HotSOS Housekeeping is an app that uses real-time data to help hotel housekeepers speed up room turnover. But the constant monitoring means the tracking of every move, which can add stress and discomfort for some workers. Today, we hear from two housekeepers — one who has union protections and one who doesn't — about how the algorithmic app has changed their worklives. But first, rising prices mean the central bank may flirt with interest rate hikes this year.
May 22, 2026•6 min
Memorial Day weekend is here, kicking off the summer travel season. More Americans are expected to hit the roads this year, but it comes at a time when gas prices are the highest they've been in four years — up about a $1.40 since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, and Iran effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz. Also on this morning’s podcast: high-profile concert cancellations and a preview of consumer sentiment.
May 22, 2026•7 min
On this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review, we take a look at how college graduates do not wanna hear about AI. Plus, what we all learned from the Musk v. Open AI case. But first, AI was unsurprisingly front and center at Google’s annual I/O developer conference. Among a suite of new AI products, Google said it updated its iconic search bar. Now, when searching in AI mode, the bar will expand as you ask a question. It will also provide suggestions about what you might wanna ask. Googl...
May 22, 2026•10 min
Elon Musk’s SpaceX just filed to go public, and OpenAI is expected to file in the fall. Both businesses have been around for over a decade — what was the hold up? In this episode, we explain the tradeoffs that come with an IPO. Plus: U.S. manufacturers struggle with climbing tungsten prices, Stellantis doubles down on affordable car models, and the authors of “How to Win a Trade War” make an optimistic case for our future global economy. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox...
May 21, 2026•25 min
Some of the biggest names in tech are making moves to go public this week. SpaceX — Elon Musk’s rocket, social media, and AI company — filed for an initial public offering yesterday. And the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, could file for an IPO as soon as tomorrow. These companies have raised a lot of private capital over the years. Why go public now? Plus, the pharmaceutical industry is investing billions in finding exotic radioactive isotopes to treat cancers....
May 21, 2026•6 min
About 8,000 Meta employees lost their jobs this week. The company is looking to offset its massive AI spending and “operate with a flatter structure." 'Flatness' has become a common refrain when tech companies shed jobs. It refers to the elimination of layers of middle-management roles, as AI agents take over some coordinating functions. Also on the show: Nvidia faces stiffer competition, and we learn about advancements in radiation cancer therapies.
May 21, 2026•6 min
Anthropic’s newest AI model, Mythos, is so good, the company says, at uncovering security vulnerabilities that it's too dangerous to release to the public. Anthropic shared a preview version with a select group to help patch the holes that Mythos finds. But the prospect of a super-hacker AI system is still sending some business leaders into a panic. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino reports.
May 21, 2026•5 min
Do you ever look at the world and think: everything is so uncertain, who knows if I’ll ever be able to retire … so I might as well get those concert tickets? Then you might be doomspending. Reema talks with The Financial Diet’s Chelsea Fagan and behavioral economist Judd Kessler about why we doomspend, and what we should do instead. Plus, producer Alice Wilder makes a confession. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketpla...
May 21, 2026•28 min
Affordable Care Act premiums are higher this year, after Congress declined to renew subsidies for the health insurance program. As a result, about a million fewer Americans enrolled for 2026 and even more are slated to drop by the year’s end. In this episode, why falling enrollment will raise premiums further. Plus: Bond yields hit record highs around the globe, businesses start to see tariff refunds ahead of schedule, and utility rates are about to get worse. Every story has an economic angle. ...
May 20, 2026•25 min
Investors have been souring on bonds. To entice them back, bond yields have been rising. The yield on the 30-year bond yesterday hit 5.2%, the highest rate since 2007; 10-year yields are about as high as they've been in more than a year. Many people have exposure to bonds in their retirement accounts. Bond yields also impact the rates on mortgages and business loans. We'll explain. Then, Google's search revenue remains strong — thanks in large part to AI.
May 20, 2026•7 min
The number of hot, dry, windy days is increasing, setting the stage for fires. Wildfire season is off to an awful start. In March, Nebraska had its largest wildfire in state history. Right now, a fire outside of LA is forcing evacuations. While the federal government spends about $3 billion on wildfire suppression each year, most of that is being spent, and states are having to fill the gaps. Also: why Google is "leading the way" in the AI race.
May 20, 2026•6 min
Earlier this month, a group called ShinyHunters took responsibility for a hack on the education platform Canvas, which is used for coursework at colleges. In a letter posted online , the group threatened to leak data it took from the platform, including billions of private messages between students and teachers. Canvas was also temporarily unavailable, disrupting students’ ability to do their work. Then, last week, Instructure , which makes Canvas, said it had reached a deal with the hackers , t...
May 20, 2026•6 min
The climate crisis is escalating. We have to decarbonize our economy, but we’re moving too slowly. So, what’s the backup plan? This season of “How We Survive” is about engineering nature: large-scale interventions that could be our last hope. We’ll explore technology being developed that could alter our weather patterns, transform our planet, and possibly save us all from the worst outcomes of the climate crisis. Or lead to catastrophic, unintended consequences. On our hunt for solutions, we tag...
May 20, 2026•3 min
The era of frequent public speeches given by Federal Reserve officials on monetary policy may be over. Incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has expressed a desire to reform the central bank’s robust communication style, which has been the norm since the 1990s. In this episode, what do we stand to lose if the Fed zips its lips? Plus: Retailers weigh passing higher costs onto cash-strapped consumers, stateside EV sales don’t keep up with European surge, and cities make an economic case for planting more...
May 19, 2026•26 min
If you’re a homeowner — this is no surprise to you — property insurance can be expensive. It seems to get more and more pricey each year. Some might blame climate change or natural disasters, but if you look under the hood of the $1 trillion in premium payments last year, the numbers might tell a different story. We'll unpack. But first, we'll discuss and preview earnings for some of America's largest retailers.
May 19, 2026•7 min
President Donald Trump has dropped his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns in exchange for the creation of a new $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which will compensate people who have been investigated or targeted for “political, personal, or ideological reasons.” We'll dig into the highly controversial fund. Also on the show: home sellers stay on the sidelines, and a pro dumpster diver finds gems amid dorm moveouts.
May 19, 2026•7 min
As of mid-2025, about a third of newly published websites were generated by artificial intelligence. That’s a massive increase from just three years before when the number hovered around zero. The AI written text provides fewer diverse viewpoints and is generally presented in a cheerful manner. That's all according to an early study out last month. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with one of the study’s authors, Stanford University researcher Maty Bohacek, about how AI is changing the natur...
May 19, 2026•8 min
In this episode, Bridget and Ryan travel through the history of money in front of a live audience of kids and families (for real!) to answer Sofia’s big question: What is the gold standard? Together, they explore this old money rule, how paper money became a thing, and why no countries in the world – not a single one – use gold to back their money anymore. This episode was performed as part of WBUR’s Podcast Playdate festival for kids in Boston. It was one of the most fun experiences we’ve ever ...
May 19, 2026•31 min
Cybersecurity was once the focus of a huge workforce development push. Job opportunities and training programs were abundant. But as artificial intelligence makes it easier for hackers to pull off sophisticated cyber crimes, it’s also replaced entry-level cybersecurity roles. In this episode, one corner of the AI-affected job market. Plus: What retail earnings could reveal about consumer spending, how homebuilders are feeling, and how the U.S. dollar became dominant. Every story has an economic ...
May 18, 2026•25 min
The U.S. and Iran remain far apart on a ceasefire, as President Donald Trump warns on social media that "the clock is ticking." The standoff is rattling global markets. Government bonds are rising, pushing up borrowing costs. And oil prices are moving higher this morning, as traders worry that the war in the Middle East will lead to a prolonged period of higher inflation. We'll discuss. And later: how Brazil became BYD’s biggest market outside of China.
