
Skilled labor scarcity
2026/1/16 | 25 mins.
An AI-driven construction boom is coming, some hope. But to build all that infrastructure, the U.S. is going to need a lot more construction workers, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and other skilled workers. And President Trump’s immigration policies actively work against that goal. Also in this episode: Trump withdraws the U.S. from a key global climate change agreement, Americans shell out for at-home coffee setups, and Kai discusses the week’s economic headlines with Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal and Amara Omeokwe at Bloomberg.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 the ground in Minnesota
2026/1/16 | 22 mins.
On today’s show, Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR News, joins Kimberly to share how her community has been affected by a recent surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, including the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good. We’ll also discuss the impact on small businesses in the Twin Cities and the political fallout from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision to end his reelection campaign.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Minnesota business owners feeling the effects of ICE enforcement actions" from MPR News"As immigration raids roil Minnesota, corporate leaders stay silent" from Marketplace "Tim Walz drops out of Minnesota governor’s race, Klobuchar considers jumping in" from Politico"With limited political power, Minnesota Democrats navigate resistance to Trump" from MPR News"Walz's exit from Minnesota governor's race will pose challenges for both parties" from MPR News"What to Nosh in the North Star State: Minnesota's Most-Iconic Dishes" from Food Network "Photos: The Minneapolis music scene, from the 1980s to now" from MPR NewsWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Paying more at national parks
2026/1/16 | 7 mins.
International visitors to 11 U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and Sequoia, now have to pay more to get in — as in, up to a $100 a head more. The fees will help national parks address maintenance backlogs running to more than $22 billion, but some worry that it'll dent visitor numbers and hurt “gateway communities” near the parks. Also: plans to cap credit card rates and energy prices.

Corporate leaders in Minnesota stay silent amid ICE raids. Why?
2026/1/16 | 6 mins.
Minnesota is home to more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including 3M, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills. But in a wave of wake immigration arrests and ICE's killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, executives from many of the state's leading corporations have been noticeably quiet. This morning, we'll examine why exactly that is. But first, enrollment at community colleges was up for the fourth fall in a row.

Can Canada and China repair their relationship?
2026/1/16 | 8 mins.
From the BBC World Service: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have announced a "new strategic partnership" at a meeting in Beijing. The deal encompasses clean energy and lower tariffs. Then, the United States and Taiwan have reached a trade agreement that reduces import taxes on goods from the island, while increasing Taiwan's technology investment in the U.S. And later, we look at the growth in the low- and no-alcohol drinks industry.



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