The conventional wisdom used to be that war in the Middle East would send oil prices soaring. Not anymore.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion’s Javier Blas and host Sarah Holder talk about the emergence of the US as the world’s largest oil producer — and how that new power dynamic is playing out in the war in Iran.

The conventional wisdom used to be that war in the Middle East would send oil prices soaring. Not anymore. On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion&rsquo;s Javier Blas and host Sarah Holder talk about the emergence of the US as the world&rsquo;s largest oil producer &mdash; and how that new power dynamic is playing out in the war in Iran.

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

There’s War in the Middle East. Why Are Oil Prices Falling?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ff00ce84-71b0-4463-995d-b3050163ceb0/transcript

n the AI industry, there's always a hot new thing. First it was ChatGPT. Then it was the image generators. There was the DeepSeek moment. In the latter half of last year, everyone was excited about how good Google's Gemini was. In January 2026, the new hot thing everyone is talking about is Claude Code. But of course, the AI models have been able to generate lines of code for a long time now. So what is it about Claude Code that has people so excited? Why is it that people are asking: "Is this AGI?" On this episode of Bloomberg's Odd Lots, hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway speak with Noah Brier, the co-founder of Alpehic, a consultancy firm that helps large organizations implement AI technology. Noah has been using the Large Language Models for longer than just about anyone, since even before ChatGPT existed. He explains to us the evolution of AI-assisted coding, what Claude Code actually is, and why it is that traditional software firms have been getting destroyed in the stock market lately.

Read more:
Meta Begins Job Cuts as It Shifts From Metaverse to AI Devices
AI Coding Startup Replit Nears Funding at $9 Billion Valuation

Only http://Bloomberg.com subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

Subscribe to the Odd Lots Newsletter
Join the conversation:discord.gg/oddlots

n the AI industry, there's always a hot new thing. First it was ChatGPT. Then it was the image generators. There was the DeepSeek moment. In the latter half of last year, everyone was excited about how good Google's Gemini was. In January 2026, the new hot thing everyone is talking about is Claude Code. But of course, the AI models have been able to generate lines of code for a long time now. So what is it about Claude Code that has people so excited? Why is it that people are asking: "Is this AGI?" On this episode of Bloomberg's Odd Lots, hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway speak with Noah Brier, the co-founder of Alpehic, a consultancy firm that helps large organizations implement AI technology. Noah has been using the Large Language Models for longer than just about anyone, since even before ChatGPT existed. He explains to us the evolution of AI-assisted coding, what Claude Code actually is, and why it is that traditional software firms have been getting destroyed in the stock market lately.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/meta-begins-jobs-cuts-after-shifting-focus-from-metaverse-to-phones?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=odd_lots&amp;utm_content=article" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">Meta Begins Job Cuts as It Shifts From Metaverse to AI Devices</a> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-15/ai-coding-startup-replit-nears-funding-at-9-billion-valuation?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=odd_lots&amp;utm_content=article" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">AI Coding Startup Replit Nears Funding at $9 Billion Valuation</a>
Only <a href="http://Bloomberg.com" data-inline-card="" data-card-data="">http://Bloomberg.com</a> subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at&nbsp; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots?in_source=oddlotspodcast" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots</a>
<a href="http://bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">Subscribe to the Odd Lots Newsletter</a> Join the conversation: <a href="https://discord.gg/oddlots" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">discord.gg/oddlots</a>

Weekend Listen: Why the Tech World Is Going Crazy for Claude Code

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6b948b3a-d34c-4947-8a7c-b3e400e83f63/transcript

After months of speculation and a publicized selection process befitting The Apprentice, President Trump has announced his pick to lead the Federal Reserve: former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh.

Historically a monetary policy hawk, the now dovish Warsh is expected to align more closely with President Trump’s views on inflation and rate decisions.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg Fed reporters Amara Omeokwe and Saleha Mohsinto discuss Warsh’s nomination, the early reactions we’ve seen from Wall Street and Washington, and what his past record and recent evolution signal about how he may handle interest rates and an ongoing battle over Fed independence.

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Amara Omeokwe, Saleha Mohsin; Edited by Naomi Shavin.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, Julia Press; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

After months of speculation and a publicized selection process befitting The Apprentice, President Trump has announced his pick to lead the Federal Reserve: former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh.
Historically a monetary policy hawk, the now dovish Warsh is expected to align more closely with President Trump&rsquo;s views on inflation and rate decisions.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder sits down with Bloomberg Fed reporters Amara Omeokwe and Saleha Mohsin to discuss Warsh&rsquo;s nomination, the early reactions we&rsquo;ve seen from Wall Street and Washington, and what his past record and recent evolution signal about how he may handle interest rates and an ongoing battle over Fed independence.
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Amara Omeokwe, Saleha Mohsin; Edited by Naomi Shavin.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, Julia Press; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

How Kevin Warsh Could Shape the Fed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f708ac14-f7b8-4d2d-951a-b3e201739a2d/transcript

The US Senate failed to advance a government spending package on Thursday, setting up for a partial government shutdown.

At the center of the debate is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. In the wake of federal agents killing two US citizens in Minnesota, the spending package has become the latest flashpoint in the fight over ICE’s deployment in American cities.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg reporters Steven Dennis and Alicia Diaz track the fight playing out in Washington as tensions continue to flare in Minnesota.

Read more: 
Trump, Democrats Make Some Progress in Talks to Avert Shutdown
Trump, Democrats Hurtle Toward Shutdown After Minnesota Killing
Republicans Divided After Latest Shooting by Federal Agents
Key Democrat Visits Minneapolis, Applauds ‘Courageous Movement’ 

Further listening: 
Minnesota v. ICE
Inside ICE’s Plan to Build Detention ‘Mega Centers’

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Steven Dennis and Alicia Diaz; Edited by Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura; Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The US Senate failed to advance a government spending package on Thursday, setting up for a partial government shutdown.
At the center of the debate is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. In the wake of federal agents killing two US citizens in Minnesota, the spending package has become the latest flashpoint in the fight over ICE&rsquo;s deployment in American cities.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg reporters Steven Dennis and Alicia Diaz track the fight playing out in Washington as tensions continue to flare in Minnesota.
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-29/trump-democrats-make-some-progress-in-talks-to-avert-shutdown">Trump, Democrats Make Some Progress in Talks to Avert Shutdown</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-26/trump-democrats-hurtle-toward-shutdown-after-minnesota-killing">Trump, Democrats Hurtle Toward Shutdown After Minnesota Killing</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-26/us-republicans-divided-after-latest-shooting-by-federal-agents">Republicans Divided After Latest Shooting by Federal Agents</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-27/democrats-warnock-to-travel-to-minneapolis-following-killing">Key Democrat Visits Minneapolis, Applauds &lsquo;Courageous Movement&rsquo;</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further listening:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-take/id1578096201?i=1000745068137">Minnesota v. ICE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-take/id1578096201?i=1000745962366">Inside ICE&rsquo;s Plan to Build Detention &lsquo;Mega Centers&rsquo;</a></li>
</ul>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Steven Dennis and Alicia Diaz; Edited by Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura; Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Fight Over ICE Funding

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6e728ace-622b-46c9-9dc7-b3e1012363dc/transcript

There’s War in the Middle East. Why Are Oil Prices Falling?

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