Apr 5, 2022

How the ruble rebounded

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images

Russia manipulated supply and demand for its currency to keep it stable. Plus, U.K. millionaires who want higher taxes ... for themselves.

Segments From this episode

The ruble recovers, at least on paper

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Apr 5, 2022

At one point, a ruble was worth a fraction of a penny. Demand for energy exports has helped, but Russia's economy is still in recession.

The ruble has bounced back from its sanctions-induced fall, but even with a stable currency, the Russian economy faces recession.

AFP via Getty Images

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For Europe, quitting Russian coal will be easier than quitting Russian natural gas

by Lily Jamali

Apr 5, 2022

Russia supplies more of the EU's oil and gas than it does coal.

A storage site for a coal-fired power plant in Duisburg, Germany, on April 5. The European Union recently banned imports of Russian coal.

Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

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Is the "Great Resignation" actually normal for the labor market?

by Amy Scott and Andie Corban

Apr 5, 2022

Bart Hobijn of the San Francisco Fed finds that during fast recoveries, workers often leave companies to join other companies.

Companies in industries like food and retail are rehiring after pandemic layoffs, attracting workers from other employers. That drives up the quits rate, says Bart Hobijn of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Tim Boyle/Getty Images

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A Warmer World

What will it take for yellow buses to go green?

by Stephanie Hughes

Apr 5, 2022

Electric school buses cost about three times as much as diesel ones. The White House is putting $5 billion toward the zero-emission models.

The Biden administration is putting $5 billion toward replacing existing school buses with zero-emission models.

Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

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"Patriotic Millionaires" in the U.K. call for higher taxes … on themselves

by Stephen Beard

Apr 5, 2022

The group of wealthy individuals say they would be happy to pay a lot more in taxes to ease the burden on the poor and the middle classes.

As the United Kingdom grapples with high inflation, a group of millionaires is volunteering to take a bump in taxes.

clubfoto/Getty Images

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Add beer to the list of products that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is making more expensive

by Andy Uhler

Apr 5, 2022

Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's top barley exporters.

A bartender pours a beer in Austin, Texas. Supply chain issues, a poor crop year and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to higher barley prices.

Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Adventure Monster Rally

Horizon - Poolside Remix Tycho, Poolside

Test Drive (Instrumental) Vulfpeck

Dream Chorus TOKiMONSTA

Shark Smile Big Thief

Origins Tennis

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Daisy Palacios Senior Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer

Sean McHenry Associate Producer

Andie Corban Associate Producer

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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