The scale and volatility of the trade war may be surprising, but tariffs aren’t new — unless you’re an aircraft manufacturer. (A trade agreement eliminated duties on commercial jets in 1980.) Last week, China told its airlines to reject Boeing deliveries, and since then at least two jets have been redirected to U.S. soil. Also in this episode: Student visa revocations could impede U.S. innovation in tech and science, home sellers are making concessions and consumers struggle with credit card debt.
Marketplace All-in-One - Could the Supreme Court gut preventative care under Obamacare?
Yes — Obamacare is before the Supreme Court, again. This time, the case centers on the legality of an advisory task force. Experts worry it could spell the end of an ACA mandate requiring insurers to cover certain preventative care services at no cost. But first: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is caught up in another Signal group chat scandal. Plus, Paul Revere wasn’t the only midnight rider to warn that the British were coming.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
"‘An amateur person’: GOP Rep. Bacon says Hegseth should go" from Politico
"Obamacare returns to SCOTUS, with preventive care on the line" from Politico
"Court to hear challenge to ACA preventative-care coverage" from Scotus Blog
"Kristi Noem’s Purse, With Security Badge and $3,000, Is Stolen" from The New York Times
"Paul Revere Wasn't the Only Midnight Rider Who Dashed Through the Darkness to Warn the Patriots That the British Were Coming" from Smithsonian Magazine
"April 18, 2025" from Heather Cox Richardson
Got a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Marketplace All-in-One - Why the dollar is falling
The U.S. dollar is down more than 1% this morning. It may be a sign that investors globally are wondering if our currency is still as safe as they once thought, given President Donald Trump’s trade wars and his threats to the independence of the Federal Reserve. We'll dig in. Plus, Capital One and Discover are set to merge, and we'll look at how debts can weigh on older Americans.
Marketplace All-in-One - The skinny on what happens to weight-loss drugs now
When the Food and Drug Administration determined there was a shortage of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, it allowed compounding pharmacies to step in and make them. But the shortage is officially over, meaning many of these pharmacies have to stop selling their own versions of these drugs starting tomorrow. We'll hear more. Plus, a developer shares how he plans to rebuild his Altadena home with fireproofing in mind.
Marketplace All-in-One - China cautions countries over making deals with the U.S.
From the BBC World Service: China has warned that it will hit back at countries that make deals with the U.S., which it fears will hurt Beijing's interests. It's a sign that the trade war between the world's two biggest economies threatens to drag in other nations. What does this all mean? And we also learn about the economics of carpet-weaving, one of the only jobs women in Afghanistan are now allowed to do.
Marketplace All-in-One - Mobile apps are failing users with disabilities
Developers of mobile apps have "room for improvement" in making their platforms fully accessible for disabled users, according to a new report from the software company ArcTouch and the digital research platform Fable.
It looked at fifty popular apps and assessed them for features that improve accessibility like screen reading, text size adjustability, voice controls and multiple screen orientations. The apps were tested by disabled users who reported a poor or failing experience almost three-quarters of the time.
Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Ben Ogilvie, head of accessibility at ArcTouch, to learn more about why so many apps are behind.
Marketplace All-in-One - Selling America: Special Coverage From Marketplace
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: We’re in an unprecedented economic moment. But this time really is different. America’s place in the global economy is shifting. And what happens next is going to matter for businesses, consumers and you. Today, Kai Ryssdal’s popping into your feed with special coverage and reporting from Marketplace to help you make sense of the scale and scope of the economic change in real time.
We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the reporting that you rely on. If you can, please donate to help keep Marketplace programming free and accessible for all.
Marketplace All-in-One - Special Coverage from Marketplace: Selling America
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: We’re in an unprecedented economic moment. But this time really is different. America’s place in the global economy is shifting, and what happens next is going to matter for businesses, consumers and you. This special Marketplace broadcast, hosted by Kai Ryssdal, is focused on helping you understand the scale and scope of the economic change in real time. Here’s what you’ll hear:
Kai interviews experts about what happens when investors and businesses can’t plan, the relationship between tariffs and the return of manufacturing, and what we should think about employment going forward.
On-the-ground stories from small businesses in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington state, California and Iowa.
Reporting from Sabri Ben-Achour, Justin Ho and Kristin Schwab on global trade without the United States, recession forecasting, and the industry that may experience the most tariff pain.
Listener questions about the bond market, tariff revenue, the role of the U.S. dollar, global confidence and much more.
We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the reporting that you rely on. If you can, please donate to help keep Marketplace free and accessible for all.
Marketplace All-in-One - Special Coverage from Marketplace: Selling America
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: We’re in an unprecedented economic moment. But this time really is different. America’s place in the global economy is shifting, and what happens next is going to matter for businesses, consumers and you. This special Marketplace broadcast, hosted by Kai Ryssdal, is focused on helping you understand the scale and scope of the economic change in real time. Here’s what you’ll hear:
Kai interviews experts about what happens when investors and businesses can’t plan, the relationship between tariffs and the return of manufacturing, and what we should think about employment going forward.
On-the-ground stories from small businesses in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington state, California and Iowa.
Reporting from Sabri Ben-Achour, Justin Ho and Kristin Schwab on global trade without the United States, recession forecasting, and the industry that may experience the most tariff pain.
Listener questions about the bond market, tariff revenue, the role of the U.S. dollar, global confidence and much more.
We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the reporting that you rely on. If you can, please donate to help keep Marketplace free and accessible for all.
Marketplace All-in-One - A housing market dilemma
Some relief seems to have arrived on the housing shortage front — listings are up 9% compared to last year. But buyers who’ve been waiting for more properties to go on the market? Not many are biting. In this episode, why the housing market flip-flopped and put sellers in a tough situation. Plus, why the theft of food benefits is common and how warming waters are affecting Maine’s shrimp industry.