Episodes

  • What CFPB cuts mean for you
    Mar 17 2026

    Two of the three major credit bureaus are dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints. At the same time, the Trump administration has attempted to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the government watchdog agency established following the Great Recession. Today, we'll delve into what it means for consumer protections. Also, the price of a barrel of Brent crude is about 50% higher than it was a month ago. Where do things go from here?

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    7 mins
  • Expect a bigger tax refund this year
    Mar 17 2026

    If you are one of the millions of people who haven't done your taxes yet, you've got a month and a day left to file. Something to look forward to, though? Refunds are up over 10% on average so far this year, and more people are receiving tax refunds. But first, we'll check in on how discount retailers are doing and learn how the war in the Middle East is impacting Federal Reserve officials' thinking about a rate cut.

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    6 mins
  • Europe looks to step back from U.S. Big Tech
    Mar 16 2026

    Is Europe's reliance on U.S. tech a vulnerability? With geopolitical uncertainties growing under the second Trump administration, governments and institutions abroad seem to think so. The International Criminal Court announced that it's ditching Microsoft, and government employees in France will use an open-source alternative to Zoom. Today, we dig into "digital sovereignty." Also on the show: new homeowners turn to buy now, pay later to deal with expenses, and we'll preview the Fed's interest rate meeting this week.

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    7 mins
  • Air travel as a political football
    Mar 16 2026

    TSA agents and air traffic controllers are missing their first full month of paychecks as a result of the partial government shutdown. In response, CEOs of major U.S. airlines have written an open letter urging Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the shutdown, which has dragged on as Democrats demand reforms to immigration enforcement practices. Plus, how might emerging technologies like AI amplify global threats, such as nuclear war?

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    7 mins
  • Tariffs come for the Friday fish fry
    Mar 13 2026

    Some Christians observe the weeks of Lent leading up to Easter by not eating meat on Fridays. That means that we’re in the thick of fish fry season. Thing is, tariffs have raised the price of seafood. We head to one local fish fry near Akron, Ohio, to learn about the impact. But first, the war in the Middle East is threatening critical water desalination plants, which many Gulf countries rely on to make seawater potable.

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    6 mins
  • Can Congress tackle housing affordability?
    Mar 13 2026

    The Senate passed a bipartisan bill yesterday that aims to take on housing affordability by increasing the housing supply and cutting red tape. But it has a tough road ahead in the House and possibly the White House. This morning, we'll dig in. Also on the show: GDP growth was revised down to just 0.7%. Plus, China's latest five-year plan aims to transform the country into a tech-driven global power, while boosting domestic demand.

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    8 mins
  • Local eatery obituaries
    Mar 12 2026

    Data shows that chain restaurants grew by 3% last year, while smaller independent restaurants declined by more than 2% as they struggled to navigate rising prices for real estate, food, insurance, and labor. When all restaurants are basically the same city to city, what does it mean for the unique flavor of a place? But first, Iran has ratcheted up its attacks on Gulf countries and in the Strait of Hormuz.

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    7 mins
  • Don't forget: There's still a trade war going on
    Mar 12 2026

    Yesterday, the U.S. trade representative announced an investigation into unfair trade practices that could result in a whole new round of import taxes. The Trump administration will be looking into whether more than a dozen countries are producing too much, flooding the U.S. with cheap products, and making it hard for American companies to compete. Then, war is complicating the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. And later, could price caps help bring down grocery bills?

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    7 mins