Dec 19, 2019

What makes a worker “skilled”?

Woodworkers fall into the skilled workers category. Romain Lafabregue/AFP via Getty Images

Plus: the economics of tangerine season, chat bots that can "yes and" and a conversation with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari.

Segments From this episode

I've Always Wondered ...

What's with those little seedless holiday tangerines?

by Mitchell Hartman

Dec 19, 2019

How an expensive specialty fruit for the holidays turn into a ubiquitous discount grocery staple year-round.

Are these tangerines? Or clementines? Or mandarins?

Georges Gobet/AFP via Getty Images

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Companies say they want more skilled workers. What's a "skilled worker?"

by Nova Safo

Dec 19, 2019

Well, it depends on what sort of job is looking for them.

Woodworkers fall into the skilled workers category.

Romain Lafabregue/AFP via Getty Images

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"We recognize it when we make a mistake, and we adjust" — Minneapolis Fed president

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Dec 19, 2019

The central bank made a policy U-turn in 2019, cutting interest rates. Neel Kashkari says that's a good thing.

Neel Kashkari testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in 2008.

Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

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Machines need to be funny if they want to sell us stuff

by Stephanie Hughes

Dec 19, 2019

Tech companies are hiring entertainers to make their chatbots nimble and witty.

The Quartz chatbot is displayed on a cellphone above streams of binary code in this photo illustration.

Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images

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Trade showdown

These are the states benefiting the most from the $28 billion farm bailout

by Janet Nguyen and Daisy Palacios

Dec 12, 2019

A government program has given billions in subsidies to farmers affected by the U.S.-China trade war.

A view of a combine being used to harvest soybeans in a field at a farm in Iowa.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Chicago Falcon The Budos Band

People Everywhere (Still Alive) Khruangbin

Kölsch, Kippe, Lederjacke Veedel Kaztro

Killing Me Softly With His Song Fugees

Edge of Town Middle Kids

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

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