Week of April 2nd, 2018

Let's get to this week's tax and tariff talk.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are two of the biggest names in tech. They're also headlining the modern day space race.

Flat or reduced spending in education has meant lower or stagnant salaries and reductions to benefits.

The historic merger that changed how Wall Street is regulated happened 20 years ago this weekend.

The jobs at risk are mostly based in counties that voted for Trump.

Manufacturers will be clamoring for domestic steel to avoid paying the tariff, so sellers have the upper hand now, explained Emily Blanchard, a business professor at Dartmouth University.

We look at the economic realities of being a teacher, and decreases in school funding. Plus, how tariffs will affect California’s wine country, the 20-year anniversary of the first big bank, the cost of filing taxes, and savers who plan to retire in their early thirties.

How tech workers are hacking their savings to exit the workforce early.

Private companies, not governments, are leading the quest to put people in space.

(Markets Edition) The March jobs report is officially out, revealing that the economy added a little over 100,000 jobs. That’s much lower than what forecasters were expecting, so what gives? We’ll have to look back at the February jobs report to give us some clues, and an important one has to do with the weather. Afterwards, we’ll talk to Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about what the ongoing U.S.-China trade battle means for the American economy. 

Already a hit on the charts, the rapper finally releases her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy."

The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low.

(U.S. Edition) China is responding to President Trump after he called for an additional $100 billion in tariffs, saying they are prepared to fight the U.S. “at any cost.” How are America’s trade partners feeling about this, though? On today’s show, we’ll look at whether Europe is supportive of the White House. Afterwards, with the release of today’s jobs report, we’ll talk about why there hasn’t been much of an increase in job growth. Then, we’ll discuss what NAFTA negotiations currently look like and what hurdles still need to be cleared.

That would help its devices work more seamlessly together.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service… The war of words between China and the U.S. on tariffs is continuing to escalate. The two nations have largely stood on their own in calling each other’s trade practices unfair, but at what point will other nations step in? Then, starting today, thirsty shoppers buying sugary drinks in the U.K. can expect a hefty tax on their purchases – a rule aimed at cutting obesity rates and encouraging healthier choices. Various parts of the U.S. have tried it, but has it worked? Then, the Hungarian prime minister has run a negative campaign ahead of this weekend’s election, despite a booming economy. We’ll take you to Budapest.

Apple might be getting in the chip business. Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Apple plans to replace Intel processors in Mac computers with microchips of its own. The move would stem from Apple’s strategy of making all of its devices — like Macs, iPhones and iPads — work more like each other and more seamlessly. Marketplace Tech host Jon Gordon spoke with Dwight Silverman, the tech editor at the Houston Chronicle, about what’s behind the move. 

President Donald Trump has instructed the U.S. trade representative to consider slapping $100 billion in additional tariffs on Chinese goods. The move comes a day after China issued a $50 billion list of U.S. goods including soybeans and small aircraft for possible tariff hikes in an escalating and potentially damaging dispute. The White House said […]

Small businesses known as pass-throughs get a new deduction under the tax bill.

Besides causing "extreme nervousness," the Ozark Mountain Poultry CEO says the tariff threats haven't impacted the market yet.

The trade deficit — all the goods and services we buy from overseas, minus what other countries buy from us — is President Donald Trump’s key economic irritant. He’s cited it when threatening to raise tariffs and tear up trade deals like NAFTA. We just got the February trade report this morning from the Department of Commerce, and for the sixth month in a row, our trade deficit has grown, despite Trump’s promises to shrink it. It may not be his fault though, and we’ll explain why. Then: Yesterday we talked to several Americans about what the potential trade war between China and the U.S. would mean for them. Today we’re headed to the streets of Shanghai, where the perspective is a little different. Plus, it’s opening day for minor league baseball. While MLB players can pull eye-popping salaries, their counterparts down the ladder are making peanuts — with no raise in sight.

Congress's Save America's Pastime Act may pre-empt a lawsuit challenging teams over player pay.

"In China's history, we’ve faced more serious problems than this,” one man says.

Author Dev Aujla shares some advice from his new book "50 Ways to Get a Job: An Unconventional Guide to Finding Work on Your Terms."

(Markets Edition) Facebook stock has fallen 16 percent since news broke that a third-party firm took user data to help the Trump campaign. With some in Congress potentially looking to adopt European data privacy rules, we’ll look at what those currently look like. Afterwards, we’ll chat with Diane Swonk — chief economist at the consulting firm Grant Thornton — about what we might expect from the release of tomorrow’s jobs report. Plus: How reducing immigration would affect the labor market. 

The percentage of immigrant workers has increased since 2000. President Trump and many congressional Republicans want to reverse that trend.

(U.S. Edition) Both the U.S. and China have published a proposed list of goods from the other other that they may hit with tariffs. But that’s what they are for now — proposals. We’ll look at what steps have to come before anything goes into effect, and then discuss how these tariffs would impact retailers. Plus: a conversation with Dev Aujla, CEO of the recruiting firm Catalog and author of the new book “50 Ways to Get a Job,” about how to navigate your job search. 

There is a lot of junk in space. And there looks to be more coming as private companies send more satellites into low-Earth orbit. Last week, SpaceX got conditional approval from the Federal Communications Commission to launch more than 4,000 satellites. Marketplace Tech host Jon Gordon speaks with Marcia Smith, editor at SpacePolicyOnline.com, about what happens when all those satellites — new and old — eventually stop working. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … After a marathon session, Brazil’s supreme court ruled against one of its country’s most beloved politicians, rejecting a plea from former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to avoid prison as he appeals a corruption conviction. We’ll take you to Sao Palo where the nation’s citizens – and highest court – are deeply divided. Then, artificial intelligence researchers are claiming victory after boycotting a Korean institute over concerns about killer robots. Afterwards, ride-hailing app Grab is one of the most valuable startups in Southeast Asia, and it most recently drove rival Uber out of the region. We’ll hear from the company’s CEO about how he’s planning to expand the business from rides into payments.  

The amount of debris in space is complicating private satellite launches.

Let's break down how it will affect the country's GDP, jobs or even agriculture.

Facebook is making changes to its data sharing practices. But the company says users still want targeted ads.

"I think the psychology has negatively impacted the hog market," one Illinois farmer says.

Patrick Smith of Loftus Ranches says trade wars disproportionately impact U.S. farmers.

Let's do some tariff talk.

We should be clear from the jump: China and the U.S. are trading specific, escalating threats of tariffs, but none have actually gone into effect. So you could call it a “trade war,” but it really isn’t … yet. Still, you all have a lot of questions about what might happen if this cold trade war heats up. We’ll start today’s show with the economic fundamentals, then do our best to answer those questions. There’s even more on Marketplace.org. Plus: A look at what will happen to America’s agriculture industry if no one blinks in this macroeconomic game of chicken.

(Markets Edition) In the wake of yesterday’s shooting at YouTube, we talk with workplace violence consultant Larry Barton about the measures companies should take to create a safer environment. Also on today’s show: a conversation with Tom Sheck from our investigative unit APM Reports about the resignation of DJ Gribbin, Trump’s point person on his infrastructure bill. What did Trump have planned, and what does Gribbin’s departure mean for the bill? 

Receptionists are one of the most vulnerable people in any office, and yet they're often not included in safety training.

The trade dispute between the two countries continues to escalate, with China potentially imposing tariffs on U.S. soybeans and aircraft.

(U.S. Edition) The U.S. has released a list of Chinese products that could be subject to new tariffs, prompting China to respond with its own list (which is separate from the back and forth tussle over steel and aluminum going on between the two countries). We’ll take a look at some of the affected items, and how this could impact the U.S. economy. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how NAFTA negotiations are going for the U.S., and then talk about a new report that shows how immigrants are helping power Texas’ economy. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … The U.S. and China turn up the heat in their escalating trade spat. This morning, China outlined hefty tariffs on $50 billion worth of goods, including soybeans and aircraft. We’ll bring you the latest details and market reaction. Then, the latest developments from the world’s biggest advertising company, WPP Group, which is investigating an allegation of personal misconduct against its chief executive. Afterwards, today is the deadline for U.K. companies to report their gender pay gaps. So far we’ve learned the average woman is paid 10 percent less than the average man. So, what can be done to close the disparity in pay?

Internet service providers track customers' web data and sell it, so is there a way to keep your information private?

Your internet service provider is watching you. At least, it’s watching where you go on the web and selling that data to third parties. There were regulations dealing with the issue for a few months, but the Trump administration did away with them. If you want to obscure your web activity, you can use something called a virtual private network, but they’re expensive and a little shady. Now the internet company Cloudflare says it’ll keep your information away from your ISP. Marketplace Tech host Jon Gordon spoke with Travis LeBlanc, a former Federal Communications Commission regulator, about how Cloudflare’s service works. 

The departure of DJ Gribbin is the latest sign that the president's plan is going nowhere fast.

Jessica Battilana talks about her career as a recipe developer.

The 12 regional banks in the Federal Reserve are ostensibly equal, but in reality the New York Fed leads the way on regulation of Wall Street and other bits of monetary policy. Today, the central bank announced John Williams (no, the other one) will run it. We’ll talk about what that means for the Fed and what you need to know about Williams. Then, the latest from the so-called red-state teacher rebellion, playing out now in Kentucky and Oklahoma, West Virginia previously. Plus: Tiger Woods has been off his game in a very big way for years now. But after a string of personal struggles and four back surgeries, he’s back and playing pretty well. Turns out, what’s good for Woods’ game is good for golf. We’ll look at the Tiger Effect in 2018. 

