Sep 14, 2020

The tick-tock on TikTok

The TikTok office in Culver City, California, in August. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Plus stories about volunteer firefighters, frequent fliers and Black women entrepreneurs in Detroit.

Segments From this episode

TikTok

Oracle may be left out of TikTok's razor-sharp algorithm

by Jennifer Pak

Sep 14, 2020

The wildly popular app relies on algorithm-based customizing that's helped glue users to their screens.

The TikTok office in Culver City, California, in August.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Verizon is buying prepaid carrier TracFone, lured by resale market

by Kristin Schwab

Sep 14, 2020

Verizon will pay up to $7 billion in cash and stock, angling for a piece of the pre-paid phone plan market, which keeps growing in the pandemic.

Verizon is angling for a piece of the pre-paid phone plan market, which continues to grow during the pandemic.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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COVID-19

Amazon continues hiring spree to meet demand from pandemic

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Sep 14, 2020

The company has announced more than 100,000 new positions, including corporate tech jobs around the country.

A delivery worker for Amazon Prime wears a mask and gloves on her route in Los Angeles.

Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

For 2 California volunteer firefighters, the losses hit home

by Lesley McClurg

Sep 14, 2020

Fire decimates the neighborhood where they both grew up.

Brandon North and Becca Brown-Dehner grieve the loss of their two family homes at Spanish Flat Mobile Villa in Napa County, California.

Lesley McClurg/KQED

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COVID-19

Delta's putting its frequent flyer program up as collateral for a loan

by Justin Ho

Sep 14, 2020

The airline's SkyMiles program is worth millions every year.

A Delta Air Lines employee waits for passengers at an empty check-in counter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

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Black women are thriving in Detroit's business ecosystem

by Kai Ryssdal and Andie Corban

Sep 14, 2020

Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country, says Courtney McCluney of Cornell, despite having fewer resources.

People from Detroit "really have all the gusto to be great entrepreneurs," says Courtney McCluney of Cornell.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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United States of Work: Steve Fields

On this segment of our ongoing series “United States of Work,” truck driver Steve Fields shares how his summer has been.

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Music from the episode

Ancestors Anchorsong

Restart Bilal

Lost Frank Ocean

Brokenfolks Georgia Anne Muldrow

Un Universo Para Los Dos Oktoberklubben

Mind Playing Tricks on Me Geto Boys

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Daisy Palacios Senior Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer

Sean McHenry Associate Producer

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