Marketplace Morning Report

(Markets Edition) Several top U.S. steel and aluminum executives have been invited to the White House for what could be a major trade announcement, which could be about tariffs aimed at slowing down the import of steel and aluminum. We'll discuss some of the possible penalties the Commerce Department has come up with for what it sees as unfair exports of metal. Plus: As Italy heads to the polls, we'll look at the controversy that surrounds the Italian political figure Silvio Berlusconi.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has given his annual state of the nation address, putting economic issues such as growth and poverty center stage. But how will conditions improve amid a slump in energy prices and western sanctions? We hear from Chris Weafer, of Moscow based consultants, Macro-Advisory. Also in this edition, WPP — the world's largest advertiser — says that 2017 "wasn't pretty." We examine why conditions are tough in advertising sales. And a special report from the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Brazil, where car production was up by 25 percent last year, but employment remained flat. What will it take to boost the number of people in work?

(U.S. Edition) Striking teachers in West Virginia reached a pay deal with the state's governor, but public schools still remain closed today because of concerns over health care. How much of a victory was this for educators? Afterwards, we'll look at the push in the U.S. to divest from firearms manufacturers, and then talk to design expert Steven Heller about work uniforms in the 1950s.

(Markets Edition) Fed Chair Jerome Powell briefed Congress about the economy yesterday — a day that ended with the Dow dipping almost 300 points. Can we draw a connection between the two events? We'll hear some perspective from Seth Carpenter, chief U.S. economist at UBS Securities and someone who's gotten the chance to work closely with Powell. Plus: We look at the state of Italy's economy as the country prepares to elect a new government.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Toys R Us is the latest storied retailer to buckle under the weight of heavy competition from the rise of e-commerce. Today, its British arm fell into administration months after the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection. Then, we’ll get a check-up this morning on how the U.S. economy fared in the last quarter of 2016 … but first a look at whether India’s robust growth pace in the fourth quarter helped it regain the crown as the fastest-growing economy in the world. Afterward, to Sierra Leone to explore why sex work has taken on a larger portion of the capital’s working population.

(U.S. Edition) President Trump's budget proposal had called for millions in cuts to school safety programs, but in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, shooting, federal officials are calling for an expansion of these programs. On today's show, we'll look at some of the options Congress is exploring. Afterwards, we'll discuss China's fight with the U.S. over aluminum foil, and then talk to Gillian Thomas, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU, about how pregnant employees still face workplace discrimination despite the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act 40 years ago.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Comcast sparked a bidding war this morning when it offered $31 billion to buy Sky – the European broadcaster that Twenty-First Century Fox has its takeover sights set on. We’ll explain the tangled web now being weaved in the telecom sector.  Then, in a country where whites make up less than 9 percent of the population, South Africa’s parliament today is discussing a proposal from the opposition to seize white-owned land without compensation. So, why does the new president say land reform needs to happen “immediately?”

(Markets Edition) Jay Powell is set to deliver his first report on the economy to Congress. We'll discuss some of his planned remarks, which include comments on a strong economy and the state of inflation. Afterwards, we'll talk about news that Comcast has made a $31 billion bid to buy Sky broadcasting group, and then look at how Stockton, California, is experimenting with Universal Basic Income by giving several dozen families $500  — no strings attached.

(U.S. Edition) The Supreme Court will soon hear a Microsoft privacy case about digital data — can the U.S. government look at data stored overseas without going through a foreign government? On today's show, we'll dive into the details of the debate. Afterwards, we'll discuss another case that the Supreme Court heard yesterday: Janus vs. AFSCME. The case looked at the fairness of mandatory union fees for public-sector workers. The outcome of this could have far-reaching political implications for teachers' unions. Plus: A conversation with law professor Alan Hyde from Rutgers University on what data says about immigration sponsored by employers vs. immigration sponsored by family.

(U.S. Edition) CEOs get criticized for short-term thinking, but what if you kept them in power for several decades? In China, President Xi Jinping could stay in power for the remainder of his life. We'll look at news that the ruling Communist party wants to change the constitution that would grant him the ability to. Afterwards, we'll discuss the importance of checking your credit score, and then talk to Gary Kennedy — the former top lawyer of American Airlines — about whether airlines have to deal with too many rules and regulations.