Week of April 30th, 2018

The Lynchburg, Virginia, school has netted millions. Its online degree program is the reason.

There can be big money in musicals based on popular movies and TV shows.

We also discuss the new unemployment rate.

Maria Konnikova discovered a passion — and talent — for cards.

Because this allergy season is longer and worse than last year.

Governments recognize that control of the internet has become a proxy for political power.

Austin Beutner is a former investment banker, deputy mayor and publisher. We asked him about what he brings to LAUSD.

Here's what we know about how he thinks about schools.

Some first responders are focusing on their mental well-being so they can respond more compassionately to those they serve.

"I don't think people really understand that the U.S. never … reinvested in its steel-making ability," one executive says.

We look at seasonal allergies and their financial burden, how one writer got more than lucky at poker and landed in the big bucks, and a peek behind the scenes at who really makes rules for what happens on the internet. 

(Markets Edition) The April jobs report is out, revealing the U.S. added 164,000 jobs to the economy and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent. We’ll talk to Chris Low — chief economist at FTN Financial — about why he thinks the rate has dipped to this point, which may have to do with the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. Afterwards, we’ll look at how mobile homeowners in Seattle are being pushed out by skyrocketing real estate values, and what some residents are doing to fight back. 

The unemployment rate is at its lowest rate since December 2000.

(U.S. Edition) Back in 2015, we learned that Volkswagen rigged its cars to cheat emissions tests. Then-CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned during the fallout of the scandal, and now he’s being charged with fraud by the U.S. Department of Justice. On today’s show, we’ll look at what exactly he’s been charged with and what this means for Volkswagen as a whole. Afterwards, we’ll run down what the U.S. asked for during its trade talks with China this week, and discuss how likely it’ll be that China will agree to these demands. 

Mobile homes are one of the last vestiges of affordable home ownership in the Seattle area, but mobile homeowners are being pushed out by skyrocketing real estate values.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Trade talks in Beijing between the U.S. and China end today – both investors and corporations are watching for any developments. We hear from Alibaba’s general manager for Europe about how the company is operating as fears of a trade war loom. Then, a host of mining companies have agreed to millions in compensation for South African gold miners who contracted incurable lung disease. An attorney representing the miners tells us what’s next. Afterwards, what the end of a separatist conflict in Spain means for the local economy. 

Europe is about to enact the GDPR, a set of new privacy rules for the web.

You may have noticed a trend in your inbox lately. A lot of “we’re changing our terms of service” emails. It’s no coincidence. Lots of companies are rewriting these agreements ahead of the General Data Protection Regulation rollout in Europe. That’s the new set of stricter privacy rules that goes into effect in Europe at the end of the month. Marketplace’s Amy Scott spoke with Jessica Lee, partner at the law firm Loeb & Loeb, about what the GDPR means and how it will affect the U.S.   

Sarah Kendzior describes "systemic inequality, a lot of suffering among citizens" in her collection of essays.

As Amazon considers locations for its second headquarters, incentives are on the table.

Despite common narratives, 20- and 30-somethings are just as interested and hopeful about homeownership as everyone else.

High inflation, a depreciating currency, robust growth: What's going on in Turkey?

(Markets Edition) Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other key figures from the Trump administration are in China right now for trade negotiations. We’ll chat with Seth Carpenter, who was a top treasury official in the Obama administration, about what the U.S. can realistically achieve during these talks. Afterwards, we’ll look at how one small city in Texas is trying to improve internet access in the area, a problem that plagues low-income border communities. 

(U.S. Edition) Cambridge Analytica, the data firm that harvested personal information from Facebook users to target voters in the 2016 presidential election, is filing for bankruptcy. We’ll recap the company’s involvement with conservative donors and why it says it can’t continue to operate. Afterwards, we’ll look at how Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone maker, is launching an initial public offering that would make it the third-largest tech IPO ever. Plus: We dive into a new study that suggests good grades may count against female job applicants. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Turkey was the fastest growing economy in the G-20 last year, but new figures today are stoking worries the economy is at serious risk of overheating. What can the government and the central bank to do ease concerns? Then, Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi filed to hold its IPO, the world’s biggest since 2014, in Hong Kong. Afterwards, marriage is a big business in India … but increasingly, so is divorce. We’ll take you to the country and explain how entrepreneurs are leveraging the trend. 

