Latest from Jarrett Dang

• Aug 8, 2022

  Senate Democrats passed their spending bill. What didn’t make the final cut?

  

  Democrats passed their marquee climate and spending package late yesterday, a victory for the Biden administration as it seeks to reinvigorate its domestic agenda. We look at what provisions didn’t make the final cut, including a proposal to close the so-called “carried-interest tax loophole.” A new study finds that children with friends of different income levels saw a notable reduction in poverty rates later in life. Also, Amazon last week bought iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba line of robotic vacuums, in an effort to expand its smart home offerings.

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• Aug 8, 2022

  Kenya’s presidential election features talk of dynasties, hustlers and the rising cost of living

  

  From the BBC World Service: Whoever wins in Kenya will take on economic challenges including record inflation, drought and mounting national debt. Plus, Colombia’s new president, Gustavo Petro, pledges a raft of reforms and says he wants to reduce Colombia’s reliance on coal. It’s one of the largest exporters in the world. And, the stress, hunger and poverty facing people in Afghanistan, as foreign funds that once paid for its public health system have been frozen since the Taliban seized power.

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• Aug 5, 2022

  Holy hiring! U.S. economy adds 528,000 jobs in July

  

  The U.S. economy added 528,000 jobs in July, according to the latest jobs report, far outpacing expectations. We dig into what that means amid high inflation and whether this dampens fears of a recession. More on the reasons why the labor market will likely stay hot for the foreseeable future, including Baby Boomer retirements and declining immigration. Also, China has imposed sanctions on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her visit to Taiwan. 

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• Aug 5, 2022

  The CHIPS Act isn’t just about semiconductors. It also funds science.

  

  The CHIPS and Science Act puts aside tens of billions of dollars in funding for the National Science Foundation, the nation’s government research agency. We talked to the NSF’s director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, about what the money means and how it would contribute to American scientific advancement in coming years. Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, a key swing vote in the party, announced yesterday that she would support the party’s “Inflation Reduction Act” tax and climate bill. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Equifax, which acknowledged that some users’ credit scores were miscalculated due to a “coding issue.”

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• Aug 5, 2022

  China plans sanctions on Nancy Pelosi and her family after Taiwan visit

  

  From the BBC World Service: The Chinese Foreign Ministry described Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan as an “egregious provocation” and that it ignored China’s “serious concerns”. Plus, three more grain ships have sailed from Ukraine, bound for Turkey, Ireland and the U.K. And, medical recruitment is a global challenge for hospitals.

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• Aug 4, 2022

  The labor market may be cooling off, just a little bit

  

  The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ JOLTS report is out, and it indicates that the labor market may be in the early stages of cooling off. We talk about what the report means, and if businesses are feeling less hiring pressure. The Bank of England raised rates today in its biggest increase since 1995. And, horses are back working in French wine country, bucking their mechanical tractor counterparts. 

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• Aug 4, 2022

  Senate Democrats’ spending bill is raising corporate tax questions

  

  Senate Democrats are working out the details of their latest spending bill, dubbed the “Inflation Reduction Act.” We go over what’s been going on with the bill, and some contentious corporate tax proposals. Tensions between Taiwan and China are starting to disrupt commerce and some flights. The Department of Transportation is beginning to take comments on a potential move to boost protections for airline passengers seeking refunds for tickets.

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• Aug 4, 2022

  How are American businesses feeling about operating in Taiwan?

  

  From the BBC World Service: We hear from the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, an organization with more than 500 member firms there. Plus, the Bank of England is expected to make its biggest interest rates rise in 27 years. And, with fears of gas shortages intensifying in Germany, businesses are preparing for what could be a tough winter ahead. 

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• Aug 3, 2022

  Pelosi visits Taiwan, leaves behind plenty of economic questions

  

  China correspondent Jennifer Pak joins us to discuss the economic implications of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The rate of people who don’t have health coverage in the U.S. has lowered. The surge of warehouse building raises concerns about the environment.

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• Aug 3, 2022

  China’s pressure on Taiwan could have uneven impact across industries there

  

  From the BBC World Service: Taiwan’s President Tsai highlighted a growing military threat from China, the economic reality of the highest-profile U.S. visit in 25 years. Plus, inspections on the first grain ship to leave Ukraine since the war broke out have been completed in waters off Istanbul. And, farmers say Dutch government proposals to reduce nitrogen emissions in the sector by 30% are unrealistic and unfair.

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