Week of March 19th, 2012

From man's best friend to the hotel reception desk; check-in on the successful first leg of David Brancaccio's cross-country road trip from New York to San Francisco, which he's attempting to complete without any human interaction.

Private investors are buying up foreclosed properties by the bushel and renting them out at a profit. Speaking of bushels, the warm weather is tempting some farmers to start planting — but if you plant too early, you won’t get federal crop insurance if something goes wrong. And tax day is just three weeks away. Why is it that so many people want tax reform, but that it just hasn’t happened yet?  

Starting Monday, all eyes will be on the Supreme Courts as it holds a three-day hearing on the Affordable Care Act — and the event is the hottest ticket in town. Could Bank of America’s plan to turn homeowners facing foreclosure into renters become an industry-wide model in which everybody wins? We explore why Nigeria is a hotbed for credit card scams. And, as the new season of “Mad Men” premieres, we look at how much the characters are like current ad men.  

A hacktivist is someone who busts into a computer network motivated more by political ideology or in the service of a cause than just to steal something for financial gain. The hacking collective known as Anonymous is perhaps the best known of hacktivist groups, and in the last several months, their efforts have expanded and inspired many spinoff groups of like-minded mischief makers. Now, a new report says hacktivist hacks now outnumber traditional for-profit cybercrime attacks.

President Obama has announced his choice for the U.S. nominee to lead the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim. Judging from history, Kim is likely to win the role.

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The court's grounds will be clogged with a colorful mix of characters: activists, lawyers, journalists and oh, tourists.

Doctor and commentator John Schumann says it's a medical urban legend.

Some farmers in the Midwest are planting crops earlier than usual because of hot weather. But there's a risk of losing it all if a spring freeze hits.

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The British government has announced today that it wants to set a minimum price on beer, wine, and spirits. It hopes the move will help prevent alcohol-related crimes and deaths in the country.

Technology is advancing at an exponential rate, and at that speed, computers, automation, and robots are already doing tasks most people did not believe were possible. So what does that mean for the jobs economy?

Dealers now scour homes in California for treasures they can sell to newly affluent Chinese.

Washington leaders have passed a bill that bans members of Congress from trading stocks based on non-public information, and President Obama says he will sign it.

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The head of the World Bank has always been an American, and typically, a white male, banker, diplomat type — but this time might be different.

Check out Jim Yong Kim, whom President Obama today nominated to head the World Bank, in this rap performance.

By the end of the month, the Federal Drug Administration needs to decide whether to ban BPA in food and drink containers. Bisphenol A makes plastic more pliable, but some scientists say it may have adverse effects on human health.

The U.S. Department of Justice takes AT&T to court over yet another Nigerian scam.

Movies like "Hunger Games" bring in hundreds of millions of dollars at the gate. But one Massachusetts theater survives without admission fees.

Going over listeners' responses to past broadcasts. This week: The bigger picture in the Mike Daisey story, the great American diaper debate and talking to President Obama.

While you're trying to determine what happens when you subtract line 35 from line 43 on your tax form, you might ask: Why is this so complicated?

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What would you do if you came into a family inheritance after years of accruing debt and working minimum-wage Jobs?

According to Bloomberg Markets Magazine, private investors are buying up foreclosed properties by the bushel and renting them out at a profit.

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Ever since the housing crash, investors have been pouring money into gold, and the price has more than doubled. But now, investors are starting to shy away.

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China appears to be on the verge of an economic slowdown, and that has investors around the globe concerned.

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Bank of America starts a foreclosure-prevention program that lets borrowers give up ownership of their home but stay on rent-paying tenants.

A new report says hacktivist hacks now outnumber traditional for-profit cybercrime attacks. Plus, new efforts to stop cramming and gamers demand a better ending.

Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street. This week: The new memo that reveals Jon Corzine apparently authorized the transfer of customer funds, and the new World Bank nomination.

Soon after the new iPad hit the street, reports started coming in that the device got a lot hotter than anyone was expecting. Not talking figuratively here — the actual temperature on the device. Now, Consumer Reports has stepped in and done some actual testing in a scientific lab to see exactly what’s going on. Also, another edition of the Robot Roundup.

The president will be talking energy today in Cushing, Okla. — the starting point for the southern part of the Keystone XL Pipeline. But come Monday, the president will have another issue to worry about: the future of his health care law. Yesterday, Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal sat down with President Obama in Nevada and asked him about it. The president also outlined what he sees as the “recipe for success” for the American economy. One California chain, Umami Burger, is getting ready to test the market for the $15 patty — with all the fixings — nationwide. And we check in with Frank Newport for our weekly Attitude Check.

Health reporter Gregory Warner explores the debate over the Affordable Care Act ahead of the Supreme Court hearings next Monday. Freakonomics takes a look at the lack of patents filed by women and how that hurts our economy. Gallup’s Frank Newport reveals the latest data on how Americans feel about energy policy. Commentator Bill McKibben says the president’s “all of the above” energy plan lacks focus. And we look at the carefully crafted marketing campaign for the film “Hunger Games.”

