Big Take, Midterms 2026

The Blue Wave might have been a rebuke of Trump and his economy, but Democrats have limited options to tackle affordability without him.

On today’s Big Take podcast, PIMCO’s Head of Public Policy Libby Cantrill joins host Sarah Holder to discuss how the economic issues Democrats campaigned on could translate into policy and the compromises and clashes that may lie ahead.

Find our special series of timely and urgent conversations on the US midterm elections wherever you listen to podcasts. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Host: Sarah Holder; Guest: Libby Cantrill; Produced by Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Emma Munger.

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The blue wave that swept across US midterms buoyed Senate and House Democrats — as well as big tech shares and French bonds. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion Executive Editor Robert Burgess and reporter Matthew Griffin, who covers the intersection of politics and stocks, join host Sarah Holder to sort out the day’s market winners (the Fed) and losers (Elon Musk’s companies).

Read more: US Election 2026 | Markets in Context

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Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Robert Burgess and Matthew Griffin; Produced by David Fox and Julia Press; Edited by Jeff Grocott and Patrick Hirsch; Engineering by Alex Suguira.

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The results are in: In a US midterm election seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump, a blue wave swept Congress. Democrats will control both the House and Senate for the last two years of Trump’s term.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder, Bloomberg White House reporter Josh Wingrove and Congress editor Megan Scully dig into how election night played out in the US, how markets are reacting and what clashes to expect between President Trump and Democrats in Congress. 

Find our special series of timely and urgent conversations on the US midterm elections wherever you listen to podcasts. We are also live blogging at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe. 

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Josh Wingrove and Megan Scully; Produced by Naomi Shavin and David Fox; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer and Tracey Samuelson; Engineering by Sean Carter.

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It’s Election Day in the US and a deluge of midterms-related lawsuits have already been filed, even though polls haven’t closed yet.

Bloomberg legal reporter Zoe Tillman and Josh Wingrove, who covers the White House, join host David Gura to make sense of the latest legal fights.

Read more: Trump’s Aggressive Voter Lawsuits Offer Democrats a Blueprint for Legal Defense

This is a developing story. We are live blogging at Bloomberg.com with the latest from across the globe.

Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Josh Wingrove and Zoe Tillman; Produced by David Fox and Julia Press; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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Republicans in Texas, hoping to lock in more seats in Congress, kicked off a redistricting frenzy that saw several other states redraw their congressional maps. Today on the show, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg Texas Bureau Chief Julie Fine and Senior White House reporter Josh Wingrove to talk through why that gamble may not pay off.

Read more:

• Trump Calls for Peltola to Be Banned From Alaska Senate Race
• Joe Rogan’s Microphone Goes Quieter on Trump Ahead of Midterms
• Economic Pain Turns Nebraska Into Unexpected Senate Battleground

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Host: David Gura; Guests: Julie Fine and Josh Wingrove; Produced by David Fox; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer and Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Sean Carter.

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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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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.

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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: 

• Can $700 Million Buy Republicans the US Senate?
• Europe’s Debt Problem Is Back

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Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Julie Fine, Josh Wingrove; Produced by David Fox, Julia Press; Edited by Naomi Shavin; Engineering by Sean Carter.

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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

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Host: Sarah Holder; Guests: Bill Allison and Bill Faries; Produced by David Fox and Julia Press; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott; Engineering by Sean Carter.

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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

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Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Mark Niquette Edited by Tracey Samuelson; Engineering by Alex Sugiura

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