The giant federal deficit, approaching WWII levels
![](https://www.marketplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GettyImages-1221086235.jpg?w=900)
A national debt counter from mid-June. The U.S. is approaching a position it has not seen since World War II, as the amount of government debt is on pace to exceed the size of the nation's economy.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
The debt looks a lot like it did in 1946. Also, another 880,000 people signed up for jobless benefits. That seems down, yet it is a false comparison. And, KFC is caught between the Trump administration and Chinese tech companies.
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Music from the episode
Change Of Heart El Perro Del Mar
The team
David Brancaccio
Host
Victoria Craig
Host, BBC
Stephen Ryan
Senior Producer, BBC
Jonathan Frewin
Producer, BBC
Daniel Shin
Producer
Jay Siebold
Technical Director
Brian Allison
Engineer
Meredith Garretson Morbey
Senior Producer
Erika Soderstrom
Producer
Rose Conlon
Producer
Alex Schroeder
Producer