As the GOP tax and spending bill moves through Congress, questions about the U.S. debt have not gone away. Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. would never default on its debt. But the U.S. doesn't have to actually default in order to lose the confidence of investors, who would in turn charge the U.S. more to borrow. Plus: Why Gen X is finding it harder to save for retirement.
Marketplace All-in-One - U.S.-China trade truce is on shaky ground
Tensions are once again escalating between the world's two largest economies. Last week, President Trump accused China of violating the terms of the trade truce, with the U.S. Trade Representative accusing China of restricting the flow of critical minerals. And on Monday, China accused the U.S. of violating the agreement with new restrictions on the export of U.S. computer chips. Also on today's show: why non-alcoholic beer is on the rise and what to know about the proposed "Trump Accounts" for newborns.
Marketplace All-in-One - Britain boosts its defense spending
From the BBC World Service: Britain will boost its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet to move to a state of "warfighting readiness,” as Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to set a precise date for when UK defense spending would hit 3% of GDP.
Marketplace All-in-One - Police use new AI tool that can identify someone without facial features
Facial recognition systems use artificial intelligence to analyze patterns in faces, and they've come under increasing scrutiny, particularly in policing. There have been multiple instances of false positives leading to the arrest and detainment of innocent people. There's no federal regulation of this technology, but at least a dozen states have laws that limit its use. So, some law enforcement authorities have turned to a new system called Track, made by a company called Veritone. It doesn't analyze faces, but looks to the rest of the body for clues — things like clothing, body type or hair — according to recent reporting by James O'Donnell for MIT Technology Review.
Marketplace All-in-One - Where’s the job market headed?
The economic reports out this week gave a fuzzy view of the economy, but next week will be all about jobs: job openings, labor productivity, and the latest jobs report. So far this year, employment has been pretty even-keeled — despite tariff uncertainty. Will May data be any different? Also in this episode: A field guide to the ultra-wealthy and a Minnesota family of seven (soon to be eight) grapples with higher costs.
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Marketplace All-in-One - JetBlue and United announce new partnership
It's not a merger, but the two airlines are teaming up. JetBlue and United announced the partnership, called BlueSky, on Thursday to sell each others’ flights and link up their loyalty programs and more. Plus: Do soccer fans want pre-match entertainment and halftime shows?
Marketplace All-in-One - Appeals court allows Trump’s tariffs to continue for now
Wednesday began with President Trump's sweeping April 2nd tariffs on track. Later that day, those import taxes were ruled illegal. Here on this Friday, that ruling is on hold, with tariffs still in place. Also on the show: Why more parents are struggling financially than just a few years ago, and how consumer spending is shaping this year's summer travel.
Marketplace All-in-One - The waters are clearing for Japan’s seafood exports
From the BBC World Service: China has agreed to start lifting its ban on Japanese fish, almost two years after it blocked imports over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Russia made more than $25 billion last year exporting fossil fuels to the European Union; that's $4.5 billion more than the E.U. gave Kyiv in aid. The Super Bowl halftime show is iconic, but in soccer, it’s a different picture. European leagues and FIFA are spending big on pre-match entertainment, with halftime shows planned for the next World Cup. But do fans even want it?
Marketplace All-in-One - Bytes: Week in Review — Texas’ age verification law, a potential moratorium on local AI laws, and Meta splits its AI team
There's a provision tucked into the Big Beautiful Bill, among the tax cuts and Medicaid cuts, that would bar states from passing laws to regulate artificial intelligence for a decade. Plus, Meta is reshuffling its AI team again in an apparent attempt to catch up to the competition. But first, this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law requiring age verification for Apple and Google app stores. It also requires parental consent for app downloads and in-app purchases by minors. But it raises some legal questions. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is joined by Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss all this.
Marketplace All-in-One - Introducing “What We Spend” (Sponsored by Audacy)
From our sponsor: Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On “What We Spend,” people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets — and their lives — to tell you everything: What they make, what they want, and — for one week — what they spend.
“What We Spend” is available wherever you get your podcasts!