Week of May 29th, 2017

Malls are dying and taking those the rite-of-passage jobs with them.

Food banks and other organizations are coming up with contingency plans in case funding is cut from the federal budget.

And it's not that hard, either.

Inmates leaving Erie County Prison get a shot of Vivitrol before they are released.

Ana Swanson of The Washington Post and Sudeep Reddy of Politico join us to discuss the week’s business and economic news. We discuss the latest unemployment rate; with the country at almost full employment, what are the chances of inflation rising? Plus, we look at the business world’s reaction after President Trump’s withdrawal from the […]

Ellen Bennett founded Hedley & Bennett to create uniforms that give chefs "a sense of dignity and pride."

Happy jobs day Friday! The unemployment rate is at a 16-year low, but the participation rate is down, with more people leaving the labor force. Also, wage growth is still sluggish. So what is Janet Yellen thinking? We get to it in the Weekly Wrap. In other big news this week: President Trump decided to pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, but that isn’t stopping companies from participating. American automakers like Ford and GM have said they’re unhappy with the decision and want to continue lowering emissions. Also on today’s show: We return to Erie, Pennsylvania, this time to the county prison, where more than half the inmates enter addicted to drugs, including opioids. A new drug called Vivitrol could help the opioid addicts, but under Trump’s proposed budget, the county may no longer be able to afford it.  

This week, Marketplace’s Scott Tong explains the latest developments after President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Lizzie O’Leary talks with David Tamarkin, the editor in chief of Epicurious, about the importance of home cooking. Plus, retail expert Matt Sargent talks with Lizzie about the decline of typical teen jobs. 

With Kai and Molly off this week, let's tackle a listener question.

Manufacturers, retailers and governments shed workers last month.

Poor weather conditions and economic factors contribute to tobacco farming woes.

This morning, we’ll be getting the latest government data on the labor market. President Trump has promised to add 25 million new jobs over the next decade, but is that actually within the realm of possibility? Marketplace’s Mitchell Hartman is here to crunch the numbers. Afterwards, we’ll check out new data showing that renewables generated 10 percent of U.S. electricity in the first quarter of this year — well above expert forecasts. And finally, we’ll hear from travel aficionado Mark Orlowski about ways you can solve your airline customer service problems. 

Touting his commitment to the American worker, President Trump officially announced he’s going to pull the U.S. out of the Paris agreement — a global pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions. But a lot of companies out there have created jobs by investing in renewable energy. One of ’em is the startup Totem, which wants to create a hub for solar energy, Wi-Fi, and electric vehicle charging all in one. CEO Brian Lakamp stopped by to give his thoughts on Trump’s decision; how cities are trying to take the issue in their own hands; and why he has confidence in renewables. Plus: We’ll cap off the week by playing Silicon Tally with Dan Ackerman, a senior editor at CNET and author of “The Tetris Effect.”

Travel aficionado Mark Orlowski shares advice on how to make traveling just a bit more smooth.

The plan aims to help students finish faster by narrowing choices.

Sherri Messer loves being a stay-at-home mom, but she's nervous about what comes next.

Some businesses promising help with immigration applications have taken advantage of clients or simply offered bad advice.

President Trump says we’re withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and other countries are pledging to fill the gap.

The 'Life in Pieces' actress makes her directorial debut with 'Band Aid.'

"The notion that the U.S. taxpayer is being robbed and that our economy is going to be crushed by the or by the U.S. emissions target under the Paris agreement just is not right."

After days of build-up, President Trump finally made it official: The U.S. is pulling out of the Paris climate agreement. “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Trump said. That’s true! But not for nothing, moving away from coal and steel has made that city’s economy strong again. Plus, with the U.S. taking a seat on the sidelines of the fight to control global warming, it’s also sitting out big investment opportunities that China and the E.U. are promising to grab. Then: There’s something of a tug-of-war going on within the Trump administration over the debt ceiling. We’ll tell you what you need to know. Plus, the latest installment of our series “My Economy” visits a stay-at-home mom in Texas.

Share your nuggets of wisdom with the class of 2017.

With high-end apartments, office space and a concert venue, the team’s business model has moved beyond hot dogs and beer.

After nearly a year of opposition, the controversial pipeline is now fully operational.

There's lots of optimism as manufacturers crank out medical devices, but no one knows if the approach will save money.

Yet another malware attack has struck — this time involving Android devices and games downloaded from the Google Play store. The infected apps feature a character called Judy, who could be on more than 36 million phones. We’ll talk about the different types of malware that exist out there, how exactly the creators of malware profit, and how you can protect your own devices. Afterwards, we’ll check out Waze’s plan to launch a California carpooling service that’ll connect commuters with drivers headed in the same direction. And finally, we’ll look at one engineer’s $50,000 experiment on the gaming platform Twitch, which involves letting viewers decide to buy or sell stock using his savings. 

While President Trump is expected to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord, China and the European Union are doubling down on the fight against climate change. On today’s show, we’ll talk about rising support — motivated by both ethical and financial reasons — for the agreement in these two regions. Plus: A look at the future of home health care.

Normally airports send out teams on foot to assess wear and tear on runways, work that drones can finish in half the time.

Businesses, including Dow and Proctor & Gamble, have vowed to continue fighting climate change. So how much does the Paris agreement matter then?

Protectionist trade policies could make U.S. trade deals harder to come by.

With the number of refugees allowed to enter the country in flux, those who help them are feeling financial pressures and anxiety.

