Big Take, Midterms 2026
- Episodes
- 7
- Released
- daily
- Latest episode
- Oct 21, 2026
About the podcast
This special series from Bloomberg's flagship daily news podcast Big Take offers a timely and urgent conversation on the US midterms every Wednesday through November 4th. Each week, David Gura and Sarah Holder host a panel of Bloomberg editors, reporters and opinion columnists to unpack the battle to control the US Senate, how the races could shape the next U.S. presidential election and how the results of this election cycle could ripple through the global economy.
For more episodes of Big Take, listen here.
Episodes 7
Elon Musk Has Spent More Than $445 Million on the US Midterms
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 …
Show notes
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 MergerWe have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
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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Why Big Donors Aren’t Translating to Big Success in the US Midterms
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 …
Show notes
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.
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Most Americans Say They’re Working Class. Are They?
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 …
Show notes
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.
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Why Everyone Is Talking About High Diesel Prices
Diesel prices are hitting new highs, and voters aren’t happy. With the midterms approaching, the Trump administration is trying to find ways to curb fuel costs, including a potential US diesel export ban. On …
Show notes
Diesel prices are hitting new highs, and voters aren’t happy. With the midterms approaching, the Trump administration is trying to find ways to curb fuel costs, including a potential US diesel export ban.
On today’s Big Take podcast: The political fallout of sky-high diesel prices. Bloomberg national economics reporter Mark Niquette and host Sarah Holder break down what’s driving up costs, why prices are hitting battleground states particularly hard and whether an export ban could backfire.
Read more: Record Diesel Prices Hit at Worst Time in Key Battleground States
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Mark Niquette Edited by Tracey Samuelson; Engineering by Alex Sugiura
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Can $700 Million Buy Republicans the US Senate?
The 2026 midterms are on track to become the most expensive elections in US history, with Republican Senate candidates raking in hundreds of millions from PACs and Democrats riding a growing wave of individual …
Show notes
The 2026 midterms are on track to become the most expensive elections in US history, with Republican Senate candidates raking in hundreds of millions from PACs and Democrats riding a growing wave of individual donations. So who has the edge?
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bill Faries, who oversees Bloomberg’s midterm coverage, and campaign finance reporter Bill Allison join Sarah Holder to break down how each party is raising and spending cash and what it means for control of the Senate — and for the coming presidential race.
Read more: Shifting Senate Map Is Fueling Most Expensive Election Ever
Further Listening: Why Everyone Is Talking About High Diesel Prices
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Bill Allison and Bill Faries; Produced by David Fox and Julia Press; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott; Engineering by Sean Carter.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Democrats Actually Flip Texas This Time?
President Trump is campaigning in Texas on Wednesday, rallying voters in a state that’s long been a Republican stronghold. His efforts in traditionally red states around the country show how surprisingly close …
Show notes
President Trump is campaigning in Texas on Wednesday, rallying voters in a state that’s long been a Republican stronghold. His efforts in traditionally red states around the country show how surprisingly close many of these midterm races have become — and the outcome will determine if Trump’s party can hold onto the Senate and advance his agenda for the next two years.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Texas bureau chief Julie Fine and Washington correspondent Josh Wingrove join host Sarah Holder to break down the ultra-expensive, surprisingly competitive Texas Senate race and what it would mean for Trump’s presidency if he loses the Lone Star state.
Further Listening:
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.
Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Julie Fine, Josh Wingrove; Produced by David Fox, Julia Press; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Sean Carter.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Diesel Prices are Hitting Records Just in Time for the Midterms
Energy prices are up — and President Trump is out of time to bring them down before the US midterm elections. On today’s Big Take podcast, David Gura breaks down the factors keeping prices high and how much it …
Show notes
Energy prices are up — and President Trump is out of time to bring them down before the US midterm elections.
On today’s Big Take podcast, David Gura breaks down the factors keeping prices high and how much it could cost the Republican party with White House reporter Josh Wingrove and Will Kubzansky, who covers gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.Host: David Gura; Guests: Josh Wingrove and Will Kubzansky; Produced by Julia Press, David Fox, Julia Weaver; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Sean Carter.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
