Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

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.

The Venezuelan government vowed to release political and foreign prisoners who have been held by the regime, a longstanding demand of the Venezuelan opposition. Meanwhile, Venezuela's neighbor, Colombia, a major non-NATO ally of the U.S., appears to be off President Trump's sights after a single phone call. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Labor economists will tell ya, productivity growth leads to more hiring. The idea is, once a company is operating more efficiently, they’ll try expanding, which usually comes with new jobs. But in this frustrating and bizarre economy, data show major productivity gains and a stagnant labor market … coexisting? Also in this episode: New York City expands a free child care program, one reporter tries to do the job(s) of the federal government, and economists expect a less-grim December jobs report.

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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.

In the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela, including the capture of the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro, we’re left with questions about what this moment could mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and the global economy. On the show today, director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marczak joins Kimberly to explain why the Trump administration is shifting its focus back toward the Western Hemisphere, harkening back to the Monroe Doctrine. Plus, what it would take to revitalize Venezuela’s economy.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What’s next for Venezuela and the region?" from the Atlantic Council
• "Donald Trump asserts control over Venezuela—and all the Americas" from The Economist
• "For Big Oil, Venezuela's reserves show long-term promise" from Marketplace  
• "What Is the Monroe Doctrine, and How Is Trump Reasserting It?" from Time
• "Dispatches from Venezuela: Red roofs and the new ogling" from Marketplace

Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

How many of this week’s top local headlines do you remember? We put our live studio audience in the hot seat for the high-stakes prize of some WBEZ swag. Plus: We’re dusting off our vocal pipes and learning to sing in harmony with Davin Youngs, the founder of Chicago Circle Singing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Supermarket chain Wegmans has made headlines this week for their use of surveillance technology on customers. But they’re far from the only retailer deploying this type of tech to prevent theft — and encourage extra spending. Plus, a retired nurse shares her plans for rebuilding in Altadena.

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 Trump administration escalated its pressure on Venezuelan oil, seizing two tankers and declaring it intends to "indefinitely" sell the country's oil. The administration's rhetoric has also included threats to seize Greenland, part of NATO-member Denmark. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy