Bill Gates goes nuclear, turning a small coal town upside down

Over the past few months, the Biden administration has announced new tariffs — on top of existing Trump-era ones. The period for public comment on them is nearly over, so we’ll hear business owners’ views on the levies’ likely impact on sales. Also in this episode: An all-female fire crew burns barriers, Google phases out infinite scroll and the U.S. semiconductor industry sorta relies on a hard-to-win visa lottery.

Data shows that the U.S. has a strong, thriving economy. Layoffs are at a multidecade low and wages have risen faster than prices. Despite all that and more, many Americans are feeling economic pain. What gives? Also in this episode, third-generation tuna fishermen rethink their livelihood as waters warm. We’ll also explain why most countries buy oil in U.S. dollars and whether the federal minimum wage matters anymore.

Red Lake Nation’s chairman, Darrell G. Seki Sr., wants to make energy free for all his nation’s citizens. Inflation Reduction Act funding could enable that by subsidizing the installation of more solar panels throughout their northern Minnesota reservation. In this episode, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal visits Red Lake and hears from residents about their solar-powered goals and how clean energy connects to cultural values around environmental stewardship.

Florida-based Citizens Property Insurance Corp. wants to raise rates an average of 14%. But Citizens is the Sunshine State’s insurer of last resort — it’s backed by the state and tasked with covering homeowners who have no other options as private insurers pull out. What will Floridians do? Also in this episode: Environmentalists advocate more composting, a cyberattack forces thousands of car dealerships to go analog and oceanographers map the world’s seafloor.

Three years ago, a town of 2,500 formed an unlikely relationship with multibillionaire Bill Gates. He had new nuclear technology and Kemmerer, Wyoming, had a declining coal industry. This week, Gates broke ground on a first-of-its-kind power plant. Will it revive a struggling local economy or upheave the small community’s way of life? Also in this episode: Summer gasoline use is down, Nvidia dominates AI chipmaking and apartment buildings aren’t being built — despite high demand for more housing.

Credit card delinquencies are up overall in the past year — but that’s not the whole debt picture. Wealthier consumers can pay off their debt right now, driving up the nation’s average credit score. It’s a tale of two Americas. Also in this episode: Federal data reveals that nearly 1 in 4 Black prospective homeowners are denied a mortgage, and we catch up with a couple whose gift-giving journey was featured on “This Is Uncomfortable.”

With bond yields dropping, lower mortgage interest rates may be on the horizon. That’s great for people who’ve put off buying a home because they felt priced out. But will rates fall enough to make homeowners with older, cheaper mortgages consider selling? Also in this episode: Buy now, pay later attracts vulnerable consumers, electric vehicle sales growth slows and product designers chase down copycat products.

A stretch of the U.S. is under a heat advisory this week — but summer starts Thursday. When we talk about a “hot” economy, it’s usually a good thing, but in real life, extreme heat sends economic productivity downhill. We’ll get into why. Also in this episode: Retailers launch copycat sales to compete with Amazon Prime Day, Baltimore longshoremen are finally back to work and the bond market is booming.

Housing affordability is on everyone’s mind — a new survey shows it’s a “somewhat to very important issue” for the majority of voters, especially younger ones. We’ll discuss whether housing has historically determined elections and get realistic about what a president can do about housing prices. We’ll also look at how the government measures housing costs for homeowners, even if their mortgages are paid off. Plus: The history of all-you-can-eat deals.

The job market is weakening, according to recent data. Higher unemployment is a good sign — if you’re the Federal Reserve and want to cut interest rates. It’s bad, of course, if you’re a job seeker. We tackle this paradox in today’s episode. Plus: Cities adjust their tech-hub dreams, improved hurricane forecasting saves billions in damage, and Black workers pay a high price in the clean energy transition.