Podcasts about labor department

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: weather is in the news; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI; the European Central Bank voted to raise their benchmark interest rate, and what that means for the Federal Reserve meeting next week; the National Association of Realtors reported the May Existing Home Sales; Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, Author of the Energy Report, explains why President Trump refrained from striking Iran over the last few weeks; oil prices reacted to Trump cancelling further planned strikes on Iran, Trump's announcement that peace talks have been brought to the highest levels of the Iranian leadership; gas prices continue to retreat; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: weather is in the news; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI; the European Central Bank voted to raise their benchmark interest rate, and what that means for the Federal Reserve meeting next week; the National Association of Realtors reported the May Existing Home Sales; Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, Author of the Energy Report, explains why President Trump refrained from striking Iran over the last few weeks; oil prices reacted to Trump cancelling further planned strikes on Iran, Trump's announcement that peace talks have been brought to the highest levels of the Iranian leadership; gas prices continue to retreat; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York City's unemployment rate is higher than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, and job growth has stalled. James Parrott, senior fellow and senior advisor at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, talks about factors contributing to these economic concerns. Photo: A 'help wanted' advertisement is displayed in Manhattan on January 09, 2026, in New York City. The Labor Department reported on Friday that employers added 50,000 jobs in December, bringing the unemployment rate down to 4.4% (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Labor Department released a better-than-expected jobs report last Friday morning, but financial markets saw a major sell-off. What gives? Bankrate's Mark Hamrick explains. Also, where's the return on investment from AI?

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: participation in a daily Zoom call with Israel's Defense and Security Forum discussing the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon; the U.S. Labor Department released the Initial Jobless Claims Report; the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1st Quarter Nonfarm Productivity and Unit Labor Costs; the White House to adjust tariffs on certain items; European Union lawmakers are approaching a final approval of a Trade Deal with the U.S.; United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) reported whether any Iranian crude passed through the U.S. Navy's blockade; oil and gas prices react to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, possible progress in U.S. -Iran talks, crude oil inventory reports; comments on the upcoming 82nd anniversary of D-Day on Saturday, June 6;Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical, offers his insights and a few opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Jobless Claims; the U.S. Commerce Department reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price (PCE) Index and the Core PCE; the Commerce Department also reported the second revision of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); oil and gas prices react to reports of a ceasefire extension between the U.S. and Iran, claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that they had targeted a U.S. airbase in Kuwait; changes in the U.S. oil, gas and distillate stockpiles; Kevin has the details, digs into the details, puts the data into historical perspective, offers his insights, and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As AI reshapes how work gets done, a new, hands‑on program is showing how veterans can build real, usable skills and do it quickly. It's a practical take on the Labor Department's push for AI fluency, with results already taking shape. Mika Cross and Ted Adair join me to walk through what participants are learning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Jobless Claims; the U.S. Commerce Department reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price (PCE) Index and the Core PCE; the Commerce Department also reported the second revision of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); oil and gas prices react to reports of a ceasefire extension between the U.S. and Iran, claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that they had targeted a U.S. airbase in Kuwait; changes in the U.S. oil, gas and distillate stockpiles; Kevin has the details, digs into the details, puts the data into historical perspective, offers his insights, and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Undefeated Defining Moments Podcast, host Wong Lam sits down with Lisa Janloo—single mom of three, small business owner, and 2026 candidate for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner. Lisa shares how her Persian father's journey from Iran to Oklahoma shaped her foundation of faith, hard work, and personal responsibility, and why she sees serving as Labor Commissioner as her way to give back to the state and country she loves. Lisa pulls back the curtain on: Balancing motherhood, business ownership, and a statewide campaign as a single parent What the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner actually does—and why most voters don't know How she wants to modernize the Labor Department, cut red tape, and turn it into a pro-business, pro-worker resource Her passion for workforce development, especially for youth, the homeless, formerly incarcerated Oklahomans, and veterans Raising kids with a strong foundation of faith, gratitude for America, and respect for others You'll also hear candid stories about: Paying off her home by age 33 Running her own print and copy shop and managing rental properties Her daughter calling out double standards in the classroom Why she proudly wears the label “single mom” and wants to change how people see it This is a high-energy, heartfelt conversation about faith, family, freedom, and the future of Oklahoma's workforce. If you care about small business, education, or public service—or you just need inspiration to tackle your own “impossible” goals—you'll get a lot from Lisa's story. Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to step into their own defining moment.

Inflation may have sunk the Democratic Party at the ballot box in 2024. But high prices at the grocery store and the gas station are now a problem for the GOP. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices in April saw their biggest year-over-year jump in three years and gasoline prices were up 28% from a year earlier. For our special What's News series The Cost-of-Living Election, WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui met with voters and congressional candidates in and around Allentown, Pa., to uncover what stubborn inflation could mean for the area's primary election this Tuesday. She then speaks with the sitting congressman for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, about what he's doing to address the rising cost of living. Relevant links: Tariffs' Messy Reality: The Cost-of-Living Election | Part 1: Ohio Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the Ranch It Up Radio Show Herd It Here Weekly Report!  A 3-minute look at cattle markets, reports, news info, or anything that has to do with those of us who live at the end of dirt roads.  Join Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt, the Boss Lady Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' by subscribing on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. President Trump Delays Beef Imports Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump delayed the planned signing of executive orders ‌to allow increased beef imports into the U.S. and to support renewal of the U.S. cattle herd in an effort to address high beef prices.   Last October, Trump ordered a quadrupling of beef imports from Argentina, and a month later removed his 40% punitive tariff on Brazilian beef and coffee. The moves did little to reverse beef prices, which were up 12.1% year-over-year in April, according to the Labor Department's Consumer Price Index.  Beef ‌is more ⁠than 16% more expensive than when Trump returned to office in January 2025. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected that the country will import a record 5.8 billion pounds of beef this year, up about 6% from 2025 and ⁠25% from 2024. REFERENCE:  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sign-orders-boost-beef-imports-rebuild-cattle-herd-white-house-says-2026-05-11/ Feeder & Stocker Cattle Prices at Stockmen's Livestock Exchange Feeder and grass cattle continue to command bell ringing prices across the country.  Last week Stockmen's Livestock Exchange in Dickinson, North Dakota was no exception. Strong demand and optimism rang through the barn as a group of Black and Black white face steers weighing 584 brought $502.00.  A group of Black white face steers weighing 612 came in at 5 bucks.  That's over $3,000 per steer, wow.  Not done yet, here are 100 head of black white face steers weighing 727 at $444.00.  131 head of black white face steers weighing 852 sold for $380.00. Same excitement for the heifer mates.  70 head of black and black white face heifers weighing 642 brought $416.50.  48 head of Charolais Red Angus cross heifers weighing 726 brought $369.50.  For a complete market report, Click HERE.  Upcoming Feeder Cattle, Bull & Cow Sales On RanchChannel.Com Lots of feeder cattle, steers & heifers, bulls, and cow sales coming up on the RanchChannel.Com sale calendar.  Check out the full line up HERE. SPONSORS Jorgensen Land & Cattle https://jorgensenfarms.com/ @JorLandCat Ranch Channel https://ranchchannel.com/ @RanchChannel Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email RanchItUpShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/ Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/

