Today, we’re diving into a listener’s question about the new artificial intelligence chatbot on the scene. Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s AI model is said to be more cost-effective, less complex, and in some ways, just plain better than OpenAI’s ChatGPT. We’ll explain why the stock market’s freaking out and what it means for the U.S.-China AI race. Plus, we’ll share a story about a historic test flight that’ll have aviation nerds smiling. And the iconic “When Harry Met Sally” diner scene is recreated 35 years later. IYKYK.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “How DeepSeek Went From Stock Trader to A.I. Star” from The New York Times

• “Chevron Wants to Tap Into A.I. Boom by Selling Electricity to Data Centers” from The New York Times

• “DeepSeek’s AI Model Just Upended the White-Hot US Power Market” from  Bloomberg

• “DOE Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers” from the Department of Energy

• “China’s DeepSeek Ends the Party for U.S. Energy Stocks” from Heatmap News
• “Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan Return as Harry and Sally in Hellmann’s Super Bowl Spot” from The Hollywood Reporter
• Video: “Boom Supersonic XB-1 jet breaks sound barrier on historic test flight” from Space

Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today we’re handing the mic over to the team behind “Burning Questions” from Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast “How We Survive” as they survey the devastation on the ground in the Pacific Palisades, and dig into the homeowners insurance crisis. Since the Los Angeles fires broke out, thousands have lost their homes and current estimates say insured losses may exceed $30 billion. The disaster has raised existential questions about the future of the insurance industry and its potential impact on the housing market. Host Amy Scott talks with Carolyn Kousky from the Environmental Defense Fund to find answers.

Is Elon Musk’s control of government offices as an unelected official a coup? Lots of people seem to think so. We’ll explain why. Plus, another potential government shutdown is looming and it may work in Democrats’ favor. And, one surprisingly effective (and protein-rich) way food insecurity in Pennsylvania is being addressed.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “What the Black Hawk Pilots Could See, Just Before the Crash” by The New York Times

• “Shutdown fears grow as Trump battles multiply” by The Hill

• “‘We would call it a coup’: Watchdogs and Dems attack Elon Musk Treasury Department takeover” from USA Today

• “The ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ of the United States Government” by The Atlantic

• “Elon Musk’s Power Grab Is Lawless, Dangerous, and—Yes—a Coup” from Slate

• “The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s power grab: a coup veiled by chaos” by The Guardian

• “Processing Deer to Eliminate Food Insecurity” by the Daily Yonder

Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s hard to overstate the role immigrant workers play in the U.S. economy. Key industries rely on them — nearly half of meat-processing jobs, for instance, are held by immigrants. And many work in low-wage jobs that are vulnerable to exploitation.

Ted Genoways, a reporter with the Food and Environment Reporting Network, said Trump’s promises of mass deportations is creating fear and uncertainty for immigrant workers, both authorized and unauthorized, as well as for the massive food companies that employ them.

“If history is any guide, this will probably mean increased food prices, if only for companies trying to hedge against the possibility of something disastrous happening,” said Genoways.

On today’s show, Genoways gives us a snapshot of the low-wage immigrant workforce’s role in our economy and unpacks how Trump’s deportation plans could disrupt America’s food supply. Plus, why aren’t food companies held accountable for exploiting their employees?

And, we’ll get into what restrictions on the U.S. Agency for International Development could mean for Cuba. Plus, would you trust Kai with the aux?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “This Week’s Episode of Reveal: Immigrants on the Line” from Mother Jones
• Opinion | “How Trump’s Deportation Plans Could Blow Up the Food System and Increase Migrant Labor” from Politico
• “Brooke Rollins, Trump’s Agriculture Pick, Addresses Tariff and Immigration Impact on Farmers” from The New York Times
• “How Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants threatens the workforce for U.S. farm workforce” from CBS News
• “Trump’s Pause of U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America: An ‘America Last’ Policy” from WOLA
• “US secretly created ‘Cuban Twitter’ to stir unrest and undermine government” from The Guardian
• “Chappell Roan wins best new artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards” from AP News

Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Kimberly’s back from Cuba just in time to discuss the onslaught of President Donald Trump’s executive actions, from tariffs to his federal funding freeze. Lawsuits are being filed left and right against the administration’s moves, but will the Supreme Court still serve as a check on the executive branch? Plus, Kimberly unpacks lasting reflections on Cuba’s contradictions as a country with strong social services like universal education yet acute wage disparities.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump’s Driving Legal Principle This Time: ‘What Are You Gonna Do About It?’” by Rolling Stone

• “Trump is using a nearly 50-year-old law to justify new tariffs. It may not be legal.” from Politico

• “Will the Supreme Court rule that any laws still apply to Donald Trump?” from Vox

• “Egypt to Cover Tuition Costs for 1,077 Students After Suspension of USAID Scholarship Programs” by Egyptian Streets

Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

This week, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta sent out a memo warning employees against leaking confidential company information … only for that memo to be leaked! Guest host Meghan McCarty Carino explains how it’s connected to the culture wars playing out between tech leaders and rank-and-file workers in Silicon Valley. And, we’ll get into how President Donald Trump is testing the legal limits of his office by firing certain federal officials. Plus, we’ll weigh in on cozy video games and Punxsutawney Phil during a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump’s Firings Could Bring Court Cases That Expand His Power” from The New York Times
• “Meta warns that it will fire leakers in leaked memo” from The Verge
• “Mark Zuckerberg whined about leaks at Meta as company promised firings. It took minutes for the threat to leak out” from The Independent
• “Silicon Valley Tech Workers Quietly Protest Their Bosses’ Embrace of Trump” from The New York Times
• “New research backs up what gamers have thought for years: cozy video games can be an antidote to stress and anxiety.” from Reuters
• “What is Groundhog Day?” from The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
• “Starbucks reverses its open-door policy, requiring people to make a purchase if they want to stay” from CBS News
• “Like Any Millennial, Yahoo Wants to Be Seen As Cool Again” from Business Insider
• “Try ‘Phone Free February’ to reduce screen time, improve your health” from The Washington Post

We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

President Donald Trump has fired dozens of government officials since he took office. The latest is the chair of the Federal Election Commission. But is any of this legal? We’ll get into it. Plus: A “Make Me Smart” alum shares the trauma of losing his home in the Los Angeles fires. Finally, we’ll wrap with a dose of uplifting news (thanks to you!) and a round of our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Democratic FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub says Trump fired her. She says it’s not  legal.” from CBS News

• “Trump Illegally Attempts to Fire Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub” from Campaign Legal Center

• “How to Watch All the 2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films” by Town & Country magazine

• “2025 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!” by Erin in the Morning

• “The Trauma of Losing Your Home in the Eaton Fire” from The New York Times

• “A Los Angeles-area developer gives advice on rebuilding after the fires” from Marketplace

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

On the show today, we check in with Kimberly to hear more about her adventures in Cuba, a country that’s back in the news thanks to President Donald Trump’s commitment to establish a massive migrant detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. We’ll explain how Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration could affect the Cuban economy. Plus, more on how Cubans have managed to make do under a strict U.S. trade embargo, from dealing with medicine shortages to navigating a pandemic without Zoom.

