Feb 3, 2021

What is an “executive chair,” and how is it different from a CEO?

Bezos founded Amazon in his garage in 1994. David McNew/Getty Images

On today's show: Jeff Bezos will become Amazon's executive chairman. But what does that mean, exactly? Plus, the U.S. isn't as innovative as it used to be, according to a Bloomberg ranking.

Segments From this episode

COVID-19

What is budget reconciliation, and how might Democrats use it to pass COVID relief?

by Marielle Segarra

Feb 3, 2021

The process allows senators to avert a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote with a regular majority, but only in specific cases.

Democratic senators might use the reconciliation process to stop a potential Republican filibuster on President Biden's relief bill.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

U.S. falls out of top 10 in measure of innovation

by Scott Tong

Feb 3, 2021

When Bloomberg launched the rankings, America was first. Now South Korea leads the pack.

An engineering student works on a robot. Engineering is one of the fields in which the U.S. lags, according to the Bloomberg Innovation Index.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

What will Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos do as executive chair?

by Erika Beras

Feb 3, 2021

He'll be a strategic adviser to the new CEO. And with millions of shares of company stock, he'll have a lot of say in his role.

Jeff Bezos will most likely maintain plenty of power at Amazon. Above, Bezos, left, addresses moderator Charlie Rose and the Economic Club of New York in 2016.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Why Valentine’s Day shipping delays are this CEO’s “biggest fear”

by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst

Feb 3, 2021

“There’s just a lot of it that’s out of our control completely,” says Christina Stembel of Farmgirl Flowers.

Valentine's Day shipping delays have the potential to cost Farmgirl Flowers $12 million in a worst-case scenario, CEO Christina Stembel says. Above, a Farmgirl Flowers bouquet.

Courtesy of Farmgirl Flowers

LISTEN

EMBED

COVID-19

Puerto Rican businesses hang on in an economy shaped by disaster

by Kristin Schwab

Feb 3, 2021

Entrepreneurs have endured natural disasters and political crises — and now COVID-19. “You have to be super, super tough," a business owner says.

A medical worker stands at the entrance of a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March.

Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Music from the episode

So Good Pete Rock, The Soul Brothers

Other Side Of The Game Erykah Badu

Good to Me Freddie Joachim

Waterfalls Tree Theater

Chief Rocka Lords Of The Underground

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Latest Episodes From Our Shows

3:03 AM PDT