Next month, Congress has a jam-packed to-do list, including funding the government, the ongoing impeachment proceedings of the Homeland Security secretary and high-stakes congressional primaries. We’ll explain all the reasons March is about to be a doozy in Washington. Plus, the work and money behind TikTok’s viral trick-shot videos. And the inspiration behind the theme music for Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Here’s everything we talked about today: “35 Hours for a 10-Second Clip: The Art of the TikTok Trick Shot” from The New York Times “Editor’s Note: Never mind the Ides of March, beware all of March” from Roll Call “The rhythmic world of Koji Kondo, maestro of Mario” from The Washington Post “$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School” from The New York Times Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class A stock price from Google Finance 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 two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the U.S. is imposing new sanctions on Russia in an attempt to weaken the Kremlin. But sanctions aren’t proving to be all that effective. We’ll get into some research weighing how well government sanctions work compared to consumer-driven boycotts. And, Instagram is a popular news destination, whether the social media operation likes it or not. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Instagram’s Uneasy Rise as a News Site” from The New York Times “2 Years Into Russia-Ukraine War, U.S. Campaign to Isolate Putin Shows Limits” from The New York Times “Biden announces over 500 new sanctions for Russia’s war in Ukraine and Navalny death” from NPR “A Theory of International Boycotts” from economist Abdoulaye Ndiaye “Google tests removing the News tab from search results” from Nieman Journalism Lab “Diners aren’t going to steakhouses just for the steak anymore” from Marketplace “25 leap year activities to celebrate February’s bonus day” from Today “Review: Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender delivers charm and style” from Vox “Amazon Wants You to Pay With Your Palm. It’s a Sneak Attack on Apple and Google.” from The Wall Street Journal “This economy is feeling like the ’90s” 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.

Nvidia’s fourth quarter results blew past analysts’ expectations with a revenue of $22.1 billion. We’ll get into what sizzling hot demand for the chip maker’s products says about the larger generative AI boom. And, we’ll discuss the threat AI-generated misinformation poses to the 2024 election, and what states are doing to combat it. Plus, experiencing sticker shock at the grocery store lately? Kellogg suggests trying cereal for dinner. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nvidia Sales Reach New Heights as Company Forecasts Bigger AI Boom” from The Wall Street Journal “Authorities target two Texas firms in probe of AI-generated robocalls before New Hampshire’s primary” from AP News “After the chaos of 2020, states are preparing for election challenges — and threats” from “Marketplace” “‘I think our fear of high inflation is well warranted,’” Minneapolis Fed president says” from “Marketplace” “WK Kellogg CEO Gary Pilnick: ‘Cereal for dinner’ is trending for consumers under price pressure” from CNBC “It’s Been 30 Years Since Food Ate Up This Much of Your Income” from The Wall Street Journal 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, a game and more.

Most of the cargo cranes at U.S. ports are made in China, and they could be spying. The Biden administration announced a plan to spend billions of dollars to replace and manufacture the equipment domestically over national security concerns. We’ll explain. Plus, how an Alabama court ruling on embryos may affect fertility treatments in a post-Roe world. And, the story of a man, an astronaut and a homemade antenna. Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. to Invest Billions to Replace China-Made Cranes at Nation’s Ports” from The Wall Street Journal “Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children, imperiling IVF” from  The Washington Post “Alabama health system pauses IVF treatments after court embryo ruling” from The Hill “Man in Backyard Talks to Orbiting Astronaut Using Homemade Antenna” from kottke.org “Florida farmworkers created America’s strongest workplace heat rules” from The Washington Post 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.

After former President Trump’s recent digs at NATO, officials at a global security conference in Munich over the weekend weighed what European countries would do if Trump were re-elected and abandoned the United States’ treaty commitments. On the show today, Kathleen McInnis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the history and future of NATO and why it matters to the global economy. We’ll also share our takeaways from Fani Willis’ testimony. Plus, a former NASA astronaut was wrong about what we (earthlings) gain from going to space. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump said he might ignore NATO’s duty to defend. Here’s what the group does.” from The Washington Post “After Trump’s claims, here’s what to know about NATO member defense spending” from ABC News “NATO’s Article 5 Collective Defense Obligations, Explained” from Brennan Center for Justice “Why Americans Still Need NATO” from Foreign Policy “Trump didn’t quit NATO, but a potential second term alarms allies” from The Washington Post “The life and testimony of Fani Willis’s father, John Floyd III” from The Washington Post “DA Fani Willis testified she paid cash during trips with top prosecutor. One winery host remembers her paying in paper bills” from CNN Politics “How the Freedman’s Bank failure still impacts Black Americans” from Marketplace “Elon Musk’s SpaceX Forges Closer Ties With U.S. Spy and Military Agencies” from The Wall Street Journal We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, has died in a Russian penal colony. We’ll reflect on Navalny’s impact and what it means to push back against the slow creep of political change. Plus, more evidence that plastic recycling is a myth pushed by the plastics industry. And, we’ll weigh in on the romance novel revival and landline phones in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘They lied’: plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals” from The Guardian “Tucker Carlson: ‘No decent person would defend’ what happened to Navalny” from The Hill “OpenAI teases ‘Sora,’ its new text-to-video AI model” from NBC News “Best Buy to End DVD, Blu-ray Disc Sales” from Variety “Making beer with the help of AI” from Axios “Steamy, sultry and stigmatized no more: romance novels are having a moment” from Marketplace “The humble landline phone beloved by Gen Z” from Axios 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.

Joe Biden’s re-election campaign launched a meme-heavy TikTok account in an effort to reach young voters. But considering national security concerns related to the platform, will the move pay off? We’ll get into it. Plus, strikes by Uber and Lyft drivers across the country are once again highlighting the distinction between contractors and employees. And, we’ll get into Bitcoin’s rebound and Beyoncé’s venture into country music. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Lyft and Uber drivers did their largest strike ever” from Vox “Chicago Uber, Lyft drivers join Valentine’s Day strike with thousands across country” from The Chicago Sun-Times President Biden’s first post on TikTok “Biden campaign joins TikTok in an effort to reach younger voters” from The Washington Post “Bitcoin briefly crosses $52,000 as it recaptures $1 trillion market cap” from CNBC “Crypto ETFs now own 3.5% of all bitcoins in existence after ’10 years of pent-up demand'” from Markets Insider “Beyoncé’s new country songs salute the genre’s Black cultural roots” from The Washington Post “Beyoncé’s new country song features N.C. native Rhiannon Giddens” from Axios Raleigh 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, a game and more.

Israel plans to expand its military offensive into Rafah, a city on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip where many Palestinians are sheltered. On the show today, guest host Reema Khrais reflects on her personal connection to the major conflict and shares some of her reporting on the experience of Palestinians in Gaza right now. Plus, how the Joe Biden administration is grappling with growing pushback against unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. Then, we’ll smile about lifelong female friendships and AI-generated breakup texts. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Some Palestinians leave Rafah refuge, fearing Israeli assault” from Reuters “A conversation with Baba” from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” “My name is Hana” from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” “Calls grow in Europe to halt arms exports to Israel as US Senate passes aid package” from CNN “Senators say ‘BFD’ presidential memo will lead to Israeli aid cuts. The White House has a different story” from The Independent “A bill with $14 billion for Israel’s war in Gaza passes the Senate but may falter in the House.” from The New York Times “U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts” from Council on Foreign Relations “How to stay friends for 50 years? Ask the women of Sugar Hill.” from The Washington Post “Can you tell which of these break-up texts are AI-generated? Take our quiz” from The Washington Post “I go to strangers’ weddings for fun. Getting invited is pretty easy, and I’ve made a lot of new friends.” from Business Insider 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 Valentine’s Day eve, we’re thinking about love and what the economy has to do with it. Coming off the heels of a high-inflation period, is this a good time in our economy to find love? On the show today, Julia Carpenter, a personal finance reporter for The Wall Street Journal, discusses how the economy shapes our relationships, the growing wealth gap between single and married people, and the idea of a “money date.” Then, married people enjoy many legal benefits that aren’t extended to single folks. Is it time to change that? And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question is all about Swiftynomics! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Couples Embrace the Least Romantic Date Ever: The Money Date” from The Wall Street Journal “It’s Now 40% More Expensive to Be Single and Dating Than It Was a Decade Ago” from Time “‘I’m So in Debt That I’m Afraid to Date’” from The Cut “How the economy shapes our love lives” from Vox “Moving In Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why?” from The Wall Street Journal “Opinion | Marriage has a monopoly on legal benefits. It shouldn’t.” from The Washington Post “Inflation ran hotter than expected in January, complicating the Fed’s rate decision” from CBS News “Swifties vs. NFL fans: What happens when two rabid fanbases collide” from Fast Company We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Former President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO allies that don’t pay their bills. We’ll discuss why Trump’s willingness to ignore our treaty obligations hurts Americans’ freedom and standard of living. Plus, why robots aren’t coming for our jobs anytime soon. And, we’ll make you smart on why cats get stuck in trees! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump told S.C. rally that he supports Russian aggression against NATO allies” from NPR “Wealth disparities by race grew during the pandemic, despite income gains, report shows” from The Associated Press “Robot invasion hit a bump in 2023 as North American economy cooled” from Reuters “Yes, cats do get stuck in trees. This climber rescues them for free.” from The Washington Post Travis Kelce yelling at coach becomes Super Bowl meme from Scott Lincicome on X 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.

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers a glimpse into the gender and racial makeup of occupations in the U.S. workforce. One takeaway from the data: Many jobs are still highly gendered. Guest hosts Amy Scott and Nova Safo get into it. And, we’ll explain why the chickens may be coming home to roost for banks due to commercial real estate vacancies. Plus, we’ll play a heated round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Yellen: It’s ‘obvious’ that empty office buildings will create banking stress and losses” from CNN Business “Yellen sees more commercial real estate stress, losses, but no systemic banking risk” from Reuters “40% of Lawyers Are Women. 7% Are Black. America’s Workforce in Charts” from The Wall Street Journal “Some colleges are bringing back the SAT and ACT requirement” from Marketplace “The Hottest New Accessory in LA Restaurants? Your Takeout Containers From Home.” from Eater Los Angeles “Coke’s first new permanent flavor in years adds a spicy twist” from CNN “Australia Introduces the ‘Right To Disconnect’ For Workers” from The New York Times “Taylor Swift props: Who will she sit by, what will she wear and 10 more Super Bowl bets” from The Athletic 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 Congressional Budget Office projects that the national deficit will grow by a trillion dollars in the next 10 years. Soaring interest payments on the national debt are one reason why. We’ll explain why that’s a problem for the United States’ fiscal future. And, was the Senate’s high-profile hearing with a spread of Big Tech CEOs all for show? Plus, Disney’s new one-stop-shop sports streaming venture and what Sweethearts’ clever rebrand says about today’s dismal dating culture. Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. deficit will soar in the next decade, new CBO projections show” from Axios “Sen. Klobuchar explains what it takes to protect children online” from Marketplace “Disney CEO Bob Iger on new streaming bundle partnership: I’d rather be a disruptor than be disrupted” from CNBC “When it comes to live sports, consumers show streaming services the money” from Marketplace “Super Bowl commercials 2024: Crypto and AI are out, insurance and mayo are in” from CNN “In a first for Uber since becoming a public company, an annual profit.” from AP News Advertisement for Sweethearts Situationships on Instagram 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, a game and more.

Since the pandemic, younger adults have become wealthier than older generations. That’s according to a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Guest host Amy Scott joins us to discuss how that happened and what the stock market has to do with it. Plus, why there might be trouble ahead for regional banks. And, a look inside the world of competitive speed puzzling. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Young Americans’ Wealth Growth Outpaces Older Generations Since Pandemic” from Bloomberg “Wealth Inequality by Age in the Post-Pandemic Era” from Liberty Street Economics “Why One Shaky Bank Is Stirring Fears of a Wider Financial Mess from The New York Times “Yellen Says Commercial Property Is a Worry, But Regulators Are on It” from Bloomberg “Polar bear sleeping on iceberg wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award” from The Washington Post “For top jigsaw puzzlers, 500 pieces in an hour is no problem” from The Washington Post Got a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Congress hasn’t passed meaningful immigration policy reform in decades. And the fate of the border deal the Senate has been weighing is looking bleak. But immigrants are an important part of the U.S. economy, and the status quo is not working. So what do we do? On the show today, César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, an immigration law professor at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law and author of the new book “Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the ‘Criminal Alien,'” explains why our current immigration policies don’t match the country’s economic needs, what a realistic approach to immigration would look like, and why states and cities might have to take the lead on the issue if Congress continues to stagnate. Then, we’ll break down the betting forecast for this year’s Super Bowl by the numbers. And, Big Tech’s AI crutch. Plus, we’ll get smarter about cicadas! Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Senate border deal is dead” from The Washington Post “Detention and that border ‘shutdown’: What’s really in Biden’s bipartisan immigration deal” from Politico “Before Title 42, Congress Failed to Overhaul Immigration Policy” from The New York Times “Biden weighs a “shocking” revival of Trump’s immigration agenda” from Vox “Texas’ Standoff With the Border Patrol Is a Constitutional Powder Keg” from Mother Jones “Immigration has returned to pre-pandemic numbers. How does that affect the economy?” from Marketplace “Tech Layoffs Just Keep Coming as Sector Resets for AI” from The Wall Street Journal “The Super Bowl is expected to smash betting records. Nearly 68M US adults plan to wager” from AP News “Cicada brood map 2024: When and where billions of the bugs will emerge” from Vox We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Facebook turned 20 over the weekend, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Guest host Matt Levin joins the pod to discuss the parallels between the (begrudging) acceptance of Facebook and the rise of artificial intelligence. And the SAT requirement is back at a top college and others may follow suit. We’ll talk about what this means for students. Plus, a Kai rant on how traders are responding to Powell’s “60 Minutes” interview, and the Make Me Smile of all Make Me Smiles … it’s the 2024 Puppy Bowl! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Facebook Turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard Dorm Room to the Metaverse” from The Wall Street Journal  “A Top College Reinstates the SAT” from The New York Times “Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Falls After Powell Says Caution Needed on Rate Cuts” from The Wall Street Journal “Fed Chair Jerome Powell: The 2024 60 Minutes Interview” from CBS News “Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XX” from Discovery “How the Puppy Bowl became a marketing juggernaut in its own right” 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.

A new report from Human Rights Watch found ties between forced labor in China and the aluminum products used by many popular automakers. We’ll get into what the discovery could mean for companies that want to ramp up electric vehicle production. And, meet the sailor making history as the first American woman to race solo around the world. Plus, we’ll weigh in on Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and more in a game of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Asleep at the Wheel: Car Companies’ Complicity in Forced Labor in China” from Human Rights Watch “Major automakers may be using Chinese aluminum produced with Uyghur forced labor, rights group says” from AP News “Sailor Cole Brauer Is Making History as the First U.S. Female to Race Solo Across the Globe: ‘It’s a Dream Come True'” from People “Why Universal is calling time out on TikTok” from Marketplace “How to Cook Salmon in the Microwave” from The New York Times “Buy now, pay later platforms now offer subscriptions” from Marketplace “Cheers! Bars are pouring beers from the bottom up” from Axios “What is Apple Vision Pro? Price, what to know about headset on its release date” from USA Today “Why Tim Cook Is Going All In on the Apple Vision Pro” from Vanity Fair 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 New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming the companies’ artificial intelligence systems were illegally trained on copyrighted articles from the news outlet. But can our current intellectual property laws stand up to rapidly developing AI technology? We’ll get into it. And, we’ll hear what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wants to see more of before cutting interest rates. Plus, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the first time she smoked pot in college. Here’s everything we talked about today: “OpenAI Says New York Times Lawsuit Against It Is ‘Without Merit’” from The New York Times “The economy and ethics of AI training data” from Marketplace “Fed Signals Cuts Are Possible but Not Imminent as It Holds Rates Steady” from The Wall Street Journal “NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Ends Its Mission” from The New York Times “‘Wait Wait’ for January 27, 2024: With Not My Job guest Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen” from NPR 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, a game and more.

Today, U.S. senators grilled the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies on online child safety. And while there’s lots of blame to go around, aren’t lawmakers responsible for making laws to protect kids? Get ready for a Kai rant. Plus, how the system we use to pick presidential candidates has fallen apart. And a new discovery on the power of music! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Social Media Company CEOs Testify on Online Child Sexual Exploitation” from C-SPAN “The Real Reason We’re Stuck with Trump v. Biden” from Politico “Did a Young Democratic Activist in 1968 Pave the Way for Donald Trump?” from Politico “Music found to cause similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures” from Phys.org “Bodily maps of musical sensations across cultures” from PNAS 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.

Boeing’s 737 Max 9 planes are flying again after the recent door-plug blowout incident that had kept the planes grounded for nearly a month. But the company’s troubles are far from over. Over the past two decades, Boeing’s reputation has been in decline. On the show today, Peter Robison, author of “Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing,” explains where things went wrong for America’s aviation giant, the 737 Max’s potential fate, and whether Boeing’s crisis could make way for a new competitor in the commercial aerospace industry. Plus, would you let Elon Musk implant a chip in your brain? And the one-two punch at UPS. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Did a Boeing Jet End Up With a Big Hole?” from The New York Times “Boeing, not Spirit, mis-installed piece that blew off Alaska MAX 9 jet, industry source says” from The Seattle Times “The Crash of Two Airplanes and the Crisis at Boeing” from The New York Times “Boeing’s MAX production issues ripple across aerospace industry” from Reuters “Boeing’s latest 737 Max incident might not lose it much business” from Marketplace “Elon Musk Says Neuralink Has Implanted Brain Chip in Human” from The Wall Street Journal “Business Groups Sue California to Block Climate Disclosures” from The Wall Street Journal “UPS to Cut 12,000 Jobs and Mandate Return to Offices Five Days a Week” from The Wall Street Journal We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-

A two-year investigation by the Associated Press digs into the prison labor behind the foods we eat every day. We’ll discuss how incarcerated people’s labor is tied to some of the world’s biggest companies, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Walmart. Then, we’ll unpack the negotiations over a bipartisan border security deal. And, a wild conspiracy theory involving the NFL, Taylor Swift and the election? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands” from The Associated Press “Lankford defends bipartisan border security bill after attacks by Trump, GOP” from The Washington Post “OKGOP State Committee Condemns James Lankford” from OKGrassroots “Vivek Goes Full Tinfoil Hat With New Taylor Swift Election Conspiracy” from The Daily Beast “Young Swifties are tuning in to the NFL. Their dads are loving it” from The Washington Post “Walmart’s latest perk for U.S. store managers? Stock grants” from ABC News “Private Equity Is Starting to Share With Workers, Without Taking a Financial Hit” from The New York Times We love to hear from you. Send us your tips and tricks for creating and remembering passwords! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain announced that the union has endorsed President Biden’s bid for re-election. It’s a big deal for Biden’s pro-labor image. But what else could the union endorsement mean for his campaign? And, we’ll get into the conflict between facts and feelings in today’s economy. Plus, the political implications of a decline in local journalism and what the history of the New Deal can teach about ambitious investment in our country’s infrastructure. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What UAW backing means for Biden − and why the union’s endorsement took so long” from The Conversation “U.S. Economy Grew at 3.3% Rate in Latest Quarter” from The New York Times “Yellen, Criticizing Trump, Says Biden’s Economy Has Delivered Gains” from The New York Times “L.A. Times to lay off at least 115 people in the newsroom” from L.A. Times “More than half of U.S. counties have no access or very limited access to local news” from Medill “How FDR’s New Deal changed the U.S. economy forever” 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, a game and more.

The federal deficit is growing, and a former U.S. Treasury secretary is offering a solution: raising taxes! We’ll get into why talking tax hikes is a big no-no in Congress and why spending cuts may not cut it this time either. And, foreign nationals aren’t allowed to contribute to U.S. elections. But a loophole is seemingly allowing some foreign-influenced companies to do just that. Plus, the story of an astronaut and a dangerous ultimatum. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Joe Manchin’s debt crusade” from Politico “Rubin Says US In a ‘Terrible Place’ on Deficit, Urges Tax Hikes” from Bloomberg “All these government shutdown close calls cost money” from Marketplace “Foreign-Influenced Corporate Money in State Elections” from Open Secrets “Jon Stewart Returns to ‘Daily Show’ as Monday Host, Executive Producer” from Variety “What happens when an astronaut in orbit says he’s not coming back?” from Ars Technica 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 long-term care industry has been plagued by unaffordable prices and staffing shortages, squeezed by growing demand as the country ages. But public health officials have been voicing concerns about another, more hidden issue: the rise of private-equity-owned nursing homes. On the show today, Mark Unruh, professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medical College, breaks down the long-term care industry, how nursing homes are impacted by private equity ownership, and what high, convoluted costs and staffing shortages mean for aging Americans seeking nursing home care. Then, we’ll dig into a niche economic indicator and how work is weighing on us. Plus, how one listener used their pandemic stimulus cash. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How do nursing homes make money?” from Marketplace “How Patients Fare When Private Equity Funds Acquire Nursing Homes” from the National Bureau of Economic Research “‘They Were Traumatized’: How a Private Equity-Associated Lender Helped Precipitate a Nursing-home implosion” from Politico “Who Really Owns Nursing Homes, And How The Feds Are About To Learn More” from Forbes “Dying Broke” from KFF Health News “Unhappy Workers Cost US Firms $1.9 Trillion” from Bloomberg “New LegalShield Data Reveals Highest Consumer Financial Stress Level in 3 Years” from LegalShield “TurboTax isn’t allowed to say it’s ‘free’ anymore” from The Verge We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A drop in preowned home sales in December was the cherry on top of the worst year for the U.S. housing market since 1995. We’ll get into the causes of the slump and what it would take for the housing market to get back on track. And, a tax deal that would expand the child tax credit is gaining momentum. Then, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Strong bipartisan showing in first test of tax deal’s support” from Roll Call “Mars Express finds evidence of large water deposit at the Medusae Fossae Formation” from Phys.org “What Is an Assumable Mortgage?” Buy Side from The Wall Street Journal “US Existing-Home Sales Decline to Cap Worst Year Since 1995” from Bloomberg “Expect restaurants to go all in on breakfast this year” from Marketplace ‘”Super shoes” take their place in the $50B running shoe market” from Marketplace “Can robots make us less lonely?” from Marketplace “It doesn’t take a Mathlete to know a “Mean Girls” remake adds up for Hollywood” from Marketplace “What happens when a school bans smartphones? A complete transformation” from The Guardian 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 head of the International Monetary Fund said artificial intelligence could impact over half of jobs in advanced economies. But is AI already displacing workers? We’ll get into the latest layoffs sweeping the tech industry. And, the forecast on Capitol Hill: snowy with a chance of negotiations on border security and spending bills. Plus, NASA’s return to the moon is facing some setbacks. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Johnson Casts Doubt on Border Deal to Unlock Ukraine Aid, Defying Biden” from The New York Times “AI will affect 40% of jobs and probably worsen inequality, says IMF head” from The Guardian “Watch IMF’s Georgieva on Economic Impact of Generative AI” from Bloomberg “‘AI made us do it’ is Big Tech’s new layoff rationale” from Axios “The Tech Employee Who Went Viral for Filming Her Firing Has No Regrets” from The Wall Street Journal “Concerns rise China might reach moon before NASA’s return” from The Washington Post 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, a game and more. Hey Smarties! We recorded today’s episode before the news broke that Congress voted to pass a short-term spending bill, averting a partial government shutdown. We’re monitoring the story as it develops.

