Week of June 16th, 2014

IRS scams are on the rise. Here's what to look out for.

This week on Marketplace Money, guest host David Lazarus of the LA times and Emily Bazar explain how to navigate your health care bill.  Comedian Carol Leifer discusses what she learned from her father about spending small and dreaming big. David answers your personal finance questions. Cameron Huddleston, a contributing editor at Kiplinger.com, talks about what to watch out for in the latest set of criminal schemes. Personal finance writer Kristen Wong of the LifeHacker blog Two Cents joins David to talk about how to trick ourselves into being smarter money managers. And au revoir Marketplace Money, next week you’ll hear Marketplace Weekend, a new show about the economy and your money. Lizzie O’Leary, the new host of Marketplace Weekend, talks about the show’s launch.

Weekly Wrap for Marketplace on June 20, 2014.

GE wants turbine company, but may end up in business with French government.

In New Jersey, millions are spent each year on lawsuits involving police.

The artist's work has been out of copyright since 1996.

The federal government’s pressure on for-profit colleges that take in billions in federal student aid is close to claiming its first victim. Corinthian, which operates Everett College and Heald College among others, is nearly out of money after the government put a hold on federal grants for its students. The entire industry is sagging. If you’re not almost out of money, for $50 million you can own Monet’s “Nympheas,” one of his most famous water lilies paintings. Or for $14.95 you can own a Nympheas coffee mug. Monet’s lilies are one of the biggest art franchises ever. But just how big? We investigate. Also, Germany’s Siemens and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sweetened their joint bid for French company Alstom today. GE is also pursuing Alstom’s energy-supply business and has a competing offer in for Alstom whose board meets next week to discuss the offers. We explore why the French firm is so sought after. 

The first integrated circuit was estimated to sell for $1 million.

Did you know Doritos were born in a Disneyland dumpster?

Where for-profit schools get their revenue and what happens to their students.

What really brings baseball fans to the stadium? Free giveaways.

Security flaws in the app is a concern, but there are bigger hacks to think about

Marketplace Datebook for the week of June 23, 2014

The rise of jobs in the shadows.

A pain clinic is a strange place to think about economics. Or is it?

More on the largest discrimination-based credit card settlement in US History

Russia allegedly funds anti-fracking, Detroit's new pensions, and b-corporations

How well have you kept up on this week's tech news?

The Brookings Institution is out with a new report today on foreign-owned businesses in the U.S. We take a look at this snapshot of foreign direct investment – what sort of jobs it represents, and where. Plus, Detroit is getting ready to take a major step toward a new hybrid pension plan aimed at getting the city through bankruptcy. Plenty are watching, including the California state pension system Calpers, which is worried about the precedent Detroit’s changes might set. Also, an unusual program in New York has the unlikely combination of students from tough backgrounds and the watches that wrap the wrists of billionaires and celebrities. Marketplace’s Mark Garrison reports from New York in an attempt to save a threatened profession and better the lives of some at-risk young people. Then, there’s a new trend taking hold in corporate governance circles…It’s called a “benefit corporation.” This new class of company lets firms declare that some higher social purpose is as important as profits. The idea has only been around for a few years but a growing number of states now offer it. We investigate.

First up,Jason Schultz, Associate Professor of Clinical Law and Director of NYU’s Technology Law & Policy Clinic, talks about this week’s Supreme Court ruling on software patents. Then Will Oremus, Senior Tech Writer at Slate, chats about why an app that only does one thing – send the message “Yo” to another person who uses the app – is so popular. And how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? Host Ben Johnson plays Silicon Tally with Marketplace’s Sabri Ben-Achour.

An unusual program combines students from tough backgrounds and expensive watches

Why the California state pension system cares about Detroit's bankruptcy.

Despite geopolitical risks, stock markets around the world keep on going up.

Minnesota is the latest state to offer businesses b-corporation status

Foreign-owned U.S. businesses employ 5.6 million American workers.

American Apparel's Dov Charney ouster was a rare move.

Independent book stores promote Hachette titles to win business away from Amazon.

There aren't as many breaks for 30-second puppy ads.

A new report say improvement is needed. But how much improvement?

The World Cup is taking steps to provide more commercial breaks for advertising. How does advertising work in a giant sporting event that features continuous play except for halftime and flops? Plus, American Apparel’s board of directors forced out CEO and founder Dov Charney. It’s the latest parting with a problematic CEO, from Men’s Wearhouse to Groupon.  What calculations and strategy are used when it’s time to dump your company’s founder? Also, JK Rowling’s new book “The Silkworm” is out today.  Amazon is in a dispute with Hachette, her publisher, and has removed pre-order buttons for her book and those of other Hachette authors from its site. Walmart and some independent booksellers are taking advantage by promoting the books heavily and offering big discounts. We look at their strategy.

