Episodes

  • Markets mull an end to war in Iran

    Markets mull an end to war in Iran
    May 6 2026
    The U.S. and Iran are reportedly back to working on an end to the war, and sources say a deal is close. Axios reports that the deal would involve a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and an end to sanctions. This morning, we dig into how seriously markets are taking these peace talks. Then, we continue our discussion of Iran's beleaguered economy — and who exactly they blame for it.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    9 mins
  • Insurers ease up on prior authorization

    Insurers ease up on prior authorization
    May 6 2026
    United Healthcare, the nation’s biggest insurer, announced that it’s cutting back on its requirements for prior authorization by 30%. Prior authorization is when your doctor orders a medical procedure, test, or drug, but you can't get it before the insurance company's approval. For insurers, it's a way to cut costs. For doctors and patients, it's a source of massive frustration. Plus, we check in on the state of Iran's wartime economy.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    9 mins
  • How ICE skirts public input on detention centers

    How ICE skirts public input on detention centers
    May 5 2026
    Immigrant detention facilities are being bought and retrofitted seemingly overnight without public input across the U.S., and there's little to no notice given to local governments. How can this happen? It's all traced back to a war-focused contracting method Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been using to its advantage. But first, the New York Times reports that the president is considering setting up a safety-vetting process for AI models.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    10 mins
  • The rise of the side hustle

    The rise of the side hustle
    May 5 2026
    Roughly one in every 20 U.S. workers is holding down multiple jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's fallen a fraction of a percent since last fall, when we saw the highest rate since 1999 — around the moment just before the dot-com bubble burst, when there were fears about what increasing automation meant for job-holders. Sound familiar? Then, we'll unpack a recent water-saving plan to address the ongoing water crisis in the Colorado River Basin.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    10 mins
  • Will students be shut out of pricier grad programs?

    Will students be shut out of pricier grad programs?
    May 4 2026
    Starting July 1, a cap on federal student loan borrowing limits kicks in. Graduate students will soon only be able to take out $20,500 a year, and up to $100,000 in total; the cap is higher for some professional programs, like medicine or law. But all this could mean new barriers to advanced degrees for students with little or no credit. Plus, we look at the ever-shrinking consumer cushion. And, what happened to talks of a proposed Spirit bailout?

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    10 mins
  • Fewer Americans are earning a living wage

    Fewer Americans are earning a living wage
    May 4 2026
    A new report from Dayforce and the Living Wage Institute found that just over half of full-time workers earn enough to provide for themselves and their families. Wages have been rising, just not as quickly as costs. Familiar racial and gender gaps persisted, too — and got wider in 2025. But first, GameStop is trying to buy eBay for $56 billion, though it's unclear where all that money would come from. Then, is the robotaxi revolution ever coming?

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    9 mins
  • How student loan caps shaped one family's college decision

    How student loan caps shaped one family's college decision
    May 1 2026
    When college-bound high school seniors commit to a school, it's always a complicated calculus, especially for families who need financial aid. But for students starting this fall, there’s a new wrinkle: new caps on how much parents can borrow from the federal government to help their kids pay for college. Today, one high school senior and his mom talk college finances. Plus, we'll recap an especially busy week for the economy.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    9 mins
  • The U.S. economy with fewer immigrants

    The U.S. economy with fewer immigrants
    May 1 2026
    Last year, more people left the U.S. than moved in — it’s the first time that’s happened in at least half a century. And 2026 is expected to see even more outmigration. Immigrants pay taxes and are a major part of the labor force in construction, agriculture, and healthcare. All of that can have lasting effects on the economy. But first up, we explore federal government retirement matching and dig into underemployment.

    📊 Before the opening bell. After your click.
    ⚡ [Keep the markets coverage alive] ⚡
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    8 mins