The chairman of the Fed “felt” the market when it decided to raise interest rates this week but not enough, it seems. China, an IRL superpower, lauds the late Stan Lee at a World Trade Organization meeting. Errant drones shut down a busy airport in London. And in 2019, millennials will outnumber baby boomers. How will the younger set’s consumer habits shape the future economy? Today’s show is sponsored by Orvis, Alliance for Lifetime Income and Indeed.

After the Fed’s decision to raise interest rates yesterday, we look at why — in such a strong economy with inflation so low — the hike was necessary. Plus, we’re wrapping up our Divided Decade coverage for the year. Today, we look at the not-so-lucky Americans who graduated into the recession in 2008. How are they faring today? And finally, National Returns Day, the peak day for returning gifts via UPS, arrived before Christmas for the first time. Today’s show is sponsored by Orvis and Alliance for Lifetime Income.  

From the BBC World Service…Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn could soon be released on bail after a Japanese court rejected a request to extend his detention. Then, the French government will release its revised budget after Yellow Vest protests spurred violent debate about President Emmanuel Macron’s economic reforms. So, what’s in the new budget blueprint? Afterwards, the West African nation of Togo has seen some economic growth over recent years, but many feel it hasn’t been inclusive and political instability  has made things worse. And despite violent unrest, the government will push ahead with elections today. 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin blames recent market volatility on high-speed trading and the Volcker Rule, which bars banks from making risky bets with their money. FedEx stock dips after it voices concern over a global economic slowdown. All eyes are on the Fed as it decides on the much-anticipated interest rate hike Wednesday. And in one British town, the “Garbage Queen” saves valuable rubbish from a doomed fate at the landfill. Today’s show is sponsored by Orvis, Navy Federal Credit Union and Indeed.  

On Wednesday, the Fed will decide on whether to raise the interest rate for the fourth time this year or take the president’s suggestion and “feel the market,” but what does either move mean for the average consumer? A decade after the subprime mortgage crisis triggered the Great Recession, rising home prices coupled with lower sales signal a not-as-calamitous slowdown. Facebook faces another privacy scandal. Plus, remember the Blackberry? Well, it never really left. Today’s show is sponsored by Orvis  and Navy Federal Credit Union.

From the BBC World Service… Merger mania in the pharmaceutical industry: Pfizer and Glaxo SmithKline agreed to combine their consumer health businesses into one company with sales of more than $12 billion. Then, the mobile unit of Softbank made history in Japan today with the largest trading debut there, but the share price fell 14 percent. So, why does the tech giant need the money from its initial public offering anyway? Plus, a look at how a rising number of cancer cases in India’s “food bowl” region is causing farmers to move away from toxic pesticide use. Today’s show is sponsored by Orvis  and Navy Federal Credit Union.

President Trump not-so-subtly urges the Fed to “feel the market” instead of raising the interest rate this week. Unemployment continues at record lows, but that depends on who counts as “employed.” It turns out women are participating less and less in the labor market. Plus, the good news: teen drug use is down. The bad news: vaping is up… like, way up. Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed, Selligent  and the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

Following a seemingly endless stream of scandals at Facebook, the NAACP is asking people to logout of the social media platform Tuesday. And despite low unemployment, a new HUD report shows homelessness rose this year. Plus, customs agents at the U.S.-Canada border in Michigan, which has legalized recreational marijuana use, are closely scrutinizing travelers associated with the pot trade, causing some to give up on doing business in the U.S. altogether. Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed, Selligent  and the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

From the BBC World Service… China’s 40-year long march towards reform has transformed a once poor country into the world’s second largest economy. President Xi Jinping has vowed to continue the march, but on Beijing’s own terms. Will its trade war with the U.S. and a Great Wall of debt hamper the Asian giant’s efforts? Then, U.K. soccer club Manchester United’s manager is out. What does his ouster mean for one of the world’s most powerful entertainment businesses? Plus, the gender gap has narrowed, but it will still take more than a century to close. From the school desk to the workplace, what needs to change? Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed  and Selligent.