Here’s everything we talked about today: 

• “Trump Says U.S. Will Hold Migrants at Guantánamo Bay” from The New York Times
• ​​“Timeline: U.S.-Cuba Relations” from the Council on Foreign Relations
• “Trump moves to end refugee resettlement and parole for Cubans, Haitians and Venezuelans” from The Miami Herald

Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Ahead of this year’s election, politicians are spinning out all kinds of narratives about how immigration hurts the U.S. economy. But an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office projects that a surge in immigration over the next decade will ultimately lower the federal deficit. We’ll do the numbers. Then, we’ll get into why former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers compared the Republican Party’s economic agenda to former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss’ infamous mini-budget disaster. And, Kai tells us about his cool dad moment.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Summers Says GOP Fiscal Plans Set US Up for ‘Liz Truss Moment’” from Bloomberg
• “Undocumented immigrants will boost economy, lower deficit, CBO says” from The Hill
• “Effects of the Immigration Surge on the Federal Budget and the Economy” from the Congressional Budget Office
• “Why Hydrangeas Are Blooming Spectacularly in the Northeast This Summer” from The New York Times
• “Chappell Roan Booked a Tour. Then She Blew Up.” from The New York Times

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, we’re talking about one of Kai Ryssdal’s favorite topics: soccer! The sport’s U.S. audience is only expected grow, especially as the country gets ready to host the World Cup in 2026. Paul Tenorio, soccer writer for The Athletic, said access to the sport has changed dramatically for Americans over the last decade. On the show today, Tenorio explains why soccer is gaining a new audience, what lessons American stadiums can learn from mistakes at the recent Copa América tournament, and how legendary player Lionel Messi is bringing eyes and money to the game in the United States.

Then, we’ll get into how companies are using troves of data to target different consumers, and why this “surveillance pricing” has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. And, what a travel editor got wrong about repeat travel.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “The Messi Effect – How One Single Player Will Impact Soccer In America” from Forbes
• “‘It was inhuman’: Why the Copa America final was delayed and dangerously close to disaster” from The Athletic
• “U.S. Soccer Fans Are Younger, More Diverse Than Fans of Other Sports” from Morning Consult
• “What Messi’s MLS, Apple, Adidas deal means for everyone else” from ESPN
• “You’re not going crazy — you may actually be paying higher prices than other people” from CNN Business
• “FTC Issues Orders to Eight Companies Seeking Information on Surveillance Pricing” from the Federal Trade Commission
• “Why Is the US Deficit So Big? Depends on Who You Ask” from Bloomberg
• “What the bond market’s telling us, or not, about Biden’s withdrawal” from Marketplace

Send us your suggestions for Paris Games-themed cocktails or let us know what Olympic events you’re looking forward to watching. Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s official, folks. Over the weekend, President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in. Some are pointing out similarities between VP Harris’ eleventh-hour candidacy and the “glass cliff effect,” when a woman is put in a position of leadership to fix a company in crisis. We’ll get into it and fill you in on how the Harris campaign is leaning into memes to attract the Gen Z vote. Plus, gaps in China’s newly released economic plans leave questions about the country’s ability to turn things around.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Heat pumps, EV chargers and more: U.S. unveils $4.3 billion in local climate funds” from The Washington Post
• “When That Job Promotion Is Really a ‘Glass Cliff'” from The New York Times
• “China’s Long Blueprint for Economy Falls Short on Details, Raising Concerns” from The Wall Street Journal
• “What coconut trees and Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ have to do with Kamala Harris” from The Washington Post
• “What is Kamala Harris’ ‘brat’ rebrand all about?” from BBC News
• “Brat campaign: Harris team swiftly embraces Gen Z memes about VP” from Axios

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

If President Donald Trump goes through with his plan to levy sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, it wouldn’t be the first time the U.S. has done such a thing. Ever heard of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930? Anyone? Those tariffs are widely credited with sinking the United States deeper into the Great Depression. And although global trade looks different nowadays, they can teach us a lot about how Trump’s protectionist approach to global trade could play out. On the show today, Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains how the Smoot-Hawley tariff debacle can shed light on the current moment, why the president has the power to wield tariffs in the first place, and how punishing trading partners could leave the U.S. economy at a disadvantage. Plus, what this fight has to do with the 1980s film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and Roomba vacuum cleaners!

Later, one listener’s call to visit your local butcher. And, dating coach Damona Hoffman, host of the “Dates and Mates” podcast, answers the “Make Me Smart” question just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Tariffs on Trading Partners: Can the President Actually Do That?” from Council on Foreign Relations
• “One Response to Trump’s Tariffs: Trade That Excludes the U.S.” from The New York Times
• “The United States has been disengaging from the global economy” from the Peterson Institute for International Economics
• “Protectionism 100 years ago helped ignite a world war. Could it happen again?” from The Washington Post
• “The US is one of the least trade-oriented countries in the world – despite laying the groundwork for today’s globalized system” from The Conversation

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Throughout the 2024 election campaign, voters kept saying the economy felt bad, even though it looked good on paper. A new report blames that disconnect on the way the government measures the economy — sending economic circles abuzz! We’ll explain what the tizzy is all about. Plus, is the Senate confirmation process for federal officials still useful? And, we’ll smile about the adorableness that is the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Voters Were Right About the Economy. The Data Was Wrong.” from Politico
• Article 2 Section 2 Clause 2 | Constitution Annotated from the Library of Congress
• “Tulsi Gabbard confirmed by Senate as director of national intelligence” from The Washington Post
• “Best of 2025 Masters Agility Championships from Westminster Kennel Club” from Fox Sports
• “In pictures: The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show” from CNN
• “A Spa Day for Louis Before the Westminster Dog Show” from The New York Times
• “Westminster 2025 Preview: Why Can’t Golden Retrievers Win Best in Show?” from The New York Times

