The Daily Dive

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For quite a while now, employees have been able to call the shots as the labor market remained tight.  They could job hop and get higher wages too.  Well now, the balance of power is shifting back to the employer and workers with high hopes for raises in the coming year may be disappointed.  Companies are adjusting budgets for salaries, and it doesn't look like it is keeping up with inflation or expectations.  Matt Boyle, senior reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to expect.   Next, where have all the coupons gone? As high inflation continues to hit us, many are looking for deals anywhere they can, but paper coupons and even digital ones are harder to come by.  Circulation is down and redemption rates have also plummeted as people just don't have the time to sort them all and smartphones have made other shopping incentives possible.  Lydia DePillis, economy reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.   Finally, as the workplace landscapes have changed with remote work and others starting different jobs, many have been using their cell phones instead of old business lines and caller ID has been outing people.  Because caller ID is linked to the main account holder, many young professionals are being outed as still being on their parents' phone plane.  Lindsay Ellis, careers reporter at the WSJ joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The clothing industry is the last trillion-dollar sector that hasn't been fully automated.  Many apparel makers have also been hesitant to talk about automation because of the ramifications and possible loss of jobs.  Still, there is a quiet effort underway to develop machines that can automate some parts of jeans factories and hopefully bring more manufacturing back from overseas.  Tim Aeppel, reporter at Reuters, joins us for how robots are coming for your blue jeans.   Next, as more of Gen Z enters the workplace and communications increasingly happen online and in text formats, something is getting lost in translation.  Older colleges are having a hard time keeping up with Gen Z's use of emojis, slang, and even punctuation. Danielle Abril, “Tech at Work” writer at for the Washington Post, joins us for how workplace language is changing with younger employees.   Finally, when is a bumblebee a fish?  When a unanimous ruling by a California state appeals court deems it so.  Public-interest groups had asked the state to include four types of bumblebees on its list of endangered species, but the 50-year-old law only applied to birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles.  Because the legal definition of a fish was vague and had been used to include other animals in separate instances, the bee was added to the list. Matt Grossman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the legal wrangling it took to get there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder and former CEO of crypto company FTX, has been arrested in the Bahamas and charged by federal officials with eight counts of fraud, conspiracy, campaign finance law violations and money laundering.  He is being accused of funneling customer money into his hedge fund to make investments and loans to himself.  About $8 billion in client funds have gone missing with only $1 billion being recovered.  The difficulty there is that there was no adequate record-keeping as it was found out the multibillion-dollar company was using QuickBooks.  Dan Primack, business editor at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Next, a significant breakthrough when it comes to fusion energy, something that could one-day provide us with unlimited clean power.  Researchers at the National Ignition Facility were able to achieve what is called ignition, getting more energy out of a reaction than what they put in.  The team fired 192 laser beams at a small fuel pellet and produced a small amount of net gain energy.  While this is an important step in proof-of-concept of the science, it is still a long time away from being a commercially viable energy source.  The lasers and equipment used would have to be drastically upgraded to produce more energy.  Umair Irfan, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for this fusion energy breakthrough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The labor market remains tight, and employers still need workers to fill their ranks.  In order to speed up the process, some companies are dropping a once crucial step: the interview.  Places like UPS, Home Depot, and The Gap are dropping it for mostly hourly positions and in places with high turnover and warehousing.  Some are offering jobs 25 minutes after applying and others are making offers 24-48 hours after applying.  After exhausting other methods to attract workers, some are going with speed.  Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, the condiment business is hyper competitive and one of the major players in the spice game, McCormick, has been making acquisitions to take over the world of hot sauce.  They bought Frank's Red Hot and Cholula Hot Sauce in deals worth millions of dollars each.  The past few years have proven to be beneficial for McCormick as many people stayed in and cooked more at home, but they were not immune to supply chain issues that affected the industry when it came to acquiring key ingredients.  Austin Carr, features writer at Bloomberg BusinessWeek, joins us for the fight for hot sauce supremacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shakeup for the Democrats in the Senate.  After clinching a 51-49 majority with Raphael Warnock's win in Georgia, Sen. Krysten Sinema announced she would be leaving the Democratic party and register as an Independent.  