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 oldest Gen Alphas are still in high school, but some of the early reviews have been scathing. Unruly. Nihilistic. Bad at reading. Yet when Bloomberg Businessweek’s Stacey Vanek Smith dug into the research, she emerged with a more optimistic view on the most online generation yet. Tech savvy. Globally minded. Also, preternaturally good at skincare.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Smith tells host David Gura about the cohort that accounts for $100 billion a year in direct spending power in the US alone – and what it might look like when it begins to enter the workforce.

Read more: Gen Alpha Can’t Be Ignored

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

The oldest Gen Alphas are still in high school, but some of the early reviews have been scathing. Unruly. Nihilistic. Bad at reading. Yet when Bloomberg Businessweek&rsquo;s Stacey Vanek Smith dug into the research, she emerged with a more optimistic view on the most online generation yet. Tech savvy. Globally minded. Also, preternaturally good at skincare.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Smith tells host David Gura about the cohort that accounts for $100 billion a year in direct spending power in the US alone &ndash; and what it might look like when it begins to enter the workforce.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/gen-alpha-born-between-2010-and-2024-is-driving-consumer-spending">Gen Alpha Can&rsquo;t Be Ignored</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 David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The $100 Billion Gen Alpha Economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/269284f4-43ed-4fdf-9737-b44a010ee8ac/transcript

This year has seen an uptick in falsified videos and other online disinformation with a common theme: advancing Kremlin interests.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg investigative reporter Stephanie Baker tells Sarah Holder how she identified nearly 200 social media posts and videos that bear the hallmarks of a Russian influence operation that researchers call Storm-1516. Baker, who has written extensively about Russia and is the author of Punishing Putin, explains why so few of these posts are factchecked in real time — and what that lack of oversight means for the US as it prepares for this year’s midterms.

Read more: The Most Potent Weapon in Russia’s Disinformation War

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Stephanie Baker and Priyanjana Bengani ; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

This year has seen an uptick in falsified videos and other online disinformation with a common theme: advancing Kremlin interests.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg investigative reporter Stephanie Baker tells Sarah Holder how she identified nearly 200 social media posts and videos that bear the hallmarks of a Russian influence operation that researchers call Storm-1516. Baker, who has written extensively about Russia and is the author of Punishing Putin, explains why so few of these posts are factchecked in real time &mdash; and what that lack of oversight means for the US as it prepares for this year&rsquo;s midterms.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-russia-disinformation-storm-1516-videos/">The Most Potent Weapon in Russia&rsquo;s Disinformation War</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 David Fox; Reported by Stephanie Baker and Priyanjana Bengani ; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Russian Operation Using AI Fakes to Target Voters

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6061615c-81f0-40f0-87a2-b449015a90c9/transcript

Despite India facing economic headwinds, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party defied expectations with a stunning state election sweep — capped by a historic win in opposition stronghold West Bengal.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Menaka Doshi about how the BJP secured a shock victory and what an emboldened Modi might mean for India and the world.

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

Read more: Resurgent Modi Paves Way to Keep Power in India Well Beyond 2030

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng, Yang Yang; Reported by Menaka Doshi; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.

Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky, Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa.

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

Despite India facing economic headwinds, Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s party defied expectations with a stunning state election sweep &mdash; capped by a historic win in opposition stronghold West Bengal.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Menaka Doshi about how the BJP secured a shock victory and what an emboldened Modi might mean for India and the world.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-11/resurgent-modi-paves-way-to-keep-power-in-india-well-beyond-2030">Resurgent Modi Paves Way to Keep Power in India Well Beyond 2030</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng, Yang Yang; Reported by Menaka Doshi; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky, Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Modi Is More Powerful Than Ever — Even as India’s Economy Strains

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c3f54380-e6bf-4fed-bdc8-b4480137dd3c/transcript

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

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