for more than a century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently started turning unused tracts into big suburban housing developments.

On today’s Big Take podcast, commercial real estate reporter Natalie Wong and data journalist Ann Choi tell host Sarah Holder about the development plans of the church’s real estate arm, Property Reserve. They also introduce their exclusive tally of the church’s holdings — at least 2.4 million acres across the US, according to a Bloomberg News review of property records compiled by real estate data provider Reonomy.

Read more: The Mormon Church Is Quietly Expanding Its Real Estate Empire Across the US

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Natalie Wong and Ann Choi; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.

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

After amassing US land for more than a century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently started turning unused tracts into big suburban housing developments.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, commercial real estate reporter Natalie Wong and data journalist Ann Choi tell host Sarah Holder about the development plans of the church&rsquo;s real estate arm, Property Reserve. They also introduce their exclusive tally of the church&rsquo;s holdings &mdash; at least 2.4 million acres across the US, according to a Bloomberg News review of property records compiled by real estate data provider Reonomy.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-25/florida-colorado-developments-are-part-of-mormon-church-s-real-estate-arm?srnd=undefined">The Mormon Church Is Quietly Expanding Its Real Estate Empire Across the US</a>
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 Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Natalie Wong and Ann Choi; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Mormon Church’s Real Estate Empire

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/acc5756c-540b-4b3e-bca8-b4b10130e111/transcript

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum join host Sarah Holder to discuss how political spending is shaping the US midterm elections, who is funding candidates behind the scenes and what’s at stake for both Republicans and Democrats.

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guests: Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Big Take team; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum join host Sarah Holder to discuss how political spending is shaping the US midterm elections, who is funding candidates behind the scenes and what&rsquo;s at stake for both Republicans and Democrats.
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 Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guests: Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Big Take team; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Why Big Donors Aren’t Translating to Big Success in the US Midterms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0149ace1-4205-4819-b004-b4b0016cf4bc/transcript

Backers of the venture are big fans of a town in Idaho where a preacher with a flamethrower tells our reporters how much he hates feminism.


Today on The Big Take: Chapter 3 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 with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer 

Backers of the venture are big fans of a town in Idaho where a preacher with a flamethrower tells our reporters how much he hates feminism.
 Today on The Big Take: Chapter 3 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 with Julia Weaver and David Fox and help from Laura Newcombe Edited by: Ken Armstrong with Rebecca Laks Original Score and Mixing by: Alex Sugiura Fact-checking by: Annika Robbins Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer&nbsp;

Our Town Chapter 3: One Little Bacon-Wrapped Sausage

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4440cad3-10bd-4e70-a93e-b4ad002448ca/transcript

Our Town Chapter 2: This Dangerous Venture of Yours

Our Town

In 1 playlist(s)

Big Take

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips