Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

Since President Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner over a weak jobs report, we’ve been thinking a lot about the trustworthiness of U.S. economic data. Other countries like China can offer a glimpse of what happens when that trust erodes. On the show today, Marketplace’s China correspondent Jennifer Pak explains how she works around unreliable data when reporting on the Chinese economy. Plus, could the United States be headed in the same direction?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "12 million students in China will graduate this year into a shaky job market" from Marketplace
• "China says its unemployment rate is “stable,” but job seekers remain gloomy" from Marketplace 
• "Is GDP still a useful gauge of China’s economy?" from Marketplace
• "How Bad Is China’s Economy? The Data Needed to Answer Is Vanishing" from The Wall Street Journal  
• "How to deal with untrustworthy government economic data? Look to China" from Marketplace

• "Trump taps Heritage economist to lead BLS" from Politico

  
  

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Recently, President Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after revisions depicted a weaker job market than initially thought. This week, Trump called on the CEO of Goldman Sachs to get rid of his chief economist, after the economist predicted that tariffs would force consumers to pay extra. What should consumers and investors make of this? We'll discuss. And later, we'll hear how French factories are benefiting from increased defense spending.

Social Security turns 90 tomorrow. Some 74 million Americans receive the benefits, and a new survey shows that 65% of retirees rely on them. Roughly 40% of Americans have no retirement savings at all, and this precarity comes at a time when Social Security faces the possibility of benefit cuts. Plus, Trump's tariffs are generating billions in revenue monthly, and Brazil's president announced $5 billion to help smaller companies deal with tariffs.

From the BBC World Service: United Kingdom-based engineering giant Rolls-Royce first made its name in luxury cars, but after selling its motor business nearly 30 years ago, it’s now known for its aircraft engines and defense manufacturing. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, its CEO is betting on artificial intelligence and nuclear technology as a path to becoming the UK's highest-valued company. Plus, why have European countries been stepping up their defense spending?

Rosa’s Blues Lounge has launched an independent record label to highlight the work of unrecorded artists. Plus, the label aims to ensure artists retain rights to their intellectual property. Chicago blues artist, Billy Branch, was the first performer on Rosa's stage — now 41 years later, he and his band were the first to sign with Rosa’s Record Label which launched Aug. 1. Reset speaks with Billy Branch and co-founders of the label, Tony Mangiullo and Marni Willenson about the story of the venue, the creation of the label and how this could contribute to Chicago’s blues scene. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Implementing AI in government agencies — where the public goes for things like food stamps and unemployment or disability benefits — could come with tradeoffs, according to a recent report by the Roosevelt Institute. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino sat down with Samantha Shorey, who authored that report on AI and public administration.

The State Department released its annual human rights report Tuesday, but unlike in years past, this edition has come under scrutiny for omitting issues and countries with poor human rights records. Nick Schifrin looks at the report and at this active week of renewed Trump diplomacy with Russia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Over the last two and a half years, a brutal civil war between the Sudan Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands. Over 14 million Sudanese, more than a quarter of the population, have been displaced by the war. Stephanie Sy reports on the city of El Fasher in Darfur, which has faced famine for over a year. A warning, images in this story are disturbing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Ever read past the top line of the consumer price index? That 2.7% inflation rate varies a lot by metro area. The same goes for goods categories. So why is inflation higher in San Diego than Dallas? And higher for baby clothes and than electronics? We explain. Also in this episode: Long-term unemployment rises as hiring slows, businesses grow weary of waiting for tariff clarity, and we talk to Cheryl McKissack Daniel, CEO of the country's largest Black-owned construction firm.

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In the past year, two tent encampments have been cleared by the city, but people are still living in tents and green spaces and under viaducts throughout the city. As President Trump begins a high profile campaign to clear encampments in D.C., we look at the ways being homeless and living outside is criminalized, the strain on residents when there are encampments in parks and what the city and social service organizations are doing to find homes for the unhoused. Reset speaks with Sendy Soto, Chicago Chief Homelessness Officer, David Wywialowski, director of Outreach and Health at the Night Ministry, Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition To End Homelessness and Mark Ishaug, CEO of Thresholds. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.