ECONOMY

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30. Powell's term expires early next year, and President Biden must decide whether to reappoint him.

What's at stake as Biden decides whether to stick with Jerome Powell as Fed chief

11:29am October 18, 2021

by Scott Horsley

President Biden has a big decision to make: Whether to reappoint Jerome Powell to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman or choose someone else for one of the world's most powerful economic jobs.

Economy

Behind-the-scenes workers in Hollywood avert a strike

7:16am October 18, 2021

Crew members in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees have reached a deal. A strike would have shut down much of the film and TV production across the country.

Students at Patterson High School in Patterson, Calif., are participating in the one of the first truck-driving programs for students at a non-vocational high school in the country.

High schoolers are training to drive 18-wheelers amid a shortage of truck drivers

8:20pm October 16, 2021

by Jonathan Franklin

The trucking industry is short 68,000 drivers. By 2028, industry officials fear the number could jump to more than 100,000. A California high school allows seniors to learn trucking skills.

Why the U.S. is so unique in how it handles its debt

4:37pm October 15, 2021

Showdowns over the debt ceiling are basically an American tradition. But it wasn't always this way. The debt limit was originally supposed to make it easier for the government to spend money.

Scenes after heavy rainfall flooded a commuter parking lot in Reston, VA with some cars completely submerged.

Floods threaten to shut down a quarter of U.S. roads and critical buildings

6:26pm October 14, 2021

by Jeffrey Pierre

A new report says floods could shut down a quarter of the country's critical facilities like airports, hospitals, government buildings, and schools — and the roads that take you there.

Among the country's supply chain problems? Bottlenecking at ports like Long Beach

5:43pm October 14, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Mario Cordero, the executive director for the Port of Long Beach, about the bottleneck at ports.

The 'Pandora Papers' expose the secret financial dealings of the global elite

1:35pm October 14, 2021

by Terry Gross

Greg Miller of The Washington Post is part of the team that sifted through millions of documents to reveal how dictators, oligarchs, drug dealers and others hide assets in secret accounts.

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President Biden addressed ongoing supply chain problems, as major retailers warn of shortages and price hikes during the upcoming holiday season.