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Hello!
Today, we talk about the big cave by the Democrats over the shutdown, whether it actually matters and a little bit about the declining box office numbers across the country and why people no longer seem to be going to the movies.
Enjoy!
(Note: A version of this episode originally ran in 2022.)
Every time you shop online and make it to the checkout screen, you see those colorful pastel buttons at the bottom. Affirm. Klarna. Afterpay. Asking: Do you want to split your payment into interest-free installments? No credit check needed. Get what you want, right now.
That temptation got shoppers like Amelia Schmarzo into some money trouble. Back in 2022, she maxed out her credit card after a month of buying now and paying later. She’s not alone. Buy now, pay later is everywhere now. And you can finance almost anything with it. Your clothes, your furniture … even your lips.
But if these companies don’t charge interest, how do they make money? In short, people buy more stuff using these services and so sellers are willing to pay up. Which makes buy now, pay later, something of a threat to credit card companies. Cue the tussle for your impulse-buying clicks.
Today on the show, we find out how the companies work, who’s most likely to use these services and who’s getting a good deal. And a warning: those little loans will soon be on your credit report.
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This episode was produced by Emma Peaslee, engineered by Josh Newell and edited by Molly Messick. Our update was reported by Vito Emanuel, produced by Willa Rubin, engineered by Gilly Moon and edited by our executive producer, Alex Goldmark.
Music: Universal Music Production - "Retro Funk," "Comin' Back For More," "Reactive Emotion," and "EAT."
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Economists and investors have long turned to copper as a reliable economic indicator: High prices meant the economy was humming, and low prices meant it wasn’t. That’s in part because copper is useful for so many economic activities. In fact, copper was considered such a good signal that investors gave it a nickname—Dr. Copper. But now, as high demand and tariffs affect copper prices, is the commodity’s relationship with the economy becoming blurry? Host Alex Ossola discusses this with Dec Mullarkey, head of investment strategy and asset allocation at SLC Management. This is part two of our four-part series on alternative economic indicators.
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Plus: Chevron becomes more serious about entering the power business. And Toyota opens a $14 billion battery plant in North Carolina. Zoe Kuhlkin hosts.
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An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.
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Democrats in the US Congress release three emails by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein mentioning Donald Trump. One of the emails says the president spent several hours with a woman described as a victim of Epstein's sex trafficking. The Democrats say the communications raise serious questions about what the president knew at the time about Epstein's behaviour. The White House says the emails represent a "false narrative" and their release is an attempt to smear the president. Also: another corruption scandal shakes the Ukrainian government, with the justice minister being suspended; and how the Royal Shakespeare Company is trying to sell Britain's most famous playwright to young people. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
The Democrat governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has criticised deadly US strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. The US has now struck at least nineteen vessels, killing around eighty people. On Tuesday, an American warship (the USS Gerald R Ford) also arrived in the region. There's growing speculation that the US might attack Venezuela, where President Maduro has announced a nationwide military deployment.
Also in the programme: The Israeli military says its troops were attacked when they detained four Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for taking part in a large scale arson attack on Palestinian villages; out of the latest atrocities in Sudan, we will bring you the survivors' stories; and bagpipe world record broken in Australia.
(Photo: Dozens of aircraft on the USS Gerald R Ford add significant combat power to US forces near Latin America. Credit: Getty Images)
Late-breaking news of communications relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump provide us with a chance to talk about conspiracy theories and how Trump's deployment of them is biting him now with the continued questions relating to the now-dead half-billionaire sex criminal. Give a listen.
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President Donald Trump and Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte have floated the idea of a 50-year mortgage as a potential way to make homebuying more affordable. The president has said that longer mortgages would lower borrowers’ monthly payments, which is true — but at what cost? And later, 47 economists filed an amicus brief in Trump's tariffs case before the Supreme Court. We'll unpack what they said.
Bealls Inc. is adopting crypto payments across its 660+ stores in partnership with Flexa.
Bealls Inc. is bringing crypto payments to its 660+ stores, making it one of the largest retailers to adopt the technology. CEO, Matt Beall and Flexa Co-Founder, Danny McCabe join CoinDesk's Sam Ewen to detail the partnership. They explain how the move improves the customer experience while leveraging faster, cheaper transactions to boost retail margins. Learn why a 110-year-old retailer is making a move into the future of payments.
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Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit https://midnight.network/break-free
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OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at https://www.owlting.com/portal/?lang=en&utm_source=CoinDesk&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CoinDesk_Banner.
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Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption.Learn more at: geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/
Will a pure XRP ETF start trading this week?
Canary Funds' XRP Trust is poised to become the first pure spot XRP ETF in the U.S. Once the Nasdaq certifies the listing, expected by end of day Wednesday, the product will become effective, clearing the last regulatory hurdle for a Thursday market open. Will we see the ETF go live on Thursday? CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie hosts "CoinDesk Daily."
-
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
-
Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption.Learn more at: geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/
-
OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at owlting.com.
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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “CoinDesk Daily” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and edited by Taylor Fleming.