A lunch out may give you sticker shock, but a popping boba won't pop the budget, right? While some consumers are trying to be more money-conscious, many are still spending big on eating and drinking out. Chains like Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, and McDonald's are all trying to cash in — in part by offering fancier, pricier, non-alcoholic drinks. Also on the program, we'll check in on New England's economy.

The Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo with stark instructions for heads of federal agencies: They should consider layoff notices for all employees in programs that haven’t been funded yet for the government’s 2026 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. Also on the show: The U.S. is in negotiations to lend $20 billion to Argentina’s central bank, and climate change is treatening New Mexico's centuries-old irrigation system.

From the BBC World Service: Apple has called for the European Union's antitrust watchdogs to scrap some of its tech regulations, which it says lead to a worse experience for users. It's not the first time Apple has voiced its opposition to Europe's Digital Markets Act. We hear more. Plus, China has — for the first time — set a target for reducing carbon emissions. And, a Dutch village famous for its windmills is planning to charge visitors to see them.

Every fall for about three decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture comes out with a report assessing food security across the country. We'll get the latest in a month, but it will be the last. The USDA is terminating the annual report, saying it was “politicized.” Researchers, however, say it was vital. Also on the show: no sure thing on the future of interest rates and the costs for Chinese adoptees to search for their birth family.

From the BBC World Service: After nearly a decade of negotiations, the European Union and Indonesia have agreed to a trade deal, in part to offset some of the effects of Trump's tariffs. Then, Nigeria has cut interest rates for the first time in five years. Plus, India has reduced taxes on everyday items to counteract the effects of U.S. tariffs, and the UK government says it saved around $600 million last year using artificial intelligence to combat fraud.

Economist Stephen Miran is now temporarily on the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Miran wants steeper rate cuts, arguing that stricter controls at the borders and deportations will free up housing, make it less expensive, and keep a lid on inflation at a time of tariffs. We'll discuss what the data says about his claims. Also: growing threats to undersea data cables and an update on the cyberattack affecting Jaguar and Land Rover production.

The newest member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors — close ally of President Donald Trump, Stephen Miran — made his case for more (and larger) interest rate cuts in a speech yesterday at the Economic Club of New York. He argued that the president's policies will push prices down, so the Fed doesn’t have to worry that lowering interest rates will spark inflation. Plus, entrepreneurship could suffer following the Trump administration's new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas.