NPR News: 07-18-2024 7PM EDT
Digest
This episode of Wild Card begins with a discussion about the Republican National Convention, where former President Donald Trump is expected to be the headliner. The episode then shifts to the trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow, where U.S. diplomats have been unable to attend due to the closed-door proceedings. The episode concludes with a look at the latest economic news, including a rise in unemployment claims, a decline in the stock market, and the European Central Bank's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. The episode also highlights the Biden administration's approval of over a billion dollars in student loan relief for public servants and the death of TV host Lou Dobbs at the age of 78.
Outlines
Republican National Convention
This Chapter discusses the Republican National Convention, where former President Donald Trump is expected to be the headliner. The chapter also mentions that Trump has altered his speech since the attempt on his life, including fewer attacks against President Biden and more calls for unity.
Trial of Wall Street Journal Reporter in Moscow
This Chapter discusses the trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow, where U.S. diplomats have been unable to attend due to the closed-door proceedings. The chapter also mentions that the U.S. accuses Russia of arresting Americans to use as political pawns.
Economic News
This Chapter discusses the latest economic news, including a rise in unemployment claims, a decline in the stock market, and the European Central Bank's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. The chapter also highlights the Biden administration's approval of over a billion dollars in student loan relief for public servants.
Death of TV Host Lou Dobbs
This Chapter discusses the death of TV host Lou Dobbs at the age of 78. Dobbs joined CNN at the start in 1980 and was CNN's chief economics correspondent and a business news host. He later moved to Fox Business Network where he was a champion of Donald Trump.
Keywords
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is a quadrennial event held by the United States Republican Party to formally nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates. The convention also adopts the party's platform and rules.
Evan Gershkovich
Evan Gershkovich is an American journalist who was arrested in Russia in March 2023 and accused of espionage. He is a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and has been covering Russia for several years.
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Lou Dobbs
Lou Dobbs was an American television personality, radio host, and author. He was best known for his work as a business news anchor on CNN and Fox Business Network. He was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and was known for his conservative views.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Student loan forgiveness is a program that allows borrowers to have their student loan debt forgiven under certain circumstances. The program is designed to help borrowers who are struggling to repay their loans, such as those who work in public service or have a disability.
Unemployment Claims
Unemployment claims are a measure of the number of people who have filed for unemployment benefits. The number of unemployment claims is a key indicator of the health of the economy.
Interest Rates
Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money. They are set by central banks and can have a significant impact on the economy. When interest rates are low, it is cheaper to borrow money, which can stimulate economic growth. When interest rates are high, it is more expensive to borrow money, which can slow economic growth.
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the eurozone, the group of European countries that use the euro as their currency. The ECB is responsible for setting interest rates and managing the eurozone's money supply.
Stock Market
The stock market is a place where stocks, or shares of ownership in companies, are bought and sold. The stock market is a key indicator of the health of the economy. When the stock market is doing well, it is a sign that investors are confident in the economy. When the stock market is doing poorly, it is a sign that investors are worried about the economy.
Q&A
What is the Republican National Convention and what is expected to happen there?
The Republican National Convention is a quadrennial event held by the United States Republican Party to formally nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates. This year, former President Donald Trump is expected to be the headliner.
What is the latest news on the trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow?
U.S. diplomats have been unable to attend the trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow, which is being held behind closed doors. The U.S. accuses Russia of arresting Americans to use as political pawns.
What is the latest economic news?
The number of Americans filing initial weekly claims for unemployment benefits ticked up again. The stock market continues to lose ground, with the Dow dropping 533 points today. The European Central Bank left interest rate targets unchanged in its meeting today.
What is the Biden administration doing about student loan debt?
The Biden administration approved more than a billion dollars in student loan relief today for firefighters, social workers, teachers and other public servants. This brings the total number of borrowers whose loans were discharged under public service loan forgiveness to nearly 1 million.
Who is Lou Dobbs and what was his career like?
Lou Dobbs was an American television personality, radio host, and author. He was best known for his work as a business news anchor on CNN and Fox Business Network. He was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and was known for his conservative views.
Show Notes
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