Marketplace Music

Playlist: Spending cuts and ‘Moneymakers’

Katharine Crnko Feb 11, 2011

Posted by Katharine Crnko

For Marketplace Morning Report, Friday February 11, 2011

Tea Party members got the upper hand today. The House Appropriations Committee now wants $100 billion in spending cuts over what President Obama requested for 2011.

Nokia, the world’s largest cell phone-maker, has joined together with software giant Microsoft to grab a larger share of the lucrative smartphone market. But as Christopher Werth explains, this union may not be enough to catch up with Apple and Google.

Ben Tarnoff, author of “Moneymakers,” talks about the history of counterfeiting in America and people continue to have faith in the dollar bill.

In his new book, Moneymakers: The Wicked Lives and Surprising Adventures of Three Notorious Counterfeiters, Ben Tarnoff examines America’s long history of counterfeiting.

Protesters remain on the streets in Egypt after President Hosni Mubarak announced he intends to stay in power for the time being. Businesses and the Egyptian stock market were supposed to open this weekend, but as the BBC’s Magdi Ahbelhadi reports from Cairo, they are likely to remain closed.

The turmoil in Egypt continues to extend beyond the country’s own borders. In Jordan, citizens are protesting President Hosni Mubarak’s continuation of power. And that has added more uncertainty to business. Alisa Roth reports from Amman, Jordan.

Numbers of musicians have covered “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” since it first premiered in 1939, but one version is discovering new-found popularity in Germany and France.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts , no song better defines the 20th century than the iconic ballad, “Over the Rainbow.”

Since the government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008, the mortgage corporations have cost taxpayers about $150 billion. Now, the Treasury Department is poised to announce its plans to wind down the two companies, as David Gura reports.

Steve Chiotakis speaks with Jill Schlesinger, editor at large at CBS/MoneyWatch, about the government’s plans to cut its ties with mortgage corporations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

David Gura explains a White House report released today that outlines the future role of government in the mortgage industry.

Jeremy Hobson speaks with Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial, about the White House’s report on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

After an 18-day wave of demonstrations, Hosni Mubarak hands control of Egypt to the military. Egypt’s economy has ground to a halt since the turmoil started over two weeks ago.

Here are the songs we played:

  • Borderline — MadonnaBuy
  • The First — Imperial TeenBuy
  • A Girl in Port — Okkervil RiverBuy
  • Giant Pickle — Mr. ScruffBuy
  • Bell Bottoms — John Spencer Blues Explosion

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.