Week of October 17th, 2016

On today’s show, we’ll talk about AT&T’s $85 billion bid for Time Warner, and what the deal could mean for competition and consumers. 

British American Tobacco's $47 billion bid to take over Reynolds American signals the U.S. cigarette market is still very profitable.

A single mom goes to medical school to complete her dream of becoming a doctor.

Twitter, Spotify, and PayPal weren't actually the target of a DDoS attack today.

In a Colby College/Boston Globe survey, nine out of 10 people called for more civility in the election.

Get your economic questions in before voting day!

Using computer algorithms, DC courts evaluate flight risk and other factors.

As the Puerto Rican economy struggles, a thousand families migrate to Florida every month.

And explains why money really can buy you happiness.

In rural communities, a grocery or restaurant can be a lifeline, especially for low income people who have limited transportation options.

If this podcast got to you, then at least something’s working right on what has been a very bad day for the internet. We’ll talk about the DDoS attack that took out a bunch of popular websites. Plus, a big tobacco merger, floods in North Carolina and the Weekly Wrap.

This week, Bloomberg Businessweek’s Sam Grobart and The Atlantic’s Gillian White talk new menswear companies and GDP growth. We also hear from a mom who’s trying to go back to school, and listeners call in to discuss their Halloween budgets. Plus, Molly Wood explains why tech companies fix what isn’t broken, and musician Devendra Banhart takes the Marketplace Quiz.

Getting accurate information onto the website and social media — and satisfying the public’s voracious appetite for news — requires an army of public information officers in the field.

The company plans to open more than 2,000 additional stores in the next five years.

Corn and soybean production is eating into North Dakota's great bee habitats.

On today’s show, we’ll interview the CEO of Emotiv about the company’s EEG headsets, a type of hardware that could one day be used  for everything from teaching better focus to controlling robotic limbs. Plus, we’ll also play this week’s Silicon Tally with Greta Johnsen, the co-host of the Nerdette podcast and a reporter and anchor at WBEZ.

On today’s show, we’ll talk about British American Tobacco’s offer to purchase Reynolds American, which would make it the world’s largest publicly traded tobacco company. Plus, we’ll also examine data that show a surge in the construction of single-family homes, and look at the danger North Dakota’s bees may be facing. 

Lots of people think so. And the money bail system is becoming increasingly controversial.

There's speculation that's Donald Trump's next act. Here's what he'll need.

Why one startup thinks cognition enhancing pills are poised to take off.

Losing sleep over the deficit & debt? Don't worry…yet

It's all but impossible to add 25 million jobs and push GDP growth to 4 percent.

Americans say they're both anxious about jobs, but confident at the same time.

Can Abercrombie & Fitch convince teens and 20-somethings that the brand is still cool?

The latest election memes are already making the rounds as products online.

With the third and final presidential debate in the books, all that’s left are the SNL sketches, the hot takes and, oh yeah, the voting. We’ll put some perspective on the national debt, see what it would actually take to start Trump TV and look at the “Nasty Hombre” merch that’s already filling Etsy stores. Plus: If you can’t make bail, are you being unfairly incarcerated? Lots of people think so, and the system is attracting more scrutiny.

Most say the rich and companies benefit. Beyond that, there are stark divisions.

One in four single-family homes is now investor-owned, and rented by a tenant. And that percentage is increasing.

D.C. tourists think the Supreme Court, not the Fed.

On today’s show, we’ll talk about the possibility that Kodak will release a smartphone; interview Janet Murray,the interaction designer and director of Georgia Tech’s experimental television lab, about the future of television; and raise the question of who’s winning the hardware debate: Apple or Google? 

On today’s show, we’ll talk about the economic highlights from last night’s presidential debate; the type of people Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump would appoint to the Fed should they win the election; and the vote on marijuana legalization in nine states. 

Yes, Donald Trump might not concede, but what about the economy?

The key starts with zero. Once you've cracked it head to codebreaker.codes.

Obamacare and preventative measures were supposed to lessen trips to the emergency room.

$25 to $40 a month will get you a "skinny bundle" featuring the eye.

Companies like Netflix and Amazon are disrupting TV by producing their own content.

A surprisingly strong quarter was driven by traditional parts of the business.

