Week of February 27th, 2017

What's bad for business is good for morale.

It was a prank gone good. After a Craigslist prank falsely advertised 3,000 boxes of free Hot Pockets up for grabs, Nestle — the maker of the microwaveable snack — has said it would donate the advertised amount of boxes to Boston area food banks.   The ad, which appeared on Craigslist on Wednesday and […]

Some say it protects against abuses; others say compliance is too expensive for smaller institutions.

Tressie McMillan Cottom explains how the schools exploit vulnerable populations.

With taxes, health care and trade deals up in the air, companies are worried.

Trump on the economy and Yellen on interest rates.

Donald Trump and Janet Yellen both gave big speeches this week: one about the state of the economy and some detail-light plans for kickstarting it, and one about finally (finally) raising interest rates. We’ll pick apart both and talk about how markets are reacting on the Weekly Wrap. Then we’ll look at the theory vs. the reality of Republicans’ proposed border adjustment tax and the Obamacare replacement that’s inching forward. Plus, the fight in your supermarket over what qualifies as “milk” and McDonald’s foray into delivery.

USC Gould School of Law professor Edward Kleinbard on politics and the national budget.

Basic annual memberships for the warehouse club retailer will cost $60.

On this weekend’s show, a interview with the CEO of Reddit, talk of for-profit colleges and “middle skills” vocational jobs, and a discussion about partisan budgeting. Plus, we go long and short on Uber, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, dog leasing and Pentagon money. 

The ER is often the only option for patients with mental-health problems.

Many millennials are in management positions, but few receive proper training.

Now that the U.S. is out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, what are the benefits of one-on-one negotiations?

2017 hasn’t been Uber’s year. There have been accusations about sexual harassment from former employees, a lawsuit over intellectual property, and questions about the CEO’s temperament. The ridesharing company might need some crisis management. Andy Gilman, the CEO of CommCore Consulting Group, shares how his company helps other companies respond to crises. Afterwards, we’ll play this week’s Silicon Tally with Simon Ogus, COO of the website sporttechie.com. 

Costco is raising its membership fees — its first hike since 2011. Marketplace’s Annie Baxter explains why retailers are facing tricky times. Next, we’ll discuss the reason for low levels of home ownership in England, and then look at how craft brewers feel about Trump’s promises on regulation.

The government is getting ready to solicit bids to design and build border wall prototypes.

President Trump says he'll cut the red tape that's hurting small businesses.

Europe's most powerful economy has done better from the euro than some in the European Union.

And becoming an overnight millionaire isn't always as easy as it seems.

Traffic is heavy at the agency's table at a Temple University career fair.

We’ll explore Snapchat’s plans to go public today, a move that could prompt other tech companies to have IPOs. Also on today’s show: a look at how much a border-adjustment tax would cost consumers, and the cost of California’s pushback against Trump.

Snap Inc. made a splash in its first day of trading today. Shares rose 44 percent from the initial offering, valuing Snapchat’s parent company at about $33 billion. The company’s young founders are billionaires, and many of its employees are now millionaires (on paper anyway). We’ll look at the effect all that young money is having on Venice, California, where the company is based. Plus, more than 300 companies have expressed interest in building President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico. We’ll take a look at the bidding process and what these companies stand to make. Then, a visit to a Border Patrol job fair.

The blue state is at odds with the president and could have federal funds cut.

Snapchat is going public today. On today’s show, we’ll talk about why its IPO will take place on the NYSE instead of tech-friendly Nasdaq, and whether its stock is overvalued or undervalued. We’ll also look at the most interesting news coming from wireless providers at this year’s Mobile World Congress.

About 600,000 people visit Graceland a year.

The startup isn't profitable yet, but says the policy inspires loyalty that can't be quantified.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs says she's 'reviewing' the awards' relationship with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Assessing relationships with the UN and others as budget cuts loom.

Slashing federal funding proves a challenge for GOP governors

The video of Uber's CEO arguing with a driver is just the latest scandal.

We may have to wait until 2018.