The Senate approves the Federal Reserve's new leader 54-45, one day after new figures from the Labor Department show consumer prices accelerating, and not only due to oil stuck at the Strait of Hormuz. How will Warsh approach the job of getting back to 2%, and what's the legacy of outgoing Chair Jerome Powell? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Bortin, CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized, makes the documented case that America's public school system was never broken — it's working exactly as its Marxist architects designed, producing a country where less than half of adults read above a sixth-grade level and 73% of church-attending kids abandon their faith within two years of graduating. The Prussian model imported by Horace Mann, the Frankfurt School's march through teachers colleges, B.F. Skinner's behaviorist blueprint taught in education master's programs — none of this is conspiracy theory, it's quoted directly from the architects themselves. Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education, Bortin argues, is a sleight of hand: the laws remain, the funding continues, and moving it to the Labor Department only deepens the ideology that children exist to be trained as corporate widgets. The exit ramp is the same it's always been — get your kids out of the building before it burns yours down too.Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

Robert Bortin, CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized, makes the documented case that America's public school system was never broken — it's working exactly as its Marxist architects designed, producing a country where less than half of adults read above a sixth-grade level and 73% of church-attending kids abandon their faith within two years of graduating. The Prussian model imported by Horace Mann, the Frankfurt School's march through teachers colleges, B.F. Skinner's behaviorist blueprint taught in education master's programs — none of this is conspiracy theory, it's quoted directly from the architects themselves. Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education, Bortin argues, is a sleight of hand: the laws remain, the funding continues, and moving it to the Labor Department only deepens the ideology that children exist to be trained as corporate widgets. The exit ramp is the same it's always been — get your kids out of the building before it burns yours down too. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

It's Wednesday, May 13th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Timothy Reed Mexican cartel violence forces families to flee The Mexican state of Guerrero is seeing major drug cartel violence from the group Los Ardillos, forcing families and local citizens to flee. Mexican national forces are almost nowhere to be seen in the region, and according to Marina Velascho, representative of the People's Indigenous Council of Guerrero, “These have been days of terror. They've been bombing communities with drones, and how can one defend themselves from a drone, with bombs falling from the sky.”  Elderly Protestant missionary kidnapped by Mexican drug thugs The recent violence in the Mexican state of Guerrero is also affecting Christians. Benito Guevara Arcos, a 79-year-old Protestant missionary, disappeared from the area in recent weeks. An organized criminal group had kidnapped the missionary after taking exception to his preaching. Sadly, disappearances in Mexico have surged over 200 percent in the last decade. Anna Stangl with Christian Solidarity Worldwide said, “We urge the Mexican government, at all levels, to increase efforts to arrest the influence of organized criminal groups in the country, recognizing the specific threat that these groups pose to religious leaders.” In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Trump lumps in radical transgenders with Islamic terrorists In the United States, the Trump administration is cracking down on transgender ideology and the radical left. Transgenderism is identified as a major threat in the United States' newly released Counterterrorism Strategy for 2026. Far left groups have been placed on a watch list. The document stated, “In addition to cartels and Islamist terror groups, our national count terrorism activities will also prioritize the rapid identification and neutralization of violent secular political groups whose ideology is anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist.”  Marty Makary, who oversaw generic Abortion Kill Pill, out at FDA Dr. Marty Makary is out as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, reports The Western Journal. He announced his resignation Tuesday, May 12th, amid policy differences with President Donald Trump and prominent Republican senators, reports Politico. Kyle Diamantas, who previously worked as the top food official at the agency, will lead the FDA in an acting capacity. Makary has received backlash for his handling of the Abortion Kill Pill and vaccines. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, had called for Makary to be ousted. She wrote, “This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP. The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top.” Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri tweeted, “This is welcome news. Dr. Makary was uniquely destructive to the pro-life movement. He attempted to place pro-abortion lawyers in key positions. He slow-walked a vitally necessary review of the abortion drug mifepristone. He used his discretion to approve a new abortion drug when the data shows it sends 1 in 10 women to the emergency room. He froze out prolife leaders and repeatedly stonewalled Congress. His resignation is an opportunity for the FDA to reset.” Southwest Airlines paid $1 million to fired pro-life stewardess Life News reports that Southwest Airlines paid nearly one million dollars to a pro-life stewardess last week. Charlene Carter had worked as a flight attendant for over 20 years. In 2017, she sent a message to the Transport Workers Union, protesting its support for abortion. She sued after the union and Southwest Airlines fired her for her pro-life speech. The recent settlement ends a nine-year legal battle. The National Right to Work Foundation represented Carter in the lawsuit. Listen to comments from Mark Mix, the president of National Right to Work Foundation. MIX: “What ended up as a long battle ended up well for Charlene Carter, and hopefully spreads the word to other employees that want to speak up on issues related to their beliefs and their ideas. The union can't thwart that. And that's what this case is all about.” Prices continue to skyrocket The prices of goods and services in the U.S. continued to rise last month.  The Labor Department reported inflation was up 3.8 percent in April compared to a year earlier. It's the biggest annual increase since 2023. Meanwhile, wages only grew 3.6 percent from April last year. This means inflation outpaced wage growth for the first time since 2023. Since the Iran war, Americans are seeing higher prices particularly for gasoline, electricity, and food.  50% of 18 to 24-year-old Christians are reading Bible weekly And finally, a new report found young Christians are engaging with the Bible more than older generations. The Patmos Youth Report surveyed nearly 30,000 young respondents around the world.  The report found half of Christians aged 18-24 read the Bible on a weekly basis. That level of Bible engagement is higher than older generations. Bible engagement was particularly high in the regions of Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.   Psalm 144:12 and 15 says, “May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace . . . Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 13th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

President Trump landed in Beijing on Monday ahead of a meeting with Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping. The president was greeted with a red carpet arrival paired with a welcoming ceremony. Trump was also traveling with top officials and business leaders including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang. Trump is expected to discuss trade, while the Iran war, Taiwan and human rights are also likely to take center stage.The Department of Health and Human Services says one U.S. passenger showing symptoms tested negative for the hantavirus. That passenger and their partner are currently in quarantine in Atlanta, Georgia, while the other 16 Americans are currently asymptomatic. The CDC says exposed passengers are being monitored by public health officials in multiple states and that the overall risk to the American public remains low.Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows annual inflation rose to 3.8% in April, with economists forecasting a jump to 3.7%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, edged up to 2.8%. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March, with gas prices rising 5.4%. Grocery prices rose 0.7%. Labor Department data showed gas prices are up more than 28% compared to a year ago.

