Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

In our news wrap Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia's use of a new hypersonic missile was meant to send a message to other European nations, Gaza officials said 13 people were killed in a wave of Israeli strikes and Swiss prosecutors are asking that a co-owner of the bar where a deadly fire broke out on New Year's be held in custody. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Protests across Iran continued to grow despite a nationwide blackout implemented overnight. What started as street marches against crippling inflation in the autocratic state have quickly grown to become one of Iran's largest protest movements in years. Stephanie Sy reports and Amna Nawaz discusses more with Vali Nasr. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump hosted a group of oil executives at the White House and outlined his plan for American companies to exploit Venezuelan resources. Venezuela sits on more oil than any nation on the planet, but produces just 1% of the global supply. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Bob McNally, the founder of Rapidan Energy Group and a former energy advisor to President George W. Bush. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The rate of jobless Americans who’ve been out of work for over 27 weeks — also known as “long-term unemployed” — hit 26% in December, according to the latest jobs report. That’s the highest it’s been since February 2022. In this episode, why the rate is rising and what it says about the broader economy. Plus: Businesses curb 2026 growth plans, a farmer discusses AI in agriculture, and we check in with an Asheville, North Carolina, tea company over a year since Hurricane Helene.

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On today’s show, WNYC reporter Brigid Bergin joins Kimberly to talk about New York City’s brand new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign on affordability caught nationwide attention. We’ll get into how Mamdani is tackling affordability during his first days in office, how the business community is reacting, and how his administration is navigating an unpredictable White House. Plus, the case for daydreaming more in 2026.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani announce push for free child care for NYC 2-year-olds" from Gothamist 
• "NYC to provide expansion of free child care in "high-need" areas" from Marketplace
• "MAMDANI’S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps" from amNY
• "The Mamdani vs. big business era begins as mayor pledges 'economic justice'" from Gothamist
• "Politics Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid to 5 states over fraud concerns" from CNBC  
• "The new go-to for Napa Valley wine lovers? Costco" from Marketplace 
• "Google adds proofreading, AI summaries to Gmail with new update" from Marketplace 
• "Why you should put down your phone and daydream instead" from The Washington Post
• "At grocery stores, shopping with a side of biometric surveillance" from Marketplace

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

Ticket prices reach a record high for the Bears and Packers wild-card game, the city of Chicago adds a new surcharge for ride shares, and U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley announces plans to run for Chicago’s next mayor. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago reporter, Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune city hall reporter and Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

According to the just-released December jobs report, only 50,000 people were hired last month, fewer than expected. Overall, the month capped off the slowest year for job creation since 2020 and the second slowest since 2009. Plus, LA fire survivors share personal items lost and found in the aftermath of the blaze.

Altadena residents eager to build more fire-resistant new homes run up against obstacles of expense, labor, availability of materials, and of course, the question of whether insurance will pay for it.

From the BBC World Service: The Iranian government has shut down internet access in response to ongoing protests, with demonstrators calling for the removal of the country’s Supreme Leader. Also, a major recall of Nestle baby formula expands to more countries, and after a volatile 2025, what’s on the horizon for cryptocurrency in the new year?

X, formerly Twitter, is facing a global backlash because users are directing the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to generate non-consensual intimate imagery. Users have been popping up in the replies of women — and sometimes minors — tagging Grok and asking it to generate images of them in bikinis or undressed.

The company and its owner, Elon Musk, have both clarified illegal content will not be tolerated on the platform.

Plus, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late last year aimed at blocking states from enforcing local AI regulations — something a majority have adopted in some form.

And, Meta is a victim of its own success. Its new Ray-Ban smart glasses are selling too fast to keep up with demand.

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss all these topics on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.