Author: Marketplace

The homes still left standing after last year’s Eaton Fire face their own set of questions and challenges. What types of structures stand up better to fire damage than others? How can you know when dangerous smoke damage has truly been remediated? And, most crucially, how much are insurance companies actually willing to pay for any of it?

For the past couple months, YouTube technologist Benn Jordan has been investigating Flock Safety surveillance cameras. With the help of 404 Media, they found that many of these cameras were not only tracking, zooming and following every passerby, but the footage was freely accessible on the internet.

Jordan joined Marketplace Tech host Meghan McCarty Carino to talk about how he found the footage and the dangers the surveillance system poses to privacy and other civil liberties. Remember, Big Brother is always watching.

The job market has been steadily losing steam and workers have noticed. Though the unemployment rate remains fairly low, some groups are experiencing heightened job-finding trouble, and overall employment sentiment is falling. In this episode, are job market worriers paranoid or prophetic? Plus: Nvidia CEO announces new AI chips won’t require as-expensive cooling systems, car sales were up in 2025, and economists study why new tariffs haven't dinged the economy much — yet.

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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.

The estimated value of the homes wiped out by the Eaton and Palisades fires one year ago? $27 billion. On a single street in Altadena, 15 houses were destroyed, including that of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. This morning, Brancaccio checks in with two families on his block — one who decided to sell and one who's already partly rebuilt. Then, how will investors respond to this morning's private payroll data?

A survey released in the fall finds that most people displaced by the Southern California wildfires a year ago are still living in temporary housing. Since so few homes have been rebuilt, how are people paying for shelter? Today, we'll hear how survivors have organized to demand accountability and the resources needed. Plus, a semiconductor chip shortage echoes the great supply chain crisis of 2020, but this time it's driven by AI.

From the BBC World Service: One of Europe's busiest airports has canceled more than 700 flights today as a disruption caused by snow and ice enters a sixth day. The problem was made worse because of a shortage of anti-freeze for de-icing planes at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Dutch airline KLM is the main one affected. Then, China's Foreign Ministry said President Donald Trump's demands for Venezuela's oil were "typical bullying" from the U.S.

Over a century ago, farmers exchanged their horses and plows for the automated tractor. Generations of farmers have come, gone and watched technology transform their industry.

Automation and biotechnology have continued to propel farming forward, but with the emergency of AI technology, farmers have gained another tool up their sleeve.

Andrew Nelson is a fifth-generation farmer in Farmington, Washington, and he is now using his computer science degree to help tend to his crops.

This year, amid ongoing economic uncertainty, corporations are expected to refinance old debt, invest in artificial intelligence, and prep for mergers and acquisitions. All of which require extra cash. And how do corporations stretch their budgets? By taking on more debt, of course. Later in this episode: An Altadena small business owner struggles to rebuild after the LA fires, Texas pitmasters weigh rising brisket prices, and Costco converts wine snobs.

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.

It’s been a year since the Eaton and Palisades fires swept through Southern California, taking 31 lives and destroying over 16,000 structures — including the homes of “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio and his neighbors in Altadena. On the show today, David joins Kimberly to talk about the road to rebuilding the community and the complicated, costly task of rebuilding with fire resistant materials.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "How my Altadena neighbors are rebuilding, one year since the Eaton Fire" from Marketplace 
• "L.A. wildfires broke record for costliest in the history of the planet" from the San Francisco Chronicle 
• "These numbers tell the story of the Los Angeles wildfires, one year later" from AP News
• "Marketplace’s David Brancaccio on community, loss and rebuilding in Altadena" from Marketplace
• "To rebuild homes cheaper, faster and safer, some want new rules" from Marketplace

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Dustin Kunkel is a father of two, works in the solar panel business, and is a neighbor of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. Kunkel lost his Altadena home in the Eaton Fire and, since then, spoke to 30 contractors before finding someone to rebuild the house. We hear what the process — and pricing — has been like. Also, the realities of this economy continue to diverge for lower- and higher-income households.