Week of September 11th, 2017

A look at making of, and the drama behind, a celebrity gift bag.

In the Boyle Heights neighborhood of LA, mariachis struggle to pay rent near a plaza named for them.

Tip: Hand delivering a resume is not OK.

In the wake of NASA’s most recent mission to Saturn, we’re heading out of this world. Spaceships run on several things: fuel, physics and cash. But that last category accounts for a lot of things, like people, equipment, maintenance and time. What’s the breakdown? And what’s the value of the images and info gathered in space? Can we measure it? And, we take a look at why our Social Security numbers are tied to everything and what happens when those nine digits fall into the wrong hands. Plus, when it comes to disasters, should we invest in disaster preparedness or disaster relief? Oh, and we have a special appearance by a fizzy beverage that’s making a comeback.

We already know what partisans think.

At the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, companies have access to mentors and laser cutters, too.

Say you’re a company that has data on zillions of Americans, like a hospital, or a bank, or, you know, Equifax. Consumers have very little control over those companies, besides trusting them to keep their data safe. How hard can that be? We’ll look into it. Facebook is already in some hot water for selling ads to a Russian “troll farm.” Now a ProPublica investigation found the site’s ad-targeting tools can be used to reach racists and anti-Semites. Plus, we’ll look back at all the week’s business and economic news. Never a dull moment. Someone should put that on a hat or something.

The flavored soda water has been around for over three decades. What makes it taste so good?

Fraud alerts, credit reports, freezes — the Federal Trade Commission has an action plan.

(Even if you love your boss.)

Governments and businesses are turning to biometrics to find a universal identifier.

Leaders in McKeesport, Pennsylvania are hoping the medical marijuana industry can revitalize the city.

(Markets Edition) Bonds seem to have fallen out of favor for now. But the shift isn’t being driven by the U.S. Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial, explains China’s involvement. Afterwards, we’ll chat with University of Michigan professor Elizabeth Anderson about the “tyrannical” nature of companies in the U.S., and why she thinks there are flaws with the current employee-employer dynamic.  

We spend a lot of money dealing with the disaster in front of us, but what about preparing for the next one?

The move could put a damper on business for generic drugs.

(U.S. Edition) Finance ministers from the European Union will discuss the possibility of levying taxes on companies where they do their business. On today’s show, we’ll take a look at where global tax reform is headed. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how one drug company is trying to extend its drug patents by transferring them to a Native American tribe. 

After 20 years, the Cassini spacecraft has met its end — and NASA is already looking at the next horizon.

As machine learning becomes more prevalent, the conversation about robots taking our jobs gets more intense. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood talks to Roy Bahat, head of Bloomberg Beta, which has been studying technology’s effect on the future of work. He said, robots or not, jobs are changing, and we should shift company culture and benefits along with them.

As AI changes the nature of employment and professions, how does society adjust?

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … European finance ministers will talk this weekend about how to get more tax dollars from online tech giants like Google and Facebook without hurting smaller startups. We’ll tell you what they’re proposing. Afterwards, we’ll talk to retail guru Mary Portas – known as the Queen of Shops – about whether the downfall of physical retail has been greatly exaggerated. Then, we’ll take you to Ethiopia where companies like Rolls-Royce and British leather firm Pittards are hoping to take advantage of more robust trade.

Marketplace reporters Scott Tong and Sarah Gardner share stories about globalization and backlash in this 50-minute special, the culmination of their reporting for the Trade Off series.

The life of the designer and the creation of his eponymous luxury shoe brand is the subject of a new documentary, "Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards."

On Air Force One today, somewhere between D.C. and Naples, Florida, President Trump took credit for the country’s economic strength and gave an update on his tax plan. We’ll check a few of his claims, in particular that the plan is “revenue neutral” with faster economic growth. Then we’ll head back to Florida, which is picking up the pieces after being battered by Hurricane Irma this week. But it’s been especially tough for Floridians to get their claims processed — because all the insurance adjusters are still in Houston. Then: you might know Manolo Blahnik the shoes, but Blahnik is also a man, and he’s the subject of a new film. We’ll talk with the director. 

Stewart International 60 miles north of Manhattan is now an NYC airport.

Some adjusters can make $100,000 in a month because of increased demand.

(Markets Edition) Another reason we all wish Harvey and Irma never happened: they arrived very late in America’s economic cycle, which could slow rebuilding. On today’s show, economist Diane Swonk breaks down what these natural disasters spell for the country’s economy. Afterwards, we’ll look at Trump’s decision to block the $1.3 billion sale of an Oregon-based chipmaker to a Chinese-backed firm. Then, we’ll talk with Marketplace regular Allan Sloan about his frustration with the Equifax data breach and the company’s power over consumers.

(U.S. Edition) The U.S. government will stop using anti-virus software made by the Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab. While Kaspersky has denied colluding with the Russian government, we’ll look at how this software could be used to surveil consumers. Then, as Amazon prepares to build a mega-warehouse in Mexico, we’ll talk about the country’s growing reliance on online shopping. And finally, we’ll discuss whether low inflation is a real problem for the U.S.

