Marketplace Morning Report

The estimated value of the homes wiped out by the Eaton and Palisades fires one year ago? $27 billion. On a single street in Altadena, 15 houses were destroyed, including that of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. This morning, Brancaccio checks in with two families on his block — one who decided to sell and one who's already partly rebuilt. Then, how will investors respond to this morning's private payroll data?

A survey released in the fall finds that most people displaced by the Southern California wildfires a year ago are still living in temporary housing. Since so few homes have been rebuilt, how are people paying for shelter? Today, we'll hear how survivors have organized to demand accountability and the resources needed. Plus, a semiconductor chip shortage echoes the great supply chain crisis of 2020, but this time it's driven by AI.

From the BBC World Service: One of Europe's busiest airports has canceled more than 700 flights today as a disruption caused by snow and ice enters a sixth day. The problem was made worse because of a shortage of anti-freeze for de-icing planes at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Dutch airline KLM is the main one affected. Then, China's Foreign Ministry calls President Donald Trump's demands for Venezuelan oil "typical bullying" from the U.S.

Dustin Kunkel is a father of two, works in the solar panel business, and is a neighbor of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. Kunkel lost his Altadena home in the Eaton Fire and, since then, spoke to 30 contractors before finding someone to rebuild the house. We hear what the process — and pricing — has been like. Also, the realities of this economy continue to diverge for lower- and higher-income households.

Today, we have the story of one burned block: that of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. Last year's wildfires in California were the costliest in history, with more than 16,000 structures destroyed and over 30 deaths. Fifteen of the houses destroyed in the Eaton Fire sat on a single street in Altadena. A year on, we check in with Brancaccio's neighbors to hear about life, loss, and efforts to rebuild.