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

President Donald Trump’s recent steps to remove federal employees is drawing comparisons to government purges during the Red Scare of the 1950s. What’s at stake when government workers are pushed out? We’ll break it down. Plus, we’ll explain why a ruling in one of the lawsuits over Trump’s funding freeze is a biggie. Finally, tell us something good that happened to you lately!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Judge Rules That Trump Administration Defied Order to Unfreeze Billions in Federal Grants” from The New York Times

• “Trump Eases Enforcement of Law Banning Overseas Bribes” by Bloomberg

• “What Happened the Last Time a President Purged the Bureaucracy” from Politico

• “CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid ‘energetic’ opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised” by CBS News

• “Second pig kidney transplant successfully completed at Massachusetts General Hospital” from WCVB Channel 5

• “Experimental transplants with organs from gene-edited pigs see major steps forward” from CNN

• “A campus sign said ‘Tell us something good.’ Students delivered.” by The Washington Post

Tell us something good that happened to you recently! Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

President Biden today announced a hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza. This comes as Biden is making a string of policy decisions to make it harder for the incoming administration to undo his legacy. We’ll explain. And, when the world feels like too much, how do we cope? Plus, a touching photo essay that zooms in on the work of hospice nurses makes us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire deal, senior U.S. official says: Live updates” from The Washington Post
• “Biden Races to Cement His Legacy Through a Series of Actions” from The New York Times
• “Introduction: ‘Those Who Have Made Death Their Life'” from The Daily Yonder
• “Justice Alito Asks If You Can Read Pornhub for the Articles” from The Cut
• “We Asked the Math Tutor Who Posts His Lessons on Pornhub: Why?” from Vice

We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A quick housing market announcement: the structure for real estate commissions is set to change this week following a legal settlement with the National Association of Realtors from earlier this year. We’ll get into what it could mean for homebuyers, sellers and real estate agents. And, to publish or not to publish internal Trump campaign documents allegedly leaked by Iranian hackers? That is the question several newsrooms are facing. We’ll explain the conundrum. Plus, Kai Ryssdal gets wistful about his daughter’s first day of school.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “So Much About Real-Estate Commissions Just Changed. Here’s What to Know.” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Why newsrooms haven’t published leaked Trump campaign documents” from The Washington Post
• “Biden admin to spend billions to blunt spike in Medicare drug premiums” from Politico
• “Seeds are gifts from nature, says a major organic producer. So now it’s going to give them away” from AP News
• “Rare display of northern lights and Perseid meteor shower delights skywatchers worldwide” from Space

We love to hear from you. Email your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! If you’ve ever wondered how you make your diet more climate friendly, this episode of “Burning Questions” has you covered. From our friends over at “How We Survive,” the series answers your questions about climate change. In this episode, host Amy Scott chats with Melissa Nelson, professor of Indigenous sustainability at Arizona State University, about how our day-to-day food choices affect the planet and steps you can take to make your diet a little greener, without getting overwhelmed.

On the show today: a story from the “this is terrifying” file. Cybersecurity researchers are bringing attention to a recent surge in GPS “spoofing” on commercial airlines. We’ll explain how these digital attacks work and why they pose a danger. And, former President Donald Trump made his return to the social media site X to promote an upcoming conversation with Elon Musk. We’ll get into it. Plus, Kai Ryssdal tells us all about his adventures in France to see the Paris Olympics.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump Returns to X With Several Posts Ahead of Musk Interview” from Bloomberg
• “GPS spoofers ‘hack time’ on commercial airlines, researchers say” from Reuters
• “Meta beats censorship lawsuit by RFK Jr’s anti-vaccine group” from Reuters

We love to hear from you. Email your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Compared to the Games in Tokyo and Beijing, NBC’s Paris Olympics coverage has been pulling in significantly higher viewership and ad revenue. Guest host Meghan McCarty Carino explains why the company may have finally hit its stride with its streamer Peacock. And, candidate Donald Trump said the president should have more influence over the Federal Reserve. Guest host Nova Safo gets into how that scenario played out in the Richard Nixon era. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “NBC’s Olympics Broadcast Isn’t Just Addictive. It’s a New Era of Streaming” from Wired
• “NBC enjoys Paris Olympics success as Americans neglect work to watch the Games” from Reuters
• “The Snoop Olympics: Paris proving a boon to NBC after interest waned in Tokyo and Beijing Games” from AP News
• “Trump Calls for Three Debates Against Harris, More Influence Over the Fed” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Trump would face constraints in remaking the Federal Reserve if elected” from Axios
• “Do athletes who earn an Olympic gold medal get a cash prize?” from Marketplace
• “Costco is cracking down on membership moochers” from CNN
• “Amazon Deals Let Shoppers Buy Products on TikTok, Pinterest” from Bloomberg
• “Americans Are Skipping Theme Parks This Summer” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Celebrity book clubs are ‘extremely influential’ in the publishing world” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Email your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Former {resident Trump and Vice President Harris are apparently neck and neck in the presidential race. That’s according to the … betting markets? Yes! We’ll get into the ways prediction markets are being used like polls in the 2024 race. Then, why lobbying dollars may pour in at state houses following the end of the Chevron doctrine. Plus, guest host Meghan McCarty Carino joins us to discuss the steady drip, drip, drip of layoffs in the tech industry. And, U.S. sprinter Noah Lyles wants his Air Jordan moment.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Yes, you can place bets on the election (for now)” from Marketplace
• “Trump and Harris in Dead Heat for Presidency, Polymarket Betting Shows” from The Wall Street Journal
• “When the feds don’t regulate … will the states?” from Marketplace
• “Dell Layoffs Hit Sales Team With New Unit Focused on AI” from Bloomberg
• “Intel is laying off over 15,000 employees and will stop ‘non-essential work’” from The Verge
• “The World’s Fastest Man Wants His Own Signature Adidas Shoe” from Bloomberg

Join us tomorrow for a Make Me Smart guest host take over edition of Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

