Episodes

  • Kevin Warsh and the Fed's balance sheet
    Apr 24 2026

    The Federal Reserve has two jobs: promote job growth and control inflation. To do that, it sets interest rates. It also buys bonds and securities to influence those markets, and is now sitting on a massive $6.5 trillion pile. President Trump's nominee for Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, wants to shrink that asset pile. We'll dig in. Also: optimism from one soon-to-be grad. Plus, how much longer can the standoff in Iran last before oil markets have to respond?

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    7 mins
  • Let's understand the informal economy
    Apr 24 2026

    When we talk about who makes up the economy, we're often talking about workers a company formally employs. But a lot of people find themselves working in the informal economy — generally defined as economic activity that falls outside of official regulation. It's not taxed, not tracked, and is mostly invisible to official statistics. Today, we'll dig into its importance and risks. But first, marijuana gets a tax break.

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    7 mins
  • Clearing the path to homeownership for renters
    Apr 23 2026

    The Trump administration announced a big change in how people's credit is assessed when applying for mortgages. Instead of only using FICO scores to prove creditworthiness, prospective homebuyers can now use a separate score model — one that considers things like rent and utility payment history — when applying for loans from mortgage lenders, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Also on the show: discussions of the market's bullishness and plans for a graduate degree in a tumultuous job market.

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    7 mins
  • The haves and the have nots of energy
    Apr 23 2026

    Maybe it’s hoarding, or protectionist, or human nature. Whatever you want to call it, some countries have plenty of oil right now — especially wealthier ones with their own refineries and reserves — while others can't get what they need and are rationing fuel. Plus, "starting has always been hard. This era is making it harder," said New York Times bestselling author Jodi Kantor. Today, we hear her job-hunting advice for new grads.

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    7 mins
  • Fearing the "black hole" of graduating without a job
    Apr 22 2026

    We're less than a month away from graduation ceremonies at college campuses across the country. But the job market college grads are entering is an uncertain one, and the unemployment rate for young people with college degrees remains elevated. This morning, we hear one college senior's take on the slowing labor market and the emergence of AI. But first, the owners of a Brooklyn plant shop chat about navigating higher costs.

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    7 mins
  • Will you have enough to comfortably retire?
    Apr 22 2026

    New research shows more than a third of workers and retirees don’t think they will have enough money for their retirement years — that’s the highest proportion since 2017. Lower savings rates, higher bills, and concerns over Social Security all constitute a perfect recipe for lower confidence. Also on this morning's program: a preview of Tesla's quarterly earnings and a look at why home prices are falling in Texas.

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    7 mins
  • Why markets are high despite war in the Middle East
    Apr 21 2026

    JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday for potential negotiations with representatives from Iran, but peace talks are still uncertain as the end of the ceasefire approaches. Markets, though, are nearing all-time records. “Marketplace Morning Report” Host Sabri Ben-Achour spoke with Ken Wattret, vice president of global economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about the disconnect. Plus, we check in with two plant shop owners about how they’ve been dealing with tariffs, rent, and our broader economy in this installment of Economic Pulse.

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    7 mins
  • Trump's pick for Fed chair heads to Capitol Hill
    Apr 21 2026

    President Trump’s nominee to head the Federal Reserve, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, will testify on Tuesday for his nomination hearing. Warsh is expected to toe the line between maintaining Fed independence and heeding calls from elected officials. Also on the program: war in the Middle East has energy companies looking for ways to diversify their oil supply. Plus, a look into how “social capital” helped to rebuild morale, and economic growth, in Minneapolis following Operation Metro Surge.

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    7 mins