Marketplace All-in-One

The latest GDP calculations and PCE index tell us the U.S. economy is doing … OK. Importantly, the data doesn’t point to stagflation. But the data was collected from January through March 2025, and at this point, March is old news. Also in this episode: American companies ramp up their spending on computers, Nike’s struggle to move sneaker manufacturing out of Asia is a cautionary tale and Texas becomes the biggest state to send public dollars to private schools through school choice vouchers.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

The Commerce Department reported the U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of this year. We’ll break down the GDP math formula and dig into what the latest report says about where the US economy may be headed. And, should businesses be transparent about the impact of tariffs on prices? A nixed plan from Amazon serves as a cautionary tale of the political risks. Plus, feeling stressed these days? Cow cuddling and bee therapy might help. Here’s everything we talked about today: -"Trump blames Biden after GDP shrinks in first quarter, says growth will 'take a while'" from CNBC  -"Businesses weigh how much to tell customers about tariffs' impact on price" from Marketplace -"Trump-Bezos call sets stage for tense earnings report from Amazon" from CNBC -"Trump vs. Amazon’s Brilliant Tariff Idea" from The Wall Street Journal  -"The Americans Fled Vietnam 50 Years Ago. I Visited the Buildings They Left Behind."  from The New York Times "Anxious about the world? Cow cuddling or bee buzzing might help ease your stress" from The Denver Post Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Gross domestic product shrunk 0.3% from January to March — the first growthless quarter since the pandemic recovery in early 2022. The cause? All the buying up that businesses and consumers did to beat tariff-induced price increases. We'll parse the data. Plus, Stellantis suspends 2025 guidance, Amazon backs away from transparency about the cost of tariffs, and the United Kingdom clamps down on a tax loophole for the rich.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Amazon backtracked yesterday after reporting revealed the company was planning to display how much tariffs were raising prices on individual items and the White House angrily pushed back. Other companies, including Temu and Volkswagen, are being upfront with customers about tariffs’ impact on product prices. We'll hear more. Also on the show: factory activity falls in China, and a view of the economy before Donald Trump took office and 100 days into his second term.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: New data shows China's manufacturing activity took a sharp dip in April — a sign that the ongoing trade war with the U.S. is starting to bite. Then, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to slash import duties on car parts in a short-term move to help U/S/ automakers. Plus, the U.K. is scrapping a centuries-old tax perk that lets wealthy foreigners shield their global assets.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Canada's liberal party and its leader Mark Carney are set to remain in control after the country held federal elections Monday. They were the first since Canada adopted the Online News Act in 2023, which requires online content providers — like social media platforms — to negotiate some sort of "fair" payment to news publishers in exchange for using their content. They can also do what Meta did — block news from their Facebook and Instagram platforms altogether. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Marketplace Senior Washington Correspondent Kimberly Adams, who’s been reporting on the election from Canada, to learn more about that law and what happened to the online news environment after it passed.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

When new gross domestic product data comes out tomorrow, economists expect we'll see the first GDP contraction in three years. But the report is backward-looking, so if the GDP did shrink, it will be thanks to tariff-related anxiety in the first quarter, rather than actual tariff implementation that kicked off in April. Also in this episode, some workforce stories: Why hiring more FAA air traffic controllers won’t be easy, a worker navigates Wyoming’s trona mining industry and a bathtub helps us understand the labor market differential.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

After declaring victory in yesterday’s Canadian election, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old relationship” with the United States is over. Over the past few months, President Donald Trump’s on-and-off tariffs and repeated annexation threats have caused Canadians to reconsider the United States as its leading trading partner and ally. But Patricia Goff, professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University, said the idea of disentangling the two economies is unrealistic. On the show today, Goff explains how Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats influenced the Canadian election, how Canadian industries are navigating the trade war, and what this all could mean for the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Plus, we’ll hear a pitch for a new “Make Me Smart”-themed rear window sticker. And, what one psychologist got wrong about burnout. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Trump knows exactly what he just triggered in Canada" from CBC News "Liberal Bruce Fanjoy topples Pierre Poilievre in Carleton" from CBC News "Canada-U.S. Relations Continue to Reach Lows Over Tariffs and Annexation Threats" from The New York Times "Mike Myers Is Ready to Defend Canada" from The New York Times "Canada says its friendship with the US is ‘over.’ Now what?" From Politico  "The future of the USMCA" from the Peterson Institute for International Economics We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