A federal judge on Monday ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly over online search. It’s the biggest antitrust ruling in decades. Could it be the cherry on top for President Joe Biden’s economic legacy? We’ll get into it. Plus, climate change and the future of the home insurance industry. And, gymnastics girl power and meteor showers make us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Google Loses Antitrust Case Over Search-Engine Dominance” from The Wall Street Journal
• “All the spiciest parts of the Google antitrust ruling” from The Verge
• “How Does Harris View Big Business? Her Time as California’s Top Lawyer Offers Clues” from The New York Times
• “Your Next Home Insurance Nightmare: AI, Drones, and Surveillance” from Business Insider
• “Trump vs. Biden: Who Got More Done on Antitrust?” from Washington Monthly
• “For the VP also-rans’ political futures, Walz’s elevation ‘complicates it a lot’” from Politico
• “Michelle Obama Weighs In On Simone Biles’ Bowing Gesture After NFL Star Trashes It” from HuffPost Sports
• “Perseid meteor shower 2024 peaks this weekend. Here’s how to see summer’s best ‘shooting stars'” from Space
• “Mountain Bikers Are Rewilding Land by Paying the Government to Do It” from Wired

Make Me Smart is headed to Boston! You can find details about the live event and how to get early bird tickets here.

Another day, another data breach, am I right? Companies including AT&T, Ticketmaster, and UnitedHealth have all made headlines recently after hackers left millions of customers’ data vulnerable. Lily Hay Newman, a writer covering information security, digital privacy and hacking for Wired, says data breaches like these have been a growing issue for more than a decade. On the show today, Newman explains steps you can take after you’ve been impacted by a breach (beyond signing up for free credit monitoring) and what you can do proactively to protect your data. Plus, what cybercriminals actually do with your data and how cyberattacks have evolved.

Then, we’ll get into how a PAC funded by Elon Musk is collecting information on would-be voters. Plus, we’ll workshop a name for Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic platform and hear about Olympic speed climbing.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “The Sweeping Danger of the AT&T Phone Records Breach” from Wired
• “Ticketmaster Confirms Data Breach. Here’s What to Know.” from The New York Times
• “AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in new data breach” from TechCrunch
• “What’s Behind the Increase in Data Breaches?” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Here’s how much your personal information is worth to cybercriminals – and what they do with it” from The Conversation
• “How an Elon Musk PAC is using voter data to help Trump beat Harris in 2024 election” from CNBC
• “Forget Apple, the biggest loser in the Google search ruling could be Mozilla and its Firefox web browser” from Fortune
• “U.S. climber Sam Watson smashes men’s speed world record with 4.75-second qualification run” from NBC Olympics

Make Me Smart is headed to Boston! You can find details about the live event and how to get early bird tickets here.

It’s been a tumultuous Monday for global markets as investors worry about the strength of the American economy. We’ll explain the data points behind the stock market slide and what it could mean for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decisions on interest rates. And, we’ll get into what the fallout of former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists says about microaggressions in the workplace. Plus, women’s rugby, Flavor Flav and all things Olympics.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump attacks Harris’s Black identity at NABJ conference. Harris says Americans ‘deserve better.’” from The Washington Post
• “Traders Bet on Fed Emergency Rate Cuts, but Officials Need More to React” from The New York Times
• “U.S. women’s rugby team’s recent $4M gift is momentous for the sport: ‘We’ve always wanted to be included'” from CNBC
• “Flavor Flav’s new reality: Tackling gender pay inequality in sports, one Olympic polo match at a time” from The Oregonian
• “An Olympian couldn’t pay her rent. Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian stepped in to help” from CNN Sports
• “Flavor Flav Signs Five-Year Sponsorship Deal as Official Hype Man for USA Water Polo Women’s and Men’s National Teams” from USA Water Polo
• “Google pulls Gemini AI ad from Olympics after backlash” from The Verge

We love to hear from you. Email your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s been a few months since our deep dive on populism, but following the annoucement of JD Vance as Trump’s VP pick, the term is back in the headlines. Today, we’re revisiting that episode because it’s important to know what populism is and isn’t, and why a specific brand of populism is on the rise. We will be back next week with new episodes after a short summer break. Until then, keep sending us your thoughts, questions and comments at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “It’s a major global election year, and populism is on the ballot” from Ipsos

• • “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash” from Harvard Kennedy School

• • “Revealed: the rise and rise of populist rhetoric” from The Guardian

• • “Populism is morphing in insidious ways” from The Atlantic

• • “US 2.0: Not at the Dinner Table” from Hidden Brain Media

• • “How a health-care cyberattack may affect your prescription drug access” from The Washington Post

• • “Calls Mount for Government Help as Change Healthcare Hack Freezes Medical Payments” from The Wall Street Journal

• • “China’s New Economic Agenda, a Lot Like the Old One: Takeaways” from The New York Times

• • Subscribe to the “Make Me Smart” newsletter

On today’s edition of Economics on Tap, we’ll get into some news while toasting the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics. First, Kimberly teaches us how to make an Olympic torch cocktail (complete with a real flame)! And, we’ll play a Paris Games-themed round of This or That. But first, a discussion of the history of women’s sportswear at the Olympic Games and Boeing’s Starliner crew (still) stuck in space.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “50 days after launch to ISS, Boeing Starliner astronauts still have no landing date” from Space
• “Olympic athletes are approaching the limits of human performance” from The Washington Post
• “From Corsets to Singlets, the Olympics Have Driven the Evolution of Women’s Sportswear” from Smithsonian magazine
• “How Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky does what no one else does. Every day.” from The Washington Post
• “The Double Kick” from 99% Invisible
• “Today, Explained podcast” from Vox

Keep sending us your Olympic-themed cocktail ideas. Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The Los Angeles fires are a warning to all of us. Over the past week, lives, homes, businesses and entire communities have been lost in what’s expected to be among the nation’s costliest disasters ever. But with more than one-third of the U.S. population living in counties with high wildfire risk, this begs the question: Should lots of people relocate? Crystal Kolden, director of the Fire Resilience Center at the University of California at Merced and a former wildland firefighter, said abandoning these places isn’t the only option. On the show today, Kolden explains why the L.A. fires have been so tough to put out, why wildfires are different from other natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, and how devastated communities can rebuild in a way that makes them more resilient to future fires.