He succeeded Janet Yellen as chair of the San Francisco Federal Reserve in 2015.

It ain’t fake news.

(Markets Edition) After yesterday’s stock market dip, things are looking up this morning. We’ll examine what’s causing this volatility with David Kelly, chief global strategist at JP Morgan Funds, who says it’s not all about tariffs and tweets. Plus: Why airlines are pushing for tougher restrictions on emotional support animals. 

Airline companies want restrictions for animals on planes, to prevent passenger injuries from untrained pets.

(U.S. Edition) It was a rough day for markets yesterday, with major stock indexes like the Dow closing down almost 2 percent. We’ll look at why the market is so vulnerable right now. Afterwards, we’ll discuss the New York Fed’s decision to publish a new interest rate to replace the LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, the world’s most widely used benchmark for short-term interest rates. Plus: A conversation with author Alisa Roth, Marketplace’s former New York Bureau Chief, about her new book, “Insane: America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness.” 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … A battle between unions and Emmanuel Macron is giving the French president his first big test as workers protest his labor reforms. We’ll explain what it means for the economy as a planned three-month strike kicks off. Then, Britain is cracking down on ivory selling – but can it move the needle on the number of elephants killed for their tusks each year?  After damaging droughts, regional Indian governments said they’d write off billions in farm loans. But many farmers say that hasn’t happened. 

A ransomware attack in Atlanta affected city services including the court system, first responders and utilities. Attackers demanded a ransom of $50,000, which the city refused to pay. It made us wonder: Just how vulnerable are American cities to ransomware? Marketplace’s Jon Gordon talks about it with Chester Wisniewski, a principal research scientist at security firm Sophos in Canada.

What should cities do to make sure they can still function even if they’re struck?

Packages from the e-commerce world have helped USPS see double-digit increases in revenue.

Formerly high-flying technology companies like Microsoft and Alphabet fell.

Wall Street finally reacted to the escalating tariffs between the U.S. and China today, and sliding tech stocks contributed to what was a pretty manic Monday for markets. We’ll kick off the show with everything you need to know. Then: We’ll zoom in a bit on Amazon, which took fire from President Donald Trump’s Twitter account again today. Is it true that USPS is giving Amazon a sweetheart deal? (No.) Plus: Restaurant workers are pushing for their own #MeToo moment.

Sexual harassment has long been a problem in the restaurant industry.

In this documentary, director Jed Rothstein follows several acitivist investors who blew the whistle on dozens of fraudulent Chinese companies.

(Markets Edition) Major stock indices are down following China’s announcement it’s going to impose tariffs on $3 billion worth of U.S. goods. We’ll look at some other factors causing market uncertainty, and then discuss what economists are anticipating from the March jobs report. Next, we’ll talk about the growing business around services for people who vacation and stay at private residences like Airbnb, and then we’ll examine some of the methods and technology people are coming up with to combat fake news.

The applications for 2018 are open.

The tariffs will hit a total of $3 billion worth of U.S. goods.

(U.S. Edition) In response to U.S. tariffs steel and aluminum, China will hit $3 billion worth of U.S. goods with tariffs of its own. We’ll take a look at some of the affected goods, and what’s to come in this potential trade war between the two countries. Afterwards, we’ll discuss Spotify’s business model ahead of its decision to go public tomorrow. Despite raking in billions, most of that money goes toward royalties. Plus: the growing difficulty to find child care in California as the number of licensed home day cares goes into decline.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … the United States and China are going tit for tat in trade tariffs, but at what point will the escalating tension be considered an all-out trade war? Then, there’s a lot of talk about the threat automation poses to the jobs market. But a new study suggests much of the concern is overblown. Afterward, turmeric’s medicinal properties have long been used by Indian cultures, but recently, the Western world has taken notice of its flavor profile and health benefits. To investigate the growing popularity, we’ll take you to a shop serving turmeric lattes, otherwise known as the golden milk.

Tech companies know a lot about us — a lot more than we realize. The recent scandal involving Facebook and Cambridge Analytica shined a spotlight on this issue and the lack of control we have over how companies track us online. But it’s not just what social networks know about us that can be problematic. People-finder sites, like Spokeo, amass and sometimes sell our info. Marketplace Tech host Jon Gordon spoke with Gennie Gebhart of the Electronic Frontier Foundation to find out how much of yourself you can realistically scrub from the internet.  

Companies track our activity all over the web, so can anyone reclaim their privacy?