While the impact may be minimal when trying to pass legislation, it means a lot when we look ahead to 2024 and how the two parties will fight to win that seat.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for how this decision plays out, Kari Lake files an election lawsuit in Arizona, and the big fight of the week, Congress struggling to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.   Next, a look into the hyper competitive world of body building and the extremes it takes to get those outrageous physiques.  There is hours and hours of training, strict diets, and then there are the drugs… steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.  It is leaving athletes with irreparable damage to their bodies, with some having heart problems, needing kidney transplants, and worst-case, death.  Jenn Abelson, investigative reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how the extreme sport of bodybuilding is pushing some to the edge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration stuck a deal with Russia to free WNBA star Brittney Griner.  In exchange for her freedom, the U.S. released arms dealer Vitkor Bout, who is known as the “Merchant of Death.”  This caps a 10 month ordeal for Griner after she was arrested for possession hash oil cartridges in Russia.  Alex Ward, national security reporter at Politico, joins us for what to know about her release and what happens to Paul Whelan another American in Russian custody for espionage chargers.   Next, the chip manufacturing boom in the U.S. is just beginning.  This week President Biden toured a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in Arizona that is tripling its investments to build new semiconductor chips.  As the relationship between China, Taiwan, and the U.S. continues to be strained, we are rushing to build our own local supply.  Matt Phillips, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for how the U.S. semiconductor industry is just starting.   Finally, more businesses are getting rid of their customer service reps you can reach by phone and increasingly offering options such as chat boxes to resolve issues.  For many companies, it is cost prohibitive to maintain staff just to answer calls and the result is they are making their numbers harder to find or getting rid of them all together.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why connecting with a human is almost impossible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a new food category coming to your grocery stores… “thaw and eat” foods.  The makers of Uncrustables and Hot Pockets are both offering products that can be ready to eat in a couple of hours with no microwave required.  Think turkey and cheese or ham and cheese sandwiches.  These are being targeted to adults who want grabbable, no-mess bites.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios joins us for what to know as food companies are throwing more resources at launching this new frozen category.   Next, the Good Morning America cheating scandal is proving that people still love an old-fashioned tabloid drama.  While other scandals have been met with lots of negative emotion, there are some in the public that seem to be rooting for anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes.  They are both temporarily sidelined for now, but ratings have been up since the scandal surfaced.  Aja Romano, culture reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Finally, the data shows that married couples hold four times as much wealth as unmarried couples who live together.  The leading thought as to why, is because they pool their resources together.  Other research is now showing that couples who do combine finances are also happier.  Julia Carpenter, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what joining finances does in a relationship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest components of inflation is starting to ease.  Housing costs are coming down, but it could take some time before it shows up in official inflation numbers.  Economists say that increases in rents and home prices will remain low as the economy has slowed and mortgage rates remain elevated.  Shelter inflation is one of those things that tend to be sticky, which means that once it starts moving in any direction it is slow to change back.  Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, what do you do with an iconic Los Angeles landmark that became too old to operate normally and too much of a treasure to tear down?  LA County would like to turn the old General Hospital building into affordable and homeless housing, but to do that, there is a ton of work to be done.  The county has already committed $250 million to removing hazardous materials, upgrading electrical and water systems, installing air conditioning, fire sprinklers and so much more.  The eventual goal will be to have “Healthy Village” with as many as 1,400 units with beds for housing, and medical and mental health care.  Doug Smith, senior writer at the LA Times, joins us for the future of LA's General Hospital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hot weight-loss drug Wegovy is in short supply and high demand.  The drug has proven to help people lose as much as 15% of their weight by suppressing appetite, but the company expected a more gradual adoption of the drug and has lost out on a ton of potential cash.  Selling only $700 million to date, analysts had projected $2 billion in sales for 2021 and 2022.  Peter Loftus, pharma reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why you can't find Wegovy.   