America’s use of sanctions has grown by almost 1,000% since 9/11. So why isn’t Congress giving the office in charge of them more resources?

Today on the Big Take DC podcast, host Saleha Mohsin talks to John Smith, a former director of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, and Bloomberg National Security editor Nick Wadhams about OFAC’s scrappy operation and why lawmakers aren’t giving it more to work with.

Get this episode and Big Take DC episodes a day earlier by subscribing to Big Take DC.

America’s use of sanctions has grown by almost 1,000% since 9/11. So why isn’t Congress giving the office in charge of them more resources? Today on the Big Take DC podcast, host Saleha Mohsin talks to John Smith, a former director of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, and Bloomberg National Security editor Nick Wadhams about OFAC’s scrappy operation and why lawmakers aren’t giving it more to work with. Get this episode and Big Take DC episodes a day earlier by subscribing to Big Take DC.

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

The Little Sanctions Office That Could

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dc369479-93cc-4864-a48c-b11200371d8f/transcript

Jill Ellis has seen soccer from every angle: as an elite player, as the two-time World Cup champion coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team and as an NWSL team president. She is bringing this expertise to FIFA as the organization’s first Chief Football Officer. As one of the chief architects of the global game, she is the ultimate World Cup insider.

In this episode of The Deal, Jill tells Jason and Alex what is worrying and exciting her leading up to the kick off of the 2026 World Cup on June 11th (yes, we talk about ticket prices). She shares some facts and figures around what FIFA is expecting in terms of viewership and revenue. Jill also has her eye toward next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, telling us about a monumental deal with Netflix and why she is anticipating unprecedented interest in the event.

You can also watch this interview on YouTube.

Jill Ellis has seen soccer from every angle: as an elite player, as the two-time World Cup champion coach of the U.S. Women&rsquo;s National Team and as an NWSL team president. She is bringing this expertise to FIFA as the organization&rsquo;s first Chief Football Officer. As one of the chief architects of the global game, she is the ultimate World Cup insider.
In this episode of The Deal, Jill tells Jason and Alex what is worrying and exciting her leading up to the kick off of the 2026 World Cup on June 11th (yes, we talk about ticket prices). She shares some facts and figures around what FIFA is expecting in terms of viewership and revenue. Jill also has her eye toward next summer&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s World Cup in Brazil, telling us about a monumental deal with Netflix and why she is anticipating unprecedented interest in the event.
You can also watch this interview on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/show/VLPLqq4LnWs3olXQamF7u9PM3_Q1RhkUBIZu?sbp=KgtKUm1lcVBRLWpSa0AB">&nbsp;YouTube</a>.

Weekend Listen: FIFA’s Jill Ellis on the the World Cup

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/efbd63fc-4432-406a-a406-b46200d2464c/transcript

By many metrics, Meta is falling behind in the AI race. So CEO Mark Zuckerberg is building one of the largest data centers in the world — a facility the size of about 3,000 football fields in one of the poorest regions in the US.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg reporter Riley Griffin, who traveled to Richland Parish, Louisiana, to hear from residents about the risks and opportunities they see as Meta comes to town. Will they reap the benefits? Or trade in one uncertain economy for another?

Read more: Meta Goes Big on the Bayou

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Riley Griffin; Edited by Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

By many metrics, Meta is falling behind in the AI race. So CEO Mark Zuckerberg is building one of the largest data centers in the world &mdash; a facility the size of about 3,000 football fields in one of the poorest regions in the US.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg reporter Riley Griffin, who traveled to Richland Parish, Louisiana, to hear from residents about the risks and opportunities they see as Meta comes to town. Will they reap the benefits? Or trade in one uncertain economy for another?
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-meta-facebook-ai-data-center-louisiana/">Meta Goes Big on the Bayou</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 Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Riley Griffin; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Can AI Save This Failing Rural Economy?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/93586700-2ff6-46a4-a18c-b460015bda6b/transcript

President Rodrigo Paz ended 20 years of socialist rule in Bolivia with promises of unity, democracy and prosperity — and plans to tap the country’s mineral wealth. But when host David Gura went to Bolivia to interview the president, he found a harsher reality: demonstrators blockading La Paz’s streets to demand the president’s resignation.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Gura shows how centuries-old distrust of government is complicating President Paz’s efforts to persuade Bolivians – and investors – that this time is different.

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by David Gura and Sergio Mendoza; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott and Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

Special thanks to Simon Hampton, Javier Castaneda, Luke Mailander and Adonai Sierra.

President Rodrigo Paz ended 20 years of socialist rule in Bolivia with promises of unity, democracy and prosperity &mdash; and plans to tap the country&rsquo;s mineral wealth. But when host David Gura went to Bolivia to interview the president, he found a harsher reality: demonstrators blockading La Paz&rsquo;s streets to demand the president&rsquo;s resignation.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Gura shows how centuries-old distrust of government is complicating President Paz&rsquo;s efforts to persuade Bolivians &ndash; and investors &ndash; that this time is different.
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 David Gura and Sergio Mendoza; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott and Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
Special thanks to Simon Hampton, Javier Castaneda, Luke Mailander and Adonai Sierra.

We Went to Interview Bolivia’s President and a Riot Broke Out

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dfb42ad2-9cad-4959-bbf1-b45f01685d34/transcript

The Little Sanctions Office That Could

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