Episodes
There are reports that President Trump plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has given hundreds of thousands of young immigrants a reprieve from deportation. We'll look at how recipients have been preparing, along with the role of immigration in Arizona's economy. Afterwards, we'll discuss how many Americans — especially millennials — aren't using their vacation days, and then explore the rise of Asian-inspired night markets in Southern California.
Published 09/04/17
The U.S. created 156,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent. The verdict? We're doing OK — not that great, not that bad. Chris Low, the CEO of FTN Financial, joins us to help sort through all the numbers. Afterwards, we'll look at a new Texas law that tilts the scales a bit back towards an insurance company if you get in a fight with one.
Published 09/01/17
Hurricane Harvey has caused up to $190 billion in damage, according to some estimates. That would make it the costliest natural disaster in the country's history. Diane Swonk, CEO of DS Economics, joins us to talk about Harvey's economic impact and how cleanup could affect the country's GDP. Afterwards, we'll chat with analyst Pavel Molchanov about the state of the United States' fuel infrastructure, and then look at how crowdfunding has changed disaster relief.
Published 08/31/17
Hurricane Harvey may have an effect on gas pumps that aren't anywhere near Texas. With oil refineries shutting down production, we'll take a look at how much gas prices across the country could rise. Afterwards, we'll discuss whether Trump will still go through with a government shutdown if he doesn't get funding for his U.S.-Mexico wall, and then talk about 21st Century Fox's decision to stop showing Fox News in Britain.
Published 08/30/17
Mutual and exchange-traded funds focused on U.S. stocks are seeing billions of dollars flow out. Are investors just happy about the money they've already made, or are they noticing something in the underlying U.S economy? Macropolicy Perspective's Julia Coronado is here to explain what could be going on. Afterwards, we'll chat with energy fellow Ed Hirs from the University of Houston about Texas' refineries, and then talk about the FDA's decision to crack down on companies peddling fraudulent...
Published 08/29/17
With Hurricane Harvey causing many refineries in Texas to temporarily shut down, we'll chat with Energy Intelligence analyst Barbara Shook about the effects this is having on crude oil and gasoline prices. Afterwards, we'll chat with University of South Carolina professor Robert Hartwig about why many people are left without flood insurance, and the difference between how much insured damage the industry has to pay out, and the overall economic cost of a natural disaster.
Published 08/28/17
Fed Chair Janet Yellen is set to speak at the Fed's annual symposium at Jackson Hole today about financial stability. We'll chat with economist Diane Swonk about how our economy looks after a decade of easy monetary policy. Afterwards, we'll discuss how some companies are trying to make it easier to rent apartments on Airbnb.
Published 08/25/17
We've had federal government shutdowns and we've bumped into the federal borrowing limit, but now there's danger of both happening at the same time. Economist Julia Coronado MacroPolicy Perspectives joins us to talk about the issue, along with the state of the markets. Afterwards, we'll discuss the likely CEO shake-up at Chevron, and then look at Los Angeles' plans for reflective pavement so that it can keep city streets cooler.
Published 08/24/17
With the summer winding down, we'll check in with Westwood Holdings Group's Susan Schmidt about how the markets are doing. Afterwards, we'll discuss Staples' struggling sales, and then look at how some public libraries are starting to loan out musical instruments and telescopes.
Published 08/23/17
President Trump is in Phoenix, Arizona for a rally where he'll try to score points on immigration and his plans for a border wall. But it turns out hiring border guards is getting harder. On today's show, we'll take a look at some of the reasons for their decline . Afterwards, we'll discuss how consumers have responded to advances in smartphones, and then talk about what could lie on the agenda for Jackson Hole, a meeting between central bankers and policy experts that begins today.
Published 08/22/17
The U.S., Mexico and Canada are done with their first round of NAFTA talks. One thing the U.S. wants NAFTA to implement: a rule requiring a set percentage of cars' components to come exclusively from the U.S. Canada and Mexico aren't on board with this, and neither are many U.S. automakers. We'll discuss why. Afterwards, we'll talk about the United States' plans to meet with South Korea over a five-year-old free trade agreement, and then look at why the town of Skagway, Alaska may lose its...
Published 08/21/17
Market players are concerned that President Trump's senior economic adviser, Gary Cohn, might resign over his disappointment with Trump's comments on the Charlottesville protests. But he's the one figure in the administration who gives Wall Street the most comfort, and he could become the next Fed Chair. On today's show, economist Christopher Low joins us to talk about the qualities someone should have to take on the most powerful economic policy position in the U.S. Afterwards, we'll chat...
Published 08/18/17
After CEOs started abandoning ship from President Trump's business advisory groups, he just decided to...dissolve a couple of them. On today's show, we'll look at whether these councils could've actually accomplished anything, and if the CEOs of these big companies have lost an important communication link to the White House. Afterwards, we'll talk about how businesses are processing the uncertainty happening in Washington, D.C., and then discuss the effects of the upcoming solar eclipse on...
Published 08/17/17
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has released a new report evaluating what would happen if Trump cut off Obamacare subsidies. The result: the government will actually end up shelling out more money. We'll take a look at why this move would cost them more, and how taxpayers would be affected. Afterwards, we'll discuss a decline in the number of new homes being built in the U.S., and then talk about fringe sites that are popping up to support white supremacist groups as they get...
Published 08/16/17
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has decided not to launch four missiles toward Guam after all, according to state media reports. Is that what's helping to calm markets? MacroPolicy Perspectives Julia Coronado joined us to talk about some of the factors responsible for this stock market rally. Afterwards, we'll discuss the crowded field of premium rewards cards, and then look at why millennials' seem to be disinterested in vintage furniture.
Published 08/15/17
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has called Saturday's deadly car attack in Charlottesville an act of domestic terrorism. On today's show, we'll chat with Faiza Patel from NYU's Brennan Center for Justice about how the government tries to combat violent extremism. Afterwards, we'll discuss Uruguay's attempt to draft a measure that would provide transgender people with reparations.
Published 08/14/17
President Donald Trump said his administration is preparing to declare the epidemic of opioid abuse a national emergency. On today's show, we'll look at how resources might be distributed toward combating the issue. Afterwards, we'll look at fears in Britain over a free trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. Some say the influx of American food products will lead to lower food standards in the country.
Published 08/11/17
Blue Apron's stock went down 15 percent after its first earnings report, a disappointment to some who saw the company as a promising investment. Not every IPO does well, but there were some key things that Blue Apron should have disclosed, argues Marketplace regular Erik Gordon. He joined us to discuss some of the financial figures that the company failed to reveal before going public. Plus: Economist Diane Swonk is here to talk about data that indicates the opioid addiction has gotten to the...
Published 08/10/17
With threats flying between the U.S. and North Korea, the Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer joins us to examine diplomatic ties between the two countries. One of his takeaways? We might actually be able to make progress thanks to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Next, we'll look at Walt Disney's decision to part ways with Netflix, and then talk about payment processor Vantiv's $10 billion merger with Worldpay.
Published 08/09/17
Google has fired an engineer who sent around an internal memo criticizing the company's diversity initiatives. On today's show, we'll talk about the role the First Amendment plays when it comes to what you can say publicly. Afterwards, we'll discuss Nebraska's increasing reliance on coal — despite the rest of America's move away from it.
Published 08/08/17