Marketplace Morning Report

Bitcoin is trading well above where it did in 2023. Friday or Saturday, something called the “bitcoin halving” is supposed to happen — an event that occurs roughly every four years where the number of new bitcoins that come into circulation drops in half. And it’s a big deal for the whole philosophical premise of bitcoin. We’ll unpack. Also on the show: explaining a big filing day for PACs and understanding China’s “Great Firewall.”

From the BBC World Service: Hospitality businesses in New York City have said quicker work permits for arriving migrants could be key to filling vacancies in the sector – but city authorities are struggling to cope with the number of people arriving. Also: Palau was praised for its marine sanctuary that banned commercial fishing. Now, the government wants to allow more maritime industry to boost the economy.

This week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finalized regulations to ensure that most employees around the country are entitled to unpaid time off and other accommodations for a range of pregnancy-related medical needs, from nausea and gestational diabetes to abortion care. We’ll learn more. Also on today’s show: a drumbeat of “higher for longer” from Fed officials, the Biden administration’s show of support for American steel, and gaming furniture that’s all grown up.

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was built in the ’70s, it was a chance for workers to prove themselves on a massive construction project. Following its collapse, those workers look back on what many considered to be a monument to their work — and what happens when that monument is gone. Also: foreign aid could be bundled with a forced sale of TikTok, and European Union leaders agree to tighten sanctions on Iran.

From the BBC World Service: The European Commission has given TikTok 24 hours to provide more information on its new app, which pays users to watch videos, as officials raise concerns about potential harms. Then, we’ll hear more about the European Union’s efforts to sanction Iran following its attack on Israel. And later on the show: Why is the Pacific Island of Palau’s tourism sector struggling to recover from the pandemic?

The United Auto Workers union is trying to organize foreign vehicle factories in the South, and today, workers at a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, begin voting on whether to join the UAW. We’ll hear what’s at stake. Then, we’ll take a look at why TGI Friday’s is faltering while Texas Roadhouse thrives. Plus, a look at how a Detroit deconstruction company provides jobs and promotes sustainability.

For this month’s Econ Extra Credit, we’re watching “The League,” which chronicles the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues, established several decades before the sport was integrated. The Leagues gave rise to many Black businesses and entrepreneurs. Today, we have a conversation with Larry Lester, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. Also on the program: Aircraft-maker Boeing faces scrutiny over safety practices during two Senate hearings.

From the BBC World Service: Despite extensive sanctions, the International Monetary Fund has forecast Russia’s economy will grow more than any other rich nation this year. Also: The small Pacific Island nation of Palau has warned delays to U.S. funding could open the door to China’s influence in the region.

The European Union’s Digital Services Act requires big internet platforms to create searchable public libraries of their ads, allowing researchers to see who an ad is targeting and reaching and what it’s urging its audience to do. But a new assessment finds that those libraries are lacking. We dig in. Plus, China’s economy grew faster than expected, but Chinese consumers are still struggling. We’ll also hear how to find reasonably high interest rates on savings.

Big corporate landlords provide the company RealPage with data you can’t just see on Zillow, like the rent a tenant actually pays versus what’s advertised publicly. In return, the company recommends a rent price to set. Now, lawsuits are alleging that RealPage uses the data for wide scale rent-fixing. Also: the latest news on shares of Trump Media and a frank conversation about the shame that comes with debt.

From the BBC World Service: Economic growth in China, the world’s second biggest economy, beat expectations in the first quarter. Official data shows it’s being led by the manufacturing sector, but domestic demand is still weak. Plus, the Panama Canal will permit more ships from next month, easing congestion. And Colombia has become a top destination for so-called digital nomad; we take a look at how this is affecting the economy.

On today’s program, we’re taking a closer look at immigration and entrepreneurship. Immigrants are more likely to start a new company than U.S.-born citizens, studies show. And those new businesses need to make hires — turns out, immigrant entrepreneurs are associated with a net gain in jobs. We’ll discuss. Also, a boost in the Internal Revenue Service budget seems to be making a difference, and investors respond to rising tensions in the Middle East.