Outside groups are pouring more money into races, earlier.

The Groundlings has launched some of the biggest comedy in recent history.

Marketplace Datebook for Friday, June 20, 2014

Comedian Carol Leifer discusses what she learned from her father about spending small and dreaming big.

Chairman Yellen goes soft on inflation, the implications of the Aereo case, and Dov Charney's antics

Why accepting more refugees could be a win-win investment for the U.S.

Among the cases remaining on the list of decisions coming from the Supreme Court this month is a challenge by broadcasters to Aereo, which makes broadcast TV available to stream on computers and mobile devices. We set up what’s at stake in the decision. Also, the US spends about $5000 per person on containing violence in the country – so says the Global Peace Index, a report on global levels of violence. It finds that the global cost of dealing with violence is almost $10 trillion dollars – so we look at the cost of violence and its impact and implications for the economies. Later, we talk to Chris Farrell about his thoughts about immigration and refugees. Farrell argues that immigration is controversial, but the American experience is that welcoming refugees from Syria, Iraq, and other tragic places in the world could be a win-win investment. He says it’s a foreign policy approach that allows for doing good and doing well at a difficult moment in the global political economy. And after, emails come with all kinds of attachments – this week, a Harvard professor unveiled one with a smell attached. We take a closer look at the technology that makes it possible.

With the expected Supreme Court ruling on Aereo, we look at what could happen if the online TV service loses. Plus, John and Bonnie Raines, two of the activists who broke into an FBI office in Media, PA on March 8, 1971 and uncovered evidence of domestic surveillance that led to the formation of the Church Committee, talk about the first time the US Government investigated its own intelligence agencies. And finally, emails come with all kinds of attachments – this week, a Harvard professor unveiled one with smell attached. We take a closer look at the technology that makes it possible.

News from Apple, Google and Amazon suggest they're betraying their original ideals

Why marketing the sense of smell is hard to get right.

A think tank did some calculations.

A conversation with two activists who sparked a congressional investigation

With Charney out, American Apparel faces the challenge of finding a new CEO

The Massachusetts school will not look at your SAT score, even if you ask nicely

Some owners think the dealer will soak them for other repairs.

The Patent office ruled the Redskins’ federal trademarks must be canceled, but…

Job number #1 is to keep the majority. To do that, you need money. Lots of it.

The House elects its new majority leader Thursday, and Kevin McCarthy is expected to win. He’d be the No. 2 person in the caucus, responsible for helping to set the agenda. But the leader has another role that might be even more important: raising money for the party and colleagues, something the recently deposed majority leader, Eric Cantor, was very good at. Plus, millions of recalls are issued every year, but only a fraction of car owners come in for the fix. Why? We look into possible problems on the dealer end, and possible problems on the consumer end. Also, the US Patent office has ruled the Washington Redskins’ name disparages Native Americans and says the team’s federal trademarks for the name must be canceled. The team faces a massive potential loss of revenue if others ultimately use the name on tee-shirts and other merchandise. How will the team and the NFL be affected and how are they likely to react?

Educators are changing their thinking about mobile devices in the classroom.

The MOOC platform is offering a path to a tech job with a new certificate program.

A new wine region is developing in less-than-Mediterranean Midwestern states.

Yo, new app. Yo, tech bubble.

Kenya's M-pesa's system has revolutionized how its citizens carry and use money

Kai Ryssdal talks to Jason Speer, President of Quality Float Works Inc.

Marketplace Datebook for Thursday, June 19, 2014

An Amazon smart phone might be a gateway to more shopping power

A trade fair at the White House recognizes the growing 'maker movement' in the U.S.

What to expect from Chair Yellen's press conference, the amazon phone, and the 'maker movement'

Why a deal to cash out their tobacco settlement might cost New Jersey

A report identifies colleges where most students drop out, and many of those have so much debt they’re unable to repay it. For-profit colleges are prominent, but there are “regular” colleges too. Then, we talk to Fortune Magazine’s Allan Sloan about tobacco bonds and how they are impacting the tax payers of New Jersey. After, we talk to CEO and Founder of the Grommet, Jules Pieri, about the inaugural Maker Faire that President Obama is hosting at the White House tomorrow to encourage people to support the maker movement.

