Marketplace All-in-One

TSA agents and air traffic controllers are missing their first full month of paychecks as a result of the partial government shutdown. In response, CEOs of major U.S. airlines have written an open letter urging Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the shutdown, which has dragged on as Democrats demand reforms to immigration enforcement practices. Plus, how might emerging technologies like AI amplify global threats, such as nuclear war?

Here at Marketplace, we often report on a monthly economic indicator from the University of Michigan called the consumer sentiment index. It basically looks how people are feeling about the economy. Now, a team of academics at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School have used that index as a model to create something similar though much more niche: how people feel about cryptocurrency. It's called the Consumer Cryptocurrency Confidence Index, a monthly survey now in its third year. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Wharton marketing professor Dave Reibstein, one of the creators of the index, about what he hopes to accomplish with it.

After the Supreme Court overturned many of President Trump's tariffs, his administration implemented new import taxes through a different legal avenue. But those are only temporary. Next up in the White House's game plan to claw those tariffs back? Unfair trade practice probes into dozens of countries — including several U.S. allies. Also in this episode: SNAP recipients sue the USDA over restrictive policies, a federal agency considers regulating prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, and e-retailers hawk counterfeit skincare products.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

On today's show, we're preparing for the Oscars by checking in on the state of the film industry. Marketplace's Amy Scott sits down with Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter Ben Fritz to discuss what slumping ticket sales means for the future of movies, why the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has Hollywood workers worried, and what it would take for the industry to make a comeback. Plus, movie watchers weigh in: subtitles on or off?Here's everything we talked about today:A look at how the Oscar best picture nominees have fared at the box office from AP News"Disney's Surprise Box-Office Champion is ‘Zootopia 2,' Thanks to China" from The Wall Street Journal "The Movie Theater Comeback That Wasn't: Why 2025 Was Such a Dud for Struggling Cinemas" from Variety "Teamsters Call on DOJ to Stop Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: “We've Seen What Happens When Corporations Consolidate Power'" from The Hollywood Reporter"Paramount Wins, Everybody Loses" from Vulture "Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing" from “The Journal” Amy's documentary film: ”Saving Etting Street”We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill yesterday that aims to take on housing affordability by increasing the housing supply and cutting red tape. But it has a tough road ahead in the House and possibly the White House. This morning, we'll dig in. Also on the show: GDP growth was revised down to just 0.7%. Plus, China's latest five-year plan aims to transform the country into a tech-driven global power, while boosting domestic demand.

Some Christians observe the weeks of Lent leading up to Easter by not eating meat on Fridays. That means that we're in the thick of fish fry season. Thing is, tariffs have raised the price of seafood. We head to one local fish fry near Akron, Ohio, to learn about the impact. But first, the war in the Middle East is threatening critical water desalination plants, which many Gulf countries rely on to make seawater potable.

This week, the AI chatbot social network Moltbook finds a new home. Plus, YouTube dominates the media landscape. But first, a look at AI-related site outages at Amazon. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital, about all these headlines for this week's “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

President Trump's war with Iran continues to provoke economic consequences. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, Middle East crude oil will be blocked from reaching refineries, including those in California. In this episode, what happens if those refineries run out of oil. Plus: Single-family home construction slows as costs rise, winter Paralympians face unique obstacles, and fickle weather reshapes the ski resort business model.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

ICE may have wound down its operations in Minnesota, but the state is still facing the economic consequences of Operation Metro Surge. This has fueled concerns that an eviction crisis could take hold, particularly in the Twin Cities. On today's show, Kimberly joins MPR News correspondent Dana Ferguson in St. Paul, Minnesota to discuss measures the state legislature is taking to provide economic relief to renters, and what life has been like since she last checked in with us on “Make Me Smart.”

Data shows that chain restaurants grew by 3% last year, while smaller independent restaurants declined by more than 2% as they struggled to navigate rising prices for real estate, food, insurance, and labor. When all restaurants are basically the same city to city, what does it mean for the unique flavor of a place? But first, Iran has ratcheted up its attacks on Gulf countries and in the Strait of Hormuz.

Yesterday, the U.S. trade representative announced an investigation into unfair trade practices that could result in a whole new round of import taxes. The Trump administration will be looking into whether more than a dozen countries are producing too much, flooding the U.S. with cheap products, and making it hard for American companies to compete. Then, war is complicating the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. And later, could price caps help bring down grocery bills?

