Marketplace All-in-One

This week we’re looking at what it will take to update the regulation of the tech sector. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota has put forward several bills that would do just that. Klobuchar, who’s been working on this issue for years now, thinks we might be in something of a moment. Parts of the tech world have themselves acknowledged the need for updated rules and regulations (although maybe not exactly the ones the senator has in mind). Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams visited Klobuchar in her office on Capitol Hill to discuss her policy work and priorities.

After years and years of trying, Congress finally came through with a bipartisan infrastructure bill. On the show today, we’ll discuss what’s actually in the bill and what it means for the economy. Plus, you may have noticed more and more businesses are pulling back on what they offer their customers without reducing their prices. Well, it’s not your imagination, it’s a thing dubbed “skimpflation.” And, finally, we end the show on a literal smile!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

Read the transcript here.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s deep dive into the Great Resignation. If you’ve quit your job during the pandemic, we want to hear from you. Send a voice memo or give us a call at 508-82-SMART (508-827-6278).

Over the weekend, Congress passed the trillion-dollar, bipartisan infrastructure bill. There’s a lot of money in it to tackle a lot of issues: roads and bridges, electric vehicles and charging stations, broadband access and much more. In today’s episode, we dig into some of those investments, their impacts and timelines. Plus: Workers who were fired for refusing vaccination face different unemployment benefits policies in different states; retailers are rethinking the value of delayed and costly imports; and corporations want to plant trees to offset their carbon emissions … but there might not be enough global real estate.

The BBC reports from the COP26 climate conference in Scotland, where the significant presence of the fossil fuel industry sparks concern about making progress on cutting down carbon. The U.S. opens its borders today to international travelers from dozens of countries. Airlines are gearing up for an influx of passengers and for the holiday travel season. We discuss what the reopening means. In Philadelphia, a carpentry program helps young people get experience in a profession and perhaps map out a path to employment.

President Biden said Americans will begin to feel the impact of the bipartisan infrastructure spending bill within a few months as investments kick in for roads, transit, broadband internet and other priorities. The trillion-dollar bill passed Congress over the weekend. While the Friday jobs report showed gains in the labor market overall, one area that still appears stuck is the public sector, especially state government jobs and public schools. Amazon is setting up shop in Cathedral City, with a warehouse nearing completion. How does the arrival of a company like Amazon impact the community around it upon arrival?

From the BBC World Service: For the first time in almost two years, the U.S. is allowing fully-vaccinated travelers in from 30 countries. Plus: Rising energy prices threaten the economic recovery in Spain.

This week, Kimberly Adams talks with two U.S. Senators and other Washington and Silicon Valley leaders as “Marketplace Tech” examines the different ways the federal government is trying to regulate the tech industry, and what it will take to actually make it happen. In this episode, advocates discuss what future legislation could look like.

The stock market might not be the best way to understand how the economy’s doing, but the bond market is a different story. On the show today, Kai gives us his read on the bond market and the clues to our economic future it can provide. Plus, we discuss a big labor and sports story: NFL star Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19. And we wrap up the week with our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty.

Read the transcript here.

Thanks to everyone who joined us live on YouTube for this episode! We’re live Fridays at 3:30 p.m. Pacific/6:30 p.m. Eastern for happy hour! Subscribe to our channel and sign up for notifications so you don’t miss it.

Friday’s jobs report was full of good news: More than half a million jobs were added in October. Wages rose again — especially in low-paying sectors — and are now up 4.9% year over year. But inflation is chipping away at those gains, and workers may lose leverage as more people enter the workforce. Also in today’s episode: The Weekly Wrap, what it means when a company is “water-positive” and gyms see gains as more people decide to work out outside home.

More people are saying “yes” to job openings, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Labor. Hiring in the U.S. stepped up to the tune of 531,000 added in the month of October. We got some insight from Julia Coronado on how the jobs report beat expectations. Sticking with the workforce, we try to figure out who foots the bill when it comes to the new OSHA vaccination rules for companies. Union workers at John Deere are still on strike, and negotiations appear to be at an impasse. People who are entertaining thoughts of traveling for the holidays might want to consider a multitude of very costly factors.