In Episode 2 of The Sixth Bureau, a limited-run series from The Big Take, we learn how China’s Ministry of State Security recruits experts in the West — and why intelligence officers shouldn’t keep their secrets backed up to the cloud.

In Episode 2 of The Sixth Bureau, a limited-run series from The Big Take, we learn how China&rsquo;s Ministry of State Security recruits experts in the West &mdash; and why intelligence officers shouldn&rsquo;t keep their secrets backed up to the cloud.

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

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

Big Take Asia

The Sixth Bureau, Episode 2: The Spy’s Diary

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/05b0e56a-e45c-47d5-bc34-b3f0004e16c4/transcript

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that devastated Colombia this week was also an immediate test for the country’s new Trump-aligned president. Abelardo de la Espriella, who campaigned on slashing Colombia's deficit and cracking down on armed rebel groups, now faces the prospect of  stalling coffee shipments and a costly relief effort, in his first week in office.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg’s Oscar Medina in Bogotá, Colombia, and Travis Waldron in Brasília, Brazil, about what this moment could mean for a divided Colombia — and for Latin America’s tilt to the right.

Read more: 
‘Waiting for Any Sign of Life’: Colombia Reels After Quake
Colombia Quake Toll Tops 260, Prompting Economic Emergency
Colombia Earthquake Pressures President Right From the Get-Go

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Reported by Travis Waldron and Oscar Medina; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that devastated Colombia this week was also an immediate test for the country&rsquo;s new Trump-aligned president. Abelardo de la Espriella, who campaigned on slashing Colombia's deficit and cracking down on armed rebel groups, now faces the prospect of&nbsp; stalling coffee shipments and a costly relief effort, in his first week in office.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Oscar Medina in Bogot&aacute;, Colombia, and Travis Waldron in Bras&iacute;lia, Brazil, about what this moment could mean for a divided Colombia &mdash; and for Latin America&rsquo;s tilt to the right.
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-11/-waiting-for-any-sign-of-life-colombia-reels-after-earthquake">&lsquo;Waiting for Any Sign of Life&rsquo;: Colombia Reels After Quake</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-12/colombia-quake-death-toll-tops-200-as-foreign-aid-arrives">Colombia Quake Toll Tops 260, Prompting Economic Emergency</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-08-11/colombia-earthquake-pressures-president-right-from-the-get-go">Colombia Earthquake Pressures President Right From the Get-Go</a></li>
</ul>
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 Victor Swezey; Reported by Travis Waldron and Oscar Medina; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

A Major Earthquake Challenges Colombia’s New Right-Wing President

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/21de274e-239f-4247-8118-b4a501607c2f/transcript

The launch of Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 model has taken the tech world — and Washington — by storm, raising urgent questions about how a Chinese startup can suddenly rival the world's most powerful AI systems.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Mark Anderson about the distillation method behind Moonshot’s breakthrough and what it means for the high-stakes AI race between the US and China.

Read more: Moonshot Plans IPO in Six Months After China AI Breakthrough

The launch of Moonshot AI&rsquo;s Kimi K3 model has taken the tech world &mdash; and Washington &mdash; by storm, raising urgent questions about how a Chinese startup can suddenly rival the world's most powerful AI systems.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Mark Anderson about the distillation method behind Moonshot&rsquo;s breakthrough and what it means for the high-stakes AI race between the US and China.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-19/china-s-moonshot-plans-ipo-in-six-months-after-ai-breakthrough">Moonshot Plans IPO in Six Months After China AI Breakthrough</a>

The Chinese AI Model Rattling Silicon Valley and Washington

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b394d917-ac7d-46f8-8513-b4a4014f7a44/transcript

The online shopping app Phia raised over $43 million and captured media attention for its A-list investors and its high-profile co-founders — Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill Gates, and her college roommate and podcast co-host Sophia Kianni.

But Bloomberg reporting suggests that Phia was pushing features that took credit for sales it didn’t drive. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg technology editor Olivia Solon shares her reporting on Phia and what the startup’s founders may have known about those features.

Read more: 
Gates Heir’s Shopping App Claimed Sales It Didn’t Drive
Phoebe Gates Knew Phia Shopping App Took Credit for Sales It Didn’t Drive

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Olivia Solon.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Emma Munger.

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

The online shopping app Phia raised over $43 million and captured media attention for its A-list investors and its high-profile co-founders &mdash; Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill Gates, and her college roommate and podcast co-host Sophia Kianni.
But Bloomberg reporting suggests that Phia was pushing features that took credit for sales it didn&rsquo;t drive. On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg technology editor Olivia Solon shares her reporting on Phia and what the startup&rsquo;s founders may have known about those features.
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-09/gates-heir-s-shopping-app-took-credit-for-sales-it-didn-t-drive">Gates Heir&rsquo;s Shopping App Claimed Sales It Didn&rsquo;t Drive</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-11/phia-app-co-founders-pushed-for-features-taking-credit-for-sales-it-didn-t-drive?srnd=undefined">Phoebe Gates Knew Phia Shopping App Took Credit for Sales It Didn&rsquo;t Drive</a></li>
</ul>
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 Olivia Solon.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Emma Munger.
Senior Producer and Editor: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Controversy at Phia, Phoebe Gates’ Buzzy Startup

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aa408535-c169-46d7-bb29-b4a3014b56c5/transcript

The Sixth Bureau, Episode 2: The Spy’s Diary

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