Big Take

The latest jobs report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is a mixed bag. January’s numbers came in much stronger than expected — but revisions on 2025 data showed a weaker year than previously realized.
The report comes on the heels of a number of high-profile job cut announcements, including at Amazon, the Washington Post and Nike.
On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg US economy editor Molly Smith sift through the numbers and discuss the state of the labor market.
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox and Julia Press; Reported by Molly Smith Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Denate, Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a historic election win, positioning her as the nation’s strongest leader in the postwar era.
On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host Oanh Ha sits down with Bloomberg’s Sakura Murakami to discuss the reaction to Takaichi’s election gamble, her vision for a more assertive Japan and the uphill battle she faces to deliver her ambitious agenda.
Read more: Takaichi Triumphs With Japan's Biggest Post-War Election Victory
Further listening: All Eyes on Japan and China Tensions After Taiwan
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Yang Yang; Reported by Sakura Murakami; Edited by Paddy Hirsch;Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Sugiura.Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
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The prospect of US military action in Iran and the possibility of regional war continue to loom over indirect talks between the two countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
On today’s Big Take Podcast, Iran reporter Golnar Motevalli joins host David Gura to lay out what the US and Iran each hope to achieve and what’s at stake if these negotiations fall apart.
Read more: Iran Hardens Crackdown on Political Dissidents After US Talks
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Reported by Golnar Motevalli; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by David Fox; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
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What is the best way to tell a climate story? This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi speaks with Booker Prize-winning novelist George Saunders. His new novel Vigil is an exploration of guilt, told on the deathbed of an oil executive haunted by ghosts. Rathi asks Saunders what he learned about climate change, his thoughts on whether AI complements or compromises human creativity, and why literature still matters in the era of TikTok.
Listen now, and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or YouTube to get new episodes of Zero every Thursday.
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When the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots on Sunday, more than $2.6 billion in wagers will be on the line. A growing share — $800 million — will come through prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket that are transforming how sports betting works in the US.
On today’s Big Take podcast, professional sports gambler Rufus Peabody discusses why he has shifted more of his betting to prediction markets. And markets reporter Justina Lee and sports business reporter Ira Boudway sit down with host David Gura to discuss why these markets are drawing pros like Peabody — and the concerns the platforms raise for regulators and traditional sportsbooks.
Read more: Gambling Pros Adjust to a Super Bowl on the Prediction Markets
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Justina Lee and Ira Boudway; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.