Aug 19, 2021

Goodbye Zoom calls, hello VR meetings

A cat takes part in a Zoom call in Milan, Italy, this May. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Also, the Business Roundtable's equity pledge two years later, looking at a tapering of the Federal Reserve's bond buying and the cost of a new numbered jersey for NFL players.

Segments From this episode

COVID & Unemployment

Fewer people are on unemployment, but there's a nasty shock coming for many of them

by Mitchell Hartman

Aug 19, 2021

Their federal benefits — which add up to more than $6 billion a week — are about to run out.

Emergency federal unemployment benefits — equivalent to roughly $6 billion per week — are set to expire in two and a half weeks.

Thinkstock via Getty Images

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Here's why we're seeing a rush to create new businesses

by Kristin Schwab

Aug 19, 2021

There were over 4 million applications for new businesses last year, according to the Census Bureau.

There was a boom in applications for new businesses last year, per the Census Bureau.

pixdeluxe via Getty Images

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How has the Federal Reserve's bond buying helped the economy?

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Aug 19, 2021

Those bonds have helped keep lots of money flowing into the economy. But now, the Fed is signaling that its going to taper off its monthly purchases.

Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is expected to address the tapering of the Fed's bond-buying at an upcoming conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

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Race and Economy

After 2 years, how have the Business Roundtable's commitments held up?

by Kai Ryssdal and Daisy Palacios

Aug 19, 2021

The group of top CEOs has pledged to support “all stakeholders” and advance the principles of racial justice.

In 2019, the group of top CEOs published a Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, pledging to support "all stakeholders." Otis Rolley of the Rockefeller Foundation says much work remains to be done.

Cindy Ord via Getty Images

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A tour of the remote-work industrial complex

by Matt Levin

Aug 19, 2021

The remote-work revolution has spawned an industry unto itself: remote-work consulting.

People are likely to be working from home for some time, so some employers are investing in services like feng shui consulting and virtual reality.

Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images

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New NFL rules let some players pick new numbers — if they pay for it

by Andy Uhler

Aug 19, 2021

Some players believe single-digit jerseys make them look faster or stronger. But they’d have to buy up the old inventory.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook looked into replacing "33" with "4." But it reportedly would have cost him $1.5 million to purchase the old merch from the league’s sales outlets.

Stephen Maturen via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Red Light Kisses Lake Street Dive

In Your Light Gotye

Lau's Lament Eric Lau

State Of The Art Gotye

Always Something DJ Mitsu The Beats

The Trip Still Corners

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Daisy Palacios Senior Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer

Sean McHenry Associate Producer

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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