Today is Tax Day. While payers in 12 states have the opportunity to use a pilot IRS system to directly file their taxes online, tax software companies like Intuit and H&R Block have introduced generative artificial intelligence assistants to be more competitive. But do they work? Then, Samsung beats out Apple for title of the world’s biggest smartphone maker, and we examine how residents of “news deserts” access their local news.

From the BBC World Service: Tensions continue to run high in the Middle East after Iran’s recent drone and missile attacks against Israel. We’ll delve into how this weekend’s events could make a bad situation worse for Iran’s heavily sanctioned economy and the people living there. Plus, we’ll hear how the ongoing war in Ukraine could provide another big hit to energy prices, and we’ll preview the outlook for Zimbabwe’s new gold-backed currency.

The unemployment gap between Black and white workers has consistently been around 2 to 1 ever since the government started disaggregating the data more than five decades ago. While the Black unemployment rate is relatively low historically, the gap remains. We’ll discuss the institutional reasons why and how best to tackle the issue. Also on today’s program: the return of standardized testing and a preview of Senate hearings centered on Boeing’s manufacturing and safety practices.

Next month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will tell us how much of the income generated by workers’ toil actually went to them in Q1. That stat is called labor share of national income — and it’s shrinking. Plus, a government committee that scrutinizes deals between foreign companies and American firms may be getting more power. And 14 states are opting out of a summer EBT program that would help families buy groceries.

Wanna learn more about labor share of income and see Marketplace reporter Nancy Marshall Genzer get a pie in the face? Check out the Marketplace TikTok feed.

From the BBC World Service: Thousands of victims of a huge investment scam believe police in London have nearly $4 billion worth of bitcoin that belongs to them and want the British government to give it back. Then, The European Central bank held interest rates steady but gave strong hints about future rate cuts. Plus, we hear about padel, one of the world’s fastest growing sports, and its Olympic ambitions

On Wednesday, Republicans, Democrats and college officials took to Capitol Hill to vent about the Education Department’s botched rollout of a newer, simplified FAFSA form. That’s the form high school students fill out and send to colleges to determine financial aid offers — and it’s affected millions of students. We’ll also discuss fresh wholesale inflation figures and get a sneak peak at the latest season of Marketplace’s “Million Bazillion” podcast, which tackles kids’ biggest money questions.

Meta’s latest answer to protecting kids on Instagram is automatically blurring images that may contain nudity. The company says it will test this on the platform’s direct messaging feature. We’ll parse the details. Plus, the FCC is requiring large internet providers to post “broadband nutrition labels” that provide a snapshot of charges and performance data. Will they impact consumers’ internet diet? And a recent survey finds that CEOs are feeling pretty optimistic.

From the BBC World Service: A Vietnamese court sentenced property developer Truong My Lan to death after she was convicted of taking $44 billion from one of Vietnam’s largest banks. Also, South Korea’s liberal opposition party won in a landslide majority in the country’s general election. And paralympian Stef Reid is asking sportswear companies who use amputee athletes in their marketing why it’s not possible to buy single shoes.

That’s the conclusion of many investors this morning, following the release of the consumer price index. Consumer inflation clocked in at 3.5% annually, while central bankers are looking for a figure closer to 2%. We’ll talk through the data. Plus, a European court ruled that two Russian oligarchs were wrongly sanctioned following Russia’a invasion of Ukraine. And the Congressional Budget Office found that immigration means gains for U.S. economy.

The value of a typical home has reached $1 million or more in 550 U.S. cities, according to Zillow. That’s a record high, and those not-so-affordable homes are proliferating well beyond the usual high-cost metro areas like New York, San Francisco and LA. Also on the program: what to expect from today’s consumer price index report and how a cocktail with roots in wartime propaganda manages to stay relevant.

From the BBC World Service: Rising food prices, strikes and paying for an aging population were familiar themes as South Koreans voted today. Then, Spain has become the latest country to scrap so-called “golden visas,” where foreign nationals are granted residency rights in exchange for investments. And later, we hear about the aviation industry’s race against time to produce enough sustainable aviation fuel to meet the industry’s growing demands.

Walmart has opted to settle a $45 million class-action lawsuit over allegedly inflating prices for certain products sold by weight, such as produce and meat products. That means if you purchased “weighted goods” from Walmart, you could be eligible for a payout of up to $500. Plus, investors are braced for the release of March’s consumer price index tomorrow, and we examine how funding from the CHIPS Act is being doled out.

