Marketplace All-in-One

A “good ol’ boys” culture at the FDIC

A new report from an independent law firm says that big changes are needed at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to address widespread allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination and that FDIC’s management’s response has been “insufficient.” We’ll discuss. Plus, there was a big slowdown of consumer credit growth in March. And can the “Las Vegas of the East” move away from gambling revenue to entertainment?

A (Bud) light at the end of the tunnel?

Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light, reported earnings this morning. The company has been slowly recovering since last year, when Bud Light became the target of a conservative boycott over a 45-second promotional video posted by a transgender influencer. We’ll delve into the backlash and get a taste of the light beer market. Also on the show: FTX investors might get their money back, and the Biden administration overhauls requirements for retirement planners.

China’s close relationship with Serbia

From the BBC World Service: Chinese president Xi Jinping is in Serbia aiming to deepen political and economic ties. China has invested heavily in the Eastern European country as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Then, we take a closer look at how devastating rains have hit Kenya, where thousands have been displaced and crops ruined. We also head to Macau, where Chinese authorities want to see the territory diversify away from gambling.

Pinterest CEO wants to build a “more positive version of social media”

Pinterest. It’s the platform best known for its viral recipes, fashion forecasts, DIY crafts and ideas for just about any wedding or birthday party theme you could think of. In a sea of outrage and division on social media, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready wants you to think of the platform as a sanctuary of positivity in the online universe. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently sat down with Ready and asked him about how Pinterest has changed since its launch.

The power of college endowments

A little more time for Social Security and Medicare funds

The good news: The forecasted date at which the Social Security and Medicare trust fund can’t pay full benefits for everyone was pushed back a few years in a report issued Monday. Bad news: That day is still coming, unless Congress acts. Also: aging in place or stuck in place? The challenges of homeownership later in life. Later in the episode: Reddit’s revenue and union organizing efforts in the South. 

Logistics sector slows in April

 Stocks close mixed; inventory levels growing at a slower pace; consumer credit rises; TikTok sues over ban-or-sale law.

A mixed bag from Disney

Disney lost money on streaming but, if ESPN were stripped out, Disney+ and Hulu made a profit; BP’s latest quarterly earnings are down from the previous quarter; Social Security and Medicare will run out of money in about a decade; Uber and Instacart join forces.

How political fundraisers increase contributions without going over the legal limit

How “joint fundraising committees” bring in hefty political donations without technically running afoul of contribution limits; plus, checking in on the Biden administration’s multi-billion-dollar plan to remove lead pipes — and improve drinking water safety — across the country.

The economic — and personal — impacts of paid sick leave

In the absence of federal paid sick leave, some states work to fill the gap. Plus, a new report on the looming Social Security and Medicare budget shortfalls, and what to expect from Reddit’s first earnings report since its March IPO.

Milei defends radical austerity plan

From the BBC World Service: Argentina’s president has cut public sector jobs, reduced energy and transport subsidies and devalued the country’s currency in the five months since he became leader — but Javier Milei denies ordinary Argentines are paying for the stringent measures. Also: What does a butter-free croissant say about France’s changing food and agriculture industries?

What is bankruptcy?

Bridget and Ryan are studying at the library, hoping to answer Maebinn’s question about bankruptcy. The duo discovers an epic fantasy storybook about a bankrupt prince and his dangerous and frustrating journey to declaring bankruptcy. There are a lot of tricky rules! They learn about the different types of bankruptcies for people and businesses, and why bankruptcy can sometimes give folks a financial fresh start but is still an option of last resort for those who can’t pay their debts. Along...

Millions of Americans could lose home internet access next month

Back in the pandemic depths of December 2020, when so many Americans were working, learning and performing essential daily tasks online, the Federal Communications Commission launched an emergency program to help low-income people connect to high-speed internet with a $50-per-month subsidy. That was extended with the Affordable Connectivity Program, which has provided $30 a month for internet service. An estimated 23 million households currently get the subsidy. But they won’t for much long...

