Week of February 6th, 2012

Host Tess Vigeland is reporting from New York City, surrounded by fabulous frocks on display for Fashion Week. And what we’re seeing on the runways could eventually end up at a Target store near you. We’ll look at how haute couture ends up with an affordable price tag. If you’re job hunting, here’s what not to do: Send out hundreds of resumes. Some advice for getting noticed in the job market. And the thought of Valentine’s Day may break your heart, but it doesn’t have to break your bank. We’re celebrating February the 14th on the cheap.

President Obama shifts the responsibility of providing contraceptive coverage from religious institutions to insurers. Political contributions often flow to the most successful candidate. The European Commission has new guidelines out regulating the sounds electric vehicles can and can’t make. And Kai Ryssdal talks to Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, on the intent of yesterday’s foreclosure settlement.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s plan to make Americans healthier isn’t stopping at school lunch; she now wants the military to shape up as well. Greeks are striking again today to protest deep cuts the government wants to make in order to get more bailout money. The unemployment rate dropped last month to 8.3 percent, but some economists say the news isn’t as good as it sounds. And big drinks companies are fighting in what some might call “whiskey wars.”

Imagine if your car insurance company and your in-car navigation device started talking to each other. Progressive and other insurance companies in the U.S. have been playing with this general idea of tracking you while you drive — and it’s already happening in the U.K. Also, The Pew Center for the Internet and American life says adults are mostly happy when they’re using social networks.

While it looks to some like Greece just won’t take its bitter medicine and accept deep austerity measures proposed by its eurozone partners, others say more austerity is essentially political theater. Dimitiri Papadimitriou, the head of the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, says the European Central Bank, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund cannot realistically expect them to be implemented. And the Daily Pulse is down a beat today on news that Americans are less enthusiastic about spending their hard-earned cash than we were a month ago. With gas prices up and wages flat, it’s no surprise that today’s consumer-sentiment index was down.

President Obama unveils his budget for next year on Monday, at a community college just outside of Washington, D.C. But how serious is this executive branch wish list in a gridlocked Washington?

The $25 billion foreclosure settlement is one of the biggest in history. But is it fair? Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, one of the architects of the deal, responds.

Sunday the Greek parliament votes on whether or not to accept another round of deep cuts.

Greeks are striking again today to protest deep cuts the government wants to make in order to get more bailout money. But even the most recent austerity deal Greece proposed might not be enough.

Meg Favreau of WiseBread.com says that you don't need to break the bank this Valentine's Day. She shares some tips on what do come February 14th.

Yesterday's $25 billion agreement between five big U.S. banks and state attorneys general could help some three million homeowners who owe more than their homes are currently worth.

When commentator Jen Miller's love hit the rocks, she did something unusual — she called a mortgage broker. But she didn't lose her head.

Author Ramit Sethi discusses his belief that it's possible to network your way to a dream job and offers some tips on how.

Diageo, the alcoholic drinks giant that owns brands like Guinness and Johnnie Walker, says that its profits rose 15 percent last year despite flat sales in beleaguered Europe.

This weekend the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the folks behind the Academy Awards, will hand out the technical Oscars. They may not be as glamorous as the other Oscars, but they're every bit as important to movie making.

Nothing hurts quite like looking at your online bank statement the day the mortgage is transferred out. Nothing, except seeing that money transferred out twice. Ouch. Some Citibank customers using the company’s new payment app were seeing double payments, because of an error in processing. The New York Times reports: The problem, which began in […]

Gold is a "precious metal" with a storied history, but its value lies in the madness of the crowd. It's a speculation, not an investment.

Michelle Obama will announce a Pentagon venture to make the food offerings in the U.S. military more healthy. It’s the first change to military rations in 20 years.

I am retired and would like to safely increase income. What is a secondary market annuity? Is it a suitable vehicle for putting a portion of retirement funds to safely increase guaranteed retirement income? Are there issues to be aware of with the secondary market annuities? How should this product be purchased? Thanking you in advance for any light you can shine on this topic. Ronald, Rhinebeck, NY

For or against?

Not only are homemade truffles much cheaper than buying them, your culinary skills will impress your sweetheart.

Political campaign donations through super PACs are more concentrated than ever. Fewer rich donors are giving increasingly greater amounts to their chosen candidates, and it's raising new concerns about big money influencing elections.

Macroeconomic signs point to a brighter future, but average Americans are still struggling with the basics.

From Lloyd Blankfein's support of gay marriage to Steve Jobs' high school GPA, why do we know more about the lives of CEOs than ever before?

Toymaker Hasbro is teaming up with the online gaming company Zynga — but it's not the old school Hasbro that's trying to climb the ladder into Internet games.

The settlement between states and banks is worth $250 billion, but few homeowners benefit.

The favorite holiday of economists and business journalists.

