Marketplace All-in-One

That's been the case for Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly, a Portland foodie power couple with multiple James Beard Award nominations under their belt. Today, we chat with the Pisha-Duffys about their holiday meal planning, which focuses less on extravagance and more on family and serves as a departure from the stressors of the restaurant industry. But first, as you unwrap your Christmas presents, we check in on the supply chains that brought them to you.

From the BBC World Service: Have you ever wondered where your festive Christmas lights, ornaments, and toys all come from? Well, there's a good chance they originate in the Chinese city of Yiwu. It's home to a major the world's largest wholesale market and produces more than half of the world's Christmas decor. This Christmas morning, we'll take a trip to the city and hear how it's being affected by the latest U.S. tariffs

Will Gottsegen, a staff writer at The Atlantic, tests out Meta’s AI smart glasses and gives us a recap of how AI continues to get embedded in consumer tech.

The labor market has been tightening all year, and Americans have grown increasingly anxious about their ability to find new jobs. A bit of good news? New unemployment claims fell last week. But that isn’t likely to signal a full job market turnaround in the new year. Plus: AI investment hasn’t slowed under Trump’s tariffs, a TikTok creator shares “recession recipes,” and we learn about the history of Legos.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

2025 has been the year of getting dragged back to the office for plenty of workers — some part-time, but many full-time in the case of big finance and tech corporations. Thing is, in-person work appeals to many younger workers. Today, we'll hear the perspective of one. Then, the State Department says it will deny visas to five European citizens, including a former top EU official, and domestic production is still adjusting to tariffs.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Homeland Security funding to 12 states and the District of Columbia. The administration had held back hundreds of millions of dollars from what it called "sanctuary jurisdictions." The cuts affected programs intended to support local police and emergency response in urban areas. Plus, food banks are bracing for strain ahead of changes to SNAP. We hear how services will be impacted on the ground in Kentucky.

From the BBC World Service: Plans to mass-produce and sell self-driving vehicles in China have been delayed after news spread of a crash involving one earlier this year. Chinese regulators gave narrow approval to just two out of nine companies to operate autonomous taxis on highways. We learn more. Then, we hear why 2025 was a mixed picture for commodities. And later, Martha Stewart joins her friend Snoop Dogg as she invests in the U.K. soccer team, Swansea.

Polystyrene is the chemical compound that makes up styrofoam, which is used for packaging and insulation. But it’s not the most environmentally friendly.By one estimate, 40 million tons of polystyrene were produced globally in 2024, leaving millions of tons of plastic waste. The search for an earth-friendly alternative has led researchers to dig deep and come up with an unlikely solution: fungus. The BBC’s Anna Holligan has this story.

From July through September, U.S. gross domestic product rose 4.3%, the highest in two years. At a time when many consumers are feeling economic pressure, higher earners and certain businesses are doing very well — and spending to match it. In this episode, can the impressive rate of growth continue? Plus: Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance alternatives fall short, winter surfing boosts Great Lakes tourism revenue, and holiday spending is up, according to credit card companies. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

On today’s show, we’re digging into the mailbag to hear our listeners’ thoughts on the economy in 2025. Spoiler: tariffs came up a lot. And, we’ll hear from some of the reporters who helped us make sense of the news this year about what they’ll be keeping an eye on in 2026. Plus, we’ll celebrate a win!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Trump shook up global trade this year; some uncertainty may persist in 2026" from Reuters"Trump tests his 'affordability' message in a midterm battleground district" from NBC News "This K-shaped economy is reliant on high-income spenders" from Marketplace"Jerome Powell’s era of consensus at the Fed is over" from CNN Business"Missouri House advances proposal that could curtail ballot initiatives passing" from STLPR We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

A little over a week ago, Disney became the first major media company to strike a content licensing deal with Sora, OpenAI's short-form video platform. This means that people on Sora can start making videos with Disney characters. Today, we'll chat about what it means for consumers, the companies, and artists in the entertainment industry. But first: GDP growth jumped in the third quarter, and it was not just consumers buying stuff.

GLP-1 weight-loss drug injections have slimmed many waistlines and wallets. U.S. regulators have now approved a much less expensive alternative; Novo Nordisk has gotten the green light for an oral version of Wegovy. Pills are cheaper to manufacture than injectables, and that could be a game-changer. Then, consumers still feel pessimistic heading into the new year, and more Americans are staying unemployed for longer.

From the BBC World Service: Tech giant Amazon says it's blocked more than 1,800 North Koreans from trying to join the company in the past two years. Amazon's chief security officer said North Koreans often try to get hired, then send wages back to fund their government's weapons programs. Plus, "oshikatsu" is a Japanese term referring to fervent fan subcultures surrounding things like sports teams, pop stars, or anime — and it's helped pull Japanese retail sales out of a slump.

In January, we saw a who's who of tech leaders front and center at President Donald Trump's inauguration.Since, the White House has advocated for the build out of AI infrastructure and put a moratorium on state-level AI regulation. But the Trump administration also added a $100,000 fee to petitions for H-1B visas, which are widely used in the tech sector. To review the year in tech and Trump we called up Suyash Pasi, a research analyst and editor at the nonprofit Human Rights Research Center, who’s been following this shift.

Gold surpassed $4,400-per-ounce for the first time Monday. Prices are up 60% in 2025. In the same year, the value of the U.S. dollar slipped 9%. What gives? In both cases, economic and geopolitical uncertainty play a role. Also in this episode: Ranchers can't simply produce more beef to tamp down rising prices, corporations are on the hunt for “storytellers,” and successful product recalls involve many moving parts.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Hey Smarties! We’re dropping into your feeds today to share this special coverage from Marketplace.For many people gathering around the table this holiday season, things feel a little different. Maybe it’s the cost of ingredients that’s on your mind, or cuts to USDA funding that have left your food bank running low. Or maybe it’s the simple reality of a packed schedule — there’s a lot to cook, and so little time. In this special from Marketplace, we bring listeners a collection of stories on the business and economics of food. Our reporters take us across the country to farms, home kitchens, and restaurants. We visit a refugee farmer in Houston, a chocolate-making lab in California, and stop for a bite at an award-winning restaurant in Portland. 

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to give consumers greater control over their financial data is now in limbo under the second Trump administration. The rule has to do with how apps like Venmo and Zelle get access to your money in the bank so that you can send it on those payment platforms. Today, we'll share what a reconsideration of the rule could mean for you. But first: why gold is hitting new records.

The holiday travel period is upon us. AAA expects 122 million people will drive or fly somewhere to celebrate. Now, we have some good news and some bad news: For drivers, lower gas prices mean a cheaper holiday season. But other travel-related expenses, like car rentals, hotel stays, and flights, are pricier. Then, Jim Beam is pausing production at a Kentucky facility, and more consumers are utilizing AI to help with holiday shopping.

From the BBC World Service: One of the most famous names in American whiskey, Jim Beam, says it will halt production at its main facility in Kentucky for all of next year. Like many distillers in the U.S., it's facing pressure from retaliatory tariffs and weaker consumer demand. We'll learn more. Then, the price of gold has once again hit a record high. 2025 has been a remarkable year for precious metals. Will the momentum continue?

Could AI chat bots replace human doctors? Probably not, but that won’t stop people from trying.Just as they did during the emergence of Google, doctors across the country are grappling with the changing healthcare landscape thanks to artificial intelligence. Today on the show, Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun, a pulmonary and intensive care doctor in San Diego, California, talks about his approach to the intersection of patient care and AI.