Feb 28, 2023

Restaurant tabs … as an economic indicator?

Fred Tanneau/AFP via Getty Images

Consumers are spending up a storm at bars and restaurants. It's a sign of pent-up demand, but can it be sustained? Also, surprise medical bills continue to surprise.

Segments From this episode

Why the U.S. wants more limits on Americans' private investment in Chinese firms

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Feb 28, 2023

Washington is looking at economic ways to counter China's influence — especially when it comes to companies linked to the country's military.

The number of Chinese companies off limits to American investors is now up to 59.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

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Confident in the economy or not, American consumers are going out

by Stephanie Hughes

Feb 28, 2023

Sales at restaurants and bars were up around 25 percent from last year. Part of that is likely due to pent-up demand.

Kooper's Tavern is one of many bars and restaurants in Fells Point, a historic neighborhood in Baltimore.

Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace

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For Tubi chief, streaming’s future is serving fragmented audiences

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Feb 28, 2023

Since Fox bought the ad-supported streaming service in 2020, growth has been like a "rocket ship," says Tubi CEO Farhad Massoudi.

"We have audiences that love Black cinema, some love horror movies, some want to watch anime," says Tubi CEO Farhad Massoudi, seen in 2019. "And I think that's the way of the future."

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

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A Tulsa sneakers store plans for a year of uncertainty

by Sean McHenry

Feb 28, 2023

For Venita Cooper, owner of Silhouette Sneakers & Art, business is up. But will it last? "The big challenge is just trying to keep engagement," she says.

Venita Cooper, owner of Silhouette Sneakers & Art, at a Valentine's Day event for the store.

Courtesy Gary Mason

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Ticktock, TikTok: Government agencies are on the clock to purge the app from all devices

by Samantha Fields

Feb 28, 2023

Canada and the EU, too.

"If you talk to some national security experts, they'll tell you the way to think about it is having 100 million little cameras that could be accessed by the Communist Party, running around America," said Jessica Melugin from the Competitive Enterprise Institute about having TikTok on cell phones.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

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Despite legislation against them, surprise medical bills can still ... surprise

by Blake Farmer

Feb 28, 2023

ER doctor groups were among the top providers disputing claims in the first months of a resolution process created by the No Surprises Act.

There are growing concerns that patients still won’t see their costs go down despite the No Surprises Act.

Blake Farmer/WPLN News

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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

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