Author: Marketplace

In the latest episode of Million Bazillion, listener Shreen wanted to know, “How do you become a CEO?” No spoilers, but after Ryan and Bridget’s adventure in attempting to become CEOs themselves, Shreen still had some questions about how a successful CEO gets their job, and what they do all day. In this special bonus episode, Shreen interviews Christina Stembel, CEO of Farmgirl Flowers to find out more about what it’s really like to be a CEO, how to start and run a company, and what Christina did as a kid that helped set her on the path to becoming a CEO as a grownup.  

This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/million.

Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the White House nails down details, some businesses are suffering while they wait. In this episode, retailers explain why ongoing trade negotiations have put a damper on profits. Plus: Consumers could pull back spending if tariff-related worries persist, employment data shows it’s getting harder to find a job, and we check in with Altadena small business owners recovering from the L.A. fires.

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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.

Republicans’ newly passed tax and spending law establishes the first major federal program for shifting public money to private schools. It comes in the form of a wonky tax break. We’ll explain how it will work. And, we’ll get into how massive cuts to Medicaid will impact rural hospitals across the United States. Plus, anime is more popular than ever on Netflix.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Burning Questions: How do cuts to NOAA impact all of us?" from Marketplace
• "Congress Passes National Private School Voucher Program as Part of Policy Bill" from The New York Times
• "The new wave of private school vouchers" from Make Me Smart  
• "Rural hospitals will be hit hard by Trump’s signature spending package" from The Conversation
• "Trump bill's health effects won't be felt until after midterms" from Axios 
• "Netflix Says 50 Percent of Global Users Now Watch Anime, Reveals Expanded Slate" from The Hollywood Reporter 
• "A new start after 60: I quit my job, bought a camera – and became a successful wildlife photographer" from The Guardian
• "At 40, She Discovered She Was One of America’s Best Free Divers" from Texas Monthly  

Got a question for the hosts? Call 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Nations the world over have until Wednesday to strike trade agreements with the U.S., or face the return of astronomically high tariffs that were announced — and later paused — in April. But the White House has signaled some wiggle room, saying tariffs might not actually come back until August 1, should countries not make a deal. Plus, in the final installment of our "Buy Now, Pay Later" series, we look into why more people 65 and older are finding themselves in bankruptcy court.

Wednesday marks the deadline for countries around the world to strike new trade deals with the U.S. The steep reciprocal tariffs President Trump announced, and then delayed, back in April could come roaring back. Or maybe not. Mixed messages from President Trump and his advisors have left the outcome uncertain. But as the Wednesday deadline approaches, there are a number of new developments. Also on the show: consumer inflation expectations and knockoff clothing designs.

From the BBC World Service: An alliance of emerging countries — which includes Brazil, South Africa, China and Russia — has criticized the Trump administration’s tariffs, causing the president to threaten them with an extra 10% tariff on trade.  And as trade tensions rise, we take a look at how the art of negotiations are being transformed by the U.S. approach to trade deals.

More than half of all Americans have used artificial intelligence tools recently, according to a study published by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures. And one in five people use it daily. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Amy Wu Martin, a partner at Menlo Ventures, to learn how they’re using it in their day-to-day lives.

Some conservatives think states should take over management of federal land. But often, states lack adequate resources, or use land for revenue rather than recreation or conservation. This Independence Day, we visit state trust land in Wyoming to learn more about state versus federal management issue. Plus: Homeownership is a tough bargain if you travel for work and data shows the manufacturing sector has contracted since Trump took office.

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.

Since President Trump began imposing on-and-off tariffs earlier this year, “tariff” has become a buzzword. And you might have a kid in your life who’s asked what the deal with tariffs is all about. So today, we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of Million Bazillion that breaks down how they work. Hosts Bridget and Ryan help out a local fifth-grader whose slime business is facing competition from a rival school. Could a tariff solve her problem?

Layoffs have been in the headlines a fair amount recently, with some companies cutting jobs in stages. Microsoft, Amazon and BlackRock are among the employers that have reportedly had repeated rounds of layoffs in recent months. Plus, it's been 10 years since Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. A decade later, these couples are contributing significantly to the wedding business in Ireland at a time when overall marriage numbers are falling. Our BBC colleague Leanna Byrne visited her hometown of Dublin to speak to couples and vendors about how the wedding industry has changed.