Week of September 1st, 2014

I don't trust you.

Tesla is relying on fab efficiency to cut prices on an established type of battery.

With new threats from Russia and ISIS, belt-tightening could come to an end.

The network hopes to lure Mota's army of online followers back to prime-time TV.

Tesla’s huge bet on a giant battery factory is a bet on the present while the future races on. Tesla is counting on fab efficiency to cut prices on an established type of battery, while research on new types makes it hard to even envision what other devices they’ll make possible in the near future. Plus, Goucher College in Baltimore switches its admissions policy to allow students to skip high school transcripts and submit a two-minute video instead. With liberal arts schools struggling to fill classes, will a play at “creativity” over grades boost the school’s attendance? Also, ABC has just announced the lineup for its 19th season of “Dancing With the Stars,” which includes 18-year-old YouTube sensation Bethany Mota. The Disney-owned network hopes to lure Mota’s 7 million-plus online followers back to prime-time TV, but will the strategy work? 

Can an app help you exercise? Lizzie and Marketplace Tech's Ben Johnson investigate.

Reuters' Ben Walsh and Nicolas Carlson from Business Insider talk about the week's news.

Money can't buy you love, but can it help show your love?

Recovery from Ebola could take longer than recovering from war, says one CEO.

This weekend, Lizzie O’Leary talks with Medgar Brown, the CEO of Balmed Holdings in Sierra Leone. How is the Ebola outbreak affecting the region? Marketplace’s Krissy Clark explains why Americans have seen zero wage growth in the last 40 years. Storyteller Joey Slamon tells us the money lessons she learned from her grandma. Marketplace Tech’s Ben Johnson and Lizzie take part in a push-up contest and show off the latest in tech that helps you get fit. Americans spend almost $60 billion for their pets … where is all that money going? And if your grocery bill is rising, Lifehacker’s Kristin Wong tells us her favorite grocery store hacks to save. 

Goucher College in Maryland tries to reach a broader spectrum of students.

Teachers learn to code on the fly as more districts incorporate digital requirements.

"Champagne Supernovas" chronicles the way '90s trends upended high fashion.

The difference between income inequality and wealth inequality is key.

Kai Ryssdal talks to Ken Vogel about his book "Big Money."

Bad news, the unemployment rate is (still) 6.1 percent.

Which technologies or devices have been helpful for you?

A disappointing jobs number, immigrants may lose insurance, and schools join ESPN3.

First up, Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law at Harvard and co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, on the appointment of former Googler Megan Smith as U.S. Chief Technology Officer. Then, Dr. Howard Kaplan, a retina specialist and the creator of the Spotlight Text app, talks about building digital reading tools for patients with low vision. And how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? It’s time for Silicon Tally! This week, host Ben Johnson takes on Stephanie Humphrey, a tech expert who writes for Ebony.com.  

A look at the forthcoming jobs report numbers for August. Plus, immigrants in the U.S. who have lingering citizenship issues could lose the health benefits the gained under the Obamacare law.  Today is the deadline for those who received letters from government to submit any citizenship documents, or risk losing the benefits they purchased by the end of the month. We look at that issue, and others facing immigrants and non-English speakers under the law. Plus, Silicon Valley has a habit of letting employees choose their own titles. We take a closer look at the pros and cons of being able to call yourself a “princess.”

Students do better when they do more than just listen

Today is the deadline to resubmit immigration status paperwork.

The sudden notoriety of ISIS is not welcome by businesses named, well, Isis.

One of the perks of working in Silicon Valley can be choosing your own title.

How well have you kept up with the week's tech news?

Joining the ESPN network costs money, but could gain schools national exposure.

How the relationship between doctors and patients becomes a business opportunity.

A step-by-step guide.

As long as we keep coming back for the cheap rooms, fees won’t be going anywhere.

The network is promoting the showrunner as a star in her own right.

We've been stuck at around a 1 percent increase for the past few years, but the context has changed.

The company wins big on extortion claims.

The ECB announced a surprise cut in interest rates.

The European Central Bank today made a surprise decision to cut interest rates and promote stimulus. Though some say this move comes too late in the day to be much help to European economies, others welcome the cut as a bold move. We look at the ramifications of the decision in Europe and for the U.S. Plus, the days of wild gains in productivity feel like so long ago. There was a huge dip in the first quarter, and revised figures out today show there’s only been slow growth in the last year. We put it into context. Also, facing off against Thursday Night Football… Shonda Rhimes!!! ABC has stacked its prime-time lineup with three dramas by the woman who has changed the look of prime time with her diverse casts. What do Rhimes’ dramas bring, and how’s ABC’s “It’s Shonda Night” strategy likely to work?