Private equity is coming for pet care

Private equity plays a major role in lots of sectors across the U.S. economy, and now it’s getting into the veterinary business. Today, Kimberly discusses the rise of these big outside investors in pet care and the financial and emotional decisions we make in caring for our beloved pets. Plus, we bid Jasper goodbye. But first, Amy breaks down a pair of cases involving the popular housing site Redfin and what they mean for how homes are bought and sold. Here’s everything we talked about toda...

Do you like your job?

Workers are more satisfied with their jobs than they’ve been in nearly 40 years, according to a report from The Conference Board. But dig a little deeper and there are signs of rising dissatisfaction. In this episode, why workplace happiness might be plateauing. Plus, the property insurance industry faces growing climate risk, and a recreation center becomes a burden for a former boom town.

Job satisfaction shows signs of slipping

Stocks rise; survey shows individual aspects of job satisfaction falling; consumers have finally spent their excess pandemic savings; Tyson profits rise.

Red Sea shipping disruptions getting worse, Maersk says

Maersk is forecasting industry-wide capacity reduction of up to 20% for cargo shipping between Asia and Europe; Global growth in gasoline consumption is likely to slow, consulting group says; EU clears Nippon Steel’s buyout of U.S. Steel; Berkshire Hathaway trims stock holdings.

Biden administration announces $100 million in initiatives to ease the transition to EVs

The Biden administration announces new initiatives to ease the transition to EVs — particularly in swing states like Michigan. Plus, Sweden sees growing economic inequality, and markets guess at the timeline for interest rate cuts.

Retirement anxiety is on the rise

A growing number of Americans are worried they won’t have enough money to live on once they reach retirement. Plus, a $79 million fine for selling “phantom flights” at Qantas, succession plans at Berkshire Hathaway, new health care access for DACA recipients, and Boeing preps for a spacecraft launch.

President Xi visits Europe

From the BBC World Service: China’s President Xi Jinping visits Europe for the first time in five years, and trade tensions look likely to be high on the agenda. Has Sweden become a paradise for the superrich? It’s had a reputation for championing social equality, but there’s been a rapid boom in the number of Swedish multimillionaires and billionaires in recent years. The actor Will Ferrell is the latest Hollywood megastar to invest in English soccer club Leeds United — following in the foo...

Rethinking the lifecycle of AI when it comes to deepfakes and kids

The following content may be disturbing to some listeners. For years, child sexual abuse material was mostly distributed by mail. Authorities used investigative techniques to stem its spread. That got a lot harder when the internet came along. And AI has supercharged the problem. “Those 750,000 predators that are online at any given time looking to connect with minor[s] … they just need to find a picture of a child and use the AI to generate child sexual abuse materials and superimpose the...

Europe’s new economic engines

Southern European economies, including Greece, are growing faster than some of Europe’s longtime powerhouses, like Germany. We’ll get into how Greece pulled off an economic turnaround after the devastating 2012 financial crisis. And, Halle Berry’s shouts from the steps of the Capitol are calling attention to the need for more menopause research. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Europe’s Economic Laggards Have Become Its Leaders”...

Why government benefits are likely to stick around

The U.S. spends about half of its $6 trillion budget on three government entitlements: Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. When it comes to the national debt, cutting these benefits is often part of the cost-cutting conversation. In this episode, we hear how these entitlements grew to be so costly and why reducing them has been so difficult historically. Plus, the layoff that allowed one woman to focus on her small business, and the economic impact of university divestment.

Job gains slow down in April

Stocks rise; total number of new jobs smallest since October; wage gains slow down; services sector contracts.

A Goldilocks jobs report

The Labor Department reports 175,000 jobs were created last month, fewer than expected: wage growth was also lower; stocks rise on the news; Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says democracy is under threat.

Companies are hiring, just not like mad

The bond market is surging after news that 175,000 people were in payrolls in April versus March. That’s less than expected and 44% lower than a month earlier. And it’s the sort of result that those anxious about elevated interest rates want to see. We’ll discuss. Also on the program: Nonprofit hospitals say legislative efforts requiring them to provide more free care could actually hurt the people they’re intended to help.

