Marketplace All-in-One

According to the just-released December jobs report, only 50,000 people were hired last month, fewer than expected. Overall, the month capped off the slowest year for job creation since 2020 and the second slowest since 2009. Plus, LA fire survivors share personal items lost and found in the aftermath of the blaze.

Altadena residents eager to build more fire-resistant new homes run up against obstacles of expense, labor, availability of materials, and of course, the question of whether insurance will pay for it.

From the BBC World Service: The Iranian government has shut down internet access in response to ongoing protests, with demonstrators calling for the removal of the country’s Supreme Leader. Also, a major recall of Nestle baby formula expands to more countries, and after a volatile 2025, what’s on the horizon for cryptocurrency in the new year?

X, formerly Twitter, is facing a global backlash because users are directing the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to generate non-consensual intimate imagery. Users have been popping up in the replies of women — and sometimes minors — tagging Grok and asking it to generate images of them in bikinis or undressed.The company and its owner, Elon Musk, have both clarified illegal content will not be tolerated on the platform.Plus, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late last year aimed at blocking states from enforcing local AI regulations — something a majority have adopted in some form.And, Meta is a victim of its own success. Its new Ray-Ban smart glasses are selling too fast to keep up with demand.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss all these topics on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.

Labor economists will tell ya, productivity growth leads to more hiring. The idea is, once a company is operating more efficiently, they’ll try expanding, which usually comes with new jobs. But in this frustrating and bizarre economy, data show major productivity gains and a stagnant labor market … coexisting? Also in this episode: New York City expands a free child care program, one reporter tries to do the job(s) of the federal government, and economists expect a less-grim December jobs report.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.