First, Ben talks with John Rossman, a former Amazon executive and author of The Amazon Way, about how Jeff Bezos runs the company, and how a 3D smartphone fits in with Amazon’s long term plans. Plus, Molly Wood, technology columnist at the New York Times, talks about YouTube’s new music service and its move to block content from artists who don’t sign on. Finally, we check in with Dag Spicer, a computer historian and senior curator at the Computer History Museum, about an early prototype of the Microchip that’s being auctioned this week.

Questions on stimulus and interest rates are subject of Federal Reserve meeting.

A report identifies colleges where most students drop out, many drowning in debt.

In defense of replaying an interview with Donald Rumsfeld.

YouTube picks fight with record labels in attempt to create streaming service

After the death of Tony Gwynn, it's a hot topic.

Netflix will stream some of its shows in 4K Ultra HD, whatever that means.

The latest Consumer Price Index indicates inflation is up.

The Midwest drought helped Ken Lenox's cattle farming business increase profit.

Consumer Price Index, CPI, is up, but the Fed, which meets tomorrow measures inflation in a different way. Deflation. Inflation. Let’s call the whole thing off. Then, Netflix plans to stream some of its shows, including Breaking Bad and Orange is the New Black, in 4K Ultra HD. But not a lot of people have the ability to watch ultra HD right now. However, this is where the Next Big Thing begins. What’s the strategy for taking us as consumers of content, hardware and technology, to the next level? We look at the shape of things to come. Also, a famous baseball player dies of cancer from chewing tobacco. We look at the smokeless tobacco industry, where sales are up 

A data journalist at WNYC added it up.

A new report on charitable giving shows where the money went in 2013.

Yes, it's both possible and legal.

In China, a warehouse of copper is used over and over again as collateral for loans.

The car maker announced another recall for a defect in cars' ignition switches.

Marketplace Datebook for Wednesday, June 18, 2014.

This is a Marketplace.org Reader

You’ve heard of eco-tourism, but what about political tourism?

Inflation, Apple's e-book woes, and a look at the state of the Argentine economy

Coal now has the largest share of global energy market since 1970 as the cheap fuel continues to be used in developing countries. Even countries like Germany burn more coal because it’s shut down its nukes. We investigate. Plus, the National Council on Teacher Quality has a report out tomorrow which is critical of teacher training programs at higher education institutions. It wants stricter criteria for those entering the programs, and for those programs themselves to be beefed up. But what do schools make of the criticisms? Also, though it’s far too early to know the cost of any further U.S. military action in Iraq, we explain how the economics behind intervention work. We also take a look at what’s a part of the standard military operating budget and what costs extra. Then, reporter Nicholas Wood is at the forefront of a new trend in travel called reality travel. Wood has started a company that allows travelers to visit countries that have made headlines because of political turmoil. The tourists learn the history of the region as part of the 9-day tour and are able to interact with politicians and other experts during their journey. 

First up, Carl Howe, vice president and senior analyst at Yankee Group, stops by to talk about Blackberry’s encrypted messaging service: BBM Protected. Plus, Lindsey Turrentine, Editor-in-chief of reviews at CNET, on Google Fit and Apples’ health kit – and how companies like Google and Apple can benefit from being the gateway for aggregated health and lifestyle data. Then we head under the sea, where Faien Cousteau, grandson of the explorer Jacques Cousteau, talks about living and working in an underwater habitat.

BP's annual report on energy shows coal with its largest share since 1970.

What does the defense budget already have covered?

Fabien Cousteau will spend 31 days living in an underwater laboratory

A report on Teacher Quality wants stricter criteria for teacher prep programs.

He made $5.2 million worth of bad bets.

The Supreme Court won't hear Argentina's appeal over its debts to hedge funds.

Amid the conflict in Iraq, the international benchmark for oil prices has hit a recent high. We look at what is known as the “comfort zone” as well as how traders factor in a risk premium into their decisions. Plus, Starbucks is upping the ante for low-wage workers by offering partial or full online tuition as ASU. In doing so, the competition to work at Starbucks is going to increase—which may be precisely the point. Also, the Supreme Court today  declined to hear Argentina’s appeal over its bid to avoid paying $1.33 billion to hedge fund creditors. The claim stems from the country’s historic 2001 default. Argentina is now on the hook to pay up in full and warns this could lead once more to default on its sovereign debt. We examine the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision.

"Flipping" gets a lot of press, but how many teachers are actually doing it?

Williston, North Dakota, is in the middle of an oil boom, but it doesn't have many stores or restaurants for a growing population.

The average size of a new house is above pre-recession levels.

Marketplace Datebook for Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

Starbucks will help employees pay for an online education at ASU.

How will the country handle an influx of displaced people?

Local leaders are teeing up their redevelopment plans.

Lagarde said more policy changes would lead to "medium-term fiscal growth."