Last week, we got news that the unemployment rate is down, but that number includes people who have dropped out of the labor force. Is this number as good as we thought?

Some relationships are just meant to be. The idea is pretty basic: drive safer, get better rates. We’re watching you.

Voilà! A brilliant presidential campaign speech, constructed from nothing but titles of songs from President Obama's own Spotify playlist.

Going over listeners' responses to past broadcasts. This week: Going beyond blaming the banks, exporting jobs and poverty in our modern society.

The #Fedvalentines meme, started by economist Justin Wolfers, injected some fun into an otherwise leaden week.

Of course Al Green made the cut

Quiet electric cars have to sound like something. So what should that be?

Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street. This week: The $25 billion foreclosure settlement agreement the government and five major banks agreed to yesterday.

A day after the government submitted a budget cutting plan that’s needed in order for Greece to get more bailout money, there are huge strikes over the cuts going on in Athens today.

Islands in the stream, that is what we are…

Do you believe in magic?

Rover, meet R2

I can't help but notice that Valentines Day seems especially huge in the… let's say, "tech" community.

Under the new plan, even women who work for religious employers will have access to free birth control. It's all because of an insurance company workaround.

President Obama said in his State of the Union that he wanted stricter enforcement of U.S. trade rules. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk discusses the details of what's to come.

In the midst of debates that could potentially tighten the rules on insider trading in Washington, the head of the House Financial Services Committee faces serious allegations.

The details of the settlement between the states and the banks are still being hashed out. But, if you want to know if you might qualify, we’ve got some information to get you started.

Home decor businesses are following the fashion world's example, finding artists who'll mass produce their works and sell them in retail stores for a fraction of the cost.

The Obama administration and almost every state are reportedly ready to settle with the country’s largest banks over allegations of abusive foreclosure practices. We check in with the Mayor of Los Angeles on his vision for the city, which is the second largest metro area in the U.S. A new survey out by the Pew Research Center shows that young adults have been hurt the most in the recession. And bankruptcy lawyers are warning that the latest “debt bomb” will come from student loans.

After a year in the making, the government finally reaches a foreclosure settlement with five major banks. The Greeks, too, have reportedly settled on making austerity cuts that would also allow them to get a bailout package. The Chinese market for art is spinning out of control. Youngsters are running away from the TV sets. And Kai Ryssdal talks to Walter Mosley, author of “All I Did Was Shoot My Man,” about race and class in the age of global capitalism.

A confession right up front: Apple has not confirmed that it is, in fact, working on an Apple-branded television. Maybe it’s not. Maybe all the rumors and reports we’ve heard are just hogwash. But on the other hand, when you see a whole ton of those reports coming in, you begin to think there’s some fire underneath all that smoke. What could be in store? Also, Google has a new focus group program.

After weeks of brinksmanship, missed deadlines, and late-night negotiations, Greek politicians finally signed off on the long-awaited austerity measures demanded by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Their reward? A bailout of about $172 billion from the European Central Bank. Douglas Elliot, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, says the markets have seen this deal coming for so long that it had already been priced in. And the Daily Pulse quickened today on news that some justice is coming to the creators of a housing bubble in the U.S. that culminated in a seemingly endless foreclosure fiasco. How much justice? About $25 billion worth.

There's been a lot in the press lately about working conditions in Apple factories in China. Apparently, we're worried about it — but only a little bit.

Today's $26 billion settlement between the government and five of the nation's biggest banks could free up the billions in mortgage securities they possess. But the settlement will also change many of the ways banks deal with foreclosures.

TV may still be the most popular pastime in America. But new media is making inroads with younger viewers, who tune in on laptops, phones and tablets.

The Los Angeles mayor and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors discusses public transportation, city budgets and what's ahead for his city.

As states close in a settlement with big banks over alleged abusive home foreclosure practices, we break down how much each family will really get.

I'm not too sexy for this tweet

The company has just set a firm date for unveiling the next big iteration.

Federal and state authorities have reached an agreement with big banks on abusive foreclosure practices. What does this mean for states like Maryland?

The Los Angeles mayor discusses his city's public transportation issues, economic challenges, and his favorite place to go.

Consumer groups plan to deliver petitions to Apple Stores around the globe, calling for Apple to "overhaul the way its suppliers treat their workers."

Nearly all the states and the federal government, and five of the nation's largest banks, have reportedly reached a $25 billion settlement over abusive foreclosure practices. Around 750,000 victims of foreclosure fraud will get checks for just about $1,800.

We've seen the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Apple appears to be cooking up another mega-product.

In this economy, young people postpone careers, marriage, kids and even leaving home.

Greek leaders have agreed on a new austerity plan. What will the ripples be throughout the rest of the European economy?

Because why do you need a camera when you have a phone?

It's like driving with Santa. He knows when you've been bad or good, so…

With a $172 billion bailout in place, Greeks' futures are looking austere.

