Best Byte Federal Podcasts (2025)

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Regional banks are doing alright, actually 25:41

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2h ago25:41

25:41

Two midsize U.S. lenders claimed they were victims of loan fraud this week, sending bank stocks into a tailspin. But by close Friday, markets evened out — and for good reason: Regional banks, overall, are actually doing well. In this episode, we dispel the midsize bank sector doomsayers. Plus: Rising auto loan delinquencies could be a consumer debt…

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Regional bank jitters 6:15

3h ago6:15

6:15

Global stocks took a hit today. There was red across the board from New York to Japan as investors have started to worry about the health of regional banks in the U.S., and the recent bankruptcies of an auto lender and car parts manufacturer. We'll learn the latest. Also, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suing to block the Trump administration's pla…

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It's home improvement time 6:24

12h ago6:24

6:24

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell again this week to an average of 6.27%, according to FreddieMac. That could boost consumer spending on home improvements in 2026, new research finds — and be driven by homeowners locked in with lower rates who recognize that an addition or coat of paint is less daunting than starting over in this housing market. Also…

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U.S. tries to block a global emissions deal for shipping 6:27

13h ago6:27

6:27

From the BBC World Service: A landmark agreement to reduce carbon emissions from global shipping is in danger of collapsing after President Donald Trump intervened. We'll unpack. Then, Singles' Day — China's biggest online shopping event — typically takes place on Nov. 11 but has started early this year as weak consumption dogs the world's second-l…

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Bytes: Week in Review — Instagram to limit content for teens, Walmart lands OpenAI deal, and Apple rebrands streaming service 10:22

14h ago10:22

10:22

AppleTV+ ditches the plus in its name. Plus, Walmart announced an e-commerce deal with OpenAI so customers can shop through ChatGPT. But first, Instagram announced what it called PG-13 settings for teen accounts. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Joanna Stern, senior personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal, to discuss all these to…

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The Uncanny Valley of Meat 32:15

16h ago32:15

32:15

If you have ever bitten into a plant-based burger and felt dissatisfied, or even grossed out, you’re not alone. In this episode, we explore the uncanny valley of meat and dive deep into what makes meat so … meaty. Plus, “The Splendid Table” host Francis Lam joins Amy Scott for a taste test of cultivated meat and shares his go-to recipes for climate…

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CEO confidence sinks 25:22

20h ago25:22

25:22

CEO confidence fell in the latest quarter of 2025. Executives surveyed by The Conference Board voiced concerns over inflation, tariffs, and global trade uncertainty. In this episode, how the economic mood of corporate leaders could affect everyday Americans. Plus: Chipmaker TSMC reported a profit surge amid increased demand, a career tech program i…

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This labor market is ripe for job scams 14:18

1d ago14:18

14:18

In this rough labor market, job seekers are more vulnerable to scams. We’ve all seen those texts, right? The ones offering jobs with suspiciously high pay for suspiciously little work? On today’s show, Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to share what happened when she replied to one of these scam messages. Plus, why AI and the shift to rem…

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Trying to keep a fragile trade truce alive 6:30

1d ago6:30

6:30

U.S. and Chinese officials are getting together on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington to try and preserve a fraying trade truce. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a ray of hope, ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this mont…

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Expect a spendy but price-conscious holiday season 6:31

1d ago6:31

6:31

Retailers are getting ready for the most magical time of their year: holiday shopping season. Holiday spending is expected to tick up, though that's driven mostly by higher prices. We'll hear more. Plus, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund supports mission-driven lenders operating in rural, tribal, and otherwise underserved parts …

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Thousands in the UK take Johnson & Johnson to court 6:25

1d ago6:25

6:25

From the BBC World Service: A major legal claim has been filed in the United Kingdom against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, accusing the firm of knowingly selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The case mirrors American litigation, where billions of dollars in damages have been awarded to plaintiffs. Plus, President Donald Trump s…

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Documents show ICE wants a nonstop social media surveillance system 5:42

1d ago5:42

5:42

Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to set up an around-the-clock social media surveillance network, according to public documents reviewed by WIRED magazine. Under the proposal, ICE would partner with private contractors to monitor platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for information and leads that can be passed on to officers in …

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Time for another supply chain slowdown 25:46

2d ago25:46

25:46

The U.S. retail and supply chain sectors are slowing down — September’s Logistics Managers’ Index hits its lowest point since March. Many retailers are stopping shipments after stocking up early to avoid tariffs. Ongoing trade uncertainty and rising costs have companies fretting about the long term. Also in this episode: Gen Z plans to spend less t…

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Big banks post big earnings, but lending is more muted 6:37

2d ago6:37

6:37

It’s a big week for bank earnings. JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup reported quarterly results on Tuesday; Bank of America and Morgan Stanley report on Wednesday. Overall, banks are pulling in plenty of revenue — especially from their investment banking and trading departments. But the old-fashioned business of lending out money has been more o…

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Food Tour of the Future 29:41

2d ago29:41

29:41

Climate change is changing what we eat. As the planet heats up, foods like salmon, chocolate and coffee might be harder to come by and more expensive to buy. In this episode, the “How We Survive” team goes on a food tour around Northern California to find out how tech entrepreneurs are finding new ways to make all sorts of foods that are under thre…

