Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

The European Union is still reeling after President Trump’s Davos appearance, even after he walked back some of his Greenland threats. A big question remains: How should the EU deal with Trump going forward? Financial Times correspondent Paola Tamma joins Kimberly from Brussels to explain Europe’s shifting approach to Trump and why officials haven’t yet taken more drastic measures to respond to his economic threats. Could a push to seek alternative trade allies be an antidote?

The field to replace longtime Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is a crowded one: 16 people are vying for the nomination. Leading in the polls are Congresswoman Robin Kelly, representing Illinois’ 2nd district, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois’ 8th district and Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. For a sense on where they stand on key issues, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and International House hosted a U.S. Senate Democratic Primary debate ahead of the March 17th primary. The rules of the debate: Candidates had two minutes to answer a question, and 30 seconds for a rebuttal at the moderators’ discretion. They also had a chance to make opening and closing remarks – two minutes for opening and one minute for closing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

President Donald Trump is rolling out plans to make housing more affordable. He's ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds, proposed a ban on private equity purchasing single-family homes, and floated the idea of 50-year mortgages — all while continuing his pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. Will they work? Also, tech earnings this week will offer investors a window into the AI boom, and what we’re watching as the Fed meets.

Freezing temperatures and ice over the past weekend have impacted agricultural industries across the U.S. This morning, we'll learn about its effects on timber, sugar cane, crawfish, cattle, and more. But first, major U.S. insurance companies are down in premarket trading after a small projected rate increase for privatized Medicare Advantage plans. And, from Marketplace’s "Make Me Smart," federal student loan borrowers in default won't experience wage or tax garnishment — yet.

From the BBC World Service: India and the European Union have agreed to a major trade deal after nearly two decades of on-and-off negotiations. The wide-ranging agreement will see a number of huge tariff cuts and a joint security partnership. And later, President Donald Trump says that he's jacking up tariffs on South Korea. Plus, French lawmakers have passed a bill that will ban children under 15 from accessing social media.

529 Bryant St. in Palo Alto, California, is home to a key landmark in tech history. Now owned and operated as a data center by Equinix, the building has been a networking hub to a variety of firms, including the earliest telephone switch board operators and early internet firms like Alta Vista. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino visited the data center to learn more.

Artificial intelligence is one of a handful of industries propelling this economy forward. But as the sector explodes, not everyone is on board. Americans are much more concerned about the downsides of AI than excited about its potential utility, according to a new Pew Research survey. In this episode, everyday Americans grapple with — and in some cases, fight back against — the proliferation of AI technology. Plus: Durable goods orders were up in November, gold prices continue to break records, and “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal tours a data center in Los Angeles.

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For the first time, when the EPA is considering new limits on air pollution, it will no longer estimate the monetary cost of lives saved from regulations. Instead it will only calculate the cost of the rules for companies. The Trump administration says this will rectify “misleading” data about the benefit of regulations, but experts warn this could make it easier to roll back gains made from the Clean Air Act of 1970. In the Loop discusses how this move could impact our health with Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at the Respiratory Health Association, Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility and Anthony Moser, board president Neighbors 4 Environmental Justice. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The second deadly shooting in Minnesota by immigration agents has some Democrats in Washington renewing calls for reform to the Department of Homeland Security. This could hold up a spending bill, increasing the chances the federal government partially shuts down again late this week. Also in play is money for defense. We'll hear more. Then, we'll discuss the value of the yen and hear why more optimism about the economy isn't translating into hiring.

Following yet another deadly shooting by ICE agents in Minnesota, more than 60 CEOs there have now signed a letter calling on federal, state, and local officials to de-escalate. Some smaller businesses across the state have temporarily closed or reduced hours as employees and customers worry about being stopped or profiled by ICE. Also: Surging precious metal prices hint at investor anxieties, and we look at the economic impact of the 2026 Winter Olympics.