“What we’re living through is a historic, tectonic change in how news is produced, consumed and paid for,” says Tim Franklin at Northwestern University’s Local News Initiative. And he’s feeling encouraged. Today, we’ll discuss some of the economic models that could help bolster the sustainability of local news. But first, Tesla recently settled a case challenging how the company marketed its driver-assistance technology. We’ll hear more.

From the BBC World Service: After U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned about cheap Chinese green imports, business leaders in Europe are sharing their concerns about Beijing’s impact on the sector. Then, the money-laundering of 27 people connected to the Panama Papers gets underway. And later: Politicians have long utilized social media to reach voters. But whether (semi-embarassing) short dance videos are in store, is utilizing TikTok the right move for politicians?

You may want to shield your eyes. No, we’re not talking about the solar eclipse — though please do wear the appropriate glasses. Today, we’re talking about eye-popping college costs. One such example? At Vanderbilt University, some students could see a sticker price of nearly $100,000 for the upcoming school year. Also on the show: President Joe Biden’s latest student loan forgiveness plan and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s “difficult conversations” in China.

According to a Deloitte study, employed women pay $15 billion more each year for out-of-pocket health care than men do. We’ll unpack the reasons why and the toll these extravagant costs can take. In other health news, federal officials are taking a closer look at the role of private equity in health care. Also, two lawmakers on Capitol Hill have proposed national standards on data privacy. We’ll discuss.

From the BBC World Service: A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has launched an investigation into Elon Musk after he said he’ll defy a court order to block certain accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also on the program: A chip giant looks to build a factory in Arizona, we take a closer look at seller fees on eBay, and small business owners react to TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S.

A survey of corporate executives in the U.S. and elsewhere finds that nearly half expect to employ fewer people because of new artificial intelligence tools — and they expect that change to happen in the next five years. We’ll hear more. Plus, hiring was stronger than expected last month, continuing the Fed’s predicament. And later on the show, an immigrant family in Waterloo, Iowa, reflects on multigenerational living.

More than a week after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the crews of eight large cargo ships are stuck in Baltimore’s port indefinitely. Today, we tag along with a port chaplain who’s helping care for the crew members, offering a lifeline of comfort and connection. We’ll also preview March’s jobs numbers and hear about “green bank” government grants to aid the clean energy transition.

From the BBC World Service: McDonald’s is buying back all its stores in Israel following global boycotts over the Israel-Hamas War. We discuss the franchisee business model and what customers could make of the move. Then, Argentina is expected to face its worse-ever dengue season yet, and there’s a shortage of insect repellent. Plus, Saudi Arabia has struck a lucrative deal to host the Women’s Tennis Association Finals for three years.

Sometimes, annual corporate shareholder meetings are mundane. That was not the case this year at Disney, where there was an unusually bitter and public battle for say in how the company is run. We’ll take a closer examination of the proxy battle and its outcome. Also on the program: expectations of March job gains, the Fed’s no-win situation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s trip to China and airline responses to Boeing’s production delays.

Thursday marks 56 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. On today’s program, we hear how Dr. King’s family is fighting to maintain access to the civiil rights leader’s words, continuing to safeguard his intellectual property, and promoting a legacy of nonviolent social change and racial unity. We’ll also learn more about a decline in the number of women in c-suite positions last year.

From the BBC World Service: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is to meet officials in China for the second time in less than a year. What exactly can we expect from visit with government officials and business leaders? Then, Kenya’s health care system is in chaos as 4,000 public sector doctors and workers have gone on strike. Also: how is AI changing the next generation of prosthetics for people with disabilities?

The Chinese-based platform Temu is transforming e-commerce, and it’s recently surged in popularity in the U.S. Described as being “like Amazon on steroids,” Temu’s products are often cheap and unbranded — but those low prices could be coming at high costs. Also on the program: few visible cracks in the labor market, a lack of remote work training, and an obituary for General Electric as a corporate conglomerate.