May 18, 2026•7 min
The war in Iran has cost Americans more than $40 billion in additional fuel costs, according to an analysis from Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs. The costs go beyond just what Americans pay at the pump; higher diesel costs are factoring into rising prices for other consumer goods, too. This morning, we'll do the numbers. Plus, after a slowdown, "vertical dramas" are putting some Hollywood crews back to work.
May 18, 2026•6 min
Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of energy creation, and uses the flow of rushing water to create electricity. The province of Québec, Canada, has historically had an abundance of it and, later this spring, will start supplying hydropower to New York City. This is the second big hydropower line to link Québec and the Northeast U.S. this year, after a line to Massachusetts came on board this winter. Right now, the power is going one way, from Canada to the U.S., but some are thinking that th...
May 18, 2026•7 min
New consumer data shows alcohol sales were down over 5% in April. And, as you’ve probably noticed, gas prices were up. Is there any correlation? In this episode, why high fuel prices may exacerbate existing consumer trends — like cutting back on beer. Plus: Cerebras’ successful IPO signals hunger for AI stocks, Hollywood is buying more short stories, and we discuss the week’s economic headlines. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newslett...
May 15, 2026•26 min
Tomorrow is the Preakness Stakes, the second event in the Triple Crown. Betting on horse racing in the U.S. has declined by more than 50% over the last few decades. And while you might think platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket would see opportunity in horse racing bets, they haven't made inroads. Why don’t prediction markets have a horse on that race? We explain. And later, we'll do the numbers on defense lobbying.
May 15, 2026•7 min
"LNG is the next growth story of the next decade," says Kent Britton, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. Liquefied natural gas exports are expected to grow 30% in the U.S. in the next year and a half. That growth is driven mostly by new and expanding LNG export projects along the Gulf Coast. What does it mean for the global energy market and coastal economies? But first: inflation, imports, and U.S.-China trade deals.
May 15, 2026•7 min
This week, WhatsApp is offering private chats with its AI. Plus, Princeton will now hold supervised exams after a rise in AI-fueled cheating. But first, Google’s self-driving car division Waymo opted to do a voluntary recall of 3,800 of its robotaxis. This comes after a Waymo drove into a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas. The car was empty and no one was hurt, but Waymo is now updating its software to address how its cars deal with flooded roads. Will Oremus at The Atlantic joins Marketplace’s...
May 15, 2026•11 min
President Trump arrived for trade talks in China this week with a gaggle of corporate CEOs in tow. One expert tells us Trump’s body language, tone, and the C-suite entourage all hint Chinese President Xi has the upper hand in any negotiations. In this episode, what we expect the two world leaders to discuss. Plus: Consumers and retailers show signs of caution, the EU rethinks fiber optic cable routes in conflict zones, and traditional TV comapnies try out AI-driven ad programming. Every story ha...
May 14, 2026•25 min
Recent controversy surrounding the rock band Geese and a digital marketing firm Chaotic Good Projects has sparked debate over the tactics firms use to drum up hype for artists online. How can we tell if online hype is real or fake? And does it really matter? Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to break it down. Plus, a final thank you from Kimberly. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Geese psyop debate: Rock band raises questions about music marketing" from Fast Company "Fake Fans"...
May 14, 2026•18 min
Retail sales in April were up 0.5% compared to the month before and are up 4.9% from a year ago, according to the Census Bureau. So are retail sales higher because consumers are resilient and buying more stuff, or are we spending more just because prices are higher and the stuff we want is more expensive? We discuss. Then, in search of cleaner energy, two new power transmission lines are connecting Quebec to New York and Massachusetts.
May 14, 2026•7 min
Kevin Warsh is officially the next chair of the Federal Reserve. The Senate voted to confirm him to a four-year term on Wednesday. He’ll replace Chair Jerome Powell, who led the central bank for the last eight years. He’ll face a challenging economic environment, worsening inflation, and pressure from President Donald Trump to cut rates. Plus, a look at how median actually rents fell in April and why one Arizona coffee roaster is unable to claim tariff refunds.
May 14, 2026•7 min