The latest inflation report shows price increases for American consumers in April hit a three-year high, driven by a spike in the cost of gasoline. The Consumer Price Index, which includes energy and food costs, rose 3.8% year-over-year, according to the Labor Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR's Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China."See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Labor Department says inflation in April was 3.8 percent year over year, highest in three years, with the Iran war driving up energy and food prices; Senate leaders weigh in on President Trump's proposal to suspend the federal gas tax as the average for a gallon hits $4.50; Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst testifies to House & Senate Appropriations subcommittees that the war with Iran has cost so far $29 billion.  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth & Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also testify about the Trump Administration's war strategy; President Trump heads to China for a visit with President Xi Jinping on the war with Iran, trade, AI and Taiwan, among other issues; $1 billion added for security upgrades to President Trump's White House ballroom reportedly gets a chilly reception from Senate Republicans; FBI Director Kash Patel is questioned at a Senate subcommittee hearing about news reports alleging  a pattern of unexplained absences and excessive drinking; Criminal indictments are announced against the companies that operated the ship that crashed into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in 2024, killing six workers; FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary says he is resigning; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) does an impersonation of the late President John F. Kennedy setting the goal of going to the moon, complete with a Boston accent, to celebrate the recent Artemis II mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Labor Department reported Friday that unemployment held steady in April and that the U.S. added 115,000 jobs, surpassing expectations. For more on the numbers and what they tell us about the state of the economy, Amna Nawaz speaks with Mohamed El-Erian, a professor at the Wharton School of Business and chief economic advisor at Allianz. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down the Congressional redistricting referendum approved by Virginia voters that would have created a new map that favored Democrats, ruling the state legislature did not follow proper state Constitutional amendment procedures; U.S. military says it fired on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, as Secretary of Marco Rubio says the U.S. is expecting a response from Iran to the latest peace plan soon; Secretary Rubio also talks about his meeting this week with Pope Leo XIV on the Iran War and the humanitarian situation in Cuba; April jobs report comes in better than most expected. Labor Department says 115,000 jobs were created, and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%; President Donald Trump hosts a Mother's Day luncheon at the White House for mothers whose children were killed in military service or by illegal immigrants. President says of the latter, "they saw their precious children stolen from them by the open border policies of the radical left"; Great Britain's ruling Labour Party led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer loses big in local elections against the upstart Reform UK Party led by Nigel Farage. We talk about it with C-SPAN's Westminster Correspondent Peter Knowles (40) ; Pentagon releases a batch of declassified files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), also called UFO's. We talk about that with Associated Press White House reporter Colin Binkley. (51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department released the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report; AI prepared stories are sometimes not as accurate as they should be; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released non-farm business sector productivity; the S&P Global U.S. Services Purchasing Managers' Index was released, previously in the week; Iran seems to have responded to the latest peace proposal, issuing new rules for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz; oil prices had a wild rollercoaster ride reacting to events of the war with Iran; the data from the coupon platform RetailMeNot reported preliminary Mother's Day spending; Kevin has the details, digs into data, puts the information into historical perspective. offers his insights and a few opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department released the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report; AI prepared stories are sometimes not as accurate as they should be; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released non-farm business sector productivity; the S&P Global U.S. Services Purchasing Managers' Index was released, previously in the week; Iran seems to have responded to the latest peace proposal, issuing new rules for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz; oil prices had a wild rollercoaster ride reacting to events of the war with Iran; the data from the coupon platform RetailMeNot reported preliminary Mother's Day spending; Kevin has the details, digs into data, puts the information into historical perspective. offers his insights and a few opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department released the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report; AI prepared stories are sometimes not as accurate as they should be; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released non-farm business sector productivity; the S&P Global U.S. Services Purchasing Managers' Index was released, previously in the week; Iran seems to have responded to the latest peace proposal, issuing new rules for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz; oil prices had a wild rollercoaster ride reacting to events of the war with Iran; the data from the coupon platform RetailMeNot reported preliminary Mother's Day spending; Kevin has the details, digs into data, puts the information into historical perspective. offers his insights and a few opinions.