For many in Canada, trade policy and the rhetoric of a leader south of the Canadian border were front of mind when heading to the polls. Kimberly Adams went to polling places in the province of Ontario yesterday to hear more. Today, we'll learn what Canadian voters had to say. Also: DoorDash wants to buy U.K.-based Deliveroo, and Amazon launches an effort to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

For President Donald Trump's 100th day back at the White House, we’re checking in on the cost-cutting efforts of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. It claims $150 billion in savings from layoffs, canceled government contracts and shuttered agencies. Analysts dispute that number, and it's far short of what Musk had promised. And later: The president is set to give automakers a break on some tariffs.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: After claiming victory in Canada's election, Prime Minister Mark Carney has strong words for the Trump administration. We'll hear what he has to say and unpack the role that antagonism from the U.S. president played in the election. Plus, what does Carney's win mean for Canada's economic relationship with the States? Meanwhile, energy giant BP faces new pressure from investors to pivot back to fossil fuels.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

One of the most powerful tools in the fight against climate change is the money sitting in investment portfolios - especially the trillions of dollars invested on behalf of public retirees. That’s money that could continue to fund fossil fuel development, or help pay for  climate solutions instead. New York City has implemented an ambitious Net Zero plan for its public pensions. That plan includes divesting from some fossil fuel companies and investing billions of dollars in climate solutions. One company benefiting from that investment is NineDot Energy.    Wedged between an elementary school and a big box shopping center in the Northeast Bronx, NineDot Energy is operating a battery farm that the city’s utility company, Con Ed, can call on to help relieve the grid when it gets overstressed. “The batteries hold a combined three megawatts of battery storage. That’s enough to power about 3,000 New York City households for four hours on a hot summer day. Last summer, the battery farm was called half a dozen times, which was enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a combined 24 metric tons. That’s the equivalent of nine thousand car trips on the Cross Bronx Expressway. Currently, the city has the dirtiest energy grid in the state. More than 90% of its power comes from fossil fuels. NineDot Energy is still in growth mode, but battery farms like this could eventually help the grid transition to renewable sources, like wind and solar. “The sun only shines when nature tells it to; the wind only blows when nature tells it to, but people use electricity when they decide to,” explained Adam Cohen, co-founder of NineDot Energy. “A battery helps mediate that process. It pulls in the extra power when it's available, and then puts it back out when people call for it.”  On a recent visit to the Bronx facility, 12-year-old Virtue Onoja showed off a mural she helped paint along with other students from the elementary school across the street, envisioning a future powered by cleaner energy. “One thing about me, I'm definitely an artist,” she said. “I drew a clear blue sky, no pollution, no nothing [and] beautiful yellow flowers and the sun.” There are also drawings of windmills and electric school buses. “There's still a lot of pollution, not just in the Bronx, but just in New York in general,” Onoja said. “All of this is the goal that we want to achieve.” This is an excerpt from the latest season of How We Survive. Listen to the full episode here.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Though it’s hard to say how much tariff-driven sticker shock consumers can stomach, some retailers have begun raising their prices. Other companies are rushing to set up “foreign trade zones” which allow them to sit on imported goods while they figure out their next move. In this episode, we'll also discuss how Trump's trade war — and the uncertainty it generates — is affecting a flower delivery business, the job market and American farmers.  

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

On the show today, Kimberly joins us from an Ontario polling station on Canada’s election day. We’ll get into how President Trump’s trade war has shaped the federal election and may boost voter turnout. Plus, what Canadians are saying about boycotting American products and canceling their U.S. vacations. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Canadians vote today after fierce campaign shaped by Trump" from CBC News "Canada votes in an election upended by Trump. Here’s what to know." from The Washington Post  "Canada’s Political Landscape Upended by Trump, Trudeau and Tariffs" from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour kicks off tonight in Los Angeles. So far, tickets for the tour are cheaper and easier to get ahold of than during Beyoncé's 2023 Renaissance tour. That's probably less a reflection on Queen Bey and more that feelings of economic uncertainty are replacing post-pandemic revenge-spending habits. We'll hear more. Plus: a drop in cargo ships from China and dealing with debt in your golden years.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Tomorrow marks 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term in office. We're taking a look this week at what this new administration has meant for the U.S. and global economies. We start today by chatting with Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist Magazine. And later: Tariffs have been used before by countries around the world to attempt to revitalize domestic industrialization. What can we learn from revisiting that history?