And so the decline of the Gen X mind begins

The long-time king of consumer electronics is listing like the Costa Concordia. The foreign CEO who was supposed to right the ship is gone; today, S&P downgrades its debt into the BBB’s. Ouchy. The company known for innovation and quality (how long ago it seems, but they won the Blu-ray, HD-DVD war, remember?) has found […]

I have a dilemma that I hope you can offer some advice on: I am currently in the process of paying off some hefty student loans I accumulated while earning my bachelor's and master's degrees. I pay almost twice the required payment. (Please let me know if you need specific figures.) My husband and I would like to save for the down payment on a home to be purchased within 5 years. Would it be more advantageous for me to continue aggressively paying down the loans (fixed interest rate of 4.25 percent) or save as much as possible to apply to a home to be purchased in the near future? Michelle, Indianapolis, IN

A new study reports that student debt in this country could be the next “debt bomb," a major economic threat not unlike the mortgage crisis. And this time, there’s no way to get rid of the debt through bankruptcy.

As a potential deal between states and big banks nears over abusive foreclosure practices, we check in with Gallup to see how worried homeowners are about the future.

Five big banks punished for illegal lending practices.

Walter Mosley's new book, "All I Did Was Shoot My Man," is more than a mystery novel. Both Mosley and his recurring protagonist, Leonid McGill, take on issues of economic injustice, inequality and the inevitable world of capitalism we live in.

Rich Chinese buyers are bidding up global art prices. But as some buy for investment rather than artistic merit, there are fears of a bubble.

A new Pew Internet report out today shows that the things we post on social networking sites (SNS) is creating some tension in our social lives:      49% of SNS-using adults said they have seen mean or cruel behavior displayed by others at least occasionally. And 26% said they had experienced at least one […]

A settlement has been reached between state attorneys general and five major banks, but the problems of the housing market in the U.S. are far from over.

The national mood about the economy is one thing, but what states have the best, and worst, confidence about the direction of the economy?

The Obama administration and nearly every U.S. state are reportedly ready to settle for $26 billion with five of the country's largest banks over allegations of abusive foreclosure practices.

Greek lawmakers have agreed on an austerity package that features spending cuts and reforms. But implementing it won't be easy.

Just ahead of another meeting of European finance ministers in Brussels, Greece announces that they have agreed to the austerity cuts that would allow them to receive a much-needed $173 billion bailout.

Watching TV is like so 2010

Americans' feelings on the foreclosure deal, banks and whether they should worry about the European debt crisis. Gallup's Frank Newport offers up the latest data.

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that the state legislature is failing to fully fund public education. Cracks were found in a number of Airbus A380 wings. Commentator Robert Reich talks about the GOP’s argument that President Obama is turning America into a “European-style welfare culture.” Freakonomics Radio explores one unintended consequence of the economic downturn — our waistlines. And Kai Ryssdal plays ‘PAC Name Fever’ with the Marketplace staff.

Path is a relatively new social network that has garnered a lot of critical praise. But it turns out the iPhone app has been gathering up a user’s address book information and transmitting it, unencrypted, back to Path. And Path isn’t the only app in the world to use your information. Also, the booming app economy is a jobs bonanza.

The Federal Reserve could vote today on a proposed merger between Capital One and ING Direct USA. We talk to two unemployed Spanish women about what it is like to live in a country with such poor job prospects. The Grand Canyon announces a ban on bottled water, despite fears that Coca-Cola, a big parks sponsor, would react badly. And Wal-Mart chooses a new head for its China operations.

Lisa Shalett, the chief investment officer of Merrill Lynch, says the recent upward tragectory in the markets is due to a mixture of “surprise” and “relief.” Surprise at the resilience of the U.S. economy, and relief that Europe is looking is no longer on the brink of collapse. Many market watchers have been touting equities during this run up, and Shalett is no exception. The Pulse slowed today on news that fewer Americans are quitting their jobs. It turns out “churn,” is actually a sign of a healthy job market.

Go ahead and freak out, iPhoners

The French offer parents enormous support.

The student loan debt burden is getting worse. The epicenter of trouble is so-called private student loans. It's time to take action on private student loans.

Packed, town hall-style meetings have sprung up all across Ireland over the past several weeks.

Traffic jams are a nightmare in Russia. But for some high ranking officials, breaking free is as simple as turning on a light.

The former CEO of the Stanford Financial Group is considered the biggest accused Ponzi schemer to be tried. One of the government’s key witnesses testifies this week.

Path is a relatively new social network that has garnered a lot of critical praise. But it turns out the iPhone app is gathering info from address books, and transmitting it back, unencrypted. Also, the booming app economy is a jobs bonanza.

Bloomberg News reports a case of a J.P. Morgan Chase letter to a homeowner that said "you could sell your home, owe nothing more on the mortgage, and get $30,000."