Next, the Real ID requirement for air travel has been delayed once again.  Americans will have two more years, until May 2025 to go to the DMV and provide the proper paperwork.  The deadline was extended to help DMVs with pandemic related setbacks.  To date, only about 49% of people have gotten their updated IDs.  Luz Lazo, transportation reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, a pair of marijuana bills may be attached to “must-pass” year-end bills in Congress.  A bipartisan group of senators will be trying to add the SAFE Banking Act to allow cannabis businesses to access loans and open bank accounts and the HOPE Act, which would provide grants to states that expunge former convictions.  Sophia Cai, congressional reporter at Axios, joins us for the plan to pass pot legislation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the FBI's biggest investigation ever.  Looking into who was in Washington on Jan.6 and who stormed the Capitol.  It has also included the biggest ever request of phone data from geofence warrants.  Google has provided data from over 5,000 devices as the FBI has tried to narrow their search to pinpoint suspects.  Google also has a three-step process for these types of warrants to help protect as much privacy as possible and only provide info on those most likely to have commit a crime.  We are only learning more about this now as lawyers for one suspect are looking to throw out the geofence evidence in court.  Mark Harris, contributor to Wired, joins us for what to know.   Next, if you weathered the pandemic storm and stuck with your employer over the last couple of years, then you very well could be underpaid.  The tight labor market has led to a lot of movement and forced employers to try and lure new candidates with bigger paychecks and more work benefits.  That has led to a divide with current employees as salaries for new hires are on average 7% higher than existing workers.  Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word of the year for 2022 is gaslighting.  Merriam-Webster chooses the word of the year based only on data from lookups and in 2022, lookups for gaslighting increased 1,740%.  Most interestingly, there was not a particular news event that drove the lookups, it was a word that had interest every single day of the year.  Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster joins us for a definition of this year's top word and a look at some more including oligarch, codify, sentient, and loamy.   Next, Elon Musk has been under a lot of scrutiny since he took over Twitter, but another one of his companies is being looked at for ghosting cities across America.  Musk's Boring company, which has teased cities with plans to dig out underground tunnels to help relieve what he called “soul-destroying” traffic, has had a lot of big ideas but rarely followed through after being confronted with the realities of building public infrastructure.  The only place where Musk has been able to showcase a finished project has been a 1.6 mile “loop experience” under the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Ted Mann, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how many cities still want to work with the Boring Co. despite its uneven record.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the labor market remains tight, employers have begun to rethink whether a college degree is needed to work for them.  Google, Delta Air Lines, and IBM have all relaxed requirements so they can open up the pool of possible candidates.  The shift helps employers focus more on skills and experience and is a pathway for some to higher-paying jobs.  Austen Hufford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how a higher education degree is no longer needed in some cases.   Next, in a hopeful sign for the Fed, job openings have fallen to 10.3 million.  While there continues to be a higher demand for workers, it shows that it is starting too cool which helps the Fed in fighting inflation.  The ratio of openings to unemployed workers has now dropped to 1.7.  Molly Smith, U.S. economy editor at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.   Finally, as inflation is making people keep an eye on their pocketbooks, daters out there on the scene are beginning to embrace frugality.  Currently, the average date night costs $98 as we see restaurant prices up 17% and alcoholic beverages away from home up 12%.  Many are also opting for lower cost dates until they decide they want to make a bigger investment in a partner.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ. Joins us for why being a cheap date can be a plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA's successful launch of the Artemis 1 mission looks like it will be a boon for private space companies.  More than halfway over, the Orion spacecraft has already reached its max distance from the Earth of 270,000 miles.  At least 22 companies specifically focused on the Moon have raised money to travel there, develop tech to mine for resources and even build habitats there.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for the coming Moon economy.   Next, middle-aged men have a problem with suicide.  Overall, men have a suicide rate between three and four times higher than women.  To fight this mental health problem, researchers are studying new approaches to get them help which include participation in “meaning-centered” groups, “hope kits,” and videos on how men can speak with their doctors about suicidal thoughts.  Andrea Peterson, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, insiders say that President Biden is gearing up to run for office again and this week we have a seen a preview of a possible campaign strategy, one that will try to leverage the power of the White House.  