Marketplace

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin got the cold shoulder at the G-7 finance ministers meeting this past weekend, and as President Donald Trump heads to Quebec for more meetings, Canada, Mexico and the European Union are issuing blistering responses to his tariffs. We'll kick off today's show looking at the potential political costs and economic benefits of all this. Then: We'll take apart a bunch of big tech stories from today — and see what you can learn about our relationship with the Chinese by literally taking apart a ZTE phone.

It's been a while since one of President Donald Trump's tweets made economic news, but today he kind of scooped the rest of the government. "Looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning," he tweeted, seemingly violating a federal rule against discussing that job report early. We'll talk about why that matters. Then, more from the brewing trade war, including more of your questions and a look at whether rising tariffs will undo recent tax cuts. Plus, an interview with the first American to study at a North Korean university. But first, as always, we'll recap a wild five days gone by on the Weekly Wrap. (06/01/2018)

The threat of a trade war has been looming over this country since President Donald Trump announced steel and aluminum tariffs almost three months ago. But one set of tariffs, and a bunch of exclusions and carve-outs to it, does not a trade war make. But now those exceptions are expiring, countries are retaliating and things are getting real. Today, we'll break down what's happening, talk to businesspeople trying to figure out their place in all this and answer your questions about all things trade. Plus, we're capping off our series on the view of American manufacturing from a Georgia factory town.

Over 12.5 million people in the United States work in the manufacturing sector. That's nearly 12 percent of U.S. GDP. So what we make and how make it matters. We're starting off with the second part in our series about manufacturing in America. Today, we're at a foundry that's seen business improve under President Donald Trump, but its owners are wary of steel tariffs. Then: What do Snapple, Dr. Pepper, Peet's Coffee, Keurig and Panera Bread have in common? They're all owned by one company that's on a buying spree. Plus, a conversation with the James Beard Foundation CEO about restaurants in the post #MeToo era. (05-30-2018)

... unless you're driving. Then honk maybe? At any rate, you're not alone. The White House is back to being the Bad Cop, pushing ahead on tariffs and punishing China for playing unfair with intellectual property. We'll bring you the latest on that and the changes coming to the Volker Rule, starting with what it is. Plus: One of the three last denim factories in the United States is shutting down. We'll visit and look at what it means about manufacturing in this country.

Or are you in the 52 percent of American workers who left them on the table in 2017? We look at the economic effects of people taking their paid vacation time. And on this Memorial Day, the future of of the $55 billion VA Mission Act, which provides a boost of funding for the system that delivers healthcare to more than 9 million veterans. Plus, 41.5 million Americans are travelling this Memorial Day weekend despite the highest gas prices in four years, a personal story from the aftermath of the financial crisis and how meat companies are trying to satisfy meat lovers with meat-like alternatives.

Starbucks stores around the country are closing down next week for unconscious bias training. The programs are getting more and more popular, but is their impact measurable? Plus, we cap of our week covering graduates in the recession with the story of one man who regrets going to college. But first, a look back at the week's business and financial news.

The Trump administration announced it would investigate possible tariffs on auto imports on national security grounds. But, how exactly is the auto industry connected to national security? We sent Marketplace's Sabri Ben-Achour on a hunt for answers. And while we're on the subject, we talked to a sales manager at a German auto parts company with a U.S. factory about what the Trump administration’s investigation into possible auto import tariffs could mean for his business. Also on today's show: The story of one scientist’s search for a new red pigment that could be worth a billion dollars. 

Probably not, to be honest. They have a lot of student loans. But hey, the job market is good! Well, sort of. Listen to the story, we'll explain. Today we talk to Qualcomm CEO Steven Mollenkopf about why he isn't worried about China and why 5G is exciting. Also on today's show, a couple hundred business people lit up Capitol Hill this week for the Cannabis Industry Association’s Lobby Days. They asked the lawmakers to either legalize marijuana or at least ease up on some banking and tax rules so they can do business like everybody else. (05/23/2018)

The House is set to take up a bill today dialing back parts of Dodd-Frank, the law regulating banks after the financial crisis. Today's bill already passed the Senate, and it would change mortgage lending requirements and raise the threshold at which banks will be officially big, or "systemically important financial institutions," if you want to get technical. We'll start off by telling you everything you need to know, plus looking at the rotating deck chairs on the American CEO cruise ship. Plus, speaking of the recession, we'll look at what it's like to graduate into one. The damage can last well after the economy recovers, and some young professionals never catch back up. (05/22/2018)