Listen to the Story
Listen to the most interesting reporting from this week in the world of business, finance, tech, and politics. Over the weekend, we'll share a mix of essays, reviews and other stories from Bloomberg's new Weekend Edition.
Episodes
How Rockstar Games Built the Biggest Entertainment Product of All Time
By Jason SchreierSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
America’s Weirdest Culture War Is Over a Tree
Trumpworld, hunters and environmentalists want to resurrect the American chestnut. What they can’t agree on is how. By Kit ChellelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When CEOs Brag About Price Hikes, Groundwork Collaborative Is Listening
Lindsay Owens’ think tank is getting traction by blaming the likes of Instacart and Walmart for voters’ tight budgets. By Max ChafkinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trump’s Unapologetic Emissary
Marco Rubio is executing the president’s wishes around the world, even when they contradict his past beliefs. What’s his long game? By Eric Martin and Nancy CookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where Does Spirit Airlines Go When It Dies?
Behind-the-scenes with the skeleton crew that’s unwinding every last bit of the airline—until there’s nothing left. By Drake Bennett and Sri Taylor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Seniors Against Senior Housing
America’s elders need more places to live, but even in liberal enclaves that recognize the problem, developers are facing the fiercest foes of all: America’s elders. By Charley LockeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Diamond Industry’s Old Guard Wants You to Buy ‘Natural’
How De Beers and friends are battling the avalanche of cheaper, near-identical synthetic gems. By Stacey Vanek SmithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Studio Ghibli Doesn’t Really Care What’s Coming Next
The ambiguous future of Japan’s most prestigious group of animators won’t get clearer anytime soon. By Sohee Kim and Felix GilletteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
China’s New Cultural Export to US? 90 Second Microdramas
Short-form soap operas for smartphones are having their moment. By Christopher Beam See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Enchanted, Steamy, Booming Romantasy Business
The new genre has transformed the book business, unleashed a cottage industry and promised Hollywood its next big franchise. By Hannah Miller and Madison Muller See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Next Spotify—Or an AI Music Slop Machine?
Investors are betting Suno is the app that turns everyone into a rock star. Its detractors could fill an arena. By Lucas Shaw and Ashley Carman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Candy Crush's Sweet Success
Fifteen years in, the ubiquitous mobile game is still crushing it. By Alanna OkunSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
India’s Long-Shot Attempt to Become an iPhone Manufacturing Powerhouse Is Paying Off.
A yearslong partnership between Narendra Modi’s government and Apple has established the country as a serious rival to China. By Sankalp PhartiyalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TikTok Withheld a Safety Feature From Millions. One Died by Suicide
A confidential document says an algorithm adjustment was kept from many users “by design,” as part of an experiment to measure engagement. By Olivia CarvilleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Company That Wanted to Make Exactly 10,011 Pairs of Jeans
Hiut Denim’s production cap was meant to inspire a degrowth movement in business. But first it needed to grow. By JB MacKinnonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Florida’s Ultra-Right Campaign Means for the Future of MAGA
James Fishback isn’t likely to be governing the sunshine state next year, but his strong showing portends difficult choices for Republicans this fall and in 2028. By Max ChafkinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Curing Concrete
Concrete makes up half of all man-made stuff on our planet. And its use will double, in part to battle climate threats created by the production of concrete itself. Industry can deliver cleaner versions, but how soon? The answer might lie with four Indonesians from a tiny, disappearing island. By Ted C. FishmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Department of Cerberus
Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg wants America’s war machine to get cozier with companies. The private equity firm he co-founded is building a constellation of next-generation businesses to answer the call. By Caleb MelbySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Menopause Gold Rush Is Leaving Women Behind
While startups and supplements are making billions, the healthcare mainstream hasn’t kept pace with women’s midlife needs. By Kristen V BrownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Eli Lilly Got Huge by Making Us Thin
Dave Ricks steered the 150-year-old drug giant to a $1 trillion market cap. Can he defeat pharma’s boom-and-bust cycle? By Madison Muller and Brad StoneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cyberbullying Group 764 Torments Teenagers as Blood Sport
A global group of online sadists is pushing kids to harm their pets, their siblings and themselves. The FBI calls it a new wave of terrorism. By Margi Murphy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Caveat Injector
They’re everywhere: DIY peptides for losing weight, building muscle, slowing aging, getting tan and general looksmaxxing. Inside a legally ambiguous and medically dubious global supply chain. By Amanda Mull, Madison Muller and Ashleigh FurlongSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How a Tiny British Island Fell Into an International Gambling Scandal
