ECONOMY

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky told NPR he is "very confident" the company can still go public in 2020 despite the coronavirus upending the travel and hospitality industry.

Economy

For Airbnb, 2020 Was Supposed To Be A Banner Year. Then The Pandemic Hit

9:50pm April 28, 2020

by Bobby Allyn

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tells NPR that he expects his company to survive the coronavirus pandemic by emphasizing cleanliness, and acknowledging that travel is likely changed forever.

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The Planet Money team on GoToMeeting with a goat (Listen to our recent episode, "Making It Work")

Why Remote Work Sucks, According To Science

6:26pm April 28, 2020

by Greg Rosalsky

What social science says about killing the office.

Economy

How To Donate The Federal Relief Check

3:56pm April 28, 2020

Americans have already started receiving their federal relief checks. And for those thinking that there are people who need this money much more, there are various ways to donate the cash.

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Coronavirus Updates: Protecting Workers During And After The Pandemic

3:56pm April 28, 2020

NPR science and business correspondents talk about the protection of the workers — those working now, and those who will start soon, in a variety of industries.

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Airbnb Rental Model Becomes A Victim Of The Coronavirus

3:36pm April 28, 2020

by Bobby Allyn

This year was supposed to be Airbnb's big year. The company planned to go public, but COVID-19 has all but destroyed their business model. Airbnb's CEO explains how they hope to survive the pandemic.

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Neftali Dubon, a truck driver at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, says he needs at least five or six runs a day to make a living. By mid-March he was doing one or two. As an owner-operator, he still has to keep paying down a loan on his rig.

Economy

'It's Just ... Empty': This Truck Driver Has Little To Haul

11:58am April 28, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Neftali Dubon, a truck driver at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, says he needs at least five or six runs a day to make a living. By mid-March he was doing just one or two.

Coronavirus Relief Efforts To Help Energy Industry Stall On Capitol Hill

11:51am April 28, 2020

by Jeff Brady

The Trump administration wants some of the trillions of dollars in congressional coronavirus relief funding to help the fossil fuel industry. But Democrats hope to use it to address climate change.

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Christian Piatt, co-owner of the Brew Drinkery in Granbury, Texas, was forced to close his brewery's doors due to the coronavirus less than two months after he opened.

Economy

Small Businesses Say Rescue Loans Come With Too Many Strings Attached

10:14am April 28, 2020

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Business owners lucky enough to get the federal rescue funds are wrestling with paying their employees, even when their doors are closed.

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Nevada resident Derek Reich lost his income as a freelance cameraman. He says his lender told him he'd have to make up any missed payments in a giant balloon payment he can't afford. Then he was told that if he didn't qualify for a better option, "you're

3.4 Million Homeowners Skip Payments. But Many Are Scared, Say Congress Needs To Act

9:59pm April 27, 2020

by Chris Arnold

Homeowners say that to catch up on payments, lenders demand big balloon payments they can't afford. Advocates want Congress to mandate that missed payments simply be added to the end of the loan term.

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visits a drive-through COVID-19 testing location on April 18 in Franklin, Tenn.

Tennessee Restaurants Reopen As State Sees Biggest 1-Day Jump In COVID-19 Cases

7:08pm April 27, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

The state reported 478 new confirmed cases on Sunday, an increase of 5.2%. Restaurants can begin serving dine-in customers on Monday, with retail stores opening later this week.