Advisers will want to keep the President out of every item in the news cycle, but keep up diplomatic engagements, quick trips to swing states, and ramp up the fundraising efforts.  Hans Nichols, reporter at Axios, joins us for how Biden will run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's zero-Covid policies is causing a wave of protests that are getting hard to ignore.  Recent protests all have their own reasons for sparking, but the underlying issue seems to revolve around the policy which has seen residents unable to access food, medicine, and medical care in some cases.  Some changes have been made to the zero-Covid policy, but frustrations have boiled over.  Ellen Ioanes, foreign affairs reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Next, the money transfer service Zelle, saw some 1.8 billion transactions in 2021that totaled $490 billion dollars.  Now, the banks behind Zelle are standardizing the methods with which to reimburse scammed customers.  Popular scams include messages that seem to come from customer support and tricks users into sending money into what appears to be your own account, but it's linked to a fraudulent one.  David Benoit, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, restaurants are getting a small reprieve from chicken.  As they have been battered by high inflation, and rising labor and operational costs, chicken has begun to drop in price.  Prices for chicken breast has dropped about 70% since the first week of June.  During this time restaurants have kept up their promotions to keep people coming back.  Patrick Thomas, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how dropping poultry prices will hopefully be giving you a break soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the economy slowing and many companies beginning to layoff workers, small businesses are in a tight spot as they continue to face staff shortages but are having a hard time competing with larger companies when it comes to offering higher wages.  Small businesses are also reporting that about 90% of open positions are seeing few to no qualified applicants.  Cheryl Winokur Munk, contributor to CNBC, joins us for how they can attract top talent by highlighting more than just wages.   Next, a look at what the latest news surrounding Taylor Swift fans and the huge demand for her concert tickets says about the economy.  Despite uneven economic times, these turbocharged consumers are willing to pay almost anything to see their favorite artist, for them, there is no substitute.  The pent-up demand over the pandemic and limited supply sent die-hard fans to crash the Ticketmaster website.  Augusta Saraiva, economics reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know about “Swiftonomics.”     Finally, it was once a given at many live concerts, the band would end their show and spend a couple of minutes off-stage before coming back for a roaring encore.  Now, some artists are doing away with them saying they just feel forced.  They'd rather just play out a whole set, and not waste anyone's time leaving a potential encore only for something memorable and not expected.  Travis Andrews, features writer at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are looking for deals this holiday season, this is where it all starts.  Black Friday leading into Cyber Monday.  With inflation still battering Americans, many price-conscious consumers are buying less gifts and donating to charity less.  Retailers on the other hand are looking to move products with sales and promotions.  Marc Saltzman, tech columnist at USA Today and host of the Tech It Out Podcast, joins us with some apps and browser extensions for deal hunters, products to look out for, and scams to be wary of.   Next, the holiday season also means tons of cookies and baked goods.  In order to make all those delicious favorites, you need a lot of butter.  Butter in particular has been seeing some very high prices due to labor shortages and a growing appetite for cheese.  In response an underground network of butter bargain hunters is sharing the news when prices drop and tips on how to get around per-person limits.  Some have even turned to churning out their own butter.  Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond Meat, the plant-based meat company, is struggling and it's causing some worries throughout the meat alternative industry.  The company has struggled to manage growth amid slumping sales.  Among some of the setbacks, the company tried to rush out new products only to miss deadlines and disappoint customers.  Beyond's jerky product, chicken tenders, and dinner sausages all hit roadblocks as their CEO tried to push out new offerings.  Jesse Newman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the tough times at Beyond Meat. Next, Thanksgiving is here and it's time to talk about our favorite foods!  To end the show today we will give you the official Thanksgiving food power rankings.  We will speak to Lucas Kwan Peterson, food columnist at the LA Times, for his take on where all your favorite Thanksgiving foods rank.  A little preview of what you are in for… Turkey ranks dead last in his list, pumpkin pie doesn't fare much better either, and cranberries of all things might just be the most controversial food item. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to recent surveys, Americans are stressed out by inflation and are planning to buy fewer Christmas gifts and donate less to charity.  Last year on average, people bought about 16 gifts for family and friends, this year that number has dropped to nine.  