Marketplace show

Marketplace

Summary: Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.

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  • Copyright: Copyright 2024 American Public Media

Podcasts:

 01/31/2018: Yellen's last ride | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:57

Janet Yellen presided over the Federal Open Market Committee meeting for the last time as chair today. As expected, the committee left interest rates alone for now, but signaled that hikes could come later this year if inflation picks up. That depends on wages, which we learned today are up 2.8 percent year over year. That's not great, but it's the best number we've seen since early 2015. We'll talk about that, plus the latest homeownership figures. Then: After tragedies like the shooting at a Kentucky high school last week, people and companies open their wallets to provide aid. After the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas last October, people donated more than $22 million. There are government programs, too, but deciding how to divvy up the money is becoming an unfortunately common challenge for communities. Plus, we'll recap last night's State of the Union address.

 01/30/2018: Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon and Jeff Bezos walk into a bar ... | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:55

... and walk out running a health care company. Together they employ about a million people, and it appears health care was driving them nuts. They're starting their own company that will give coverage "free from profit-making incentives and constraints." We'll start today by trying to make sense of it all. Then: Janet Yellen is presiding over her last Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week, so we'll take a look at her economic legacy. Plus: inside the black market for Twitter followers.

 01/29/2018: The State of the Economy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:57

There comes a time in the life of every presidential administration when, economically speaking, they own it. We're not talking here about taking credit for the economy, Trump's been doing that since the early days, but when they've earned it. With President Trump's first State of the Union tomorrow night, and the economy virtually certain to be very high up in that speech, it seemed like a good time for a reality check. That's where we're starting today, plus a big merger in beverages and more from our series "Divided Decade."

 01/26/2018: Is net neutrality a state right? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:06

The stage is getting set for a fight over net neutrality. The Federal Communications Commission rolled back the federal rule last month, clearing the way for internet service providers to throttle or favor content. But states have other ideas. The governors of Montana and New York have signed executive orders to mandate net neutrality under their jurisdictions, and 21 states and the District of Columbia have sued to overturn the decision by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Plus, we'll talk about the GDP numbers, the latest on California's mudslides and Trump's speech in Davos, Switzerland.

 01/25/2018: The world moves on | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:51

Ahead of his big speech in Davos, Switzerland, tomorrow, President Donald Trump told CNBC that while he prefers bilateral trade deals, he'd be open to a bigger agreement like the Trans-Pacific Partnership if the U.S. gets a "substantially better deal." Catch is, the 11 Asia Pacific countries still in the TPP came to an agreement this week without the U.S. Then: Ten years ago this week, the American housing market posted its biggest year over year drop since 1973. The housing crisis was in full effect, the spillover into the financial system was coming and we were already a month into the Great Recession, even though we didn't know it at the time. We'll take a look back. Plus: The economics of beer.

 01/24/2018: How much a dollar really cost? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:25

We're gonna spend some time today with the dollar. The greenback. The world's reserve currency. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said something truly extraordinary today: "Obviously, a weaker dollar is good for us, as it relates to trade and opportunities." It's been the stated policy of the American government for decades that we want a strong dollar that inspires confidence in the American economy. So we'll start today's show looking at all the different angles of the value of the dollar. Plus, why the Do Not Call list won't save you from robocalls, and an interview with Fannie Mae CEO Tim Mayopoulos. 

 01/23/2018: The economic crisis, 10 years later | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:11

Ten years ago this week, the Fed unexpectedly slashed interest rates at an unscheduled meeting. This was early in the slow-motion collapse of the American economy, and it was in some ways a warning of how bad the recession was gonna get, and a giveaway as to how little we actually knew about what was coming. We're looking back at that decision today as we kick off Divided Decade, our yearlong project on the financial crisis and its aftermath. We're also bringing you a story about how the crisis changed one Dreamer, and we're hoping you'll share yours. Plus, what you need to know as the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, Switzerland. 

