Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

What is a SPAC, and why do companies use them?

Mar 25, 2024
SPAC stands for special purpose acquisition company. It's how the parent company of Donald Trump's Truth Social platform is planning to go public.
Trump Media & Technology Group could start trading on the market as early as today thanks to an assist from a SPAC.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
No screen is likely to be safe from the deluge of political advertising this year.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images | Alon Skuy/Getty Images

Economic issues at the annual CPAC meeting

Feb 19, 2024
At the annual meeting of right-wing thinkers, economic issues such as tariffs and government spending are expected to be discussed.
Former President Donald Trump is slate to speak at this year's CPAC and has already said he wants another round of tariffs.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Cataloging the top objects of 2023

"Whe more digital we get, the more we crave these sort of physical manifestations of the digital," says Rob Walker.
"The more digital we get, the more we crave these sort of physical manifestations of the digital and the digital world amplifies physical things," says Rob Walker.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Trump's fundraising keeps him at the center of GOP politics

Mar 1, 2021
Former President Trump has pulled in more than $30 million in a matter of months.
Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on Feb. 28, 2021 in Orlando, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

What the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol means for economic recovery

Jan 6, 2021
"The highest priority that Congress has is restoring stability and creating certainty," said Wendy Edelberg of Brookings.
Supporters of President Donald Trump protest after breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

The business world hasn't quite grappled with protesters storming the U.S. Capitol

Jan 6, 2021
Sudeep Reddy, managing editor at Politico, joined Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal to discuss the events in Washington and how business leaders are reacting.
Tear gas is deployed against pro-Trump protesters attempting to enter the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The disruption of government unnerved some business leaders, who value stability.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol, clash with police

Jan 6, 2021
Dozens breached security perimeters and lawmakers inside the House chamber were told to put on gas masks as tear gas was fired in the Rotunda.
Rioters supporting President Donald Trump break into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

2020 presidential election: a tale of two economies

Nov 12, 2020
A new report from the Brookings Institution says counties where the majority of voters supported President-elect Joe Biden are responsible for a much larger share of economic activity than those that supported President Trump.
A Trump-Pence campaign sign is seen in Westby, Wisconsin, in October.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

Nov 7, 2020
Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and the first person of color vice president-elect.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, at a rally in August, are headed to the White House after the Associated Press called the presidential race Saturday.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images