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: From rising prices to falling trade volumes, the impact of radical new U.S. trade policies is starting to filter through. But China says it's still “fully confident” it will achieve its target of roughly 5% economic growth this year, despite the escalating trade tensions. Also, global airline revenues are expected to top $1 trillion for the first time this year — thanks, in part, to pesky fees.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Leyla Isik, a professor of cognitive science at Johns Hopkins University, is also a senior scientist on a new study looking at how good AI is at reading social cues. She and her research team took short videos of people doing things — two people chatting, two babies on a playmat, two people doing a synchronized skate routine — and showed them to human participants. After, they were asked them questions like, are these two communicating with each other? Are they communicating? Is it a positive or negative interaction? Then, they showed the same videos to over 350 open source AI models. (Which is a lot, though it didn't include all the latest and greatest ones out there.) Isik found that the AI models were a lot worse than humans at understanding what was going on. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes visited Isik at her lab in Johns Hopkins to discuss the findings.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Americans expect inflation to rise to 6.5% this year according to the University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment survey. That’s the highest outlook since 1981. We’ll explain why those high inflation expectations could be keeping Federal Reserve Chair Powell up at night. And, the deal filmmaker Ryan Coogler made with Warner Bros. to make his latest horror movie “Sinners” is anything but ordinary. Could it shake up the Hollywood studio system? "Trump administration reverses abrupt terminations of foreign students’ US visa registrations" from Politico "Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' isn't just scaring audiences. It's scaring Hollywood." from MSNBC "Inflation expectations remain at highest level since 1981 even after Trump's 90-day tariff pause"  "Pickle, a Fashion App, Lets Strangers Borrow Your Clothes" from The Cut "Subtitling Your Life" from The New Yorker "Is community fact-checking the future of social media moderation?" from Marketplace "The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen" from The Verge Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The stock and bond markets may tumultuous right now, but gold prices have been on a tear. This week, they hit an all time high of $3,500 an ounce. In this episode, why nervous consumers, investment firms and even central banks are trading in cash for gold. Plus: The Trump administration announces incentives to get self-driving cars on the road and the largest passenger ship in the U.S. prepares to be sunk for science.  

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The Trump administration hopes that tariffs will encourage more products to be made in America. But a new report out this week also says the president's tariffs will be an effective tax increase, with low-income consumers hit the hardest. We'll unpack. Plus, by one analysis, California's economy is now the fourth largest in the world. And later: how the Trump administration is pushing the limits of authority over independent agencies.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

In the months since President Donald Trump's re-election, a lot has changed between the United States and Canada. New import taxes and talk of Canada becoming the 51st state, for example. It all adds up to a strained relationship where Canadians feel both betrayed and uncertain about the future. Today, we're visiting Thunder Bay, Ontario to hear more. Plus, we're looking at why more farmers are struggling to pay back their debt.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: The U.K.'s Post Office continues to pay millions of dollars to use the bug-ridden Horizon IT system, whose failings resulted in hundreds of wrongful fraud convictions. We'll unpack why the Post Office has failed to switch systems yet. Then, India revokes visas and Pakistan halts trade after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Plus, we'll examine the rise in the price of gold.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