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A conversation with Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr 6:29

3d ago6:29

6:29

Joel Mokyr is a professor at Northwestern University, who — along with Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt — won the Nobel prize in economics earlier this week. Today, Mokyr joins the program to discuss how major technological changes can boost economic growth — that is, if politics and institutions can adapt quickly enough. Plus, why the bankruptcies…

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Greece decides on a 13-hour working day 6:29

3d ago6:29

6:29

From the BBC World Service: Greece's government is voting on a bill authorizing private sector employees to work up to 13 hours a day, if both employee and employer agree. Labor unions have called mass strikes in protest, paralyzing the public sector. This comes as Greece faces high debt, rising inflation, and lower wages than much of the European …

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FCC cuts expansion to broadband, hotspot access 9:15

2d ago9:15

9:15

Before the government shutdown, the Federal Communications Commission voted to end funding for Wi-Fi on school buses and the lending of hotspot devices from libraries. Nicol Turner Lee, author of “Digitally Invisible,” said this could further the digital divide for marginalized communities.By Marketplace

1
Big banks' boom time 25:27

3d ago25:27

25:27

Amid all the anxiety, uncertainty and flip-flopping in this economy, one sector is doing tremendously: Big banks. Recent earnings reports showed banks including Citibank and JPMorgan beat revenue expectations and grew at a clip over the past few months. In this episode, why banks are thriving as regulations loosen and the economy gets unpredictable…

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When the government shuts down, tribal communities get the shaft 13:34

3d ago13:34

13:34

The effects of government shutdowns are felt particularly deeply in tribal communities across the United States. That’s because the federal government has a constitutional obligation to fund services in Indian Country. But when the government closes, tribal nations are left to pick up the tab. Marketplace’s Savannah Peters joins Kimberly to explain…

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Fewer Chinese international students at American universities 6:49

3d ago6:49

6:49

There are almost 250,000 Chinese students in the U.S. this fall. That's a 36% drop from the 2017 peak. For Chinese students still wanting to study abroad, America remains the top destination, but geopolitics, safety concerns, and persistent inflation are making the U.S. a less attractive place to receive a higher education. And later, Switzerland i…

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Contractors hit hard by government shutdown 6:47

3d ago6:47

6:47

Paychecks are grinding to a halt for federal employees as the government shutdown enters its third week. A 2019 law entitles furloughed workers to back pay (though the Trump administration is claiming otherwise), but there are no pay guarantees for millions of government contract workers, who outnumber federal employees nearly two to one. Also on t…

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An old-fashioned way of prepping businesses for cyberattacks 7:12

4d ago7:12

7:12

From the BBC World Service: Chief executives have been urged to plan for computer security breaches by going back to pen and paper. The U.K. government told CEOs to plan offline contingencies after a number of high-profile attacks on companies — hacks that cost global brands millions of dollars. We'll learn more. Plus, delegates are in London for U…

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What is insurance? 27:40

3d ago27:40

27:40

Today, we’re resharing an important episode from our archive! There’s a major storm brewing, and Ryan and Bridget are stuck inside. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer a question they got from Archer in Los Angeles: What is insurance? Archer’s dad is an insurance agent, and Archer wants to know what his dad does all day. Turns out insurance is u…

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Is surveillance technology a more humane alternative to detaining immigrants? 11:44

4d ago11:44

11:44

Countries all over the world use technology to keep track of immigrants released from detention centers. The idea is to allow people to live in communities while their cases are adjudicated. But Petra Molnar of the Refugee Law Lab at York University said the technology is also often employed in ways that are too intrusive and can act like digital s…

Byte Federal Podcasts

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Byte Federal Podcast

Byte Federal

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Marketplace

1
Regional banks are doing alright, actually 25:41

1
Regional bank jitters 6:15

1
It's home improvement time 6:24

1
U.S. tries to block a global emissions deal for shipping 6:27

1
Bytes: Week in Review — Instagram to limit content for teens, Walmart lands OpenAI deal, and Apple rebrands streaming service 10:22

1
The Uncanny Valley of Meat 32:15

1
CEO confidence sinks 25:22

1
This labor market is ripe for job scams 14:18

1
Trying to keep a fragile trade truce alive 6:30

1
Expect a spendy but price-conscious holiday season 6:31

1
Thousands in the UK take Johnson & Johnson to court 6:25

1
Documents show ICE wants a nonstop social media surveillance system 5:42

1
Time for another supply chain slowdown 25:46

1
Big banks post big earnings, but lending is more muted 6:37

1
Food Tour of the Future 29:41

1
A conversation with Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr 6:29

1
Greece decides on a 13-hour working day 6:29

1
FCC cuts expansion to broadband, hotspot access 9:15

1
Big banks' boom time 25:27

1
When the government shuts down, tribal communities get the shaft 13:34

1
Fewer Chinese international students at American universities 6:49

1
Contractors hit hard by government shutdown 6:47

1
An old-fashioned way of prepping businesses for cyberattacks 7:12

1
What is insurance? 27:40

1
Is surveillance technology a more humane alternative to detaining immigrants? 11:44