Some oil boomtown pickup truck owners make a statement by "rolling coal."

In an unexpected move, the ECB cut rates to 0.05 percent.

The Service Employees International Union looks to change how unions operate.

The ECB's surprise move, fast-food workers strike, and consumers as advertisers in India.

First up, the European Central Bank has a key decision on the way that could shape financial markets today. And 14.3 percent of American households were “food insecure” at some point last year — not enough food for an active, healthy life. That’s a slight improvement from 2012, but notably higher than prerecession levels. One big reason: Food prices are rising faster than inflation. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court holds that corporations have free-speech rights. That means companies are free to give money to political campaigns. But what do people who work in one of the richest of industries think about that?  

First up, Brian Barrett, Editor in Chief at Gizmodo, talks about the Moto 360 and the future of Motorola Mobility under Lenovo. And Maryanne Wolf, author of “Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain,” stops by to talk about how different mediums rewire our brains to read in different ways.

Dr. Maryanne Wolf talks about the impact of reading and technology on the brain.

Food insecurity is down only slightly.

Unemployment's likely to keep falling in 2015, but wages aren't rising in response.

While many states are looking into the cloud, officials worry about privacy laws.

Not everyone is clear on what a charter school can and cannot do.

Really! They're interesting! We promise!

Under Armour signs a supermodel as it broadens its market beyond athletes.

The recent theft of celebrities' personal photos creates PR and security issues for Apple.

Under Armour, the sports clothing for people who look good with or without it, is aggressively moving to broaden its market. Just today it picked up model Gisele Bündchen as an endorsee. So what’s Under Armour’s corporate je ne sais quoi? We investigate. Plus, the security breach that exposed celebrities photos that had been stored in iCloud creates a major PR problem for Apple, whose image is on the hook regardless of the particulars of the breach. We look at how the company will handle it, and how a hack of the cloud – taking personal information like photos – is very different than a hack at a retailer – taking a person’s credit card number. Also, Fashion Week in New York starts tomorrow. Apparently fashion designers are having trouble standing out from the crowd with all the noise and fluff surrounding the week. We take a look at how a designer differentiates him or herself? 

Most storage services will duck responsibility if you let go of your credentials.

Amanda Petrusich was fascinated by the collectors of old 78rpm records. Then she became one.

Designers have to work harder to get noticed at this year's Fashion Week.

What are your favorite ways to save money at the grocery store?

Some cities and towns hadn't reassessed property values in decades.

The upstart, alternative system will attempt to become a regulated exchange.

Strong car sales, the FDIC takes a vote, and saving for retirement.

The FDIC will vote on a rule that's designed to improve the way banks manage risk.

More baby boomers are putting off retirement, and it could be good for everyone.

First up, Brian Krebs, from Krebs on Security, joins us to talk about the alleged Home Depot hack. Then, Nancy La Vigne, director of the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute, stops by to chat about a study coming out tomorrow that used gunshot detection technology to measure gun violence near schools in Washington DC. Last up, Courtney Young, President of the American Libraries Association, on how technology is changing libraries.

For trading stocks and other securities, there are stock exchanges, which are highly regulated. There are also alternative trading systems called “dark pools,” which are lightly regulated. There’s news this morning that IEX, an upstart, alternative system has gotten some big new investors to help it try become a fully-fledge, regulated exchange. IEX is designed to mute the effects of high speed trading, advanced technology that some argue serves Wall Street middlemen and not investors. The CEO of IEX–Brad Katsuyama was cast as the protagonist in Michael Lewis’ bestselling critique of high-speed trading, and he joins us today. Plus, H&R Block is expected to report its profits later today. Analysts are feeling good about the tax-prep giant’s future and the industry as a whole. That industry can thank the health care reform law. In just a few months, millions of people may end up with tricky tax questions now that they’ve received federal subsidies to help cover the cost of health insurance. And there’s word from the mayor’s office in New York that nine of about 1100 sites for city-funded, privately-run pre-kindergarten will not open because of safety questions and other issues. There will be delays for 36 others. Still, beginning tomorrow, about 50,000 four year olds in New York City will start attending full-day pre-kindergarten. It’ll be free for families, which is especially significant in a city where early education had been the most expensive in the country.  

A conversation with Courtney Young, president of the American Library Association.

Free universal pre-K begins as part of an initiative by new mayor Bill de Blasio.

Why firms like H&R Block may benefit from the ACAs complex tax implications.

Parents weigh in on whether government should have the final say.

Chicago restaurants elevate hot dogs to gourmet status.