Later, a listener shares a teamwork approach to cleaning up after a house party. And, Brad Stulberg, author of “Master of Change,” was wrong about how to find motivation.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “L.A. Fires Show Limits of America’s Efforts to Cope With Climate Change” from The New York Times
• “Column: Recovery will be tempered by hard decisions and, if we aren’t careful, inequality” from The L.A. Times
• “Palisades and other Southern California fires could be most expensive in US history” from LAist
• “More People Are Living in the Riskiest Wildfire Zones” from Bloomberg
• “‘Zone Zero’ Mandates Near Completion for High Wildfire Risk Areas” from the Sierra Club
• “‘Conditions’ should be placed on California wildfire aid: House Speaker Mike Johnson” from USA Today

We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

When President Biden leaves office in 2025, he’ll leave behind a series of industrial policies like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act that have turned United States economic policy on its head. We’ll get into why it may take decades to see these initiatives fully play out. And, we’ll get into Vice President Kamala Harris’s budding economic agenda. Plus, why Tesla and other tech companies were a drag on the stock market this week.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “What happens to Biden’s industrial policy initiatives now?” from Marketplace
• “The Momala Economy: The candidate caregivers have been waiting for” from 19th News
• “Tesla earnings: Automotive revenue falls 7% in Q2, robotaxi timing unclear” from Axios
• “What goes up must come back down” from Marketplace
• VIDEO: “Paris” by The Brevet

Join us tomorrow for our 2024 Olympics Edition of Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. And watch the hosts square off in a round of This/That!

In May, President Joe Biden’s campaign said it had a hefty $91 million stashed in the bank. If Biden were to end his candidacy, what would happen to all that cash? We’ll get into it. And, we’ll explain why the federal government’s plan to phase out its purchases of single-use plastics could have a sizable impact on the country’s use of plastic overall. Plus, we’ll get nostalgic for DVDs and paper checks during a game of Half Full/Half Empty! And, would you talk politics in the office?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “It’s time to stop arguing over the population slowdown and start adapting to it” from Vox
• “What happens to Joe Biden’s campaign money?” from Reuters
• “The White House Has a Plan to Slash Plastic Use in the U.S.” from The New York Times
• “FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Releases New Strategy to Tackle Plastic Pollution, Takes Action to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Federal Operations” from The White House
• “What is Microsoft’s “blue screen of death?” Here’s what it means and how to fix it.” from CBS News
• “RIP Redbox, a Bad Idea at the Worst Time” from Wired
• “Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat and We’re Not OK” from E! News
• “Target will stop accepting this old-school form of payment” from CNN Business
• “How can we talk about politics in the workplace?” from Marketplace

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This week Sean O’Brien became the first ever president of the Teamsters union to speak at the Republican National Convention. We’ll explain why this ruffled some feathers and what it could mean for the relationship between unions and the Democratic Party. And, we’ll get into how the lock-in effect is shaping today’s housing market and why the Federal Reserve won’t wait for inflation to fall to 2% before lowering interest rates. Plus, when it comes to avoiding online misinformation while a crisis unfolds, patience is a virtue.

• “Sean O’Brien: Why a union president crossed partisan lines for a starring role at Trump’s RNC” from CNN
• “A Teamsters Boss Delivers Rare Speech to R.N.C.” from The New York Times
• “First-time homebuyers are a growing share of the market” from Marketplace
• “We fact-checked some of the rumors spreading online about the Trump assassination attempt” from Reuters
• “How to Avoid Online Misinformation After Political Violence” from Marketplace Tech
• “CPI inflation report June 2024” from CNBC
• “Interest rates may work like a ‘Jedi mind trick’ to drive price trends” from Marketplace

Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

The transition to our clean energy economy is already underway. But progress on climate change may slow down as climate populism on the far right is taking root in developed economies. We’ll explain why cheaper, green technologies might be the antidote. Meanwhile, in Arizona, ballooning costs for a school voucher program triggered a state budget crisis. Plus, NASA blasted a Missy Elliot song all the way to Venus at the speed of light!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Populist opposition is threatening progress on climate change” from the Peterson Institute for International Economics
• “School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.” from ProPublica
• “A Missy Elliott Song Travels to Venus at the Speed of Light” from The New York Times
• “Paris mayor swims in Seine ahead of Olympic Games opening” from Axios
• “Pressed about jumping into Baltimore Harbor, Mayor Scott and others admit it’s still unsafe and illegal outside of organized events” from Baltimore Brew

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

If you’ve been feeling hopeless about the news, the election, the economy, the climate crisis and everything else that’s going on, today’s episode is for you. Emily Amick, lawyer and co-author of “Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives,” argues we can all become better participants in our democracy. And we don’t need to have a gazillion dollars to do it. On the show today, Amick explains why we should treat civic engagement as self-care, how to find your civic personality and ways to cultivate a news diet that doesn’t put you in a doom loop. Plus, the moment she realized our democracy was headed in the wrong direction.

Then, we’ll get into how voters in Utah fought to protect the power of citizen-led ballot initiatives and why shoppers hide purchases from their romantic partners. Plus, an anime cosplayer was wrong about what it would take to create her own costume.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Despite Recent Setbacks, There Is Still Hope For Democracy” from Forbes
• “In ‘Democracy in Retrograde,’ Emily Amick Talks About Political Engagement and Her Cancer Diagnosis” from Teen Vogue
• “What does Utah’s redistricting ruling do to voters’ ability to change laws?” from The Salt Lake Tribune
• “Utah Supreme Court: Lawmakers must heed voter-passed gerrymandering reforms “ from Axios Salt Lake City
• “Amazon’s Prime Day a ‘major’ cause of worker injuries, Senate probe finds” from CNBC
• “US Retail Sales Excluding Autos Rise by Most in Three Months” from Bloomberg
• “Gym Bags, Trunks, Back Doors: How Stealth Shoppers Hide Purchases” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Financial Infidelity Report 2023: Why People Hide Purchases From Partners” from Circuit
• “Inside a UPS warehouse that prioritizes super-fast shipping” from Marketplace

How are you getting involved in civic life? What helps you fend off feelings of hopelessness? Let us know at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

