Aug 10, 2020

What would a payroll tax holiday look like?

President Trump during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 3. Doug Mills/Getty Images

Plus: What the consumer price index means for your wallet, how airports are suffering and one scientist's experience with sexism in academia.

Segments From this episode

COVID-19

Trump's payroll tax holiday sows confusion

by Mitchell Hartman

Aug 10, 2020

President Trump has ordered Treasury to stop collecting the employee portion of payroll taxes for some workers through the end of 2020.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order and three memorandums extending coronavirus economic relief on Aug. 8. How the payroll tax holiday would benefit Americans remains unclear.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

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What is CPI, and what exactly does it measure?

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Aug 10, 2020

The consumer price index can affect your next raise, and Social Security cost-of-living adjustments are tied to it.

A woman checks out her purchases at a grocery store in New Jersey. CPI tracks the monthly change in the cost of consumer goods and services.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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Amazon in talks with Simon Property Group on taking over mall space

by Andy Uhler

Aug 10, 2020

But for those other mall tenants, sharing space with Amazon might feel like an insult.

A closed JC Penney department store in North Carolina. Amazon is in talks with Simon Property Group — which owns closed Penney and Sears stores — about using the space as fulfillment centers.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

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COVID-19

Passenger airports are struggling to make ends meet

by Erika Beras

Aug 10, 2020

The downturn in air travel has slashed airport revenue, with fees plummeting for landings, passenger use and parking.

The United Airlines check-in counter at San Francisco International.

Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

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Shelf Life

"We don't waste fellowships on women": Microbiologist Rita Colwell on sexism in academia

by Rita Colwell and Sharon Bertsch McGrayne

Aug 10, 2020

Microbiologist Rita Colwell, the first female director of the National Science Foundation, talks about her experiences facing sexism in the world of science.

Scientist and professor Rita Colwell giving a talk at World Water Week in Stockholm in 2010.

Bertil Ericson/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Philodendron Fields Monster Rally

Respiration Black Star, Common

Afternoon Soul Gramatik

Diving Woman Japanese Breakfast

Glimmer Tame Impala

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

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