Marketplace All-in-One

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.

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 country. They were part of Walmart’s big push into health care, announced in 2019. So what happened?

Marketplace’s Lily Jamali is joined by Christina Farr, author of the health tech newsletter Second Opinion, for her take on this week’s tech news.

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?

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 decision to shut down all of its health clinics says about the U.S. health care system. Also, we’ll break down the latest efforts to restructure the American economy through the CHIPS Act. And, a singer’s plea to protect artists from AI-generated deepfakes.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 language inference (the ability to draw inferences from text) or visual reasoning (the ability to deduce physical relationships between visual objects). Still, there are areas where the bots haven’t quite caught up. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Nestor Maslej, research manager at HAI and editor in chief of the index report, to learn more.

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:

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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?

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.

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 countries.

Then, we’ll get into how online political donations are fueling election campaigns this year. Plus, the malleable idea of “old age” and the wonders of happy sheep in a solar field.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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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.

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

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.

Corporations play a major role in emitting climate-altering greenhouse gases, and businesses need to be fully on board if the world is going to avoid the worst of the climate crisis. But lessons on climate change’s effects on business aren’t always taught in MBA programs. Now, a group of educators is trying to change that. Plus: a major FCC fine for cell companies and a preview of the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week.

Students nationwide are pushing colleges and universities to sell off investments in companies they say profit from the war in Gaza. We’ll chart the history of calls for divestment, including student protests more than 30 years ago demanding colleges cut ties with any company that did business in apartheid South Africa. Also, new federal regulation is expected to save hundreds of lives each year, and inflation indexes aren’t one size fits all.

From the BBC World Service: Tesla’s China-based rival BYD became the world’s best-selling electric vehicle maker in January, but has since seen profits drop as slower demand and more competition take a bite. We’ll hear more. Also on this morning’s program: How will England’s Premier League soccer competition — home to giants like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea — change if it adopts a proposed squad spending cap?

A massive general election is currently underway in India. It’s been described as the “largest democratic exercise in history.” And tech platforms are a big part of it. Many Indian voters get their information online, where misinformation and disinformation can spread quickly. That includes deepfakes of prominent public figures, like Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, spreading false information about who or which political parties they are endorsing. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific policy director and senior international counsel with the international human rights group Access Now, about how deepfakes and online misinformation have become a problem for voters in India. They also discuss a recent report from Access Now and Global Witness, an environmental and human rights nonprofit, about YouTube’s advertisement moderation standards in India.

Ryan feels a little down about not winning a podcasting award. When they get Malin’s question about why it feels so good to spend money, Bridget suggests they go on a shopping spree to cheer him up! And it works — thanks to some brain chemicals and Ryan’s Emotions Elf. But when the shopping trip gets a bit out of hand, those happy emotions turn into regret and fear, and the duo need to get help from experts to understand what shopping does to our brains and how to have a healthier relationship with spending.

If your family is interested in learning more, check out the page for this episode at our website. We’ve got discussion questions and tips for learning more!

This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Start saving for college with up to 5% on Savings. Get one month free and an extra $10 when you sign up for Greenlight Infinity at greenlight.com/million.

Nope. It’s not just your imagination. The Biden administration has been on a roll to finalize several regulations — from changes at nursing homes and updates to Title IX to health care protections for transgender people. Kimberly explains what’s really behind the mad dash. Also, Kai is back with a reminder: Don’t sleep on the foreign exchange market, folks! And we’ll smile about the tales of two cats.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Warehouses and cargo-moving companies spent a few weeks in limbo after the Baltimore bridge collapse. Now, they’re working hard to reroute goods that usually went through the city’s port, with some truckers driving far and wide to pick up freight redirected to other cities. In this episode, how one cargo transportation company is adjusting. Plus, who will hurt the most from a cap on credit card fees, what economic data the Fed is keeping an eye on this week, and why desk phones are disappearing.

Stocks close higher; FCC says location information was shared illegally; several labor market reports due this week; Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meets on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week, we’re getting important insights on how the U.S. economy is doing. We’ll receive reports on consumer confidence, the unemployment rate and how many jobs are out there. And in the middle of it all, the Federal Reserve is meeting to discuss what to do with interest rates. We’ll sort through it all. Plus, musicians love the sounds of nature. Now, those sounds can help support environmental causes.

House and Senate negotiators have agreed to a sweeping bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration; Supreme Court turns back Musk’s challenge of Tesla settlement with SEC; McDonald’s, other restaurant chains set to report earnings.

A copper mining company recently turned down a $39 billion takeover bid because it was too low. Right now, the price of copper is near a 2-year high and headed higher. And the metal is critical in many clean energy technologies. Plus, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at its latest policy meetings. When might that change? We also examine the fallout of a strong U.S. dollar.

