Big Take

France is caught between two powerful forces: protesters demanding that the government protect public services and social benefits and a bond market that can’t stomach the idea of France’s deficit getting any larger.

But the fight over France’s budget is also reviving a longstanding debate at the heart of the euro zone: How much control does a country really have over its economic future when it shares a currency with its neighbors? On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s John Stepek joins host Sarah Holder to discuss the competing forces shaping France’s financial future — and what’s at stake for the rest of Europe.
Read more:
A Turning Point for France Looks a Long Way Off
A French Accident Waiting to Happen
French Bond Risk Falls Most Since 2020 as Downgrade Avoided
Further Listening:
French Bond Markets and AI Neoclouds Feel The Pressure

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Host: Sarah Holder; Guest: John Stepek; Produced by Julia Press and Naomi Shavin; Edited by Tracey Samuelson; Engineering by Emma Munger.
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India’s “Cockroach” protests have returned to the streets of Delhi, and just as the country faces intensifying challenges from abroad, including fallout from the Iran war and tensions with the US, China and Pakistan.
In a conversation on the sidelines of Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in New Delhi last week, Suhasini Haidar, diplomatic editor for The Hindu, sat down with The Mishal Husain Show to unpack India’s shifting place in the world and Gen Z discontent at home.
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For the first time since the Oct. 7 attacks, Israelis are headed to the polls. The race is seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is neck-and-neck with opponent Gadi Eisenkot in the latest polls.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Dan Williams examines the existential questions this election has raised: Will Israelis choose a post-Netanyahu future? And if they do, what would it mean for Israel and for the Palestinian territories?
Read more:
Win or Lose, Netanyahu Has Reshaped Israeli Politics in His Image
Trump’s Endorsement of Netanyahu Falls Flat With Israeli Voters
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Tesla disclosed this week that it had fallen short of its targets for AI infrastructure spending. Investors didn’t like that. Meta revealed its plans to lay out more than $800 billion on AI infrastructure over the next decade. Investors didn’t like that, either.
On today’s Big Take podcast, why all eyes are on AI spending plans — and which US tech giants’ earnings to watch. Host Sarah Holder is joined by Michael Regan, managing editor for US equities, and Sarah Frier, managing editor for big tech, AI and startups.
Read more:
Meta Credit Risk Gauge Surges to Record on AI Spending Plans
Meta Falls After Boosting Spending Plans for AI Bet
Tesla’s Lowered Capex Plan Fuels Doubt on AI, Robotics Goals
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Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Sarah Frier and Michael Regan; Produced by David Fox; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott; Engineering by Emma Munger.
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Amid the news that Elon Musk wants to merge Tesla and SpaceX, he has given $445 million to political races in the US midterms. That makes him one of the biggest-ever contributors in US history.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Dana Hull, who covers Musk, and campaign finance reporter Bill Allison, about the impact that money could have on some of the closest races, like the Texas Senate race.
Read more:
Musk Giving Tops $445 Million in Midterm Election Push for GOP
Musk Pours $158 Million Into GOP Super PAC for Texas Senate Race
SpaceX, Tesla Boards Study Possible $3.5 Trillion Merger
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Host: David Gura; Guests: Dana Hull, Bill Allison; Produced by Julia Press, David Fox, Julia Weaver; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Sean Carter.
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