Maria Aspan

Finance, business, policy, gender, pop culture. Financial correspondent @npr. Newsletter:

[Bobby Allyn @BobbyAllyn]

NPR lost a lot of talented journalists in its latest round of layoffs/buyouts, including Maria, who is great. Hire her!!

[Danielle Sacks @daniellesacks]

Maria is a Swiss Army knife of talent—reporter, writer, editor, audio, longform features—that any business journalistic enterprise should scoop up immediately

[Tamara Keith @tamarakeithNPR]

@mariaaspan I always loved it when you were on the Politics Podcast and truly can't believe you were laid off. It is our loss.

[scott horsley @HorsleyScott]

Maria is a terrific reporter and a great colleague. Any news outlet would be lucky to land her. If you want details, let me know.

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Well, NPR has decided to eliminate my role as financial correspondent. I've been laid off, along with several fantastic colleagues.

I spent the past two years at NPR covering Wall Street, the economy, and financial and corporate power — and how it affects all of us. It’s a crucial time for this coverage, and I’m incredibly proud of my work for NPR.

I looked beyond the daily numbers of “the markets” and “the economy” to cover the people and companies shaping them, and their real-world impact — from healthcare consolidation to private credit, olive oil tariffs to crony capitalism. I broke news, brought NPR ambitious and exclusive enterprise reporting, and provided analysis across NPR’s daily broadcast shows and podcasts.

I’m grateful to have spent two years learning audio storytelling, podcasting, and live broadcasting — and how fun they are! — from some wonderful colleagues and friends. I’ll miss them, and I’ll continue to be inspired by their commitment to journalism as a public service.

I’m looking forward to figuring out what’s next, and can be reached at [email protected].

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Cambria’s Marty Davis has held many roles over his career, from Minnesota farmboy to kitchen-countertop mogul. But now his ties to President Trump have turned this wealthy CEO into a business lightning rod.

A deep dive into the bitter fight over quartz:
https://t.co/Dqf29HjfK6

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

From Cisco's AI layoffs to a new Fed chair, we had a LOT of economic news to parse on yesterday's Politics Podcast.

(And so fun to chat in person w/@DomenicoNPR and @MilesParks!)

https://t.co/TjQf7cuWgc

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

The state of state capitalism: Intel is doing amazing, quadrupling the value of the U.S. gvt's stake...and now President Trump might buy Spirit Airlines? On the latest NPR Politics Podcast: https://t.co/wW27AvrOAD

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

@LandisWeaver Yes! https://t.co/ZskAihIfbc

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Cockroaches, owls, and AI: They're all related to the risky business of "private credit," the huge lending business that's become Wall Street's latest source of anxiety https://t.co/qR68gzKvfT

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Free healthcare and fancy cocktails ... it's always fun joining my colleagues @ The Indicator from Planet Money, who this week featured my reporting on how some employers are making health insurance more affordable: https://t.co/LnpmyhoIJz

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

"When the U.S. government appears to favor a company over rivals, that distorts the marketplace....It's just bad for the economy."

Looking back at an eventful year for business, politics, & U.S. capitalism.
https://t.co/CYywwQSkzp

[Propel @ThePropelApp]

6M+ families are missing SNAP deposits due to delays.

Thanks to @mariaaspan & @NPR for covering our work with @GiveDirectly to get $ directly to those who need it most.

Every dollar helps==>https://t.co/jrXUyEfuif

https://t.co/TaeJou5Kq9

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Had a great time talking Mad Max, hoarding gold, and the very weird economy today on @whyy with @Avi_WA @byKevinMcCorry and @LeBow's Ed Nelling: https://t.co/PYvk58SEmy

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Looking forward to joining @whyy's Studio 2 shortly to discuss the economy, everything going on in the markets, and the recent surge in gold & silver prices.

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

https://t.co/098NbSXK6k

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Trump’s new $100K fee for H-1B visas created panic this weekend for some half a million workers, and their employers.

I discussed the fallout for workers, Big Tech companies, and the longstanding bipartisan critics of H-1Bs, w/ @NPRMichel today on NPR’s Morning Edition.

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

@WATechMillenial @WhiteHouse @RapidResponse47 @PressSec Indeed: https://t.co/AXECXBX3GE

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

"In general for workers, it's kind of take it or leave it. And they really don't have much of a choice but to take it."

https://t.co/aa1YL8neST

[Maria Aspan @mariaaspan]

Workplace open enrollment for health care benefits is going to be so ugly this fall.

The costs for employers are soaring ... which means that most of them are going to turn around and hike prices for workers ... some 154 million of whom who get health care through work.