Should universities worry about spying? That’s what some people in the White House may think. The Trump administration is reportedly thinking about measures to prevent Chinese citizens from conducting sensitive research at American universities. The worry is that these researchers might take home secrets. Marketplace’s Amy Scott spoke with Daniel Golden, author of “Spy Schools,” about the front lines of academic espionage. 

The White House might consider banning Chinese citizens from doing sensitive research in the U.S.

There's a lot at stake as a White House delegation makes its way to Beijing, but some businessmen have low expectations.

Today, the Federal Open Market Committee chose not to raise interest rates, but it did have other news: Inflation has reached the Fed benchmark of 2 percent. How tolerant of inflation is the Fed going to be? That depends on whether the economy is experiencing good or bad inflation. We look at the difference between the two. Meanwhile, a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are on the ground in Beijing, resting up before their tariff meetings tomorrow. Most American companies doing business in China are making money, so they might want different things from the talks than the negotiators do. Marketplace China Correspondent Jennifer Pak breaks it down for us. Speaking of tariffs, American companies submitted over 3,500 applications for exemptions. We dig into what some of these companies are doing to try and increase their chances.

Californian Hopwood DePree is raising money to restore his ancestral home.

(Markets Edition) The Fed isn’t expected to raise interest rates when it meets today, but what they do say about inflation may indicate how aggressively they’ll hike rates later in the year. We’ll talk to Diane Swonk, chief economist at the firm Grant Thornton, about the types of inflation on her radar screen. Afterwards, we’ll look at how some health care businesses are trying to improve the relationship between medical professionals and patients through more empathetic care. 

One reason for the interest in a more empathetic clinical staff stems from the fact that hospitals and physicians, increasingly, have financial incentives to keep patients out of the hospital.

(U.S. Edition) U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, are heading to China to work through trade problems. We’ll look at how much trade occurs between the two countries and what the Trump administration is asking for. Afterwards, we’ll visit Nebraska to find out how soybean farmers are coping with China’s looming threat to impose tariffs on the product. Plus: We’ll talk about the worries surrounding Tesla as the company burns through cash. Some Model 3 customers are *still* waiting for their cars.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Eurozone growth slowed in the first quarter from the final three months of last year. So, does it take European Central Bank rate hikes off the table for this year? Then, if you thought getting Congress to agree on a budget annually is hard, try getting 28 nations to agree on a plan once every seven years. We’ll investigate the complexities of European Union budget negotiations and why Brexit is making this round especially tricky. Afterwards, what’s in a name? For Macedonia, a lot. We’ll explain why the country must pick between keeping its name or gaining access to the EU. 

Self-driving cars are on the road now, but they need human supervision. Is that safe?

Self-driving cars will probably save a lot of lives in the future. But right now, the tech is new, and most of it requires human intervention. Experts refer to several levels, 1 through 5, of automation in cars. A 5th level car would have no steering wheel or gas pedal. Several cars on the market now fit into the middle category; requiring human intervention with some autonomous features. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Missy Cummings, director of the Humans and Autonomy Lab at Duke University, about the risks of having humans only partly in control.    

Culinary snobs may sneer, but the resulting sauce has a long history.

Writer Umair Haque says the system isn't equipped to address big issues like financial inequality.

Haitians, whose temporary protected status is ending in the U.S., are helping to solve the problem.

The items at the auction include everything from David Rockefeller’s gold cuff links to Picasso paintings that were once owned by writer Gertrude Stein.

(Markets Edition) The U.S. wants Europe and other countries to limit what they send over here, calling them “voluntary restraints.” On today’s show, we’ll look at some of the criticisms that economists have lobbed against this quota-based system. Afterwards, we’ll discuss the Federal Reserve’s plans to raise interest rates this year. While annual inflation hit the Fed’s target of 2 percent in March, they’re not expected to accelerate any hikes. Then, we’ll discuss what to look for in Apple’s quarterly earnings report. Many tech companies have seen unexpected changes in their income statements because of a new rule mandating that they report the value of stocks that they hold in *other* companies. 

