"Marketplace" Live

Marketplace Live, recorded in Los Angeles, brought together host Kai Ryssdal with economic educator Kyla Scanlon and longtime Marketplace host David Brancaccio for a dynamic, three-part conversation on the state of the U.S. economy, the role of media and technology, and the future of national policy. The event opened with a candid discussion on economic literacy, featuring Scanlon’s insights into the growing disconnect between economic data and public sentiment—what she coined 'vibe sessions'—and her concerns about financial nihilism, especially among younger generations. She emphasized the importance of accessible, calming economic education and shared her vision for a second book exploring the shifting 'economic ladder' of life milestones amid AI disruption. The second segment spotlighted Brancaccio’s transition from hosting Marketplace Morning Report to a new role as 'Future Effects' correspondent, where he will investigate long-term societal and policy decisions, including the financial implications of AI and the need for a 'Secretary of the Future'—a concept inspired by Kurt Vonnegut. The final segment turned to urgent political and economic realities, with Ryssdal delivering a bold, unfiltered commentary on the president’s erratic foreign policy, the threat to Fed independence, and the fragility of democratic institutions. He announced his pivot to video content from a personal shed studio, vowing to uphold national security, economic truth, and democracy as non-negotiable principles in a turbulent era. The event concluded with a powerful reminder that informed engagement and civic courage are essential in times of uncertainty.