As the midterms come into focus, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen keeps showing up on lists of the biggest political spenders. Bloomberg reporter Austin Carr shares the story of how a left-of-center software engineer turned into a Silicon Valley juggernaut with an army of lobbyists. Then we sit down with economist Isabella Weber to discuss her new book, Anti-Fascist Economics, and why she believes American democracy needs an about face to do right by its citizens. Plus: Merger Madness!

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Bloomberg’s daily news podcast Big Take recently released an episode about the meteoric and very lucrative rise of the “Romantasy” literary genre, which our reporters explored in a Businessweek story this fall. Please enjoy, and hop on over to subscribe to their feed if you like what you hear!

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Romantasy books have created a near-billion-dollar industry in the US alone. This week, fans are racing to grab a copy of Rebecca Yarros’ Threshing Day, and bracing for the sixth installment of one of the genre’s biggest hits, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, coming later this month.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Hannah Miller and Madison Muller take host David Gura into the booming world of publishing’s runaway obsession. And The Knave and the Moon author Rachel Gillig talks about going from preschool teacher to global literary celebrity.

Read more: The Steamy, Magical and Now Very Lucrative Romantasy Business

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Host: David Gura; Guests: Hannah Miller, Madison Muller; Produced by Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Aaron Edwards; Engineering by Sean Carter; Illustration by Anna Podedworna.

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Women’s sports are exploding in popularity and revenue, but which is up next to breakthrough? Businessweek reporter Amanda Mull went to Indianapolis to find out why the NFL believes that flag football will be America’s next monoculture moment. Plus, how would you feel if everyone paid a different price for a carton of eggs? Surveillance pricing is moving beyond the internet and into big box stores, and our very own Max Chafkin has the reporting behind the trend.

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Max and Stacey sit down with Tubi Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson at Bloomberg's Screentime conference in Los Angeles, where they discuss price hikes by the major streaming services and the state of the ad-supported alternatives. Plus, Ashley Carman drops in before her interview with Conan O'Brien to fill us in on the new podcasting gold rush.

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GLP-1s, touted as a miracle drug by many, are slowly disappearing from Americans' insurance plans. Bloomberg workplace reporter Taylor Nicole Rogers explains why companies are saying “no thanks” to one of the hottest classes of pharmaceuticals on the market. And then, what would you do if you were in $30,000 of credit card debt? Debt Heads podcast co-host Jamie Feldman gives her negative balance a casual shrug, and makes the argument that you should too.

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AI slop detection software is here, but is it a magic bullet or a glorified spam filter? Businessweek contributor Vauhini Vara joins us to talk about what it means to be flagged as a robot in a human world. Plus, there's never been more money in professional sports. With financial scandals plaguing both of LA's NBA teams right now, Bloomberg’s Randall Williams explains how players and fans are being affected.

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From courtrooms to credit markets, AI’s bill is growing and someone has to pay. First, can AI be considered a co-conspirator in breaking the law? Businessweek contributing writer Evan Ratliff joins the show to explore this new age of crime and punishment — and what 14th century pigs have to do with autonomous agents. Plus, the bond market is boiling due to AI companies funding their ambitions. What does that mean for your mortgage, car loans, and credit cards? Bloomberg executive editor David Papadopoulos has you covered.

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Wearable tech like smart glasses are currently being banned in establishments across the country and publicly shamed by artists such as Lorde. But Apple, as part of their upcoming product strategy, believes they figured out how to avoid the backlash. Will you soon be wearing cameras on your face and ears? Tech wiz Mark Gurman joins Max and Stacey to explain.

Plus, what does it mean for the future of public health when the scientific method is not to be trusted, and prediction markets have started to ban users - including a former member of the House of Representatives.

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