Federal workers' compensation is getting an overhaul from the Trump administration. The Labor Department says it's expanding the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to cover more types of beneficiaries and compensation programs. That includes claimants under the Black Lung Benefits Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Labor Department leadership says the goal is to improve drug pricing transparency, as well as promote cost savings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee, Chairman Jerome Powell announced their interest rate decision and indicated his plans once his term as Chaiman ends on May 15, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered his thoughts on Powell's decision; the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims report; the U.S. Commerce Department reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Index; Personal Spending, Personal Income and Gross Domestic Product; oil and gas prices continue to be affected by the events in the Strait of Hormuz, the Blockade of Iran's ports, the United Arab Emirates decision to exit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and a few opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee, Chairman Jerome Powell announced their interest rate decision and indicated his plans once his term as Chaiman ends on May 15, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered his thoughts on Powell's decision; the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims report; the U.S. Commerce Department reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Index; Personal Spending, Personal Income and Gross Domestic Product; oil and gas prices continue to be affected by the events in the Strait of Hormuz, the Blockade of Iran's ports, the United Arab Emirates decision to exit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and a few opinions along the way.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee, Chairman Jerome Powell announced their interest rate decision and indicated his plans once his term as Chaiman ends on May 15, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered his thoughts on Powell's decision; the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims report; the U.S. Commerce Department reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Index; Personal Spending, Personal Income and Gross Domestic Product; oil and gas prices continue to be affected by the events in the Strait of Hormuz, the Blockade of Iran's ports, the United Arab Emirates decision to exit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and a few opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ralph welcomes Professor Nicholas Chater, co-author of “It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems.” Then, as most of the media turns its attention to Iran, we return to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and welcome back Dr. Feroze Sidhwa to break down his three-part series published in Zeteo called “The Truth About Gaza's Dead.”Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. He has written and co-written more than two hundred research papers and six books, including It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems (co-written with George Loewenstein).I was on a UK government committee as the representative of behavioural science for six years, where my role was (at least I understood my role to be) coming up with smart-aleck ideas about what individual nudges or bits of useful information we could give to the public—how that would help people reduce their carbon emissions. And I came away from that experience extremely chastened. Because almost all the interesting issues were nothing to do whatsoever with individual behavior. They were all about big systemic changes… And the shock for me was realizing that the tools that I was hoping to wield were in fact completely ineffective.Nick ChaterI think it's absolutely true that many of the things that behavioral scientists are supposedly “discovering” [are] the things that campaigners and activists and indeed people in the political world generally and journalists intuitively have long known, and indeed probably have good evidence for. It's simply— it's sort of a sad process of trailing-along-behind which I think the academic world has been engaged in, where we've been slowly realizing that things that everybody else knew initially are actually true after all.Nick ChaterOne of the most powerful things that each of us has is the ability to propagate our own perspective and to campaign for change…I think getting people pulling together and pushing for change can be incredibly powerful. So seeing ourselves as citizens who are actively able to have our voice, make our voices heard, I think that's where the real power lies. And I think that the campaigners and political activists and so on have always known this. And of course, also, big businesses have always known this too. And they certainly don't want us to be doing too much of that. They want us to be focusing on quite the opposite. They want us to be focusing on our own gardens and not worrying about the big picture. They don't want organized opposition.Nick ChaterDr. Feroze Sidhwa is a general, trauma, and critical care surgeon in California. He is also a humanitarian surgeon who has worked in Palestine, Ukraine, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso. He most recently volunteered at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza. He was blocked from entering Gaza by Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service in November 2025.In the first 25 days of the assault on Gaza, more children were killed than in the entire worst year of conflict that Airwars had ever studied previously, which was Syria in 2016. In the first 25 days in Gaza, between 2,200 and 2,600 children were killed in Gaza, compared to 1,900 in Syria. So again, if you adjust for the size of the population (because Syria is a much bigger country than Gaza is a territory), the rate of killing of children in Gaza was 71 to 142 times higher than it was in the worst year on record for children in conflict—Syria in 2016.Dr. Feroze SidhwaGaza is a place where infants freeze to death if they are not sheltered. Well, there are no sheltered infants in Gaza for any practical purposes. They're all unsheltered. So we have a list of the actual names of a dozen or two dozen children who have actually frozen to death…And there is shelter—ready-made mobile shelters for hundreds of thousands of people right outside of Gaza. It's in Egypt and it's in Jordan. The only thing that's stopping anybody from bringing it in is the US and Israel…This is just dastardly. We should think about it for a second—we (meaning Americans) [are] living in a country where neither political party seems to care that we are freezing infants to death.Dr. Feroze SidhwaRight now, the Israelis are blocking cough medicine from going into Gaza. And the reason (they say) is because it contains glycerin. Now, glycerin, in theory, can be used to make explosives. But it's one picogram or something—it's just part of a pill or the syrup that goes into it, right? This is children's cough medicine. The idea that Hamas or Islamic Jihad or anybody else in Gaza has the laboratory equipment and facilities that would be needed to extract the 0.01% of glycerin that's in a pill or a medical syrup to then make a bomb is beyond idiotic. Furthermore, we all know that there's (and I'm speaking literally) hundreds of tons of unexploded Israeli bombs—actually I should say unexploded US bombs—all over the Gaza Strip. That's where Hamas gets all of its explosives from. It just repurposes unexploded Israeli munitions. So all of this is just sheer nonsense.Dr. Feroze SidhwaNews 4/24/26* Our top stories this week have to do with people losing their jobs. First up, Apple CEO Tim Cook – the handpicked successor of Steve Jobs who has led the tech giant for the past 15 years – announced this week that he would transition away from the CEO role. While he will remain on as Executive Chairman, John Ternus, the company's head of hardware engineering, will take over at the helm, PBS reports. Cook's tenure at Apple has received mixed evaluations, with many applauding the steady handed executive for adding an estimated $3.6 trillion in market value to the company, while others have critiqued his supposed lack of innovation compared to his predecessor. Some hope his more technical-minded successor will put more emphasis on product development moving forward. Like many tech CEOs, Cook went to great lengths to ingratiate himself with President Trump in his second term, donating $1 million to his inaugural committee and gifting Trump a glass plaque set in 24-karat gold last August.* Meanwhile, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned this week amid “an internal investigation into her conduct,” which included “instructing staff to buy her bottles of sauvignon blanc on work trips… [stashing] liquor in her office, [encouraging] young female staffers to ‘pay attention' to her father and husband, [having] an affair with a member of her security detail, and [arranging] work travel to visit family and friends,” per Vox. For the time being, the Labor Department will be headed by Keith Sonderling, whom POLITICO calls a “quintessential Washington insider who is well-connected in the capital's Republican circles and his home state of Florida.” Sources quoted in this piece identify Sonderling as a key behind-the-scenes player in the administration whose accumulated influence “extends well beyond DOL.” The choice of Chavez-DeRemer, a former Congresswoman who was seen as perhaps the most labor-friendly Republican in the House, was supported at the time by Trump-aligned Teamster boss Sean O'Brien; her ouster therefore, represents the latest humiliating setback for his strategy of cozying up to Trump to win favorable treatment for his membership. In the words of a recent Current Affairs piece published before the downfall of Chavez-DeRemer, “Sean O'Brien Sold Labor to Trump, and Got Nothing.”* In the House, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat this week, just minutes before the House Ethics Committee was set to weigh punishment for the Congresswoman, whom the panel had previously found guilty of “a slew of ethics violations, including accusations that she stole millions in pandemic relief funds and used it to bolster her 2021 campaign,” according to CNN. Cherfilus-McCormick was one of the four Members of Congress included in the proposed bipartisan expulsion deal some weeks ago, along with Representatives Swalwell, Gonzales, and Mills. With the first two gone, a tremendous amount of pressure is sure to be exerted on Congressman Mills to resign as well. Prior to resigning, Cherfilus-McCormick was already facing a stiff primary challenge from young progressive Elijah Manley. Now, it seems her seat – representing hundreds of thousands in Broward and Palm Beach counties – could remain vacant until a new member is sworn in next January, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unlikely to call a special election before then.* Also in Congress, Axios reports Representative David Scott of Georgia, a powerful Black Georgia Democrat who served in the lower house for over 20 years, passed away this week at age 80. Scott, who rose to become the first Black chair of the key House Committee on Agriculture, had filed to run again in 2026 despite rumored resistance from his colleagues. His death leaves Georgia's 13th district without representation in the House and amounts to a stunning fourth death-based Democratic House vacancy in the past year. Like the ones that preceded it, this must be seen as a bright red warning signal to Democratic leadership.* In DC more broadly, the employment picture looks even worse. According to a new report in the Guardian, the combined purging of 300,000 jobs from the federal government – the piece notes this is the “region's largest employer” – by Elon Musk's absurd Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, with another 13,000 job cuts in the private sector, has left DC with the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.7%. With little sign of increased hiring in the public or private sectors, there is no indication this trend will reverse itself any time soon.* Elsewhere in the DMV, this week Virginia voters approved a referendum to amend the state constitution allowing Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts in their favor. Currently, Virginia Democrats hold six districts to the Republicans' five; under the new map, Democrats are poised to hold 10 districts and the Republicans just one. This is the latest episode in the mid-decade redistricting fight begun last year, when Texas Republicans sought to redraw the Lone Star state's maps to be more favorable to the GOP. This set off a stampede of states seeking to redraw their district lines. Now, in light of the Virginia referendum passing, Florida is threatening to redraw their maps to the detriment of Democrats there. The Hill reports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, taking a sharper tone than usual, responded to news of the Florida redistricting attempt with a statement reading “If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime pick-up opportunities for Democrats, just as they did with Trump's dummymander in Texas…[he vowed] maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”* In California, the downfall of Eric Swalwell has resulted in the unexpected rise of another candidate – former Congressman, California Attorney General, and Biden-era Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Between April 10th and April 22nd, Becerra surged from a polling average of under 4% to an average of 13% – and in some polls, even moved into first place. While Becerra seeks to consolidate this spike in support, progressives are airing long-held grievances. David Sirota, former Bernie Sanders campaign advisor and founder of the Lever, cited that publication's 2021 report on how “As California AG, [Becerra] demanded the HHS secretary use existing law to lower medicine prices - and then he became HHS secretary & literally refused to do that.” Others have pointed out that, according to Transparency USA, Becerra's campaign has received massive donations from the likes of Chevron. Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer on the other hand this week received the endorsement of Our Revolution, closely aligned with Bernie Sanders, which noted that “Yes, Tom Steyer is a billionaire. But it matters what he is doing with that power: pushing for taxes on the wealthy, expanding universal programs, and dismantling corporate influence in our politics.”* In another case of politics making strange bedfellows, the Chicago Tribune reports the political arm of Planned Parenthood is making an endorsement in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García in Illinois 4th congressional district. Except, in this case, the reproductive rights group is not endorsing the Democrat in the race. Listeners may recall that Congressman García was sharply criticized for his maneuvering to ensure his chief of staff Patty García would be the Democratic nominee. This has forced other potential aspirants to run as independents. These include DSA-aligned Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-López and activist Mayra Macías – the latter of whom won the Planned Parenthood Action endorsement this week. The Tribune notes that Macías served on the board of Planned Parenthood Action until the beginning of this year. In a statement, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson called Macías “a proven leader,” who “will be unrelenting in the fight to protect access to sexual and reproductive health care.”* Turning to international news, in South Africa, leftist politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison this week for “firing a rifle in ⁠the air at a party rally,” Al Jazeera reports. Unsurprisingly, given that the EFF is the fourth largest political party in South Africa, this case has become a rallying cry for Malema's supporters, with those same supporters accusing the prosecution of being politically motivated. Presiding Magistrate Twanet Olivier disputes this, contending that it “is not a political party who has been convicted here … it is a person, an individual.” Malema's lawyers immediately applied for – and were granted – leave to appeal, but if these appeals fail Malema could be barred from serving as a Member of Parliament.* Finally, in more positive news from abroad, Reuters reports that the much-trumpeted summit of the global Left held in Barcelona this week – designed to help progressives rally their forces to defeat modern reactionary Right-wing nationalism characterized by figures like Trump – drew over 6,000 attendees from over 40 countries. Headline speakers included Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Lula, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. From the United States, an ecclectic group addressed the summit, ranging from video messages of support from Hilary Clinton to Bernie Sanders to Zohran Mamdani, with an in-person address by Minnesota Governor and former Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz. A recurrent theme, hammered home by Isabel Allende, former Senate president ​of Chile and daughter of Salvador Allende, Chile's leftist president ousted in a U.S.-backed coup and replaced with the dictator Augusto Pinochet, was that the left has become too distant from the daily concerns of workers, stating in no uncertain terms that “It's unimaginable to fight against the right ‌if we can't ⁠get closer to ordinary people.”This has been Francesco DeSantis with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims; Omdia Automotive released data regarding March Medium Duty Truck Sales; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates Transportation intelligence (FTR) reported their respective reports regarding U.S. Trailer Orders; S&P flash U.S. Services and Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indices were released; oil and gas continue to react to continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and confusion over who is in charge in Iran; Kevin has the details, digs through the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advisors on This Week's Show Kyle Tetting Art Rothschild Adam Baley (with Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik) Week in Review (April 20-24, 2026) Significant Economic Indicators & Reports Monday No major announcements Tuesday Retail sales rose 1.7% in March, driven by higher gas prices. The U.S. Census Bureau said 12 of 13 categories reported higher revenue than February. The exception was miscellaneous stores. Gas station sales jumped 15.5% in a month when prices rose 24%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Excluding gas stations and car dealers, retail spending increased 0.6%. Sales at bars and restaurants rose 0.1%, following a 0.5% gain in February and two months of declines. Adjusted for inflation, total retail sales rose 0.8%, the most in a year. Retail sales represent about two-thirds of U.S. consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of the gross domestic product. Prospects for home sellers brightened slightly in March with a bump up in the pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors. The trade group said its index rose 1.5% from February but was down 1.1% from the year before. It stood more than 26% below the 2001 index base, which the Realtors consider to be a normal sales level. The association said the monthly increase in contract signings amid rising mortgage interest rates suggested pent-up demand. It cited a lack of inventory, especially for young, first-time buyers. Among the top 50 metro areas in the country, the Realtors said the Milwaukee-Waukesha area had a 13.5% one-year gain in pending sales, second only to the Kansas City area, at 15%.  Wednesday No major announcements Thursday The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose slightly for the third week in a row to remain 42% below its average since 1967. A Labor Department report suggested continued reluctance among employers to let workers go. Total jobless claims dropped 1.9% from the week before to 1.9 million, which was 2.9% below the same time in 2025. Friday Consumer sentiment declined 6.6% in April as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran continued to weigh down expectations for personal finances and the broader economy. Sentiment overall was nearly 5% lower than in April 2025 and near its low levels in mid-2022, when inflation reached 40-year highs. According to the University of Michigan survey, consumers expect inflation to rise to 4.7% in the next year and to settle around 3.5% longer term. The latest Consumer Price Index showed inflation at 3.3% in March, well above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of 2%. Market Closings for the Week Nasdaq – 24837, up 368 points or 1.5% S&P 500 – 7165, up 39 points or 0.5% Dow Jones Industrial Average – 49229, down 218 points or 0.4% 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.31%, up 0.06 point