In his book, Ian Scheffler gives competitive puzzle solving a twist.

For the first time in 50 years, a Democrat could carry the state.

The sale comes as the kingdom faces huge budget deficits.

The Marketplace-Edison Research Economic Poll finds that health benefits and a good working environment are priorities.

Believe it or not, there’s other stuff going on besides tonight’s presidential debate. Today we have Saudi debt, bank profits and a ton of Netflix shows. Plus, more from our Marketplace-Edison Research Poll. 

Taking time off between high school and college is becoming increasingly popular.

With uncertainty comes anxiety. Here's what financial experts advise.

Interest rates haven't risen and regulations haven't eased. So what's up?

"Tired of the fog? Try the frogs!" reads one slogan. Surely y'all can do better.

On today’s show, we’ll talk about a new tool from MIT that has the capability to analyze tweets about the election; review Google’s new flagship smartphone, the Pixel; and look at the meaning of the term “autopilot” and whether the car industry is using it accurately.

On today’s show, we’ll talk about investor concerns over this year’s election season; strong earnings for the big banks this past quarter; how European cities are trying to lure other British businesses in the aftermath of Brexit; and the possibility that Japan may require the makers of Pokemon Go to secure Pokecoins with real money. 

A chamber lead by Dems seen as friendlier to labor.

There's no accounting for taste.

While consumer spending grew 1.5 percent last year, drug prices rose dramatically.

The economic stakes are high for Iraq and ISIS as they fight over Mosul.

At Chase, a program aims to back startups creating banking services for the poor.

In our latest poll, we look at why people are afraid this election.

Our DC editor took to Twitter to do the numbers on the Marketplace-Edison Research Poll.

Kai Ryssdal speaks with the Democratic nominee for Vice President.

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate  Tim Kaine was in Detroit today talking about poverty. We got him on the phone to ask what makes a good job, how the Clinton administration would bring back disenfranchised voters and whether his parents could have made it in this economy. Plus, more from our economic anxiety survey and this year’s down-ballot races.

COLA will increase 0.3 percent in 2017. Social Security payments remain flat.

More students finish high school, but college readiness lags.

The Marketplace-Edison Research Economic Poll finds that health benefits and a good working environment are among the top attributes of a "good job."

They say not to talk politics around the dinner table, but what about in the boardroom?

On today’s show, we’ll talk about the end of Apple’s ambitions to build an electric car; a protest by Instacart workers against the company’s plans to replace tips with service fees; and Netflix’s higher-than-expected earnings this past quarter. 

On today’s show, we’ll talk about the effect of this election’s political divide on business deals; what to expect from news later today about a Social Security increase; and a price spike for black clothing in Thailand following the death of the country’s king. 

They're trying to give him the Nobel prize for literature — but he's blowin' in the wind (sorry).

Why the country's biggest retailer might have higher wages to thank for increased sales.

U.S. colleges need international students more than ever.

A lot of people thinks so — especially supporters of Donald Trump, according to our poll.

On trade and regulation, the presidential candidate has a harder line now than in 2013. But that's not particularly surprising.

The fix for attack ads run amok has lost some of its power in the digital age.

The For Dummies books have been teaching users everything from Windows 95 to golf for years, but what kind of influence do they have in the digital age?

In our latest poll with Edison Research, one in four people — and half of Donald Trump supporters — said they don’t trust government unemployment data. Why? We’re looking into it today, along with Hillary Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speeches. Plus, with three weeks to the election, you’re probably hearing this a lot: “I’m so-and-so and I approve this message.” What’s that really mean? Where’s it come from? That’s the latest installment in our series “I’ve Always Wondered.”

Pepsi plans to cut calories in two-thirds of its drinks to target obesity.

Trump's son-in-law reportedly spoke about the idea with a New York investment banker.

Sometimes the most important issues don't fit in a single election cycle.

Netflix is a big spender on new programming.

Cuban-Americans were once reliably Republican, but not so anymore.

As the economy approaches "full employment," only 34 percent feel financially secure.

On today’s show, we’ll talk about rumors that Disney may want to acquire Netflix; the credibility of online polls; and the possibility of a Pokemon Go update that will include rare Pokemon you can’t catch in the current version.