Marketplace

One in three American adults has a criminal record. Amid a labor shortage and a historically high quit rate among the American workforce, there’s growing advocacy to pass “clean slate” laws, which call for modernizing court databases and creating algorithms to automatically clear records for minor criminal offenses. While such legislation expands candidate pools for businesses, it also opens the door to higher-quality jobs for those with a criminal record. Also on the show today: The Weekly Wrap; talking turkey about holiday food prices; and why some are calling plastic the “new coal.”

In March, the American Rescue Plan set aside $20 billion for tribal governments, an unprecedented federal investment in Indian Country. While close to 600 tribal entities got portions of the relief funds, more than half of the money went to just 30. That’s because the Treasury Department divvied up funds based on population and the number of people each tribe employs — not poverty levels or COVID infection rates. Also on the show today: The Federal Reserve overhauls investing rules for policymakers, why it’s so hard to determine what makes a “high-quality” carbon offset and examining the real-life horrors the film “Candyman” spotlights.

When it comes to checkout time at your local grocery store, the total at the bottom of your receipt might just raise your eyebrows. That’s because prices for essentials have increased by 4.5% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of all price increases have come from just three meats: beef, pork and poultry — meaning you may think twice before adding that steak or pork loin to your shopping cart. Later on in the program, we’ll hear about some of the career shifts occurring in the Great Resignation, what California’s drought could mean for the rest of the country and why Citigroup is nixing work lunches.

Philadelphia’s Eviction Diversion Program, launched last year, allows landlords and renters late on payments to avoid court through mediation. Since, the program has conducted more than 2,000 mediations, with more than 90% ending in agreement or continued negotiation. The program has also helped distribute millions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance. Plus: A trip to a new government stockpile of medication ingredients; a Bitcoin fund debuts on the New York Stock Exchange; and what actually happens when you return an online order.

Zillow has been using algorithms to evaluate, buy, then resell houses — until recently. The company announced that it would pause purchases for the rest of the year, citing a lack of workers for renovations. The decision comes at a time when the real estate market is cooling off and may hint at the future actions of other “ibuyers.” Also on today’s show: China’s economic growth weakens, an honest conversation about mental health with a macro-social worker and a breezy trip to the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

If you’ve tried to buy much of anything lately, there’s a decent chance some of the products you’ve been scouring aisles for have been out of stock. On today’s show, we air the first segment in our new collection, “Temporarily Unavailable,” which explores how stuff moves around the world … or doesn’t. Host Kai Ryssdal gives us an inside look at the Marine Exchange of Southern California in the largest port complex in the U.S. And later: how former “Survivor” contestants are profiting from their reality-star status; companies eye tariff relief under Biden; and new merch is coming your way, courtesy of a new Walmart and Netflix partnership.

People fall into one of two TV camps right now: You’ve either seen “Squid Game” or you haven’t. But odds are you’ve heard of the dystopian South Korean drama, which is  on track to be Netflix’s most-watched show yet. The series’ production values and exploration of class have helped it become a global hit, and the show’s success bodes well for streaming services that are making investments abroad and courting international subscribers. Also on today’s program: the Weekly Wrap, an uptick in wages and a preview of Marketplace’s newest series, “How We Survive.”

After controversy over ethics and stock trading arose, two regional Federal Reserve presidents announced their resignations late last month. Their departures leave two senior leadership positions open and a chance for the Fed to regain trust. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has expressed support for diversifying the regional banks, but the final selection process remains opaque. Later in the show: Coal production struggles to keep up with demand, Germany’s small to mid-size businesses voice their hopes for a new government and the Catch-22 of climate-impact rules and infrastructure updates.

Mental health professionals have had virtual tools for decades, but the pandemic catalyzed the field to offer more telehealth services. It’s a change that experts say is here to stay and one that makes care more accessible. The shift has also incited an investment boom in mental health startups and apps that topped $1 billion last year. Also on today’s show: Workers can be choosy in the current job market; why this winter’s gas bill might give you sticker shock; and a chat with San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly.

Monday’s outage of Facebook and Instagram was annoying, sure. But the outage of communication platform WhatsApp highlighted how vital the app is to chat with friends and family or even do business in some parts of the world. Many emerging markets have access to technologies like smartphones but lack broadband infrastructure, making WhatsApp one of the most popular, inexpensive communication platforms available. Later, we’ll hear why some Hollywood workers are going on strike, whom a four-day workweek would serve and what an unused lot in Austin, Texas, tells us about the difficulties of creating affordable housing.