Marketplace All-in-One

With midterm elections approaching, Julia Coronado discusses how economic viewpoints could have an effect. Elsewhere, credit card debt appears to have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Then we talk about what could be in store for the people left behind after mass layoffs.

Another union has voted to ratify a new labor agreement with rail companies, but there are still sticking points for others. The BBC reports on the agenda for the COP27 climate change summit, which has started in Egypt. We discuss the economics behind grassroots ballot initiatives.

From the BBC World Service: As the COP27 world summit on climate change opens in Egypt, potential compensation for countries with developing economies from their developed neighbors is on the agenda. Plus, Apple says China’s zero COVID strategy will significantly impact iPhone production and shipping this holiday season. And, bus passengers in the U.K. face longer wait times due to a national worker shortage.

There are an estimated 38 million disabled eligible voters in the U.S., but many of them face unique obstacles when trying to cast their ballots. Federal and state laws require polling stations provide in-person accommodations, like machines with larger screen displays or text-to-speech interfaces inside voter booths. But individual polling places don’t always make it easy, says Mark Lindeman, Policy and Strategy Director with the nonpartisan organization Verified Voting.

If you’re looking for a job in the oil and gas industry, chances are it’s yours. The jobless rate for the U.S. oil industry is at a historic low, and producers are scrambling for workers. We’ll explain what this means for President Joe Biden’s plan to ramp production and bring down gasoline prices. Plus, new revelations about Russian atrocities in Ukraine. On a lighter note, we’ll also play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! And, guest host Andy Uhler’s dog makes a surprise appearance.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell received some welcome news in today’s jobs report: Wage growth is slowing a tad. The gains certainly aren’t as low as the Fed is hoping for, but the moderation could be a hint that the job market is starting to cool off. Plus, Twitter provides an example of how not to go about layoffs, and YouTube’s copyright tool sparks frustration for musicians.

The Labor Department’s newest jobs report beat expectations, and Chris Low of FHN Financial is here with us to talk about what it could mean for the Fed. Then, we discuss mass layoffs at Twitter. One of our producers illustrates the grind of the New York City rental market.

We preview the coming October jobs report. Also, we look at what the Fed might want to keep its eye on regarding the job market. Then, it appears free returns for online purchases are proving a bit too costly for many companies.

From the BBC World Service: At a meeting in Beijing, President Xi Jinping called for greater cooperation between Germany and China during “times of change and turmoil”. The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has faced criticism for not coordinating his trip with other European leaders. Plus, Russian attacks leave 4.5 million people across Ukraine without power. And, we hear why some Albanians are setting their sights on a life in Britain.

Diagnosing and containing a disease outbreak, or the health effects of a disruptive event like a natural disaster, can be a huge task. A study out Friday from New York University suggests that a new machine learning model could improve health officials’ ability to respond to future pandemics and other public health crises. The research was done in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Daniel Neill, a computer science professor at NYU and the director of its Machine Learning for Good Laboratory, which released the study. He explains how this machine learning model works.