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases that deal with a foundational part of administrative law, known as the Chevron deference, which gives federal agencies broad powers to create policies and regulations. We’ll explain the fight over the Chevron deference and how the economy could be impacted if it were overturned. And, what do we lose when we don’t get to see candidates debate each other? Plus, don’t talk to me about this year’s presidential election until I’ve had my coffee. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Conservative Justices Appear Skeptical of Agencies’ Regulatory Power” from The New York Times “China’s Economic Growth Disappoints, Fueling Stimulus Calls” from Bloomberg “CNN cancels New Hampshire Republican primary debate” from Politico “Rumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another World” from Futurism “No, the James Webb Space Telescope hasn’t found life out there—at least not yet” from Ars Technica “Trump Back in White House? Lagarde Says ‘Let Me Have Some Coffee’” from Bloomberg 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 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that “the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income.” Decades later, while still a divisive idea, the conversation around guaranteed income is starting to simmer, and pilot programs looking at universal basic income, a similar idea, are popping up around the country. On the show today, Stacia West, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research, explains why King called for a guaranteed income, why UBI is gaining traction today, and what early results from pilot programs are showing us about its impact. Then, we’ll get into the haggling over the child tax credit on Capitol Hill and check in with the world’s second largest economy. Plus, one historian was wrong about Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the American economy. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Solution to Poverty” from The Atlantic “Global Map of Basic Income Experiments” from The Stanford Basic Income Lab “Stockton’s Universal Basic Income Experiment Increased Employment And Well-Being” from NPR “The first results from the world’s biggest basic income experiment in Kenya are in” from Vox “The Power of Cash: How Guaranteed Income Can Strengthen Worker Power” from Economic Security Project “Musk Wants 25% Voting Control of Tesla Before Building Its AI” from Bloomberg “Chinese Premier Makes Surprise Economic Growth Disclosure” from The Wall Street Journal “Tax breaks for parents, businesses possible in last-minute deal” from Politico “Opinion | Changes to the child tax credit are a win for Congress and America” from The Washington Post We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Certain dietary supplements with an ingredient that mimics opioids are a bubbling problem for public health officials. Sometimes called “gas station heroin,” they’re sold at run-of-the-mill smoke shops and convenience stores. We’ll get into why health officials are concerned and how under-regulation can muddy our understanding of how safe a substance actually is. Then, a much needed-happy puppy story. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Utah Jazz player Kelly Olynyk and wife found dog then found her owner” from The Washington Post “Supreme Court to review restrictions on homeless encampments” from The Washington Post “More Teens Who Use Marijuana Are Suffering From Psychosis” from The Wall Street Journal “‘Gas-Station Heroin’ Sold as Dietary Supplement Alarms Health Officials” from The New York Times “Why the earliest version of Mickey Mouse is entering the public domain” from Marketplace “Why do we still use paper checks?” from Marketplace “ABBA’s Voyage concert series is making London “Money, Money, Money'” from Marketplace “Are we entering a world of surge dining?” from Marketplace “The thirst for Stanley tumblers has reached a tipping point” from The Washington Post 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.

We’re approaching a partial government shutdown, again. We’ll get into why it feels like we’re back at square one and where Congress goes next. And, we’ll explain why the panel blowout during an Alaskan Airlines flight is a big problem for Boeing, despite its strong position in the market. Plus, what bitcoin exchange-traded funds mean for the future of crypto and Nikki Haley’s Social Security plan. Here’s everything we talked about today: “US Senate Democrats plan for stopgap to avert shutdown, House Republicans bicker” from Reuters “Boeing CEO says company is “acknowledging our mistake” after Alaska Airlines door blowout” from CBS News “Boeing’s design of a part that blew off a jetliner is being investigated by the federal government” from AP News “Nikki Haley wants to reform Social Security and Medicare. Donors are paying attention” from CNN Politics “Gary Gensler’s ETF Approval Statement Doubles Down On Bitcoin Criticism: ‘Primarily A Speculative, Volatile Asset'” from Markets Insider “SEC makes it easier to trade bitcoin in landmark decision” from The Washington Post Join us tomorrow for our first Economics on Tap of 2024! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to approve the first exchange-traded funds holding bitcoin. But regulators still have concerns, and a recent hack of an SEC social media account have only heightened fears. Plus, the pandemic relief funds that’ve been keeping state budgets afloat are gone. We’ll unpack why state budgets can be trickier beasts than the federal budget. And: This is normally a zombie-free zone, but “The Last of Us” TV series has us reconsidering. Here’s everything we talked about today: “SEC Hack Adds to Unease Over Bitcoin ETF Approval” from The Wall Street Journal “State Budget Problems Spread” from The Pew Charitable Trusts “‘It was a mirage’: States face budget woes as huge infusions of federal cash run out” from Politico “The Last Of Us Show Casts Beef Actor As Key Character” from Kotaku 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.

After Elon Musk’s gut renovation of Twitter, now known as X, other platforms like TikTok and Mastodon attempted to take its place as the new hub. But as users flock to various apps and algorithms replace follower-based feeds, the very core of social media is changing. On the show today, The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel explains the silo-ification of social media, what it means to go viral on today’s internet and how the changing medium might impact the 2024 elections. Plus, a potential upside to the fragmented social media landscape. Then, we’ll get into what the U.S. is doing about shady shell companies, how China became the world’s biggest car exporter and get smart about gin. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nobody Knows What’s Happening Online Anymore” from The Atlantic “TikTok’s biggest hits are videos you’ve probably never seen” from The Verge “The Great Social Media–News Collapse” from The Atlantic “U.S. companies in no hurry to disclose ownership under new Treasury rule” from CNBC “45 Years Ago, One Kids Book Series Taught A Generation How To Make Bad Decisions” from Fatherly “China Becomes the World’s Biggest Auto Exporter—With Help From Russia” from The Wall Street Journal If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned after backlash following controversial testimony to Congress and accusations of plagiarism. We’ll get into Gay’s exit and what it says about privilege in the workplace. And, why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failure to tell the White House about his hospitalization is a big deal. Plus, the lore behind John Coltrane’s cover of “My Favorite Things” is making us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Opinion | Former Harvard President Claudine Gay: This Is About More Than My Mistakes” from The New York Times “Claudine Gay’s Harvard resignation proves Black women’s leadership is still political” from 19th News “The Pentagon adds new details about Austin’s secretive hospital stay and the delay in telling Biden” from AP News “How John Coltrane’s ‘My Favorite Things’ Changed American Music” from Smithsonian Magazine “Elon Musk Isn’t Getting Enough Sleep” from Bloomberg Happy New Year! We want to hear about any resolutions you made. Send us an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing an episode from “Million Bazillion,” a Marketplace podcast that answers kids’ questions about money. This episode tackles a question many of you might have too: What’s a recession? To get to the bottom of it, hosts Bridget and Ryan take an adventure-filled trip to the Federal Reserve, where they bump into Fed Chair Jerome Powell (who might sound a bit like Kai Ryssdal). We’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, if you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2023. 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 2024 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. Today, we’re talking about two topics near and dear to our hearts: space and economics. Over the last several years, NASA’s Artemis program and the commercialization of space have given rise to a large and growing space economy. How large? “It’s about $400 billion. By 2030 it is estimated to become about $1 trillion,” said Namrata Goswami, a scholar on space policy and co-author of the book “Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space.” “We also include a space economy to come in the next 20 to 30 years which includes the ‘in-space economy,’ so the economy that would be developed in space itself, which would result in a trillion-dollar economy by 2040.” On the show, Goswami explains the state of the space economy, how the space industry has evolved, and the need for updated international space regulations if we’re really serious about going to Mars. Plus, why retiring on the moon in Kimberly’s lifetime might not be such a far-fetched idea. In the News Fix: In the first few months of the year, the largest U.S. banks wrote off billions of dollars in bad consumer loans. While not unusual, it could it be a sign of a slowing economy. And could we be nearing the end of the barcode as we know it? Later, listeners share the many ways they use ChatGPT. And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question got us thinking about the images (or lack thereof) in our heads. Note: Fox News reached a settlement in the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems after this show was recorded. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Among the goals of Artemis I: launching the lunar economy” from Marketplace “The Commercial Space Age Is Here” from Harvard Business Review “QR-style ‘2D barcodes’ will revolutionize retail as we know it” from Axios “Fox News, Dominion reach settlement” from The Washington Post “Fox News and Dominion reach a settlement” from NBC News “Biggest US banks write off $3.4 billion in bad consumer loans” from Bloomberg “More US consumers are falling behind on payments” from Reuters Got a question for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. Or leave us a voice message at (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re handing things over to the team at “The Uncertain Hour,” a podcast all about the obscure policies and forgotten histories that explain who gets left behind in this economy. In the episode, host Krissy Clark explains the origins of welfare work requirements and gets into the experience of a mother who sought help from a for-profit welfare company when she came upon hard times. Give now to support Make Me Smart in the new year and beyond!

Hey Smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2023. 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 2024 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! What can Jell-O tell us about the United States during the Gilded Age? What about Spam during World War II? According to Anna Zeide, food historian and author of the new book “US History in 15 Foods,” they can tell us a lot about the evolution of American values, government — and of course, the American economy. “We all have to eat every day, and nothing else we do can really happen without food. And yet, at the same time, I think because of how mundane it becomes in its dailiness, it recedes to the back of our, kind of, concentrated thought. And we don’t spend all that much time thinking about how central it is both to our daily lives as well as to historical events,” Zeide said. On the show today, Zeide walks us through the history baked into food items from all-American whiskey to Korean tacos. And, why food is often much more than something we simply eat. In the News Fix, we remember Judy Heumann, an activist who championed crucial pieces of disability rights legislation. Also, eyes are on Walgreens after the company said it would stop dispensing abortion pills in some Republican-led states where abortion is still legal. Plus, we’ll get into why some women in high-level positions are too burned out to stay in the workforce. Later, a listener sings us a song inspired by Marketplace’s Nova Safo. And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from a listener who was wrong about dancing. Here’s everything we talked about today: Anna Zeide’s “US History in 15 Foods” “Remembering Judy Heumann’s lasting contributions to disability rights” from PBS Newshour “Walgreens in the hot seat” from Politico “California to not do business with Walgreens over abortion pills issue, Governor says” from Reuters “Debt Default Would Cripple U.S. Economy, New Analysis Warns” from The New York Times “Female Execs Are Exhausted, Frustrated and Heading for the Exits” from Bloomberg What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

The Golden Bachelor reality dating series has been a big hit this Fall. These kinds of reality TV shows are relatively cheap to produce, but at what cost? Today we’re bringing you an episode of Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” that gets into the economics of the reality TV industry for contestants and creators alike, and the real life financial and emotional consequences for the stars of the show. Give now to support Make Me Smart in the new year and beyond!

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2023. 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 2024 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. Americans love to eat meat. Last year alone, the average American ate 227 pounds poultry, pork and beef. But meat production comes with its own set of ethical and environmental consequences. So how do we get around these concerns? Dozens of startups say they’ve got the answer: lab-grown meat. Growing beef or chicken in a lab out of a few tiny animal cells may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, something that will happen far off in the future, but with nearly $3 billion invested in the lab-grown meat industry, that future may already be near. “I think that that the supermarket, like tackling a Safeway or Kroger, I think that is easily five to 10 years away. The FDA has already given it a green light. They said it is safe to eat, which means that it is one step closer to being in a restaurant,” says Larissa Zimberoff, a journalist and author of “Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley’s Mission to Change What We Eat.” On the show today, Zimberoff explains how meat is grown in a lab, why companies are banking on it as a solution to our omnivore’s dilemma, and the challenges that lie ahead for the growing industry. Plus, is lab-grown food here to stay? In the News Fix: We have a deal on the debt ceiling. After weeks of back and forth, President Joe Biden and House Republicans have struck a tentative deal to raise the debt limit. We get into what it all means, and why the negotiating might not be over. Later, a listener weighs in on retailer return policies, and our beloved intern gets creative with his answer to the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Will I See Lab-Grown Meat in Supermarkets Any Time Soon?” from Bon Appétit “Lab-Grown Meat’s Carbon Footprint Potentially Worse Than Retail Beef” from the University of California, Davis “Silicon Valley Is Coming for Your Chocolate” from The Atlantic “Inside the Battle Between Big Ag and Lab-Grown Meat” from The New Republic “Here’s what’s in the debt ceiling deal” from CNN “What’s in the Debt-Ceiling Deal” from The Wall Street Journal “Defiant House Rejects Huge Bailout; Next Step Is Uncertain” from The New York Times “House Passes Bailout Bill in 263-171 Vote” from The New York Times We love to hear from you. Send us your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today we’re bringing you an episode from the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. In the episode, host Amy Scott and the “How We Survive” crew explore how communities in the Southwest are using technology to reimagine how the region manages its drought-stricken water supply. It turns out that water is everywhere. And it can be sourced in unexpected ways. 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 2024 and beyond. Give now to support “Make Me Smart.” 

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2023. 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 2024 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. It’s time to air out some of fast fashion’s dirty laundry. Recently, fast-fashion retailer Shein was in the headlines over a paid influencer trip to one of its factories in China. It’s also facing allegations that range from labor rights abuses to high levels of carbon emissions. Sustainable-fashion writer Alden Wicker’s new book, “To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick” documents another gritty side of the industry: the toxic chemicals used to make the clothing many companies sell. As it turns out, there aren’t many laws in the U.S. to prevent those chemicals from ending up in our clothes. “It’s a pretty untenable situation that we’re putting this all on consumers who largely do not have a degree in chemistry to protect themselves from what we know are hazardous chemicals,” Wicker said. On the show today, Wicker explains why harmful chemicals are in our clothing, how flight attendants became a breakthrough case for toxic clothing and how more regulation could help ensure safer practices in the fashion industry. Plus, what consumers can do to reduce their exposure. Then, more on harmful chemicals: A recent study found a type of “forever chemical” is uncomfortably common in the U.S. water supply. And, the pending merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard got a big push forward from a federal judge this week. We’ll get into why the decision is a major blow to the Federal Trade Commission. Later, a listener shares an adorable cartoon that has Kimberly Adams written all over it. Plus, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question is a lesson on the power of language. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Shein, the fast-fashion giant, hits roadblocks” from The Washington Post “Are your clothes making you sick? The opaque world of chemicals in fashion” from The Guardian “The incredible story of how hatmakers really did ‘go mad’ 300 years ago” from Business Insider “Influencers are under fire for praising working conditions in Shein’s clothing factory despite abuse allegations” from NBC News “Toxic Chemicals in Shein and Other Fast Fashion Clothing” from Insider “What Is Prop 65? And Why Is There a Warning Label on This Thing I Bought?” from The New York Times “How to remove PFAS — aka forever chemicals — from drinking water” from Vox “Tap water study detects PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ across the US” from U.S. Geological Survey “Microsoft Can Close Its $75 Billion Buy of Activision Blizzard, Judge Rules” from The Wall Street Journal ‘“USA Geography” Features Humorous Illustrations Of Each State” from Bored Panda “The Slowdown” podcast from APM We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

For our final episode of 2023, we’re throwing a holiday party with music, festive fascinator hats and drinks. We’ll also get to some big medical news: For the first time, the FDA approved gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease, which affects mostly Black people in the United States. And, the head of OPEC is meddling in climate talks at COP28. Plus, we’ll play a holiday-themed round of our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “OPEC Leader Tells Members to Block Any Climate Summit Deal to Curb Fossil Fuels” from The New York Times “FDA Approves Breakthrough Sickle Cell Disease Gene Therapies” from HuffPost “US FDA approves two gene therapies for sickle cell disease” from Reuters “After living with sickle cell disease for 39 years, I’m both excited and skeptical about the newly approved gene therapies” from Stat News “Buy now, pay later hit an all-time high on Cyber Monday” from Marketplace “A Brief History of the White Elephant Party” from The New York Times “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Wore Squirrel Sweaters, Maybe” from Marie Claire “Amazon Is Packed with Festive Outdoor Christmas Decorations” from People “How to get through a holiday party at work without embarrassing yourself” from NPR We’ll be back with new episodes on Jan. 8. Until then, if you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

President Biden has asked Congress to pass a hefty aid package for the war in Ukraine and other defense initiatives, but the funding can’t seem to get through the Senate. We’ll hear the president implore lawmakers to act swiftly and get into why the package is being held up. Plus, the ballet of federal regulators and Wall Street banks continues. And, Google introduced its new AI model called Gemini. Among other capabilities, it can see! Here’s everything we talked about today: “As Ukraine aid falters in the Senate, Biden signals he’s willing to make a deal on border security” from AP News “Is a recession on the horizon? More bank CEOs think so” from CNN Business “Introducing Gemini: Google’s most capable AI model yet” from Google Video: “Hands-on with Gemini: Interacting with multimodal AI” on YouTube “Tommy Tuberville ends blockade of 400 military promotions” from The Guardian Join us tomorrow for our last Economics on Tap of 2023! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Today we’re geeking out over the bond market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note has dropped from a few weeks ago and now sits close to 4.1%. We’ll unpack what a bond market rally could mean for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision-making as well as for the average American. Plus, what happens when someone says they intend to abuse their power? We’ll get into former President Donald Trump’s remarks at an Iowa town hall last night. Here’s everything we talked about today: “United States Rates & Bonds” from Bloomberg “Former House speaker Kevin McCarthy to resign from Congress at end of year” from The Guardian “Tuberville drops hold on military promotions” from NPR “Trump’s ‘dictator’ remark jolts the 2024 campaign — and tests his GOP rivals on debate day” from Politico “She spent a month trying to help stray dog whose head was stuck in a jug” from The Washington Post “Woman who threw Chipotle order at worker can work off jail time at fast food restaurant” from Fox8 Sailor Cole Brauer on Instagram Give what you can to keep “Make Me Smart” going strong in 2024: support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

We’re less than a year out from the 2024 presidential election. And former President Donald Trump is still leading the pack of Republican candidates, by a lot. This has us wondering: What would another Trump presidency mean for the economy? On the show today, William Howell, professor of American politics at the University of Chicago explains how Trump’s plans to weaken the federal bureaucracy could disrupt the economy, how the former president’s proposals on immigration and Obamacare could go over, and what voters see in his economic agenda. Plus, what this could all mean for our democracy. Then, we’ll get into a major data breach at the genetic testing company 23andMe. And, Moody’s lowered China’s credit outlook to negative. We’ll unpack what that means for China and what it has to do with political dysfunction in the U.S. Later, thoughts on COP28 and some impressive Spotify Wrapped stats. Plus, what the owner of a gift wrapping service had wrong when she started her business. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Where Donald Trump stands on taxes, the economy” from The Washington Post “The Republican Party’s Split on Economics” from The New York Times “Trump’s plans if he returns to the White House include deportation raids, tariffs and mass firings” from AP News “Some Republicans sound alarm after Trump revives focus on Obamacare” from CNN Politics “Why the Supreme Court’s “administrative state” decision matters” from Marketplace “What Trump’s Second Term Could Look Like” from The Atlantic “Moody’s Cuts China Credit Outlook to Negative on Rising Debt” from Bloomberg “Why invest in gold when the economic outlook isn’t great?” from Marketplace “Data Breach at 23andMe Affects 6.9 Million Profiles, Company Says” from The New York Times “23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users” from TechCrunch If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The U.S. population is aging as Americans choose to have fewer children or none at all. We’ll get into the many reasons millennials hesitate to jump into motherhood and how to change the narrative around parenting. Plus, fewer children mean fewer people to take care of our aging population in a country already dealing with a senior care crisis. And, Patti LaBelle’s infamous performance of “This Christmas” at the 1996 National Christmas Tree Lighting makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Aging America faces a senior care crisis” from Axios “How millennials learned to dread motherhood” from Vox Threads post from Business Insider’s Kali Hays “Patti LaBelle’s Disastrous Tree Lighting Performance Is the Only Good Christmas Tradition” from Esquire “Kiwi Eggs Hatch in the Wild Near New Zealand’s Capital” ​​from the New York Times It’s Half-Priced Hoodie Week! Give now to show your support and get a great deal: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The future of beer is here. “How We Survive” host Amy Scott is on the show today to help us taste test beer brewed from recycled water. And we’ll get into George Santos’ expulsion from the House and why his lies and luxurious spending were particularly provoking. Then we’ll weigh in on Walmart’s creative spin on holiday romcoms and more in a game of Half Full / Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “Water, water, everywhere” from Marketplace “Rep. George Santos expelled from House in 311-114 vote” from AP News “The Undoing of George Santos” from The New York Times “Why George Santos’ lies are even worse than the usual political lies – a moral philosopher explains” from The Conversation “New North Carolina bar offers cocktails and college classes” from Marketplace “Beyoncé, Taylor Swift films mean big business for movie theaters” from Marketplace “How Mortadella Went From Cold Cut to Hot Item” from The New York Times “Watch, Shop and Swoon with Walmart’s First Fully Shoppable Series” from Yahoo News “I’m Serious: Drive to the Airport for the People You Love” from The Wall Street Journal “Thanksgiving Travel: No One Should Pick You Up at the Airport” from The Wall Street Journal Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s day one of COP28, the global climate conference, and countries have already agreed on details for a fund to aid developing countries affected by climate disasters. As wealthier nations begin paying for their contributions to the climate crisis, how long will their support last? Plus, we’ll hear a Fed Chair’s divisive turkey analogy for what happens when interest rates are too high for too long. And, why brands are extending those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Here’s everything we talked about: “COP28 leader Sultan Al Jaber hits back at allegations he used climate talks to strike oil deals” from CNN “COP28 delivers breakthrough by way of climate disaster fund details” from CNBC “The long-expected consumer pullback may finally be materializing” from “Marketplace” “George Santos Says He Won’t Resign Ahead of This Week’s Expulsion Vote” from National Review “House Ethics Committee report on George Santos finds ‘substantial evidence‘ of wrongdoing” from CBS News “Johnson says he has ‘real reservations’ over expelling Santos as GOP support grows for ousting New York congressman” from CNN “Chicago Fed chair on the data versus the economic mood” 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, a game and more.

General Motors is planning higher-octane cash returns for investors in an attempt to restore confidence in its main gig — making vehicles that are not electric. We’ll get into what this could signal for the broader EV industry. And, many of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory powers are on the line in a current Supreme Court case. We’ll examine what the case has to do with conservative justices’ disdain for the administrative state. Plus, a National Spelling Bee champion’s secret to success. Here’s everything we talked about today: “GM Plans $10 Billion Stock Buyback in Bid to Assuage Investors” from The Wall Street Journal “Supreme Court’s conservatives voice concerns about SEC’s in-house enforcement” from The Hill “Supreme Court to consider multi-pronged constitutional attack on SEC” from SCOTUSblog “Major OxyContin case headlines December session” from SCOTUSblog Opinion | “I won the National Spelling Bee. This is what it takes to master spelling.” from The Washington Post If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Americans consume a lot of stuff and in turn produce a lot of waste. The average American generated 46 pounds of just e-waste in 2019. But what if there was a way to design an economy that’s less wasteful and more environmentally friendly? On the show today, Callie Babbitt, professor of sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology, breaks down the circular economy, its role in fighting climate change and the challenges that lie ahead in public policy and manufacturing if we hope to achieve circularity. We’ll also hear from a listener with a smart hack for airport pickups during the holidays, and our beloved intern answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about: “The right-to-repair movement is just getting started” from The Verge “What is a Circular Economy?” from the Environmental Protection Agency “Our prosperity is in peril unless we shift from a wasteful world to a ‘circular economy'” from The Conversation “World’s Oldest Sealed Terrarium by David Latimer” from Nature of Home “Investors See Interest-Rate Cuts Coming Soon, Recession or Not” from The Wall Street Journal “17 top-selling items for Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023” from About Amazon It’s Giving Tuesday! Let’s unlock $100,000 for Marketplace today.

After being banned from talking about artificial intelligence at Thanksgiving, guest host Matt Levin is eager to chime in on the ongoing Sam Altman controversy and news about a powerful artificial intelligence development at OpenAI. Plus, tech tycoons are behaving more and more like foreign dignitaries. And: Doritos’ new crunch-cancellation technology. Here’s everything we talked about: “Unpacking the hype around OpenAI’s rumored new Q* model” from MIT Technology Review “OpenAI researchers warned board of AI breakthrough ahead of CEO ouster, sources say” from Reuters “Elon Musk Meets With Netanyahu in Israel Amid Backlash Against Social Media Post” from The New York Times “What’s Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023? Hint: Be true to yourself” from AP News “The sound of crunching chips is annoying. Doritos has made a silencer.” from The Washington Post Help us get a head start on our Giving Tuesday challenge to unlock $100K for Marketplace.