Online casinos were a big driver of the Isle of Man’s economy. Lately, they’ve become a liability. By Jack Adamović DaviesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When an ICE Camp Comes to Town
Tremont, Pennsylvania, is unprepared, underequipped and largely unwilling. The same is true for many of the other places tapped for similar warehouse jails. So far, none of that matters. By Fola Akinnibi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Broken Backbone of America’s Healthcare System
Community health workers fill the gaps in places without enough doctors and nurses. Trump’s budget cuts are costing them their jobs, putting untold clients at risk. By Megan GreenwellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Funding Cuts Left the World Vulnerable to Ebola
A strain with no known treatment or vaccine is spreading fast, and the international system built to contain outbreaks is in crisis. By Jason Gale and Jessica NixSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Trump Delivered for Amazon
The feds were pushing a landmark case about Amazon’s control of its contract drivers. Then the president put Amazon’s former lawyer in charge. By Josh EidelsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Been Sanctioned by the US Government? There’s a Guy for That
From Iran to Russia to Venezuela, targeted parties tap Erich Ferrari to get off the Treasury Department’s list. By Timothy McLaughlinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Andy Jassy’s Plan to Launch Amazon Into The AI Age
Jassy was once Jeff Bezos’ deputy and the head of Amazon’s cloud computing arm. Five years into his tenure as CEO, he’s killing projects, cutting staff, pleasing Wall Street and steering the everything store through its greatest challenge yet. By Brad Stone and Matt DaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The $10 Billion Startup Training AI to Replace the White-Collar Workforce
Mercor is promising to replicate most professional work. It was also co-founded by twentysomethings who previously never held a real job. By Tom FosterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘God, It’s Terrifying’: How the Pentagon Got Hooked on AI War Machines
An excerpt from the forthcoming book Project Maven shows how the US enlisted Silicon Valley in its vision for AI warfare, now playing out in Iran. By Katrina MansonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How a Die-Hard Libertarian Is Negotiating Lower Health-Care Costs
An anesthesiologist has spent decades pushing his surgery center toward more transparent prices. Others are now following his lead. By Rowan Moore GeretySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
James Patterson’s Authorship Operation Welcomes Viola Davis and MrBeast
With sales waning, the business-savvy crime novelist and ex-CEO is doubling down on collaborations. By Vauhini VaraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: Bloomberg This Weekend
'Bloomberg This Weekend' features unique conversations on business, news, lifestyle and culture. Join David Gura, Christina Ruffini and Lisa Mateo Saturdays and Sundays for discussions with business leaders, lawmakers and cultural icons. Watch the show LIVE on Bloomberg Television from 7AM-10AM Eastern Time. Listen to the show LIVE on Bloomberg Radio from 7AM-10AM Eastern Ti
The Georgia Pastor Accused of Defrauding the VA of Nearly $24 Million
The founder of House of Prayer held himself out as a prophet. Former members of the church say he used fundamentalist teachings to manipulate them. By Chris PomorskiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Making of MAHA’s Biohacking King
Gary Brecka worked in insurance and a strip mall wellness clinic. Now he’s at the center of RFK Jr.’s plan to overhaul the American health system. By Ben StocktonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Drug Cartels Are Embracing Crypto and Freelance Money Launderers. Cops Can’t Keep Up
A vast ecosystem supported by the gig economy has sprung up to clean all that cash. By Jessica BriceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
UPS’s Missteps Have Put the Company on a Shaky Path Forward
CEO Carol Tomé’s plan for prosperity involves more than Amazon deliveries. By Cailley LaPara, Devin Leonard and Kiel PorterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Carvana’s Red-Hot Growth Runs on a Cycle of Borrowed Money
Attacks from short sellers and the collapse of auto lender Tricolor haven’t slowed down America’s most valuable used-car retailer. By David WelchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Startup Making Human Embryos With AI-Assisted Robots
Conceivable’s automated lab has helped bring 19 babies to life. Is it better at IVF than humans are? By Sarah FrierSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erasing the Verdict: The Ongoing Shock of Trump’s Cocaine Kingpin Pardon
Donald Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, toppled the capstone of one of the most ambitious narcotics investigations in the history of the Department of Justice. By Monte ReelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
India’s Digital Dream, Hacked
India’s digital revolution has exposed millions to a criminal dystopia. This is the story of a neurologist placed under “digital arrest”; a farmer promised a job that would set him up for life; a young man arranging mule bank accounts; and a newlywed who joins the crypto underworld. By Natalie Obiko Pearson and Suparna SharmaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati
Can Target Be Cool Again, and Would That Be Enough?
