Could an Algorithm That Helps Landlords Set Prices Be Responsible for Rising Rents?

As housing affordability continues to be a problem across many parts of the country, could an algorithm be responsible for apartment rents going up?  The software called YieldStar suggests daily prices for open units using data analytics.  In some cases, the software suggests double digit price increases.  It even goes as far as to suggest that landlords could get more revenue with a lower occupancy rate, but with increased rents.  How much is this software being used?  In one Seattle neighborhood, 70% of apartments were overseen by 10 property managers, all who used the pricing software.  Heather Vogell, reporter at ProPublica, joins us for how this algorithm impacts rising rents.

Next, production was shut down on Bill Murray’s latest project earlier this year when it was alleged that he sexually harassed a member of the production staff.  We now know that Murray got on top of the woman and kissed her through their masks, she settled in the amount of about $100,000.  Bill Murray has a great reputation with his fans, but since those allegations surfaced, fellow actors and co-workers have come forward with their own negative stories about him.  Matt Wilstein, senior writer at the Daily Beast and host of The Last Laugh Podcast, joins us for what to know.

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