The federal government provides SNAP benefits, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps, to those that need financial help to buy groceries. It’s a program that’s has not traditionally been on the cutting edge of tech. In fact, eight states won’t even let you apply for benefits online and only a few have apps that let you check your balance. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Jimmy Chen, CEO of Propel, which created the Fresh EBT app. It allows people to check their Electronic Benefits Transfer balance on their phone or computer. Plus, we go shopping with a SNAP benefit recipient and community activist in the South Bronx in New York City.

A new app makes it easy for SNAP users to check their balances.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … President Donald Trump has barred the sale of a U.S. chip manufacturer to a Chinese-backed firm. We’ll tell you what’s behind the move. Afterwards, we reflect on the 10-year anniversary of the first run on a British bank in 150 years, and explore whether the world’s financial institutions are better off now than they were a decade ago. Then, we take you to Berlin where Germans are preparing to head to the polls next week. Though Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to win a fourth term, not everyone is happy.

Sarah Kliff of Vox explains Bernie Sander's new universal health care plan, Medicaid for All.

Can a vending machine replace the friendly corner store?

The movement "became her No. 1" child, says Peter Bratt, who with Carlos Santana made a documentary about Huerta.

Catastrophe bonds spread insurance risk for events like hurricanes.

(Markets Edition) President Trump recently met with three Democrats to find common ground on tax reform. The Trump White House is aiming to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 percent, which they may do by ending widely used tax breaks. Harvard professor Kenneth Rogoff stopped by to explain why trying to do this will be a painstaking task. Afterwards, we’ll look at the inertia happening in the bond market, and then discuss how the agency investigating toxic chemical leaks could face budget cuts.

The timeline for tax cuts and tax reform — one of the big things both Hill and White House Republicans say they want to get done this year — has been flexible, but today House Speaker Paul Ryan said we’ll see an outline the week of the 25th. Now, plenty of lawmakers are starting to talk about their vision for taxes, so let’s start with Ted Cruz: He wants to file on a postcard, with a flat tax and something called “full and immediate expensing.” What’s that mean? We’ll talk about it. Then: In the wake of Harvey and Irma, the so-called catastrophic bond market’s been on a wild ride. We’ll talk about what that means. Plus: Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962, and she coined the slogan “Si, se puede.” You might know it as “Yes, we can” from Obama’s 2008 campaign. Carlos Santana and Peter Bratt made a documentary about Huerta and her “riches to rags” story, and we’ll talk with them about it.

Amazon’s next target — canned food, frozen dinners.

President Trump recently met with three Democrats to find common ground on the issue, but will it be enough?

They'll need the USDA to roll back protections first. Critics say that will compromise worker safety.

(U.S. Edition) The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that Tesla’s autopilot feature led to a deadly car crash in Florida last year. We’ll dive into the details of the case and discuss whether the government will be more likely to crack down on self-driving. Afterwards, Marketplace’s Molly Wood explains Apple’s selling strategy to us — despite its pricey new iPhone X, there are plenty of cheaper options out there. And finally, we’ll look into why you’re seeing less candy around CVS cash registers.

CVS wants to be known for improving health, so it's making subtle changes.

Tip: Typos on your resume won't help.

It's forced companies to adapt to the idea of handheld computers and given others a reason to exist.

The iPhone debuted in 2007, and this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced three new ones: iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. Smartphones have changed how we watch TV, bank and communicate. Almost every industry has been impacted by this technology. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood looks at the companies that won and lost the mobile revolution.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … There are serious concerns about how Caribbean economies will recover from Hurricane Irma. We’ll take you to Turks and Caicos, a country that relies on tourism spending. Afterwards, we’ll chat about whether European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s annual state of the EU speech was an effort to shift the narrative away from Brexit worries. Then, we’ll transport you to Sweden where cash makes up just 1 percent of all payments. 

We say it a lot in our show: context matters. Doing the numbers doesn’t do you much good without knowing the bigger picture. To wit: The official poverty rate in this country dropped a full percentage point last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, putting 12.7 percent of Americans under the poverty line. Also, median household income rose a about 3 percent to about $59,000 a year. We’ll start out today’s show by talking about what that means. Then: We talked yesterday about all the memorials to victims of mass violence being built and financed in this country. Today, we’ll take a look at what goes into maintaining them. Plus: Globalization gets a bad rap in the States, but what about emerging economies? They’re seeing the benefits and starting to catch up.

April Reign has an eye for Hollywood blind spots, Facebook has a propaganda problem, and we're just trying to figure it all out.

In a new book, Canadian restaurateur Jen Agg recounts growing up in the restaurant industry and why she thinks it can still get better.

Maintaining memorials over decades can be a challenge for many communities.

Employees start fearing for their jobs instead of trying to help their employer.