It's the last Friday in April and it's time for Marketplace Tech Bytes Week in Review. This week, we'll talk about how the Federal Trade Commission is suing Uber over its subscription service. Plus, how the VC world is navigating the uncertainty created by the trade war. But first, a nonprofit pivot is facing some challenges. Open AI, the maker of ChatGPT was founded about a decade ago as a nonprofit research lab. It's now looking to restructure as a for-profit — specifically, a public benefit corporation But that transformation is facing resistance. About 10 former Open AI employees, along with several Nobel laureates and other experts, have written an open letter asking regulators in California and Delaware to block the change. They argue that nonprofit control is crucial to Open AI's mission, which is to “ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity." Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital, about how unusual it is to see this kind of conversion. YouTube Video of Marketplace Tech Bytes More on everything we talked about An Open Letter - Not For Private Gain Ex-OpenAI workers ask California and Delaware AGs to block for-profit conversion of ChatGPT maker - from the Associated Press OpenAI’s Latest Funding Round Comes With a $20 Billion Catch - from the Wall Street Journal FTC Takes Action Against Uber for Deceptive Billing and Cancellation Practices - from the Federal Trade Commission FTC sues Uber over difficulty of canceling subscriptions, “false” claims - from ArsTechnica White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-Escalate Trade War - from the Wall Street Journal VC manufacturing deals were already declining before tariffs entered the picture - from Pitchbook

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

Ever had an awkward encounter around money while dating? Host Yanely Espinal speaks with author and financial therapist Aja Evans about how to have better money conversations in your romantic life. Think you’re financially inclined? Dig deeper into money and dating: - More suggestions for how to talk about money while dating from Ellevest  - Grow your financial intimacy with NPR’s “Life Kit” - Check out The Knot’s 50 affordable date ideas  Are you in an educational setting? Here’s a handy listening guide. Thanks for listening to this episode of “Financially Inclined”! We’d love to hear what you learned from it or any questions you’d like us to answer in a future episode. You can shoot us an email at [email protected] or tell us using this online form. This podcast is presented in partnership with Greenlight: the money app for teens — with investing. For a limited time, our listeners can earn $10 when they sign up today for a Greenlight account.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund supports lenders in far-flung and underserved areas. It also made a laundry list of federal programs President Trump deemed unnecessary and ordered to be “eliminated” last month. In this episode, how local banks are preparing for the possibility of losing that critical funding. Plus, leaders in the past who championed tariffs, retailers fret over consumer stress and apartment construction tapers off.  

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Today, we’re answering questions from our listeners about everything going on in this economy (we know, it’s a lot). Like, whatever happened to that bipartisan bill that would pass authority over tariffs back to Congress? We’ll get into the status of the legislation and how states are jumping into the fight. Plus, we’ll discuss the legality of the Trump administration’s funding freezes and how foreign trade zones are helping some companies avoid sky-high tariffs. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Congress gave presidents power over tariffs. They could aways take it back” from CNN Politics “12 States Sue Trump Over His Tariffs” by The New York Times “Trump says he has 'no intention' of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell” from AP News “If Trump wants rate cuts, he would likely need to replace the Fed's full board along with Powell” by CNBC “How Congress — and not the president — controls how taxpayer money is spent” from Marketplace “Trump tariffs lead to surge of companies parking imports in tax-free 'foreign trade zones’” from CNBC “How Foreign Trade Zones In The U.S. Came Into Existence” by NPR Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

“This Is Uncomfortable” returns with four brand-new episodes about life and how money messes with it. This season: Two best friends, struggling with work and unaffordable child care, come up with an unconventional solution that reshapes their relationship. A woman walks away from a Hollywood career to take a vow of poverty. Our “Money Fight” series is back, following a couple whose search for a dream home turns into a power struggle. And in our new advice series, "Work Drama," we tackle your uncomfortable work questions on toxic offices and pay discrepancies. New episodes drop starting May 1.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Scientists say they have developed a way to measure how much liability individual corporations have for the economic damage caused by climate change. The total cost over decades is calculated at $28 trillion, with 10 fossil fuel companies responsible for more than half of that amount. Plus, we'll read between the lines of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book and hear how a Baltimore community college is rising to meet a hunger for welders.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

The government has moved to give immigration officials access to IRS records. The Trump administration wants to use tax information to find people under deportation orders or who have committed crimes. Critics say this move is illegal and could cost the government tens of billions of dollars in tax revenue. Also on the show: international tourism declines in the U.S. and how tariffs are shaping the toy biz.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: Australia is planning to stockpile minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt, which are vital in modern technology. It comes as countries like the United States aim to counter China's dominance in global processing capabilities. Then, the United Kingdom is closing a tax loophole used by Chinese retail giants Shein and Temu to help keep prices low. And later: a trip to Shanghai's motor.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

