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Plus: The Trump Administration files a $15 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. And U.S. retail sales and import prices rose in August. Zoe Kuhlkin hosts.
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An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.
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The latest retail sales data shows U.S. consumers are still spending it up, even in the face of higher tariff costs and a shaky labor market. Wealthier Americans are driving the trend, but a “culture of treats” might also play a role. Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to explain her theory. Plus, brands like Gap are pitching themselves to Gen Z by riffing on Y2K fashion. Are you onboard?
Here’s everything we talked about today:
"Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right Chord" from Forbes
We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
PayPal is expanding its peer-to-peer payment service to crypto.
PayPal is expanding its peer-to-peer service to include crypto transfers to its payment flow. The payment giant said U.S. users will soon be able to send digital assets like bitcoin and ether across PayPal, Venmo, and other crypto-compatible wallets. CoinDesk’s Jennifer Sanasie breaks down what this means for crypto mainstream adoption on “CoinDesk Daily.”
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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “CoinDesk Daily” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and edited by Victor Chen.
A United Nations commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Also on the programme, three years on from the death of Mahsa Amini, we look at the state of Iran's women-led uprising; and, the Hollywood actor and director Robert Redford has died.
(Photo: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City - 14 Sep 2025 MOHAMMED SABER/EPA/Shutterstock)
Kyle Chayka, Staff Writer at The New Yorker and author of Filterworld, breaks down how algorithmic sameness is reshaping global culture—and what it means for creativity, identity, and authenticity online. He explores how creators are challenging traditional media, why crypto could become the internet’s native currency, and how digital identity is evolving in a world shaped by metrics, machines, and media. Joining him is Keith Soljacich of Publicis Media, as they explore opportunities to create deeper meaning amid these cultural shifts.
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Public companies report their earnings every three months, giving investors and the public regular snapshots of how business is going. But President Trump wants to see fewer of those reports. In a social media post on Monday, he said companies should report just twice a year instead of quarterly. Susan Schmidt, a portfolio manager at Exchange Capital Resources — and one of the folks who is often looking at those reports — joins us to weigh in.
Plus, the Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day meeting on interest rates, and we take a closer look at efforts in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria to develop more AI products in African languages.
Israel has gone all in to finish the war Hamas started on October 7. Batten down the hatches and watch for the anti-Semitic content. Speaking of which, watch as the anti-Semites try to claim Charlie Kirk, a prominent Christian Zionist, as one of their own. Give a listen.
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Why is the treason charge being used against several key opposition figures in some African countries ?
We meet Elsa Owusu-Sarpong - aka Bikergirl El’- the tireless road safety campaigner from Ghana. What's the sad tale behind her passion and inspiration?
And Africa’s elderly population is set to increase – but how are they treated?
Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Charles Gitonga in Nairobi with Mark Wilberforce, Sunita Nahar and Patricia Whitehorne in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Editors: Andre Lombard, Maryam Abdalla and Alice Muthengi.
Plus: Google says it will spend almost $7 billion in the U.K. ABB invests $110 million across the U.S. to meet demands for data centers and the power grid. Zoe Kuhlkin hosts.
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Bitcoin mining stock investor and hedge fund manager Mike Alfred slings his opinions on IREN, public miners, and AI on the latest Mining Pod.
Click Here To Join the BitAxe Giveaway
Welcome back to The Mining Pod! Today, Mike Alfred, founder of Alpine Fox LP and a non‑executive director at IREN, joins us to talk about Bitcoin mining economics, AI‑GPU arbitrage, the importance of owning physical infrastructure, and how his permanent‑capital fund navigates massive drawdowns while staying contrarian in a hype‑driven market.
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
03:51 Alpine Fox Fund
07:26 IREN allocation
10:26 Why invest in IREN?
16:10 Why post on social?
20:16 Cleanspark
20:44 Binance
25:26 Memetic investing
32:39 Breaking news
36:34 Drawdowns
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Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in the Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviews on Tuesday and a news show on Friday!