This month, at least 12 members of Congress have announced they won’t seek reelection at the end of their terms. We’ll get into the record number of retirements and why the job might not be worth the trouble. Then, we’ll discuss how OpenAI’s leadership turmoil might be a turning point for the artificial intelligence industry. Plus, a St. Louis football team’s failed attempt to become a Thanksgiving game day staple. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Larry Summers Is OpenAI’s Surprise Pick to Mend Fences” from The Wall Street Journal “The Old-School Artillery Shell Is Becoming High Tech” from The Wall Street Journal “Frustrated lawmakers run for the exits: ‘DC is broken'” from The Hill “2 more House lawmakers announce exits, marking retirement record” from Politico “Before Dallas ruled Thanksgiving, the NFL tried St. Louis” from The Washington Post “Identifying fake news will now be a school requirement in California” from KTLA If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The holiday shopping season kicks off this week with Black Friday, and American shoppers are expected to spend a record amount, particularly in online sales. Consumer spending keeps the U.S. economy humming, making up 70% of the country’s gross domestic product. But it wasn’t always this way. On the show today, Cornell economic historian Louis Hyman gives us a history lesson on how the American economy became dependent on the consumer, why that change has created serious environmental consequences, and whether there are alternatives to the consumer-driven economy we know today. Plus, what it all has to do with the Salem witch trials. Then, a federal appeals court decision could significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act. We’ll get into the economic implications of the ruling and how it could play out in the Supreme Court. Plus: Oh, how the mighty crypto kings fall. Later, we’ll hear listener suggestions for signature state cocktails. And food journalist Francis Lam was wrong about what was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Ringing in the holiday shopping season with low consumer sentiment” from Marketplace “A Brief History of Consumer Culture” from The MIT Press Reader “Frank Trentmann: How Humans Became ‘Consumers'” from The Atlantic “U.S. Economy Grew a Strong 4.9%, Driven by Consumer Spree That May Not Last” from The Wall Street Journal “Appeals court strikes down key tool used to enforce Voting Rights Act” from CNN Politics “Federal appeals court ruling threatens enforcement of the Voting Rights Act” from Politico “Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao Agrees to Step Down, Plead Guilty” from The Wall Street Journal “What Was Eaten at the First Thanksgiving?” from History We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In this tight labor market, a growing number of companies are trying to discourage workers from quitting by charging them. Stay or pay clauses are becoming a thing in more workplaces. We’ll talk about who really bears the cost of calling it quits. Plus, how Federal Reserve economists are taking a page from journalists. And Snoop Dogg, the master marketer! Here’s everything we talked about: “Federal Reserve Seeks Anecdotes Over Economic Data for Uncertain Outlook” from Bloomberg “The Stay-or-Pay Clause That Demands You Pay to Quit Your Job” from The New York Times “Snoop explains going smokeless – and it’s not what you thought” from CNN “Thanksgiving Travel: No One Should Pick You Up at the Airport” from The Wall Street Journal If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace

Since Oct. 7, Palestinian and Jewish Americans have been navigating work while enduring anxiety and heartache as the Israel-Hamas War plays out. We’ll discuss the pressure to perform professionally as the conflict continues. And there’s some hopeful climate news out of Portugal: The country ran on 100% renewable energy for six days. Plus, we’re settling the debate on the least-liked Thanksgiving side dish in a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “If Gaza were in your city, how much would be destroyed? | Israel-Palestine conflict News” from Al Jazeera “Palestinian Americans on working while grieving: ‘How many days off do you take when Gaza’s bombed daily?’” from The Guardian “Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row” from Canary Media “Sam Altman fired as CEO of OpenAI” from The Verge “As streaming services search for ad revenue, expect more political ads — and minimal regulation” from Marketplace “Meta allows Facebook and Instagram ads saying 2020 election was rigged” from The Guardian “Have dating apps lost their spark?” from Marketplace “Martha Stewart Says She’s Canceled Her Thanksgiving Dinner: ‘Turkeyed Out!'” from People “The 3 Most-Hated Thanksgiving Side Dishes In America” from Huffpost Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s been a wild week on Capitol Hill. GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Teamsters union President Sean O’Brien almost came to blows in a Senate hearing. And Republicans averted a government shutdown, but only to push the deadline to next year. We’ll dig into the historically low congressional productivity amid a growing mountain of work. And we’ll hear President Joe Biden’s remarks about meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Plus, a look at YouTube’s AI musical experiment. Here’s everything we talked about: “GOP senator challenges Teamsters president to fight during hearing” from The Hill “Did Biden and China’s Xi hit a reset? Not quite, but they agreed on a few things” from NPR “Take heart, it looks like China could send new pandas to the US” from The Associated Press “Government shutdown: Senate passes temporary plan before Thanksgiving” from USA Today “An early look our AI Music experiment” from YouTube 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, a game and more.

Elon Musk today disputed claims that an initial public offering is in the works for his satellite business Starlink, an offshoot of SpaceX. But hypothetically speaking, would more eyes on Starlink following an IPO change the way Elon Musk operates on the global stage? And, an influential liberal super PAC is ditching TV ads. We’ll get into what that tells us about political campaigning in the modern age. Plus, let the holiday party invites start flowing! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Elon Musk denies report of potential Starlink IPO in 2024” from Reuters “SpaceX Gets FAA Approval for Do-Over Starship Launch” from Bloomberg “Liberal Super PAC Is Turning Its Focus Entirely Digital” from The New York Times “More Americans are getting news on TikTok, in contrast with most other social media sites” from Pew Research Center “The case for inviting everyone to everything” from Vox “A Guide to the James Webb Telescope’s View of the Universe” from The New York Times “A Supernova ‘Destroyed’ Some of Earth’s Ozone for a Few Minutes in 2022” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Many of the world’s largest companies are setting net-zero climate goals, and they’re using carbon credits to get there. That means they can keep producing carbon emissions as long as they pay for emissions to be reduced elsewhere. But do carbon credits actually incentivize companies to reduce their emissions? On the show today, Pedro Martins Barata, associate vice president for carbon markets at the Environmental Defense Fund, explains what carbon credits are and the ethical concerns with companies relying on them to meet net-zero emissions goals. Plus, what future regulation of carbon markets could look like. Then, we’ll unpack the good and bad news in the latest U.S. climate assessment. And, some industries are compensating for widespread staffing shortages by requiring employees to work excessive overtime. Later, we’ll hear about how some farmers are combating climate change. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question was inspired by a listener. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fossil-fuel company net zero plans ‘largely meaningless,’ report says” from Reuters “Carbon credit speculators could lose billions as offsets deemed ‘worthless’” from The Guardian “The Climate Solution Actually Adding Millions of Tons of CO2 Into the Atmosphere” from ProPublica “Analysis: How some of the world’s largest companies rely on carbon offsets to ‘reach net-zero’” from Carbon Brief “Action needed to make carbon offsets from forest conservation work for climate change mitigation” from Science “Carbon offsets: What are they and do they work?” from CNN Business “36-hour shifts, 80-hour weeks: Workers are being burned out by overtime” from NBC News “US climate assessment lays out growing threats, opportunities as temperatures rise” from Reuters “Farm fields don’t just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much” from AP News We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Marvel Studios’ latest movie, “The Marvels,” had the franchise’s worst opening weekend. We’ll dig into whether superhero movies are a thing of the past and if theaters can get by without them. Then, another government shutdown may be around the corner. This time it could interfere with Thanksgiving travel plans. Plus, news you can use about online payment apps, and what would be your state’s signature cocktail? Here’s everything we talked about: “‘The Marvels’ Disappoints at Box Office, Showcasing Disney’s Studio Challenge” from The Wall Street Journal “Payments app Zelle begins refunds for imposter scams after Washington pressure” from Reuters “Thanksgiving shutdown sets up nightmare scenario for travels” from The Hill “Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon Falls to a Five-Year Low” from The New York Times “Wisconsin snubs bourbon by elevating the brandy old fashioned to state cocktail status” from AP News A Michelada recipe from The Los Angeles Times If you’ve got a question, comment or submission for a state drink, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org

We’re discussing some heavy topics today, including threats to democracy from Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, and traditional Republicans bowing out of reelection as the party heads further to the right. Then, we’ll reflect on how we should honor our veterans. Later, we’ll weigh in on an Elon Musk biopic and a global Starbuck expansion in a game of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “Trump suggests he or another Republican president could use Justice Department to indict opponents” from CBS News “Moody’s cuts U.S. outlook to negative, citing deficits and political polarization” from CNBC “Manchin, Romney Introduce Bipartisan Fiscal Stability Act” from Senate.gov “Soft saving trends reshape Gen Z, millennials’ personal finance goals” from CNBC “Hot desking gains popularity among employers” from Marketplace “Why is Starbucks opening more stores?” from Marketplace “Elon Musk Biopic Enters Development at A24 Under Darren Aronofsky” from Rolling Stone “Why isn’t there an Amazon for real estate?” from Marketplace Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

After 118 days, the SAG-AFTRA strike appears to have come to an end, marking a historic win for actors. We’ll hear from the union’s president, Fran Drescher, about her delight with the new deal. Also, what Fed chief Jay Powell’s recurring message on interest rates says about economic belief versus reality. Plus, it’s the beginning of the end for panda diplomacy, as D.C. bids farewell to its cuddly friends. Here’s everything we talked about: “Powell Closes The F—— Door On Early Rate Cut Hopes: Stocks, Bonds Tumble While Dollar Rallies” from Business Insider “Treasury’s Yellen calls Republican effort to cut IRS funding for Israel ‘damaging and irresponsible'” from AP News “Why did Speaker Mike Johnson disclose zero assets?” from Marketplace “As Pandas Leave National Zoo, Is Panda Diplomacy Over?” from The New York Times Video: “SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher reacts to historic actors’ agreement” from CNN “SAG-AFTRA Approves Deal to End Historic Strike” from Variety 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, a game and more.

High interest rates are making our already enormous national debt more expensive, and many economists are worried. We’ll discuss what it may cost to get the national debt under control. Plus, a referendum to replace Maine’s two main power companies with a publicly owned alternative was shot down in yesterday’s election. And, the James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing the way we see the universe. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What it would cost to stabilize the soaring national debt” from Axios “Maine voters reject utility takeover after heavy spending from CMP and Versant” from Bangor Daily News “What the Failed Pine Tree Power Proposal in Maine Could Have Accomplished” from CNET “More states strive to make parks, trails accessible to people with disabilities” from Stateline “A Guide to the James Webb Telescope’s View of the Universe” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re talking about another potential tool in the climate solutions toolbox: carbon capture. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law put $12 billion toward the tech, which promises to take carbon emissions straight from the air and store them underground. But there are concerns that supporting the fledgling industry could backfire. On the show today, Inside Climate News’ Nicholas Kusnetz explains the ins and outs of carbon capture and the challenges of making it work on a scale big enough to be meaningful. Plus, how investing in the tech could prolong dependence on fossil fuels. Then, studios want to own actors’ digital likenesses forever, and that’s a sticking point for SAG-AFTRA in the actors strike. We’ll get into what this has to do with trends in the generative AI industry. And, some news about former President Donald Trump’s net worth that made us say, “Huh?” Later, we’ll hear from listeners about hydrogen fuel cell cars and shower design flaws. Plus, what a listener got wrong about the climate crisis. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Pipe Dreams” from Inside Climate News “How Does Carbon Capture Work?” from The New York Times “Controversial carbon removal technology just got $1.2 billion from the Biden administration” from The Verge “Carbon Capture” from MIT Climate Portal “Companies capture a lot of CO2. Most of it is going into new oil.” from The Washington Post “SAG-AFTRA won’t budge as studios push to own actors’ likenesses in perpetuity” from The Verge “OpenAI unveils personalized AI apps as it seeks to expand its ChatGPT consumer business” from Reuters “As shutdown looms, US House Republicans search for stopgap solution” from Reuters “Donald Trump Net Worth Reaches $3.1 Billion Amid Trial” from Bloomberg “How We Survive” from Marketplace We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

SpaceX is on track to make record profits this year, particularly through its Starlink satellite program. With the reins of this powerful company in the hands of a celebrity entrepreneur, has that celebrity, Elon Musk, become invincible? We’ll also dig into the details of the U.S. birthrate. As it turns out, being an only child did not become the norm we expected it would be. And we’ll learn about the physicist who’s created over 1,000 Wikipedia bios for neglected female scientists. Here’s everything we talked about: “Millennials aren’t having kids. Here are the reasons why” from The Washington Post “SpaceX Eyes $15 Billion in Sales Next Year on Starlink Strength” from Bloomberg “This 33-year-old made more than 1,000 Wikipedia bios for unknown female scientists” from NBC News “Why it’s so hard for women’s bios to stay on Wikipedia” from Marketplace “Electric Planes, Once a Fantasy, Start to Take to the Skies” from The New York Times Do you have a question that you want to ask us or a comment on something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

A new United Nations report found that wealthy nations are scaling back funding for climate adaptation in developing countries, while the cost of mitigating the effects of climate change continue to grow. We’ll get into it. And, the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon revealed a secret pricing algorithm used by the company, known as Project Nessie. We’ll unpack how the algorithm has amassed huge profits for Amazon while raising prices across the board. Then, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty with guest host Amy Scott. Here’s everything we talked about: “Critics: Tuberville is just the face of a ‘broken’ confirmation process” from Roll Call “Amazon made more than $1B using secret algorithm called ‘Project Nessie,’ FTC says” from The Hill “Developing countries need at least $215 billion a year for climate adaptation” from Grist Adaptation Gap Report 2023 from UN Environment Programme “Rewriting the rules for the Colorado River’s management” from Marketplace “Why small phones are hard to find” from Marketplace “Super Commuting Is on the Rise, Thanks to Flexibility of Hybrid Work” from Business Insider “Are your company’s cybersecurity trainings a waste of your time?” from Marketplace “Brains and Losses: Aging and Financial Vulnerability to Scams” from Marketplace “Do We Really Need Tequila From Celebrities Like Matthew McConaughey?” from Eater “The Beatles’ ‘Now and Then’: The Band’s ‘Last’ Song” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! We recorded today’s episode before the news of Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction came out. We’ll continue to monitor the story. This week, President Joe Biden signed a sweeping executive order on the safety of artificial intelligence, and world leaders (plus Elon Musk) met to discuss the risks of the rapidly developing technology for the first time. We’ll get into what future AI regulation could look like as governments agree to cooperate. And, we’ll hear from Target’s CEO on trends in consumer spending. Plus, Sen. Tuberville’s block on military promotions is reaching a boiling point. Now, his own party is turning on him. Here’s everything we talked about: “How much AI regulation can come from the president?” from Marketplace “UK, US, EU and China sign declaration of AI’s ‘catastrophic’ danger” from The Guardian “Target CEO says shoppers are pulling back, even on groceries” from CNBC “Sam Bankman-Fried’s fourth day on the stand did not go well” from CNN “Sam Bankman-Fried Is Convicted of Fraud in FTX Collapse” from The Wall Street Journal “Republican Sen. Tuberville doubles down on blocking military nominees despite GOP pleas” from ABC News “Playbook: Tommy Tuberville vs. everybody” from Politico Join us for Make Me Smart Virtual Trivia on Nov. 9! Give $5 or more and the link will be in your confirmation email: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Two prominent Republican representatives announced they won’t seek reelection at the end of their terms in Congress. We’ll get into the future of the GOP, as former President Donald Trump continues to drive a wedge in the party’s identity. Also, how the verdict in a case involving the National Association of Realtors could upend the way we buy and sell homes. Plus, a breakthrough gene therapy treatment is allowing some deaf children to hear for the first time. And, coming clean about hotel showers. Here’s everything we talked about: “House GOP’s Israel-IRS bill could add more than $26 billion to deficit: CBO” from The Hill “US jury finds realtors liable for inflating commissions, awards $1.78 bln damages” from Reuters “Thanks to a Missouri jury, how we buy and sell homes may change” from Marketplace “After Losing High-Profile Verdict, Realtors Group Hit With Larger Lawsuit on Agent Commissions” from CoStar “Republicans Kay Granger, Ken Buck announce they won’t seek reelection” from CNBC “Buck says GOP is ‘lying to America’ and he won’t run again” from Roll Call “Deaf since birth, some children in China can hear after gene treatment” from MIT Technology Review “We’ve Used Showers for Centuries. Why Can’t Hotels Make Them Easier?” from The Wall Street Journal Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

When it comes to solutions to the climate crisis, we’re going to need a whole menu of options. One item on the menu: clean hydrogen. The Joe Biden administration recently invested $7 billion into developing clean hydrogen hubs across the country, with hopes the technology could help reduce carbon emissions in a variety of industries. “Many people call it a Swiss Army knife of decarbonization,” said Emily Pontecorvo, staff writer at Heatmap News. “But the problem of thinking of it that way is that it takes so much energy to make hydrogen that you really only want to use it in cases where you don’t really have any other options.” On the show today, Pontecorvo explains the difference between “clean” and “dirty” hydrogen, how we might use hydrogen fuel, and why some climate advocates are skeptical of its climate friendliness. Then, the other labor story of the summer: rounds of walkouts by pharmacy staff at CVS and Walgreens. And we’ll get into how Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s ongoing military promotion blockade has complicated a top military official’s health emergency. Later, we’ll hear a listener’s concerns about nuclear energy. And another listener was wrong about which countries export petroleum (until they played Tradle). Here’s everything we talked about: “Biden’s Big Hydrogen Experiment Is About to Begin” from Heatmap News “White House puts $7 billion toward hydrogen hubs” from Marketplace “The race to scale up green hydrogen” from Financial Times “Column: Hydrogen is a crucial climate solution. It’s also a distraction” from The Los Angeles Times “What is hydrogen, and can it really become a climate change solution?” from The Conversation “Biden administration invests in hydrogen fuel, but hurdles remain” from Marketplace “Top Marine General Hospitalized After Apparently Having Heart Attack” from The New York Times “CVS and Walgreens pharmacy staff begin 3-day walkout” from CNN We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A $14.3 billion Israel aid package from the House GOP is in the works, and some Republican representatives are looking into unconventional ways to fund it. We’ll get into where U.S. military aid usually ends up and who stands to make a profit from global conflict. Plus, how the media coverage leading up to the 2024 election often makes false equivalencies between the speaking abilities of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. Here’s everything we talked about: “House GOP announces standalone $14.3 billion Israel aid package, setting up Senate clash — Live Updates” from Politico “Ukraine war orders starting to boost revenues for big US defense contractors” from Reuters “Israel’s Economy Set to Shrink 11% as Hamas War Escalates: JPMorgan” from Bloomberg “Trump’s Verbal Slips Could Weaken His Attacks on Biden’s Age” from The New York Times “‘I had no idea I’d become a national event’: Orson Welles on the mass hysteria of The War of the Worlds” from BBC Culture Do you have a question that you want to ask us or a comment about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The National Labor Relations Board is redefining what it means to be an employer by changing the so-called joint-employer rule. We’ll explain how the change could impact the rights of contract and franchise workers across many industries, from tech to fast food. And, polling numbers on congressional approval are sinking lower and lower. Plus, are SEO-bait names and bloated movie runtimes the new norms? We’ll get into it in a round of Half Full / Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “New labor rule could be a big deal for millions of franchise and contract workers. Here’s why.” from CBS News “NLRB joint-employer rule triggers fears of higher trucking costs” from FreightWaves “Congress’ Job Approval Drops to 13%, Lowest Since 2017” from Gallup “‘Overemployed’ people secretly work overlapping remote jobs” from Marketplace “Why it feels like movies are getting longer” from CNN “In tight labor market, businesses practice ‘strategic retention'” from Marketplace “Do CEOs make too much money?” from Marketplace “The restaurant nearest Google” from The Verge “Halloween 2023: Costumes fuel expected record holiday spending” from Axios If you’ve got a question about today’s economy, send it our way. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

There’s been a lot of talk about the ever-growing U.S. federal deficit lately. That discussion has largely revolved around spending cuts. But the flip side of the issue— that is, increasing revenue — is largely ignored. We’ll get into what increasing the government’s revenue could look like and how an approaching expiration date for some Trump-era tax cut provisions could impact taxpayers in the coming years. Also, we’ll hear from UAW President Shawn Fain about the union’s tentative deal with Ford and the outsized CEO salaries that made headlines this year. Here’s everything we talked about: “UAW President Shawn Fain: We’ve got a tentative deal with Ford” from Detroit Free Press “CD282: Chaos Fires McCarthy” from Congressional Dish “Pentagon spending stuck in neutral even as lawmakers back budget boost” from Politico “Do CEOs make too much money?” from Marketplace “Let’s talk about revenue and the budget deficit” from Marketplace “The Problem With a $2 Trillion Deficit” from The New York Times podcast “The Daily” 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, a game and more.

After a three-week vacancy, House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana speaker. We’ll give you the rundown on who Johnson is and what his far-right associations could mean for the challenging weeks ahead in Congress. And, on the other side of the Capitol rotunda, senators are working on new ways to end Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s military promotion blockade. Plus, a 14-year-old scientist’s cancer-fighting bar of soap. Here’s everything we talked about: “5 things to know about Speaker Mike Johnson” from The Hill “McCarthy’s fundraising guru will back newly anointed Speaker Mike Johnson” from Politico “Mike Johnson is the least experienced House speaker in 140 years” from Axios “Virginia teen named top young scientist for cancer-fighting soap” from The Washington Post “Senators prep proposal to go around Tuberville’s holds” from Politico Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re bringing you a special episode of “Marketplace Morning Report” that dives into what the video game industry can teach us about the economy, from the socioeconomic hurdles that keep many young people from breaking into the field to the economics at work in many games. It’s part of the “Skin in the Game” series from David Brancaccio and the “Marketplace Morning Report” team, which explores how the massive industry can help us understand economics, business, money and careers. Do you have a question or comment about the video game industry? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Without a speaker in the House of Representatives, Congress isn’t getting much work done. That includes progress on the farm bill, which is up for renewal this year. We’ll get into what potential cuts to the farm bill could mean and some of the bill’s past shortcomings. Plus, a new study found that the West Antarctic ice sheet will continue to melt faster despite serious action on climate change. Also, we say goodbye to a record holder who was a very good boy. Here’s everything we talked about: “House Ag Dems fight farm bill cuts” from Politico “Introducing “How We Survive: The Worth of Water”’ from Marketplace “Crop insurance costs soar over time, reaching a record high in 2022″ from Environmental Working Group “Faster Melting of West Antarctic Ice Sheet Is ‘Unavoidable’” from Bloomberg “Jump scares are declining in horror movies — but the scariest remain” from The Washington Post “Bobi, world’s oldest dog ever, dies at 31 (or about 217 in dog years)” from ABC News Do you have a question that you want to ask us or a comment about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s been a disheartening time in the Middle East lately. Today’s guest host, Reema Khrais, shares how the recent conflict has affected her family in Gaza. We’ll also discuss how the ever-increasing U.S. deficit reached new heights in the past year. Plus, what have you splurged on lately? Here’s everything we talked about: “Gaza aid stalled at Egypt border amid wrangling at Rafah” from The Washington Post “US Budget Gap Widened 23% During Year on Rate Rise, Revenue Drop” from Bloomberg “U.S. Deficit, Pegged at $1.7 Trillion, Effectively Doubled in 2023” from The New York Times “Why Doesn’t Artificial Banana Flavor Taste Like Bananas?” from Food and Wine Defend Your Splurge and sign up for the This Is Uncomfortable newsletter If you’ve got a question about today’s economy, send it our way. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

New York Mayor Eric Adams doesn’t speak Mandarin. But with AI he can. Some New Yorkers may have received a robocall of the mayor speaking in their native tongue. Is this a golden opportunity or ethical dilemma? Plus, we’ll hear the latest on the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen answers questions on financially supporting Israel and Ukraine. Here’s everything we talked about: “Powell Says Strong Economic Data ‘Could Warrant’ Higher Rates” from The New York Times Climate protesters disrupt Jay Powell’s speech from Elisabeth Buchwald on X “Heating costs should be down this winter for natural gas users” from Marketplace “Janet Yellen: America can ‘certainly’ afford to support Israel and Ukraine, US Treasury secretary says” from Sky News “How much aid does the US give to Israel?” from USA Facts “Can New York’s mayor speak Mandarin? No, but with AI he’s making robocalls in different languages” from AP News “Tongue Twisted: Adams Taps AI to Make City Robocalls in Languages He Doesn’t Speak” from The City “NYC Mayor Eric Adams uses AI to make robocalls in languages he doesn’t speak” from The Verge 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, a game and more.

COVID-19 drug Paxlovid will soon hit the commercial market, and it won’t be cheap. We’ll talk about what the change means for patients and the drug’s accessibility. Plus, drone drug delivery is coming to certain rural communities. Also, in one woman’s case, a new pet is just what the doctor ordered. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Introducing “How We Survive: The Worth of Water”‘ from Marketplace “Pfizer Prices Covid Drug Paxlovid at $1,400 for a Five-Day Course” from The Wall Street Journal “Price of lifesaving Covid-19 antiviral Paxlovid expected to rise next year, raising concerns about access” from CNN “Rite Aid’s bankruptcy reflects how much drugstores have changed” from Marketplace “Biden administration announces ‘largest ever’ investment in US electric grid” from The Verge “Amazon begins delivering medications by drone in Texas” from CNBC “Robin Sipes was feeling sad. Her doctor prescribed her a cat.” from The Washington Post “Here are the Top 10 most popular Halloween candies, according to Instacart” from CBS News Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Despite a long period of relative stagnation, nuclear power has remained the quiet backbone of the United States’ clean energy supply for decades. Now, the Joe Biden administration wants more from the sector as the country hustles to meet ambitious emissions goals. Jigar Shah, the director of the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office, said nuclear energy will only become more critical as demand for electricity surges over the next 20 years. On the show today, Shah makes us smart about how much the country relies on nuclear energy. We’ll also discuss lessons learned from building the first nuclear reactor from scratch in decades, and how the industry plans to win over Americans who are concerned about safety and toxic waste. Then, we’ll get into the high stakes of today’s vote for speaker of the House of Representatives. And Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink is part of geopolitical conversation yet again, this time in Israel. Later, we’ll hear from a teacher about the expectations that educators pay for classroom supplies themselves. And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Kai Bird, co-author of “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nuclear power is having a resurgence” from Axios “Utilities Want to Convert Coal Plants to Nuclear; Skeptics Abound” from The Wall Street Journal “New Georgia reactor shows benefits and costs of nuclear power” from Marketplace “Study identifies reasons for soaring nuclear plant cost overruns in the U.S.” from MIT News “Advanced Nuclear – Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” from The Department of Energy “NRC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design” from The Department of Energy “Playbook: Jim Jordan’s day of reckoning” from Politico “Google, Amazon, Apple could see antitrust bills put on hold if Jim Jordan is House speaker” from CNBC “Israel Latest: Musk’s Starlink Approached as Biden Readies Trip” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A class-action lawsuit is looking to end questionable practices by the National Association of Realtors. While antitrust concerns have surrounded Realtors’ operations in the past, the association’s heavy lobbying may have prevented further investigation. We’ll talk about why this lawsuit might be different. Plus, we’ll do the numbers on the federal government’s ballooning interest bill. And, a lesson on laughter during trying times. Here’s everything we talked about: “Realtors Face an Antitrust Reckoning” from The Wall Street Journal “Explain How REALTORS®, Local Broker Marketplaces Work” from the National Association of Realtors “National Association of Realtors” from the National Association of Realtors “National Assn of Realtors Profile: Summary” from OpenSecrets “What long-term bond yields mean for U.S. fiscal outlook” from Axios  “Pete Davidson offered the right words about the Israel-Hamas war” from Poynter Do you have a question that you want to ask us or a comment about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on chemicals in hair-relaxing products. We’ll explain how the passing of the rule could be a big win for Black women’s health. And the battle for the speaker of the House continues with a new nominee. Plus, we’ll play a special spooky edition of This or That, in recognition of Friday the 13th. Here’s everything we talked about: “Exclusive: The F.D.A Is Taking Major Action To Protect Against Harmful Chemicals In Hair Products” from The Root “After Pressley, Brown Inquiry, FDA Proposes Ban on Harmful Chemicals in Hair Relaxers” from pressley.house.gov Rule regarding formaldehyde-releasing products from Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs “Trump Loyalist Jim Jordan Is Nominated by GOP for House Speaker” from BNN Bloomberg If you’ve got a question about today’s economy, send it our way. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

After a swarm of misinformation and gruesome images took over X following Hamas’ attack on Israel, Elon Musk is now under scrutiny by the European Commission to clean up the mess. We’ll also hear how climate change may be affecting our sense of fashion. And we hear this year’s Nobel Prize-winning economist on gender disparities in the workforce. Here’s everything we talked about: “X’s misinformation woes get worse during the Israel-Hamas conflict” from Marketplace “Elon Musk’s X faces EU probe over handling of Israel-Gaza war” from The Washington Post “Musk given 24 hours to address graphic images of Hamas attacks” from Politico “How a hotter climate is changing consumers’ wants and needs” from Marketplace “Can I be fashionable without hurting the planet?” from Marketplace “Nobel Prize in economics goes to Harvard’s Claudia Goldin for her work on women in the labor market” from AP News The Prize in Economic Sciences 2023-Press release from The Nobel Prize “You Will Go to the Moon” from Moxy Früvous 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, a game and more.

When Elon Musk turned Twitter, now X, on it’s head, some media outlets decided to call it quits. Six months later, an internal memo at NPR says traffic has dipped only modestly. We’ll get into why Twitter may not have been the bedrock of online engagement that many had believed. And Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman-Fried’s former adviser and girlfriend, has been testifying at his fraud trial this week. It has us thinking about how choosing a romantic partner can come with consequences. Plus, an initiative pushing back against the “tampon tax.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been Negligible” from Nieman Reports “Elon Musk told X users to follow accounts known for lies for Israel updates” from The Washington Post “Caroline Ellison Says She and Sam Bankman-Fried Lied for Years” from The New York Times The Tampon Tax Back Coalition “NASA Unveils First Glimpse of Space Rock Collected From Asteroid” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re checking in on what happened after almost 200 high profile CEOs signed a statement in 2019 promising to serve stakeholders like employees and consumers along with their shareholders. Have those companies made any progress toward fulfilling those nonbinding pledges? That’s the question Molly Kinder, a fellow at the Metropolitan Policy program at The Brookings Institution, and her co-authors wanted to answer by analyzing the decisions some of those companies made during the first two years of the pandemic. On the show today, Kinder explains why the Business Roundtable statement made such a splash in 2019, why workers haven’t seen substantial gains since then, and how it’s connected to the latest wave of strikes. Then, we’ll get into what schools run by the Defense Department can teach us about improving public education across the country. And some Federal Reserve officials think it’s time to cool it with the rate hikes. Later, we look at the part of the crypto world that’s often overshadowed by grifters and a story of self-checkout woes. Plus, Charlie Sprinkman, founder of Everywhere Is Queer, answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Profits and the pandemic: As shareholder wealth soared, workers were left behind” from The Brookings Institution “Researchers say America’s top CEOs didn’t live up to their promises in Business Roundtable letter” from Fortune “Workers are striking across America for higher wages” from The Washington Post “Who Runs the Best U.S. Schools? It May Be the Defense Department.” from The New York Times Veteran Homelessness Fact Sheet from VA Homeless Programs “Fed’s Bostic Says Rates Now High Enough to Lower Inflation to 2%” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The Biden administration sending aid to Israel after a surprise attack from Hamas. We’ll unpack how financial assistance for Israel can make or break aid for Ukraine, and how dysfunction in the House of Representatives might throw a wrench into all of it. And Tesla’s latest price cut brings fierce rivalry with gasoline cars. Plus, a real-life reenactment of “The Neverending Story” (with a happy ending this time). Here’s everything we talked about: “Biden Says Military Assistance Is on Its Way to Israel” from The New York Times “Democrats’ Sympathies in Middle East Shift to Palestinians” from Gallup “Tesla Prices Now Rival Average US Cars After Billions in Cuts” from Bloomberg “McCarthy says he would return as House speaker” from CNBC “Watch: Sinking horse rescued from Colorado bog” from UPI “We Need To Talk About Artax In ‘The Neverending Story'” from BuzzFeed Do you have a question that you want to ask us or a comment about about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Interest rates are high. Bonds yields are on the rise. And money is getting more expensive. We’ll explain what this means for consumers and fiscal policymaking. Plus, NASA has ambitious plans to send civilians to the moon (and make Kimberly’s dreams come true). Later, we’ll weigh in on self-checkout aisles and magnet less refrigerators during a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “Pharmacies begin dispensing abortion pills” from Politico “Maybe in Your Lifetime, People Will Live on the Moon and Then Mars” from The New York Times “Chaos in Washington Feeds Americans’ Dismal View of Politics” from The New York Times “Gil Scott-Heron’s Poem, ‘Whitey on the Moon'” from The Atlantic “Why does furniture fall apart so easily?” from Marketplace “What are YouTube obituary pirates?” from Marketplace “Are Fridge Magnets ‘Lowbrow’? Appliance Manufacturers Have Decided: Yes” from The Wall Street Journal “Costco gold bars: Here’s what’s behind the demand” from AP News “Walmart, Costco, and Kroger Are Facing a Self-Checkout Reckoning” from Business Insider If you’ve got a question about today’s economy, send it our way. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Another week, another strike. This time thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers have initiated the largest healthcare strike in the country. And while different sectors of the economy have been walking off the job this summer, the demands all seemingly sound the same. We’ll also hear one CEO’s take on how AI can add more leisure time to all of our lives. And Beyonce at the box office! Here’s everything we talked about: “Kaiser strike: More than 75,000 health care workers walk off the job” from NPR “Surgery and other medical procedures are delayed by the Kaiser strike, patients say” from NBC News “Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Brings In Half-Billion Dollars—But These Singers Made Even More” froom Forbes “Beyoncé’s Silvery, Shimmering Renaissance” from The New York Times Chip in now to help us reach our goal to hear from 2,000 donors this fall fundraiser: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Business in the U.S. House of Representatives has come to a standstill after Kevin McCarthy was removed as speaker Tuesday. Fallout has been messy, to say the least. We’ll get into what this historic moment could mean for the health of our democracy. Plus, some jobs are more at risk of being automated by AI than others. And NASA astronauts on the Artemis III mission will head to the moon in style, with a little help from Prada. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Playbook PM: Jordan and Scalise make their moves” from Politico “Vote to oust McCarthy as speaker is a warning sign for democracy, scholars say” from The Washington Post “ChatGPT provided better customer service than his staff. He fired them.” from The Washington Post “Malaria vaccine big advance against major child killer” from BBC News “Prada to Help Design Spacesuits for NASA Moon Mission” from The Wall Street Journal Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey smarties! We recorded today’s episode before historic news broke that the House of representatives voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker. We’re monitoring the story as it develops and as the House figures out what comes next. IIt’s Day 1 of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial. Last year, The founder of FTX was charged with counts of fraud and conspiracy after his crypto exchange went under and investigators found that $8 billion in customer funds had gone missing. Before his fall from grace, SBF had become one of the most powerful players in the industry. This has us wondering: Is crypto on trial along with Sam Bankman-Fried? On the show today, Bloomberg’s Zeke Faux, author of “Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall,” explains how the trial could play out, where crypto is today and whether it has a viable future, post-SBF. Then, we’ll hear how companies can be held accountable for the junk they leave floating in space. And automatic enrollment in retirement savings plans has given millennials a boost in an economy where they haven’t generally had a leg up. Later, we’ll hear from one listener on the overlap between colleges and trade schools. And another listener explains why he was wrong about music. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Who’s Rooting Hardest for a Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction? The Crypto Industry.” from The New York Times “With SBF, Gisele, and Michael Lewis at Peak of Crypto Craze” from New York Magazine “What Good is Crypto If Coin Prices Don’t Go Up?” from Bloomberg “The FTX trial is bigger than Sam Bankman-Fried” from The Verge “Mountain of FTX Evidence: Emails, Chat Logs, Code and a Notebook” from The New York Times “Can FTX Be Revived—Without Sam Bankman-Fried?” from Wired “Why Black investors are more likely to own crypto” from Marketplace “FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023” from FEMA “Dish Network Hit With Historic Fine Over Space Debris” from Gizmodo “Millennials on Better Track for Retirement Than Boomers and Gen X” from The Wall Street Journal The countdown is on! Help us reach 2,000 donors by Friday.

We’re not in a government shutdown. Instead, we’re talking about consumers spending like it’s still hot girl summer. Concerts, travel and shopping sprees seem to remain a priority for many in this economy. We’ll discuss how this might be a sign of shifting attitudes around debt. Plus, there’s a market for everything — even candles for Washington, D.C., wonks! Here’s everything we talked about: “Trump’s understandable surprise at seeing his company in court” from The Washington Post “Americans Are Still Spending Like There’s No Tomorrow” from The Wall Street Journal Norwegian new car sales from @robbie_andrew on X Introducing the Government Shutdown candle If you’ve got a question for the hosts, send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s going to be a tense weekend on Capitol Hill. Congress not only has the government shutdown deadline to deal with, it also has deadlines that affect the Federal Aviation Administration and the farm bill. We’ll explain what’s going on. Plus, the hosts weigh in on the Taylor Swift effect and “The Golden Bachelor” in a fresh round of our favorite game: Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Airline passengers could feel the bite as Congress nears two missed deadlines” from Politico “Rare Senate spat threatens farm bill push with House in shutdown chaos” from Politico “Biden offers dire warnings about Trump in democracy-focused address” from PBS Newshour “Gen. Mark Milley Warns of Fealty to Dictators, in Exit Speech Aimed at Trump” from The Wall Street Journal “‘The Golden Bachelor’ premiere may put some realness back in reality TV” from MSNBC “Reality (TV) bites” from Marketplace “Majority of national parks will close and annual Fat Bear Week canceled if government shuts down” from CNN “Bringing back the lost art of office etiquette” from Marketplace “Taylor Swift effect: Chiefs ticket sales increase, plus Travis Kelce sees huge spike in jersey sales” from CBS Sports “Restaurant diners are eating earlier than ever” from Marketplace Give now to help us reach our 2,000-donor goal and unlock a Make Me Smart trivia night!

We’re in the final days before a potential government shutdown, and negotiations aren’t going well. At issue is the federal government’s $6 trillion budget. But with most of that money already spoken for, only a small sliver of spending is actually up for debate. We’ll explain. And have you heard of the paper ceiling? Plus, Kai and a famous Hollywood star share their dislike for pumpkin spice! Here’s everything we talked about: “Biden makes history by joining striking autoworkers on the picket line” from NBC News “UAW threatens to expand strikes again at GM, Ford, Stellantis” from CNBC About STARs from Tear the Paper Ceiling “A few thoughts on Pumpkin Spice Season” from YouTube “How pumpkin spice cemented itself in American culture” 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, a game and more.

Elon Musk’s business relationship with the Pentagon is going strong. SpaceX just scored its first defense contract from the U.S. Space Force, giving Musk more control over on-off switches (see: Ukraine). We’ll get into the potential consequences of having a single private citizen like Musk so entangled in geopolitics. Plus, welcome home, astronaut Frank Rubio, and bye-bye panda cams? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Elon Musk Wins US Space Force Contract for Starshield” from Bloomberg “Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule” from The New Yorker “Retail theft isn’t actually increasing much, major industry study finds” from CNBC “Target says it will close nine stores in major cities, citing violence and theft” from CNBC “NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is home after a year in space” from Ars Technica “US Won’t Have Any Pandas for the First Time in 50 Years” from Bloomberg Our public service journalism is powered by YOU. Chip in what you can today.

We’re on the brink of yet another government shutdown. If Congress fails to pass legislation to keep the federal government fully up and running past Oct. 1, it would be the country’s fourth shutdown in the last decade. This has us wondering: Why does passing the federal budget often get so messy? On the show today, Molly Reynolds, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains how the federal budget process is supposed to work, why it often breaks down and why other countries don’t seem to have the same problem. Plus, how we can make the process smoother, given the Congress we’ve got. Then, we’ll get into why the FTC is suing Amazon and how it might shape what “monopoly” means in this day and age. Plus, is President Joe Biden’s footwear really worth a headline? Later, how one listener is thinking about the kind of change our democracy needs. And, a Jekyll and Hyde-style mix-up involving a popular California university. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What is a government shutdown? And why are we likely to have another one?” from Brookings “Biden’s budget kicks off a long and likely painful process on Capitol Hill.” from The New York Times “Congress has long struggled to pass spending bills on time” from Pew Research “Why Don’t Other Countries Have Government Shutdowns?” from Foreign Policy Opinion | “The Democratic Party Has an Old Problem and Won’t Admit It” from The New York Times “Biden campaign’s secret mission for reelection: Don’t let him trip” from Axios “U.S., 17 states sue Amazon alleging monopolistic practices led to higher prices” from The Washington Post “FTC Sues Amazon for Illegally Maintaining Monopoly Power” from The Federal Trade Commission We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Some big Republican donors are in a bind. They’ve been hoping for an alternative presidential nominee to Donald Trump to write their checks to, but now they seem to be giving up on that idea and are keeping their money on the sidelines. We’ll discuss what that means for spending in the 2024 election. Plus, what’s happened to Greece since its debt crisis? And what Kimberly discovered about cocktails and ChatGPT when she walked into a bar. Here’s everything we talked about: “Big GOP donors hoped for an alternative to Trump. Now some are giving up” from Politico “Greece, Battered a Decade Ago, Is Booming” from The New York Times “OpenAI’s ChatGPT offers new multimodal support for images and voice search” from Axios “Fetterman Plans to Give Back Menendez Donation In Cash-Filled Envelopes” The Messenger “Mammals’ Time on Earth Is Half Over, Scientists Predict” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Across the political spectrum, corruption seems to be the big news of the day. Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was indicted today for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Meanwhile, ProPublica reported that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas secretly attended Koch Network donor events that could be in violation of federal law. (And, let’s not forget the former president’s indictments.) We’ll discuss the role of the press and the Department of Justice in trying these cases. Then, we’ll play Half-Full/Half-Empty and debate whether shorts on the Senate floor should be the new norm. Here’s everything we talked about: “Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events” from ProPublica “FBI found gold bars in Menendez’s house, money stuffed in jackets, prosecutors say” from The Hill “New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez says he won’t resign” from NBC News “Time to brush up on the Food and Forage Act of 1861, everybody” from Washington Monthly “UAW will widen strike against GM and Stellantis but not Ford” from The Washington Post “UAW official says union creating “chaos” for automakers, leaked messages show” from Axios “The IRS Is Going to Know if You Sold Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ Tickets” from The Wall Street Journal “How do companies decide what to name AI tools?” from Marketplace “Spanglish branding is reaching Latino consumers” from Marketplace “How the orange egg yolk trend was hatched” from Marketplace “The Senate is relaxing its dress code. It’s caused a predictable backlash” from Vox If you’re fan of the show, grab some merch, including half-priced hoodies this weekend! Donate $8 a month and get a cozy “Make Me Smart” hoodie just in time for fall!

We are nine days away from another government shutdown if Congress can’t reach a spending deal. We’ll hear from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on what a shutdown could do to our current economy. Plus, the facial recognition story that creeped out Kai. And, did you remember? We’re celebrating one of Earth, Wind & Fire’s greatest hits. Here’s everything we talked about: “‘Absolutely no reason’ for a government shutdown, says Treasury secretary” from MSNBC “Barrymore apologizes to unions for resuming show” from YouTube “Clearview AI could change privacy as we know it” from Marketplace “Earth, Wind & Fire – September” from YouTube 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, a game and more.

A new chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to mimic the leading candidates in the 2024 presidential race is fresh on the scene. Users can query a candidate’s avatar or conjure up a one-on-one debate. We’ll get into the potential impact of AI on future U.S. elections and what some politically engaged citizens are doing about it. Plus, we’ll explain why the wait for your morning latte at Starbucks might be getting out of hand. And Operation Santa is open for business. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Conspiracy Theorists Go Viral With Claim Sen. John Fetterman Actually Body Double” from Forbes “John Fetterman would be particularly hard to body-double” from The Washington Post “Prepare yourself. A Donald Trump chatbot is about to be unleashed.” from Politico “Artificial Intelligence in Campaign Ads” from the Federal Register “Write to Santa Today!” from the USPS “Why Starbucks (SBUX) Is Desperate to Reduce Your Coffee Wait Time” from Bloomberg Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

President Biden is pitting his plan for the U.S. economy against so-called ‘MAGAnomics’, the economic ideas that defined the Trump era. Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University, said the clash is all about who wins and who loses as the U.S. decarbonizes. On the show today, Blyth explains what Bidenomics actually means and why it’s not the easiest message to sell to voters. Plus, how the United States let go of its industrial base and what it will take to re-industrialize for a clean energy future. Then, strikes across the country are putting President Biden’s pro-union reputation to the test. And, we’ll get into what rising oil prices that could mean for the Fed and the American consumer. Later, a listener’s perspective on why many Americans don’t feel the economy is all that strong. Plus, a bonus fantasy writing vocab lesson. And, the thing you probably didn’t know about cows? Here’s everything we talked about today: “40 years later, is this the end of Reaganomics?” from Make Me Smart “Opinion | What Biden Can Learn from Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’” from The New York Times “Biden Administration Investment Tracker” from the Center for American Progress “Bidenomics and Its Contradictions” from The Wall Street Journal “The ‘Bidenomics’ plan, explained” from CNN Politics “UAW strike tests ‘Union Joe’s cred” from Politico “The Fed’s Next Challenge: $100 Oil” from The Wall Street Journal “Amazon (AMZN) to Hire 250,000 Holiday Workers, Boost Hourly Pay to $20.50” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Congress has a job to do. But lately, some of the work on the Hill seems to have come to a standstill. There’s been drama over the debt ceiling, a Republican senator is holding up key military promotions, and now a government shutdown is looming. We’ll tackle the question of who is really to blame for all the governmental dysfunction and unpack the challenges of framing these issues in the media. Here’s everything we talked about: “Marines issue stand-down order amid search for missing F-35” from The Hill “Congress is in crisis. There’s no clear escape” from Politico “With democracy on the ballot, the mainstream press must change its ways” from The Guardian Got a question for the hosts? Send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Celebrities are starting to have eerily similar smiles — flawlessly straight and pearly white teeth. But what’s the cost behind those perfect smiles? We’ll talk about yet another unrealistic beauty standard and the rise of the cosmetic dentistry industry. And the Roman Empire might be a thing of the past, but it seems that many men are still fascinated by it. We’ll get into some reasons why the ancient world power is engrained in our minds. Then, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty to settle some fashion debates. Here’s everything we talked about: Watch: Marketplace’s video series “Burning Questions” from “How We Survive” Listen: Marketplace’s new series “Burning Questions” from “How We Survive” “Celebrity teeth look the same thanks to veneers, and TikTok has thoughts” from The Washington Post “Why don’t you fix your teeth?” from Marketplace “Many men think about Roman Empire frequently, TikTok trend shows. Why?” The Washington Post “Where did all the G-rated blockbusters go?” from Marketplace “Why Birkenstock’s IPO filing is encouraging for investors” from Marketplace “Coke’s latest mystery flavor is AI-generated” from CNN “This common decongestant ingredient is no better than a placebo” from Marketplace “Why did the Instant Pot go out of style?” from Marketplace If you’re a fan of our livestreams, we think you’ll enjoy Marketplace’s new video series,  “Burning Questions,” from the team behind “How We Survive.” If you’ve been curious about solutions to the climate crisis, give it a watch!

In the before times, some of America’s top corporations pledged to rebalance their priorities and serve all stakeholders instead of just shareholders. Today, workers still aren’t feeling the love. We’ll get into the disconnect between employees and CEOs and explain how that’s playing out in recent labor disputes. Plus, why patrons at a Milwaukee bar are feeling that Jets win extra-hard. Here’s everything we talked about: “Detroit automakers and auto workers remain far from a deal as end-of-day strike deadline approaches” from AP News “UAW tees up select strikes if no deal by deadline” from Politico “Nearly 200 CEOs say shareholder value is no longer a main objective” from CNBC Sen. Mitt Romney announces he won’t be running for office in 2024 from X Gurner Group founder Tim Gurner talking to the Financial Review from X “CEO Tim Gurner calls for more unemployment, give employers more leverage” from The Washington Post Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to Tim Gurner from X “Property developer Tim Gurner, man behind avocado toast meme, calls for up to 50 per cent rise in unemployment” from The West Australian Milwaukee bar’s promotion takes a turn after the Jets win from X 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, a game and more.

