Marketplace® is the leading business news program in the nation. We bring you clear explorations of how economic news affects you, through stories, conversation...
When venture capital collides with the nation’s capital
Venture capitalists have been welcomed into the Donald Trump administration, and their presence is growing. People who’ve been in the business of backing startups have been tapped to run the Office of Personnel Management and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Another, David Sacks, is the White House artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar. Even the vice president, JD Vance, spent time making venture deals before he moved into politics. Sarah Kunst, founder and managing director at Cleo Capital, says that in venture capital, you have to be good at saying no and comfortable taking risks knowing they likely won’t pan out. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes asked Kunst what it means to bring these qualities to the federal government.
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8:50
All these sellers, but where are the buyers?
Tons of sellers listed their homes in January, after months of waiting in vain for mortgage rates to fall. But many would-be buyers are facing economic uncertainty and aren’t ready to make an offer. Plus: A FEMA rule forces residents of flood-prone areas to make a difficult decision, developing countries will drive global energy demand in the next few years and when colleges close, local communities suffer.
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30:18
A wager for the history books gives us a glimpse into our future
One of the most famous bets in the past half-century — at least among economists — wasn’t about the Super Bowl or a presidential election. No, it was about whether five critical metals would be worth more or less between 1980 and 1990. Really, this was about innovation and how we consume natural resources. Researchers are now looking at this question all over again. What can we glean? Also: a frigid vault to preserve data.
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8:38
How insecurity can worsen inequality
One of the key themes of American life right now is uncertainty, whether it be from the rising cost of living, the toll of natural disasters or new policies from Donald Trump’s administration. Today, we’ll unpack how uncertainty and precarity can pave the way for deeper inequality. Plus, the Trump administration is considering the ocean floor as a mining source for critical minerals. We’ll hear about the opportunities the mining industry sees.
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9:48
The arctic vault that hopes to preserve our data
From the BBC World Service: Every day, our digital footprint is growing, but parts of it will be lost over time. To safeguard it for future generations, some are storing digital artifacts in the Arctic World Archive. We put on our headlamps and winter coats to learn more. Also on the show: Seoul bans China’s DeepSeek, Chinese President Xi Jinping holds high-profile meetings with business leaders, and Russia-Ukraine peace talks impact oil prices.
Marketplace® is the leading business news program in the nation. We bring you clear explorations of how economic news affects you, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. The Marketplace All-in-One podcast provides each episode of the public radio broadcast programs Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report®and Marketplace Tech® along with our podcasts Make Me Smart, Corner Office and The Uncertain Hour. Visit marketplace.org for more. From American Public Media. Twitter: @Marketplace