Another survey found that many are planning to donate less with 44% blaming a lack of funds.  Jon Hilsenrath, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for how inflation is souring the holiday season.   Next, hospitals are being pushed to the brink as we see RSV, Covid and the flu infecting people at high rates.  We are also seeing a continued staffing shortage in the healthcare industry that is causing a replay of what we saw during the height of the pandemic.  A slew of nursing home closures is also pushing more into the hospital system.  Sabrina Malhi, health and science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, dogs and humans can both get dementia, a problem we know comes with age.  We also know that movement and exercise can help reduce the risk of getting the degenerative disease.  Two recent studies are offering new data about the precise amounts of walking that can protect human and dog brains.  Gretchen Reynolds, health columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for why it's definitely a good idea to take your dog out for a walk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On his adventures into MAGA country, Jordan Klepper encounters some of the more imaginative, conspiratorial minds America has to offer. In “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy,” a new, six-episode limited podcast series, Jordan steps off the trail to dig deep into some of the wildest theories he's heard, and trace their origins with journalists, experts, and anyone who might have a lead on when JFK Jr. is coming back. The podcast offers an opportunity to better understand some of the most extravagant stories Americans tell themselves. Listen to Jordan Klepper Fingers The Conspiracy on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-klepper-30873042/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just a few years ago, betting on sports was regulated to Nevada and a handful of other locations in the U.S., but after a flurry of action from lobbyists and the gambling industry, 31 states now allow sports gambling either online or in-person.  Sold by possible tax revenue, many states have come on board, sometimes with very favorable tax breaks for gambling companies.  An investigation by the Times finds that in many cases that revenue hasn't lived up to projections.  Other convincing was done at events such as the “Cigars, Cars, and Bars” event that some Kansas lawmakers attended.  Eric Lipton, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how sports betting has expanded so fast.   Next, a study in Germany that was exploring the possibility of using industrial hemp in animal feed found that when portions of the plant that had higher THC concentration was fed to some dairy cows, they produced milk with detectable levels of THC.  The dairy cows even displayed behavioral changes such as yawning and salivating a lot and standing in one place for long periods of time. Still regulators are looking into hemp because it could be an excellent source for animal feed.  Hemp seeds are high in protein and do not contain any THC.  Joel Achenbach, science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden turned 80 over the weekend, the oldest serving president in U.S. history.  He has said he intends to run again, planning a decision for early next year.  However, recent gaffes have added to concerns from those in his own party and polls also show that the public has doubts about leaders his age.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for this, GOP hopefuls beginning to make their case, and Nancy Pelosi's legacy as Speaker of the House.   Next, due to inflation, supply chain issues, and the bird flu, your Thanksgiving meal is definitely more expensive this year.  20% more expensive to be exact.  The average cost of a meal for ten is $64.05.  You could see a shortage of large birds and everything on the table costs more except for one item, fresh cranberries.  Herb Scribner, reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Finally, electric vehicles continue to grow into the mainstream of car buying.  EVs are the fastest growing segment of the auto market with sales jumping 70%.  Gas powered cars account for most of the new car market, but people are increasingly turning to battery powered cars to save money on maintenance and fuel, making them their daily drivers.  Peter Eavis, business reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heading into the holiday shopping season big retailers are hoping to offload all the excess inventory from recent months and also balance how much to discount items to move product.  The good thing is that it means more promotions and sales for consumers, but will it be the products that people want?  The main items that will see the deepest discounts are computers, electronics, and toys, many of which are left over from pandemic delays.  Beauty products on the other hand will not be seeing as many discounts. Melissa Repko, retail reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to know as retailers continue to do anything they can to attract customers.   Next, the fall of the crypto exchange FTX has quickly wiped out the value of the company, the billions of dollars that its CEO was worth, and left scores of others without a way to access their money and assets.  FTX has now filed for bankruptcy and the new CEO that has stepped in said that he's never “seen such a complete failure of corporate controls.”  Some experts have said that it could be possible that people never recover their funds.  For now, it has caused more volatility in the crypto market and caused more values to drop.  