What does air conditioning have to do with political dysfunction in Washington? Apparently, more than you’d imagine. We’ll get into the history behind AC in the halls of Congress and how that’s affected the way lawmakers do their jobs. Then, what drove Sen. Mitt Romney to call it quits? Plus, staging a career comeback isn’t easy. Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are showing us how it’s done. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate” from The Atlantic “Wall Street Bet Big on Used-Car Loans for Years. Now a Crisis May Be Looming.” from ProPublica “‘We Put in Air Conditionin’, Stayed Year-Round, and Ruined America’” from Politico “Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are modeling how to stage a career comeback” from Quartz “It Only Tuesday” from The Onion Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

This year alone, lawmakers in more than two dozen states have introduced or passed legislation in favor of ranked choice voting systems, where voters rank candidates in order of preference on their ballot. Advocates sing the praises of ranked-choice elections, claiming it could be an antidote to the United States’ extreme political polarization. Others say switching to a new voting system would be too complicated for voters. On the show today, Maresa Strano, deputy director of political reform at New America, unpacks ranked choice voting: what it does well, where it falls short, and what our voting systems have to do with the broader economy. Then, a new strategy for wiping out medical debt is catching the attention of some local governments. And we’ll get into why mixed signals about the U.S. economy are complicating things for the Biden campaign. Later, a listener shares how they learned the difficulty of farm work firsthand. Plus, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart Question comes from sci-fi writer Andy Weir, author of “The Martian.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Ranked-Choice Voting Works” from The New York Times “What We Know About Ranked-Choice Voting” from New America “The Hottest Political Reform of the Moment Gains Ground” from Politico “RCV is Neither Panacea nor Catastrophe for Minority Representation” from New America “Oregon becomes the latest state to put ranked choice voting on the ballot” from NBC News “U.S. Incomes Fall for Third Straight Year” from The Wall Street Journal “A new way to tackle medical debt gains traction.” from The Washington Post We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

There’s been a lot of reporting lately about a rise in retail theft and a growing shoplifting problem. But a closer look at those claims and the relevant data seems to suggest something else is going on. We also revisit the attack on the World Trade Center and consider how American unity and perceptions have changed in the past 22 years. We end with some smiles about Mother Nature and a significant discovery that could be a big deal for the clean energy economy. “Is retail theft really rising?” from Marketplace “Today, Explained: Blame Capitalism: Souring on the system” from Apple Podcasts “September 11, 2001 — The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from Comedy Central “Spain federation president Rubiales resigns amid kiss fallout” from ESPN “Ancient Supervolcano in US May Hide Largest Lithium Deposit Ever Found” from Science Alert “In a 1st, scientists grow human kidneys inside developing pig embryos” from Live Science “How We Survive” from Marketplace ICYMI: To mark our 1,000th episode, we’re giving away a free Make Me Smart bingo card to every newsletter subscriber. Sign up at marketplace.org/newsletters.

We’re in the quadruple digits, y’all, and we’re celebrating! But first we’ll dive into the news with an exciting development on Mars — how NASA’s Perseverance space rover is generating oxygen on the Red Planet. And a new climate change report card shows that we’ve averted the worst-case scenarios, but there’s still a long way to go. Plus, we’re marking this special episode with a new game of Would You Rather featuring a special (and beloved) guest! Here’s everything we talked about: “Perseverance Mars rover wraps up MOXIE oxygen-making experiment” from Space “FAA Orders SpaceX to Take Dozens of Steps Before Future Starship Flights” from The Wall Street Journal “Africa proposes global carbon taxes to fight climate change” from BBC News “U.N. Report Card Shows World Is Far From Meeting Climate Goals” from The New York Times Thank you to those who tuned in to the livestream. If you missed it, you can find it here. Let us know if you’ve got questions about the economy, business or technology. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

In a speech today, former Vice President Mike Pence and republican presidential candidate said the GOP is at a crossroad between conservatism and populism. We’ll get into why we’re hearing a lot less about fiscal conservatism these days. Before that, Kai gives us the skinny on his interview with Chicago Fed President and whether the central bank should raise it’s inflation target. Here’s everything we talked about: “Chicago Fed president on future rate hikes, likelihood of recession” from Marketplace “Pentagon launches media blitz to combat Tuberville blockade” from Politico “Senate Confirmation Still in Limbo for 301 Military Leaders” from U.S. Department of Defense “Growing feud over Tuberville’s stand on Pentagon nominations risks Senate confirmation of nation’s top military officer” from CNN “Mike Pence Warns GOP Face Choice Between Conservatism and Populism” from C-SPAN “The Conservative Plan to Tackle Poverty” from The Atlantic Join us tomorrow for our special 1000th episode! We’ll have news, games, and some fun surprises. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. And you’re gonna want to check out this week’s newsletter to get the party started!

As birthrates fall and baby boomers grow older, the demographic makeup of the United States is set to drastically change in the next decade. We’ll talk about what that could mean for the modern economy. And we’ll discuss the logistics of the 14th Amendment and the budding idea that it could bar former President Donald Trump from participating in next year’s election. Plus, a step forward for women’s sports in Spain. Here’s everything we talked about today: “I Can’t Keep Trump Off the Ballot” from The Wall Street Journal “A clause in the Constitution may disqualify Trump from returning to the White House?” from NPR “Trump 14th amendment debate more extensive than realized, election chief says” from Politico “Opinion | America’s Seniors and the Challenges of Old Age” from The New York Times “The Fastest 60-Year-Old Woman on Earth Is Only Getting Faster” from Outside Online “‘The Boy And The Heron’ Trailer Is A Look At Hayao Miyazaki’s First Film In 10 Years” from HuffPost “The Golden Bachelor: Everything to Know About the Bachelor Spinoff” from People “Jorge Vilda, Coach of Spain’s Women’s Soccer Team, Is Fired” from The New York Times “Make Me Smart” is coming up on it’s 1,000th episode! We want to hear your favorite moments from the show so far. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

We’re back from Labor Day weekend and talking about a group of laborers that’s in short supply these days: farmworkers. The people who pick the food we eat are considered the backbone of the agricultural industry. So why are they treated differently than other workers and often go without the same labor protections like overtime and the right to unionize? On the show today, Mary Hoopes, associate law professor at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, explains why agricultural workers were left out of the New Deal’s labor protections, what’s changed since then and the exploitative nature of temporary visa programs used to fill ongoing farm labor shortages. Where do Big Ag and American consumers fit in all of this? And will the massive 2023 Farm Bill help? Then, we’ll get into how a drop-off in funding for many federal aid programs could impact low-income families. And projections from Bloomberg Economics show that China will probably not surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2030, as many economists had predicted. If not 2030, when? Later, a listener tells us about why it’s difficult to avoid single-use plastics in the health care industry. And evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos was wrong about why cats meow. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Regulating Marginalized Labor” from the Hastings Law Journal “The Food and Farm Bill Can Do a Lot for Workers” from the Union of Concerned Scientists “Can the United Farm Workers of California Rise Again?” from The New York Times “As these farmworkers’ children seek a different future, farms look for workers abroad” from NPR “Farm Workers Exposed to Climate Change Effects Are Demanding Protections” from PBS The incredible American retreat on government aid from The Washington Post “A D.C. grocery store is removing Tide, Colgate and Advil to deter theft” from The Washington Post “China Slowdown Means It May Never Overtake US Economy, Forecast Shows” from Bloomberg “Opinion | Single-use plastics are everywhere in health care. That must change.” from The Washington Post We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s college football season, and if you’re having a hard time keeping up with all the changes, you’re not alone. This week, the Atlantic Coast Conference decided to go bicoastal by adding schools really far from, well, the Atlantic Coast. We’ll explain what this is all about (spoiler: money). Plus, why a new Biden administration proposal to increase staffing at nursing homes could make a big difference. Then we’ll play a game of Half Full/Half Empty and discuss why finding love might be coming with a bigger price tag. Here’s everything we talked about: “Nursing Homes Must Boost Staffing Under First-Ever National Standards” from The Wall Street Journal “ACC adds Stanford, Cal, SMU as new members beginning 2024-25” from ESPN “Return to office means the return of the business meal” from Marketplace “Beyoncé and Taylor Swift fans turn to fast fashion for concert attire” from Marketplace “Dating apps flirt with premium subscriptions” from Marketplace “The U.S. is no longer world’s leading exporter of corn” from Marketplace “Here’s when Labor Day weekend travel is expected to hit its peak” from AP News Next Friday is our 1,000th episode! We want to hear about your favorite moments, episodes or guests in Make Me Smart history. Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Not sure how to feel about today’s economy? Perhaps putting it to music will help. Today we’re dedicating the entire show to the economic anthems of this moment. We’ll play a round of Name That Tune with songs our dear listeners submitted. Plus, Kai and Kimberly will share their song picks! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Is the current job market music to the Fed’s ears?” from Marketplace Bleachers: “I Wanna Get Better” on YouTube R.E.M.: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” on YouTube Donna Summer: “She Works Hard for the Money” on YouTube “The Real Woman Behind Donna Summer’s Hit ‘She Works Hard For the Money'” from LAist Grateful Dead: “Truckin'” on YouTube “What’s your ‘economic anthem’?” from Marketplace Marketplace: “Your Economic Anthems” on Spotify 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, a game and more.

The Biden administration proposed a new rule that would extend mandatory overtime pay to millions of American workers. We’ll get into the workers who stand to benefit and how the plan could give boost to Biden’s reelection campaign. Also, seismic wave research gives us a new understanding of the war in Ukraine. Plus, Kimberly is back from vacation and fills us in on her adventures in Bhutan and Thailand. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Earthquake Sensors Document Russian Bombings in Ukraine in New Detail” from The New York Times “What to Know About FEMA’s Nationwide Test Alert Planned for October” from The New York Times “Department of Labor announces proposal to restore, extend overtime protections for 3.6 million low-paid salaried workers” from the Department of Labor “Biden plan would guarantee overtime pay for 3.6 million workers” from Reuters “HHS Calls for Moving Marijuana to Lower-Risk US Drug Category” from Bloomberg Get a glimpse of the hiking Kimberly did in Bhutan “Jenni Hermoso: Record goalscorer, serial swearer and icon of Spanish sport” from The Athletic Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Plastic is just about everywhere, and there’s going to be a lot more of it. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development expects global plastic use to triple by 2060. So what are we to do with all the waste? Tossing empty iced coffee cups, peanut butter jars and blueberry containers into a recycling bin might seem like the obvious solution. But while the plastics industry has been working hard to promote recycling as a fix since the ’70s, it turns out our recycling systems are not equipped to handle the various plastics we use. “Think of your own home. On top of your washing machine, you probably have a bright orange, hard plastic detergent bottle. And then in your refrigerator, you might have a squeezable clear ketchup bottle. Those two plastic containers cannot be recycled together,” said Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. On the show today: the fundamental problems with plastic recycling and the ubiquitous chasing-arrow symbol, and what we should do about it. Then, we’ll discuss Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visit to China, and why it may be time for Chinese officials to make a visit of their own. And is Yahoo is making a comeback? Later, we’ll hear some listeners’ thoughts on robotaxis. And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from one of the economists behind our favorite nerdy econ game, Tradle. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Plastic Recycling Doesn’t Work and Will Never Work” from The Atlantic “Toward a circular economy: Tackling the plastics recycling problem” from The Conversation “The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered with failure” from Reuters “Decades of public messages about recycling in the US have crowded out more sustainable ways to manage waste” from The Conversation “The Plastics Industry’s Long Fight to Blame Pollution on You” from Tahe Intercept “What a reporter learned after cataloging her plastic use for a week” from Marketplace “UN Agency Provides Path to 80 Percent Reduction in Plastic Waste. Recycling Alone Won’t Cut It” from Inside Climate News “U.S. Does Not Want to ‘Decouple’ From China, Raimondo Says” from The New York Times “How Yahoo is coming back from the dead” from Axios We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

For Americans with mortgages, homeowners insurance is a must. But for those who have paid off their homes, it’s optional. Now more and more Americans are choosing to forgo that insurance. We’ll explain what’s behind the trend and dig into the potential risks. Plus, bizarre happenings for fabled sea creatures are making us smile, including a live-action reenactment of Jonah and the Whale. And, Nessie, is that you? Here’s everything we talked about: “Americans Are Dropping Their Home Insurance, Claiming the Odds of Disaster Don’t Justify the Cost” from The Wall Street Journal “Student Loans Are Emerging From Deep Freeze, and Borrowers Are Confused” from The Wall Street Journal “Spanish Prosecutors Open Inquiry Into Luis Rubiales Over World Cup Kiss” from The New York Times “Mother of beleaguered Spanish soccer chief starts hunger strike as calls mount for his resignation” from AP News “Biggest Hunt for the Loch Ness Monster in 50 Years Gets Under Way” from Bloomberg “Whale watching: What happened when a whale swallowed me whole” from Slate Join us tomorrow for a deep dive into the economics of recycling plastic and its shortcomings. Do you have recycling hacks? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Spanish women’s national team won it’s first World Cup! But the celebration has been bittersweet after Spain’s soccer chief kissed a player on the lips and is refusing to step down. We’ll discuss the fallout and what the team is doing to oust Luis Rubiales. Plus, we’ll play a game of Half Full / Half Empty with guest host Amy Scott weighing in on how LinkedIn is actually cool? But pumpkin spice lattes in August — maybe not so much. Here’s everything we talked about: “Facebook settlement claims are due Aug. 25. How to apply for a payout” from The Washington Post “What’s the point of class-action lawsuits?” from Marketplace “Spanish Soccer Chief Rubiales Refuses to Resign Over World Cup Kiss” from The New York Times “Are American malls back from the brink?” from Marketplace “Will New York City’s Airbnb crackdown make housing more affordable?” from Marketplace “Subway sale could lead to closures and international expansion” from Marketplace “Instagram, Twitter and TikTok Upheavals Are Helping LinkedIn” from Bloomberg “Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte Returns Thursday—A Week After Dunkin’ And A Full Month Before Fall” from Forbes 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.

Consumer spending has been fairly resilient in the face of high inflation (see Taylor Swift, Beyoncé). But, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes can pack a punch, and it’s showing up in Americans’ credit card bills. We’ll hear a bit of Macy’s quarterly earnings call and unpack what it tells us about consumer habits. And, AI is being used to give people their voices back. And, we’ll play a round of Name That Tune, economic anthem-style. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Credit card delinquencies jump past pre-pandemic levels” from Axios “Big retailers disappoint Wall Street as consumer spending shifts” from Marketplace “A Stroke Stole Her Ability to Speak at 30. A.I. Is Helping to Restore It Years Later.” from The New York Times “India lands a spacecraft softly on the moon’s surface” from The Washington Post “The Trash We’ve Left on the Moon” from The Atlantic “What’s next for India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission on the moon?” from Space “The economic anthem of the moment depends on how you read the data” from Marketplace “Marketplace: Your Economic Anthems” on Spotify 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, a game and more.

The computer chipmaker Nvidia doubled its revenue from a year ago due to a surge in demand for special chips used to run AI systems like ChatGPT. We’ll get into the geopolitical backdrop of the current chip boom. And, half of today’s homebuyers are first-time purchasers despite a historically unaffordable housing market. We’ll unpack that paradox. Plus, have you played Tradle yet? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nvidia Revenue Doubles on Demand for A.I. Chips, and Could Go Higher” from The New York Times “Can I Afford a House: Higher Mortgage Rates Have Not Deterred Some Buyers” from Bloomberg “The Housing Market Has Never Been This Unaffordable for New Buyers” from Business Insider “Home-builder ETFs jump after data show new-home sales rose in July despite high mortgage rates” from MarketWatch “Ford Confronts Strange, Ear-Piercing Static in F-150 Trucks” from The Wall Street Journal Play the Observatory of Economic Complexity’s Tradle game Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Robotaxi companies Cruise and Waymo recently scored a big win when California regulators allowed them to expand their services and begin charging fares in San Francisco. But now the companies are hitting some speedbumps. On the show today: Axios transportation reporter Joann Muller explains where we’re at with self-driving technology, why all eyes are on San Francisco, and who make the rules as robotaxi companies grow. Plus, the human-to-human connection that driverless cars are missing. Then, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimundo is the next cabinet member in line for a trip to China. We’ll get into why the visit might be a little tense. And, some Americans are finding creative avenues to homeownership in spite of an unfavorable housing market. Later, our listeners recommend some summer reads. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Mark Clouse, President and CEO of Campbell’s Soup. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How autonomous vehicles “see” the world around them” from Axios “Cruise will reduce robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco while California DMV investigates ‘incidents'” from CNBC “Carmakers Are Pushing Autonomous Tech. This Engineer Wants Limits.” from The New York Times “How rideshare drivers feel about robot competition” from Marketplace “The Cost of Self-Driving Cars Will Be the Biggest Barrier to Their Adoption” from Harvard Business Review “Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to Visit China from The Wall Street Journal “Goodbye Bathtub and Living Room. America’s Homes Are Shrinking.” from The Wall Street Journal “The enduring allure of the cheap old house” from  The Washington Post Summer reading recs from the Make Me Smart team on Goodreads Summer reading recs from our listeners on Goodreads We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Inflation has been the hot topic for over a year now. And the Federal Reserve has been on a mission to lower inflation down to its 2% target. But should Chair Jay Powell and his team aim for a higher target instead? We’ll also talk about China and Japan’s diminishing interest in U.S. Treasurys and how it can affect American debt. And some good news about the carnivorous Venus flytrap. Here’s everything we talked about: “Maui wildfire recovery: Hawaii governor insists fire-ravaged Lahaina community will be rebuilt as search efforts continue” from CNN “The Fed Should Carefully Aim for a Higher Inflation Target” from The Wall Street Journal “Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule” from The New Yorker “El-Erian advises Federal Reserve to rethink its 2% inflation target” from Marketplace “A barometer for the AI economy” from Marketplace “Venus fly trap removed from endangered species list” from Public Radio Eastern North Carolina “After years of losses, the Women’s World Cup broke even” from Quartz We want to hear from you. If you’ve been in a robo-taxi, we want to know about your experience. Call us at 508-UB-SMART, or email @makemesmart@marketplace.org

Americans are watching a lot of television, but it’s not broadcast or cable TV. For the first time, linear TV made up less than half of all TV viewing last month. We’ll talk about how the rise of streaming and the ongoing Hollywood strikes may accelerate cord cutting. Plus, how the U.S. is still being represented in the Women’s World Cup final. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty with guest host and Economics on Tap first-timer Nova Safo, who enlightens us on why all radio show hosts should drink sherry. Here’s everything we talked about: “For the first time, cable and broadcast makes up less than half of TV viewing” from CNN “What to know about SAG-AFTRA waivers and why actors are making movies during the strike” from AP News “American referee Tori Penso picked by FIFA for England-Spain final at Women’s World Cup” from AP News “Beer? Pour me a grey one” from Marketplace “Could stablecoin regulation come sooner with PayPal USD launch?” from Marketplace “First Bank of U.S. to be turned into museum of the American economy” from Marketplace “Can AI product review summaries help us make better purchase decisions?” from Marketplace “Serve Robotics goes public, but the robot delivery industry has a ways to go” from Quartz We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMA

The Inflation Reduction Act is the beating heart of the president’s new “Bidenomics” slogan. The trouble is, many Americans don’t know what’s in the gargantuan piece of legislation. We’ll hear what President Joe Biden had to say on the law’s one-year anniversary and explain why he is struggling to get credit for the strong economy. And, we’ll get into how the new culture of remote work is shifting the purpose of downtowns. Plus, we’ll play a round of Name That Tune, economic anthem-style. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden touts Inflation Reduction Act on first anniversary” from Reuters “Biden’s approval rating on the economy stagnates, AP-NORC poll shows” from AP News “San Francisco struggles with downtown recovery” from Marketplace “New York Plans to Open Parts of Midtown Manhattan to Housing” from The New York Times “Janet Yellen explains her ‘magic mushroom’ experience in China” from CNN Business “The economic anthem of the moment depends on how you read the data” from Marketplace “Marketplace: Your Economic Anthems” on Spotify 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, a game and more.

Detroit has one of the nation’s highest poverty rates. Yet, it doesn’t have the same level of homelessness that Los Angeles has. So what gives? We’ll get into the almost-too-obvious reason: a lot more housing. Also, we’ll check in on one of Kai’s favorite topics — bonds — and explain what yields can tell us about today’s economy. And, a silver lining in the U.S. women’s national soccer team’s World Cup loss. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fresno, California, leads in downtown recovery” from Marketplace “Bond Yield Hits Highest Since 2008, Adding Pressure to Borrowing Costs” from The Wall Street Journal “The first female officer nominated to the Joint Chiefs is stuck in Tuberville’s military promotions blockade” from Politico “Why Detroit, America’s poorest city, doesn’t have an L.A.-sized homeless problem” from The L.A. Times “The Local-News Crisis Is Weirdly Easy to Solve” from The Atlantic “The Matildas and the World Cup Crack Australia’s Code Wars” from The New York Times Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! We’ve been having a lot of conversations about what advances in AI technology mean for our personal and professional lives. So, today we’re bringing you a special episode from “Marketplace Tech” about how AI is already transforming the workplace. In their new “AI on the Job” series, our tech team investigates the effects, from streamlining routine office tasks to drastically changing workflows.

California regulators gave the green light to two robotaxi companies to expand service in the city of San Francisco. But the debate over driverless vehicles is far from over. Guest host Matt Levin joins the pod to explain. Plus, Argentina’s primary elections highlight how inflation is playing out in domestic politics across the globe. And, some environmental good news to put a smile on your face. Here’s everything we talked about: “Driverless taxis: What to know about Cruise, Waymo expansion” from The San Francisco Chronicle “San Francisco’s self-driving car wars intensify after Cruise meltdown” from The San Francisco Chronicle “How rideshare drivers feel about robot competition” from Marketplace “Outsider Milei Upends Argentina’s Election With Primary Win” from Bloomberg “Goldman Pencils In First Fed Rate Cut for Second Quarter of 2024” from Bloomberg “Amid Maui wildfire ash, Lahaina’s 150-year-old banyan tree offers hope as it remains standing” from CBS News “Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision” from The Washington Post We can’t do this show without you. Submit your answer to the Make Me Smart question and you may appear in a future episode. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! Make Me Smart is taking a little summer vacation this week. We’ll be back in your feeds soon. But for now, enjoy a rerun of one of our favorite episodes of the year so far. To reach the Joe Biden administration’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, the country’s energy infrastructure needs a massive overhaul, and fast. But many communities are not on board with the idea of a massive wind or solar farm in their area. Some counties are banning renewable energy developments before the planning can even begin. “All those wind turbines and solar panels, and then all the transmission lines that you need to build … it has a big footprint. And that creates lots of land-use conflicts,” said Ted Nordhaus, founder of The Breakthrough Institute. On the show today, Nordhaus breaks down climate NIMBYism, the threat it poses to our green-energy economy and what it might take to keep the green transition moving forward. In the News Fix: Work as we know it is changing. Many U.S. companies are already using ChatGPT in one way or another, and the artificial intelligence chatbot is replacing jobs. Plus, workers in Asia and Europe are going back to the office at much higher rates than American workers. Then, we’ll hear from listeners about how later school start times have improved their family’s mornings, the debate about what to call mocktails, and why Americans keep eggs in the fridge. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Decarbonization and its Discontents” from The Breakthrough Institute “Will NIMBYs sink new clean energy projects? The evidence says no – if developers listen to local concerns” from The Conversation “The Environmentalists Undermining Environmentalism” from The Atlantic “America needs a new environmentalism” from The Economist “Should I Learn Coding as a Second Language?” from Wired “1 in 4 companies have already replaced workers with ChatGPT” from Resume Builder “As Americans Work From Home, Europeans and Asians Head Back to the Office” from The Wall Street Journal “What’s happened to the lunch places in office neighborhoods?” from Marketplace “Why do we refrigerate eggs and other countries don’t?” from the Egg Safety Center What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

First the U.S. Marines and now the Army. For the first time in American history, two members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lack the blessing of the Senate, as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, holds up hundreds of military promotions to protest the Pentagon’s new abortion policy. We’ll explain the implications of having interims filling these top military posts. And good news for the lungs of the planet: Deforestation is on a downward trend in the Amazon rainforest. Plus, we’ll play a game of Half Full / Half Empty with predictions about the “vibecession.” Here’s everything we talked about: “Amazon deforestation at six-year-low in Brazil after plunging 66% in July” from CNN “Army chief retires as Tuberville hold snarls the Pentagon’s top ranks” from Politico Joint Chiefs of Staff vacancies from Twitter “Why ‘grandternity’ leave might become the newest form of parental leave” from Marketplace “The Federal Reserve could help instant payments catch on” from Marketplace “Cybersecurity labels are coming. Will they be effective?” from Marketplace “Are we finally exiting the ‘vibecession’?” from Marketplace We are taking our usual summer hiatus next week, but while we are on break we’d love to hear from you! We want to know your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The credit rating agency Fitch bumped the United States’ credit rating down a notch this week despite the country’s strong economic performance. We’ll hear what Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had to say about it and get into why political dysfunction is at the root of the downgrade. Plus, why a carbon-free future likely depends on nuclear energy. And what musical beat is the U.S. economy grooving to? Here’s everything we talked about: “New Georgia reactor shows benefits and costs of nuclear power” from Marketplace “Yellen: Fitch downgrade ‘entirely unwarranted’ amid US economy’s strength” from Reuters “New York Dems beg Biden to fast-track migrant work permits” from Politico “Inhumane conditions reported at large migrant shelter in New York City” from NPR “The economic anthem of the moment depends on how you read the data” from Marketplace We want to know what you’d pick as the economic anthem of the moment! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. 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, a game and more.

