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Analysis

Friday August 28, 2015

On Wall Street: Not Much Fun, But It Sure Was Interesting

There was good news along with the bad at the New York Stock Exchange this week. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

The Two-Way

On Wall Street: Not Much Fun, But It Sure Was Interesting

August 28, 2015 • Markets have been seeing some of the biggest stock-price swings in years. And economists say the extreme volatility is starting to weigh down consumer confidence.

Tuesday August 25, 2015

For Most Of Us, The 'Real' Economy Matters More Than Markets

Specialist Michael O'Mara on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Stocks closed down 200 points after starting the day with a rally. But there's more going on in the economy than the drama on Wall Street. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

The Two-Way

For Most Of Us, The 'Real' Economy Matters More Than Markets

August 25, 2015 • Stock prices may be having a meltdown, but consumers and homebuyers are still pushing the economy forward. In fact, a new round of data suggests the economy is gaining strength even as markets fall.

Monday August 24, 2015

A Nasty Place On Wall Street: What Kind Of A Dive Is This?

Trader William McInerney keeps an eye on developments at the New York Stock Exchange, Monday. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

The Two-Way

A Nasty Place On Wall Street: What Kind Of A Dive Is This?

August 24, 2015 • Stock prices plunged Monday, prompting Wall Street analysts to talk about a "correction" in stock prices. But many savers worry that this might be the start of a long "bear" market.

Saturday August 22, 2015

Reporting Post-Ferguson: A Journey To 'Very Dark Places'

Trymaine Lee reports in Ferguson in August 2014. Courtesy of Trymaine Lee hide caption

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Courtesy of Trymaine Lee

Code Switch

Reporting Post-Ferguson: A Journey To 'Very Dark Places'

August 22, 2015 • MSNBC's Trymaine Lee was one of several African-American journalists who shared their stories of reporting on racially-charged violence with Code Switch's Gene Demby.

Friday August 21, 2015

A Brutal Week For Investors; Will There Be More Zigs Than Zags?

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 531 points, or more than 3 percent. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Two-Way

A Brutal Week For Investors; Will There Be More Zigs Than Zags?

August 21, 2015 • Stock investors have to decide if the August downturn is just part of a normal zigzag pattern in any bull market, or the start of a bear market that could last for years.

Thursday August 20, 2015

In That TV Ad, What Exactly Are Those Parents Worried About?

YouTube

Business

In That TV Ad, What Exactly Are Those Parents Worried About?

August 20, 2015 • The TV ads say rules involving retirement advice must be "fixed," but they may leave you scratching your head. Brokers and insurance agents are behind the ads, which aim to block tougher new rules.

Monday August 17, 2015

Fact Check: Is It Obama's Fault That Poverty Has Grown?

President Obama promotes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package, in February 2009. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Fact Check: Is It Obama's Fault That Poverty Has Grown?

August 17, 2015 • Jeb Bush is (mostly) right when he says the number of people in poverty increased by 6 million under Obama. But that statistic is more complicated than you might think.

Tuesday August 11, 2015

China Cut Its Currency — And Touched Your Life. Here's How

You may not pay in Chinese yuan notes, but a drop in their value affects your spending power. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

China Cut Its Currency — And Touched Your Life. Here's How

August 11, 2015 • China lowered the value of the yuan, and that sent all sorts of prices lower. So you may soon be paying less for gas, food and lumber. But there are downsides too: U.S. stocks fell hard.

Obama's Iran Deal Argument In 1 Video Clip

NPR's Steve Inskeep interviews President Obama at the White House on Thursday. Nick Michael/NPR hide caption

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Nick Michael/NPR

It's All Politics

Obama's Iran Deal Argument In 1 Video Clip

August 11, 2015 • For the president, it seems, there is no logic in a moderate course on the Iran deal. In an interview with NPR, he is laughing at his critics' arguments and treating his opponents with scorn.

Sunday August 9, 2015

Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery In Rare Meeting With Media

Prince onstage during the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in February. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery In Rare Meeting With Media

August 9, 2015 • Music icon Prince is worried about the future of the music business for artists, and his top priority can be summed up in one word: freedom.

Friday August 7, 2015

You're The Judge: Can The Job Market Stand Interest Rate Hikes?

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, D.C. The Fed's next meeting is set for Sept. 16-17. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

The Two-Way

You're The Judge: Can The Job Market Stand Interest Rate Hikes?

August 7, 2015 • On Friday, the Labor Department said the July unemployment rate held steady at 5.3 percent. If you had to choose, would you take that to mean the economy is too cool or too hot? Weigh the evidence.

Thursday August 6, 2015

Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

President Obama talks with The Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Television

Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

August 6, 2015 • Jon Stewart hosts his last episode of The Daily Show tonight, after 16 years as TV's satirist supreme. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says Stewart's barbs changed how people talk about politics and media.

Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' Legacy: Changing How Americans See Satire

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Monday August 3, 2015

Oil Prices Tumble Again, Hurting Drillers But Helping Drivers

Falling oil prices have put downward pressure on gasoline prices, now averaging $2.65 a gallon — about 85 cents cheaper than a year ago. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption

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Gene J. Puskar/AP

The Two-Way

Oil Prices Tumble Again, Hurting Drillers But Helping Drivers

August 3, 2015 • Oil prices are falling, down sharply since mid-June to just over $45 a barrel. That has affected gasoline prices, now down to an average of $2.65 a gallon, about 85 cents less than a year ago.

Oil Prices Tumble Again, Hurting Drillers But Helping Drivers

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Tuesday July 28, 2015

Drawing A Line From The Chinese Stock Market To Your Wallet

A Chinese worker is seen at a construction site in Beijing. Economic changes in China and in other places have reduced demand and prices for commodities like the metal in the building's structure. AP hide caption

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The Two-Way

Drawing A Line From The Chinese Stock Market To Your Wallet

July 28, 2015 • U.S. commodities — copper, corn, coal and more — are cheaper because of China's economic cooling. Producers got caught up in China's "teaser" demand for more of everything. It couldn't last.

Thursday July 23, 2015

Think America's Roads Are Crumbling? Not Quite

High-profile events like bridge collapses or road sinkholes (like this one in Maryland in 2010) could make you think America's roads are crumbling. That's not quite true. Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images hide caption

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Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Think America's Roads Are Crumbling? Not Quite

July 23, 2015 • A common talking point in the Highway Trust Fund fight is that roads are crumbling. So it may surprise you to know that the country's roads and bridges actually have been looking better lately.