Copper theft is surging. Can anything be done about it?

The Pacific Northwest has a copper theft problem. Seattle police say this type of crime has increased 300% in the city since 2016.  And it's hitting Seattle's mom and pop shops especially hard, because often they're the target of these robberies.  We're in the midst of a big shift from a fossil f…

Will Seattle ever star in its own movies again?

Between state ferries, Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle, there are a lot of reasons Hollywood directors love to cast Seattle.  But today, most feature films set in the city aren't actually shot here. That's pushed Seattle to find other ways of capitalizing on its unique on-screen charms. In…

AI supercharged scammers. Here's how to protect yourself

The United States has always been full of scammers, from snake oil salesmen promising miracle cures, to stockbrokers selling Ponzi schemes.   But now, swindlers and thieves have a new tool in their toolbox: AI.  The FBI says cybercrimes involving AI stole nearly a billion dollars from 22,000 Amer…

How bots took over our national parks

It's not your imagination. Booking popular experiences in our national parks can feel impossible if you're a mere mortal. Going for a permit to backpack The Enchantments or a campsite on Diablo Lake is kind of like buying a lottery ticket these days.  The reason our parks are starting to feel like…

Buy now, worry later? How 'Doom Spending' is taking over the economy

Economic anxiety has reached a fever pitch.   Mortgage rates are creeping back up, there’s a war on, and companies seem more focused on investing in AI than hiring people.  Many Americans are worried about their finances, but still splurging more than they’re saving, especially the youngest gener…

Matchmaking is booming. Could it solve the relationship recession?

App fatigue is causing more and more singles to break up with online dating. Instead of swiping, people are turning to matchmakers and other ways to find love I-R-L... often spending thousands of dollars in the process.   Seattle is becoming a city of singles. And that’s turned one of the world’s …

Is Xbox's big reboot a new dawn, or its last life?

When it comes to its Xbox, Microsoft is doing a hard reset.   The company is reducing its gaming division by about 20 percent. Microsoft calls it “the most significant restructuring in Xbox history.”    Most of those layoffs are spread out across the country. But what happens in gaming matters he…

Did the US Congress just save affordable housing?

Statewide, Washington needs to build 55,000 new homes per year to house new residents. The state is currently producing just 75% of that. That makes housing expensive... and it’s not just Washington state facing a long-term housing shortage.  For years, Americans have been begging politicians to …

From Control F: Does shopping at Costco actually save you money?

Costco is a beloved brand, famous for its bulk deals and $1.50 hot dogs. But can shopping there really save you money?  On this special episode of Booming brought to us by our friends at Control F: How much money are you really saving when you shop at Costco? The surprising ways that wholesale can…

The $6,000 shortcut to driving electric

Washington is one of 17 states trying to break up with gasoline. It wants every new car sold here to be electric by 2035.  But so far, drivers have been slow to adopt electric vehicles. Nationally, only one in ten new cars sold each year is electric. That’s because EVs are expensive, and finding a…