Social Security numbers can be pretty vulnerable. Tell us your story.

People in emerging economies reap benefits from an interconnected world, but their gains can stoke resentment in developed nations.

(Markets Edition) Markets don’t necessarily need happy circumstances to rise — sometimes all they need is the knowledge that things could’ve been worse. Economist Julia Coronado stopped by to talk about why key stock indexes seem to be doing well right now, despite recent events like the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how exhibitors at the Frankfurt Motor Show are pushing for electric vehicles, and then look at how troubled companies can move forward.  

Incomes for a typical U.S. household rose to $59,039 in 2016.

(U.S. Edition) Apple is set to unveil three new phones, including one rumored to cost $1,000. Will customers go for this pricey option? Next, we’ll discuss Hurricane Irma’s impact on the tourism industry, which could namely hurt service industry workers. Then we’ll look at the launch of Crossrail — the most expensive construction project in European history. A project like that could change housing prices and entire neighborhoods.

Prices are up along the new east-west railway, and some are worried about being pushed out.

FCC chairman Ajit Pai believes fewer regulations and more competition will lead to broadband expansion.

Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai has made it a priority to increase the availability of broadband internet access across America. The way to do it? Cutting regulations and increasing competition, according to him. He joins us from Washington, D.C. to explain why he thinks a free market will close the digital divide. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … French President Emmanuel Macron faces the first major protest of his presidency as unhappy workers express their displeasure with his proposed labor reforms. We’ll tell you what’s happening on the streets of Paris. Afterwards, we’ll explain what’s behind the UN’s new sanctions against North Korea. Then, we’ll take you to the Frankfurt Auto Show where “electrification” is the buzzword of the day.

All but two states have laws governing disclosure, but there is a lot of wiggle room in the rules.

Millions of Floridians are still out of their homes in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Much of state is without power, and early damage estimates range from $25 billion to $60 billion. We’ll look at how officials start to tally that up, and the lasting problems Floridians face. Then: Since it opened in 2011, more than 30 million people have visited New York’s 9/11 memorial. It’s maybe the highest-profile memorial to victims of mass violence in this country, but there are plenty of others and more planned in Orlando, Charleston and elsewhere. But the process of designing and financing these memorials isn’t easy. Plus, we’ll talk with San Diego, California, mayor Kevin Faulconer about NAFTA as negotiations continue.

The country has a 100-year-old grid system and more frequent extreme storms, reporter Scott Tong says. Will the state "build back better"?

Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer on the importance of Congressional action for DACA and how NAFTA has meant billions for San Diego.

Every time someone chips in, “it’s proof that love always wins.”

The market for organic food passed the $40 billion mark in the U.S. last year. As bigger companies get into the organics game, and more imported organic food lands in the U.S., more questions arise for USDA certifiers.

Google, Apple, Microsoft and others have loudly denounced Trump's immigration policy, but their lobbying reports tell a different story.

Good isn't good enough when it comes to the lasers that allow autonomous vehicles to see.

(Markets Edition) As Irma drops from hurricane to tropical storm, we’ll explore Florida’s insurance system. Shahid Hamid, a professor at Florida International University, joins us to discuss whether insurance companies are equipped with the resources to handle the aftermath of this disaster. Next, we’ll look at how hurricane waters could increase the number of West Nile cases, and then discuss the upcoming vote to re-authorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration.    

Hundreds of companies are racing to build self-driving cars, and one piece of technology is essential to all of their efforts. It’s called LiDAR, an acronym that stands for light detection and ranging. It uses lasers to sense distances to an object and turn those distances into a 3-D representation of the environment. So it’s how a self-driving car sees the world around it. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood visits Silicon Valley startup Luminar and its founder and CEO, 22-year-old Austin Russell. The company hopes to become the parts provider for automakers for LiDAR self-driving technology.

It’s all thanks to ITINs — individual tax identification numbers.

(U.S Edition) In the aftermath of the Equifax security breach revelation, experts have suggested freezing your credit or setting up fraud alerts to protect your information. We’ll take a look at what exactly these precautions entail. Afterwards, we’ll discuss new measures from China that would make it tougher for speculators to bet against the drop in the yuan. Then, we’ll step into the operating room to examine how anesthesia providers are looking to non-opioid alternatives.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Hurricane Harvey is estimated to have caused $40 billion in damage while Irma could make the total as high as $150 billion. We chat with Hiscox Insurance CEO Bronek Masojada who explains the complexities in estimating overall damage of two major storms. Afterwards, the BBC’s technology desk editor, Leo Kelion, tells us what to expect from Apple’s iPhone launch on Tuesday, and whether the tech giant will push further into the luxury smartphone market. Then, Lord Mayor of London Andrew Parmley – who looks after the interests of the city’s financial district – tells us what he’s doing during the historical period of Brexit. 

Easing opioids out of the operating room is one tactic for fighting the opioid abuse epidemic.