 01/22/2018: This is just the way it works now. | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:04

When all is said and done, this week's government shutdown will have lasted 60 hours, give or take. There's a deal in place that'll get things back to normal by tomorrow morning. But what's "normal" even mean? We might be getting used to government run on a deadline, three weeks at a time or so, but that's not exactly "normal." And yet, the economy seems to be giving that not-normalcy a pass. That's where we're starting today's show. Then, we'll get the real issue underpinning the shutdown, one that hasn't been resolved yet: What's the vision for immigration in this country? President Donald Trump and some Republicans in Congress are pushing to dramatically reduce legal immigration to the United States, and to move the overarching concept from family reunification to a skills-based system. That means fewer workers in an already tight labor market, and it's making some businesses anxious. Plus, introducing our latest project: Divided Decade.

 01/19/2018: Shutdown countdown | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:08

As we tape this, the United States government is hours away from grinding to a halt, barring a last-minute deal. The blame game is already starting, and that's where we'll start today's show. Then we'll look at lessons federal workers learned from the last shutdown. Plus, the latest on Amazon Prime, IBM and electric vehicle sales.

 01/18/2018: This is an idiotic way to run a $19 trillion economy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:50

Here we are again. No federal budget, no government funding beyond the next day or so. There was a time when this state of affairs was brushed off as congressional legislators simply kicking the can down the road, that they'd come to their senses and be, y'know, responsible. But those days seem to be gone, and this economy's getting by on a never-ending series of four-week budget stopgaps. That's how we're starting the show today. Then: a check on the White House's infrastructure plan, which is expected in the next few weeks. Plus, we check back in on Erie, Pennsylvania, in our continuing series The Big Promise.

 01/17/2018: What's a "contribution" to the economy look like? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:58

You can add a certain device maker from Cupertino, California, to the list of companies crediting the new tax law for new strategic business decisions. Apple announced today it would bring profits back from overseas and add a bunch of new jobs in the next five years. We'll kick off the show today by talking about what it all means. Then: President Donald Trump likes to take credit for gains in the stock market over the past year, but it's worth noting that economies and markets in Europe, China and Japan are booming, too. We'll look at the full picture. Plus, a conversation with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. He just wrote an open letter to CEOs telling them to think not just about profits but about making a positive contribution to society.

 01/16/2018: Is "Catan" the next blockbuster? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:25:56

Sony Pictures hopes so. The studio is making a bid for the rights to the bestselling board game. We like Catan because it's all about economics, but is there enough there for the kind of mega-franchise Hollywood demands these days? Plus, we're talking markets and the Chinese government's new plan for limiting the population of Shanghai.

 01/15/2018: How health care is changing this year | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:03

Congress may not have completely repealed the Affordable Care Act, but it sure is changing everything about affordable care. First up: CHIP, which covers about nine million children, who are now in danger of losing that coverage. Congress failed to extend funding back in September, and the program will run out of money on Friday. That's the same day for a possible government shutdown, unless there's a broader agreement on funding. Then: Federal health officials are letting states impose work requirements on low-income Americans enrolled in Medicaid. Kentucky's first and other states are expected to follow, we'll tell you what you need to know. Plus, a new app is offering savings accounts with 5 percent interest and no fee. Is it too good to be true?

 01/12/2018: Here's the thing about this week | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:13

This week could have been an economic messaging home run for the White House and congressional Republicans. The tax law's kicking it, companies are giving bonuses and raises, some raises anyway. But no. We'll talk about it. Then: T. Boone Pickens announced today he's hanging it up. He's pretty much the stereotype of the big-time oil man, with his Oklahoma-Texas drawl. He made more than a billion dollars in the energy industry and ran a hedge fund, too. We'll talk about his legacy. Plus: Facebook hasn't had the best week, and it capped it off with changes to the News Feed. We'll explain. 

 01/11/2018: Is the tax plan going according to plan? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:26:08

When the world's biggest private employer speaks, people listen, even the White House. Walmart announced this morning it's gonna give some of its hourly workers a one-time bonus of as much as $1,000 and bump starting wages to $11. They also announced layoffs, it should be said. The White House was quick to take credit for the raises, which Walmart attributed to the tax bill. So what does that mean for the tax plan? That's the question that starts off today's show. Then: The Internal Revenue Service released its updated withholding tables today. Sounds like a snoozer, but it's a big deal. We'll explain. Plus: The new Marvel superhero movie "Black Panther" is breaking records, and it's not even out yet.

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