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.

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

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

It’s been a big week for central banks around the world. Yet among the flurry of rate decisions, the Bank of Japan’s move stands out. After decades of near-zero interest rates, policymakers are betting Japan’s economy is finally returning to something closer to normal.

On today’s Big Take Podcast, K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson explore why the Bank of Japan is hiking rates at its fastest pace in decades, what the shift means for the yen carry trade and how Japan’s policy moves could ripple across global markets.

Read more: BOJ Hikes at Fastest Pace Since 1990 After Bessent’s Calls

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha and David Gura; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng, Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch. Engineering by Sean Carter.

It&rsquo;s been a big week for central banks around the world. Yet among the flurry of rate decisions, the Bank of Japan&rsquo;s move stands out. After decades of near-zero interest rates, policymakers are betting Japan&rsquo;s economy is finally returning to something closer to normal.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Podcast, K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg&rsquo;s Paul Jackson explore why the Bank of Japan is hiking rates at its fastest pace in decades, what the shift means for the yen carry trade and how Japan&rsquo;s policy moves could ripple across global markets.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-18/boj-hikes-rates-at-fastest-pace-since-1990-as-inflation-persists">BOJ Hikes at Fastest Pace Since 1990 After Bessent&rsquo;s Calls</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha and David Gura; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng, Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch. Engineering by Sean Carter.

Japan Hikes Rates, Reshaping Carry Trade

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5121b7e2-3ff5-4192-9ed7-b4c9015a7a47/transcript

The “working class” in America used to conjure a vivid image: factory workers, blue-collar jobs and a political coalition born out of the Industrial Revolution. But as Republicans and Democrats try to court voters ahead of midterms, a question keeps coming up: What is the working class today?

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Allison Schrager, labor activist Bertha “Mama Cookie” Bradley and Distinguished Professor of Law Joan C. Williams about the moving target of defining and catering policy to working Americans.

Read more: Nobody Knows What ‘Working Class’ Even Means Anymore


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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Guests: Allison Schrager, Joan C. Williams, Bertha “Mama Cookie” Bradley; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Engineering by Emma Munger.

The &ldquo;working class&rdquo; in America used to conjure a vivid image: factory workers, blue-collar jobs and a political coalition born out of the Industrial Revolution. But as Republicans and Democrats try to court voters ahead of midterms, a question keeps coming up: What is the working class today?
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Allison Schrager, labor activist Bertha &ldquo;Mama Cookie&rdquo; Bradley and Distinguished Professor of Law Joan C. Williams about the moving target of defining and catering policy to working Americans.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-05-29/graham-platner-doesn-t-know-what-working-class-means-nobody-does">Nobody Knows What &lsquo;Working Class&rsquo; Even Means Anymore </a>
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; Guests: Allison Schrager, Joan C. Williams, Bertha &ldquo;Mama Cookie&rdquo; Bradley; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Engineering by Emma Munger.

Most Americans Say They’re Working Class. Are They?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/35180082-1cef-4800-920d-b4c8014a9ad3/transcript

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points today and indicated another hike could come later this year. Chair Kevin Warsh had telegraphed the move, putting him on a collision course with President Donald Trump.

Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg Opinion’s John Authers and Fed reporter Maria Eloisa Capurro join David Gura to discuss why a “no forward guidance” Fed chair showed his hand so early and what it means for the markets and the midterms. 

Read more: Fed Raises Rates as Warsh Bucks Trump to Contain Inflation

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

Hosted by David Gura; Guests: John Authers, Maria Eloisa Capurro; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Mixed by Alex Sugiura

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points today and indicated another hike could come later this year. Chair Kevin Warsh had telegraphed the move, putting him on a collision course with President Donald Trump.
Today on the Big Take, Bloomberg Opinion&rsquo;s John Authers and Fed reporter Maria Eloisa Capurro join David Gura to discuss why a &ldquo;no forward guidance&rdquo; Fed chair showed his hand so early and what it means for the markets and the midterms.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-16/fed-raises-rates-as-warsh-bucks-trump-to-contain-inflation?srnd=homepage-americas">Fed Raises Rates as Warsh Bucks Trump to Contain Inflation</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 David Gura; Guests: John Authers, Maria Eloisa Capurro; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Mixed by Alex Sugiura

Why the Federal Reserve Raised Interest Rates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ad4fd117-c5cf-47ca-addd-b4c70174c9de/transcript

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

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