In this episode of Corner Office, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia and an Iranian immigrant, talks about Trump’s travel ban and the travel industry. “Companies don’t like uncertainty, travelers don’t like uncertainty,” Khosrowshahi said. Also, how Ticketmaster helped him convince Barry Diller to get into the online travel business and why those cheap United airline tickets might be a […]

Markets rallied after President Donald Trump’s largely detail-free speech before Congress last night. We’ll look at why and take a closer look at Trump’s claims about unemployment. Then, how can Travis Kalanick can right the ship at Uber after yet another PR hit? Plus, Kai talks with Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia and an Iranian immigrant, about Trump’s travel ban.

On the economic agenda: infrastructure, Obamacare and taxes.

The Washington Post's Allan Sloan discusses why Buffett didn't praise Berkshire Hathaway's two largest stock investments.

Nintendo Switch will launch this Friday, a console that’s being marketed to kids — and their parents. We’ll look at what Nintendo has in store for its new system. Afterwards, Tradesy CEO Tracy DiNunzio joins us to discuss the company’s decision to offer parental leave for all of its employees. 

In his first address to Congress, Trump talked about infrastructure and tax reform. We’re here to recap the economic highlights from his speech. Next, we’ll look at the important items that Warren Buffett decided to leave out of his annual letter to shareholders, and then talk about why Uber’s CEO wants to change his image. 

Scott Slawson believes that change will have to come from the town itself.

John Williams decided to become a mechanic rather than going to school.

As the president outlines his first proposal, he's about to get a lesson in the ways of Washington.

The Google-owned platform hopes to 'reinvent the way TV works.'

Copper tubing manufacturer pays its mechanics to learn advanced skills.

President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight for his first don’t-call-it-a-State-of-the-Union. He’s expected to touch on a lot, including his budget. Crafting a federal budget isn’t a zero-sum game, and it’ll be a big test of Trump’s “run the country like a business” ethos. Plus, under the White House’s budget plan, the State Department is in the crosshairs. What happens when you cut funding for soft power? Plus, YouTube’s new TV service and the latest in our My Economy series.

About 250 women and men say there was rampant sexual harassment and discrimination at the company.

And, land a cannabis-related stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

The White House has released a budget outline that calls for a $54 billion increase in defense spending. We’ll explore what’s on the Pentagon’s wish list and whether Congress is likely to approve it. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at one marijuana lab that’s found an innovative financing mechanism.

Amid news that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has been checking staffers’ phones, multiple reports say that government officials have been using encrypted chat apps. We’ll look at exactly what information becomes federal record and what doesn’t. Next, we’ll discuss what current stock market optimism means for venture capitalism, along with Elon Musk’s announcement that two people have paid a hefty sum to go on a weeklong mission around the moon.

Wesley Morris, New York Times culture critic, says the best picture nominees had very different audiences.

In his book, William Cohan says Wall Street built America, but its rewards system needs change.

Mississippi Rep. Gregg Harper calls it obsolete.

President Donald Trump will outline his approach to budgeting tomorrow in a speech to a joint session of Congress. It goes like this: a big boost to defense spending and no cuts to entitlements like Medicaid or Social Security. That means reductions for domestic programs. But Trump’s budget proposal really changes very little about the nation’s spending priorities. Later in the show, we’ll talk with Wisconsinites who are watching Trump’s promises very closely, and, of course, we’re talking about the Oscars.

Denizens of Dunn County express hope and angst for the president's policy pledges.

Despite closed bridges and major bottlenecks, the state still faces an uphill fight for its first gas tax increase in 28 years.

About half of jobs today require more than a high school diploma, but less than a college degree.

5G tech, the next generation of cell service that will bring us even faster internet, is approaching. Michael Nunez, tech editor at Gizmodo, breaks down how telephone technology has evolved over the course of history. Afterwards, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince joins us to discuss a bug found in the company’s code. 

During last night’s Oscars telecast, the award for best picture mistakenly went to “La La Land” instead of “Moonlight.” We’ll take a look at the accounting firm behind the vote tallies. Next, we’ll discuss a fund that will compensate overseas victims of terror attacks, and then explore how some baby boomers are starting to retrain so they can gain in-demand skills.