Nov 13, 2023

Once again, a shutdown looms

Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images

We'll talk about what'll happen if Congress doesn't reach a deal by midnight Friday. Plus, worker protection during the clean energy transition.

Segments From this episode

How are health insurance costs reflected in inflation calculations?

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Nov 13, 2023

To make the CPI’s health care component more accurate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics changed how it uses health insurance data.

Rather than tracking health insurance premiums, the BLS tracks how much health insurance companies retain of the premiums they receive after paying for services.

Denisfilm/Getty Images

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What a government shutdown could look like: "Things start breaking"

by Mitchell Hartman

Nov 13, 2023

With Congress approaching another funding deadline, we consider some of the practical effects if lawmakers don't avoid a government shutdown.

TSA agents are among the federal government employees who will stop getting paid as soon as a government shutdown starts.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

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Pandemic stimulus spending boosted the economy. What happens now that it's over?

by Justin Ho

Nov 13, 2023

The government's fiscal policy is fairly neutral now for a reason: More stimulus spending could hurt the Fed's fight against inflation.

You can think of the Federal Reserve's current fiscal policy as pretty neutral, says Michael Pugliese, senior economist with Wells Fargo.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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UAW win highlights concerns over risks for workers in clean energy transition

by Amy Scott and Richard Cunningham

Nov 13, 2023

The UAW fought for protection if factories shut down. But workers in other carbon-intensive industries could find themselves displaced.

With an eye toward the eventual electrification of vehicle production, the United Auto Workers worked with GM to bring battery manufacturing under its contract.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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For recent grad, living alone "really worked out"

by Sean McHenry

Tyre White, a recent grad from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and a multimedia producer and reporter in East Texas, describes his experience living on his own.

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Music from the episode

Heartbeats The Knife

Still Think Chrome Sparks

Wide Eyes Local Natives

Brukstep Mark de Clive-Lowe

Worst Comes to Worst Dilated Peoples

Edge of Town Middle Kids

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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