Goldman Sachs faces criticism for buying $2.8 billion worth of bonds from the country that's facing critical food shortages.

We’re still waiting on the official word out of the White House on whether President Trump will pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. It’s looking likely, but some of the news around Trump’s decision today indicate businesses are still planning on climate change no matter what. Then: Goldman Sachs is taking heat for nearly $3 billion worth of Venezuelan bonds it bought from a state-owned oil company via a broker. It stands to profit handsomely, but protesters are ripping the bank for making money from a country that’s facing food shortages. We’ll explain everything you need to know about the so-called “hunger bonds.” Plus: A look at how one airport is enlisting drones to get things moving more efficiently.

The federal agency has been hamstrung by slow appointments to key positions.

Marc Morial, the president of National Urban League, says the U.S. needs to improve on home ownership and income inequality.

When Instagram launched “Stories” last year — a feature very similar to Snapchat’s main function — the term “copycat” got thrown around quite a lot. But is the criticism fair? What’s the difference between copying and just building on something? On today’s show, we’ll explore the distinction between the two. We’ll also look at Facebook’s plan to add scripted shows to its platform, and then talk about Amazon’s decision to refund $70 million for unauthorized in-app purchases made by kids. 

Uber has just let go of one of its top engineers, Anthony Levandowski. He’s at the center of a high-stakes legal battle between the company and Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous car company. We’ll recap the controversy surrounding his hire and discuss what it could mean for the future of Uber’s self-driving initiative. Afterwards, we’ll hear from Marc Morial — the CEO of the National Urban League and a former mayor of New Orleans — about why America’s economic progress isn’t where it should be. And finally, we’ll examine a new report that shows U.S. tourism is down — a decline that countries like Canada are trying to take advantage of.

California is at the forefront of pollution control and other states have signed onto its standards in anticipation of stricter federal rules. But one of President Trump’s first executive orders mandated a review of national fuel economy standards.

The former US trade representative says there's room for improvement, but restrictions could be costly.

'It's like heaven inside,' junior Megha Ghimirey says of her American high school.

The European Union says the United Kingdom must pay big for leaving the bloc.

A bull, a girl and a pug walk into a town square …

Donald Trump is back in the country, and his Twitter account is making up for lost time. The President ripped the “MASSIVE” and “very bad” trade gap between the U.S. and Germany. But reality check: it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. Then according to data released this morning, consumer spending rose last month. Home prices are up too, and the average American FICO score hit 700 last month, the highest it’s been in over a decade. So how’d we get here, and what’s it mean for the economy? Plus, a visit to the schools of Erie, Pennsylvania for our series “The Big Promise.”

Even the government agrees.

The new type of startup allows small companies to share space — and foot traffic — in brick-and-mortar stores.

No new podcast this week, but don't worry, there's plenty of homework.

Bertie Simmons, 83, now leads a $10 million endeavor at her Houston high school.

The 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee kicks off this week, where kids as young as 6 will spell words some us didn’t even know were in the English language — and all without autocorrect. In our daily lives, the rest of us rely on tools like these when we communicate with others. But what effect does this have on our writing capabilities? Michelle Drouin, a professor at Purdue University, stopped by to share research on the issue. Plus: a conversation with Matthew Gough, the founder and CEO of the educational startup Echovate, about what makes Charleston, South Carolina a good location for startups. 

ExxonMobil investors will vote soon on a proposal asking for the company to produce a “meaningful” climate risk plan. On today’s show, we’ll take a look at how shareholders are increasingly calling on energy companies for more accountability on climate change reports. Afterwards, we’ll talk about Singapore’s decision to fine two banks in connection with a money laundering scandal, and then explore the rise of co-retailing, a concept where multiple retailers share a space.

National Parks get a lot of love on social media, but some are being 'loved to death.'

The U.S. is obligated to remain in the pact until 2019, but its influence could decrease in the meantime.

"It’s almost like letting go of a child," the American Giant CEO says of sending the company's pieces to market.

Turning videos into a career was never easy, but it's getting more complicated.

Some of the state's poorest residents are still shelling out a premium for water.

You might be spending the long weekend relaxing with family, paying respect to fallen servicemembers, or getting outside. But if you’re enjoying a national park this weekend, maybe think twice about pulling out your smartphone. 2016 was the third record-breaking year in a row for the National Park Service, but all that extra traffic from selfie-snapping tourists can harm the places they visit. Plus: What’s at stake of the U.S. pulls out of the Paris climate agreement. Then: California’s drought has all but ended, but some wells are still dry, forcing some of the state’s poorest people to pay a premium on water.

The stolen data can be used to clone credit cards.

US companies have done a good job of hiring vets. But the work needs to be meaningful.

Campaign money used to be spent on things like outdoor posters and television advertisements. Now much of that is going to Facebook. On today’s show, we’ll discuss how big of a role the social media giant is playing in U.K. elections, specifically, and lessons that the country is learning from the Trump campaign. Afterwards, we’ll take a look at the mechanics behind the cloud content management company Box, and then talk about the latest addition to the hotel  industry: robots.

Can robots overcome the fear of automation by being cute?

Frustrating air travel isn’t just an American problem — this weekend, British Airways had to cancel and postpone hundreds of flights due to a massive computer failure. The BBC’s Andrew Walker joins us to talk about what this’ll cost the company, both financially and in terms of its relationship with customers. Next, we’ll discuss the Common App’s decision to create a new form aimed at being more transfer student-friendly, and then look at the challenges associated with retaining veteran employees.