Marketplace All-in-One

Labor productivity has been on a growth streak for the past year and a half. It increased 0.8% in the first quarter of this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is up almost 3% from a year ago. How much of this boils down to AI? Also on the show: threatened tariffs against the European Union and a conversation about U.S. dollars, the oil shock, and investment from Gulf countries.

If you ask people what they’re most worried about affording these days, healthcare tops the list (now tied with gas). And that concern may translate to a wave of resentment at the ballot box: About 90% of people say healthcare costs will influence whether and how they vote in November, and more than half say it will have a major impact. Then, the United Arab Emirates wants a currency swap with the United States. We explain.

Got a tricky situation at work and not sure what to do? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama,” we try to find answers to your sticky work questions. This week, Reema is joined by Tobin Low of “This American Life” to answer your workplace questions – from coworkers falling asleep mid-meeting to crushing on your boss.

If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have any work drama going on, we want to hear about it! Leave a message at 347-RING-TIU or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! And support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today.

Back in 2015, Elon Musk and Sam Altman got the idea to start a nonprofit AI lab to develop artificial general intelligence that benefits all humanity. The lab would also make its technology open source, calling it OpenAI.

All that is according to a complaint filed by Elon Musk, who has since parted ways with the organization. And now he is suing OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman and its president Greg Brockman, saying they have abandoned the founding principles of the organization in pursuit of profits.

They are currently facing off in federal court in the Northern District of California. Paresh Dave at Wired has been in the courtroom. He explains more on what the core of Musk's case is.

The private sector added twice as many jobs in March as it did in April — it’s a promising sign in an otherwise perplexing labor market. Private sector gains could translate to an overall boost in the upcoming BLS jobs report. But even if the quantity of jobs goes up, there are still some negative indicators to keep an eye on. Also in this episode: Corpus Christi's water crisis collides with an energy sector boom and Disney sees revenue wins after raising streaming prices.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.