Latest from Meredith Garretson Morbey

• Feb 6, 2019

  ‘Miracle’ on First St.

  We’re parsing out some of those jobs numbers President Trump dropped during Tuesday’s State of the Union address. What’s the real threat to the president’s touted “economic miracle.” Plus, a new study finds one quarter of Americans in poverty eligible for federal benefits don’t get them. And the president of the European Council says there’s a “special place in hell” for promoters of Brexit who didn’t really think this whole thing through. Today’s show is sponsored by Avery Publishing, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 6, 2019

  The State of the Union and a border state

  The border dominated President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday, in which he said immigration by undocumented people hurts the “working class” in the U.S. We dig into his claim and hear about those whose livelihoods depend on crossing the border daily. Plus, what does the future hold following the U.S. withdrawal from a 30-year-old nuclear arms treaty? Plus, a day after it announced 4,000 layoffs, General Motors said it’s hiring 1,000 workers for a plant in Michigan, and it’s all thanks to America’s re-found love for trucks. Today’s show is sponsored by Avery Publishing, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 6, 2019

  UK consumer watchdog cracks down on hotel-booking sites for misleading consumers

  From the BBC World Service… Entry of international aid coordinated by Venezuela’s opposition has been blocked by the country’s military, which supports President Nicolás Maduro. Then, booking a hotel online is no longer as simple as finding one in your price range and plunking down a credit card. Hidden fees, pressure to book due to demand and dishonest advertising have all led to a crackdown by the U.K. consumer protection regulator. Plus, across the world, Alzheimer’s costs an estimated $1 trillion each year, but as the portion of the elderly population grows, so will the costs. We’ll explore ways countries around the globe are dealing with the change. Today’s show is sponsored by Avery Publishing, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 5, 2019

  Every week is infrastructure week

  President Trump will address the country Tuesday evening, and infrastructure, like last year, is sure to be on top of his list of topics. Will all the rhetoric finally turn into bipartisan action in 2019? The threat of hyperinflation grips Zimbabwe as teachers go on strike. We take a look at the new economic mechanism some European countries are using to bypass U.S. sanctions against Iran. Plus, the Fed chair goes to dinner with the president. Today’s show is sponsored by Pitney Bowes, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 5, 2019

  ‘Lucky money’ 2.0

  President Donald Trump floats a World Bank critic as its new head. The workplace messaging system Slack announced plans to go public, but how exactly does the company make money? Chinese New Year celebrations begin Tuesday, and they involve a lot of little red envelopes of “lucky money.” We take a look at the custom’s significance, how it sometimes means a bit more than “good luck,” and how it’s gone digital. Plus, it might be time to check your Flickr account. Today’s show is sponsored by Pitney Bowes, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 5, 2019

  Finland’s free money experiment

  Bread prices have reportedly jumped 70 percent overnight in Zimbabwe. We bring you the latest from a country still struggling after years of hyperinflation. Then, underlying profits at BP have doubled. Almost nine years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, is the only way up for BP? Plus, imagine a world where someone hands you $650 a month, in cash, with no strings attached. That’s exactly what’s happened in Finland over the past two years as the country tries to find new ways to update an old safety net. But has the experiment worked? We explore the pros and cons of Finland’s universal basic income. Today’s show is sponsored by Pitney Bowes, the United States Postal Service and Indeed.

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• Feb 4, 2019

  Cup of Joe versus the volcano

  Are the markets and the Federal Reserve finally on the same page over this ever-impending recession? Australian banks are in crisis mode after an official inquiry into misconduct found systemic failings, which included levying fees on dead customers. Plus, the Hawaiian coffee industry is seeing itself imperiled by the most Hawaiian environmental threat imaginable — volcanic activity. Today’s show is sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, the United States Postal Service and WellFrame.

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• Feb 4, 2019

  The call for change to the FDA’s opioid approvals is coming from inside the building

  As the political chaos continues in Venezuela, the question remains as to who will get to take control of the country’s valuable oil resources and all the dollars they generate. The FDA’s opioid advisory committee says the agency is putting the interests of drugmakers over public health, following the approval of another powerful painkiller. David Brancaccio spoke to the head of the committee. Today’s show is sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, the United States Postal Service and WellFrame.

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• Feb 4, 2019

  Venezuelan crisis deepens as European nations back opposition leader

  From the BBC World Service… Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ignored a deadline from the European Union to call fresh elections. Now, European heavyweights, including the U.K., France and Spain, have said they recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president. Then, an 11-month inquiry into Australian banks has resulted in recommendations after finding the institutions put profit before consumers. Then, Facebook blows out 15 candles today. But in adolescence, the social giant is facing a host of issues, from election meddling to data security and the possibility of increased regulation. Today’s show is sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, the United States Postal Service and WellFrame.

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• Feb 1, 2019

  The colas went down to Georgia

  The January jobs numbers are out, and they show a strong but tightening job market. Big oil earnings beat forecasts, encouraging investors. And as thousands descend on Atlanta for Sunday’s Big Game, a war is waging between Super Bowl sponsor Pepsi and hometown mainstay Coca-Cola. How much do those tickets go for, anyway? Today’s show is sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

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