Pretty much since its inception, the cryptocurrency bitcoin has been compared to gold: There's only so much of it, its value isn't tied to any fiat currency. But gold is a traditional safe haven asset, while bitcoin isn't, necessarily. Gold surged in value when news first spread that the U.S. had attacked Iran. Bitcoin didn't see the same immediate flight to safety. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Gil Luria, head of tech research at D.A. Davidson, about why investors still don't see Bitcoin as a safe haven for their assets.

Maybe you've heard that little voice: What if I could make a little money from this? The urge to monetize your hobby can feel tempting, but is it worth it? Reema talks with people who've tried to turn their pastimes into side hustles and finds out what they've gained, lost and learned along the way. Then, she speaks with a leading expert on creativity about how money can quietly reshape our motivation – and how to keep our hobbies from turning into just another job.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

The Februrary consumer price index report is out, and it's got some new data points that can tell us what's going on in the broader economy — even though plenty has changed since last month. In this episode: Natural gas prices were rising before war began in the Middle East, egg prices recover from avian flu while other grocery staples grow more expensive, and other CPI nuggets. Plus, President Trump's tariffs may have a deflationary effect on the U.S. economy, but with a catch.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage in many global supply chains, is basically shut down as fighting continues in the region. All this has throttled shipments of oil and gas, but supply chains for other goods — like helium and aluminum — are being detrimentally affected, too. This morning, we'll dig into which regions are being hit hardest by the disruptions. Plus, another partial government shutdown means more pain for TSA screeners and passengers.

$800 million a day. That's the rough monetary estimate of how much the U.S. military operation in Iran is costing taxpayers, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model — in addition, of course, to the horrible human toll of war. This morning, we'll do the numbers on the costs of military technology and impacts on everyday consumers. Plus, the globe competes for liquefied natural gas, and Meta acquires Moltbook, the social network for AI.

The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio, has been around since the 1800s. Now, it's leaning into a very 21st century tactic: embracing the use of artificial intelligence in its journalism. That includes AI actually writing articles.The paper's editor, Chris Quinn, says incorporating artificial intelligence is critical to its success. Will Oremus, tech reporter at The Washington Post, says lots of publications are experimenting with AI. But the Plain Dealer has taken it further than most.

As war in the Middle East pushes oil prices up, the price of jet fuel rises too. And that means air travel could get more expensive. The catch? Airlines are responding unevenly. In this episode, airlines balance pinched consumers with climbing fuel costs. Plus: Small business owner uncertainty is at its highest level in decades, investors scrutinize Oracle's AI spending, and a Minneapolis cafe owner switches to a pay-what-you-can model amid ongoing ICE operations in the area.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

As prices have risen over the past decade, snow sports have gotten farther and farther out of reach for many Americans. And this has big implications not just for the ski-inclined, but also for the workers and local businesses that rely on steady ski area traffic. On today's show, Kimberly talks with University of Waterloo professor and sustainable tourism expert Daniel Scott about what's driving up the cost of snow sports and how the effects of climate change are shaping the future of the industry.

A recent survey of 100 CEOs at major companies by the audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG finds that AI and policy uncertainty around tariffs are top of mind. Today, we'll dig into the survey's findings. But first, oil markets have been on a rollercoaster ride as of late. We'll discuss why markets have recovered a bit this morning and what impact a potential presidential waiver of oil sanctions could have.

Just to get you up to speed on oil prices: Brent Crude is at $92 a barrel this morning. Yesterday morning, it was at $117. While prices have dipped, they're still higher than they were before the Middle East war began. That means more money for oil producers. So will domestic producers use that extra cash to drill more? Also: the latest in Anthropic's dispute with the Pentagon and what to make of last year's big jump in product recalls.

Girl Scout cookie sales started back in 1917. In addition to raising money, cookie selling is also meant to make the girls more business savvy. The Girl Scouts say it's the largest girl led entrepreneurial program in the world. And now, some of that entrepreneurship is happening online. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Wendy Lou, who oversees the cookie program as the chief revenue officer at Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She says last season, digital transactions accounted for more than 40 percent of cookie sale revenue.