Climate change is real and so is climate anxiety. We’ll get into the ways the climate crisis is changing the mental health profession as people turn to therapy for help with handling all the climate doom. And, is there a way to turn climate anxiety into action? Also, former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment is now available to the public. (Seriously, read it.) And, asteroids may be the next frontier for human space exploration. Plus, meows of agreement from Yuki the cat. Here’s everything we talked about today: “United States of America vs. Donald J. Trump” (PDF) from the U.S. Justice Department “CNN annotated text copy of Trump’s third indictment” from CNN “For hard-core Trump supporters latest indictment doesn’t raise doubts” from NPR “What To Do With Climate Emotions” from The New Yorker “AI improves breast cancer detection rate by 20 percent” from Politico “Prospects for Future Human Space Flight Missions to Near-Earth Asteroids” (PDF) from NASA Yuki the cat’s Instagram account Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re talking about the economics of higher education in the United States. Though the average cost of going to college nearly tripled from 1980 to 2021, the net cost of attending both public and private institutions has started to come down. Martin Kurzweil, vice president of educational transformation at the nonprofit Ithaka S+R, traces that back to a decline in enrollment. “Demographers will tell us that the generations of young people coming through after the baby boom, the cohort sizes, have decreased over time, and higher education is looking at what’s come to be known as a demographic cliff,” Kurzweil said. On the show today: Kurzweil explains how college became unaffordable for many Americans, why costs have started to come down, and how a shrinking population of typical college-age students will transform higher education in the U.S. Then, we’ll get into the repercussions of the Great Recession on the retirement wealth of younger baby boomers. And, are credit rating firms underestimating the climate crisis? Later, listeners share how they deal with news fatigue. Plus, one listener explains what she got wrong about getting a college degree. Here’s everything we talked about today: “College prices aren’t skyrocketing—but they’re still too high for some” from The Brookings Institution “Forget that $90,000 sticker price: College costs are actually going down” from The Hill “Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2022” (PDF) from College Board “A Sign That Tuition Is Too High: Some Colleges Are Slashing It in Half” from The New York Times “The incredible shrinking future of college” from Vox “Ratings Firms Struggle With Climate Risk in $133 Trillion Market” from Bloomberg “Yellen Says Extreme Weather Exposes Gaps in Insurance Protection” from Insurance Journal “What Happened to Late Boomers’ Retirement Wealth?” from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggles to forge ahead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, he’s hoping to win supporters through his newly unveiled economic plan. We’ll also talk about the spikey takedown of human devices by crows. Plus, a golden record aimed at aliens that captures the sounds of love and life on Earth. Here’s everything we talked about: “How to Prepare Your House for a Hotter Future” from Heatmap News “DeSantis Says He Would Eye U.S. Ban of TikTok If Elected President” from The Wall Street Journal “Birds have co-opted our anti-bird weapons in a genius counterattack” from Vox “After ‘terrorizing’ Congress, interns get selfies with all 100 senators” from The Washington Post “Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan’s Ultimate Mix Tape” from NPR “Voyager Golden Record” from Sotheby’s We’re waiting for your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org and it may appear in a future episode.

India has banned nearly half of its rice exports. The news has sent many Americans scrambling to stock up. We’ll explain what the ban means for global food prices. Plus, what should come first, new electric vehicle charging stations or new power lines? And, the hosts weigh in on UFOs during a round of Half Full / Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Sen. Duckworth’s Barbie moment” from Politico “India’s ban on certain rice exports sends some U.S. consumers scrambling to find it on store shelves” from Marketplace “From Rice Ban to War and Heat, Food Inflation Risks Are Back” from Bloomberg “Biden Administration Poses Strict Targets for Vehicle Fuel Economy” from The Wall Street Journal “The advantages —and drawbacks — of decentralized social networks” from Marketplace “NASA Plus is the latest streaming competitor” from The Verge “U.S. recovered non-human ‘biologics’ from UFO crash sites, former intel official says” from NPR “Could electric planes tempt Americans to fly short distances instead of driving?” from Marketplace We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART and you might be featured in a future episode.

Federal student loan payments have been paused for over three years. Since then, borrowers have got used to the extra room in their budgets for dining, vacations, Beyoncé tickets and more. One listener called in to ask: What happens to the economy when payments start again this fall? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions on President Joe Biden’s new student debt forgiveness plan and why it’s so hard to have student loans wiped out through bankruptcy. Here’s everything we talked about today: “As Student Loan Borrowers Prepare to Resume Payments, Some Borrowers’ Abilities to Pay May Be Limited” from TransUnion “Holiday shopping already has retailers on edge” from Marketplace “Student-Loan Repayments Are Coming Back. Retailers Are in for a Big Shock.” from The Wall Street Journal “The pause on student loans is ending. That could be a storm cloud for the economy” from CNN Business “The Biden administration is forgiving $39 billion in federal student loans. Find out if you qualify” from Marketplace “Biden is forgiving $39 billion in student debt — here’s who qualifies” from CNBC “Student loan forgiveness: What to know about Biden’s $39 billion plan” from Vox “Who benefits from the student loan payment pause and what will happen when it ends?” from California Policy Lab “Biden Administration Updates Form For New, Easier Bankruptcy Process” from Forbes “Biden Administration Offers New Path to Discharging Student Debt in Bankruptcy” from The New York Times 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, a game and more.

Barbie and Taylor Swift are just about everywhere right now, they even got a mention at the Fed’s news conference today. Seriously! We’ll explain what these pop culture icons have to do with the today’s interest rate hike. Plus, how leaning on algorithms and AI for bureaucratic work could come with real costs for consumers. And, candid thoughts about climate change. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Cigna accused of using an algorithm to automatically reject patient claims” from CBS News “How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them” from ProPublica “G.M. and Other Automakers Will Build 30,000 Electric Vehicle Chargers” from The New York Times “MIT’s ‘PhotoGuard’ protects your images from malicious AI edits” from Engadget “Powell Speaks on Fed Rate Hike” from The New York Times Got a question about resuming student loan repayments for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

NASA recently celebrated one orbit around the Sun since the James Webb Space Telescope became operational. On the show today, Caitlin Casey, professor of astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, is back to share some of the exciting discoveries her team has made in the first year of the $10 billion machine’s mission. She’ll also fill us in on the buzz over gravitational waves. Plus, why learning about the seemingly incomprehensible cosmos can keep us grounded. Later, we’ll discuss dueling op-eds that arrive at the same conclusion: Immigration is good for the economy. Then, a listener calls in with a cocktail recipe, and a tortoise with the hiccups inspires this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “12 amazing James Webb Space Telescope discoveries across the universe” from Space “Webb telescope discovers oldest galaxies ever observed” from Phys “New 3D Visualization Highlights 5,000 Galaxies Revealed by Webb” from NASA “The James Webb Space Telescope is out of this world” from “Make Me Smart” “America’s Choice: Immigration or Bust” from The Wall Street Journal “Opinion | The left needs to win, not duck, the immigration debate” from The Washington Post “UPS Reaches Tentative Deal With Teamsters to Head Off Strike” from The New York Times “IMF raises global growth forecast despite China’s recovery ‘losing steam'” from CNBC “Nike is coming out with a soccer cleat specifically for women” from NPR “Boots and balls made for men an injury risk to women footballers” from BBC News We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Congress averted a government debt default in June, but can it prevent a government shutdown this fall? Lawmakers are at odds again over spending bills to fund the government next year. Kai and Kimberly will also discuss tips for avoiding doomscrolling while maintaining healthy news consumption. And is Twitter’s new name, “X,” actually owned by Meta? Or maybe it’s Microsoft? Either way, lawyers may have some real lawyering to do. Here’s everything we talked about today: “House Republicans start their funding rumble with shutdown looming” from Politico “Study of Elite College Admissions Data Suggests Being Very Rich Is Its Own Qualification” from The New York Times Trademark for “X” from Twitter Trademark Status of “X” from the United States Patent and Trademark Office “Elon may have a huge issue because Microsoft owns the ‘X’ trademark” from Futurism Got a question about resuming student loan repayments for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplac

Record-breaking heat waves are becoming a serious job hazard for outdoor workers. Currently, there are no federal rules to protect workers from extreme heat. But that may be changing. We’ll also discuss New York City’s reversal in the way it treats asylum-seeking migrants. Plus, we’ll play a game of This or That with guest host Amy Scott. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Amid historic U.S. heat wave, workers have few protections” from Axios “Migrants in NYC Say They’ve Been Turned Away, Despite Shelter Mandate” from Bloomberg “Updates to asylum seekers from the city of New York” from NYC.gov “Messi Shines a Spotlight on Miami, and on Soccer in the U.S.” from The New York Times “United States vs. Vietnam: How to watch Women’s World Cup match” from CNN We want to hear what you’re reading this summer. If you’ve got a reading recommendation you’d like to share with fellow Smarties, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART

With the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, the upcoming fall TV season will likely survive on rations of reruns and unscripted content. Once viewers also run out of bingeable streaming series, the streamers might find themselves in a similar position. We’ll hear what Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos had to say about it and get into why the streamers may be better prepared — for now. Plus, we’ll unpack the Biden administration’s war on hidden fees. And, the Women’s World Cup is finally here! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Netflix adds nearly 6 million paid subscribers amid password sharing crackdown” from CNN Business “Biden targets hidden ‘junk fees’ from banks, cable TV, concert tickets” from Reuters “SEC chair warns of AI’s potential to disrupt markets” from Axios “There’s evidence that AI has downsides for the legal industry” from Marketplace “Women’s World Cup likely to draw bigger crowds, revenue” from Marketplace “New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson scores goal vs. Norway in 48′” from Fox Sports 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, a game and more.

Record breaking heat waves and extreme weather events have us wondering: Is this summer an anomaly? We’ll discuss what it really means to adapt to global warming. And, recent climate talks between the U.S. and China were a bust. We’ll get into why China and other countries might not be eager to take instructions from a significant carbon emitter like the United States. Plus, the story of a rescued sailor and his loyal companion makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “China’s Xi Rebuffs Kerry’s Call for Faster Climate Action” from The New York Times “The ‘new abnormal’: The rise of extreme flooding, briefly explained” from Vox “Australian sailor Tim Shaddock and dog rescued after two months at sea” from BBC News “‘That dog is something else’: Rescued sailor praises canine shipmate” from NBC News “ACL Injuries Are Hurting Women’s Soccer” from The New York Times Got a question about resuming student loan repayments for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The 2024 presidential campaign is already well underway, but today we’re going to take a step back and examine the connection between Barack Obama’s presidency and the rise of white racial violence. It’s what Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery calls the “American Whitelash” (also the title of his new book), which to some extent is rooted in economic fear. On the show today: How the election of former President Obama spurred a white racist backlash, why economic fear is entangled with xenophobia and the media’s role in all of it. Plus, is the media ready to cover the 2024 elections? (Spoiler: It’s not). Later, we’ll explain how Russia’s decision to pull back from a wartime agreement on grain exports will hurt countries that suffer from food insecurity. And, why the Joe Biden administration’s plan to restrict investment in Chinese tech could get a bit messy. Then, a listener tells us how their home state is dealing with flighty insurers. And, economist Peter Atwater shares that he was wrong about what it really means to have confidence. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The ‘American Whitelash’ Is Far From Over” from Politico “Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement Has Dropped Considerably From Its Peak in 2020” from Pew Research Center “Trump’s history of inciting violence in words and tweets: A timeline from 2015 through the Capitol attack” from Vox “Why allowing Ukraine to ship grain during Russia’s war matters to the world” from AP News “US Plans Narrow China Tech Investment Limits, Likely by 2024” from Bloomberg We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hollywood’s double strike of writers and actors might just be the start of a hot labor summer. We’ll talk about the next group of workers who may soon join the picket lines and what’s at stake (inflation, anyone?). Plus, what the Federal Trade Commission has to do with Trump’s plans to expand presidential power. And, concrete, yes, concrete is making us smile as newly discovered secrets from ancient Roman times could help us build more environmentally friendly cities. Here’s everything we talked about: “Annual Cost of SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA Contracts Estimated by Moody’s“ from The Hollywood Reporter “Teamsters president says he’s asked the White House not to intervene if UPS workers go on strike” from The Associated Press “Trump Plans to Expand Presidential Power Over Agencies in 2025” from The New York Times “From Jack the Ripper to ‘Gilgo Beach’ cold case, violence against sex workers is common” from USA Today “We Finally Know Why Ancient Roman Concrete Stood The Test of Time” from Science Alert “A Positive Covid Milestone” from The New York Times We want to hear what you’re reading this summer. If you’ve got a reading recommendation you’d like to share with fellow Smarties, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s a wild show, y’all. About halfway through, an unwelcome surprise besieges Kimberly. But don’t worry, Kimberly (and Jasper) are all right. We’ll also touch on the latest in the Johnson & Johnson talc powder saga, how the U.S. women’s national soccer team landed Taylor Swift in its 2023 squad announcement video, why cottage cheese is going viral and Barbenheimer! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Johnson & Johnson sues researchers who linked talc to cancer” from Reuters “How the USWNT landed Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, Issa Rae and more for their squad announcement video” from The Athletic “MSG Sphere in Vegas lit up as a basketball is mesmerizing” from New York Post “The newest viral TikTok trend? Cottage cheese” from Marketplace “These remote employees are secretly working abroad” from Marketplace “AP strikes news-sharing and tech deal with OpenAI” from Axios “Barbenheimer fever takes over” from Axios We want to hear what you’re reading this summer. If you’ve got a recommendation you’d like to share with fellow Smarties, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hollywood actors are joining writers on the picket lines after leaders of the SAG-AFTRA union voted to strike. We’ll hear what SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher had to say about it and get into what it might mean beyond the entertainment industry. Plus, why conservative amendments tacked onto an important defense spending bill are setting it up to fail. And, Kai reads between a Federal Reserve official’s lines. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Shutdown Looms as Actors Say Contract Talks Have Collapsed: Live Updates” from The New York Times “Disney CEO Bob Iger on media landscape: Challenges are greater than I had anticipated” from CNBC “Saudi investment in PGA Tour will top $1 billion. And Norman will exit as LIV’s CEO, tour exec says” from The Washington Post “House voting on first set of hot-button amendments to defense bill: live coverage” from The Hill “Tommy Tuberville: Senators fume over growing number of blocked nominations” from CNN Politics “The Overton Window” from the Mackinac Center “Fed’s Mary Daly Says a ‘Couple More’ Rate Hikes Appropriate in 2023” from Bloomberg 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, a game and more.

Farmers Insurance is the latest to call it quits in Florida as more frequent hurricanes ramp up risk for insurance companies. We’ll get into what coastal states like Florida might do to prevent residents from moving to more insurable parts of the country. And, inflation has settled down to 3%, but don’t be too quick to celebrate. Plus, we’ll commemorate the first anniversary of the James Webb Space Telescope with some unbelievable new photos. Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘Cascading impacts’ warning as Farmers becomes latest insurer to quit Florida” from The Guardian “Farmers Insurance is leaving Florida in latest blow to homeowners” from Tampa Bay Times “How We Survive” from Marketplace “Russia’s Flagship Crude Oil Surpasses G-7 Price Cap for First Time” from Bloomberg “Inflation at 3% Flags End of Emergency, Turning Point for Fed” from Bloomberg “Inflation slows to 3%, but returning to 2% is ‘still a ways away'” from CNBC “Workers save turtles migrating through Conn. dry-cleaning business” from The Washington Post “Meet Sammy, the surfing seal from San Diego” from BBC News “Seal pup goes surfing in San Diego!” from @thatgoodnewsgirl on TikTok “NASA releases spectacular image to celebrate James Webb Space Telescope” from The Washington Post Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s time to air out some of fast fashion’s dirty laundry. Recently, fast-fashion retailer Shein was in the headlines over a paid influencer trip to one of its factories in China. It’s also facing allegations that range from labor rights abuses to high levels of carbon emissions. Sustainable-fashion writer Alden Wicker’s new book, “To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick,” documents another gritty side of the industry: the toxic chemicals used to make the clothing many companies sell. As it turns out, there aren’t many laws in the U.S. to prevent those chemicals from ending up in our clothes. On the show today, Wicker explains why harmful chemicals are in our clothing, how flight attendants became a breakthrough case for toxic clothing and how more regulation could help ensure safer practices in the fashion industry. Plus, what consumers can do to reduce their exposure. Then, more on harmful chemicals: A recent study found that a type of “forever chemical” is uncomfortably common in the U.S. water supply. And, the pending merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard got a big push forward from a federal judge this week. We’ll get into why the decision is a major blow to the Federal Trade Commission. Later, a listener shares an adorable cartoon that has Kimberly Adams written all over it. Plus, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Major Jackson, host of “The Slowdown” poetry podcast. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Shein, the fast-fashion giant, hits roadblocks” from The Washington Post “Are your clothes making you sick? The opaque world of chemicals in fashion” from The Guardian “The incredible story of how hatmakers really did ‘go mad’ 300 years ago” from Business Insider “Influencers are under fire for praising working conditions in Shein’s clothing factory despite abuse allegations” from NBC News “Toxic Chemicals in Shein and Other Fast Fashion Clothing” from Insider “What Is Prop 65? And Why Is There a Warning Label on This Thing I Bought?” from The New York Times “How to remove PFAS — aka forever chemicals — from drinking water” from Vox “Tap water study detects PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ across the US” from U.S. Geological Survey “Microsoft Can Close Its $75 Billion Buy of Activision Blizzard, Judge Rules” from The Wall Street Journal ‘“USA Geography” Features Humorous Illustrations Of Each State” from Bored Panda “The Slowdown” podcast from APM We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Kai Ryssdal breaks the fourth wall and shares highlights from his trip to China with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (it was “amazeballs”). Plus, U.S. pandemic relief packages helped millions of businesses stay afloat in 2020. But cybersecurity holes paved the way for fraudulent claims. Can the federal government hold these scammers accountable? And how Morocco’s national women’s soccer team is making history. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Yellen: U.S. intends to be ‘transparent about the actions that we’ve taken’ when it comes to China” from Marketplace “The Trillion-Dollar Grift: Inside the Greatest Scam of All Time” from Rolling Stone “Earth is at its hottest in thousands of years. Here’s how we know.” From The Washington Post “Morocco’s historic Women’s World Cup debut inspires girls even if some in the Arab world ignore it” from AP News Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Meta’s new Threads became the most quickly downloaded app on Wednesday, its opening day. Twitter’s not thrilled about it. We’ll get into why folks may or may not gravitate toward the app and whether any of the “new Twitters” can become a true social media hub. And, could a scandal involving a celebrated behavioral science researcher impact the way we engage with pop science? Plus, guest host Reema Khrais leads us in a new game. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Twitter is threatening to sue Meta over Threads” from Semafor “All the red flags in the Threads privacy policy” from Quartz “Meta’s Threads Proves That Social Media Cannot Die” from The Atlantic “The Harvard Expert on Dishonesty Who Is Accused of Lying” from The Atlantic This week’s newsletter from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

A new law in New York City requires employers who use artificial intelligence in their hiring process to have those systems audited for bias. We’ll get into how bias can be encoded into these AI hiring tools and why this law could serve as a model for future AI regulation. Then, is the labor market in a sweet spot? Guest host Amy Scott unpacks new jobs data that paints a picture of a remarkably strong labor market in spite of the Federal Reserve’s anti-inflation crusade. Plus, how some apps can help you make friends IRL. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Americans Have Quit Quitting Their Jobs” from The Wall Street Journal “Women were disproportionately affected by the tech layoffs” from Axios “NYC law promises to regulate AI in hiring, but leaves crucial gaps” from Axios “New NYC law restricts hiring based on artificial intelligence” from Marketplace “A New York law will require AI hiring systems to be audited for bias” from Marketplace “Meta’s Zuckerberg Tweets After Instagram Threads Launch in Jab at Musk’s Twitter” from Bloomberg “Loneliness is taking friend-making apps mainstream” from The Washington Post 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, a game and more.

Meta is debuting Threads, its riff on Twitter, to rival the legacy social media platform. We’ll get into where the app might sit in today’s social media landscape and question why Meta would want a piece of Twitter’s notoriously unprofitable pie. And, how the U.S. workforce is changing as boomers retire. Plus, feral cats with 9-to-5s. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Meta Unveils ‘Threads’ App to Take on Twitter” from The New York Times “Meta readies Threads, a new Twitter challenger” from Marketplace “How the graying of America is reshaping the workforce and economy” from The Washington Post “These feral cats have jobs” from Marketplace “Mars helicopter calls home after long communications blackout” Spaceflight Now “Why new gravitational ripples are blowing the minds of scientists worldwide” BBC Science Focus We’re shaking things up on “Make Me Smart”! If you’ve got an idea for an episode, segment or game, let us know. You can reach us at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The recent debt ceiling deal expanded work requirements for government welfare programs. Those rules have a long and complicated history. Today, we’re sharing another episode from our sister podcast, The Uncertain Hour, and getting smarter about how those rules came into being and what they mean for people looking for help. You can binge the full season of The Uncertain Hour here.