We’re still processing the news of the shooting at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend. On top of that, a federal judge dismissed the classified documents case against the former president. We’ll get into the news and why it matters how we talk about it. Then, we’ll explain why eviction rates remain above pre-pandemic levels in many parts of the country. Plus, some good news from the world of science about a malaria vaccine rollout in Ivory Coast and a $14 million investment in battery recycling.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Evictions Surge in Major Cities in the American Sunbelt” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Judge dismisses Trump’s classified documents case” from The Washington Post
• “Malaria Vaccines: Which Countries in Africa Are Using Serum’s New Shots?” from Bloomberg
• “It Will Soon Be Easier for Americans to Recycle Batteries” from Wired
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $14 Million to Increase Domestic Battery Recycling from the U.S. Department of Energy
• “How can we talk about politics in the workplace?” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In the aftermath of the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, money’s been talking. Major donors to a key pro-Biden super PAC are reportedly putting donations worth $90 million on ice if Biden stays in the race. We’ll get into what the funding freeze means for the future of Biden’s campaign. Plus, guest host Sabri Ben-Achour makes us smart about cricket protein powder. And we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Donors to Pro-Biden Super PAC Are Said to Withhold Roughly $90 Million” from The New York Times
• “Inside the glitzy Biden fundraiser that lost the president George Clooney” from The Washington Post
• “Silkworm satay? Singapore approves insects as food” from CNN
• “Dynamic pricing tech may brighten retail bottom lines and put consumers in the dark” from Marketplace
• “Kids want $70 wrinkle creams. Parents and lawmakers are “fighting a losing battle”’ from Marketplace
• “A Fancy Card Is Becoming the Only Way to Get a Restaurant Reservation” from The Atlantic
• “Influencer Style Case Risks More Stolen Vibe Suits From Creators” from Bloomberg Law
• “Amazon launched an AI shopping assistant — just in time for Prime Day” from Quartz

Before you get your weekend started, send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

If you’re waiting for interest rates to fall back to the near-zero levels of the 2010s, don’t hold your breath. On Capitol Hill this week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told senators that era is probably over. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll unpack why more NATO members are spending more on defense and what’s causing widespread financial strain for hospitals and health systems. Plus, how things could change for federal agencies and lawmakers in a post-Chevron doctrine world.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Era of near-zero interest rates likely over: Powell” from The Hill
• “Fed steers interest rates on path toward ‘neutral'” from Marketplace
• “NATO’s place in the global economy” from Marketplace
• “NATO on the Edge: Biden Praises and Trump Denigrates a 75-Year Alliance” from The New York Times
• “Health care openings still hot amid cooling job market” from Marketplace
• “New AHA Report: Hospitals and Health Systems Continue to Face Rising Costs, Economic Pressures” from the American Hospital Association
• “With end of ‘Chevron deference,’ Supreme Court changes how agencies, lawmakers work” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

For the oldest members of Gen X, retirement is right around the corner. But a new report from BlackRock found only 60% of Gen X feels on track to retire, the lowest of any generation. We’ll do the numbers on which Americans feel confident in their retirement savings and what could explain generational and gender gaps. And, we’ll get into a social media horror story playing out at a Pennsylvania middle school. Plus, Team USA gymnasts will bring the sparkle factor to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Reality bites for Gen X retirement” from Axios
• “Read on Retirement” from BlackRock
• “Rules for 401(k) Withdrawals” from The Motley Fool
• “Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School” from The New York Times
• “Team USA’s Olympic Gymnasts Will Wear Leotards With a Record Number of Crystals” from The New York Times
• “See the U.S. Olympic gymnastic team’s new leotards encrusted in crystals” from The Washington Post
• “SNL’s Teacher Sketch Gets Real About the Most Important Job: “Y’all Won”‘ from NBC Insider
• “‘Shrek 5’ Set for 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz Returning” from The Hollywood Reporter

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is as American as apple pie. But it wasn’t always this way, and it’s putting the housing market in a tough spot lately.  A substantial amount of homeowners with low-rate mortgages are choosing to stay put in their homes rather than selling and buying a new one at higher rates. It’s created what’s known as a lock-in effect. On the show today, Andra Ghent, professor of finance at the University of Utah, explains how a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage became the norm in the United States, why it’s now putting the housing market in a bind, and how our mortgage system perpetuates inequality. Plus, could the Danish mortgage model work here?

Then, we’ll get into why the Federal Trade Commission is eyeing pharmacy benefit managers, the third-party companies that negotiate drug prices between health insurance providers and drugmakers. And, an editor at The Points Guy shares the story of a travel lesson learned.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Why do we have a 30-year mortgage, anyway?” from Marketplace
• “A Huge Number of Homeowners Have Mortgage Rates Too Good to Give Up” from The New York Times
• “A 30-Year Trap: The Problem With America’s Weird Mortgages” from The New York Times
• “Denmark’s genius housing fix” from Business Insider
• “Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell, So the Market for Brand-New Homes Is Booming” from The Wall Street Journal
• “FTC Releases Interim Staff Report on Prescription Drug Middlemen” from the Federal Trade Commision
• “F.T.C. Slams Middlemen for High Drug Prices, Reversing Hands-Off Approach” from The New York Times
• “State Pharmacy Benefit Manager Legislation” from the National Academy for State Health Policy
• “Prescription Drugs: Selected States’ Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers” from the U.S. Government Accountability Office
• “Fed Chair Powell talks up progress on inflation but says rate cuts not imminent yet” from CNN Business
• “Software and social media to grab Congress’ attention” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

As wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles, some wealthy residents are shelling out thousands each day to hire private firefighters to protect their homes and businesses. But some argue that the market for these private crews diminishes public firefighting resources. We’ll get into it. And, renowned science fiction author Octavia Butler predicted many of our modern problems, including catastrophic wildfires. We’ll explain how looking to the past helped her write about the future. Plus, Kimberly gives us some advice for throwing better parties in 2025.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “‘Will Pay Any Amount’: Private Firefighters Are in Demand in L.A.” from The New York Times
• “I Will Pay Any Amount to Not Pay My Taxes” from McSweeney’s Internet Tendency
• “N.K. Jemisin on the prescience and brilliance of Parable of the Sower” from New Scientist
• “A Few Rules For Predicting The Future by Octavia E. Butler” from Common Good Collective
• “The LA Fires Aren’t a Surprise If You Study History and Climate Change. So Now What?” from Teen Vogue
• “Americans Need to Party More” from The Atlantic
• “Here’s how single women are successfully navigating an otherwise brutal market for first-time homebuyers” from Business Insider

