Today, on the the fifty-year anniversary of Lyndon B. Johnson’s State of the Union address, in which he issued a call to arms against poverty, we look at the fierce debate, not only over whether the U.S. has won or lost the war on poverty, but whether the country as a whole is gaining ground or retreating. Also, this week marks the 50th anniversary of a report by the Surgeon General on the health effects of smoking, linking it to lung cancer and heart disease. We hear about the impact the report had on one of the biggest industries in the nation. And, the National Federation of Independent Business said small business owners added more jobs per firm last month than they have in eight years. Even so, there are more Americans unemployed now than at any time since World War II, while Congress is debating whether to extend benefits for the long-term unemployed.

As a deal to reinstate unemployment insurance works it way through Congress, we delve into the “freeloader argument.” What happens when folks lose their benefits — do they finally start looking and land a job? Next, AT&T is offering companies the opportunity to pay for your smartphone’s data use. The idea is that a company would offer, say, a video for which it pays the data charge, getting you to stream it when ordinarily you’d pass. It gets a view, and AT&T increases the data flowing through its system. And also, Lindsey Vonn, one of the few big names in winter sports, is out of the Winter Olympics with an injury. For NBC/Comcast, which paid a fortune for the rights, a lackluster games could come at a very high cost:  lower ratings for the game themselves, but also a loss of ratings for the Today show.  

As CES opens, exhibitors are showing all sorts of gadgets and apps that will connect you to everything in your home and your car. But if you look back at some of the futurist visions promised in the past, what happened to them? Next, a really deep freeze can screw with an economy built on moderate temperatures. And finally, we take a look at the accounting tricks behind extending unemployment benefits. Pay for something today that we will save the money for tomorrow.    

Airlines and airline pilots are facing a major rule change this weekend that may impact flight delays and scheduling — the same weekend that airline traffic will be impacted by the snowstorm on the East Coast. Next, three NFL teams (out of four) could have their playoff games blacked out this weekend if they don’t sell out their stadiums by this afternoon. Under a nearly 40-year old rule, games can’t be televised locally if the stadium has empty seats. But the whole pro football industry has changed. Finally, decades ago Carl Drake left the Smithsonian millions of dollars set aside specifically to collect bugs.  Now, the Smithsonian says it has collected enough bugs. 

Fiat is set to acquire full-control of Chrysler in a $4.35 billion deal. Could foreign ownership of this American classic dent sales in the U.S., or do people no longer care about “buying American?” Next, the Affordable Care Act is supposed to give more people access to primary care doctors, getting them into treatment early instead of relying on the Emergency Room (which costs more). Also, the Dow’s 2013 record would have been even higher but for IBM’s showing. IBM, which carries a lot of weight on the Dow, was the only component to see its shares fall for the year. And finally, the rescue of 52 passengers on a scientific research in the Antarctic today was the result of collaboration among several nations, including China, Australia and the U.S. 

Happy New Year! The year 2013 was one of diamond heists, data leaks and mass credit card theft. Will 2014 be the same? Rising home prices are a good thing, right? Not if you’re trying to buy a house. A look at what’s in store for home buyers in 2014 and beyond.  Greece takes over as president of the European Union today. What does rock musician Jimi Hendrix have in common with Baroque composer George Frideric Handel? An address for starters, and now — a museum.

From coffee to copper to corn, the price of commodities has fallen over the past year. Why has this happened and why do the prices of products remain so high? Next, a sad farewell to those who left us in 2013, from industry-changing successes like “Breaking Bad” to new products no one wanted, like Watermelon Oreos. Also, an intense oil-train fire in North Dakota demonstrates the scale of explosions and fire that can occur, as the nation’s rail system marks just the fifth anniversary of the modern moving-oil-by-rail era. Finally, while everybody is watching football on New Year’s Day, doctor’s offices are frantically planning for the onslaught of new patients in the new year.

The attacks in Volgograd in the past two days have raised fear of terrorism in Russia in the lead up to the February Sochi Winter Olympics — in particular, that major transportation hubs are more likely to be targeted. Terrorism fears could put a major economic dent in Russia’s Olympic plans. Next, if you want to spend your New Year’s Eve at Applebees in New York, they will hook you up for a mere $375 a head. New Year’s Eve is big business for restaurants and party spaces. Also, week look back at the stories of 2013 from China that’ll be important to understanding China next year: air pollution plus China’s hangover from 3 decades of economic growth. And finally, the once-phenomenally profitable orange juice business is being squeezed by a bunch of little bacteria.

For 1.3 million unemployed Americans, long-term unemployment benefits expire this weekend.  The loss of that spending power may not make a big dent in the economy, but it could make one in local communities. Also, McDonald’s is shutting down McResource, a website that offers tips to employees — like using food stamps to supplement income, and avoiding unhealthy food like fast food burgers and fries.  Last year, Apple was mocked for its “Genius Training Manual.”  Do leaks like this change how companies communicate with, and train, staff in an age where internal materials can easily go viral? And finally, narrative storytelling is gaining popularity and the internet’s taking notice. Will long-form journalism save magazine writing?