Marketplace Morning Report: "ICE Raids Harken Back to COVID-Era Hardship"

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Sabri Benishour (in for David Brancaccio)
Featured Reporters: Nancy Marshall Genzer, Daniel Ackerman, Elizabeth Troval

Episode Overview

This episode explores three key economic stories shaping the day. First, it covers the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate cut and the uncertainties ahead. Next, it investigates the concerning rise in self-checkout theft. The episode culminates in an in-depth look at the hardships faced by Latino immigrant families in LA amid a new wave of workplace ICE raids, drawing poignant parallels with COVID-era lockdowns and spotlighting their cascading economic effects.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Reserve: Rate Cut Amid Uncertainty

Reported by Nancy Marshall Genzer (01:44–02:22)

• Fed Decision: The Federal Reserve voted 9 to 3 to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point, aiming to counter a softening labor market.
• Uncertainty About Next Steps:
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled uncertainty about future moves:
    • [Quote | 02:01] “We’re well positioned to wait and see.” — Jerome Powell
  • Upcoming economic decisions will depend heavily on delayed and incomplete government data due to a shutdown; November’s jobs and inflation figures are especially crucial and are still pending.

2. Rising Self-Checkout Theft in Retail

Reported by Daniel Ackerman (02:22–03:51)

• Sharp Increase in Self-Checkout Theft:
  • According to a LendingTree survey, 27% of Americans admit to stealing at self-checkout kiosks, up from 15% two years prior.
• Why the Increase?
  • Financial hardship is the dominant motivator—many simply can’t afford basic goods.
    • [Quote | 03:01] “We’re not talking about people going through the checkout counter with a diamond necklace and a Nintendo Switch. It’s much more likely to be a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk.” — Matt Schulz, LendingTree
  • Frustrations with malfunctioning or confusing machines prompt some to skip payment.
    • [Quote | 03:21] “You know, you would see an 80 year old woman trying to read a four point font on an avocado trying to figure out how to scan it.” — Craig Leclair, Forrester
• Industry Response:
  • Retailers are investing in AI and computer vision to make self-checkouts more user-friendly, with hopes that better technology will discourage theft and improve the shopping experience.

3. ICE Raids and the Return of ‘Lockdown’ for Immigrant Families

Reported by Elizabeth Troval (06:05–09:41)

Personal Impact: The Case of 'Fidel'

• A Life Upended:
  • Fidel (name changed), a longtime LA resident and car wash worker, saw his hours evaporate after June ICE raids.
  • He’s lucky to get even an hour’s work a week—compared to steady shifts pre-raid and even the pandemic’s six-week unemployment. Now, it’s been six months.
  • He’s forced into “lockdown” at home, barely scraping by, eating just two small meals a day, and facing harsh trade-offs:
    • [Quote | 07:38] “You have to choose, live on the street or go without food.” — Fidel

Wider Community Effects

• Widespread Fear:
  • Hundreds of LA car wash workers have been detained (at least 350, per organizers).
  • Community organizations and food banks are shifting to a COVID-style emergency footing—delivering food to those fearful of leaving home.
• Organizations Pivot:
  • [Quote | 08:19] “Through Covid and through the raids, we’ve definitely grew into an area that we weren’t expecting to, which is like direct services, helping our communities connect to food banks, helping them connect with attorneys.” — Flor Melendrez, Clean Carwash LA
• Ripple Effects on Demand and Spending:
  • Many essential workers—Uber drivers, restaurant staff—are sheltering in place, echoing pandemic-era hardship.
  • [Quote | 09:27] “It’s keeping their money saved. It’s not spending, not purchasing a car. Because why would they purchase a car that they may have to leave behind?” — Elsa Flores, Texas SEIU President (via Nancy Marshall Genzer reporting)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Fed Policy on Hold:
  • “We’re well positioned to wait and see.” — Jerome Powell (02:01)
• On Why People Steal at Self-Checkout:
  • “It’s much more likely to be a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk.” — Matt Schulz (03:01)
  • “You would see an 80 year old woman trying to read a four point font on an avocado...” — Craig Leclair (03:21)
• On ICE Raids and Daily Struggle:
  • “You have to choose, live on the street or go without food.” — Fidel (07:38)
  • “We had two car washes be raided... where they took one person that was a US citizen and another one where they took six workers.” — Flor Melendrez (07:56)
  • “It’s keeping their money saved. It’s not spending, not purchasing a car. Because why would they purchase a car that they may have to leave behind?” — Elsa Flores (09:27)

Key Timestamps

• Interest Rate Cut: 01:44–02:22
• Self-Checkout Theft Report: 02:22–03:51
• ICE Raids / Immigrant Hardship Story: 06:05–09:41

Episode Takeaways

• The economic recovery remains fragile, with uncertainty from government shutdowns hampering forward guidance from the Fed.
• Persistent high prices and difficult technology are fueling increased theft at self-checkout, presenting new challenges for retailers.
• For many immigrant families, especially in LA, a new wave of ICE raids has revived the shadow of pandemic-era lockdown: fear, unemployment, food insecurity, and broader economic stagnation—particularly among essential workers.

This episode captures how government policy, economic shifts, and technological change are tangibly shaping day-to-day realities for Americans, especially the most vulnerable.