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims; Omdia Automotive released data regarding March Medium Duty Truck Sales; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates Transportation intelligence (FTR) reported their respective reports regarding U.S. Trailer Orders; S&P flash U.S. Services and Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indices were released; oil and gas continue to react to continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and confusion over who is in charge in Iran; Kevin has the details, digs through the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Jobless Claims; Omdia Automotive released data regarding March Medium Duty Truck Sales; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates Transportation intelligence (FTR) reported their respective reports regarding U.S. Trailer Orders; S&P flash U.S. Services and Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indices were released; oil and gas continue to react to continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and confusion over who is in charge in Iran; Kevin has the details, digs through the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A government investigation into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has uncovered text messages allegedly sent by her husband and father to young female staffers, according to a report by The New York Times. The probe, conducted by the Labor Department's inspector general, follows a prior investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia into three sexual assault allegations involving her husband, Shawn DeRemer.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: weather events are again in the news; the U.S. Labor Department released the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report; the Federal Reserve released their "Beige Book" report on Wednesday; States consider motor fuel tax holidays: oil and gas prices react to the latest news regarding the war with Iran; Kevin has the details, sifts through the data; puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advisors on This Week's Show Kyle Tetting Dave Sandstrom John Sandstrom (with Max Hoelzl,Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik) Week in Review (April 13-17, 2026) Significant Economic Indicators & Reports Monday Housing sales stayed “sluggish” in March amid the weakest market in more than 30 years, according to the National Association of Realtors. The annual sales rate dipped another 3.6% from February to 3.98 million, 1% lower than the year before. The trade group blamed elevated mortgage rates and continued lack of inventory. Another 300,000 to 500,000 houses would be needed in addition to the 1.4 million already for sale to reach the historic balance between supply and demand, the group said. The imbalance has resulted in price increases. The median sales price rose 1.6% from the year before to a record $408,880 in March. The Realtors estimated that rising prices have increased the typical homeowner’s wealth by $128,100 since 2000. Tuesday The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that wholesale inflation rose 0.5% in March, as prices on goods increased while services were unchanged. An 8.5% jump in energy prices, including nearly 16% in gasoline, accounted for the bulk of the rise in the cost of goods. The Producer Price Index advanced 4% from the year before, the steepest increase in more than three years. Excluding volatile prices for food, energy and trade services, the core PPI rose 0.2% from February and was up 3.6% from the year before, the most since November. Wednesday No major announcements Thursday The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the seond week in a row following five weeks of no increases. The indicator of employers' willingness to let workers go remained 42% below the all-time average, dating to 1967, according to Labor Department data. Total claims for jobless benefits fell 4% from the week before to 1.9 million, which was 3% off from where it was the year before. Industrial production sank in March for the first time in four months as output from mines, utilities and manufacturing all declined. The Federal Reserve Board said overall production fell 0.5%, although it was up 2.4% through the first quarter and was 0.7% ahead of where it stood in March 2025. Factory production dropped 0.1% from February on broad declines led by automotive, which were partly offset by increased output from construction supplies as well as defense and space equipment. Industries' capacity utilization rate fell slightly from February and stayed below its 54-year average, suggesting higher prices weren't imminent. Friday No major announcements Market Closings for the Week Nasdaq – 24468, up 1566 points or 6.8% S&P 500 – 7126, up 309 points or 4.5% Dow Jones Industrial Average – 49448, up 1531 points or 3.2% 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.25%, down 0.08 point

