On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss Sullivan’s tenure in the Biden White House, the consequences of President Trump’s cuts to foreign assistance and government staff, and what Sullivan sees as the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the current administration.

On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss Sullivan&rsquo;s tenure in the Biden White House, the consequences of President Trump&rsquo;s cuts to foreign assistance and government staff, and what Sullivan sees as the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the current administration.

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

What Keeps Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Up at Night

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/53bfd28a-8f78-4fd7-8436-b325014617cb/transcript

US President Donald Trump spoke for nearly 20 minutes from the White House, saying the US would hit Iran “extremely hard” in the next two to three weeks, and that he’d strike key infrastructure like electric plants if no deal is reached.

Stocks fell and oil jumped on his comments, with Brent rising 5% as Trump talked about possible escalation and reiterated his call for other nations to step in to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

This is a developing story. We are live blogging at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe. You can also listen at Bloomberg Daybreak or Bloomberg News Now.

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

US President Donald Trump spoke for nearly 20 minutes from the White House, saying the US would hit Iran &ldquo;extremely hard&rdquo; in the next two to three weeks, and that he&rsquo;d strike key infrastructure like electric plants if no deal is reached. Stocks fell and oil jumped on his comments, with Brent rising 5% as Trump talked about possible escalation and reiterated his call for other nations to step in to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a developing story. We are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2026-04-02/iran-latest?srnd=homepage-americas">live blogging</a> at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe. You can also listen at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bloomberg-daybreak-us-edition/id1663860720">Bloomberg Daybreak</a> or <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bloomberg-news-now/id1701403307">Bloomberg News Now</a>. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>

Special Report: President Trump's Prime Time Address

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/313ac210-483d-435b-99b3-b42000372898/transcript

Fueled by a powerful mix of FOMO and a government drive to accelerate AI adoption, OpenClaw has exploded in popularity across China. But as these agentic systems gain sweeping access to personal data, reports of them “going rogue” are beginning to surface.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha sits down with Bloomberg’s Luz Ding and Bloomberg Opinion’s Catherine Thorbecke to dig into the rapid rise of agentic AI in China, why it has taken hold so quickly and the mounting security concerns pushing users and regulators to reassess the risks.

Read more: There’s Method to China’s OpenClaw Madness

China’s OpenClaw Obsession Is a Risky Gamble on Experimental AI

Fueled by a powerful mix of FOMO and a government drive to accelerate AI adoption, OpenClaw has exploded in popularity across China. But as these agentic systems gain sweeping access to personal data, reports of them &ldquo;going rogue&rdquo; are beginning to surface.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha sits down with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Luz Ding and Bloomberg Opinion&rsquo;s Catherine Thorbecke to dig into the rapid rise of agentic AI in China, why it has taken hold so quickly and the mounting security concerns pushing users and regulators to reassess the risks. 
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-03-31/china-s-openclaw-madness-has-a-method">There&rsquo;s Method to China&rsquo;s OpenClaw Madness</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-13/gripped-by-openclaw-china-runs-massive-risky-ai-experiment">China&rsquo;s OpenClaw Obsession Is a Risky Gamble on Experimental AI</a>

Meet OpenClaw: The AI Craze Sweeping China

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/27b8e753-9396-457f-9aba-b41f010a79f1/transcript

A month into the Iran War, the Trump administration continues to send mixed messages about when and how it will end. In addition to threats on electricity plants and oil wells if a deal isn’t reached, the president said he would consider destroying another piece of critical infrastructure: Iran’s water desalination plants.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg defense policy and intelligence reporter Peter Martin about the Middle East’s reliance on desalination, the potential humanitarian crisis that targeting the plants could spark and how that action could fly in the face of international law.

Read more: 
How the Iran War Is Exposing the Risks to Gulf Water Supply
US Expands Threats to Iran Energy, Water as It Hails Talks

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Peter Martin; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.

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

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

A month into the Iran War, the Trump administration continues to send mixed messages about when and how it will end. In addition to threats on electricity plants and oil wells if a deal isn&rsquo;t reached, the president said he would consider destroying another piece of critical infrastructure: Iran&rsquo;s water desalination plants.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg defense policy and intelligence reporter Peter Martin about the Middle East&rsquo;s reliance on desalination, the potential humanitarian crisis that targeting the plants could spark and how that action could fly in the face of international law.
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/iran-war-why-desalination-plants-are-key-vulnerability-for-gulf-states">How the Iran War Is Exposing the Risks to Gulf Water Supply</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-30/us-expands-threats-to-iran-energy-water-even-as-it-hails-talks">US Expands Threats to Iran Energy, Water as It Hails Talks</a></li>
</ul>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Peter Martin; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Is Water Infrastructure the Next Target in the Iran War?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2461300a-fac6-4196-abc7-b41e015ec86d/transcript

What Keeps Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Up at Night

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