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

After amassing US land for more than a century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently started turning unused tracts into big suburban housing developments.

On today’s Big Take podcast, commercial real estate reporter Natalie Wong and data journalist Ann Choi tell host Sarah Holder about the development plans of the church’s real estate arm, Property Reserve. They also introduce their exclusive tally of the church’s holdings — at least 2.4 million acres across the US, according to a Bloomberg News review of property records compiled by real estate data provider Reonomy.

Read more: The Mormon Church Is Quietly Expanding Its Real Estate Empire Across the US

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Natalie Wong and Ann Choi; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.

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

After amassing US land for more than a century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently started turning unused tracts into big suburban housing developments.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, commercial real estate reporter Natalie Wong and data journalist Ann Choi tell host Sarah Holder about the development plans of the church&rsquo;s real estate arm, Property Reserve. They also introduce their exclusive tally of the church&rsquo;s holdings &mdash; at least 2.4 million acres across the US, according to a Bloomberg News review of property records compiled by real estate data provider Reonomy.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-25/florida-colorado-developments-are-part-of-mormon-church-s-real-estate-arm?srnd=undefined">The Mormon Church Is Quietly Expanding Its Real Estate Empire Across the US</a>
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 Julia Press; Reported by Natalie Wong and Ann Choi; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Mormon Church’s Real Estate Empire

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/acc5756c-540b-4b3e-bca8-b4b10130e111/transcript

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum join host Sarah Holder to discuss how political spending is shaping the US midterm elections, who is funding candidates behind the scenes and what’s at stake for both Republicans and Democrats.

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guests: Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Big Take team; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum join host Sarah Holder to discuss how political spending is shaping the US midterm elections, who is funding candidates behind the scenes and what&rsquo;s at stake for both Republicans and Democrats.
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 Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guests: Amanda Gordon and Emily Birnbaum; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Big Take team; Engineering by Sean Carter. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Why Big Donors Aren’t Translating to Big Success in the US Midterms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0149ace1-4205-4819-b004-b4b0016cf4bc/transcript

Backers of the venture are big fans of a town in Idaho where a preacher with a flamethrower tells our reporters how much he hates feminism.


Today on The Big Take: Chapter 3 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 

Backers of the venture are big fans of a town in Idaho where a preacher with a flamethrower tells our reporters how much he hates feminism.
 Today on The Big Take: Chapter 3 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&nbsp;

Our Town Chapter 3: One Little Bacon-Wrapped Sausage

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4440cad3-10bd-4e70-a93e-b4ad002448ca/transcript

The Unexpected Rise of North Korea’s Economy

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