Marketplace All-in-One

The supply chains of gold and precious gems are notoriously difficult to track. Human rights abuses and environmental devastation are often at the root of the work. This morning, we'll hear the story of one jeweler trying to change this by bringing women together from regions scarred by conflict to create a more ethical business model. But first: Microsoft is considering suing Amazon and OpenAI, and we look at what's behind a run on red yarn.

Why not report earnings twice a year? The Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a proposal to eliminate the requirement for publicly traded companies to report quarterly earnings, according to The Wall Street Journal. It's a move that companies are cheering, but it also means less transparency for investors. Also on this morning's show: a preliminary deal between the WNBA and its players' union, and what older adults should keep in mind this tax season.

There's an emerging industry that uses artificial intelligence to create simulations of people who've died. These post mortem avatars are also called griefbots.Some critics, including Tomasz Hollanek, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, say this practice raises a number of ethical issues. He walks us through the mechanics of how this technology works, and how it may or may not be used responsibly.

When gas prices go up, Americans freak out. It doesn't matter that gas prices often fluctuate independently of all the other stuff we have to buy and pay for; more expensive fuel makes an impact on the consumer psyche. In this episode, Americans' unique emotional relationship to gas costs. Plus: Airlines contend with jet fuel price growth and TSA shortages, the trucking industry is hit by a diesel price-immigration restriction double whammy, and a federal tax code change could reduce charitable giving.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.

Farm bills are huge, sprawling pieces of legislation that affect all Americans — not just farmers. But as they've gotten more expensive, they've gotten tougher to pass. And due to the SNAP cuts in Congress's big budget bill passed last summer, the coalitions that have historically gotten this legislation over the finish line may be fractured beyond repair. Kimberly talks with Chris Neubert, agriculture policy expert at Arizona State University, about what this could mean for this year's farm bill prospects.

Two of the three major credit bureaus are dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints. At the same time, the Trump administration has attempted to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the government watchdog agency established following the Great Recession. Today, we'll delve into what it means for consumer protections. Also, the price of a barrel of Brent crude is about 50% higher than it was a month ago. Where do things go from here?

If you are one of the millions of people who haven't done your taxes yet, you've got a month and a day left to file. Something to look forward to, though? Refunds are up over 10% on average so far this year, and more people are receiving tax refunds. But first, we'll check in on how discount retailers are doing and learn how the war in the Middle East is impacting Federal Reserve officials' thinking about a rate cut.

More and more companies are incorporating artificial intelligence into their workflows — from AI assistants that record and analyze meetings, to AI notetakers that keep track of what's said, to AI summaries and analyses of emails.Workers may know this technology is being used, but some of these tools, which record and monitor, can still catch them off guard. Still, Josh Bersin, an human resources industry analyst and consultant, says the productivity gains from these tools mean many employers are embracing them.Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes had him walk her through what he's seeing businesses try and what they're using at his company — including one HR tool that his company makes and sells called Galileo.

 For a lot of us, money is a source of anxiety and guilt. Reema recently joined the podcast “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” for a roundtable conversation with Gretchen and Haley Sacks (a.k.a. Mrs. Dow Jones) about why money feels so emotionally loaded – and the small, realistic changes that can make managing it feel easier.

Crude oil prices have risen about $30 a barrel in the three weeks since the U.S. and Israel launched a war in Iran. At some point, U.S. consumers will really feel the war in their wallets. Turns out, it's hard to say when. Also in this episode, more economic fallout from the war: The Fed and other central banks will likely hold rates steady this week amid global uncertainty, and Texas farmers brace for higher prices while Texas oil stands to rake in profits.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.

Is Europe's reliance on U.S. tech a vulnerability? With geopolitical uncertainties growing under the second Trump administration, governments and institutions abroad seem to think so. The International Criminal Court announced that it's ditching Microsoft, and government employees in France will use an open-source alternative to Zoom. Today, we dig into "digital sovereignty." Also on the show: new homeowners turn to buy now, pay later to deal with expenses, and we'll preview the Fed's interest rate meeting this week.

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.