Muse

July 23, 2026 | 00:25:55 | Business, News

Sounds rosy, right? Not if you’re long-term unemployed, underemployed, or a new grad. In this episode, the labor market’s low-hire, low-fire status quo reaches a new extreme. Plus: States sue over new Medicaid work requirement protocols, Uber lays off a tenth of its customer service workers with plans to replace them with AI chatbots, and a family travel boom reshapes luxury resorts. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: It's still a tight job market, despite record-low initial unemployment claims As yields on Treasury notes rise, the bond market is changing States sound alarm over new Medicaid work requirement rule An AI customer service agent will take your call now The life of a Hollywood freelancer Families are crashing honeymoon hot spots

July 22, 2026 | 00:26:30 | Business, News

The yield on a 30-year Treasury bond has been hovering above 5% for a couple weeks — the longest stretch since the Great Recession. One reason is Treasury bonds are competing with Big Tech debt. We’ll explain, with help from one reporter’s shady gym membership deal. Also in this episode: AT&T attributes strong earnings to service bundles, a customs broker updates us on shipping logistics amid tariff changes, and Kai explains why Fed economists want to keep inflation expectations "anchored." Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: 30-year Treasury yields stick above 5% China's consumer economy is losing steam AT&T's service bundles make for an earnings boon Inside the "tariff whirlpool" with a brokerage manager What “anchored inflation expectations” mean for the Fed

July 21, 2026 | 00:25:46 | Business, News

Anthropic settled a copyright case Monday, agreeing to pay out $1.5 billion to authors whose material had been scraped to train its AI chatbot. It comes out to roughly $3,000 per work used after legal fees and other costs. But the outcome isn’t as decisive as it seems. In this episode, what Anthropic’s decision to settle means for future AI copyright cases. Plus: What we lose when we rely on digital downloads, why Jersey Mike’s is soaring while Subway slumps, and how small business owners are handling higher trucking costs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: How business owners are grappling with higher trucking costs Jersey Mike's filed to go public. What advantages does it have over other sandwich chains? A GM vehicle will set you back around $52,000. Here's why that's higher than average. In the digital era, what media do we still own? Anthropic pays $1.5 billion to settle a copyright case Breckenridge's dark night skies are dreamy — but they come at a cost

July 20, 2026 | 00:26:02 | Business, News

Blink and you’d miss it — gas prices cooled earlier this summer as the Iran war reached a ceasefire, but the national average is back up to $4 a gallon, according to AAA. In this episode, will U.S.-Iran negotiations drive fuel prices even higher? Plus: Starter home supply eases in some parts of the country, regional bank earnings reveal what’s going on in the consumer economy, and Kai discusses changes to the Fed under Chair Kevin Warsh. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Gas prices hit $4 a gallon again Regional bank earnings will tell us a lot about the health of the economy All engines go as U.S. shipping speeds up Starter home supply is starting to pick up, particularly in the South For this Texas park worker, home is about the location — not the house

July 17, 2026 | 00:25:14 | Business, News

The short answer is no, the Chevron-Iraq deal won’t solve the problem. So why did the U.S.-based energy company sign a vague, preliminary deal to negotiate a pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz? It’s another sign that energy firms expect the war with Iran to drag on. Also in this episode: Talent managers represent more social media influencers as sponsored content spending grows, a food critic delivers the history of iconic Las Vegas buffets, and the U.S. experiences a fun shortage. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Inflation is softening. Can it last with war and tariffs? Chevron seeks new route to transport oil from Iraq The professionals behind that sponcon on your feed The economics behind America’s fun shortage The Las Vegas buffet, from 1946 to today

July 16, 2026 | 00:25:22 | Business, News

The White House has proposed new tariffs on 60 countries that allegedly aren’t doing enough to ban forced labor. Domestic businesses, already burned from last year’s trade war, are bracing for more hurt. In this episode, companies weigh early orders against rising costs. Plus: Recent positive inflation data could convince the Fed to hold interest rates steady, Kroger buys Giant Eagle in ongoing effort to unseat Walmart as the supermarket market-share king, and parents sacrifice to put their kids through youth sports. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories from today’s episode: Retailers map out tariff strategies The Fed digests an optimistic week for economic data Traditional supermarkets are struggling. Kroger hopes its Giant Eagle merger will help Business Botox: What it takes to sell a luxury home Youth sports have turned into a five-figure-a-year commitment for many parents

July 15, 2026 | 00:25:31 | Business, News

Though the latest inflation reports show price growth cooled a bit in June, U.S. inflation remains higher than its peer nations, which include the U.K., Canada, France, and Japan. President Trump’s tariffs are partially to blame. But so is hefty capital expenditure by AI giants. Can anything counterbalance all that spending? After that: Kai explains the utility of Beige Book “soft” data, IBM posts mediocre earnings, farmers fret over fertilizer prices, and student borrowers weather five years of policy whiplash. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Why is inflation in the U.S. worse than other developed countries? IBM and other old-school tech companies feel the AI pinch Fertilizer costs worry farmers as Iran conflict continues Student loan policy changes give borrowers whiplash For these entrepreneurs, it's all in the details

July 14, 2026 | 00:25:32 | Business, News

We got a better-than-expected June CPI report: Inflation slowed in both the goods and services sectors. But it’s hard to say whether that trend will continue and how it might affect the Fed’s next inflation rate decision. Also in this episode, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before Congress, so we break down his approach to central bank communication and the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Plus, an egg price-fixing scheme, the hog lobby, and credit cards. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories from today’s episode: Inflation slowed in June. What does that mean for interest rates? Can the hog lobby — and falling prices — get Americans to eat more pork? Cracking open the price-fixing scandal behind rising egg prices What higher credit card spending means for the economy Why Kevin Warsh is on Capitol Hill today

July 13, 2026 | 00:25:12 | Business, News

Five major banks report earnings Tuesday morning, and analysts expect them to be rosy. Despite a volatile energy market and uncertain geopolitical climate, U.S. banks are turning strong profits. They’ve got AI investment and a booming stock market to thank. Plus, the inflation beat: Steep producer inflation could soon show up in consumer prices, economists aren’t sure how long overall inflation will stick around, and we check in with three small business owners ahead of the June CPI. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories from today’s episode: Rapidly rising producer prices could spell trouble for the economy Why are big banks doing so well in this economy? Prices may remain elevated well into next year Private jets and fake phone notifications are all part of the "hustlebro" scam

July 10, 2026 | 00:25:11 | Business, News

Energy prices are up, and we’ve got a war to thank. Two wars, actually. While all eyes have been on Trump’s on-again, off-again conflict with Iran, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries — and the effects are rippling through the global energy market. Also in this episode: Data centers ease electricity bills in some places (for now), travelers turn to buses as airfares rise, and Kai discusses the week’s economic headlines. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: As inflation roils, what will Fed Chair Warsh do next? The war driving up refined fuel prices might not be the one you're thinking of Data centers lowered electric bills in some places — for now As airfares skyrocket, summer travelers take the bus What does it take to “grow a dress” in your backyard?