One way the Federal Reserve oversees the banking system is through “stress tests,” which help determine whether banks can withstand economic disasters. But only the biggest banks are required to undergo these tests. Could Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse change that? We’ll also unpack Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s rate hike remarks, check to see who’s currently hiring and gauge reactions to anticipated charges for COVID-19 vaccines.

A simple economic phenomenon — that rising interest rates push bond values down — is part of what has weighed on financial companies like Silicon Valley Bank. We’ll take a closer look at the relationship and examine how the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes may have contributed to the current banking drama. Then, we’ll hear why the lowest rents are rising the fastest and what the end of additional SNAP benefits means for one mother.

The debacles that engulfed Silicon Valley Bank and other precarious financial institutions have sparked debates over who dropped the ball. Was it a regulatory failure, a supervisory failure, or both? On today’s show, we’ll parse out the answer. We’ll also explore what comes next for Swiss banking, what a Supreme Court case means for Navajo water rights and what small banks are doing to address liquidity concerns.

Back in the ’30s, news of bank collapses traveled slowly. But in the early hours of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, the news spread like wildfire through startup messaging chains on WhatsApp, Slack, Signal and Telegram. Today, how rumors and anxiety contributed to SVB’s downfall. Plus, grocery bills bum consumers out more than banking meltdowns and China’s population decline has far-reaching repercussions.

“Financial conditions” influence the cost of money, and they’re being made much more complicated by recent bank collapses. Today, we’ll delve into how tightening financial conditions influence the Federal Reserve’s next moves and could make it harder for small businesses and consumers to get loans. Plus, why COVID may have fundamentally reshaped how we spend and what the Silicon Valley Bank collapse means for venture capital.

Following the meltdowns of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, Europe’s Credit Suisse is now in trouble. Though the Swiss bank’s problems predate the recent U.S. bank failures, some economists are asking whether the malady at Credit Suisse can or will infect the rest of global finance. We’ll also take a closer look at the role of regional banks and the communication tactics some are using to quell customer anxieties.

As we follow the implosion of Silicon Valley Bank, we’ll examine the parties involved in regulating finance — both state and federal — and what changes may emerge from the meltdown. We’ll also check in with a former Federal Reserve official who oversaw reforms and ask him to chart a path forward for Washington. Plus, shelter costs continue to drive inflation and cowhides help predict the economic future.

Add the spectacular collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank to the lengthy list of consumer concerns. Bank failures like these don’t just rattle their depositors, they stoke anxiety in everyone who hears about them. Today, we’ll feature special coverage of SVB’s demise — how Washington is responding, the ripple effects on other banks and what it all means for average consumers.

Silicon Valley Bank, where many startups got their funding, is now in the hands of the FDIC after a collapse. On today’s program, we’ll take a closer look at the factors that spelled disaster for the bank and if other financial institutions are at risk. Also on the program: demystifying Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony in the Weekly Wrap and a silver lining in an unemployment uptick.

The Federal Reserve has unleashed eight interest rate hikes in the past year, yet the economy doesn’t seem to be taking the hint. With unemployment at historic lows and consumer spending still robust, is monetary policy able to slow the economy any longer? And if not, what more can the Fed do? Plus, U.S. exports reached record highs in January and customers seeking retribution take to Yelp.

That’s how one economist described today’s job openings report. The number of available jobs remains high but is on the decline, as is the number of people who’ve quit their gigs. It indicates that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy are working — at least in certain industries. Plus, converting office buildings to apartments, parsing the importance of seasonally adjusted data and gaming our way to a balanced federal budget.

Can we rein in inflation without unemployment surging? Though it’s an open question, one route to avoiding layoffs is for companies to accept lower profit margins and absorb additional costs. But whether they will is a whole ‘nother question. We’ll also unpack Day 1 of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Capitol Hill testimony, look at the workforce gap left by pandemic-era retirements and visit one of Los Angeles’ newest lesbian bars.