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May 12, 2017

05/12/2017: This week was packed, with few exceptions

We have a lot to talk about on the Weekly Wrap this week: We’ll cover the economic impacts of Comey’s firing, the interview President Trump gave about his own economic policies and that letter about Trump’s Russian business interests or lack thereof. Then: State governments submitted more than 500 infrastructure projects to the White House for consideration as Trump puts together his spending plan. We’re tracking what’s on each state’s wishlist along with APM Reports. Plus: What the Justice Department’s new action on drug offenses means for the private prison business.

A journalist looks at a copy of the termination letter to FBI Director James Comey from President Donald Trump on May 9, 2017.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

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Segments From This Episode

Weekly Wrap: Trump’s command of the facts
by Kai Ryssdal
Shawn Thew - Pool/Getty Images
Catherine Rampell of The Washington Post and Linette Lopez of Business Insider join us to discuss the week’s business and economic news. This week they talk about if President Trump’s firing of James Comey will slow down the administration’s economic agenda. Plus, they analyze Trump’s handling of the facts in his interview with The Economist.
How big a deal is China’s new trade agreement with the U.S.?
by Andy Uhler
China was hailing its new trade deal with the United States today. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said yesterday the agreement will help cut the U.S.’s massive trade deficit with China. The deal will open China’s beef market to U.S. cattle for the first time in 15 years, and benefit American natural gas and credit card […]
Store-branded cards are a life raft for sinking retail
by Adam Allington
Department stores, those vestiges of the past, just can’t catch a break these days. Yesterday, shares of both Macy’s and Kohl’s plummeted as investors grow more pessimistic about brick-and-mortar retail in an e-commerce world. There is one silver lining: Business from store-branded credit cards is up, but it likely won’t be enough to reverse the […]
Is Spirit Airlines’ business model to blame for the near riot over cancellations?
by Annie Baxter
Spirit Airlines is in the spotlight this week after cancelled flights led to a near riot at its hub in Fort Lauderdale. The discount airline blamed “unlawful labor activity” by the pilots during contract negotiations, with their refusal to work some flights causing hundreds of cancellations. The union has denied the accusation but says its […]
Private prisons benefit from new Trump rules
by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
The Trump administration is going back to the “tough on crime” policies of the 1980s and ’90s. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered federal prosecutors to bring charges that carry heavy penalties – sometimes mandatory minimum sentences. This is a roll-back of Obama administration rules telling prosecutors not to charge nonviolent drug offenders with crimes that […]
More Americans are writing their rental checks for single-family homes
by Kimberly Adams
Kimberly Adams/Marketplace
Corporate landlords bought up properties during the housing crisis. It's worked out well for them.

Marketplace®

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05/12/2017: This week was packed, with few exceptions

Subscribe:

Segments From This Episode

Weekly Wrap: Trump’s command of the facts

How big a deal is China’s new trade agreement with the U.S.?

Store-branded cards are a life raft for sinking retail

Is Spirit Airlines’ business model to blame for the near riot over cancellations?

Private prisons benefit from new Trump rules

More Americans are writing their rental checks for single-family homes

Music from the episode