TikTok is going to be testing a new crowd-sourced fact-checking system called Footnotes. It’s seems similar to the Community Notes systems already in use on other social media, such as X and Facebook. TikTok is also keeping its current fact-checking systems in place. The way these community systems generally work is, say someone makes a post stating "whales are the biggest fish out there." Another user could add a note saying "actually, whales are mammals, and here's a source with more information." Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Vanderbilt psychology professor Lisa Fazio about why this model of "citizen fact-checking" is catching on.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Trump’s tariffs will touch the vast majority of industries, but apparel — clothes, shoes, accessories — will be particularly impacted. Around 98% of clothing sold in the U.S. is imported, primarily from China. In this episode, we look at how tariffs have complicated the apparel supply chain. In short? Even fast fashion may no longer be cheap. Plus: The services sector braces for tariff-induced stings, home sales rose in March and a community bank CEO talks handling uncertainty.  

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

The Overton Window is a concept that helps explain how the range of policies considered politically acceptable shifts over time. But have you heard of the “Ryssdal Window"? We’ll explain how it relates to what’s happening in the markets right now as president Trump hints at a possible change of heart on China tariffs. Plus, the FDA suspended a milk quality testing program. With less federal oversight, can private industries regulate themselves? And, the physics behind a great cup of coffee. Here’s everything we talked about today: "White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-Escalate Trade War" from The Wall Street Journal "FDA milk quality testing program suspended after job cuts" from The Hill "‘Crazy’: Forest Service cuts ignite fear, fury over wildfire risks" from Politico "The Physics of Perfect Pour-Over Coffee" from The New York Times "Hegseth orders makeup studio installed at Pentagon" from CBS News Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

The stock market is open with wind at its back. The Dow is up 2.8%, the S&P 500 is up 3.3%, and the Nasdaq is 4.1%. Market participants attribute this to President Doanld Trump saying he's not going to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. What should we make of this all? Also on the show: a look at Tesla stock movements and an idea to spur spending among China's retirees.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

There's no way of sugar-coating it: The numbers from Tesla’s first quarter results were quite bad. That's unsurprising considering the blowback and protests at Tesla dealerships resulting from Elon Musk’s cost-cutting work with DOGE within the Trump administration. Auto sales were down 20%, and profits were down a whopping 70%. Plus, consumer-oriented brands struggle to predict their outlooks amid consumer jitters, and new home construction faces headwinds.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: The International Monetary Fund has cut its prediction for global economic growth from 3.3% to 2.8%. In its assessment, it describes President Donald Trump's tariffs as “a major negative shock to growth." Then, China is trying to stimulate its domestic consumption. One idea? "Silver trains." Designed for older people, and offering cocktails and karaoke, these tourism initiatives encourage retirees to travel more inside China.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

The use of algorithmic software in setting residential rents has come under scrutiny in recent years. In 2024, the Joe Biden administration sued real estate company RealPage, alleging that its algorithm, which aggregates and analyzes private data on the housing market, enables landlords to collude in pricing and stifles competition. There's no word yet on what the second Donald Trump administration's Justice Department will do with this case. But in the meantime, some cities are banning the use of these algorithms completely. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Robbie Sequeira, who has been reporting on the issue for Stateline.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

Can we invest our way out of the climate crisis? That’s the question we started this series with, and in this episode, we try to answer that question.  Host Amy Scott pops the hood of her own retirement investments to look at how to reduce their carbon impact, and she shows you how you can too. We visit a battery storage farm in the Bronx to see how New York City is leveraging its shareholder power to accelerate the energy transition. Finally, we look at a phenomenon that has emerged in the wake of backlash against environmental, social and governance investing — something called “greenhushing.”

