This morning, the winners of the Nobel Prize in economics — three professors whose work centers on technological innovation and what helps economies grow — were announced. Marketplace senior economics contributor Chris Farrell joins the program to discuss their research. Plus, the USDA notified states that they need to make big changes to SNAP eligibility, work requirements, and who’s covering costs. But advocates worry about the tight deadline for changes.
Marketplace All-in-One - China’s global exports boom amid renewed U.S. trade war
From the BBC World Service: Trade tensions are flaring as Beijing responds to President Donald Trump’s threats to tack an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods. China has warned of "corresponding measures," though new data shows that China’s exports are booming. So does China still need the U.S.? Then, Nigeria produces nearly 40% of the world's shea nuts, which sustains a multibillion-dollar trade in cosmetics, food, and medicine. But new trade restrictions are being felt throughout the shea nut supply chain.
Marketplace All-in-One - AI companies are eyeing your shopping cart and your data
Open AI has added a checkout feature to ChatGPT, partnering with Etsy and Shopify to let users purchase some items from select merchants. OpenAI says ChatGPT's answers are still organic and unsponsored. But why not offer a seamless way to buy things that come up in certain responses?
Eventually this could lead to so-called “agentic” shopping: letting AI research items, pick one, and then buy it on our behalf. Marketplace's Nova Safo spoke with colleague Meghan McCarty Carino about what AI companies stand to gain from integrating e-commerce tech.
Marketplace All-in-One - The deal with “back door” betting
Wanna put a wager on, well, just about anything? Try a prediction market. Competing industry giants Kalshi and Polymarket both saw major investment this week, and for good reason. Though they don’t look it on paper, both function as (extremely lucrative) sports betting platforms but don't face the regulations of sports betting platforms. In this episode, we bet on where that legal loophole is headed. Plus: Expect car sales to sputter as the EV tax credit ends and tariffs drive up costs, and the case for replacing subsidized air travel with a more robust rural bus system.
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Marketplace All-in-One - Dealing with credit card or medical debt? Here’s how to handle it.
On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by the host of NPR’s “Life Kit” podcast, Marielle Segarra, who’s recently been working on a four-week newsletter series all about credit card debt — and how to avoid it all snowballing. Plus, we’ll play a round of Headline or Head-lyin’!
Here’s everything we talked about today:
- “In credit card debt? There’s a path out” from Life Kit
- “Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here’s how to negotiate them” from Life Kit
- “A big misconception about debt — and how to tackle it” from Life Kit
Marketplace All-in-One - What is a government shutdown?
When Esmé noticed her dad suddenly staying home from work, she had questions! Her dad is one of the hundreds of thousands of workers sent home because of the government shutdown. But what is a government shutdown anyway? In today’s special bonus episode, we explain what’s going.
We’re working on future seasons and would love to hear your kid’s money questions! Record your Million Bazillionaire and send the audio using this online form and we just might include your kid in an upcoming episode!
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Marketplace All-in-One - Why government shutdowns hit tribes especially hard
Federal programs and funding play an important role in Indian Country, because of the government’s trust responsibility to provide or fund services to tribal nations in exchange for ceded land that now comprises the United States. That relationship also means that shutdowns hit tribal nations particularly hard. We'll learn what that means for services like health care and food distribution programs. Then, a lifelong Las Vegas resident reflects on the city's economic slowdown.
Marketplace All-in-One - What’s a U.S. economy to do if foreign tourists feel unloved?
The travel and tourism industry contributes $2.9 trillion to the U.S. economy — more than the size of the automotive industry. But can travel and tourism thrive at a time when the United States is working to overhaul border and trade policy? We'll hear how some Trump administration policies are affecting business on the ground in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plus, the U.S. has finalized its $20 billion bailout of Argentina's currency.
Marketplace All-in-One - The EU introduces new border controls
From the BBC World Service: The European Union's new Entry/Exit System will be rolled out on Sunday, but there have been warnings it could cause delays at passport control. The change affects all countries in the Schengen area. Then, India’s southern state of Karnataka — home to Bengaluru, the country’s Silicon Valley — has approved one day of paid menstrual leave per month. Also: the NBA in China and AI at Versailles.
Marketplace All-in-One - Bytes: Week in Review – OpenAI’s new deal with AMD raises more concerns of AI bubble
The ongoing government shutdown has caused a lapse in the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act,a law that's key to protecting the nation against major cyberattacks. Plus, OpenAI this week made a huge investment in chipmaker AMD, the latest in a round of blockbuster deals. And Google said it will be updating its smart home devices with its advanced artificial intelligence, Gemini. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, about all these headlines on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.