On March 30, the Employee Benefit Security Administration(EBSA) published its much-anticipated response to President Trump's Executive Order on Alternative Investments. What, if anything, does it mean?In this episode Nevin (Adams) and Fred (Reish) look at theproposal—what it says (and doesn't), the six factors to be considered—and one that isn't—the process ahead, and its implications for plan fiduciaries.Last August  President Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Labor to, among other things, “reexamine the Department of Labor's guidance on a fiduciary's duties regarding alternative asset investments in ERISA-governed 401(k) and other defined-contribution plans” —a stance widely seen as encouraging the consideration of alternative assets in defined contribution plans, including401(k)s and 403(b)s.In response, on March 30 the Labor Department issued aproposed regulation to that directive, titled “Fiduciary Duties In Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives.” However, it acknowledges that while the executive order “focused on fiduciary responsibilities for offering an asset allocation fund that includes investments in alternative assets, the proposed regulation would apply to the selection of any type of investment as a designated investment alternative,including investments in so-called “alternative assets.”The Investment Selection proposal also has a lot to say about ERISA litigation. In fact, the word is used over 100 times in the release, including 26 footnotes and multiple section headers.Episode Resources:Special Edition: Fiduciary Duties In Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives Proposed Rule  https://endeavor-retirement.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=f770b62bc8f42a0b66751fe636fc6eb0.467&s=f1b8e69fc34995b9d807df36b7a3c6f3EBSA's Aronowitz Outlines Fiduciary Framework for ‘Investment Selection Rule'How Many Times Does the DOL Proposed Rule Mention ‘Litigation?'Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives (the “Investment Selection Rule”)Breaking News: Trump Signs EO to Advance Private Market Investments in 401(k)s