Angelo Mozilo wants to know why people still think he's a villain.

4chan is an anarchic website where anonymity plays out in several directions.

Dollar General ups its bid for Family Dollar, but that doesn’t mean shareholders will say yes.

Dollar General has upped its bid for Family Dollar, but that doesn’t mean Family Dollar will say yes. Observers are now expecting Dollar General to turn this from a friendly bid into a hostile takeover. We explain what going hostile really means. Plus, the former House Majority Leader is joining the banking industry, providing “strategic counsel” to an investment bank’s corporate and institutional clients. But what does he brings to the job? And after, we look at the delightfully snarky website that brought you – indirectly, because you almost certainly don’t visit 4Chan – the nude photos of actresses and celebrity models.

Host Kai Ryssdal crunches the numbers with Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

Kai Ryssdal talks to Sruthijith KK, editor of Quartz India.

A new poll looks at changing attitudes towards teacher pay.

The former house majority leader heads to boutique investment bank Moelis and Co.

Economic growth for the fall, Eric Cantor's new gig, and Facebook's ads in India.

First up, a German court has imposed a temporary ban on the car-sharing service Uber. The company, which has been valued at $17 billion dollars, has been expanding; setting up shop in cities around the world. As that’s happened, Uber’s faced criticism, especially from taxi drivers. That’s led to strikes in some markets, and legal action in others. Plus, just a few months after he lost his primary in Virginia’s seventh congressional district, Eric Cantor, the former House Majority Leader has a new job. Cantor will become Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Moelis and Company, an investment bank. And all this week, Marketplace Tech is looking at how technology is changing how we read. Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson joins us to talk about it.  

First up, we talk about Facebook’s attempts to advertise to users with low-tech cell phones. Plus, Lindsey Turrentine, Editor-in-Chief of Reviews at CNET, stops by to chat about Apple’s rumored iPhone 6 mobile wallet. And Jason Boog, author of Born Reading: Bringing up Bookworms in a Digital Age, talks about how technology can help young children learn, and what makes some educational apps better than others.

While the market for an Ebola vaccine is small, the payoff of production is big.

How e-readers are both helping and hurting our ability to read and comprehend.

Facebook is giving advertisers cell reception data to serve ads more efficiently.

Author and parent Jason Boog talks about his book, "Born Reading."

Deemed too wild and subversive for its time, the unprinted chapter has resurfaced.

Lizzie O'Leary talks to Earl Swift about his book "Auto Biography."

Most American workers have seen little to no growth in wages since the '70s.

Fiat is re-launching the sporty Alfa Romeo brand in the United States.

The world's biggest arts festival keeps getting bigger, but not everyone profits.

Apple is expected to announce an iWallet, but what happens if they don't deliver?

"Made in the USA" is a powerful label, but you'd better be sure you use it correctly.

Made in America is a very important consideration for many Americans. There’s a perception that things made here are better quality and that buying them will help keep jobs in the country. It is a very powerful label, but if you want to put it on your product, you better mean it. Marketplace’s Adriene Hill reports. And, Lizzie O’Leary talks to Earl Swift about his book, “Auto Biography,” about cars and the American dream. Plus, with it being Labor Day we thought it’d be a good time to check in on how much most American workers are getting paid for their labor these days. The answer? Not a whole lot more than they were three decades ago, relatively speaking. That’s according to a new study of census data from the Economic Policy Institute.

Despite tough odds, new small businesses like Wise Acre still try to make it.

Plus: bad luck for Atlantic City casinos and reporting food poisoning on Twitter

Some health insurers are discouraging the sickest patients from enrolling.

Two more casinos in Atlantic City is closing down. That makes three that have announced their closure in the last month. The gaming industry is suffering due to foreign competition, and Atlantic City is the most obvious casualty. Plus, insurers can no longer reject customers with expensive medical conditions thanks to the Affordable Care Act. But consumer advocates warn that companies are still using wiggle room to discourage the sickest — and costliest — patients from enrolling. What are those loopholes and can they be closed?

Company says it censors posts from China "to protect the safety" of its members.

On this Labor Day podcast, we kick off our new series on the way technology is changing how we read. We chat with Adriene Hill, who reports on the intersection of technology and education for Marketplace’s LearningCurve project, on the way tablets in the classroom affect reading. Then we head to Chicago, where health officials are using a new program to scan Twitter for mentions of food poisoning at local restaurants, no hashtag required. 

The gaming industry is suffering, and Atlantic City is the most obvious casualty.

We misremember the past, and inflation is part of the reason.

We're kicking off a week-long series on how technology is changing reading.