It was a big week for the Supreme Court. Among other far-reaching decisions, the justices stuck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program and ruled race-conscious admissions programs unconstitutional. We’ll get into the ways these decisions might be felt throughout the economy and look at the likely next shoe to drop. Later, we’ll play a Fourth of July-themed game of This or That, complete with pyrotechnics! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Ending Affirmative Action May Be Just the Beginning” from Politico “Supreme Court will decide whether domestic abusers can have guns” from Politico “Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College” from the U.S. Supreme Court “Military Academies Exempt From Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling” from The Wall Street Journal Become a new Investor or rejoin today and your donation will be matched! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Yesterday, President Joe Biden dove into campaign season by debuting a new slogan: “Bidenomics.” In a speech, Biden explained it’s a counter-catchphrase to the familiar “Reaganomics.” We’ll roll the tape, and the hosts will give us their takes on the branding move. Plus, we’ll hear remarks from the Federal Reserve chair about the future of stablecoin regulation and thoughts from a young plaintiff in a groundbreaking Montana climate lawsuit. Plus, why calls for lower rent by New York City tenants echo through cities across the U.S. Here’s everything we talked about today: ‘”Bidenomics,” explained” from Marketplace “Stablecoin bill moves closer to bipartisan agreement in House” from Yahoo Finance “US Treasury says stablecoins should be regulated like banks” from The Verge “Rents to Rise for 2 Million New Yorkers This Year” from The New York Times “Defense arguments are set to open in a landmark climate case brought by Montana youth” from NPR “‘It’s my future’: Montana youths undertake one of the world’s highest-profile climate trials” from NBC News Become a new Investor or rejoin today and your donation will be matched! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Some economists have been warning of an imminent recession in the United States for over a year now. But so far, it has yet to strike. We’ll get into the different ways economists are thinking about how a so-called recession might play out. Also, humans are having a profound, literally axis-shifting impact on Planet Earth. And, how company crackdowns on sharing memberships hurt single people. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Something Was Messing With Earth’s Axis. The Answer Has to Do With Us.” from The New York Times “Is it a ‘richcession’? Or a ‘rolling recession’? Or maybe no recession at all?” from AP News “Costco cracking down on membership sharing at self-checkout” from Axios “South Koreans become a year or two younger as traditional way of counting age scrapped” from Reuters President Joe Biden claps back at Sen. Tommy Tuberville in a tweet. Become a new Investor or rejoin today and your donation will be matched! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell has made it clear that he’s laser-focused on bringing inflation back down to the central bank’s target rate of 2% annually. But why is reaching that specific number such a big deal? And where did the 2% target come from? On the show today, David Wilcox, economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and director of U.S. economic research at Bloomberg Economics, explains why it’s important for central banks to have a target inflation rate in the first place, how the Fed landed on 2% in particular and whether that target rate should be lifted in today’s economy. Plus, some monetary policy pro tips. In the news, the Supreme Court considered a legal theory that had gained traction with Republicans and kicked it to the curb. We’ll get into what that might mean for future elections. And, an EV company went the SPAC route, and it didn’t turn out well. Later, listeners sound off on “Star Wars” and a Rubik’s Cube TV series. Plus, a self-described rum nerd makes us smarter about the misunderstood spirit. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fed’s Powell, in testimony, says inflation fight has ‘long way to go”‘ from Reuters “Should the Fed raise its 2% inflation target?” from Marketplace “Alternatives to the Fed’s 2 percent inflation target” from the Brookings Institution “Of Kiwis and Currencies: How a 2% Inflation Target Became Global Economic Gospel” from The New York Times “Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Age of Crisis” by Jeanna Smialek Supreme Court rejects “independent state legislature” theory from Politico “The Incredible Story of the Lifeguard Who Won the Biggest Surf Competition in the World” from GQ “As Lordstown immolates, SPAC deals that didn’t go to zero feel like the exception” from TechCrunch “As Lordstown Motors Dies, Lordstown’s EV Business Survives” from The Wall Street Journal “‘The Speed Cubers’ takes on the world of competitive Rubik’s Cube solving” from Mashable Become a new Investor or rejoin today and your donation will be matched! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Hey Smarties! Kai and Kimberly will be back in your podcast feed tomorrow for our weekly deep dive, but until then we’re bringing you a deep dive of a different kind. It’s an episode from Marketplace’s investigative podcast “The Uncertain Hour” which is all about obscure policies and forgotten histories. In the new season, Marketplace’s Krissy Clark and the team dig into the origins and evolution of America’s welfare-to-work system (which got lots of attention in the recent debt ceiling debate). Let us know what you think. And as Kai often says, history matters!

The median age in the United States, at just under 39, is the highest it’s ever been, and it’s been rising for decades. We’ll get into the economic implications of America’s aging population. Also, the Supreme Court has been getting comfy with ruling on technicalities rather than policy. We’ll explain how that played out in a recent immigration case. Plus, it’s Revenge of the Nerds: Billionaire Edition. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Texas and Louisiana lack right to challenge Biden immigration policy, court rules” from Amylhowe.com “The U.S. Population Is Older Than It Has Ever Been” from The New York Times “How workwear went from functional to fashionable” from Marketplace “Wimbledon to use AI for video highlight commentary” from CNN “Talking credit helps visually impaired people make transactions safely” from Marketplace “Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg: Are they really going to cage fight?” from Vox “Are brain implants a privacy issue?” from Marketplace Make a gift to help us close our fundraising gap: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned nearly a year ago, conservative-led states, including Texas, have passed a slew of bans on abortion and gender affirming health care. Now, many med students and doctors are choosing to work elsewhere. We’ll get into it. And, India has become a top customer for Russian oil. We’ll explain what that means for the global oil supply and regional geopolitics. Plus, a device that makes water out of thin air, and the head of Turkey’s central bank makes the hosts smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bans on abortion and gender-affirming care are driving doctors from Texas” from 19th News “How India Profits From Its Neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War” from The New York Times “Texas man’s invention provides clean water out of air” from Spectrum News “Turkish Central Bank Jacks Up Interest Rates in Reversal for Erdogan” from The Wall Street Journal “Turkey hikes interest rates as Erdogan stages economic U-turn” from BBC News 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, a game and more.

The missing sub of wealthy tourists lost on an excursion to view the wreckage of the Titanic has been dominating news feeds this week, while the story of a deadly migrant shipwreck off the coast of Greece has, for the most part, stayed in the periphery. We’ll get into the disparities in resources and media attention paid to the two disasters. Plus, we connect the dots on interest rates, home sales and new home construction. And, confirmed by the man himself, Fede Chair Jay Powell is a Deadhead. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Media Cares More About the Titanic Sub Than Drowned Migrants” from The New Republic “Did Hunter Biden get off easy? We asked the experts.” from Politico “Home Listings Plummet as High Mortgage Rates Tie Owners Down” from Bloomberg “New house construction is booming, but most of it isn’t affordable” from Marketplace “Listen to the music play: Fed Chair Jerome Powell admits to being a Deadhead” from CNBC Video: “Introducing the USWNT’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Roster” from U.S. Soccer “USWNT’s Alex Morgan lauds progress made in women’s soccer, pay disparities but says more work to be done” from The Athletic “DC bars allowed to stay open 24 hours for Women’s World Cup” from WTOP News We’re shaking things up on “Make Me Smart”! If you’ve got an idea for an episode, segment or game, let us know. You can reach us at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

For Black workers in this economy, the last couple of years have brought gains in employment and wages. In April, the Black unemployment rate fell to a historically low 4.7%, and the racial wage gap has shrunk slightly over the last five years. But in terms of the economy as a whole, stark disparities still exist for Black Americans. “I’ve looked at the unemployment rates for the last 60 years,” said Algernon Austin, director for race and economic justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “It’s important to remember that a historically low Black unemployment rate still tends to be a high unemployment rate if you’re a white person.” On this post-Juneteenth episode, Austin explains recent gains by Black workers, why the Federal Reserve can’t fix high Black unemployment alone, and how sputtering diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in U.S. companies could impact the Black workforce. Plus, why racial justice movements have always been economic stories. Later in the episode: Reddit is under growing pressure to walk back changes to its business model. Plus, what does monetary policy look like abroad? And the death of Olympian Tori Bowie is a reminder of rising maternal mortality rates in the United States, particularly for women of color. Finally, listeners call in about the New York City event every mermaid should know about and how much “Make Me Smart” they need in their lives. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Fed Alone Cannot Create Black Full Employment” from the Center for Economic and Policy Research “Black unemployment is at a record low, but tight financial conditions could change that” from Marketplace “The labor market recovery and pandemic relief measures lifted Black and Brown workers and families in 2021” from the Economic Policy Institute “The Racial Wage Gap Is Shrinking” from The New York Times “Businesses much quieter on social justice issues than in 2020” from Marketplace “Hackers threaten to leak stolen Reddit data if company doesn’t pay $4.5 million and change controversial pricing policy” from CNN Business “China Cuts Key Interest Rates, Hoping to Kick-Start Flagging Economy” from The New York Times “Power companies spend millions to fight Maine’s proposed non-profit utility” from The Guardian “Tori Bowie death evokes many Black women’s own pregnancy crises” from The Washington Post “Thousands gather for the 2023 Coney Island Mermaid Parade” from Gothamist We want to know what you’ve been wrong about lately. Send us your answer to the Make Me Smart question at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The Carrie Bradshaw lifestyle is unreachable for most recent college grads in today’s New York City, thanks to high housing costs. We’ll get into the lengths some younger newcomers are willing to go to make it work and dig into a related problem: a potential commercial real estate crisis. Plus, how should cities deal with cannabis smoke? Then we’ll play a round of This or That! Here’s everything we talked about today: “NYC’s Rent Surge Defied by New Grads Pursuing a TikTok Lifestyle” from Bloomberg “Defaults on commercial real estate loans are rising” from Marketplace “Workers want to stay remote, prompting an office real estate crisis” from The Washington Post “Opinion | How should D.C. deal with pot smoke? from The Washington Post “D.C. resident wins case to stop neighbor smoking marijuana” from Axios The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace are being matched by longtime fan Dr. Joe Rush. Join Joe in making a gift today!

Leaked documents lay out how the conservative American College of Pediatricians (not to be confused with the American Academy of Pediatrics) has influenced policy affecting the LGTBQ community. We’ll get into how this splinter group gained national attention and the problems it poses for medical misinformation. Also, we’ll discuss the aftermath of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott busing migrants to cities like Los Angeles. And a new Rubik’s Cube world record to smile about, followed by a Rubik’s Cube anecdote from Kai Ryssdal. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Documents show how conservative doctors influenced abortion, trans rights” from The Washington Post “Texas sends busload of 42 migrants to Los Angeles” from The Los Angeles Times “Talking With Kirsten Neuschäfer, the First Woman to Sail and Win the Golden Globe” from The New York Times “Max Park Sets World Record for Rubik’s Cube Solution” from Sports Illustrated “Cat lost amid Sonoma County firestorm in 2017 miraculously returns home 6 years later” from The Press Democrat Kimberly’s anime rec: “Dr. STONE” from Crunchyroll 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, a game and more.

This week, thousands of Reddit’s most popular communities went offline to protest the company’s move to start collecting fees for access to its API or application programming interface. One listener called in to ask what all the fuss is about. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about how we keep track of consumer debt and the relationship between the underground economy and GDP. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why are Reddit communities going private?” from Marketplace “Reddit goes dark” from Platformer “A developer says Reddit could charge him $20 million a year to keep his app working” from The Verge “Reddit Wants to Get Paid for Helping to Teach Big A.I. Systems” from The New York Times “Twitter will make you pay to DM people who don’t follow you” from Mashable “Federal Reserve Board – Consumer Credit from The Federal Reserve “Household Debt and Credit Report” from The Federal Reserve Bank of New York “Gross Domestic Product: An Economy’s All” from the International Monetary Fund “Underground Economy: Definition, Statistics, Trends, and Examples” from Investopedia Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re sharing an excerpt from our live show at Town Hall Seattle featuring our special guest, writer and comedian Lindy West. The Seattleite talked with us about Former President Donald Trump’s indictment, the Hollywood writers’ strike, being broke and what it means to be fat positive in the Ozempic era. Plus, she shares some smart facts about snakes, whales and the Canada goose. Here’s everything we talked about: “Lindy West Is Not a Star” from The Stranger “Butt News #24: Never Been Kissed” from Lindy West’s newsletter “Key Takeaways From the Trump Indictment” from The New York Times “Opinion | I Quit Twitter and It Feels Great” from The New York Times “Why writers are having a hard time earning a living in the streaming economy” from NPR Video: “It’s Adorable When A Snake Drinks Water!” from Nature Quest “Planet Money makes an episode using AI” from NPR “Ozempic has won, body positivity has lost. And I want no part of it” from The Guardian ‘“Van Life” is driving a niche market for conversion companies” from Marketplace We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Send your answer to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

China dominates the market for electric vehicle batteries, but it didn’t have to be that way. We’ll talk about a story of wasted potential: how a failed U.S. startup made headway on lithium battery tech a bit too early and got caught in the throes of American capitalism. Also, a declassified report shows how the U.S. government has been skirting the need for warrants by buying data about Americans. Plus, if you’ve noticed companies have been quieter about social and environmental issues, it’s not in your head. Mentions of diversity, equity and inclusion and other social initiatives in companies’ earnings calls have fallen recently. We’ll talk about why that is. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The US Is Openly Stockpiling Dirt on All Its Citizens” from Wired “Companies Quiet Diversity and Sustainability Talk Amid Culture War Boycotts” from The Wall Street Journal “I-95 Collapse in Philadelphia to Upend Travel, Shipping for Months” from Bloomberg “America’s Long, Tortured Journey to Build EV Batteries” from Bloomberg “Surfers at Amazon’s mouth ride some of world’s longest-lasting waves” from AP News “Jeff Bezos Has Gained $10 on Mystery Purchase of One Amazon Share” from Bloomberg “Remember Jeff Bezos’ One-Off Amazon Stock Buy In Late May? Here’s How Much The Billionaire Made From The Purchase” from Benzinga Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

This special edition of Make Me Smart’s weekly happy hour is coming to you live from the stage at Seattle’s Town Hall. We’ll get to all of your “Economics on Tap” favorites: a little news, some drinks, plus an extended round of our Friday game Half Full/Half Empty! Today’s episode includes some adult language. Here’s everything we talked about today: “More Startups Throw in the Towel, Unable to Raise Money for Their Ideas” from The Wall Street Journal “Democrats Push for Debt-Ceiling Overhaul Bill After Default Scare” from The Wall Street Journal “Netflix (NFLX) Added Subscribers After Password Crackdown, Research Firm Says” from Bloomberg “Trump loses two lawyers just hours after 2nd indictment” from Politico “What All the Single Ladies (and Men) Say About the Economy” from The New York Times “What’s behind the SEC lawsuits against Coinbase and Binance?” from Marketplace “Media’s “Succession” obsession” from Axios “Biden signs bipartisan deal to avert debt default” from NPR “TikTok helps “dupe” products proliferate” from Marketplace “The PGA Tour & LIV Golf merger” from Make Me Smart’s newsletter ‘”Little Mermaid” drives big wave for mermaid industry” from Marketplace “What makes the perfect Seattle dog? The creator and 4 other hot dog experts weigh in” from The Seattle Times Feeling Half Full, or maybe Half Empty about something? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! We’re taping today’s episode of Make Me Smart live from Seattle. We’ll have the show in your feeds soon. But for now, enjoy a rerun of one of our favorite episodes of the year so far. With all the rage tweets about gas stoves, it may be hard to believe, but climate change wasn’t always so polarizing. Studies show that public opinion on the topic started to splinter in the 1990s, when governments and corporations had to reckon with the threat of a warming planet. “Prior to 1997, it was a conversation among a bunch of scientists, but once the Kyoto treaty came, it became an issue that affected powerful political and economic interests,” said Andrew Hoffman, professor of sustainable enterprise at the University of Michigan and author of “How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate.” On the show today: Hoffman explains how climate change became a partisan issue, the financial and economic interests that got us to where we are today, and what might get us back to some common ground. In the News Fix, guest host Amy Scott tells us about an ad campaign bringing attention to gender bias in internet search results. Plus, we’ll explain why classified documents in surprising places is more common than you might expect. And stick around for the TL;DR on Elon Musk’s trial over what he said about Tesla on Twitter (the social media platform he now owns). Later, we’ll hear from a listener who did the math on the cost-effectiveness of fueling up with diesel vs. gas, and a loyal listener makes us smarter about our own theme music! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Climate Science as Culture War” from the Stanford Social Innovation Review A widening gap: Republican and Democratic views on climate change from Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development “For Earth Day, key facts about Americans’ views of climate change and renewable energy” from Pew Research Center “Politics & Global Warming, March 2018” from Yale Program on Climate Communication “How the humble gas stove became the latest flash point in the culture wars” from The Washington Post “Wyoming lawmaker behind electric-vehicle ban says he didn’t mean it” from The Washington Post “The business opportunity that is climate change” from Marketplace “Correct The Internet & DDB NZ on a mission to highlight bias against women’s sport” from The Drum “Global ‘Correct the Internet’ campaign launches to make sportswomen more visible via DDB NZ” from Campaign Brief “Classified Documents Found at Mike Pence’s Home” from The Wall Street Journal “Elon Musk Securities-Fraud Trial” from Bloomberg It’s a new year, and we’re looking for new answers to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Hey Smarties! We get a lot of questions about the stock market, and today we’re sharing an episode from “Financially Inclined,” Marketplace’s new podcast for teens, that might answer some of them. Host Yanely Espinal gets into how the stock market works, the difference between stocks and bonds and what to consider when opening a retirement account. If you’re a newbie investor or want to talk more about this with the young people in your life, this episode will make you smart! This podcast is presented in partnership with Greenlight: the money app for teens — with investing. For a limited time, our listeners can earn $10 when they sign up today for a Greenlight account at http://ww.greenlight.com/inclined.  

Ahead of their upcoming monthly meeting, Federal Reserve officials have hinted at possibly holding interest rates steady. And they’ve been using a few terms to describe the move — a “skip,” a “pause” and a “hold.” One listener called in to ask: What’s the difference? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions, like why monetary policy tools are so blunt and the possibility of a common currency for BRICS countries. Plus, why your favorite radio program asks for money. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fed Officials Consider Skipping a Hike in June — But Don’t Call It a Pause” from Bloomberg “Why May’s Jobs Data Complicates Inflation Picture for the Fed” from The New York Times “How BRICS Became a Real Club and Why Others Want In” from The Washington Post “BRICS Ministers to Challenge US With More Members, Common Currency” from Bloomberg “What should the White House do to combat inflation? Experts weighed in with 12 ideas.” from The Washington Post “What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn’t do about rising prices” from NPR “Is the ‘blunt tool’ of monetary policy actually just a dull tool?” from Marketplace “Why Media & Tech Layoffs Are Skyrocketing” from Variety “The mysterious ad slump of 2022” from Vox Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s that time of year when the Supreme Court issues a bunch of important decisions on high-profile cases before its summer recess. But it turns out there’s a whole other docket of decisions that usually fly under the radar. It’s called the emergency docket, or “shadow docket.” And the use of this lesser-known docket is changing the way the Supreme Court engages with wide-reaching, often divisive issues, and shaping law on the ground. “We’re seeing every big fight in contemporary American public policy getting to the Supreme Court faster through these emergency applications, and provoking the justices to take a position sooner because of these emergency applications,” said Stephen Vladeck, law professor at the University of Texas and author of the new book “The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic.” On the show today, Vladeck explains what the shadow docket is, why emergency decisions by the Supreme Court have become more common over the past decade, and what this all means for the credibility of the court in the eyes of the American public. In the News Fix: Speaking of the Supreme Court, we’ll get into how its upcoming decision on affirmative action could muddle diversity efforts at colleges across the country. And we’ll explain why pharmaceutical companies are pushing back against the new Medicare drug price negotiation program. Later, listeners weigh in on local dog bars and virtual reality headsets. Plus, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from singer, songwriter and condiment lover, Priska Neely. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Book Review: ‘The Shadow Docket,’ by Stephen Vladeck” from The New York Times “The Supreme Court and ‘The Shadow Docket'” from NPR “What you need to know about the Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’” from Poynter “Justice Alito Calls Criticism of the Shadow Docket ‘Silly’ and ‘Misleading” from NPR “Merck sues US government to halt Medicare drug price negotiation” from Reuters “As Supreme Court considers affirmative action, colleges see few other ways to diversity goals” from AP News Priska Neely’s “Ode to Condiments” on YouTube We love to hear from you. Send us your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hiring data shows that Republican-leaning states have been consistently hiring faster than Democratic-leaning states, and it’s been that way since before the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll unpack the trend and get into the relationship between hiring and job growth. Plus, an inclusive running club is making us smile. And, are we handing out five star reviews too freely? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why are red states hiring so much faster than blue states?” from The Washington Post “Oklahoma Approves First Religious Charter School in the U.S.” from The New York Times “A $1.5 Trillion Backstop for Homebuyers Props Up Banks Instead” from Bloomberg “Carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere surge, hit a new all-time high” from The Washington Post “Martinus Evans, of Slow AF Run Club, Wants to Make Running Everyone’s Sport” from The New York Times Customer Ratings Have Become Meaningless. Americans are handing out perfect Uber and Airbnb scores. from The Wall Street Journal Got a question for our hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

After the 2020 election, YouTube started removing election denialism content. Now, the platform is having a change of heart, saying it will leave up misinformation related to previous U.S. presidential elections. We get into the changes to YouTube’s misinformation policy and what they might mean for the 2024 campaign. Plus, Kimberly and Kai do a little show and tell. Prepare for smoke and fire! Here’s everything we talked about today: “YouTube reverses misinformation policy to allow U.S. election denialism” from Axios “Inside the Meltdown at CNN” from The Atlantic “Pride absent for many LGBTQ+ Americans inside workplaces” from Axios “Most LGBTQ+ Workers Feel They’re Treated Fairly at Work” from SHRM “Are we expected to tip robots now?” from Marketplace “Apple Is Stepping Into the Metaverse. Will Anyone Care?” from The New York Times “Don’t judge Apple’s VR headset too soon” from The Verge “Learn how to invest — using computer games” from “Marketplace Tech” “Apartment construction is booming, but it probably won’t last” from Marketplace “A Florida bar for humans and man’s best friend” from Marketplace Feeling Half Full, or maybe Half Empty about something? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The debt limit deal making its way through Congress comes with changes to work requirements for food stamps. We’ll get into why these changes may not be the cost-cutting solutions they’re cracked up to be. And Congress has blocked President Joe Biden’s student debt relief program. We’ll discuss what’s next in the battle over loan forgiveness. Plus, the heartwarming story of a bumblebee rescue. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Senate votes to overturn Biden’s student loan relief program” from NBC News “The new work requirements for food stamps in the debt ceiling deal” from The Washington Post “The Welfare-to-Work Industrial Complex,” season six of “The Uncertain Hour” from Marketplace “Billionaire SPAC Kings Dragged to Court After Boom Goes Bust” from Bloomberg “Treasury bill yields plunge with debt deal in view” from Axios “Company Insiders Made Billions Before SPAC Bust” from The Wall Street Journal “NBA Quiz: Where Is the Pass Going?” from The New York Times This TikTok from @animal__usa of a wholesome bee rescue 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, a game and more.

Since the U.S. brushed up against its debt limit in January, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been stretching the government’s money as far as possible using “extraordinary measures” to buy time for Congress. One listener thought to ask: How, exactly, does that work? And how long could they last? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about where the funds for military assistance to Ukraine come from and why the Federal Reserve’s strategy to bring down inflation may come with unwanted side effects. Plus, a little self-care talk. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How ‘Extraordinary Measures’ Can Postpone a Debt Limit Disaster” from The New York Times “Meet the budget bureaucrat in charge of tracking the U.S. debt” from The Washington Post “The U.S. hit its debt ceiling. Now it’s time for ‘extraordinary measures.'” from Marketplace “How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts.” from the Council on Foreign Relations “How much money has the US given Ukraine since Russia’s invasion?” from USA Facts “‘We’re right at the beginning of the hard part’ of taming inflation, Atlanta Fed CEO says” from Marketplace “Once a fringe theory, ‘greedflation’ gets its due” from Axios “What the Fed’s interest rate hike could mean for you” from Vox Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Growing beef or chicken in a lab out of a few tiny animal cells may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, but with nearly $3 billion invested in the lab-grown meat industry, that future may already be near. On the show today, we talk with food tech journalist Larissa Zimberoff about how meat is grown in a lab, why companies are banking on it as a potential climate change solution, and the challenges that lie ahead for the industry. Plus, is lab-grown food here to stay? In the News Fix: We have a deal on the debt ceiling. We’ll get into what it all means and why the negotiating might not be over. Later, a listener weighs in on retailer return policies, and our beloved intern gets creative with his answer to the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Will I See Lab-Grown Meat in Supermarkets Any Time Soon?” from Bon Appétit “Lab-Grown Meat’s Carbon Footprint Potentially Worse Than Retail Beef” from the University of California, Davis “Silicon Valley Is Coming for Your Chocolate” from The Atlantic “Inside the Battle Between Big Ag and Lab-Grown Meat” from The New Republic “Here’s what’s in the debt ceiling deal” from CNN “What’s in the Debt-Ceiling Deal” from The Wall Street Journal “Defiant House Rejects Huge Bailout; Next Step Is Uncertain” from The New York Times “House Passes Bailout Bill in 263-171 Vote” from The New York Times We love to hear from you. Send us your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The debt limit is the big economic news story of the day, but yes, you *still need to keep an eye on inflation. The personal consumption expenditures price index, a measure of consumer spending, ticked up last month. That’s bad news if you were hoping interest rates, the tool the Federal Reserve uses to fight inflation, might come down soon. And, some musing on the nature of consequences: Three members of the far-right militia known as the Oath Keepers were recently sentenced to prison for their part in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Sedition Sentence for Oath Keepers’ Stewart Rhodes Marks Moment of Accountability” from The New York Times “Jessica Watkins: Oath Keepers member and Army veteran sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for January 6” from CNN Politics “US Inflation (PCE), Consumer Spending Pick Up in Sign of Economic Resilience” from Bloomberg “The Fed’s favorite inflation gauge just heated up — and that could mean another rate hike” from CNN “Atlanta Fed CEO on the debt limit debacle and curbing inflation” from Marketplace “Band-Aid is the most trusted brand in the US, beating out Amazon and Visa” from Business Insider “Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown is here — and it costs $7.99 per month” from The Verge “The Restaurant QR-Code Menu Is Being Shown the Door” from The New York Times “The steel sector is carbon-intensive. “Green steel” could be a game changer.” from Marketplace “Admit it — you miss socializing at the office” from Marketplace It’s the last day of our May fundraiser. Help us reach our goal and keep our newsroom running. Give now. Join us in Seattle for a special live taping of “Make Me Smart” on June 9. You can find ticket information here.

