Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

Later today, we’ll get a sense of where mortgage interest rates are right now from the Mortgage Bankers Association. And we’ll learn whether Federal Reserve policymakers cut interest rates and by how much. Thing is, the Fed's rate-cut decision might not reduce mortgage rates, because they’ve already come down in anticipation. Plus, Microsoft invests billions in the U.K.'s AI industry. And later, we'll hear why U.S. per capita emissions fell 30% in the last two decades.

From the BBC World Service: Microsoft has announced a $30 billion investment in the U.K.'s artificial intelligence sector, its largest outside of the U.S. The announcement was timed to coincide with President Donald Trump's second state visit to Britain. Plus, Taliban officials have banned internet via cable in three Afghan provinces. And, a South Korean worker who was detained during an immigration raid at a car battery factory says the experience was traumatizing.

There’s a new class action lawsuit against Amazon Prime Video that’s once again elevating the question of ownership in the digital age: Who actually owns a movie, a song, a video game?Buy a physical copy, like a CD or DVD, and the answer is obvious. But buy a digital copy, and the answer gets very complicated.

Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor at the University of Michigan and author of the book “The End of Ownership: Personal Property in the Digital Economy,” to learn about the current state of digital ownership.

Wyoming made billions from coal mining over the last 50 years, funding the government, schools, roads, parks. But President Trump’s major spending bill, passed in July, gives mining companies a break on royalty fees — leaving state budgets lean. In this episode, easing coal fees comes at a price. Plus: Non-store retail spending saw double-digit year-over-year growth, small businesses suffer as they wait for tariff clarity, and stock investors basically ignore all the bad economic headlines.

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As heightened immigration enforcement continues, we learn how the city’s chief executive is working to keep residents safe. In the Loop sits down with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to learn how he’s balancing national attention with the day-to-day needs of the city residents. Plus, he answers callers’ questions. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The latest retail sales data shows U.S. consumers are still spending it up, even in the face of higher tariff costs and a shaky labor market. Wealthier Americans are driving the trend, but a “culture of treats” might also play a role. Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to explain her theory. Plus, brands like Gap are pitching themselves to Gen Z by riffing on Y2K fashion. Are you onboard?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes" from AP News
• "Top 10% of Earners Drive a Growing Share of US Consumer Spending" from Bloomberg 
• "For some consumers, luxury is not a treat — it's a lifestyle" from Marketplace 
• "Why are millennial brands trying to ride the Y2K trend?" from Marketplace

• "Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right Chord" from Forbes

  
  

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

Public companies report their earnings every three months, giving investors and the public regular snapshots of how business is going. But President Trump wants to see fewer of those reports. In a social media post on Monday, he said companies should report just twice a year instead of quarterly. Susan Schmidt, a portfolio manager at Exchange Capital Resources — and one of the folks who is often looking at those reports — joins us to weigh in.

Plus, the Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day meeting on interest rates, and we take a closer look at efforts in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria to develop more AI products in African languages.

On Monday, President Trump said public companies should no longer report quarterly earnings. Instead, he suggested corporations report just twice a year. Trump isn't the first to suggest a pared-down reporting schedule, but the idea raises questions about the balance between corporate transparency and long-term growth. Also on the show, the South Korean government has launched an investigation into potential human rights violations during a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, where 300 South Korean workers were detained and deported. So what does this episode tell us about the U.S. immigration system? Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation of American Policy, joins us to discuss.

From the BBC World Service: Argentina’s president Javier Milei announced a change of course, with plans to increase spending on pensions, health and education. There's a drive in some African countries — including Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa — to create more AI products in different languages, to open up the new tech to more people across the continent. And automaker Jaguar Land Rover confirmed its factories in the UK will stay shut for another week following a cyber hack.

It's the start of a whole new season and Bridget and Ryan have a great question from listener, Dina: What is a chain restaurant? Some chain restaurants work a little differently than other chains — they're "franchises" and individual people can open a location of their own! To answer Dina's question, Bridget and Ryan try their hand at opening their own location of the incredibly popular and beloved chain, the International House of Clams. Together, they’ll learn how the chain restaurant business works and what makes it different from starting a restaurant from scratch. Plus, keep an ear out for cameos from some of your favorite Million Bazillion characters!

If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!

This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/million.