North Korea was supposed to be broke and isolated. Now, it’s enjoying an unexpected economic boom.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg’s Cat Barton and host K. Oanh Ha unpack North Korea’s shift from pandemic-era hardship to a multibillion-dollar windfall, and discuss how the country’s newfound wealth is reshaping geopolitical alliances.

Read more: Kim Jong Un Flouted Sanctions to Amass $22 Billion Windfall

Further listening: North Korea’s Nuclear Program Reaches Tipping Point for the US

Watch, from Originals: Why Sanctions Aren’t Stopping North Korea

North Korea was supposed to be broke and isolated. Now, it&rsquo;s enjoying an unexpected economic boom.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Cat Barton and host K. Oanh Ha unpack North Korea&rsquo;s shift from pandemic-era hardship to a multibillion-dollar windfall, and discuss how the country&rsquo;s newfound wealth is reshaping geopolitical alliances.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-north-korea-windfall/">Kim Jong Un Flouted Sanctions to Amass $22 Billion Windfall </a>Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/north-koreas-nuclear-program-reaches-tipping-point/id1746141911?i=1000764225881">North Korea&rsquo;s Nuclear Program Reaches Tipping Point for the US</a>
Watch, from Originals:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v30SRprmmLE">Why Sanctions Aren&rsquo;t Stopping North Korea</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

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 Unexpected Rise of North Korea’s Economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ee990b7d-fc02-4247-a086-b4aa01597704/transcript

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a bill that would challenge the subcontractor model Amazon relies on for last-mile deliveries, and the company is spending millions to fight it.

On today’s Big Take podcast, reporters Spencer Soper and Josh Eidelson unpack what this bill could mean for the delivery drivers — and corporate America’s reliance on subcontractors more broadly.

Read more:
Amazon Is in the Crosshairs of Mamdani’s Worker Agenda
What Trump Delivered for Amazon

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Julia Press; Reported by Josh Eidelson and Spencer Soper; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Julia Weaver. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a bill that would challenge the subcontractor model Amazon relies on for last-mile deliveries, and the company is spending millions to fight it.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, reporters Spencer Soper and Josh Eidelson unpack what this bill could mean for the delivery drivers &mdash; and corporate America&rsquo;s reliance on subcontractors more broadly.
Read more:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-11/amazon-is-in-the-crosshairs-of-mamdani-s-nyc-worker-agenda">Amazon Is in the Crosshairs of Mamdani&rsquo;s Worker Agenda</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-06-02/amazon-trump-settlement-win-showed-just-how-tough-delivery-drivers-have-it?srnd=undefined">What Trump Delivered for Amazon</a></li>
</ul>
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 Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Julia Press; Reported by Josh Eidelson and Spencer Soper; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Julia Weaver. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

How Amazon Landed on Mamdani’s Labor Agenda

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cc68b584-4a8f-4e23-be7c-b4a9016a0c55/transcript

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

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

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 Unexpected Rise of North Korea’s Economy

In 2 playlist(s)

Big Take

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips