A growing number of colleges and universities across the US are trying to address dwindling student enrollment and tight finances by opening their doors to an unusual source of revenue: contracts with retirement communities, on or near campus.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Elizabeth Rembert heads back to school to learn what happens when baby boomers and Gen Z students share quads and classrooms: from intergenerational friendships to growing pains.

Read more: Baby Boomers Now Live Next to 18-Year-Olds at Colleges Across US

A growing number of colleges and universities across the US are trying to address dwindling student enrollment and tight finances by opening their doors to an unusual source of revenue: contracts with retirement communities, on or near campus.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Elizabeth Rembert heads back to school to learn what happens when baby boomers and Gen Z students share quads and classrooms: from intergenerational friendships to growing pains.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-07-19/why-more-senior-retirees-are-moving-onto-university-campuses?srnd=undefined">Baby Boomers Now Live Next to 18-Year-Olds at Colleges Across US</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

Welcome to Undergrad. Meet Your 81-Year-Old Classmate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c55c139f-5f36-43f6-9f7f-b36b013d4108/transcript

In Episode 3 of The Sixth Bureau, a series from The Big Take, we follow a spy from China’s Ministry of State Security to the Paris Air Show, and then watch him develop a valuable source, despite his bosses constantly getting in his way.

The Sixth Bureau from Bloomberg Newsfollows an MSS intelligence officer whose mission was to acquire the crown jewels of American aerospace companies. With aliases, blackmail and the occasional break-in, he targeted corporate giants. That is, until his sloppiness — and a cunning FBI sting — led to a stunning reversal: Xu Yanj un became the first Chinese intelligence officer ever convicted on American soil.

The Sixth Bureau is the story of superpowers, their secrets and how one Chinese spy got caught. Listen to Episode 1 and 2 here. 

In Episode 3 of The Sixth Bureau, a series from The Big Take, we follow a spy from China&rsquo;s Ministry of State Security to the Paris Air Show, and then watch him develop a valuable source, despite his bosses constantly getting in his way.
The Sixth Bureau from Bloomberg News follows an MSS intelligence officer whose mission was to acquire the crown jewels of American aerospace companies. With aliases, blackmail and the occasional break-in, he targeted corporate giants. That is, until his sloppiness &mdash; and a cunning FBI sting &mdash; led to a stunning reversal: Xu Yanj un became the first Chinese intelligence officer ever convicted on American soil.
The Sixth Bureau&nbsp;is the story of superpowers, their secrets and how one Chinese spy got caught. Listen to Episode 1 and 2 <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/the-sixth-bureau/">here</a>.&nbsp;

The Sixth Bureau Episode 3: Suck, Squeeze, Burn, Blow

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/06a4a26c-437b-4b7e-b351-b3f700f6cfed/transcript

The Department of Education has been a target of critics for decades. Republicans in the Oval Office have repeatedly tried to shrink the agency, and in his second term, President Trump has vowed to eliminate it altogether.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg education reporter Liam Knox and host David Gura talk through what it takes to gut a congressionally approved federal agency: what’s behind the Trump administration’s ‘creative’ efforts to scale back or move some of the Education Department’s trademark programs and what the shift could mean for students, lawmakers and other federal agencies in the administration’s crosshairs. 

Read more: How to Shred a Federal Agency

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Liam Knox; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Editorial team; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

The Department of Education has been a target of critics for decades. Republicans in the Oval Office have repeatedly tried to shrink the agency, and in his second term, President Trump has vowed to eliminate it altogether.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg education reporter Liam Knox and host David Gura talk through what it takes to gut a congressionally approved federal agency: what&rsquo;s behind the Trump administration&rsquo;s &lsquo;creative&rsquo; efforts to scale back or move some of the Education Department&rsquo;s trademark programs and what the shift could mean for students, lawmakers and other federal agencies in the administration&rsquo;s crosshairs.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-how-to-dismantle-education-department/?srnd=undefined">How to Shred a Federal Agency</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Liam Knox; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Editorial team; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Trump’s Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ea1308f9-4e17-483b-af58-b3f60129b6b3/transcript

For the first time in history, Saudi Arabia is allowing international buyers to purchase property in Mecca. This regulatory shift has ignited a building boom, raising concerns over affordability and overdevelopment. 

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Zainab Fattah joins Sarah Holder to discuss what this property gold rush means for the city’s future and Saudi Arabia’s move away from oil.

Read more: Saudi Arabia's MBS Opens Mecca Property Market in Investment Push

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Zainab Fattah; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and David Fox; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

For the first time in history, Saudi Arabia is allowing international buyers to purchase property in Mecca. This regulatory shift has ignited a building boom, raising concerns over affordability and overdevelopment.&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Zainab Fattah joins Sarah Holder to discuss what this property gold rush means for the city&rsquo;s future and Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s move away from oil.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-02-13/saudi-arabia-s-mbs-opens-mecca-property-market-in-investment-push">Saudi Arabia's MBS Opens Mecca Property Market in Investment Push</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Zainab Fattah; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and David Fox; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Race to Buy Real Estate in Mecca

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/83b8fcdb-0ad8-453e-8cfa-b3f5015bafbf/transcript

Welcome to Undergrad. Meet Your 81-Year-Old Classmate

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