Multigenerational living arrangements began to decline in the 1950s, thanks to the growth of suburbs, new job opportunities for those willing to move and the rise of senior housing. Yet from 1971 to 2021, the number of people living in multigenerational family households quadrupled. Why? Housing affordability plays a big role. But first: How might Taiwan’s major earthquake impact the global supply chain for semiconductor chips?

From the BBC World Service: A joint report from the United Nations and the World Bank suggests it would cost $18 billion to reconstruct infrastructure and buildings in Gaza. We consider where that money might come from. Plus, Taiwan has experienced its most powerful earthquake in 25 years. Then, we take a look at the Chinese-owned online retail platform, Temu. How does it manage to list products so cheaply?

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes ticked up sharply to 4.4% this morning, and the thought of extended higher interest rates has stock investors in a cautious mood. We’ll discuss. Then, Google is promising to delete mountains of data following a class-action lawsuit. And it was last call for one of the oldest casinos on the Las Vegas strip this morning. We’ll took a look back at the history of the Tropicana.

Consumers lost more than $1.1 billion to impersonation scams in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. This week, a new rule from the FTC went into effect that prohibits people from impersonating government agencies and businesses, and gives the FTC more tools to go after scammers. Plus, the United States and United Kingdom are teaming up to tackle AI safety, and the end of certain internet subsidies threatens telehealth access.

From the BBC World Service: India is likely to experience more heat wave days than normal between April and June, potentially hitting agricultural production and hampering government efforts to bring down food inflation. There’s also a worry that soaring temperatures could deter people from voting in the upcoming elections. Also on the program: an agreement tackling the risk of AI, England’s expanded taxpayer-funded child care and the Dutch word for doing nothing

We’ve been taking a close look on this program at the burdens of medical debt. Back in 2020, Congress passed the so-called “No Surprises Act” to protect patients from unexpected big bills for out-of-network medical care — and turns out, its wider impact on health care spending has yielded mixed results. But first on the show, California’s new $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast food goes into effect today. We’ll unpack reactions.

Funding for public schools partially depends on the number of students enrolled. But some public school districts are considering closing and consolidating schools due to enrollment declines that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Cato Institute survey. We hear more. We’ll also learn more about agriculture’s impact on Colorado River basin levels and an anti-redlining law that’s currently on hold.

From the BBC World Service: China may be showing signs of an economic recovery, with factory output slightly up for the first time in six months — an indicator that the country’s pandemic-induced slowdown may be starting to ease. Plus, in Germany, people can smoke cannabis in public starting today. Then, Turkey’s main opposition party has claimed big election victories in major cities; high inflation and general economic weakness may partially be behind the wins.

President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign says it hauled in over $25 million at a New York City fundraiser last night, where Biden appeared alongside former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. So far, Biden is far out-raising Republican former president Donald Trump, but winning the money race doesn’t always translate into winning elections. And prices rose 0.3% in February, according to the personal consumption expenditures index. What should we make of that figure?

On the 2030 U.S. Census, Arab Americans will have their own box to check for the first time ever. And federal agencies are now being instructed to add a “Middle Eastern or North African” option to all data collection forms. One outcome? A clearer picture of economic conditions in Arab American communities. Then, a look at relief funds flowing into Maryland, and how medical debt can exacerbate existing pain and suffering.

From the BBC World Service: Thousands of tourists usually flock to Jerusalem and Bethlehem during Easter, but there’s been a massive drop since the war in Gaza. That’s hit local livelihoods. Then, we hear from an FTX investor discuss the moment he had to tell his clients their cash was gone. Plus, the price of cocoa surged to an all-time high this week.

The Port of Baltimore remains cut off after the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It’s already having effects on supply chains, but it’s also impacting the jobs and livelihoods of folks in the region. We unpack. Plus, households accumulated more wealth during the pandemic recovery than would have been expected, U.S. hydropower took a hit last year, and a new Tennessee law aims to protect musicians from generative AI.

Seven of the largest U.S. sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings, are launching a trade group to promote responsible gambling. The move comes as legal sports wagers surge and as the NBA and MLB each investigate high-profile betting scandals involving athletes. Also on today’s show, we hear how the Baltimore bridge collapse is impacting workers there and look at proposed legislation aimed at tackling some of the burdens of medical debt.