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

Verizon lost nearly 300,000 monthly phone subscribers in the first quarter. The telecom giant put partial blame on ongoing government layoffs. Verizon will bounce back, analysts say, but its bad news may be followed by similar corporate disclosures reflecting DOGE-driven funding cuts and an atmosphere of paring back. Later in this episode, the U.S. lags China in nuclear power expansion, economic instability hinders AI data center investment and Catholic nuns struggle to find affordable care as they age.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

As the market for electric vehicles matures in the United States, sales of used EVs are climbing. They grew 39% year-over-year in March, according to data from Cox Automotive. Today, we hear how a used EV dealership in New Hampshire has experienced growth — and navigated market swings. And later in today's program: why a California public public school district is offering an elite athletic training program.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

The Department of Health and Human Services has stopped the flow of money designated by Congress to protect immigrant children from exploitation. Layoffs have hit legal aid groups across the country that help the tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors who cross the U.S.-Mexico border and are especially vulnerable to forced labor. We'll hear more. But first: hefty tariffs on solar panel parts and DHL's pause on certain shipments to U.S. consumers.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: Sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods arriving at the U.S. border are already having a knock-on effect for many companies. Many manufacturers in China are in a state of limbo, having to warehouse stock and hoping for a more favorable trade deal eventually. Meanwhile, the international diamond trade is keeping a close eye on India, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance has been talking trade with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

We've sometimes wished we could have our own Wendy Rhodes, the performance coach at the hedge fund on the TV show “Billions.” Most workplaces, however, aren't bringing in billions and can't afford a Wendy. But an upskilling platform called Multiverse uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized, on-the-job guidance. Its AI coach, Atlas, helps workers expand their abilities and keep themselves relevant in an economy that makes skills obsolete faster than ever before, says Ujjwal Singh, chief product and technology officer at Multiverse.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

The scale and volatility of the trade war may be surprising, but tariffs aren’t new — unless you’re an aircraft manufacturer. (A trade agreement eliminated duties on commercial jets in 1980.) Last week, China told its airlines to reject Boeing deliveries, and since then at least two jets have been redirected to U.S. soil. Also in this episode: Student visa revocations could impede U.S. innovation in tech and science, home sellers are making concessions and consumers struggle with credit card debt.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

Yes — Obamacare is before the Supreme Court, again. This time, the case centers on the legality of an advisory task force. Experts worry it could spell the end of an ACA mandate requiring insurers to cover certain preventative care services at no cost. But first: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is caught up in another Signal group chat scandal. Plus, Paul Revere wasn’t the only midnight rider to warn that the British were coming. Here’s everything we talked about today: "‘An amateur person’: GOP Rep. Bacon says Hegseth should go" from Politico "Obamacare returns to SCOTUS, with preventive care on the line" from Politico "Court to hear challenge to ACA preventative-care coverage" from Scotus Blog "Kristi Noem’s Purse, With Security Badge and $3,000, Is Stolen" from The New York Times "Paul Revere Wasn't the Only Midnight Rider Who Dashed Through the Darkness to Warn the Patriots That the British Were Coming" from Smithsonian Magazine "April 18, 2025" from Heather Cox Richardson Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

The U.S. dollar is down more than 1% this morning. It may be a sign that investors globally are wondering if our currency is still as safe as they once thought, given President Donald Trump’s trade wars and his threats to the independence of the Federal Reserve. We'll dig in. Plus, Capital One and Discover are set to merge, and we'll look at how debts can weigh on older Americans.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

When the Food and Drug Administration determined there was a shortage of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, it allowed compounding pharmacies to step in and make them. But the shortage is officially over, meaning many of these pharmacies have to stop selling their own versions of these drugs starting tomorrow. We'll hear more. Plus, a developer shares how he plans to rebuild his Altadena home with fireproofing in mind.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

From the BBC World Service: China has warned that it will hit back at countries that make deals with the U.S., which it fears will hurt Beijing's interests. It's a sign that the trade war between the world's two biggest economies threatens to drag in other nations. What does this all mean? And we also learn about the economics of carpet-weaving, one of the only jobs women in Afghanistan are now allowed to do.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

Developers of mobile apps have "room for improvement" in making their platforms fully accessible for disabled users, according to a new report from the software company ArcTouch and the digital research platform Fable. It looked at fifty popular apps and assessed them for features that improve accessibility like screen reading, text size adjustability, voice controls and multiple screen orientations. The apps were tested by disabled users who reported a poor or failing experience almost three-quarters of the time. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Ben Ogilvie, head of accessibility at ArcTouch, to learn more about why so many apps are behind.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025