The truth about Truth Social

It’s been just over a month since Trump Media & Technology Group — ticker symbol DJT — started trading on the Nasdaq. The initial public offering has come with lawsuits, wild swings in the share price and potential windfalls for former President Donald Trump. We unpack it all. Plus, Apple reported lackluster results on Thursday, and we’ll take the pulse of the comic book sector ahead of Free Comic Book Day.

Turkey suspends trade with Israel

From the BBC World Service: Turkey says trade with Israel — worth around $7 billion a year — will halt until a permanent ceasefire is secured in Gaza and sufficient humanitarian aid is allowed in. Plus, the Japanese government appears to have spent $35 billion propping up the yen this week, according to data released by the Bank of Japan. However, the weak yen is boosting tourism, and some people aren’t happy about that.

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Walmart health centers, VCs and Bumble

This week: Startups are taking longer to go public or sell to a buyer. What does that say about the state of tech? Also, the dating app Bumble once courted women by letting them make the first move. We’ll explain why Gen Z is prompting Bumble to change things up. But first, discount retail giant Walmart announced this week it is shutting down its telehealth business, as well as its network of low-cost health clinics. There were 51 of those clinics scattered across five states throughout the ...

Breaking Ground: Where are all the jobs?

Phoenix is on track to become a national hub for semiconductor production. The city has had lots of help: billions in funding from the Biden administration and buy-in from major chipmakers like TSMC and Intel. One thing they still need, though, is workers — 70,000 nationwide. Training programs are already preparing folks for entry-level chip technician positions. But where are all those promised jobs?

No “stag” no “flation”

“Spotting tech-driven disinformation isn’t getting easier” from Marketplace Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. It’s time to rewind and revisit some of the big business stories of the week. First up, stagflation. Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell isn’t seeing signs of it, and neither is Kai Ryssdal. We’ll explain why. Plus, what Walmart’s decisio...

Productivity increases at slower pace

Stocks rise; compensation outpaces productivity; slowdown could push prices higher; imports fall.

Stocks open higher

Relief on Wall Street when Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a hike in interest rates is unlikely; Labor Department data points to continuing tightness in the labor market; Peloton lays off about 15% of its workforce.

Online scammers are upping up their game

A new report from FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center shows people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraudsters and scammers last year. That’s up 11% in a year, with an average loss of $34,000 per victim. On today’s show, we’ll hear the latest in elder financial exploitation. We’ll also learn more about Tesla’s surprising move to scrap its EV charging team. Plus, a rate hike could still be on the table.

Federal subsidies aim to provide a boost to sustainable jet fuel

The Biden administration has issued guidelines for a tax credit aimed at promoting greener aviation fuel. Currently, sustainable aviation fuel accounts for a fraction of all jet fuel and costs more than twice as much as fossil fuels. Will the tax subsidy work as intended? Plus, interest rates are a good news, bad news story. And we’ll take a closer look at the changing economics of sports broadcasting.Federal subsidies aim to provide a boost to sustainable jet fuel

Is it too late to prevent AI from interfering in global elections?

From the BBC World Service: The European Union is looking into how Meta handles political content. Now, one of Britain’s top computer scientists has warned that it’s too late to prevent artificial intelligence from being misused to influence voters. Plus, cocoa prices have plunged in the last few weeks. And the electric vehicle industry is struggling right now, but the mood’s been optimistic at this week’s Beijing Auto Show.

AI is surpassing humans in several areas, Stanford report says

Just how capable is today’s artificial intelligence at beating humans at their own games? That’s one of the metrics tracked by an annual report put together by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, or HAI. And its latest AI Index report finds the tech is quickly gaining on humans. According to the report, AI now exceeds human capability not only in areas like simple reading comprehension and image classification, but also in domains that start to approach human logic, like natural l...

