President Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address on record Tuesday night, presenting an upbeat, defiant vision of America. But recent polling tells a different story: 57% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy and 64% disapprove of his tariff policy. Meanwhile, Dr. Casey Means, Trump's controversial nominee for U.S. surgeon general, testified before the Senate on Wednesday seeking confirmation after the role sat empty for over a year. And in Los Angeles, autonomous delivery robots require an entire field team to keep them clean, charged, and safe, creating a new gig economy job: robot wranglers. In business, developer Kali P. Chaudhuri has agreed to purchase downtown Los Angeles’ unfinished Oceanwide Plaza that became infamous for its graffiti, and Public Storage becomes the latest company to leave California. Read more at https://LATimes.com.
Marketplace All-in-One - How do I cope with layoff anxiety?
With more layoffs in the news, a lot of workers are feeling spooked. It can be hard not to spiral into what ifs: What if the next paycheck is my last? What if I can’t find another job?
We look at how to cope with that uncertainty and what you can do to help protect yourself. Reema talks with psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, career coach Melody Wilding, and financial educator Jannese Torres, who share practical ways to stay grounded and prepared – from reframing your anxiety to strengthening your safety net.
Have you ever struggled with layoff anxiety? We want to hear about it, so give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org
Marketplace All-in-One - Physical media’s comeback
Move over, streaming services. Physicial media is making a comback. A Consumer Reports survey finds that nearly half of people in the US are watching Blu-rays and DVDs. And 15 percent of those surveyed are still watching VHS tapes. So, Marketplace’s Nova Safo went out to learn more about what
Curious City - No cars, no road salt: How one Midwestern community avoids salt all winter
Chicago — like so many other frigid American cities — can’t seem to kick its dependence on road salt.
In our last episode, we learned how winter weather on both ends of the thermometer can impact the local economy. Some businesses come out on top during the coldest winters: auto mechanics repairing cars when they hit a pothole, snow plow companies shoveling out small businesses and rock salt providers when the roads get icy.
But chloride from salt is harmful to both our natural and built environments. You’d be hard-pressed to find a cold-weather community that avoids road salt altogether, but we found one!
In this encore presentation, we visit a place way up north, Mackinac Island, Michigan. Dominick Miller, chief of marketing at the Mackinac State Historic Parks, tells us about how the island deals with snow and ice in the winter without laying down a single grain of salt. And it has a lot to do with the fact that cars have been banned on Mackinac Island for over a century.
Bay Curious - The Case of the Missing Tree Frogs
Bay Curious listener Dave Ellis lives in the South Bay city of Saratoga. When he was a kid growing up there, he remembers loud tree frogs chorusing almost all the time. But now, even in spring when they should be loudest, he says it's eerily quiet. What's going on?
Additional Resources:
- A South Bay Mystery: What Happened to All the Tree Frogs?
- Read the transcript for this episode
- Sign up for our newsletter
- Got a question you want answered? Ask!
Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts
This story was reported by Dana Cronin. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Omnibus - Surrealist Prank Calls (Entry 1258.OB0102)
In which Erin Dawson, a trans black metal musician who goes by the moniker Genital Shame, explores the nature of prank calls, their cultural significance, and Longmont Potion Castle. Certificate #50858.
The Daily - Inside the Operation to Take Down Mexico’s Biggest Drug Lord
When Mexican forces captured and killed the country’s most-wanted cartel boss, it revealed how much President Trump’s growing pressure is forcing Mexico to take on cartels.
Maria Abi-Habib and Jack Nicas, who covered the developments, discuss the operation to take down the leader known as El Mencho, and Mexico’s efforts against some of the world’s most powerful criminals.
Guest:
- Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent for The New York Times based in Mexico City.
- Jack Nicas, the Mexico City bureau chief for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Mayhem rocked Mexico after the killing of El Mencho.
- Analysis: Mexico is caught between Mr. Trump and the cartels.
- Analysis: In nearly 60 years of the war on drugs, what has actually worked?
Photo: Luis Cortes/Reuters
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Start Here - Are Iran Missile Strikes Inevitable?
With missile threats growing, Iran and U.S. negotiators meet in Geneva. A shoot-out at sea raises questions about vessels near Cuba. And documents suggest that Jeffrey Epstein managed to hide evidence from investigators for more than a decade.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Getting Hammered® - Bonus: The SOTU Goes from Policy to Pageantry
Gold Medals, Medals of Freedom, Medals of Honor, a reunion of a Venezuelan political prisoner with his niece, Ilhan Omar yelling at Trump! This show had everything. Also, Abigail Spanberger spoke.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Daily Detail - The Daily Detail for 2.26.26
Alabama
- Senators Tuberville and Britt call out Dems for behavior at SOTU address
- AL House passes bill to create licensing office with the Dept. of Workforce
- Bill passes committee that requires CDL drivers to read and speak English
- AL House passes bill making it a felony to invade, disrupt, obstruct churches
- Democrat running for HD 82 seat has been charged with arson in Opelika
- Stan Cooke is stepping out of race to be next Chairman of ALGOP
National
- Cuba admits to shooting and killing those on board a speedboat from the US
- VP Vance says Democrats behaved as cowards at the SOTU address
- Majority leader Thune promises SAVE Act will got to a vote on Senate floor
- Murder inmate in MI has been voting since 2020, still gets absentee ballot
- FBI agents raided the home of the LA School District superintendent
- Harvard professor Larry Summers to resign after connections to Epstein
- Bill Gates apologizes for his connection to Russian prostitutes and Epstein
- Journalist says DOJ docs on Epstein raise real questions about his death