Marketplace American Public Media

The federal government shutdown ended a year ago, but it’s still hurting temporary workers, like security guards, who will never get that month of wages back. The Trump administration is using a lot more contractors than previous White Houses, and today we talk with some people still paying off credit cards and other debt they took on. Plus: The head of the New York subway system steps down, the “American Dirt” controversy and how China is responding to the coronavirus.

And not just in the U.S. All around the world, central banks have kept interest rates low or even negative, but inflation isn’t going up as expected. What’s going on? We kick off today’s show trying to answer that question. Plus: P&G’s earnings, bricklaying robots and the effects of the government shutdown, a year later.

With a record 532 scripted series on air and an expensive streaming war on, this is a challenging time to take over a cable channel. We’ll talk about the business with AMC President Sarah Barnett. After that, we look at how Netflix measures its shows’ success and what counts as a “view.” Plus, the latest on auto tariffs, Boeing and Venezuelan refugees in Chile.

President Trump told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos today that the U.S. was in a “blue-collar boom.” We’re going to take some time to assess that claim and the state of blue-collar work in general. Plus: AI goes to the movies, a new spate of retail closures and why China is leading the world in solar, wind and … coal.

Microsoft has recently announced plans to spend $1 billion on technologies that will help eliminate carbon from the atmosphere. It’s part of the company’s greater plan to becoming carbon negative in the next 10 years. Molly spoke to Lucas Joppa, Microsoft’s chief environmental officer, about this approach. Plus: Thousands of business leaders and lawmakers converse on Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. We also look at the IMF’s 2020 economic forecast, Ireland’s housing crisis and negative perceptions of female CEOs.

While we’ve been hearing a lot about how the trade war has negatively impacted U.S. farmers, the executive vice president of the largest garlic producer in the country wants people to know it’s helped others. “We’re apolitical as a company,” said Ken Christopher of Christopher Ranch. “What we are is pro-American garlic farmers.” Plus: negotiations over a digital tax is causing a rift between the U.S. and E.U., when companies should split in two, and we find out just how the trade deal with China was approved.