Marketplace All-in-One

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Homeland Security funding to 12 states and the District of Columbia. The administration had held back hundreds of millions of dollars from what it called "sanctuary jurisdictions." The cuts affected programs intended to support local police and emergency response in urban areas. Plus, food banks are bracing for strain ahead of changes to SNAP. We hear how services will be impacted on the ground in Kentucky.

From the BBC World Service: Plans to mass-produce and sell self-driving vehicles in China have been delayed after news spread of a crash involving one earlier this year. Chinese regulators gave narrow approval to just two out of nine companies to operate autonomous taxis on highways. We learn more. Then, we hear why 2025 was a mixed picture for commodities. And later, Martha Stewart joins her friend Snoop Dogg as she invests in the U.K. soccer team, Swansea.

Polystyrene is the chemical compound that makes up styrofoam, which is used for packaging and insulation. But it’s not the most environmentally friendly.By one estimate, 40 million tons of polystyrene were produced globally in 2024, leaving millions of tons of plastic waste. The search for an earth-friendly alternative has led researchers to dig deep and come up with an unlikely solution: fungus. The BBC’s Anna Holligan has this story.

From July through September, U.S. gross domestic product rose 4.3%, the highest in two years. At a time when many consumers are feeling economic pressure, higher earners and certain businesses are doing very well — and spending to match it. In this episode, can the impressive rate of growth continue? Plus: Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance alternatives fall short, winter surfing boosts Great Lakes tourism revenue, and holiday spending is up, according to credit card companies. 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 today’s show, we’re digging into the mailbag to hear our listeners’ thoughts on the economy in 2025. Spoiler: tariffs came up a lot. And, we’ll hear from some of the reporters who helped us make sense of the news this year about what they’ll be keeping an eye on in 2026. Plus, we’ll celebrate a win!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Trump shook up global trade this year; some uncertainty may persist in 2026" from Reuters"Trump tests his 'affordability' message in a midterm battleground district" from NBC News "This K-shaped economy is reliant on high-income spenders" from Marketplace"Jerome Powell’s era of consensus at the Fed is over" from CNN Business"Missouri House advances proposal that could curtail ballot initiatives passing" from STLPR We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].