The partial government shutdown is over, but we’re still dealing with the fallout, and that probably means your tax return won’t arrive as soon as you’d hoped. Can all this be prevented from happening again by banning shutdowns? Plus, museums are trying to compete with the likes of Netflix by opening seven days a week. Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, Pitney Bowes and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

From the BBC World Service: China is six years into a trillion-dollar plan known as the One Belt One Road initiative.

A potential global economic slowdown portends problems stateside. The Fed’s Open Market Committee meets next week to gauge the strength of the U.S. economy, but will they be able to “do the numbers” with a shutdown-driven dearth of data? Plus, a recent study — one of many — finds that raising the minimum wage does not mean fewer jobs.  Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage and Indeed.

On day 35 of the partial government shutdown, we take a look at the payments not being deducted from federal workers’, zero-dollar paychecks for things like health insurance premiums. Plus, fertility rates in the U.S. have gone down during last few years, and other developed countries are going through the same demographic shifts.  Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage and Indeed.

From the BBC World Service… As Venezuela’s political rivals continue to battle for control, runaway inflation and a worsening economic situation are hurting millions of people – both those leaving the country and those who are still trying to live and work there. Then, with China and the U.S. still stuck in a stalemate on trade, we hear from the new boss at Goldman Sachs who says a swift resolution might not be in the cards. Plus, a look back at how product placement has become a booming business over the last several decades. Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage and Indeed.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Thursday that the U.S. and China were “miles and miles” from resolving their trade conflict, and the markets heard it loud and clear. The Milken Institute has released its annual list of best-performing cities, and No. 1 might surprise you. Plus, we travel to the Kansas City which is performing very well thanks to its booming auto industry.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s days might be numbered, but his potential ouster seems to have piqued investors’ interest as the oil-rich nation’s bonds spiked. As if the partial government shutdown hasn’t complicated the lives of federal workers enough, a second missed paycheck could make things even more difficult for those with child support payments. Plus, how has the shutdown hamstrung economists and investors who rely on government data? Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, the United States Postal Service and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

From the BBC World Service… It’s been a tumultuous 24 hours in Venezuela after the country’s opposition leader declared himself interim president and garnered support from the U.S. and a dozen other countries. So, what’s next for the economically-troubled nation? Then, French automaker Renault is ready to move forward as Carlos Ghosn is still held in Tokyo. Plus, remember the periodic table from your high school chemistry class? Well, it’s gotten a makeover, but this time, rather than being organized by weight, each element is listed according to how much is left on earth. Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, the United States Postal Service and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Some FBI agents sound off on the partial government shutdown, saying they’re not able to do their jobs properly. We take a quick look at current market volatility. Global leaders are meeting at the World Economic Forum’s summit in Davos, Switzerland is this week, but how important is the gathering, really? Today’s show is sponsored by SignNow, Pitney Bowes, the United States Postal Service and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.