In today's Dollars & Sense, Pam discusses record highs for S&P 500 and Nasdaq, driven by strong tech earnings from the "Magnificent Seven," before diving into a mix of other developments:

Bay Area Childcare: San Francisco expands subsidies for families, adding 750 new childcare seats.

Tech & Safety News: Roblox faces lawsuits over child exploitation; Reddit sees growth through AI search features.

Financial & Federal Policy: New graduate student loan limits; FedEx and UPS to refund $170 billion in tariffs.

Military AI Initiatives: The Pentagon partners with Big Tech (Google, Amazon, SpaceX) to accelerate data processing.

Economic Relief & Promotions: President Trump lifts Scotch whisky tariffs; Ford launches "American Value" employee pricing for all.

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In today's Dollars & Sense, Pam kicks things off with the major earnings day for tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft and the recent success of Yum Brands, driven largely by new menu items at Taco Bell. The conversation shifts to the impact of AI and how celebrities like Taylor Swift are taking steps to protect their name, image, and likeness from deepfakes. Financial expert Chris Markowski joins to discuss whether individuals should have the right to sell their digital likeness even after death. Then Pam shares her “Made in the Bay” feature on the Marin French Cheese Company, the oldest cheese manufacturer in the United States and explores the artisanal process of cheesemaking.

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Disney is implementing biometric technology at park entrances to verify tickets and reduce fraud. Meanwhile, the financial sector is reacting to OpenAI’s lower-than-expected revenue and user growth, causing a dip in chip stocks and the Nasdaq. In the aviation industry, Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation celebrated a milestone with its first electric air taxi test flight from JFK to Manhattan. Then, the United Arab Emirates announces its withdrawal from OPEC. Social media scams reached a record $2 billion in losses last year, with cybercriminals increasingly using AI to manipulate victims, and, the Treasury Department is set to take over student loan collections as the administration works to dismantle the Department of Education.

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In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Pam Cook kicks this segment off with a dive into Intel’s strong first-quarter earnings and ambitious revenue forecast that gave Nasdaq a boost. Then the conversation turns to the spring housing market before touching on Trump's oil transport waivers and China’s crackdown on US tech investment. Dollars & Sense also discusses Nike’s global layoffs as it pivots toward advanced automation, Instacart’s co-founder launches an AI hedge fund and Uber’s massive AI development push. To wrap, financial advisor Clark Gerenin joins Pam to talk about cratering consumer sentiment and the 6% year-over-year spending increase and offers expert advice on auditing subscriptions, gas savings, and the value of supporting local businesses.

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Pam gets into the potential government bailouts of Spirit Airlines before diving into the $81 billion Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance-Paramount deal. Dollars & Sense also discusses LuluLemon’s appointment of a new CEO, the $81 billion mega-merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance-Paramount. Meta’s latest transparency features for parents. Then Pam talks about adults "pre-gaming" alcohol to avoid high prices and ride-share drivers struggling with soaring gas costs before talking to financial advisor Chris Markowski about Spirit Airlines.

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In today’s Dollars and Cents, Pam dives into Google’s new $750 million fund to educate partners on "agentic AI" and SpaceX’s massive $50 billion acquisition of the coding startup Cursor. She also discusses Duolingo’s app expansion, a new feature on Snapchat, a potential real estate bargain for Netflix in Studio City and the launch of Coco Robotics’ autonomous delivery service via Uber Eats in San Jose. Then Pam talks to financial advisor Chris Markowski who explains why casual tourism is suffering.

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In today's Dollars & Sense, Pam begins with a significant stock market rally following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Then Dollars & Sense discusses major corporate shifts, including Reed Hastings' departure from Netflix and Trader Joe’s recent legal settlement regarding receipt privacy. Pam also touches on travel innovations like Air New Zealand’s new sleep pods and the record-breaking payroll of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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In today's Dollars & Sense, Pam covers shifting consumer strategies at major brands, potential economic hurdles in Europe, and the evolving leadership at the Federal Reserve.

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- Europe warns jet fuel shortage could impact flights

- Ford’s Leadership Shift

- Federal Reserve Confirmation Controversies

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In today's Dollars & Sense, Pam discusses San Francisco-based Allbirds pivots from sustainable footwear to the AI sector under the new moniker NewBird AI. Then she gets into a wave of corporate restructuring at industry giants Disney and Snapchat as they lean into AI to streamline operations. Dollars & Sense also dives into an investigation into Lululemon’s use of "forever chemicals," a major investment for EV maker Lucid Group, and a new survey on tax fairness and government benefits. Pam, Gasia and Andre explore Spotify's surprising move into the physical book market. Financial analyst Chris Markowski joins us to debate the future of the airline industry and whether a United-American merger would actually benefit the modern travelers.

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Pam dives into the economic ripples caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East and its impact on the price of oil. As fuel costs soar, major airlines like Delta and Southwest are raising checked bag fees to as high as $200 for a third bag to offset expenses. Beyond travel, the Dollars & Sense host discusses the record-high average cost of raising a child in the U.S.

The conversation then shifts to corporate culture, exploring a "satisfaction gap" where high-level managers report more stress and loneliness than their staff, yet feel more engaged and satisfied with their work. Listeners also get a nostalgic tech update as younger generations flock to the discontinued iPod to reduce social media dependence. Then, financial advisor Chris Markowski joins the show to urge investors not to gamble with their portfolios based on headlines, advocating instead for an "anti-fragile" strategy that can withstand market shocks.

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