Consumer sentiment was already trending negative before the war in Iran started, a war that so far has precipitated climbing oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The question is, how much more pessimistic can U.S. consumers get? Also in this episode: Commodities prices surge, we give a brief history lesson on the oil crises of the 1970s, and supermarkets compete for a slice of the Lone Star State's growing population.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Oil prices came close to hitting $120 a barrel yesterday. This morning, they're hovering around $100 a barrel. Gas prices are also up 27 cents in a week, a price increase that'll pinch consumers and could dent consumer spending. In response to the spike in oil prices, some nations are discussing releasing oil reserves from their stockpiles. Then, we'll head to the Texas-Mexico border, where a parasitic fly poses a threat to the cattle industry.

Economists are still digesting last Friday's jobs report, which showed a loss of 92,000 jobs in February. The labor force participation rate — the percentage of working-age people who are either working or looking for work — fell to 62%. That's the lowest since December 2021 and means some people are giving up even looking for a job. We'll dig into the importance of that figure. Also on the show: oil prices and existential threats.

The 39.4 million people who live in California now have a new tool where they can request that data brokers delete their personal information. That may include their online search histories, social security numbers and where they work, among other identifying data.The tool is called the Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP). It was mandated by a 2023 state law called the “Delete Act.” Data brokers have until August to start processing these requests. Nicol Turner Lee, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, says it could limit the sale of our information.

The latest jobs report showed a loss of 92,000 jobs in February. After months of slightly easing, unemployment crept up too, to 4.4%. Even the health care sector, which reliably grows every month, lost 28,000 positions. In this episode, is it a blip or a sign of more cuts to come? Plus: Eli Lilly announced a new initiative to address the cost of GLP-1s, meteorologists build dedicated followings on social media, and we recap the week's economic news. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This week's Texas primary elections were heated — and historic in terms of campaign spending. On today's show, Blaise Gainey, state politics reporter for The Texas Newsroom, joins Kimberly to share his election takeaways and the economic issues that brought voters out to the polls. Plus, what does the Texas Railroad Commissioner have to do with oil and gas? And, we'll pit Texas icons against each other during a round of This or That.Here's everything we talked about today:"Winners, losers and runoffs: How Texans' November ballot is shaping up after the primaries" from KUT News "Across Texas, early voters share what's pushing them to the polls for the 2026 party primaries" from KUT News"Big money moved the needle and down-ballot chaos reigned in Texas' action-packed primaries" from The Texas Tribune"Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad Commission" from The Texas Tribune"Big Red Is Texas Barbecue's Unofficial Signature Soda" from Texas Highways"Why Topo Chico Is The Fizzy Water With A Loyal Fan Base" from Southern LivingWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The U.S. economy actually lost jobs last month. The number of people on U.S. payrolls fell by 92,000 in February, with big swings in education and health care. How might the Federal Reserve respond to this new data? Plus, the idea of having a robot to do all your household chores has long been a staple of science fiction. Today, we hear from a company designing robots trying to make that a reality.

War in the Middle East has caused oil prices to spike, and — right on cue — gasoline prices have risen quickly. They're up 34 cents in a week, according to AAA. That's the fastest price increase at the pump since 2022. And diesel prices just topped $4 a gallon this week, which will likely push up the cost of anything shipped by truck or train. Also on the program: a look at what's driving Texas supermarket construction.

Meta and News Corp reached a licensing deal this week. Plus, defense contractors untangle Claude from their workflows.But first, the online prediction marketplace Kalshi lets users bet on the outcome of many things that can happen in the future. One bet that saw a lot of action was whether Ali Khamenei would be ousted as the supreme leader in Iran. Khamenei was killed over the weekend during a U.S. military strike.Kalshi didn't pay out the bets that were placed after Khamenei's death. Instead, it reimbursed those traders. And this outraged some users on the site. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Paresh Dave, senior writer at Wired, about all these headlines from the week in tech.

The February jobs report isn't out until Friday. Still, experts are all but certain the manufacturing sector will have lost jobs compared to last year. In this episode, a weak single-family housing market and chaotic tariff policy prevent U.S. manufacturers from bouncing back. Plus: Hiring managers don't trust resumes in the era of AI, Americans are spending less of their income on food than ever before, and a sparse snow season in Colorado stresses all sorts of businesses.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The endangerment finding paved the way for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and power plants. Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has repealed the finding, the future of U.S. climate policy is in limbo. Marketplace's Amy Scott joins Kimberly to explain what the repeal could mean for the auto industry, American consumers, and the United States' place in the global transition to clean energy.

