A few years ago, a former sitcom writer came up with a weird way to sell Americans cheap health plans, using a loophole in the Affordable Care Act. More than 100,000 households have signed up, but many say the coverage isn’t what they were promised. 

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Zach Mider shares what he learned while investigating the plans and what it could mean for the American health-care system if more people turn to them.

Read more: A Former TV Writer Found a Health-Care Loophole That Threatens to Blow Up Obamacare

A few years ago, a former sitcom writer came up with a weird way to sell Americans cheap health plans, using a loophole in the Affordable Care Act. More than 100,000 households have signed up, but many say the coverage isn&rsquo;t what they were promised.&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Zach Mider shares what he learned while investigating the plans and what it could mean for the American health-care system if more people turn to them.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-health-care-plans-fake-jobs/">A Former TV Writer Found a Health-Care Loophole That Threatens to Blow Up Obamacare</a>

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

Telemarketers’ New Trick to Sell Bare-Bones Health Plans

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/082585cc-e991-49c8-ac02-b2d6013b9792/transcript

As AI-generated images ping pong around the internet, the Walt Disney Company has been mostly playing defense, using litigation to protect its intellectual property. But last week, Disney announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, licensing more than 200 of its iconic Disney characters for use on OpenAI’s video platform, Sora.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg tech reporter Shirin Ghaffary and entertainment reporter Thomas Buckley about the terms of the deal, the opportunities and risks for each side and whether it might spur other similar partnerships. 

Read more: OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock

Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Shirin Ghaffary and Thomas Buckley; Edited by: Tracey Samuelson; Fact-checking by: Naomi Ng and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. Engineering by: Katie McMurran.

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

As AI-generated images ping pong around the internet, the Walt Disney Company has been mostly playing defense, using litigation to protect its intellectual property. But last week, Disney announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, licensing more than 200 of its iconic Disney characters for use on OpenAI&rsquo;s video platform, Sora.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg tech reporter Shirin Ghaffary and entertainment reporter Thomas Buckley about the terms of the deal, the opportunities and risks for each side and whether it might spur other similar partnerships.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-15/openai-deal-to-license-disney-characters-is-entirely-in-stock">OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock</a>
Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Shirin Ghaffary and Thomas Buckley; Edited by: Tracey Samuelson; Fact-checking by: Naomi Ng and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. Engineering by: Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Inside Disney and OpenAI’s Billion Dollar Deal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7fb068a8-855a-47a3-875a-b3b80173ac63/transcript

The trucking industry has long been dominated by older white men. But as those truckers steer toward retirement, who will replace them? 

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder hits the road with Bloomberg’s Jaewon Kang, who’s been exploring how one company is trying to transform its trucking workforce. And we hear from MIT’s Chris Caplice, DAT Freight and Analytics’ Dean Croke and two Walmart truckers about what’s working for the industry and the challenges it faces on the road ahead.

Read more: Walmart’s $115,000 Starting Pay and Better Rigs Draw Women to Trucking

Hosted by Sarah Holder Produced by Julia Press Reported by Jaewon Kang Edited by Tracey Samuelson Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky Engineering by Katie McMurran

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

The trucking industry has long been dominated by older white men. But as those truckers steer toward retirement, who will replace them?&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder hits the road with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Jaewon Kang, who&rsquo;s been exploring how one company is trying to transform its trucking workforce. And we hear from MIT&rsquo;s Chris Caplice, DAT Freight and Analytics&rsquo; Dean Croke and two Walmart truckers about what&rsquo;s working for the industry and the challenges it faces on the road ahead.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-12-18/us-trucking-shortage-spurs-walmart-to-raise-driver-truck-pay-to-115-000?srnd=undefined">Walmart&rsquo;s $115,000 Starting Pay and Better Rigs Draw Women to Trucking</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder Produced by Julia Press Reported by Jaewon Kang Edited by Tracey Samuelson Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky Engineering by Katie McMurran
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Truckers Are Aging Out. Who Will Replace Them?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a288c8d8-e3ab-4ff5-b961-b3b70145b13f/transcript

Treating cancer is a massive business. In 2024 alone, cancer treatments generated at least $200 billion in worldwide sales for the pharmaceutical industry, more than the obesity drug rush. But a Bloomberg News analysis showed that fewer than half of treatments reviewed — some of which have painful side effects — have been shown to extend patients’ lives.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior healthcare reporter Robert Langreth takes host David Gura inside what some doctors call the “cancer-industrial complex” — from the regulatory landscape that ushered in a wave of lucrative new drugs to the damaging financial and health impacts some treatments can have on patients.

Read more:

Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don’t Extend Lives.

The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn’t.

Pharma Is Pushing $200,000 Cancer Drugs When Cheaper Doses May Work

Cancer Doctors Are Making a Fortune Off Drug-Trial Participants

One Generic Cancer Drug Costs $35. Or $134. Or $13,000.

Treating cancer is a massive business. In 2024 alone, cancer treatments generated at least $200 billion in worldwide sales for the pharmaceutical industry, more than the obesity drug rush. But a Bloomberg News analysis showed that fewer than half of treatments reviewed &mdash; some of which have painful side effects &mdash; have been shown to extend patients&rsquo; lives.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior healthcare reporter Robert Langreth takes host David Gura inside what some doctors call the &ldquo;cancer-industrial complex&rdquo; &mdash; from the regulatory landscape that ushered in a wave of lucrative new drugs to the damaging financial and health impacts some treatments can have on patients.
Read more:
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-cancer-treatment-costs">Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don&rsquo;t Extend Lives.</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-biozorb-cancer-implant-recall">The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn&rsquo;t.</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-experimental-cheaper-treatments-cancer-capitalism">Pharma Is Pushing $200,000 Cancer Drugs When Cheaper Doses May Work</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-cancer-drug-trials-money/?sref=RTae6dyr">Cancer Doctors Are Making a Fortune Off Drug-Trial Participants</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-cancer-drug-markups/?srnd=undefined">One Generic Cancer Drug Costs $35. Or $134. Or $13,000.</a>

 Many Cancer Drugs Don’t Extend Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96804cf7-0100-4d97-961f-b3b60173c0bd/transcript

Telemarketers’ New Trick to Sell Bare-Bones Health Plans

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