Author: Marketplace

It’s too early to know how long the U.S. and Israel war against Iran will last. One certainty? All-out war comes at a cost. Already, Qatar has cut natural gas production, bond yields and gas prices are up, and shipping firms are rerouting cargo. The extent of the economic impact, however, remains to be seen. In this episode, we break down how the conflict is already shaping the economy and what to expect if it continues.

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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.

Oil prices are jumping around this morning, but you can bet they're up — around 6-7%. Gold, a safehaven for investors, is up about 2%. "We're in a world where markets and investors are increasingly uncertain about where their money is safe," said Julia Coronado of MarcoPolicy Perspectives in a discussion of today’s market movements. Also: why we pay such close attention to the monthly jobs report and how sites like Moltbook can disrupt the AI industry.

The U.S. and Israel's war with Iran means a disruption of global oil markets. Iran has closed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving hundreds of ships sitting idle. While a slowdown of production and exports could hit China particularly hard, this conflict could also impact what U.S. consumers pay at the pump. This morning, we'll learn more, and then we'll hear how air carriers are being affected by the attack.

We create digital breadcrumbs all the time — when we buy something online, when we post on social media, and even when we look up directions on the internet. This is data generally collected by private companies — but how and when should the government be able to access it?

There have been lawsuits filed recently against the Department of Homeland Security over its collection and use of consumer data. Jeramie Scott, senior counsel and director of the Surveillance Oversight Program at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, explains how the government collects data about us.

When you hear "meal deal" you probably think of fast-food chains, like McDonald’s. But as daily life grows more unaffordable, a new tier of chain restaurants are adopting similar options to hang onto their cash-strapped regulars. It's why Panera just launched a new $10 value meal, and analysts expect other fast-casual joints to follow suit. Plus: Data center construction was up nearly 30% in 2025 but had a limited impact on GDP; buy now, pay later for rent payment comes at a price; we discuss the week’s economic headlines.

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.

On today’s show, we’re taking a trip to the Green Mountain State for an up close look at one of Vermont’s most pressing economic issues: housing. Kimberly is joined by Carly Berlin, housing reporter for VTDigger and Vermont Public, to talk about the factors driving Vermont’s housing crisis and how solutions, like a catalog of pre-approved home designs, could help fix it. Plus, are you more of a Vermont cheddar or a Ben & Jerry’s type of person?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Vermont Housing Needs Assessment" from the State of Vermont
• "Vermont is overhauling Act 250. Here’s what the development maps look like so far" from Vermont Public
• "Vermont develops catalog of prevetted home designs for faster building" from VTDigger
• "Green Mountain Grub: The Best Things to Eat in Vermont" from Food Network

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

MFS, a big lender based in London, has been making risky loans and is in the British equivalent of bankruptcy. Now, investors are buying up U.S. government bonds, and lenders are pulling back from the riskiest parts of the private credit markets. Is there a bigger pattern here? We'll discuss. Then, Anthropic is rejecting the Pentagon’s demands for unrestricted use of its technology, and we'll hear how business is going for a Main lobster fisherman.

Paramount Skydance appears to have won the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount raised its offer, and rival Netflix refused to match it, saying the deal is “no longer financially attractive.” The merger still has to be approved by federal regulators. We'll learn more, then dig into the current state of streaming services. And later in the program, roughly half of high schoolers planning to go to college are using AI tools in their search.

From the BBC World Service: First up, British manufacturer Dyson settles a lawsuit filed against it by 24 migrant workers, and the Premier League says it's launching its own streaming service. And while David Brancaccio and the team will continue to share the economic news you need each weekday morning, today marks the final edition of the "Marketplace Morning Report" produced by the BBC World Service. Host Leanna Byrne reminisces about some of the show’s biggest global news stories from over the years.

This week, OpenAI turns to consultants to get more companies to integrate AI coworkers.

Plus, Apple will be making its Mac Mini in Texas.

But first, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei this week, reportedly asking for unfettered access to the company’s AI model. If not, Hegseth has threatened to cancel a $200 million dollar contract the Pentagon has with the company. This comes after Anthropic's AI model Claude was reportedly used as part of the operation to capture former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

Anthropic has said it doesn't want its technology used to develop weapons or for mass surveillance of Americans.

Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Axios tech policy reporter Maria Curi to learn more on this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”