From the BBC World Service: Tesla CEO Elon Musk paid a visit to China, where he’s been trying to clear regulatory hurdles that have hindered the company’s self-driving technology roll-out there. Then, Sweden’s police have been inundated with reports from people who have been swindled out of their gold belongings. And later, musicians who sample nature can now split their profits with environmental causes through a new United Nations-backed project.

Robotics company Boston Dynamics announced this month it is retiring its humanoid robot known as “Atlas.” The 6′, 2,330 lb robot was considered a quantum leap in robotics and was famous for parkour stunts and awkward dance moves. Debuting more than a decade ago in 2013, the Atlas robot was a part of a partnership with the Defense Department. It relied on hydraulic power, using pressurized fluid to generate movement. It could do tasks that can be challenging for humans like lifting heavy boxes and parkour. As the older Atlas lives out its golden years, Boston Dynamics has announced its successor – a smaller version of the Atlas bot that runs on electric power. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Brian Heater, hardware editor at TechCrunch, for his take on what’s next and a look back on the original Atlas.

Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza have erupted at universities across the United States. We’ll discuss what the sweeping protests and other high-profile political battles at colleges could mean for the economics of higher education. And, what the Federal Reserve might look like under a second Donald Trump presidency. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

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People with certain federal student loans have until Tuesday to consolidate them and qualify for debt cancellation. The Department of Education is reviewing over 40 million loan accounts and issuing credit for past payments that previously didn’t count toward forgiveness. Also in this episode: a look at the latest inflation reading, Americans’ savings habits and pop-up coworking spaces.

Stocks close higher; services prices drive 12-month increases; consumer spending up in March; consumer sentiment flat so far this year.

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge advanced 2.7% on an annual basis; Fed policymakers expected to leave interest rates unchanged next week; Global oil giants report lower profits; Capital One profits jump thanks to more interest income.

The Federal Communications Commission has repealed a Trump-era ruling that ended net neutrality — basically the idea that internet providers can’t favor some sites or apps over others. We dig into why it’s such a hot topic and how the new decision might affect your internet access. Plus, the inflation outlook with Chris Low from FHN Financial.

Consumer sentiment reports reflect a universal truth: Lower income households feel the punch of inflation worse than wealthy households. But affordable housing — and lack thereof — is one issue that brings Americans together, across the wealth divide. Plus, Christopher Bass tells us what it’s like to be a high school basketball coach with a massive social media following. At just 5 years old, he’s got big hoop dreams.

From the BBC World Service: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday — we’ll get into what they spoke about. Plus, Chinese tech company ByteDance says it has no intention of selling TikTok to comply with a new U.S. law. And back in January, Japan Airlines announced its first female president and chief executive. We’ll hear from a former flight attendant who says Japan has a ways to go when it comes to workplace gender equality.

The noncompete clause is dead! American tech workers are poised to benefit from the Federal Trade Commission’s new crackdown on the agreements, which prevent a company’s ex-employees from working for its rivals for a specified time. Also, Tesla’s profits crashed 55%. As electric vehicle sales sputter, we wonder why more players are still speeding into the space. But first, TikTok’s top executive was defiant after the passage of a massive foreign aid package that included a directive to the company: Sell to a U.S. buyer or get banned. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali is joined by Paresh Dave, senior writer at Wired, for his take on this week’s tech news.

Gross domestic product grew by 1.6% in the first quarter, slower than expected after the six-quarter steak of 2% growth or more. How will the Federal Reserve respond to this data when making its next interest rate decision? Also in this episode: The new deep-water channel helping cargo ships leave the Port of Baltimore, protecting trade secrets with noncompete agreements, and the struggling pneumatic tube business gets a boost from the cannabis industry.

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 was a big week for tech earnings calls. Guest host Nova Safo unpacks how they went down for Tesla and Meta, and why the stock market reacted so differently to what their CEOs had to say. Plus, what Boeing’s troubles say about the state of U.S. manufacturing. And, would you try an AI-generated gin cocktail?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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.

Stocks fall; consumer spending slows from prior quarter; inflation nearly doubles fourth quarter pace; pending home sales rise.

GDP grew by a lower than expected 1.6%; Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000 last week; Pending home sales rose 3.4% in March; Meta spending on AI triggers selloff in shares.

The U.S. economy grew by just 1.6% last quarter — falling very short of expectations. At the same time, inflation was up, according to the latest PCE. What’s the Federal Reserve’s next move? Plus, small businesses could see big productivity gains by collaborating with other firms, a McKinsey report shows.