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Outdoor gear with a side of politics: More retailers embrace activismCan an industry that has traditionally been focused on profit lead value-driven change? A cohort of outdoor brands are stepping into that realm, even going as far as endorsing political candidates.
First LookT-Mobile, Sprint defend merger to lawmakersThe companies' executives argue that the merger will force the industry to up its game, improving quality of services and lowering prices. But the deal聽must win approval from federal regulators.
First LookUS, China envoys seek compromise ahead of Trump tariff decisionTrade talks continue this week between the United States and China, the outcome of which will help decide whether President Trump will raise tariffs on Chinese imports to slow the spread of their technologies 鈥� the latest move in an ongoing struggle for power in the global market.
Climate鈥檚 pressure on energy firms isn鈥檛 just political, it鈥檚 financialPG&E鈥檚 bankruptcy filing has wider implications. Will CEOs鈥� and shareholders鈥� closer attention to the business risks of warming accelerate the move to low-carbon power?
US considers a tax on wealth, even as other nations back awayElizabeth Warren is considered a candidate of the left, yet even half of Republicans share her view that the wealthy should be taxed more. A key question: Is a tax on wealth rather than income the way to do it?
Shutdown may be over 鈥� but economic ripple effect goes onConsumers, businesses, and investors loathe uncertainty. That's why the full effects of a government shutdown are hard to measure, and its end isn鈥檛 like turning a light switch back on.
First LookAs AI advances in multiple industries, workers need new job skillsArtificial intelligence could severely disrupt a quarter of US jobs. Economists say the jobs likely to be spared from automation will require advanced education, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence.
Farmers have a beef with plant- or lab-grown 鈥榤eat.鈥� Should you care?How we speak can say a lot about how we think聽鈥嬧�撀燼nd it can influence how we spend. Consider a rancher-led battle over food labels, where 鈥榩lant-based meat鈥� is either an oxymoron or cutting-edge Earth-friendly cuisine.
Employees 鈥榯aken hostage鈥�: the ethics of the US government shutdownCompelling people to work without pay is fast becoming more than a legal issue for the federal government. Viewed as a social compact, it raises serious ethical questions, too.
First LookSears dodges liquidation, stores to stay open 鈥� for nowThe company's chairman and largest shareholder won a bankruptcy auction for the chain, which hasn't seen a profitable year since 2010. If Sears keeps its lights on, the company could save tens of thousands of jobs across the United States.
US-China trade: How dose of reality is pushing both sides to dealDuring 2018, the outlook seemed to grow steadily worse for relations between the world鈥檚 two largest economies. Things are shifting as both sides see the risks of a trade war.
As shutdown鈥檚 impact grows, pressure rises to end itPartially closing the federal government is not just about politics. It has a human face, too.
FocusJob horizons widen for those with disabilitiesHow can people struggling with disabilities get ahead? When companies hire them for their skills, not just to fill a quota. That's beginning to happen in countries from Mexico to Germany, Canada, and the United States.聽聽
Recession is a risk in 2019. But maybe one that policymakers can avoid.A number of key trends in the economy are positive, from wage growth to low interest rates. Some of the biggest wild cards are trade policy and central bank actions.
Millet anyone? Facing soil crisis, US farmers look beyond corn and soybeansFew Americans think much about where their food comes from, let alone the dirt it grows in. But in the US Midwest and Plains some farmers are looking to the soil to improve their crops and protect the environment.
FocusWhy Big Tech鈥檚 congressman is betting on IowaTiny Jefferson, Iowa, is energized by the promise of a few dozen well-paying tech jobs. Its unexpected ally: a politician from California who says innovation isn鈥檛 just for places that sport an Amazon or Google HQ.
Stocks dive, again. Does Wall Street foresee a recession?After several strong years, stock markets look rattled as 2018 draws to a close. A mix of factors signal a heightened risk of a slowdown, but an outright recession is far from certain.
Where local residents help birth the businesses that serve themOften new businesses rely on financing from a top-down system where bankers call the shots.聽For places that feel left behind, often communities of color, some new models are springing up.聽
From hemp to organic foods, farm bill embraces change in rural USPassage of the farm bill is a rite of Congress that often borders on the arcane. But this year鈥檚 version signals how American farming is gradually embracing a vision beyond the industrial model.
First LookPost-layoffs, GM fights to keep tax credit for electric vehiclesA $7,500 tax incentive for buyers of electric vehicles is critical for General Motors as it ramps up production in the EV market. But some government officials are hesitant to continue funding the incentive, especially in the aftermath of GM's massive layoff.