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: a preview of Friday's beginning of "peace talks" between the U.S., Israel and Iran and expectations; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the third estimate of 4th quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), core PCE and Consumer Spending; the U.S. Labor Department released the Initial Jobless Claims Report; the American Trucking Associations (ATA)released the For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index and the Logistics Managers' Index; oil prices react to the upcoming "peace talks", Israel negotiations with Lebanon regarding Hezbollah, on again /off again opening of the Strait of Hormuz and oil supply threats across the Middle East; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deadline for federal agencies to implement risk management practices for high-impact AI use cases — or terminate them — has come and gone, but a handful of departments are still working to complete their requirements. FedScoop reached out to 28 federal agencies to inquire about the steps they have taken to ensure compliance within the April 3 timeframe. Some agencies fulfilled the requirements, like the Labor Department, NASA, the VA, State, GSA, and the EPA, while others reclassified use cases or still have a couple boxes to check. A few appear to have missed the deadline entirely. As outlined by an Office of Management and Budget memorandum, uses considered high-impact are required to comply with minimum risk management practices, which include pre-deployment testing, impact assessments, adverse impact monitoring, adequate human training and assessments, appropriate fail-safes that minimize harm, consistent appeal processes, and options for end users to submit feedback. The Department of Justice is asking Congress for a major boost in fiscal 2027 to the fund it uses to support IT modernization and enterprise cybersecurity, with the entire increase going directly to the agency's zero-trust cybersecurity architecture. DOJ has requested $149 million for its Justice Information Sharing Technology fund as part of the Trump administration's fiscal 2027 budget request. Congress appropriated $38.5 million for the program in the past two fiscal years. The primary difference between this request and the funding enacted in the most recent years prior is the $110.3 million that DOJ says it needs to support its migration to a zero-trust architecture for its unclassified and national security systems. To put that into perspective, Justice requested a more meager $11.8 million increase to the JIST fund's topline in fiscal 2026 for “cybersecurity posture enhancement,” which it did not get. In its congressional budget justification for 2027, Justice explains that despite an industrywide shift to zero trust as the cybersecurity model of choice in response to the SolarWinds attack on federal agencies in 2020, its funding for cyber was cut by $108 million in fiscal 2024 and remained essentially flat since then. “Enacted funding levels over the past three years are below the level required to cover DOJ's over 275,000 endpoints and approximately 160,000 users,” the budget document states, adding that “the current funding levels impact the Department's current defenses and constrain its ability to adapt to evolving threats.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Host: Cindy Allen Show: Simply Trade – Cindy's Version Published: April 9, 2026 Length: ~16 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center The Story of Us: Tariff Changes, CAPE Confusion, and the Trade Community Waiting for Answers Cindy Allen returns with a wide-ranging trade update set to Taylor Swift's “The Story of Us,” using the song's theme of miscommunication to frame the current disconnect between CBP, the courts, and the trade community. From a new DHS funding update and fresh uncertainty around tariffs and valuation to the evolving CAPE refund process and the latest questions around customs business, this episode captures a moment where the trade world is working hard to keep up with fast-moving policy changes. What You'll Learn in This Episode DHS and trade funding DHS remains largely unfunded, although TSA funding has now passed and some CBP officers remain funded under prior legislation. Many trade-related staff are still working without pay, and the shutdown pressure has now stretched beyond a month. Last sale and valuation debate Congress is still considering the last sale bill, which could eliminate last sale as a valuation method. Cindy explains that last sale has long been treated as part of the broader transaction value framework and is supported by court history, but Congress can still change the law if it chooses. White House tariff threats The White House floated 50% duties on countries that sell weapons to Iran, though Cindy questions what legal authority could support that now that IEEPA has been ruled unlawful. For China, the government could potentially revise Section 301 tariffs, but for other countries, the implementation path is unclear. Forced labor enforcement The Labor Department announced a new tool for assessing foreign forced labor practices, but details were sparse. Cindy notes that CBP already has a strong forced labor framework and suggests the Labor Department may be stepping into a larger detection/enforcement role. WTO criticism from USTR U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer published an op-ed criticizing the World Trade Organization, signaling frustration with its current effectiveness and casting doubt on the U.S. role going forward. Cindy highlights this as another sign that global trade institutions may be under pressure to prove relevance. 232 updates now in effect The recent steel and aluminum 232 changes took effect on April 6. Cindy notes that the system seems to be running smoothly, with de minimis treatment for some shipments under 15%, reduced or removed tariff coverage for certain HDS annex items, and new component-level classifications that reduce ambiguity even if the tariff burden remains high. CBP also released guidance on April 3, which importers subject to 232 should review carefully. USMCA remains strained USMCA negotiations continue, but Cindy says they are tense and may not conclude by the July 1 deadline. Despite frustration and mixed positions among the three governments, she notes the agreement still matters for North American production and U.S. manufacturing support. Customs business ruling and trade tech A recent customs business ruling has created concern among AI and trade tech companies, especially around whether certain activities now require a licensed customs broker. Cindy explains that the issue muddies the water for brokers, tech providers, and importers alike and will likely require clarification from CBP. ACE portal account requirement CBP has rolled out a new ACE portal account application process. Importers seeking refunds now need an ACE Portal account, and Cindy recommends checking CBP's site or speaking with a broker to understand the new application process. Strait of Hormuz and market impact The war with Iran is paused for two weeks, but a reported $2 million vessel toll for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is raising alarms. Cindy also points to Bloomberg reporting that some Asian factories are seeing 55% price increases on plastics, showing how oil transit issues ripple into fertilizers, plastics, diesel, and broader market volatility. CAPE and “The Story of Us” Cindy says she chose “The Story of Us” because the song reflects the miscommunication and silence she sees between CBP, the courts, and the trade community. The CAPE process is still being built, and while CBP has filed detailed updates with the court, the real uncertainty is how the court will interpret those filings and what rules will ultimately apply to importers. The biggest unresolved questions remain whether finally liquidated entries will be included, whether protests or court actions will be required, and how refund filings will ultimately work. Cindy notes that the lead case changed from Artemis to a new test case after Artemis withdrew, meaning the court started over with new orders and the process remains in motion. Subscribe & Follow New episodes every Friday. Presented by Global Training Center • Global Training Center on LinkedIn • YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Trade Geeks Community

Advisors on This Week's Show Kyle Tetting Steve Giles Kendall Bauer (with Jason Scuglik) Week in Review (April 6-10, 2026) Significant Economic Indicators & Reports Monday No major announcements Tuesday The Commerce Department signaled ongoing weakness in demand for long-lasting manufactured products as orders for durable goods declined in February for the third month in a row and the fourth time in five months. A drop-off in requests for aircraft led a 1.4% dip in orders for the month, though commercial aircraft orders boosted the year-to-year totals to an 8.1% increase. Excluding transportation equipment, orders rose 0.8% from January and were up 5.3% from February 2025. Core capital goods orders, considered a proxy for business investments, rose 0.6% for the month and increased 4.2% from the same time last year. The Federal Reserve reported that revolving credit debt outstanding rose at an annual rate of 0.6% in February. That was down from paces of 2.3% and 7.4% in the preceding months and suggests a rising reluctance among consumers to carry credit card debt. Revolving credit debt has declined 1.8% from its peak in October 2024. The report showed total consumer debt growing at an annual 2.2% pace, including a 2.8% rise in non-revolving credit, which includes student loans and vehicle financing. Wednesday No major announcements Thursday The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the first time in six weeks but remained 42% below the long-term average. The measure is an ongoing indicator of employers' reluctance to let go of workers. The Labor Department also reported that a little more than 2 million Americans claimed jobless benefits in the most recent week. That's down 1.3% from the week before and down 2.3% from the same time last year. U.S. economic growth slowed more than previously reported at the end of 2025. The Bureau of Economic Analysts said gross domestic product rose at an annual pace of 0.5% in the fourth quarter, down from an earlier estimate of 0.7% and a pace of 4.4% in the third quarter. The bureau said lower investment accounted for most of the revision, although consumer spending also slowed, and government spending declined sharply — partly tied to the shutdown in October and November. The Bureau of Economic Analysis separately reported that consumer spending rose 0.5% in February. Meanwhile, personal income fell 0.1%, resulting in a drop in the personal savings rate. The same report showed the Federal Reserve Board's favorite inflation gauge unchanged from January at 2.8%. The Fed's long-term target for inflation broadly is 2%. Friday Higher energy prices led a surge in inflation in March. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index, the broadest measure of inflation, rose 0.9% from February and 3.3% from the year before — the biggest one-year increase since May 2024. Energy costs increased 12.5% in the last year, including a 21.2% spike in gasoline prices just in March. Core inflation, excluding food and energy products, rose 0.3% from February and 2.6% from the year before. The war in Iran has taken a toll on Americans’ confidence in the economy and their financial outlooks. University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index dropped 11% in March and was 9% below where it stood a year ago. The university said sentiment fell broadly across demographic groups. Expectations for inflation reached the highest levels since a year ago, when they shot up amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies. Market Closings for the Week Nasdaq – 22903, up 1024 points or 4.7% S&P 500 – 6817, up 234 points or 3.6% Dow Jones Industrial Average – 47917, up 1412 points or 3.0% 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.32%, up 0.01 point

