Big Take

The ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire next week and the US is trying a different tactic to pressure Iran into a deal: a naval blockade.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Economics defense lead Becca Wasser and Bloomberg Middle East Breaking News editor Patrick Sykes join Sarah Holder to break down how the US’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz works, what could happen if it’s tested and how this latest pressure move could influence another round of Iran-US peace talks.
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Becca Wasser and Patrick Sykes; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hungarians handed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán a resounding defeat in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Peter Magyar and his upstart Tisza won the election by a landslide on the promise of ending years of corruption and the ‘illiberal democracy’ that became synonymous with Orbán’s tenure.
On today’s Big Take podcast, former US Ambassador David Pressman sits down with Sarah Holder to discuss what Orbán’s loss means for Hungary’s economy and political institutions, how a new leader could reshape its relationships with the EU and Russia and why President Trump and the MAGA movement are paying close attention.
Read more: Hungarian Stocks and Forint Jump as Orban Loss Starts New Era
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Andras Gergely; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by David Fox and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A core US demand heading into peace talks with Iran this weekend will be reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where a near-total shipping shutdown has led to rising global oil prices and threatened supplies of food, plastics, packaging and semiconductors.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Sarah Holder speaks with Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal, hosts of Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast, about how the Hormuz shutdown is reverberating around commodities markets — and the lasting mark it could leave on the global supply chain even after ships start moving again.
For more Odd Lots episodes on Iran and commodities, check out:
How War in Iran Will Squeeze America's Farmers Even Further - Odd Lots
The Petrochemicals Shock That's Already Rippling Through Plastics - Odd Lots
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.
Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Julia Press; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Need a little ‘moon joy’? Over the past eight days, four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission have been flying through the cosmos, breaking records for human spaceflight and sharing never-before-seen images from the dark side of the moon.
On today’s Big Take podcast, guest host Stacey Vanek Smith and Bloomberg global space reporter Loren Grush talk about what the mission means for the future of galactic exploration and the burgeoning “lunar economy.”
Read more:
NASA’s Breathtaking Photos From Far Side of the Moon Evoke Wonder and Awe
NASA Crew Heads Back to Earth After Record Trip Around Moon
If you're interested in reading more but aren't yet a Bloomberg subscriber, we have a subscription offer for listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
Hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Loren Grush; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
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.

In just over a decade, Tether has grown from an idea into a global crypto juggernaut, poised to become one of the world’s most highly valued private companies. But where did its dollar-linked stablecoin come from and where is it headed?
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Todd Gillespie and guest host Stacey Vanek Smith unpack one of the most powerful companies you’ve (maybe) never heard of.
Read more: With Billions to Spend, Tether Finds New Allies in Washington
As Lutnick Sold Cantor to His Children, Tether Gave Them a Loan
Hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Todd Gillespie, Ryan Weeks, Annie Massa; Edited by Aaron Edwards, Janet Paskin.
Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.