The classic toy got all kinds of buzz yesterday when it became the political prop of the day in the GOP primaries.

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The books are best sellers, and the movie is on track to blow out the box office. But lining up marketing partners is a bigger challenge.

Starting Monday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the health care law, including a mandate that all Americans carry health insurance.

For years, the Etch A Sketch seemed like a pretty non-partisan toy. Well, not anymore.

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Yesterday, Marketplace's Kai Ryssdal sat down with President Obama to speak about health care, energy, and the economy at large. Kai asked the president to make the case for why his economic policies have been good for America.

The NCAA basketball tournament is a great way for smaller schools to get exposure, prestige — and alumni donations. Just ask Murray State or Ohio University.

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Freakonomics' Stephen Dubner on one scientifically-proven way that helps women embrace risk.

President Obama is touting a new "all of the above" energy plan that supports more of both oil and alternative energy production. What do Americans want in an energy policy?

In this week's Attitude Check, we get feedback from Gallup about how Americans feel about the various issues that President Barack Obama brought up in his exclusive Marketplace interview.

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Yesterday, Marketplace host headed out to Nevada to meet with President Obama. You may have heard the interview, but what was Kai really thinking as he interviewed the man who runs the U.S.A.?

In an exclusive interview with Marketplace, President Obama said he would have loved more cooperation from Congress on the health care law, and had started out with a plan Republicans at one time supported. "Over time," he said, "people will say this was the right thing to do."

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"What goes up must come down" was true with dot-com stocks and the residential housing market. Investors should understand that the same fate lies ahead for corporate profits, argues James Montier of the investment management firm GMO.

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Apple’s newest creation is popular, but is it uncomfortable to hold?

I am 32 years old and would consider myself financially illiterate! I briefly held a credit card, but after a series of rather poor decisions at the age of 20, I got spooked by the idea of credit altogether. When I last checked my score several years ago, it was not surprisingly in the toilet. In deciding to try and repair my finances, I checked my score today and found that it was (surprise!) 775! So after years of neglect, illiteracy and general incompetence, how do I maintain this incredible turn? Desperately in need of some sound, simple advice! Ryan, Cincinnati, OH

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President Obama's new energy policy is really no policy at all, say commentator Bill McKibben.

A Los Angeles high-end burger chain is looking to expand east.

America is coming back. The recovery may be tentative, but it feels as though we’re leaving the Great Recession behind at last. Every day we hear stories about people who hit bottom during the bad times, but who are now putting their lives back together. They’re stories of determination, heroism, adaptability and inspiration; brought to you in a special partnership between Marketplace Money and The New York Times.

Host Kai Ryssdal meets with President Barack Obama for an exclusive interview, discussing energy, job creation, and the economy as Obama begins a two-day trip promoting his energy policy. Meanwhile, there’s an oil boom going on in western North Dakota, and the city at the heart of it is getting stretched beyond capacity. Commentator Robert Reich says America has a real problem with morality in business, but he knows a way to fix it. And libraries aren’t just for books or movies anymore — now they’re a place to turn for job skills, shelter and social services.

Google has stepped in on the ongoing legal action between Hotfile and the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA wants Hotfile shut down because, it claims, Hotfile is trafficking in pirated content like movies and TV shows. But Google filed a brief that said Hotfile shouldn’t be held accountable for what people do on the site, just as Google shouldn’t be held accountable for what people put on YouTube, which Google owns. It’s certainly good to have a friend in Google.

The morning after yet another primary Tuesday, we take a deeper look at the economic policies of Mitt Romney. Is cane sugar really better for you than corn syrup? And as gas prices keep going up, the White House could grant a waiver of what’s known as the “Jones Act,” which currently forbids foreign cargo ships from moving their goods from one American port to another.

Obama may waive a law so that foreign ships can transport gas from the Gulf of Mexico to the East Coast to ease shortages and lower prices.

A former British finance minister once threatened to “squeeze the rich until the pips squeak," but that won’t like be the message of today.

Commentator Robert Reich says ethics in the boardroom can help save the economy.

The promise of steady work is attracting workers of all ages to Williston, N.D., and creating a new boom town on America's energy frontier.

Tune in for an updated broadcast of our program featuring Kai Ryssdal's exclusive interview with President Barack Obama, discussing energy and the economy as the president begins a two-day trip promoting his energy policy.

Export and import statistics only tell part of the international trade story.

The search giant backs up Hotfile in action against the Motion Picture Association of America.

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City libraries are trying to revamp to help homeless patrons, even as their budgets are slashed.

The president begins a two-day tour to highlight his new "all of the above" strategy.

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After falling victim to Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford, Carol Lovil is getting her life back on track. But she worries she may never be able to trust anyone again.

How would the IMF and the World Bank really change if the new leader was appointed from a developing nation instead of the U.S.?

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What drives the Republican presidential candidate, and what's more important than the simple fact that he has wealthy friends.