Public school teachers in states like West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona are fighting for higher pay and more funding for schools. Now one physics teacher thinks he can enact change by joining his state legislature.

(U.S. Edition) The Trump administration is now giving the European Union, Canada and Mexico until June 1 to work out a deal with the U.S. to avoid trade penalties on foreign steel and aluminum. We’ll look at the factors holding up a deal, along some of the arrangements America has already struck with other regions. Plus: following Oklahoma’s recent teacher walkout, we’ll talk to one of the marchers: Craig Hoxie, a high school physics teacher, who explains what he sees as the problems in the state’s education system. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … President Trump has extended the deadline for negotiation with some countries on steel and aluminium tariffs. But has the president’s forceful strategy worked to his advantage and given him the results he wants in the realm of trade from key allies? Then, a look at why protesters against a Canadian pipeline will be outside today’s Barclay’s annual shareholder meeting in London. Afterwards, Rupert Murdoch has built a media empire over his decades in the business, but what’s behind his method, and how has it changed with increased competition? We chat with his right-hand man and author of a new biography called “The Murdoch Method.”

T-Mobile and Sprint have agreed to merge. Now they’ll have to convince the government to let the deal move forward, which may not be easy. The companies have tried to work out a deal twice in the past and failed, partly over disagreements in terms, but also due to fears that the Obama administration would reject the merger. Their pitch to regulators this time? It’s all about 5G and the promise of fast mobile connectivity. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Mike Sievert, T-Mobile’s president and chief operating officer, about the details behind the deal.  

Facing a self-imposed deadline, President Donald Trump was considering whether to permanently exempt the EU and Mexico, Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brazil from tariffs that his administration imposed last month on imported steel and aluminum.

The answer isn't clear, and that makes dealing pretty tough, our former China correspondent says.

Is allergy season getting worse? Scientists say yes.

Several health economists and policy experts argue until Washington forces drug companies to lower their overall prices, an out-of-pocket Medicare cap is just dabbling at the edges.

In many states, education budgets haven't fully recovered.

(Markets Edition) With T-Mobile and Sprint planning to merge, we’ll discuss the types of deals that you will (or won’t) be offered from them, along with why the development of 5G wireless served as a catalyst for the planned deal. Afterwards, we’ll look at what the dollar value of volunteer time is to nonprofits, and then talk about Home Depot’s $50 million investment in apprenticeships to help with the construction labor shortage. 

As services like Netflix rise in popularity, our tolerance for ads is going down.

Home Depot is investing $50 million into residential construction apprenticeships, but that still won't address the labor shortage.

A merger between the two companies could mean higher prices for you.

(U.S. Edition) T-Mobile and Sprint have announced an almost $27 billion merger that would form a company to rival Verizon or AT&T.  We’ll look at previous deals these two companies have tried to strike with one another over the years. Afterwards, we’ll discuss limitations the Trump administration may place on Chinese investment in the U.S., which would be similar to Chinese restrictions on U.S. companies. Plus: We’ll talk with Jeanine Poggi, a media reporter for Ad Age, about the large amount of time devoted to commercials during broadcast TV — and what some networks are trying to do to change that. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … As its rivalry with Amazon continues to simmer, Walmart has been shifting its focus to more international growth markets like India. So, what does a deal in the U.K. mean for the world’s biggest retailer? Then, immigration is a hot topic from coast to coast – not just in America, but in Britain as well. A group of immigrants, called the Windrush generation, are told they’re living in the country illegally because of a lack of official paperwork. Now, the nation’s home secretary has resigned over mishandling. What does it mean for the future of British immigration policy? 

Seven months ago, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Since then, people on the island have had deal with lots of uncertainty, including spotty electricity and an island-wide blackout earlier this month. Cell phone and internet access are often unreliable as well. The FCC has proposed $750 million in funding to rebuild communication systems, but in the meantime patchwork solutions have sprung up. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Marketplace Weekend host Lizzie O’Leary, who just returned from Puerto Rico. She says connectivity on the island is still a mixed bag. For more coverage of Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria, check out the Marketplace Weekend podcast.