Marketplace Morning Report
American Public Media
In less than 10 minutes, we’ll get you up to speed on all the news you missed overnight. Throughout the morning, Marketplace’s David Brancaccio will bring you the latest business and economic stories you need to know to start your day. And before U.S. markets open, you’ll get a global markets update from the BBC World Service in London.
Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Description:
In less than 10 minutes, we’ll get you up to speed on all the news you missed overnight. Throughout the morning, Marketplace’s David Brancaccio will bring you the latest business and economic stories you need to know to start your day. And before U.S. markets open, you’ll get a global markets update from the BBC World Service in London.
Twitter:
@MktplaceRadio
Language:
English
Contact:
261 South Figueroa Street #200 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 621-3500
Email:
Letters@marketplace.org
Episodes
USAID cuts hit agricultural research
2/21/2025
There’s another casualty from the Trump administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development: Funding for agriculture research at 17 labs at U.S. universities is now frozen. We’ll discuss some of the impacts. Plus, the health of the manufacturing sector improved for the second month in a row. And, how are markets responding to a flurry of economic data, government firings and a government-wide deregulation campaign?
Duration:00:07:41
Consumers have the travel bug again
2/21/2025
Shares of Booking Holdings — the company behind Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak and other travel sites — are popping this morning after announcing yesterday that profits were up almost 50% last quarter compared to a year earlier. Tons of companies in the travel industry, including airlines, are doing well thanks to strong travel demand. We’ll unpack. Also on the program: a lesson on how Massachusetts helped make the modern gambling industry.
Duration:00:08:30
Antiausterity protests continue in Indonesia
2/21/2025
From the BBC World Service: Thousands of students are protesting as part of what’s become known as “Dark Indonesia” demonstrations, in which rally-goers are taking a stand against budget cuts and other policies by President Prabowo Subianto. Plus, Germany’s election campaign is in its closing days, and a BBC investigation finds that addictive synthetic opioids are being illegally shipped to West Africa by an Indian company.
Duration:00:08:42
The tiff over New York City’s congestion pricing
2/20/2025
The Trump administration has waded into a controversial policy in New York that charges tolls for most passenger cars entering certain parts of Manhattan, also known as congestion pricing. The Secretary of Transportation has sent a letter to New York’s governor saying that the administration is revoking federal approval. We’ll hear more. Also, we’ll unpack Walmart’s quarter earnings release and learn how one California company is electrifying older diesel trucks.
Duration:00:07:41
What slashing federal agency budgets could mean for food safety
2/20/2025
The Food and Drug Administration is among the agencies in the firing lines of the Trump administration’s staff cuts. But those layoffs are raising flags about how the FDA will be able to adequately oversee food supply safety and respond to any crises or outbreaks. Also on the program: what the government might do with savings resulting from DOGE’s budget slashes and why homebuilders feel pessimistic about future sales.
Duration:00:08:26
Fed’s “wait and see” stance on inflation keeps global economies on their toes
2/20/2025
From the BBC World Service: The Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes suggest they want to see more evidence that inflation is cooling before cutting interest rates. However, when borrowing costs stay high in the U.S., it can ripple around the globe. Then, authorities in Myanmar have started sending back hundreds of Chinese nationals accused of working in internet scam operations. And, ahead of Germany’s elections, we hear how voters are reacting to a sluggish economy.
Duration:00:07:48
25 is the magic number
2/19/2025
President Donald Trump says he wants to impose tariffs of 25% or more on imports of automobiles, semiconductor chips and pharmaceuticals. The president had previously mentioned sector-specific tariffs. Now there’s a number: 25%. But it’s far from certain that these tariffs will materialize. We’ll discuss. Plus, as part of this month’s Econ Extra Credit series, we’ll talk about how far racial representation come since the early days of TV.
Duration:00:08:08
How COVID-19 deaths impacted Social Security
2/19/2025
We start today’s show with a grim reality: New research finds that the COVID-19 pandemic led to so many deaths — of people who would have withdrawn retirement benefits — that it resulted in a $205 billion net increase in the nation’s Social Security fund. Plus, a new lawsuit is trying to keep DOGE out of America’s tax returns, and the NAACP is calling for Black consumers to leverage their purchasing power.
Duration:00:08:54
What’s behind the UK’s spike in inflation?
2/19/2025
From the BBC World Service: The inflation rate in the United Kingdom has jumped to 3%, its highest level in 10 months. Rising food prices are partly to blame. Then, EU ambassadors agreed to a new round of sanctions on Russia, including a ban on some aluminum imports. And later, while Germany is the largest economy in Europe, it’s struggling. We see how the country’s mittelstands — small and midsized family-owned businesses — are faring.
