Artificial intelligence requires an enormous amount of electricity. Google, with AI now added, says it increased its carbon emissions last year, despite a pledge to reach net-zero by 2030. So what are Google and other companies doing to…
From the BBC World Service: The United Kingdom goes to the polls in the general election tomorrow — and polling suggests the economy is the No. 1 issue with voters. We hear the key economic anxieties voters are voicing. Then, the Esports…
More than 60 million Americans are facing a potentially record-breaking heat wave across the South and Western U.S. this week. Still, people will be showing up to work on farms, construction sites and other workplaces where extreme heat…
Standard economic indicators like the unemployment and inflation rates are backward-looking. Now, a new tool, the Zeta Economic Indicator, analyzes the economy in real time and utilizes artificial intelligence. We’ll hear more. Plus,…
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe is presenting lawmakers with a deal made by creditors after the country’s 2022 financial crisis, but the government is facing criticism over the agreement. Also:…
This morning, we’re talking economics and global politics. First, the far-right saw major wins in the first round of France’s elections. Then, high housing costs are weighing on the minds of voters in the United Kingdom, who head to the…
Or does it hinder free speech? That’s the thorny issue the Supreme Court is expected to decide in just a few hours, as it releases its final rulings in what’s been another highly consequential term. We’ll hear more on a case challenging…
From the BBC World Service: Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party has pulled off a victory in the first round of elections in France and could turn French politics on its head. Then, with only three days to go before the United…
Last night, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred off. Today, we’ll recap some of economic issues spotlighted in the presidential debate. Inflation was one of the hot topics, and the latest release of the Federal…
A rule of thumb is that market players don’t like uncertainty. The question this morning is whether there’s more or less of it in the wake of President Joe Biden’s rough showing against former President Donald Trump during last night’s…
From the BBC World Service: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a security pact with the European Union during a visit to Brussels. We’ll delve in. Then, following weeks of protests in Argentina over proposed austerity…
As cities look to grow and innovate in the recovery from the pandemic, some are pushing for new sports stadiums. The idea is that fresh ballparks attract visitors and create jobs, but these projects are almost always funded by public…
In a 6-3 ruling, Supreme Court justices have narrowed the scope of federal corruption law, as it pertains to state and local officials. Justices ruled that a former mayor in Indiana did not commit a crime when he took $13,000 as a…
From the BBC World Service: The Japanese Yen has fallen to its weakest level against the U.S. dollar for nearly 40 years. It’s causing jitters in the markets, and analysts warn about potential government intervention. Then, protests are…
A federal judge has rejected an antitrust settlement that would have lowered the fees Visa and Mastercard charge every time you use your credit card to pay for a purchase. The judge ruled the settlement did not go far enough, agreeing with…
Volkswagen says it’s putting $5 billion into U.S. electric truck company Rivian. The cash infusion comes at a crucial time for Rivian, as it watches other EV startups go under. But VW also needs something out of this. We unpack. Plus, why…
From the BBC World Service: At least 13 people have been killed and many more injured after police fired into crowds protesting Kenya’s controversial finance bill in Nairobi. An angry crowd stormed the parliament before setting parts of it…
Parts of President Joe Biden’s student loan repayment plan — which widens eligibility for income-based loan repayment — are on hold after federal judges in Kansas and Missouri issued rulings yesterday in lawsuits brought by a group of…
When it comes to reality TV, don’t give too much credit to the “reality” part. Yet despite its heavy editing and construction, reality TV has sometimes shaped the wider culture. In this episode, we talk about the economic calculus that led…
From the BBC World Service: After 14 months of a civil war, a severe humanitarian and economic crisis is unfolding in Sudan. Grain shipments from Ukraine have ceased, humanitarian aid faces significant blockades and the country faces the…
Job creation has been robust coming out of the worst of COVID, yet threats to workers remain: international competition, the Green Transition, artificial intelligence. How can workers respond? Today, we explore wage insurance as an option…
The deadline for students and parents to get their federal financial aid form into colleges and universities is this Sunday. With all that data you input on income and savings, there’s still something big missing: overall household wealth.…
From the BBC World Service: Brussels has accused Apple of violating EU competition rules with its App Store. It’s the first time EU regulators have enforced the new Digital Markets Act against a major tech firm. Then, Indian students are…
In a flurry of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Justices’ lack of action on one case is a major victory for the tribal gaming industry. The court left in place an agreement between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state of…
TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has six months to divest or the U.S. plans to ban the app for national security reasons. But in a new court filing, ByteDance calls the U.S. government’s demands unconstitutional and says…
From the BBC World Service: Kenya’s government has been forced to drop some of its plans for new taxes, but widespread protests are continuing over its controversial finance bill. We’ll hear about the government’s intent behind the…
In the U.S., the Federal Reserve has decided to keep rates elevated for a year now. The Fed’s goal is to hit a 2% inflation target, but that last mile has been difficult. And part of it has to do with how we are able to lock in debt at…
Cannabis is now legal — for medical or recreational use — in 38 states, plus D.C. But marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, meaning there are stringent rules governing the transportation of cannabis. That can leave some parts of…
From the BBC World Service: Chinese carmakers are urging Beijing to slap import taxes of up to 25% on some European cars, following the European Union’s confirmation that it will place tariffs of up to 38% on electric vehicle imports from…
One effort in trying to narrow the racial wealth gap is by supporting Black-owned businesses. That effort grew in 2020 amid racial justice protests after the murder of George Floyd, but where do things stand now? We check in. Plus,…