In pretty much every jobs report of 2025 — and on into early 2026 — health care was the most reliable job-creating sector. Some 436,000 health care jobs were added last year. It's a bright spot in the labor market, at a time when other sectors face sluggish job growth and disruption from AI. Plus, since the U.S. and Israel launched their war with Iran, the value of the U.S. dollar has been rising. We'll discuss.

Parts of the Great Lakes region have seen their coldest winter in more than a decade, and maple syrup farmers are rejoicing. The cold snap has been perfect for making maple syrup. Today, we'll head to a syrup farm in Middlefield, Ohio, to learn about the process — and economics — behind the pancake breakfast staple. But first, the Labor Department has proposed a new rule on whether workers are classified as gig workers or employees.

As the war in the Middle East intensifies, one risk facing American banks is the possibility of cyber attacks by hackers linked to Iran. There is some historical precedent for this: from late 2011 to mid-2013, nearly 50 financial institutions in the U.S. were attacked repeatedly by a group of hackers aligned with the Iranian government. The attacks disabled bank websites and prevented customers from accessing their accounts. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Rafe Pilling, Director of Threat Intelligence with the cybersecurity firm Sophos about what those attacks looked like and whether banks are better equipped to fend off those attacks now.

Steve Burns didn't set out to become a children's TV icon. He moved to New York with only a duffle bag full of clothes, $300 in his pocket, and a dream to become an actor. When Steve got hired to host “Blue's Clues” from 1996 to 2002, he found himself disoriented by fame and uncertain of his career trajectory. Reema talks with Steve about finding meaning outside of work, feeling like an imposter in a role he never expected, and how he redefined his money values … when he escaped to the forest. Have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome in a new job? We want to hear about it, so give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org.And you can check out Reema's interview on Steve's podcast, “Alive with Steve Burns” here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

R. Scott Gemmill swore he'd never make another medical drama after “ER.” Good news: We'd argue his hit HBO Max series “The Pitt” is really a workplace drama, anyway. In this episode, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal sits down with Gemmill as he preps to write the show's third season. They discuss the job of a showrunner, medical minds in the writers room, streaming versus network TV, and more. Plus: Global investors seek safety in U.S. dollars amid Middle East conflict, drone attacks on data centers reveal digital infrastructure weaknesses, and private hiring data signals a moderate jobs bump.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Department of Justice and dozens of states are accusing Live Nation — the owner of Ticketmaster — of being a monopoly, shutting out competition, and driving up ticket prices. This massive antitrust case was originally brought under the Biden administration, but there are competing currents over antitrust enforcement in the second Trump administration. Also on this morning's show: a fresh glimpse into the job market and an examination of company spending on equipment versus labor.

Mortgage rates dipped below 6% last week. Now, they're back up. Sudden conflict and uncertainty almost always cause volatility in the mortgage market. This time, fears of inflation and higher oil prices are to blame. Also, a look at how the U.S. might protect and insure vessels traveling through the Persian Gulf, and how the Republican tax and spending law signed last summer might help big corporations like Amazon, Meta, and Tesla avoid paying taxes.

You've probably heard of search engine optimization, or SEO. That's what you need to do to get your shoe brand or your coffee shop or your public radio show picked up and pushed out by a search engine. Now, with more people using AI to search for things, these brands have to work on what's being called AEO, or "answer engine optimization." When someone asks Chat GPT "where do I get good coffee in Baltimore?" Your brand shows up. Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Erin Griffith, a reporter at the New York Times, about what companies can do to make the AI look their way.

Military conflict, like the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran, can wreck carefully planned cargo routes. While some ships were sent around the Horn of Africa to avoid the Red Sea, other merchants are pivoting to a costlier measure: transporting goods via airplane. The catch? Air cargo often travels through major airport hubs in the Persian Gulf. In this episode, logistics economics and geopolitical conflicts collide. Plus: Retailers release holiday earnings, vehicle sales may have rebounded, and Compass clashes with Zillow over online listings.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.