As sales and profits continue to decline, the incoming CEO says the first order of business is to repair the vibe. By Jaewon Kang and Devin LeonardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Gizmo Empire
How a flair for infomercials, TikTok and an endless stream of whiz-bang home appliances turned SharkNinja into a $6 billion behemoth. By Lily Meier and Shelly BanjoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kid Rock, MAGA Man
The singer has been golfing and trolling his way into the president’s inner circle. By Ashley Carman and Felix GilletteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Chatbot Delusions
Some users are losing touch with reality during marathon sessions with ChatGPT and other bots. By Ellen Huet and Rachel MetzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Finish Him, Brother
The inside story of how two alleged murder plots brought India, the US and Canada to a diplomatic crisis. By Matthew CampbellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Allow Zohran Mamdani to Reintroduce Himself
New York’s mayoral frontrunner has been working to build a governing coalition by meeting with all comers, including the business community that’s been bashing his plans. By Fola Akinnibi and Laura NahmiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lucrative ICE Detention Centers Bring Money—and Anger— to an Alaska Native Community
Nana Regional Corp. was supposed to honor Iñupiat values. Some shareholders say it hasn’t. By Polly Mosendz, Michael Smith and Rachel Adams-HeardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Generations of Selective Breeding Created Miserable Chickens
Genetic selection has made “probably the biggest animal welfare problem we have in all animal husbandry.” By Axelle Playoust-Braure and Paul Tullis See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Shipwreck Killed 41 Crew and 5,900 Cattle. The Brutal Business Behind It Goes On
The sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 was an existential moment for farm animal exporters. Some of those lessons are being forgotten. By Andrew S LewisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Confessions of a Professional Insomniac
After decades of accumulating 'sleep debt,' is it possible to relearn rest and relaxation?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jollibee Is on a Quest to Conquer American Palates
Can crispy Chickenjoy and sweet spaghetti win over consumers in the US?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can the UN Be Saved? Lessons From a Cold War Diplomat
As the UN endures a crisis of relevance, a new biography recalls a time when it wielded real power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Battle Over the Legacy of Soviet Food
With a new cookbook, author Polina Chesnakova looks to the past to understand how food plays a role in nation-building.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Reliving the 1929 Crash Tells Us About Today’s Stock Market
In 1929, Andrew Ross Sorkin re-creates the euphoria and mania that led to the most famous stock market slump in history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The AI Pioneer Who Wants to Replace Teachers With Algorithms
Derek Li pulled his sons out of school to be taught by artificial intelligence. Now he’s betting the US is ready for machine-led learning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paramount’s New Top Gun
After two years of drama, David Ellison got his merger with the historic studio. The reward is a company in existential crisis. What’s his plan to save it? By Lucas Shaw and Hannah MillerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Enron: The Satire
Some performance artists bought the name for peanuts and concocted an elaborate sendup of corporate excesses. Then they tried to bring Enron back for real. By Max ChafkinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can MrBeast Grow Up?
The YouTube star known for outlandish stunts is making his most audacious move yet: Bringing in the adults. Can they help him turn his media business into an entertainment empire? By Lucas ShawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
India Finds Out How Hard It Is to Build a Finance Hub From Scratch
GIFT City has attracted global banks, but the community its planners promised remains far from reality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At World Cup 2026, the US Risks a Diplomatic Own Goal
The tournament has always been political, but the US's antagonism toward its co-hosts stands out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Mushroom Murders Saga Is Far From Over
Erin Patterson’s case joins a true-crime ecosystem obsessed with the sinister side of human nature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Becoming Ms. Rachel
The toddler whisperer is far more than just a streaming sensation, thanks to her bestselling books, a hit toy line and an activist turn. By Aisha Counts and Felix GilletteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How a Global Car Company Stalled Out
Stellantis is a Frankenstein conglomerate of Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Maserati and other brands. Can it survive its own self-inflicted wounds—and a trade war? By Gabrielle Coppola and Albertina Torsoli See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Does Your Dish Soap Smell Different?
It’s not just you: Household product scents are getting stronger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Arundhati Roy Confronts Her Fiercest Subject
The Booker Prize-winning author turns inward with Mother Mary Comes to Me.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Return of the Rich American Smuggler
High tariffs have long tempted affluent travelers to sneak goods past customs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Fight Over Delhi's Street Dogs Is Dividing India
A sudden court order has turned into a test of the country's megacities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Alcaraz and Sinner Skipped the Line in Men’s Tennis
With carbon-fiber racquets, polyester strings and prodigious talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Cracks in America's Rule of Law Are Getting Deeper
Court battles are exposing limits on the judiciary’s ability to constrain the presidency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Outcasts of the Yacht Club Are Changing Sailing’s Image
Long dismissed by traditionalists, catamarans are now at the center of the sport's reinvention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
National Parks Are America’s Final EV Frontier
Many of the US's most popular parks don’t have chargers — and aren’t likely to soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Swimming Joins the After-Work Routine at London’s Canary Wharf
In the city's financial hub, swimmers share the water with ducks, eels and the ghosts of maritime past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When the Dead Are Missing, These Dogs Know Where to Look
Trainers are turning to synthetic death scents and surgical castoffs to train cadaver dogs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The United States Is Southern Now
From booming metros to culture-defining exports, the South has quietly become a powerhouse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US is Run By Lawyers, and China by Engineers
In his new book, Dan Wang argues that America could learn from Beijing’s focus on technical innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bessent on Tariffs, Deficits and Embracing Trump’s Economic Plan
The US Treasury Secretary has the ear of an impulsive president—and nervous investors worldwide hope it stays that way. An exclusive interview. By Daniel Flatley and Erik SchatzkerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
So You Bought a Fancy Vintage Car. Now Who’s Going to Restore it?
The restoration industry faces years-long waiting lists and a disappearing labor force.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Teach Your Kids Poker the Easy Way
No pairs, no flushes, no full houses, no complicated order of hands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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