Week of March 13th, 2006

Marketplace's Kai Ryssdal talks with Charles Schwab about his start in the brokerage industry, how the business has changed, and teaching kids the basics of investing.

Three years ago this weekend the US invaded Iraq. Beyond military spending, the US government has allocated $21 billion to rebuild the country. Pratap Chatterjee, director the non-profit group Corpwatch, spoke with Scott Jagow about where the money has gone.

Yesterday, the Senate raised the debt ceiling by another $800 billion. So now the United States owes $9 trillion. Hillary Wicai puts this in perspective.

In this week's installment we meet image consultant Samantha von Sperling, who teaches etiquette, interview skills and social skills. Did you know asparagus is to be eaten with the fingers?

One American beer maker has a suggestion for you: beer cocktails.Julie Moody takes us to Austin, Texas, where the idea is being tested on some music-festival fans.

Marketplace Money for March 17, 2006

The housing market appears to be cooling off, but rents keep going up in many cities. Personal finance expert Chris Farrell talks about the reasons why with Scott Jagow.

CBS is making games from the NCAA basketball tournament available for free online. It's making its money off advertising. Tess Vigeland reports.

Three US senators go to China next week to talk to officials about whether they are going to let their currency appreciate. If the answer is no, the senators have a bill that would slap nasty tariffs on Chinese imports. Jocelyn Ford reports.

Kai Ryssdal talks with Charles Schwab about the evolution of the discount brokerage business and how he came to be the face of the company.

A report out this week suggests sweatshops are alive and well in the United States. In fact, some of the factories are busy making uniforms for the US military. Hillary Wicai reports.

More than 1,300 bands and fans are in Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest music festival. The problem is finding a place to stay. Julie Moody reports.

Congress is poised to raise the nation's debt limit. The White House wants to boost the ceiling by hundreds of billions of dollars. Commentator Robert Reich says there's nothing wrong with debt, but it's what you spend it on that counts.

The US isn't happy with a possible energy pact between India and Pakistan.That's because it involves building a gas pipeline from Iran. Miranda Kennedy reports.

Today, executives from the nation's six largest oil companies go before a Senate committee. They'll be asked to explain whether mergers have anything to do with their gushing profits. Sam Eaton reports.

A few days ago, scientists discovered a new species of animal in the Pacific that looks like a hairy lobster. Researchers named it Kiwa hirsuta. They also blew a golden chance to make some money, says commentator Natasha Loder.

In Washington today, an event to celebrate the success of the nation's drug courts — and to elbow the folks in Congress who slashed the program's funding last year. Jeff Tyler reports.

Newsweek Wall Street editor Allan Sloan talks to host Scott Jagow about whether the new AT&T can avoid the same fate as the old one.

Forget the Democrats, Senate Republicans can't even agree among themselves over how to proceed with the 2007 federal budget, which hits the Senate floor today for debate. Hillary Wicai has more.