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Matt Levin

Senior Reporter

SHORT BIO

Matt covers AI for Marketplace, where he tries to be as polite as he can to every chatbot he meets … because, well, he’s seen sci-fi movies. Matt also covers some crypto and housing, with a taste for stories that make you say: "huh, that's kinda weird.”

Before joining Marketplace Matt was a data and housing reporter for CalMatters, focused on California politics and policy. Before that he was a statistics jockey for a think tank, focused on poverty and inequality. And long before that Matt was a really terrible teenage cashier for Toys R Us.

Matt’s previous honors include awards from the Online News Association and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and SPJ awards.

Latest Stories (301)

Banks in Turmoil

Who are bank examiners, and what do they do?

by Matt Levin
Mar 24, 2023
Examiners are the government employees who monitor a bank’s safety and soundness. What happened in the case of Silicon Valley Bank?
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
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Banks in Turmoil

How freaked out are consumers these days?

by Matt Levin
Mar 17, 2023
Consumer sentiment isn't as gloomy as the failure of Silicon Valley Bank might lead you to expect.
According to a University of Michigan survey, consumer sentiment fell this month. But people seem to be more worried about their grocery bills and dwindling savings than about tremors in the financial system.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Banks in Turmoil

What is "moral hazard," and why does Silicon Valley Bank have us talking about it again?

by Matt Levin
Mar 16, 2023
Insurance can create perverse incentives, making risk seem less risky. Is "moral hazard" to blame for SVB's meltdown?
The show "Seinfeld" provides more than just laughs. It also provides a great example of "moral hazard."
Screenshot via YouTube/Castle Rock
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Who still wants a "trophy building"?

by Matt Levin
Mar 10, 2023
The market for skyscrapers with great views and lush amenities is softening.
Office spaces with amenities like rooftop terraces and kombucha on tap may be on the chopping block for companies trying to rein in costs.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
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Consumers' "revenge reviews" have been rising since the pandemic

by Matt Levin
Mar 9, 2023
Many with serious gripes about goods or services post their complaints on social media, according to the National Customer Rage Survey.
Despite the risk of looking like a "Chad" or a "Karen" online, nearly a quarter of customers with a serious gripe about products or services post their complaints on social media now, according to the National Customer Rage Survey.
Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images
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Wizards, druids and open game licenses: The fight over the unique Dungeons & Dragons economy

by Matt Levin
Mar 3, 2023
When Hasbro wanted to change D&D's open game license to get a cut of third-party company profits, the game's fans went to battle.
Fantasy game enthusiast Mark Warren poses next to a life-size replica of a Dungeons & Dragons character.
Matt Levin/Marketplace
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SUVs are major sources of greenhouse gasses, but the world's drivers keep buying them

by Matt Levin
Mar 1, 2023
An International Energy Association report found that SUVs emitted almost 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, more than some countries. The cars now represent 46% of the global auto market.
While car sales overall dropped last year, sales of SUVs actually grew. They’re now 46% of the global auto market.
Mike Pellinni/Getty Images
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Low housing inventory is a boon for homebuilders, a strain for would-be buyers

by Matt Levin
Feb 27, 2023
Many home owners with low interest rates are reluctant to move. That's pushing more buyers into new houses.
"Over 80% of current homeowners now have a mortgage rate under 4%," said Rafe Jadrosich, of Bank of America. This makes the prospect of having to finance at today’s rate of 6.5% on a 30-year-fixed not so enticing.
staticnak1983/Getty Images
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A Supreme Court case involving Google raises questions about how tech manages content

by Matt Levin
Feb 21, 2023
The case centers on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields tech platforms from legal liability over third-party content.
People wait outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday to listen to oral arguments in Gonzalez v. Google, a case that could force YouTube to invest more in content moderation.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Why Tesla is opening its charging network to other EVs

by Matt Levin
Feb 15, 2023
Federal subsidies, part of the White House's electric vehicle push, aren't the only way Tesla stands to make money on the expansion.
The White House is providing subsidies to Tesla to charge other makers' vehicles, potentially generating multiple income streams for the carmaker.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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