The U.S. Faces Another Pandemic Shortage, This Time For Lab Equipment
Science labs across the country are running low on crucial equipment. Our Planet Money team investigated what is behind the supply shortage.
Business
Signs Of Economic Boom Emerge As Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low
Retail sales jumped nearly 10% in March, as shoppers, flush with $1,400 relief payments, are feeling more confident about venturing out. Weekly unemployment claims dropped to a pandemic low.
What Is Infrastructure? It's A Gender Issue, For Starters
Many traditional infrastructure jobs have gone to men in the past. Progressives like Rep. Katie Porter fear that the way Biden is splitting his economic agenda could hurt American women.
Kimberly Godwin Makes History As First Black Leader Of A Major Broadcast Newsroom
ABC News named Kimberly Godwin as president. She will be the first Black American leader of a major broadcast news division. Her hiring comes at a time of significant turnover in TV news post-Trump.
The Economy May Be On The Mend As Retail Sales Soar And Unemployment Claims Fall
Retail sales soared in March, as vaccinations and $1,400 relief payments boosted shoppers' outlook. New state unemployment claims also fell to their lowest level since the pandemic took hold.
Biden Says His Climate Plan Means Jobs. Some Union Members Are Skeptical
President Biden has repeatedly promised the shift to clean energy will create "good-paying union jobs." But the wind and solar industries generally pay less, are not unionized, and need fewer people.
Infrastructure Plan May Not Help Lift Economic Burden On Women
A political debate has become a debate over word choice: the question of what "infrastructure" even means. The answer could mean a lot for women in the economy.
Falun Gong, Steve Bannon And The Trump-Era Battle Over Internet Freedom
The Trump administration and a Democratic activist fought to win millions in federal funds for anti-censorship software tied to Falun Gong. That saga is now at the center of a criminal investigation.
Journalist Investigates 'Crime Story' Of The Sackler Family And The Opioid Crisis
Empire of Pain author Patrick Radden Keefe says the Sackler family has "thrown a lot of energy" into trying to thwart his reporting about the family's involvement in the opioid crisis.
Bernie Madoff, Whose Ponzi Scheme Bilked Thousands, Dies In Prison
Bernie Madoff, who carried out one of the most notorious Ponzi schemes in history, has died while serving his prison sentence in North Carolina. He bilked thousands of investors out of their savings.