

Marketplace
Marketplace
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day's business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. "Marketplace" takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 11, 2025 • 26min
The GOP slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid's budget. What now?
Catherine Rampell, an economist with The Washington Post and MSNBC, and Bill McKibben, a climate activist and author, discuss the devastating $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid that threaten coverage for millions. They delve into personal stories, including a mother's plea against these cuts for her ailing son. McKibben also advocates for solar power as a sustainable alternative in the fight against climate change, illuminating its potential affordability and efficacy, while exploring broader economic implications.

Jul 10, 2025 • 26min
Reliable earnings outlooks? In this economy?
When companies release earnings reports, they often predict where they’re headed next, profit-wise. Lately, thanks to all that pesky economic uncertainty, some firms have altered their forecasts or opted out altogether. In this episode, why some guidance is better than no guidance. Plus: OPEC foresees oil demand growth through 2050, protein is the latest food fad, and an environmental organizer takes us on a mini “toxic” tour of his community that’s adjacent to a petrochemical complex.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.

Jul 9, 2025 • 26min
Let's get a grip on the labor market
The June jobs report gave a sunny picture of the labor market. But if you’re, say, looking for a job right now, you may see things a bit differently. What gives? In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of backward-looking data, and search elsewhere for answers about the current employment situation. Plus: Entrepreneurship chugs along in this uncertain economy, rents finally seem to hold steady, and U.S. copper prices spike.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.

8 snips
Jul 8, 2025 • 25min
RIP to the EV tax credit
Chad Bowne, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, dives into the demise of the electric vehicle tax credit after nearly 20 years. He discusses how this credit spurred EV innovation and what its loss means for future consumer costs. The conversation also covers the vertical integration strategies of major retailers to tackle supply chain issues, and a groundbreaking moment as Canada's LNG export journey commences. Additionally, labor market shifts and their impact on work preferences are explored.

Jul 7, 2025 • 26min
The consequences of tariff uncertainty
Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the White House nails down details, some businesses are suffering while they wait. In this episode, retailers explain why ongoing trade negotiations have put a damper on profits. Plus: Consumers could pull back spending if tariff-related worries persist, employment data shows it’s getting harder to find a job, and we check in with Altadena small business owners recovering from the L.A. fires.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.

Jul 4, 2025 • 26min
What happens when states manage public land?
Some conservatives think states should take over management of federal land. But often, states lack adequate resources, or use land for revenue rather than recreation or conservation. This Independence Day, we visit state trust land in Wyoming to learn more about state versus federal management issue. Plus: Homeownership is a tough bargain if you travel for work and data shows the manufacturing sector has contracted since Trump took office.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.

Jul 3, 2025 • 26min
Fear of ICE raids keeps California farm workers on edge
Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, discusses the fears surrounding ICE raids impacting California's farm workers, where over half are undocumented. This anxiety is linked to labor shortages in a state that produces most of the U.S. fruits and nuts. She also delves into the economic implications of Trump's immigration policies, the nuances of the June jobs report, and the complexity of U.S. trade dynamics influenced by tariffs.

Jul 2, 2025 • 27min
Reading the labor market tea leaves
Consumer spending sputtered in May, likely thanks to tariffs and related uncertainty. Not only does that give us a clue as to where GDP is headed, it could also help us predict the labor market's next move. Later in this episode: Slowed hiring could have a silver lining (depending on your perspective), the U.S. dollar is down 10% so far this year, and we visit a pop-up brewery focused on racial equity.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.

Jul 1, 2025 • 26min
Time for a national debt history lesson
The Senate just narrowly passed the latest version of the GOP tax and spending bill, and the House will vote on it tomorrow. Nonpartisan experts at the Congressional Budget Office say the bill will add more than $3 trillion to the national debt, which is already a whopping $36.2 trillion. In this episode, a few economic historians tell us how we got here. Plus: Construction spending falls again, Home Depot goes after large-scale pros and the stock market rallies.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.

Jun 30, 2025 • 27min
An American manufacturing road trip
Several regional Fed offices reported soft or stagnant manufacturing activity this spring. Tariffs, immigration policy and other uncertainties are driving pullbacks across the sector. In this episode, we take a cross-country trip to learn more. Plus: Farms struggle to staff up for harvest season as ICE raid fears persist, young college grads struggle to find work and Zillow changes its listing policy for homes that were already listed privately.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.