Joel Khalili, crypto reporter at Wired, joins us for all the fallout from the FTX collapse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA's Artemis 1 Moon mission is currently underway after the SLS rocket and Orion capsule launched early Wednesday morning.  The mission is expected to last until mid-December when the capsule will splash back down in the Pacific Ocean.  This mission paves the way for the return of astronauts to the Moon and a new space station to be assembled in orbit there.  Ramin Skibba, space writer at Wired, joins us for what to know.   Next, it's been described as a “game changer” when it comes to weight loss, but some people who have taken it say it's changing their taste buds.  Semaglutide is the key ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.  It's helping people lose as much as 15-20% of their body weight by making you feel full and reducing cravings, but it's making some disgusted by their favorite foods.  Anna Medaris, health correspondent at Insider, joins us for more.   Finally, now that New York City's pay transparency law is in place, people are browsing jobs like they were browsing new homes, even if they're not in the market for a new one.  As employers are now required to post salary ranges, people are dreaming of moving into something new or asking for a pay raise.  Emily Peck, reporter at Axios, joins us for how job listings are the new Zillow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The human race has reached a milestone.  There are now an estimated eight billion people on the planet.  Overall, less people are living in extreme poverty, and we have generally better access to health care, food, and clean water.  Half of the population still just lives in 7 countries, and it could take us about 15 years to hit the next milestone of nine billion.  Stef Kight, politics reporter at Axios, joins is for what to know as we still face several challenges as the population continues to grow.   Next, there is a mystery in the labor market as older Gen Z workers are missing from the workforce.  We are seeing fewer people ages 20-24 with a job which equals to a shortfall of about half a million workers.  In 2021, wages were rising and there were tons of job openings, it attracted teens, but didn't stick with others.  We have also seen a rise in the number people in this age range that are neither working or in school.  Bryan Mena, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, a mother was arrested recently after he 10-year-old son got a tattoo.  Last month, the boy walked into the nurse's office looking for Vaseline, he wanted to rub it on his new tattoo.  While there have been shifting attitudes about tattoos recently, there are many laws on the books where those under 18 cannot get a tattoo, even if they have parental consent.  Sarah Maslin Nir, staff reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The makeup of Congress continues to take shape as the House continues to skew toward Republicans and Democrats retain control of the Senate.  Democrats overperformed in the midterms and they can attribute that to independent voters that broke their way.  Despite the GOP holding the edge on top issues, independent voters were turned off by candidates that were too closely aligned with Trump.  Aaron Zitner, politics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how independents decided the midterms.   Next, the FAA recently held a public comment period on the size of airline seats.  What they got, was tens of thousands of comments that painted a horrible picture of what passengers experience.  But will those comments lead to bigger and better seats?  Probably not.  The FAA will decide if they want to make minimum seat requirements, but only what's necessary for safety, not comfort.  James Bikales, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, in a shift on what you might expect, baby boomers can't stop looking at their smartphones.  While the concern of too much screen time is mostly directed at kids and teens, some millennials and Gen Xers are complaining that their parents can't let the phones go, especially when the grandchildren are around.  Heather Kelly, tech reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how some families have had enough of the phones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democrats have retained control of the Senate, and the House is still up in the air, although the numbers look to favor Republicans.  Throughout the midterm elections there have been many tight races and margins are just razor thin.  So why is America always divided 50-50?  As the two parties constantly jockey for the majority, neither party really builds any momentum.  Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how polarization and a changing electorate is impacting politics.   Next, more colleges are offering admission to students who never even applied to those schools.  There has been an increase in universities that are participating in “direct admissions” programs to streamline the process for students but also align them with geographic and academic interests and boost enrollment  goals too.  The result is tens of thousands of students are getting offers they never thought they would.  Melissa Korn, higher education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, dialing 0 to reach an operator or getting directory assistance from 411 is soon to be a thing of the past.  How many people even use those services now, as smartphones have made them obsolete?  Starting Jan. 1, AT&T is ending the service to landline customers in 21 states.  Wireless users aren't even offered it.  Jo Constantz, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for a brief history of 411.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.