The rising pressure on poll workers

With the presidential election less than six months away, election workers are raising concerns about their safety. We’ll get into the rising threats to election offices and how that might affect staffing ahead of November. Also, how Tesla’s disbanding of its Supercharger team could impact the Biden’s administration push to expand electric vehicle use. Plus, how a pest control professional saved a baseball game from a swarm of bees. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nearly Two-Thir...

Breaking Ground: The plants were there first

In the latest installment from their trip to Phoenix, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal and Washington Post columnist Heather Long visit Native Resources — a plant relocation, nursery and landscape company — that sits at the intersection of conservation and development amid a semiconductor boom. Plus, takeaways from the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting meeting, a check-in with business owners about wages and an update on a Mississippi barge business.

Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged

Stocks close mixed; Powell says Fed prepared to keep rates unchanged for as long as it needs to; job openings hold steady; manufacturing sector contracts.

Job openings remain at an elevated 8.5 million

Job openings and quits changed little month over month; Fed expected to leave interest rates unchanged in anticipated announcement today; CVS Health quarterly profit halved due to Medicare Advantage costs; Amazon profits soar with more cloud computing, ad revenues.

International pop stars are finally recognizing the world’s most populous country

Hampered by insufficient infrastructure, famous musicians would often leave India out of their world tours. But the country’s massive, young population makes it a potentially lucrative market, and more musicians are opting to stop and perform there. Thanks to increased investment, it seems India’s live music industry is primed to take off. Also on the program: betting on skee ball and a look at fresh payroll data.

A story about racism, DEI and the economics of college athletics

A new Alabama law that restricts diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum in public institutions goes into effect Oct. 1. In response, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is calling on Black athletes to boycott playing sports at Alabama colleges and universities in hopes that the potential economic loss will lead to the law’s repeal. We’ll examine. Plus, the Federal Trade Commission is challenging patents on 20 brand-name drugs.

EU scrutinizes Meta ahead of elections

From the BBC World Service: The European Commission is investigating how Meta handles political content, including a suspected Russian influence campaign. That issue is particularly important with so many elections coming up around the world. Also, WhatsApp is banned in some countries, yet WhatsApp’s boss says millions are using workarounds to access it. Then, what has stopped many international music artists from touring in India, and why are things changing?

Can life exist on Europa, Jupiter’s moon?

In October, NASA will launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft, beginning a deep-space mission to one of Jupiter’s moons to determine if it’s capable of supporting life. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently visited NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where the Clipper was built, to learn more about the mission and see the spacecraft before its shipped off to Cape Canaveral, Florida, later this month.

The trade-offs of the trade deficit

Today we’re talking about the trade deficit at the request of some of our curious listeners. Since the mid-’70s, the U.S. has persistently been importing more goods than it exports. Is that such a bad thing? We’ll hear from Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, about why the U.S. has a trade deficit, whether it’s a good or bad thing, and why a country’s overall trade deficit matters more than deficits with specific co...

A visit to the “Silicon Desert”

Phoenix has been in the semiconductor business for a while now, but the Biden administration is taking it to another level by sending a major infusion of cash to tech companies in the desert city to expand chip-making capabilities. In this episode, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal visits Phoenix with Washington Post columnist Heather Long. They dig into the challenges of rebuilding the country’s semiconductor industry.

Breaking Ground: A visit to the “Silicon Desert”

Phoenix has been in the semiconductor business for a while now, but the Biden administration is taking it to another level by sending a major infusion of cash to tech companies in the desert city to expand chip-making capabilities. In this episode, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal visits Phoenix with Washington Post columnist Heather Long. They dig into the challenges of rebuilding the country’s semiconductor industry.

Pay increases speed up in the first quarter

Stocks fall; wage increases could be putting pressure on prices; consumer confidence declines; home prices rise.

Employment costs, home prices increase at faster pace

The Employment Cost Index advanced 1.2% in Q1; the Case-Shiller home price index advanced 6.4%; consumer confidence is at lowest levels in two years; Walmart exits health clinic business.