Marketplace All-in-One

We’ve seen hints that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes may be cooling the housing market. But rent prices are still climbing across the country, and higher interest rates may not rein in rent costs for more than a year. And later, war in Ukraine fuels global hunger, inflation comes for Hollywood productions and some try to beat confusing credit score algorithms.

Labor organizing looks a lot different today.

The workplaces are different compared to decades ago. Think less industrial factories with thousands of workers and more Starbucks, REI and Trader Joe’s with bargaining units of a couple of dozen employees, all organizing one location at a time.

“On one hand, it could be easier because you’ve got a smaller group of people to be making the demands. But then you have this challenge of power … it’s hard when you’re looking at a massive corporation, but you’re organizing it piece by piece,” said Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and co-host of the podcast “Belabored.”

The AFL-CIO’s goal is to unionize 1 million workers in the next decade. Could organizing smaller workplaces be the path toward reversing decades of declining union membership?

On the show today, what labor organizing looks like in the modern economy, why it’s different from what we saw in the past and what it means for the workplace of 2022 and beyond.

In the News Fix, the wild story of an Olympic athlete and what it says about modern-day slavery. Plus, we’ll tell you about an airport to avoid if you’re traveling this summer. Later, we’ll hear from listeners about deep sighs and coupons, and we’ll make you smart about flapjacks!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

Got a question for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Or leave us a voice message at (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.

The operator of the Texas power grid is asking people to not run their air conditioners as much in the face of blazing summer heat. Jeffrey Cleveland of Payden & Rygel joins us to discuss the state of the markets and where the Fed plans to take interest rates. Inflation and other factors haven’t stopped businesses popping up in rural parts of the country.

With our friends from “Million Bazillion,” we discuss why talking to kids about money should be a regular thing. We’ve entered the window of time for the reporting of second quarter earnings, but the specter of inflation has cast a shadow over companies’ expected profit numbers. Unpaid medical debts are about to stop weighing down credit reports.

From the BBC World Service: For the first time since 2002, the Euro and the dollar are flirting with parity. Russia has taken the Nord Stream 1 pipeline offline for routine maintenance, and today Norway is reducing the supply of natural gas sends to Europe because of an incident at one of its gas fields. The gas fields of the Netherlands are another option for Europe – though not one without problems.

It’s a rainy day, the perfect time to answer a question from one listener who started looking at the bottom of his toys. A lot of them say “Made in China,” but why? Ryan Perez and Bridget Bodnar get some help from some familiar (but legally distinct!) toy friends to find the answer. Turns out there are some pretty interesting reasons why the stuff we buy — not just toys, but clothes and food too — sometimes come from far away places.

For a special cartoon, discussion questions and tips for parents, check out our website!

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It’s crunch time on Capitol Hill. Congress’ August recess starts in just a few weeks, so lawmakers are hoping to finish up some work before they skip town. One item of business with increased urgency for many is codifying privacy rights. Last week, President Biden signed an executive order on the issue, and some lawmakers in Congress hope they can do more to protect privacy in the coming months with the American Data Privacy and Protection Act. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Cristiano Lima, a reporter at The Washington Post.

If you’re planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, now is the time to exchange your dollars for euros. For the first time in 20 years, $1 is nearly equal to one euro. We’ll talk about what it means for the global economy. Plus, mini-explainers on carry trades and Sri Lankas’s economy. And the moment space geeks have been waiting for: The first image from the James Webb Space Telescope is here, and it’s a beauty! Finally, Kimberly has a 7/11 tradition, and we’re here for it!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

We want to hear your answers to the Make Me Smart question: What is something you thought you knew but later found out you were wrong about? Send them our way. We’re at [email protected]. Or leave us a voice message at (508) 827

PepsiCo and JPMorgan, among other large companies, are releasing their quarterly results this week. Inflation may not have flattened bubbly soda sales, but analysts will be listening to what bank executives say about a possible economic slowdown. Also: expanding the baby formula market, gasoline inflation reaches remote Alaska, and what’s up with the Texas power grid?

The Department of Transportation has wrapped up 10 investigations into denied or delayed refunds for airline customers following waves of disrupted flights during the pandemic. Maintenance has begun on the Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline, but there are concerns that gas might not get turned back on. Fire season approaches for California, and we discuss the state’s readiness for it.