Latest from Olie D'Albertanson

• May 25, 2023

  Is critical U.S. infrastructure safe from foreign hackers?

  

  Microsoft and intelligence agencies are warning that a hacking group sponsored by the Chinese government has infiltrated critical infrastructure in the U.S. We look at the evolving situation and what’s been said so far. Plus, Germany’s economy has fallen into a technical recession after two straight quarters of negative growth driven by low consumer spending. And, voters in Turkey go to the polls again this weekend to vote in the presidential runoff election — older people are considering how high inflation could affect their economic wellbeing. 

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• May 25, 2023

  Germany’s economy slips into recession as consumers hold back

  

  From the BBC World Service: A recession is commonly defined as the economy shrinking in two successive quarters — that’s just what’s happened to Germany, mainly because higher energy prices have hit household budgets and that’s put the brakes on spending. It’s Europe’s biggest economy, so what’s the wider impact? Plus, the International Monetary Fund has approved a multi-billion dollar loan for Ivory Coast. And, we hear from rural Spain where a plan is being considered to help subsidize bars in depopulated areas which have become vital community hubs in a country where 90% of the population lives in urban areas.

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• May 24, 2023

  The party’s over — Netflix unveils its password-sharing crackdown

  

  It’s finally happening. After a slew of setbacks, Netflix has finally released details on its password-sharing crackdown, including an $8 per month fee for people wanting to share account details outside of their respective households. We look into how slowing subscriber growth has played into the company’s decision. Plus, the BBC reports on France’s new law prohibiting short-haul flights between destinations that also have a train connection that would take under 2.5 hours. And, we talk with Yeshiva University professor Abraham Ravid about the origins of the Hollywood writers’ strike. 

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• May 24, 2023

  One casualty of tighter pocketbooks: healthcare

  

  A new report from the Fed paints an alarming picture for many people’s personal finances — a growing number of Americans are deciding to forgo healthcare coverage because of the cost. We look at what that means for people’s well-being and what it says about the economy. Plus, enrollment at community colleges is up this year, especially in programs that focus on the culinary arts. And finally, a chat with Steven Durlauf, professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, about new research that delves into how generational wealth is created.

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• May 24, 2023

  France is cutting flights, but will the move cut carbon?

  

  From the BBC World Service: A few years ago, France came up with an idea to cut carbon emissions — reduce some short domestic flights and that’s now been signed into law. It affects flights where there’s an option to take a train in less than two-and-a-half hours instead. But how comprehensive and impactful will it really be? And, another industry under scrutiny is steelmaking which is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. We hear from a project in northern Sweden where they’re trying to do away with old carbon-intensive coal-fired blast furnaces.

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• May 23, 2023

  Which dominoes fall first if the debt ceiling is breached?

  

  As negotiators try to avert a U.S. government debt default, there are questions about what spending would be first on the chopping block in a doomsday scenario. We look at how a potential debt limit breach could play out, starting with benefit checks and public sector salaries. Plus, a check-in with Dr. David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist at JPMorgan Funds, about how investors think the Fed should act at its next interest-rate-setting meeting. And finally, This is Uncomfortable host Reema Khrais tells us about the podcast’s most recent season delving into the business of women selling their eggs. 

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• May 23, 2023

  Let the TikTok legal battles begin

  

  TikTok has filed the first legal challenge against Montana’s near-total ban on the social media platform since the law was enacted earlier this month. We look at what both sides are likely to argue in the upcoming court battle. Plus, electric-vehicle makers are looking to shore up their supplies of lithium, a key ingredient in batteries, as competition for the resource intensifies. And finally, work requirements for social benefit programs like SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, are on the table as the White House and Congress race toward a deal to raise the debt ceiling. 

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• May 23, 2023

  How China became a global auto giant

  

  From the BBC World Service: China is now the world’s biggest exporter of cars, helped by a massive growth in electric vehicle production. We look at how it caught up to more established brands. Plus, Thailand’s radical decriminalization of cannabis last year has led to a boom in marijuana-related businesses. But a recent election could lead to a U-turn in the way the country treats the drug.

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• May 22, 2023

  EU levies biggest-ever data privacy fine against Meta

  

  European regulators announced today that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, would have to pay a $1.3 billion fine for violating EU rules around internet users’ data privacy. We delve into what went into the decision, as well as what it means for the company going forward. Plus, we check in with Julia Coronado, president of the National Association of Business Economics, about what the group’s latest survey of economists says about the likelihood of a recession on the horizon. And, there’s a move toward “green steel” that’s seeking to de-carbonize the heavily-polluting steelmaking industry. 

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• May 22, 2023

  Inside the discriminatory origins of welfare work requirements

  

  The scramble to raise the nation’s debt ceiling has featured prominent calls by Republicans to impose stricter work requirements for recipients of welfare. But today’s debate on Capitol Hill stems from a much older fight over how the poor qualify for benefits. We spoke with Krissy Clark, host of Marketplace’s investigative podcast The Uncertain Hour, about how racial bias played into the formation and early implementation of the rules we know today. And, this summer travel season may be record-setting, according to experts, as the pandemic emergency officially comes to an end worldwide. 

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