We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In June, global temperatures had surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for 12 months straight, encroaching on the goal set in the Paris climate accord. We’ll explain why scientists use 1.5 degrees as a key benchmark and why it’s important to have hard conversations about climate change. Then, we’ll get into an investigation revealing how insurers profited from false diagnoses of Medicare patients. And, a billion-dollar donation to a medical school and new developments in textile recycling make us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “In a troubling milestone, Earth surpasses 1.5 degrees C of warming for 12 consecutive months” from LA Times
• “June 2024 marks 12th month of global temperature reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial” from Copernicus
• “Burning Questions: What’s the deal with 1.5 degrees?” from Marketplace
• “‘We’re Not Dead Yet.’ Baby Boomers’ Good Times Drive the Economy.” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated” from The Wall Street Journal
• “How the Journal Analyzed Medicare Advantage Data” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Why scientists think they may finally have found a way to recycle clothes” from The Washington Post
• “Johns Hopkins to offer free medical school tuition from $1 billion Bloomberg Philanthropies grant” from The Baltimore Banner
• “$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School” from The New York Times

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! We’re on a little break for the Fourth of July holiday. So today we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at “This Is Uncomfortable.” It’s all about the fashion industry and the workers who make the clothes we buy (and often throw away). In this episode, producer Alice Wilder introduces us to one garment worker’s personal fight for fair pay and the push to improve conditions for garment workers like her.

Hey Smarties! We’re off for the Fourth of July holiday. So today we’re bringing you a super fun episode of “Million Bazillion” that’ll teach you and your kiddos about a bit of our nation’s history and a highly secretive landmark. It’s all about Fort Knox, known as one of the most secure places in the world, and why it holds so much of the country’s gold. Plus, its role in stabilizing the U.S. economy in a time of crisis.

Much in our modern lives depends on GPS. But the United States’ GPS system is getting old and hasn’t kept up with international competition. We’ll get into how this leaves the U.S. vulnerable to national security threats. And, new data shows that as abortion protections have eroded across the country, more young women have been getting sterilized. Plus, one nonprofit’s work to give kids who’ve aged out of foster care a bona fide college move-in experience, and a women’s soccer stadium’s surprise success story.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Why GPS Is Under Attack” from The New York Times
• “Rate of Young Women Getting Sterilized Doubled After Roe Was Overturned” from MedPage Today
• “Move-In Day Mafia Helps Kids From Foster Care Settle In College” from Black Enterprise
• “No One Wanted to Finance Their Stadium. Now Every Game Is a Sellout.” from The Wall Street Journal

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s been about four years since the great remote work experiment took off for many employees who work computer-bound jobs. After plenty of back and forth between return-to-office mandates and work-from-home advocates, neither side really won. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the share of Americans doing some or all of their work from home has leveled off to about 35%. On the show today, The New York Times’ Emma Goldberg explains who’s working from home these days and how it’s impacting both employees and their bosses. Plus, the commercial real estate question looms large over the remote work debate.

Then, we’ll get into why the Joe Biden administration’s new protections for workers in extreme heat could be threatened by recent Supreme Court rulings and a potential second Trump presidency. And, the CEO of GS1, the company administering retail barcodes, didn’t see the QR code takeover coming.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Work From Home Data Shows Who’s Fully Remote, Hybrid and in Person” from The New York Times
• “Research: How Remote Work Impacts Women at Different Stages of Their Careers” from Harvard Business Review
• “More Americans now prefer hybrid over fully remote work, survey finds” from Axios
• “Remote Workers Are Losing Out on Promotions, New Data Shows” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Dell said return to the office or else—nearly half of workers chose “or else'” from Ars Technica
• “Tesla delivered fewer vehicles to customers for the second quarter in a row” from The Verge
• “Biden to announce heat rules as climate-related deaths rise” from Politico
• “Fact check: Republicans, not Democrats, eliminated the Senate filibuster on Supreme Court nominees” from USA Today

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A Supreme Court ruling today gives companies a dramatically wider window to challenge federal regulations with lawsuits. We’ll get into why this is particularly important in light of a separate decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine, and how it could impact other federal regulations like the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete clauses. Then, we’ll discuss the Supreme Court’s decision on former President Donald Trump’s immunity case and where the heck we go from here. Plus, what you can do to protect the health of our democracy.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Supreme Court rules Trump has some immunity in D.C. election interference case” from NBC News
• “Supreme Court Extends Time Frame for Challenges to Regulations” from The New York Times
• “Biden to extend overtime protections for 1 million workers” from The Hill
• Post on Bluesky from Squire Boone
• “American democracy is cracking. These ideas could help repair it.” from The Washington Post
• “Five Strategies to Support U.S. Democracy” from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• “How to Protect Democracy” from Protect Democracy
• “Opinion | John Lewis: Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” from The New York Times

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

There were no fireworks for the Democratic Party during last night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. While Trump made false claims throughout the night, Biden did little to assuage fears that he’s not up to the job. We’ll get into how the Biden campaign’s fundraising strategy is already shifting and what it might mean for downballot races. Then, we’ll weigh in on Fourth of July travel and drone light shows during a game of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side” from AP News
• “US Presidential Debate Viewership Analysis” from MiQ
• “Biden-Trump presidential debate draws 48 million TV viewers” from Axios
• “Politics and ‘a tale of different economies”’ from Marketplace
• “Why taxpayers keep footing much of the bill for new sports stadiums” from Marketplace
• “Google puts an end to continuous scroll” from Marketplace
• “MTV News Website Goes Dark, Archives Pulled Offline” from Variety
• “Fourth of July travel is set to break records. Here’s how to plan.” from The Washington Post
• “Why drones are replacing fireworks shows” from National Geographic
• “We RICK ROLLED The City of Austin, TX With 600 Drones” on YouTube

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to the Securities and Exchange Commission today when it ruled against its use of in-house judges to enforce securities fraud laws. We’ll get into why the decision will make the SEC’s job harder and what it could mean for other federal agencies. Plus, we’ll bust a common myth about Social Security and explain why homeownership is key factor in how Americans are faring in this economy.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “US Supreme Court faults SEC’s use of in-house judges in latest curbs on agency powers” from Reuters
• “The Supreme Court’s chaotic SEC v. Jarkesy decision endangers ‘hundreds of statutes'” from Vox
• “Social Security cuts are inevitable by 2035 unless lawmakers act” from Marketplace
• “How the Inflation Reduction Act could change the future of one Native American reservation” from Marketplace
• “Credit card delinquencies are climbing” from Marketplace
• “Are we living in a K-shaped economy?” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This year’s Supreme Court decision season has been a busy one, and it’s not over yet. We’ll get into the court’s leaked opinion on emergency abortions and two other expected decisions that have the business world watching. Plus, another round of Cybertruck recalls and why it’s fine to keep referring to X as Twitter (per one Supreme Court justice).

