Marketplace Podcast Summary: "Will Hollywood’s Behind-the-Scenes Workers Stay?"
Host: Kai Ryssdal
Release Date: March 1, 2025
Description:
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps listeners navigate the day’s business and economic news on "Marketplace." This episode delves into the intersecting issues of trade policies, government operations, and the precarious situation facing Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers amidst economic and environmental challenges.
1. Trade and Tariffs: A Complex Landscape
Participants: Kai Ryssdal, Ana Swanson (New York Times), Kathryn Rampell (Washington Post)
The episode opens with host Kai Ryssdal discussing the tumultuous state of trade policies under the Trump administration. Ana Swanson highlights the contradictory goals of the administration's tariff strategies, which aim to bring supply chains back to the U.S., leverage against other countries, and generate significant revenue.
Ana Swanson [01:40]: “A lot of those goals just directly undermine and contradict each other... he is going to have to pick and choose.”
Swanson explains that the administration’s tariff actions are unprecedented in scale since the Smoot-Hawley Act of the Great Depression. The rapid implementation and magnitude of these tariffs have left the trade community “bewildered” and concerned about long-term economic implications.
2. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Cuts: Consequences for the Economy
Participant: Kathryn Rampell
Kathryn Rampell addresses the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the IRS budget, criticizing the approach as detrimental to both revenue collection and taxpayer assistance. She underscores that cutting enforcement and taxpayer assistance undermines the IRS’s ability to function effectively.
Kathryn Rampell [04:33]: “This is completely the wrong way to go about doing it if you are running the government as a business.”
Rampell emphasizes the importance of IRS enforcement in ensuring compliance, noting that increased enforcement yields a high return on investment by generating significant additional revenue and improving taxpayer compliance.
3. Economic Indicators and Consumer Behavior
Participants: Kai Ryssdal, Ana Swanson
Despite some positive indicators like a slight decrease in the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, Ana Swanson expresses concern over a noticeable decline in consumer spending, particularly in January. This dip, influenced by factors such as cold weather and wildfires, raises questions about the potential onset of a larger economic downturn.
Ana Swanson [07:22]: “The question is really is this just a fluke or is this something more serious that we'll see develop?”
4. U.S. Reputation and Global Economic Standing
Participant: Kathryn Rampell
Kathryn Rampell discusses the potential long-term impacts of the Trump administration’s actions on the U.S.’s reliability as an ally and trade partner. She suggests that inconsistent trade agreements and unpredictable policies may drive international partners closer to China, thereby affecting global investment and economic growth.
Kathryn Rampell [08:34]: “We are not a reliable place to invest in per se, to have supply chains linked into.”
5. The Plight of Hollywood’s Behind-the-Scenes Workers
Participants: Kai Ryssdal, Matt Levin (Reporter), Martha Gimbal, Danny Finn (Location Scout), Jeremy Whelan
The episode transitions to Hollywood, where a series of challenges—stemming from the pandemic, the writers and actors strike, and recent wildfires—have severely impacted film and television production. These hurdles have led to studios and streaming services reducing local productions in Los Angeles, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of behind-the-scenes workers.
Matt Levin [15:45]: “Most of the federal spending is not spent on public employees, but spent on private sector employees through contracts and grants.”
Wildfires in January have exacerbated the situation by destroying homes and making Los Angeles less affordable, particularly for "below-the-line" workers such as gaffers, location scouts, and makeup artists. The migration of production to more cost-effective locations like Atlanta, driven by generous state tax credits, is highlighted as a significant trend.
Danny Finn [14:39]: “I could tell it wasn't Randy's. I felt like, yeah, you can't do it. Like you really can't replicate LA.”
6. Migration to Atlanta: A Shift in the Film Industry
Participants: Matt Levin, Todd Brown (Lighting Technician)
The shift to Atlanta has offered several advantages, including lower housing costs and a younger, more dynamic workforce. Todd Brown, who relocated from Los Angeles to Atlanta, shares his experience of finding affordable housing and enjoying a less competitive job market.
Todd Brown [16:04]: “I was able to buy a 2,400 square foot house for less than a million dollars, which is basically impossible in LA.”
However, the loss of localized talent and the departure of experienced workers pose long-term risks to the authenticity and quality of productions traditionally associated with Los Angeles.
7. Consumer Spending Shifts and Utility Challenges
Participants: Kai Ryssdal, Elizabeth Trovall (Marketplace Reporter)
Shifting focus back to the broader economy, Kai Ryssdal and Elizabeth Trovall discuss the surge in utility spending—up by 29% in January. This increase affects low and middle-income consumers disproportionately, forcing many to make tough choices, such as reducing heating or cutting essential expenses like medicine and education to afford energy bills.
Elizabeth Trovall [21:16]: “Households have also given up entertainment, medicine, and school supplies to pay their energy bills.”
8. The Evolution of Frozen Foods
Participants: Kai Ryssdal, Paul Oddly (Frozen Food Expert), Meghan McCarron (Atlantic Contributor)
In a lighter segment, the podcast explores the resurgence of frozen foods, driven by innovations like air fryers and endorsements from celebrity chefs. Paul Oddly discusses how cultural perceptions are shifting, with modern frozen foods becoming tastier and more appealing thanks to new cooking technologies.
Paul Oddly [22:44]: “The air fryer has made frozen food... a lot crispier and tastier.”
This trend signifies a broader change in consumer habits and preferences, highlighting how technological advancements can reshape traditional food preparation methods.
Conclusion
The episode of "Marketplace" provides a comprehensive overview of the current economic challenges facing the United States, from aggressive trade policies and government cutbacks to localized crises in Hollywood. The discussion underscores the interconnectedness of national policies and their far-reaching impacts on various industries and communities. Additionally, it highlights emerging consumer trends and the resilience of industries adapting to new realities.
Notable Quotes:
- Ana Swanson [01:40]: “A lot of those goals just directly undermine and contradict each other... he is going to have to pick and choose.”
- Kathryn Rampell [04:33]: “This is completely the wrong way to go about doing it if you are running the government as a business.”
- Ana Swanson [07:22]: “The question is really is this just a fluke or is this something more serious that we'll see develop?”
- Kathryn Rampell [08:34]: “We are not a reliable place to invest in per se, to have supply chains linked into.”
- Danny Finn [14:39]: “I could tell it wasn't Randy's. I felt like, yeah, you can't do it. Like you really can't replicate LA.”
- Todd Brown [16:04]: “I was able to buy a 2,400 square foot house for less than a million dollars, which is basically impossible in LA.”
- Elizabeth Trovall [21:16]: “Households have also given up entertainment, medicine, and school supplies to pay their energy bills.”
- Paul Oddly [22:44]: “The air fryer has made frozen food... a lot crispier and tastier.”
Produced by:
The podcast episode features contributions from Marketplace’s team, including reporters Ana Swanson and Kathryn Rampell, and correspondents like Matt Levin and Paul Oddly. The insightful discussions are complemented by on-the-ground reporting and expert analyses, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the pressing economic and social issues of early 2025.