An American fighter jet shot down over Iran, two crewmembers ejecting, one safely rescued by U.S. forces, and the search continues for the other; President Donald Trump proposed a federal budget for next year that include a 42% increase in defense spending, to $1.5 trillion; Labor Department says the U.S. created 178,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate ticked lower to 4.3%.  but are their warning signs due to the war with Iran? We will talk with MarketWatch Economics Editor Greg Robb (10); NASA gives a status report on the Artemis II mission to the moon; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche talks about taking over as acting Attorney General when Pam Bondi leaves; debate for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; America250 Chair Rosie Rios on latest events to celebrate the nation's semiquincentennial; On this Good Friday before Easter Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt talks about the importance of her faith, and that of others work in the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-The Labor Department reports nonfarm payrolls rising by 178,000 in March, far exceeding expectations and signaling unexpected strength in the labor market. -Greg Kelly breaks down President Donald Trump's decision to part ways with Attorney General Pam Bondi and examines the implications for the administration. -Benny Johnson and Rob Finnerty react to Bondi's firing, debating what qualities her replacement must demonstrate to restore public confidence. -Mark Geragos weighs in on Harmeet Dhillon, suggesting she has strengthened the civil rights unit and may be the most viable candidate for confirmation. -Richard Grenell praises President Trump's approach to “Epic Fury,” arguing the president successfully balances strength with diplomacy on the global stage. Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at ⁠http://Newsmax.com/Listen⁠ Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at ⁠http://NewsmaxPlus.com⁠ Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : ⁠http://nws.mx/shop⁠ Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: ⁠http://nws.mx/FB⁠  -X/Twitter: ⁠http://nws.mx/twitter⁠ -Instagram: ⁠http://nws.mx/IG⁠ -YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV⁠ -Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV⁠ -TRUTH Social: ⁠https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX⁠ -GETTR: ⁠https://gettr.com/user/newsmax⁠ -Threads: ⁠http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX⁠  -Telegram: ⁠http://t.me/newsmax⁠  -BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com⁠ -Parler: ⁠http://app.parler.com/newsmax⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department released the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; during the Mid-America Trucking Show, Nicole Ward, Founder and President of African American Women Trucking Association, stopped by to talk; oil and gas prices continue their volatility as result of the war with Iran; PRICE Futures Group, Senior Market Analyst, Phil Flynn had a few interesting theories regarding why prices are on the rise; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump says Attorney General Pam Bondi will be leaving the Justice Department to take a position in the private sector, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche; A day after President Trump's primetime speech on the war with Iran, during which he said the U.S. & Israel will "hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks….We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutteres warns the world is “on the edge of a wider war.” We will talk about where the war with Iran stands with Elise Labott, founder of 'Cosmopolitics' Substack Founder (16); Senate passes an agreement to end the Homeland Security Department shutdown, but the House does not, so the partial government shutdown will extend into next week; National Capital Planning Commission gives final approval to his plans to build a 1,000 seat White House ballroom where the East Wing used to be; Labor Department publishes a rule to implement the President's proposal to allow 401(k) retirement plans to contain alternative assets, like cryptocurrency and private equity. We will talk with Brett Samuels, Bloomberg Law retirement benefits reporter (44); Health & Human Services Department puts microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the draft list of drinking water contaminants kept by the Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 811: Neal and Toby discuss a new proposal from the Labor Department to allow 401(k) plans to include private credit, private equity, and crypto. Then, the Iran War is fueling a coal comeback. Next, superstar artists are doing fewer stops for their world tours as concerts and the cost of putting up concerts is becoming more expensive. Meanwhile, it's Toby's Trends on the new Automated-Ball-Strike system that may revolutionize the MLB.  Watch ‘Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat' on Prime Video Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Mar. 30. The Labor Department proposed a new rule that would make it easier to invest in private markets through 401(k)s. It comes as investors pull money from some private-credit funds. WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen explains the risks. Plus, last year OpenAI hyped up its new AI video product, Sora. So why did it abruptly pull the plug last week? WSJ tech reporter Berber Jin tells us. And the CEO of Air Canada is stepping down after he offered condolences for the LaGuardia Airport crash in English and not in French. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Necessary Conversation, we break down a chaotic and dangerous moment in U.S. politics: a rapidly expanding war with Iran, newly released FBI interview summaries tied to the Epstein investigation, the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and a weakening U.S. economy. We ask the questions many Americans are asking right now—and some the government doesn't want asked.⚔️ War With Iran EscalatesTrump's war with Iran intensified this week as missile and drone strikes spread across the Middle East, impacting U.S. bases and global oil shipping routes. Gas prices jumped, markets dropped, and the administration still has no clearly stated end goal for the conflict.We discuss:What the real objective of the war might beRising global tensions with Russia and China now backing IranThe growing cost of the war—estimated at $1 billion per dayWhether this conflict could spiral into a much larger global crisis

P.M. Edition for Mar. 6. The Labor Department said today that the U.S. lost 92,000 jobs in February—a greater drop than economists expected. WSJ economics reporter Justin Lahart discusses the sectors affected, and what this report means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, President Trump calls for “unconditional surrender” in Iran. And WSJ markets reporter Hannah Erin Lang says U.S. stocks dropped after the weak employment report, while oil prices continued their rise, notching their biggest weekly gain on record. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.