Author: Marketplace

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has been in the headlines recently for other reasons, has quietly stopped collecting economic data from smaller cities. We chat with Cornell University professor Russell Weaver on why the collection of inflation and other data is being cut in places like Buffalo, New York and Lincoln, Nebraska. Also: two American microchip makers have agreed to give the U.S. government a cut of their sales in China.

From the BBC World Service: Tesla is looking to enter the UK energy market as the company continues to diversify its offerings in addition to electric vehicles. Also: a look at how residents of self-governing Greenland think about their future amid pressure from the Trump administration.

U.S.-based data centers are expanding at a fast pace, thanks largely to the boom in generative artificial intelligence software and cloud computing. But they’re also reportedly causing environmental issues and other problems for their neighbors. The BBC’s Michelle Fleury reports from Georgia on how the boom in data centers is raising environmental and sustainability concerns from the people who live near them.

The U.S. health care sector will lose crucial long-term care providers if the Trump administration suceeds in slashing the Temporary Protected Status program. In this episode, we visit Massachusetts, where many Haitian immigrants at risk of deportation fill critical, low-paid care roles. Plus: Developing economies will suffer if U.S. consumption is stymied by tariffs, and we check in with an artist in Nebraska and retirees in New England.

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Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

President Trump will replace Billy Long as the head of the Internal Revenue Service, less than two months since he was confirmed. This comes after months of turmoil at the IRS. We’ll explain. And, did you know could opt out of facial recognition software when going through airport security? Plus, we’ll weigh in on Instagram’s new map feature and more during a round of Half Full/Half Empty! 

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Trump Is Removing Billy Long as the I.R.S. Head 2 Months After He Was Confirmed" from The New York Times
• "The Comply To Fly?" from The Algorithmic Justice League
• "This wedding season, some couples are using their registries to give back" from Marketplace
• "Should buy now, pay later factor into credit scores?" from Marketplace
• "The New York Post is launching a California edition. Why?" from The Washington Post 

• "Instagram Map lets your friends, and possibly exes, track your every move'" from The Washington Post

  
  

  Tell us about your experience with TSA’s facial recognition system. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

President Donald Trump has been threatening tariffs on pharmaceuticals for months. This week, he told CNBC that he’s planning to impose a “small tariff” on prescription drugs soon, which could eventually be raised to 250%. Today, we delve into what tariffs could mean for prescription drug imports and the patients who rely on them. Also: a temporary appointment at the Fed, tariffs on gold, and spending on soccer sponsorships in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

You might be able to before too long. Tax-protected retirement savings may soon allow riskier assets to be included in 401(k)s or 403(b)s, such as cryptocurrency accounts or private-equity investments. The gears for this were set in motion by presidential order yesterday, though the changes won't happen immediately. We'll learn more. And later in the program, we'll explore how tariffs are shaping business for both a Switzerland-based generic drugmaker and a Portland, Oregon-based building contractor.

From the BBC World Service: The pharmaceutical industry is still waiting to see what duties they’ll be hit with, but pharma giant Sandoz, based in Switzerland, says the duties won't get them to move manufacturing to the U.S. Then, President Donald Trump called for the boss of U.S. chipmaker Intel to resign. And, the Congolese government is in the spotlight for spending massive amounts of money to sponsor some of the world's biggest soccer teams.

OpenAI’s new open-weight models are designed to run on a local computer and can be fine tuned by users. A Tech Transparency Project report shows Google dropped more than 50 DEI-related groups from its funding list. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company’s investment to build up its supply chain in the domestically. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Natasha Mascarenhas, reporter at The Information, to discuss all of this and more.

American worker productivity grew a modest 2.4% in the second quarter of the year. Good news, right? Well, take a look at the math, and the last few months of falling imports and slowing workforce growth translated to productivity that might only look strong on paper. Later in this episode: Trump floats a 100% tariff on foreign semiconductors, couples opt for charitable wedding registries, and a mom of six makes a tough career decision.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.