Apr 6, 2022

The Fed’s plan to shrink its balance sheet

Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

It involves steeper interest rate hikes and big sales of bonds. Plus: The economic impact of undercounting communities of color.

Segments From this episode

The Fed will sell some of the bonds it's been buying in an effort to cool the economy

by Justin Ho

Apr 6, 2022

Selling the Treasury and mortgage-back bonds on its balance sheet helps the central bank raise interest rates.

According to its March meeting minutes, the Federal Reserve will start selling $95 billion worth of bonds per month.

Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Ukrainians will soon be eligible for temporary protected status. What does that mean?

by Samantha Fields

Apr 6, 2022

It lets people get work permits and protects them from deportation. The status does not offer a path to citizenship.

While Ukrainians will soon be eligible for temporary protected status, it is not a path to citizenship and doesn't include eligibility for programs like federal housing assistance or food stamps.

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

The staying power of Case-Shiller, a marquee housing metric

by Amy Scott and Maria Hollenhorst

Apr 6, 2022

It’s not the most timely home price indicator, but it does have advantages, including mapping prices over long periods.

Homes line a Southern California street in 2003. An approach for tracking house prices developed by economists Karl Case and Robert Shiller in the 1980s remains an important market indicator today.

David McNew/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

A ban on Russian uranium could impact tribal communities in the Southwest

by Savannah Peters

Apr 6, 2022

Some U.S. lawmakers seek to cut off imports, but that might lead to reopening domestic mines.

Some U.S. uranium mines have been closed for over 40 years. If Russian imports are banned, as some lawmakers advocate, they may be reopened.

George Frey/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Bidding war for Spirit Airlines breaks out

by Kristin Schwab

Apr 6, 2022

JetBlue steps up with an offer.

Following the Spirit-Frontier merger announcement, JetBlue put in an unsolicited (and high) offer.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Race and Economy

Census undercount of Black, brown communities could ripple through economy

by Matt Levin

Apr 6, 2022

The bureau thinks it missed 3% of African Americans, 5% of Hispanics and 6% of Alaska Natives and Native Americans living on reservations.

The undercount of communities of color can influence political redistricting and the distribution of federal dollars.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Music from the episode

Get By Talib Kweli

Horizons Bertholet, Elior

93 'Til Infinity Souls Of Mischief

Hearts Blackbird Blackbird

Closer Project Pablo, Patrick Holland

The Spirit Blossoms All Over the Land Onra

Metis Guts

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

Latest Episodes From Our Shows

2:39 PM PST