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Supreme Court Poised to Allow Idaho Emergency Abortions: Exclusive” from Bloomberg
• “Trump’s immunity, Jan. 6, abortion: The Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions are about to drop” from Politico
• “What would Congress do without Chevron deference?” from Roll Call
• “Tesla recalls every Cybertruck again” from Mashable
• “Tesla is recalling the Cybertruck again, this time because a piece can fly off” from CNN
• Tweet from John Shelton about the Supreme Court and the X/Twitter name debacle
• Your donation powers the journalism you rely on. Give today to support “Make Me Smart.”

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In the wake of the COVID-19 recession, many economists were describing the United States’ economic recovery as K-shaped. Basically, high-income Americans bounced back quicker than those at the lower end of the income scale. So, did we ever ditch that K shape? The person who coined the phrase “K-shaped recovery” back then, says no. On the show today, Peter Atwater, president of Financial Insyghts and adjunct professor at the College of William & Mary, explains why he believes economic inequality has grown since the pandemic recovery, why considerable wage gains for low-wage workers tell only part of the story and the risks of letting a K-shaped economy run wild.

Then, we’ll get into how the fragility of global shipping supply chains could be playing into Federal Reserve decisions on interest rates. And, happy wedding anniversary, Susanna!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “The ‘K’ Is Not OK” from LinkedIn
• “Inflation Is Bringing Back the K-Shaped Economy” from Bloomberg
• “Behind America’s divided economy: Booming luxury travel and a jump in ‘relief’ loans” from CNBC
• “A tight labor market and state minimum wage increases boosted low-end wage growth between 2019 and 2023” from the Economic Policy Institute
• “U.S. Wealth Inequality: Gaps Remain Despite Widespread Wealth Gains” from the St. Louis Federal Reserve
• “First publicly funded religious charter school in US ruled unconstitutional” from The Hill
• “Fed’s Bowman Warns of Upside Risks to Inflation, Not Time to Cut” from Bloomberg
• “Supply Chain Under Strain as Houthis Intensify Red Sea Strikes” from The New York Times
• Support Make Me Smart: Marketplace.org/givesmart

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2024. We can’t do this show without you and we still need your support. If you can, donate today to keep independent journalism going strong into 2025 and beyond. Give now to support “Make Me Smart.” Thank you so much for your generosity, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year.

Anime seems to be just about everywhere these days: film, music videos, the NFL and big streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

“Anime is colossal. In terms of raw revenue, anime and the NLF are tied at about $20 billion in [annual global] revenue,” said Chris Plante, editor in chief and co-founder of Polygon at Vox Media. “When you think of anime, it can be seen as niche, but the reality is that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

On the show today, Plante explains anime economics, what’s behind the rise of anime in the United States and some of the problematic aspects of the medium.

Later, we’ll discuss how climate change is impacting cherry blossom season and why the commercial real estate crisis could be a big problem for regional banks.

Later, one listener calls in on a landline about landlines. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from a digital illustrator based in Long Beach, California.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Who watches anime? Polygon surveyed more than 4,000 people to find out” from Polygon
• “Anime Market to Reach USD 62.7 Billion by 2032” from Yahoo Finance
• “Anime Is Booming. So Why Are Animators Living in Poverty?” from The New York Times
• “Sony Jacks Up Prices for Crunchyroll and Kills Funimation” from Gizmodo
• “From Niche To Mainstream: The Unstoppable Global Popularity Of Anime And How It Happened” from BuzzFeed
• “Streaming and covid-19 have entrenched anime’s global popularity” from The Economist
• “Naruto Movie in the Works With Destin Daniel Cretton” from The Hollywood Reporter
• “Cherry blossom forecast: We predict peak bloom in D.C. around March 21” from The Washington Post
• “Early jacaranda bloom sparks debate about climate change in Mexico” from Reuters
• “Commercial Real Estate Market Plunge Has Lenders Facing a Brutal Reality” from Bloomberg
• “Comic: Tienes economic anxiety? Artist Julio Salgado reflects on changes in creative industries” from the Los Angeles Times

Are you a fan of anime? Tell us about your favorite anime series! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Groups aligned with former President Trump are hunting through information to come up with a list of federal employees who might be resistant to a second Trump administration. We’ll discuss the push to reshape government. Plus, is the urban/rural divide a myth? And, a viral voicemail pep talk from a testing center worker makes us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “In This Debate, CNN Is the Decider” from The New York Times
• “Growing rural-urban divide exists only among white Americans” from Cornell Chronicle
• “The Number of People Primarily Working From Home Tripled Between 2019 and 2021” from the U.S. Census Bureau
• “Conservative-backed group is creating a list of federal workers it suspects could resist Trump plans” from AP News
• “A 3-year-old voicemail goes viral, leads to emotional reunion” from The Washington Post
• “Why Men Are ‘Rawdogging’ Flights” from GQ

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Four years after the Internal Revenue Service created a tax credit to help struggling businesses get through the pandemic, the agency ultimately plans to reject the majority of claims filed under the program. We’ll explain how it became swamped with fraud. And, Major League Baseball legend Reggie Jackson opened up about the racism he and other Black players faced in the ’60s. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “IRS says it will deny most claims of pandemic tax credit for employers” from The Washington Post
• “With pardons in Maryland, 2.5 million Americans will have marijuana convictions cleared or forgiven” from The Associated Press
• MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson remembers Willie Mays from Gary Parrish on X
• “It’s Time to Stop Inviting Plus-Ones to Weddings” from The Atlantic
• “First Came ‘Spam.’ Now, With A.I., We’ve Got ‘Slop’” from The New York Times
• “Netflix House Will Let You Experience Your Favorite Shows, Movies in Real Life” from Netflix Tudum
• “What’s to become of summer Fridays in the age of hybrid work?” from CNN
• “Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms” from The New York Times

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