Mid-day Update

Coming off Easter weekend, let's look at some key economic data we may have missed. On Friday, data on core inflation in the U.S. came in much weaker than expected. Why is that important? It means that the Fed may not have to be aggressive with interest rates. Next, we'll explore how demographic surveys on the homeless population can lead to more funding for certain groups, and how a cocoa surplus in Ivory Coast is negatively affecting farmers.

The FCC has just wrapped up an auction over airspace, with T-Mobile, Dish Network and Comcast among the winners. Total amount spent for that airspace, or spectrum? Almost $20 billion. We'll take a look at why this airspace was so coveted and what'll happen to the the TV stations that are losing access to it. Afterwards, Marketplace's David Brancaccio wraps up his road trip across the Midwest in search of robot-proof jobs. The latest technology he's exploring on our show today: driverless cars, which may be the catalyst for propelling automation deeper into the American workplace.

The U.S. markets are reacting to Trump's decision to back away from several economic stances he took on the campaign trail. One reversal? A (positive) change of heart when it comes to Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Diane Swonk, CEO of DS Economics, joins us to discuss possible reasons for the shift. Next, we'll look at David Brancaccio's journey to find his own C-3PO as part of our "Robot-Proof Jobs" series. The digital sidekick he's auditioning this time: Benjamin, software that creates original stories of its own.

First-quarter earnings reports are trickling in, with some big names gearing up to share their results. Susan Schmidt from Westwood Holdings Groups joins us to share some of the companies to watch out for. Afterwards, we'll look at President Donald Trump's plan to slash federal jobs following his hiring freeze. And finally, Marketplace's David Brancaccio will audition another robot sidekick as part of our new "Robot-Proof Jobs" series. Today's contestant: ElliQ, an electronic companion for older people.

U.S. markets opened down Tuesday morning, reflecting global fears over several ongoing geopolitical threats. Economist Lindsey Piegza joins us to discuss some of the uncertainties the market faces, and where it may be headed if it continues focusing on international events. Afterwards, we'll look at how Toshiba is managing financial turmoil within the company. And finally, as part of our "Robot-Proof Jobs" series, we'll speak to Kuri, the latest robot that Marketplace's David Brancaccio is interviewing to be his sidekick.

As the first-quarter earnings season kicks off, MacroPolicy Perspectives founder Julia Coronado joins us to discuss the growing tension between consumer sentiment indicators and economic data on investing and hiring. Afterwards, we'll hear from Marketplace's David Brancaccio about his road trip as part of our new "Robot-Proof Jobs" series. On today's show, he's auditioning a potential sidekick: Pepper the robot, a humanoid that can read emotions and won't get tired of your questions. Afterwards, we'll look at "Sesame Street's" decision to introduce the character of Julia, a 4-year-old muppet on the autism spectrum.

We discuss just-released jobs report numbers with Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial. And Marketplace's Kimberly Adams provides some context for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's Mar-a-Lago meetings, which have been overshadowed by U.S. airstrikes in Syria.

First up are the impending March jobs numbers, which will likely reinforce the strength of the underlying labor market, but could also reflect this winter's weather, the federal hiring freeze and a slowdown in foreign travel. Then, it's on to the President's upcoming meetings with China, where trade and North Korea are expected to be the focus.

Ahead of the Friday jobs report, the payroll processing company ADP is reporting that the U.S. added 263,000 private jobs to the economy in March, beating expectations. Susan Schmidt of Westwood Holdings Group explains what this says about the economy, and how this report differs from the one the government releases each month. Afterwards, we'll look at Italy's decision to place the Vatican bank on its list of states with transparent, cooperative financial systems. And finally, we'll discuss CBS' decision to create its own TV streaming service instead of striking a deal with Hulu like the other major networks. Was that a wise move?

Boeing had struck a deal to sell dozens of planes to an Iranian airline, a move that got initial approval from the Obama administration. But now it needs final approval from the Trump administration. We'll look at the complicated dilemma the president's team faces. Afterwards, we'll chat with JPMorgan's chief global strategist, David Kelley, about the gap between people's attitudes and what people are actually spending. And finally, as part of our "Robot-Proof Jobs" series, we'll hear from a former real estate appraiser about how technology has affected her profession and where she is now.