Marketplace All-in-One

The rate of jobless Americans who’ve been out of work for over 27 weeks — also known as “long-term unemployed” — hit 26% in December, according to the latest jobs report. That’s the highest it’s been since February 2022. In this episode, why the rate is rising and what it says about the broader economy. Plus: Businesses curb 2026 growth plans, a farmer discusses AI in agriculture, and we check in with an Asheville, North Carolina, tea company over a year since Hurricane Helene.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.

According to the just-released December jobs report, only 50,000 people were hired last month, fewer than expected. Overall, the month capped off the slowest year for job creation since 2020 and the second slowest since 2009. Plus, LA fire survivors share personal items lost and found in the aftermath of the blaze.

Altadena residents eager to build more fire-resistant new homes run up against obstacles of expense, labor, availability of materials, and of course, the question of whether insurance will pay for it.

From the BBC World Service: The Iranian government has shut down internet access in response to ongoing protests, with demonstrators calling for the removal of the country’s Supreme Leader. Also, a major recall of Nestle baby formula expands to more countries, and after a volatile 2025, what’s on the horizon for cryptocurrency in the new year?

X, formerly Twitter, is facing a global backlash because users are directing the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to generate non-consensual intimate imagery. Users have been popping up in the replies of women — and sometimes minors — tagging Grok and asking it to generate images of them in bikinis or undressed.The company and its owner, Elon Musk, have both clarified illegal content will not be tolerated on the platform.Plus, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late last year aimed at blocking states from enforcing local AI regulations — something a majority have adopted in some form.And, Meta is a victim of its own success. Its new Ray-Ban smart glasses are selling too fast to keep up with demand.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss all these topics on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.