Duration:00:07:27
The great federal data disappearing act
2/18/2025
Amid the cascade of directives from President Trump, some government datasets have become inaccessible. Researchers, economists and investors are among the people who rely on that data — and there’s a cost when it goes away. Plus, “we will see an increase by tenfold of people dying from AIDS.” We take a hard look at how disruptions to U.S. foreign aid are affecting lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment and what happens if they aren’t resolved.
Duration:00:07:59
Drama over DOGE, Musk and Social Security
2/18/2025
The Trump administration is defending giving the Elon Musk-led advisory group DOGE access to the detailed tax records of all Americans. Presidential advisor Steven Miller says it’s about rooting out foreign fraud. Now, DOGE is reportedly trying to get access to Social Security records. We’ll unpack. Also on the program: New car sales dropped in January, and we’ll discuss some of the lasting effects that wildfires have on local labor markets.
Duration:00:08:59
Argentina’s president faces crypto fraud allegations, impeachment calls
2/18/2025
From the BBC World Service: Opposition politicians in Argentina want to impeach President Javier Milei after a short-lived promotion of an obscure cryptocurrency caused investors to lose thousands of dollars. We’ll hear more. Plus, Russia and the U.S. are meeting in Saudi Arabia for their first direct talks designed to end the war in Ukraine. And, we’ll learn how a lack of investment in Germany’s infrastructure has affected one town in East Germany.
Duration:00:08:02
A wager for the history books gives us a glimpse into our future
2/17/2025
One of the most famous bets in the past half-century — at least among economists — wasn’t about the Super Bowl or a presidential election. No, it was about whether five critical metals would be worth more or less between 1980 and 1990. Really, this was about innovation and how we consume natural resources. Researchers are now looking at this question all over again. What can we glean? Also: a frigid vault to preserve data.
Duration:00:08:38
How insecurity can worsen inequality
2/17/2025
One of the key themes of American life right now is uncertainty, whether it be from the rising cost of living, the toll of natural disasters or new policies from Donald Trump’s administration. Today, we’ll unpack how uncertainty and precarity can pave the way for deeper inequality. Plus, the Trump administration is considering the ocean floor as a mining source for critical minerals. We’ll hear about the opportunities the mining industry sees.
Duration:00:09:48
The arctic vault that hopes to preserve our data
2/17/2025
From the BBC World Service: Every day, our digital footprint is growing, but parts of it will be lost over time. To safeguard it for future generations, some are storing digital artifacts in the Arctic World Archive. We put on our headlamps and winter coats to learn more. Also on the show: Seoul bans China’s DeepSeek, Chinese President Xi Jinping holds high-profile meetings with business leaders, and Russia-Ukraine peace talks impact oil prices.
Duration:00:09:15
The slashing of the federal workforce begins
2/14/2025
President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk are intensifying their program to end the jobs of federal employees. A new strategy is to let go people on the job for less than a year, people with what is called “probationary status.” We’ll discuss. Plus, a new poll finds that a third of Americans have more credit card debt than emergency savings. Then, could labor unions help meet Colorado’s green energy goals?
Duration:00:08:22
Unlocking The Gates: How wrongs might be righted
2/14/2025
This week, as part of our “Unlocking The Gates” series, we’ve been covering the relationship between housing access and economic opportunity in the U.S. In this final piece, we hear directly from those involved in Minnesota’s efforts to tackle the inequity that keeps people locked out of the property market there. But first: the Trump administration has expanded its campaign to terminate the jobs of federal workforce.
Duration:00:08:10
Are British parents spending too much on baby formula?
2/14/2025
From the BBC World Service: The United Kingdom’s antitrust body is calling for standardized labelling and clearer information on baby formula to help parents save money. Also, global leaders are gathering in Germany for the annual Munich Security Conference. The big topic this year is Ukraine, which has offered the U.S. key minerals in a high stakes bid to secure support. And, are reusable water bottles turning into the next fast fashion?
Duration:00:08:29
Inflation could be lurking in your valentine tomorrow
2/13/2025
Wholesale inflation ticked up in January, as did consumer price inflation. Valentine’s Day is not immune from these inflationary pressures. The National Retail Federation expects record spending of nearly $28 billion for the holiday — meaning that heart-shaped box of chocolates is going to cost ya. Plus, the Trump administration is moving on to plans for possible layoffs of federal workers and is taking aim at energy efficiency standards for home appliances.
Duration:00:07:16
Unlocking The Gates: Racial covenants go national
2/13/2025
For our special series “Unlocking The Gates,” Marketplace special correspondent Lee Hawkins investigates how his family got into their house after a nighttime real estate deal allowed Black families to buy into a Minnesota suburb. Today, we’ll explore It’s about how racial discrimination in Minnesota became national policy after endorsement by wealthy business owners and powerful politicians. But first: There’s not much vacant retail space these days. What gives?
Duration:00:08:23