Everyone has bills to pay, and the Treasury Department is no exception. As we get closer to the debt ceiling “X date,” the Treasury finds itself with less and less money to pay for its existing obligations. We talk about how much cash Secretary Janet Yellen has to work with, and the government’s plan to prevent a potential default. And, Tina Turner’s legacy goes beyond rousing music. Plus, in the Make Me Smile department, a discussion on cruises, family vacations and space travel! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Orders surge for trans designer after Target pulls products” from Reuters “Tina Turner Was Open About Her Abuse. Now Her Legacy Is Saving Survivors” from Rolling Stone “Biden Administration Dusts Off Contingency Plan if Debt-Ceiling Deadline Passes” from The Wall Street Journal “US Credit Rating at Risk of Fitch Cut on Debt-Limit Impasse” from Bloomberg “Credit rating agency warns it may downgrade US debt rating, driving up costs” from CNN Tweet from @kaileyleinz on the Treasury cash balance drop “Half-Empty a Year Ago, Cruises Are Now Packed Like Sardines” from The Wall Street Journal “Cruising Is Back in a Major Way” from Travel + Leisure “I Won’t Be Going on Any Cruise Ship With Millennials” from The Wall Street Journal “Hibernation artificially triggered in potential space travel breakthrough” from The Guardian “James Cameron Working on New Terminator Movie, Wants to See How AI Affects the Real World” from MovieWeb There are only two more days for our May fundraiser. We can’t do this without your support!

It seems like people are using chatbots like ChatGPT for everything these days: writing cover letters, coming up with meal plans, you name it. One listener wondered: Are investors using AI to make stock market picks? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about why other countries use the U.S. dollar instead of their own currency and the origins of the phrase “knock-on effect.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “How people are using AI for stock market picks” from Marketplace “Battle of the Bots: Which AI is Better at Picking Stocks?” from Investopedia “Dollarization Definition, Impact, Example” from Investopedia “More than two dozen countries and territories use the US dollar as currency” from Business Insider “Understanding the Downfall of Greece’s Economy” from Investopedia “Why Is The Fed Sending Billions Of Dollars All Over The World?” from NPR “‘Knock-on” (effects)” from Not One-Off Britishisms “Anatoly Liberman on the origin of familiar words and phrases” from MPR “This is why alcohol doesn’t come with nutrition facts” from Vox “Why Your Booze Doesn’t Have a Nutrition Label” from EatingWell Got a question for our hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The federal government has lifted the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, and many Americans are eager to move on from the pandemic entirely. But, COVID-19 is unfortunately still here — and so is the threat of a future pandemic. Ed Yong, a science journalist at The Atlantic who wrote about the risk of a deadly pandemic in 2018 and later won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on COVID-19, warns that neglecting the pandemic only leaves us unable to address the problems that led to its devastating impacts in the first place. On the show today, Yong explains how the panic-neglect cycle keeps us vulnerable to COVID-19 flare-ups and new pandemics, why social solutions are just as important as medical ones when it comes to preventing the spread of disease, and why long COVID is misunderstood. Plus, what needs to change to make the United States better prepared for the inevitable next pandemic. In the News Fix: Many retailers (including in the luxury segment) are expecting a drop in sales, and some sellers are starting to limit free return options. These could be signs that consumer spending is finally tightening after the Federal Reserve’s relentless interest rate hikes. Plus, we’ll talk about the benefits of buying secondhand. Later, a listener suggests fun emojis to brighten up a conversation on Slack. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Kimberly’s mermaid instructor, Jen Downey. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Pandemic’s Legacy Is Already Clear” from The Atlantic “Track Covid-19 in the U.S.: Latest Data and Maps” from The New York Times “Long COVID Is Being Erased—Again” from The Atlantic “We Need an Operation Warp Speed for Long COVID” from Scientific American “Is America Ready for a Global Pandemic?” from The Atlantic “Retailers Clamp Down on Returns” from The Wall Street Journal “America’s home improvement boom appears to be over” from CNN “Why you should buy everything used” from The Washington Post Your support is critical to helping close our budget gap. Donate before Memorial Day weekend: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

There’s inflation, and then there’s hyperinflation. That’s what’s happening in Argentina, and it’s changing the way people do business and behave in the economy. We’ll talk about how Argentina is dealing with it and how it relates to the “sticky” inflation situation in the U.S. economy. Then, why reaching a compromise on the debt crisis may be harder than we thought. Plus, kids who love to read are making us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How a 12-year-old playbook is shaping the battle over the debt limit” from Politico “The messy money reality at the center of the debt ceiling fight” from Marketplace Biden-Harris administration proposal to protect Colorado River basin from U.S. Department of Interior “Three states agree to reduce water usage so the Colorado river doesn’t go dry” from NBC “TikTok Sues Montana Over State’s Ban of Its Service” from The Wall Street Journal “TikTok sues Montana over its new law banning the app” from NPR “Argentina Introduces 2,000 Peso Banknote. It’s Worth About $4” from Bloomberg “Highest-denomination bill in Argentina is now the 2,000-peso note, worth $4” from The Guardian “A tweet about a Pentagon explosion was fake. It still went viral.” from The Washington Post “Fake Pentagon attack hoax shows perils of Twitter’s paid verification” from TechCrunch TikTok from @casualgeographic on the unproblematic nature of the capybara “Kids’ reading scores have soared in Deep South states” from AP “Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong” from APM Reports It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year, and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

Just when it seemed like a deal was being teed up, negotiations over the debt ceiling broke off. Then went back on … for the moment, at least. So what happens if the U.S. government defaults? Nobody knows exactly, but we’ll go over potential scenarios, including the biggest bills the federal government may not be able to pay if the money runs out. Then, we look at the broadening field of Republican presidential candidates. Plus, we’ll play a game of Half Full Half Empty that includes an ode to condiments. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Sen. Tim Scott makes it official: He’s a Republican candidate for president” from AP News “Negotiators Resume Debt-Ceiling Talks After Earlier Breakdown’” from The Wall Street Journal “2024 Republican Presidential Nomination” from Real Clear Politics “If the government defaults on the debt, see all the payments at risk” from The Washington Post “Why Montana’s TikTok ban may not work” from CNN Business “You can now hail an Uber without the Uber app. Here’s how it works.” from Business Insider “Uber for teens: the company lifts age restrictions to allow unaccompanied minors for the first time” from The Verge “When’s the best time to buy plane tickets?” from Marketplace “Under project ‘Flagship,’ ESPN preparing to move toward streaming service, per report” from USA Today “Ketchup from the cloud: Kraft Heinz debuts ‘Remix,’ its personalized sauce dispenser” from Yahoo Finance “A Chat With Singer, Songwriter, and Condiment Fan Priska Neely” from The Washington City Paper Video: Ode to Condiments It’s $5 Friday. Start a $5/month donation now and pick up one of our many thank you gifts. Give now.

Today, the Supreme Court ruled on a pair of cases involving a controversial internet law. Section 230 protects tech companies from being held liable for users’ content, but it has been criticized for being out of step with technology. We’ll get into the court’s decision to leave Section 230 alone, and what it means for the future of the internet as AI becomes more popular. And, Disney and Florida’s game of cat and mouse continues. Plus, a doggy breakout makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Supreme Court rules Twitter not liable for ISIS content” from Howe on the Court “Supreme Court hands tech companies a win, and not just about Section 230” from The Washington Post Our deep dive episode on Section 230 “OpenAI launches free ChatGPT app for iOS” from The Verge “Disney Drops Plan to Move Workers to Florida, Closes Hotel” from Bloomberg “Disney cancels plans for $1 billion Florida campus” from NPR Tweet from @GavinNewsom on Disney’s plans in Florida “Democrats fear they’re walking into a permitting trap” from The Washington Post “The social, political and economic forces behind Iran’s protests” from “Make Me Smart” “Titanic Wreckage Visualized in Unique 3-D View” from The Wall Street Journal “Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before” from BBC “Husky Who Let 2 Dogs Loose At Animal Shelter And Trashed Lobby Finds New Family” from Huffpost It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year, and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

It’s Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, and lots of you wanna know what’s up with the debt ceiling drama. So, we’re dedicating today’s episode to answering your questions about what happens if Congress fails to raise the debt limit before the government runs out of money. We’ll get into how a debt default compares to a government shutdown, why prioritizing payments would be a tricky task for the Treasury and where’s Wall Street been? Here’s everything we talked about today: “What’s the difference between a government shutdown and a failure to raise the debt ceiling?” from the Brookings Institution “Danger and deja vu: what 2011 can tell us about the US debt ceiling crisis” from The Guardian “America’s credit rating could get downgraded even if a default is avoided, Fitch Ratings warns” from CNN Business “We Hit the Debt Limit. What Happens Now?” from The New York Times “Prioritization” from the Bipartisan Policy Center “Congress shouldn’t get paid until debt ceiling is addressed, House Democrat says” from CBS News “The markets are taking debt limit uncertainty in stride — for now” from Marketplace “A group of over 140 CEOs and Wall Street titans including David Solomon just warned stocks will crash if politicians can’t raise the debt ceiling” from Fortune “Small businesses raise alarm over default amid debt limit fight” from CBS News “U.S. Chamber Calls for Urgent Action on Debt Limit” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year, and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

For viewers, streaming has ushered in an era of Peak TV with a seemingly endless amount of shows to binge. But, writers on strike say they’re not experiencing the same golden age when it comes to compensation and job stability. And, some streaming companies are struggling to hang on to subscribers in an ultra-competitive market. This has us wondering: Has streaming broken TV? On the show today, Kate Fortmueller, professor of entertainment and media studies at the University of Georgia, explains how streaming has changed the way film and TV writers make a living, why studios’ priorities have shifted in the streaming age, and what might be ahead for the industry. Plus, why screenwriters are asking for limits on the use of AI. In the News Fix: Looking back at a previous writers strike might hint at the impact of the current strike. And, Home Depot says it expects a drop in annual sales for the first time in over a decade. We’ll get into what that might say about the housing market. Later, a listener shares their experience ordering pizza from an AI bot. Plus, according to another listener, keeping things tidy with young kids is much harder than they had thought. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The 2023 Writers Strike, Explained” from GQ “Why You Should Pay Attention to the Hollywood Writers’ Strike” from The Atlantic “The long game between writers and AI” from Politico “What Is a Mini Room? Writers Guild Contract Negotiation Focus on Them” from Variety “Writers striking worry AI could stymie diversity efforts in Hollywood” from Axios “Opinion | Hollywood writers strike risks a lot as TikTok and YouTube loom” from The Washington Post “Home Depot Projects First Annual Sales Decline Since 2009” from The Wall Street Journal “Home Remodeling Market Projected to Contract by 2024 from the Joint Center for Housing Studies It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year, and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

Tax season may be over, but we aren’t done talking about taxes. Will free tax filing ever become a reality? We’ll get into the upcoming fight over free filing along with what taxes have to do with the debt ceiling debate and an unusual political fundraising operation. Plus, the daring plan to rescue a “Great Observatory” in space makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Tax Prep Company Intuit Ramps Up Lobbying Ahead Of Free File Fight” from Huffpost Debt limit letter from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Tweet from @davidmwessel about Treasury cash balance projections “How to Raise $89 Million in Small Donations, and Make It Disappear” from The New York Times “IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants” from The Washington Post “What to Know About TurboTax Before You File Your Taxes This Year” from ProPublica “A private company has an audacious plan to rescue NASA’s last ‘Great Observatory'” from ArsTechnica Mastodon thread from @thomasconnor on the Spitzer telescope “Ahead of next Starship launch, SpaceX hires key NASA human spaceflight head” from TechCrunch Is there something that you want to know about the debt limit? Call us with your questions. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org. Today is Match Monday! All gifts will be matched up to $20,000, today only. Give now.

As the Title 42 immigration policy ends at the border, a new immigration law that aims to crackdown on employers who hire undocumented workers has been signed in Florida. We get into the economic implications of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new immigration policy. Then, we haven’t hit the debt-ceiling deadline … yet. But we’re already feeling the pain. Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty, full of appreciation for mothers. Here’s everything we talked about today: “South Florida workers already feeling heat of immigration bill” from CBS “Here’s how Gov. DeSantis’ new immigration policy could impact Florida economy” from ClickOrlando “Italian pasta prices are soaring. Rome is in crisis talks with producers” from CNN “Consequences of the Debt-Ceiling Standoff Are Already Here” from Bloomberg “Debt limit debate, which puts the nation’s credit and trust on the line, endangers already fragile U.S. economic outlook” from NBC “You Can Finally Try Starbucks’ New Olive Oil Coffee in the US—But Why Would You?” from Bon Appétit “Elon Musk has found his replacement as CEO of Twitter” from The Verge “Behind the mission to preserve Black Twitter” from The 19th “3 things you should know about the end of the Covid public health emergency” from Vox “Wendy’s Installing Drive-Thru AI Chatbot That Takes Your Order” from Futurism “Chocolate is a sweet tradition for Mother’s Day” from Marketplace “Customers are being asked to tip even at self check-out” from Insider It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year, and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

Pacific Western Bank reported a sharp loss of over 9% of its total deposits last week, trailing the failure of First Republic Bank. We’ll discuss what’s behind the lingering banking problems. And, over 3 million viewers tuned in to watch CNN’s town hall event with former President Donald Trump, proving he’s still a ratings magnet. We’ll get into the ethical dilemma of the network’s decision to put Trump on that stage and what it means for the presidential race ahead. Plus, Saildrones and other superstorm hunting gadgets are giving us a glimpse into uncharted territory. Here’s everything we talked about today: “CNN tops 3 million viewers during Trump Town Hall” from The Hill “CNN’s Trump town hall turns into a Trump rally” from Poynter “Dianne Feinstein returns and Democrats advance Biden judicial nominees that had been stalled in committee” from CNN Politics “PacWest Stock Sinks 23% After Disclosing Fresh Deposit Outflow” from The Wall Street Journal “FDIC proposes big banks pay to recover losses in SVB and Signature failures” from Axios “The Hurricane and the Saildrone” from The New York Times “Turning to drones and other instruments to hunt hurricanes” from Marketplace “New blood donation rules allow more gay men to give in US” from AP News It’s our May fundraiser. We need to raise $350K to stay on track for this fiscal year and your gift now can help us reach our goal. Give today.

Weeks of violence between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group in Sudan has triggered an urgent humanitarian crisis and devastated the country’s economy. One listener called to ask how the conflict might impact the global economy. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the U.S. treasurer’s job and how Netflix might dispose of its enormous DVD inventory. Plus, why the end of the helium shortage is still up in the air. Here’s everything we talked about today: “As Sudan’s conflict continues into its second week, here’s what to know” from NPR “Sudan conflict deals new blow to stagnant economy” from Reuters “Analysis: UAE, Egypt closer to different sides in Sudan conflict” from Al Jazeera “If Sudan’s Conflict Spreads to Chad, the Whole Sahel Is at Risk” from Foreign Policy “What the new U.S. Treasurer could mean for Indian Country” from Marketplace “History of the Treasury” from the U.S. Department of the Treasury “Um … what’s a DVD again?” from Marketplace “Netflix Will End Its DVD Service, 5.2 Billion Discs Later” from The New York Times “Redbox wants to save Netflix’s DVD business” from The Verge “Helium’s been rising — in price — and it’s bringing businesses down” from Marketplace “Helium shortage 4.0 – Continuing uncertainty in the market” from Gasworld “With helium in short supply, scientists are worried” from Marketplace If you’ve got a question about business, tech or the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART, or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Child poverty levels fell dramatically — nearly in half — in 2021 with the help of pandemic-era government programs and cash assistance. But with those programs gone, poverty in the United States looks pretty much the same as it has for the past 50 years, despite an overall increase in how much we’re spending on welfare. This has us wondering: Why is that? On the show today, sociologist Matthew Desmond, author of “Poverty, by America,” breaks down how the United States became a country with more poverty than other rich democracies, what’s wrong with our welfare system and what really works to reduce poverty. Plus, the role regular Americans play in all of it. In the News Fix: Following the tragic death of Jordan Neely in New York City, we reflect on the responsibility shared by society at large for allowing unjust systems to remain in place. And, a key player in the global wood pulp industry is considering switching to Chinese currency in its business transactions. We’ll get into what that could mean for the future of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency. Later, we’ll hear about an early depiction of a bathroom in the “Star Wars” universe. Plus, one couple shares their perspective on Kai’s “rants.” And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from the mom of one of our producers. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Poverty Persists in America” from The New York Times “Child poverty fell by nearly half in 2021, Census Bureau says” from Marketplace “Private opulence, public squalor: How the U.S. helps the rich and hurts the poor” from NPR “How many people are really facing poverty in the U.S.?” from Marketplace “National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2023” from the U.S. Census Bureau “The Uncertain Hour” from Marketplace “Opinion | Society’s failures on mental health put Jordan Neely on that F train” from The Washington Post “World’s Biggest Pulp Producer Suzano Considers Trading With China in Yuan” from Bloomberg Mad magazine Issue No. 197, March 1978 from the Internet Archive Do you have an answer to the Make Me Smart question? We want to hear it. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

A new week, a new episode, a new report from the Federal Reserve. This time, the aptly named Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey shows banks are pulling back on lending. We’ll break down the survey’s results and explain why some are getting credit crunch vibes. Plus, government workers are suing over the debt limit. And in the Make Me Smile department, we’re decoding emoji and imagining flinging rockets into space. Here’s everything we talked about today: “California Panel Calls for Billions in Reparations for Black Residents” from The New York Times “California panel calls for billions in reparations for descendants of slaves” from NPR “Fed report shows banks worried about conditions ahead, with focus on slowing economy and deposit outflows” from CNBC “Government employees union sues Yellen, Biden over ‘unconstitutional’ debt limit law” from The Hill “Just 37 members of Congress are mothers with minor children” from The 19th “ChatFished: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People With A.I.” from The New York Times “Why Launch Rockets When You Can Just Fling Them Into Space?” from Bloomberg “Spaceflight Pioneer SpinLaunch Aims for Liftoff—No Rocket Fuel Required” from Gizmodo Have a comment or question about something we talked about? Send it our way! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s jobs report Friday, and it’s time to do the numbers. One data point that stands out: Women’s labor force participation, which is “at a rate never seen before.” We’ll get into what the latest jobs report tells us about this economy and what it might mean for the Federal Reserve’s pledge to help traditionally marginalized groups. Then: Could obesity become a marker of poverty? Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty about big hats and big ideas. Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. Job Growth Retains Vigor Despite Economic Worries” from The New York Times “Surprise, not so surprising? Another strong jobs report” from “Marketplace Morning Report” “How Jenny Craig built a weight-loss empire and battled her speech loss” from The Washington Post “Why don’t you fix your teeth?” from “This Is Uncomfortable” “Jenny Craig tells employees it will shut its doors” from NBC “Novo Nordisk limits Wegovy doses for new patients as demand outpaces supply” from CNN “Godfather of AI Quits Google, Fears AI’s Risks and Regrets His Work” from Futurism “How AI true believers are preparing for an economic revolution” from “Marketplace” “E-SUVs may be popular, but are they sustainable?” from “Marketplace Tech” “How brands like Birkenstock and Victoria’s Secret stage a comeback” from Marketplace “Court battle over Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye songs could result in ‘less wonderful music’ being made” from “Marketplace Morning Report” King Charles III’s coronation from the Make Me Smart newsletter Are you Half-Full or Half-Empty on something we talked about? Or maybe you have a question you would like to share? Send it our way! Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The ethics scandals are piling up on the Supreme Court bench. ProPublica has new revelations on the financial ties between Justice Clarence Thomas and his Republican megadonor friend. We’ll discuss how judicial business is done in the U.S. and whether it’s time to change it up. Also, an addendum to our deep dive on child labor, and we check in on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, 50 years after Secretariat’s glory days, a story about the horse’s daughter makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Jury convicts Proud Boys members of seditious conspiracy in US Capitol attack” from Reuters “Clarence Thomas Raised Him. Harlan Crow Paid His Tuition.” from ProPublica “The Supreme Court’s corruption crisis goes beyond Clarence Thomas” from Vox “Covid deaths dropped in 2022, CDC data shows” from The Washington Post “McDonald’s franchisee fined for illegally using workers as young as 10” from AP News “A world away from Kentucky Derby glory, Secretariat’s forgotten daughter found a bright future” from The Athletic “May stargazing guide: Aquarids and a lunar eclipse” from Popular Science “Jedi: Survivor finally takes us inside a Star Wars bathroom” from Polygon The YouTube livestream is coming back! Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Like cryptocurrency mining, running an artificial intelligence system like ChatGPT requires an enormous amount of energy and natural resources. One listener asks: How do large language models and crypto compare? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about why we can’t just print more money to solve the debt limit dilemma and why the United Kingdom can block two U.S. companies from merging. Plus, a familiar Kai-ism explained. Here’s everything we talked about today: “AI’s carbon footprint is growing. Is it worth it?” from Marketplace “Ethereum’s “merge” could help clean crypto’s dirty energy reputation” from Marketplace “Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index” from Digiconomist “Can a platinum coin solve the debt-ceiling standoff?” from Marketplace Janet Yellen Dismisses Minting $1 Trillion Coin to Avoid Default from The Wall Street Journal “Is the Debt Limit Constitutional? Biden Aides Are Debating It.” from The New York Times “A UK regulator has blocked the Microsoft-Activision merger. But don’t blame it on Brexit.” from Marketplace “The UK doesn’t want Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal, so what happens next?” from The Verge “What is Global Compliance and Why Does it Matter?” from Horizons We want to know what you’d put on a Make Me Smart bingo card. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Here’s something we didn’t think we’d be talking about in 2023: child labor. But, here we are. Since 2018, there’s been a 69 percent increase in children working illegally, according to the Labor Department and hundreds of child labor cases are under investigation. Recent investigations show that many violations involve migrant children working dangerous jobs. At the same time, some states are rolling back child labor protections. On the show today, The New York Times’ Hannah Dreier explains what child labor looks like today, the multiple forces driving illegal child labor in the United States, and why some states are loosening child labor laws. Plus, how immigration policy changes could help migrant children who depend on the jobs they have. In the News Fix: A new report projects some serious labor market churn due to advancements in technology in the next 5 years. And, looking back at previous debt-limit standoffs can provide a little insight at how the Fed may handle the one that’s going on now. And, who makes the laws in space? Later, we’ll hear how one listener’s employer is dealing with ChatGPT. Plus, a Make Me Smart musical mix-up. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.” from The New York Times “Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories” from ProPublica “Child labor violations on the rise as some states look to loosen their rules” from NPR “The conservative campaign to rewrite child labor laws” from The Washington Post “12-year-olds can’t buy cigarettes — but they can work in tobacco fields” from NPR “Labour market ‘churn’ ahead with a quarter of jobs changing by 2027, survey shows” from Reuters “The new in-space economy” from “Make Me Smart” “More Companies Head to Space, But No One Can Agree on the Rules Up There” from Bloomberg “Moon bases, space junk need more rules: NASA, US government officials” from Space “Here’s What Treasury, Fed Might Do in a Debt Ceiling Crisis” from The Wall Street Journal Do you have an answer to the Make Me Smart question? We want to hear it. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

The Treasury Department announced today that the U.S. could default on its debt as early as June 1. For the past few months, House Republicans have used the debt limit as a bargaining chip to secure spending cuts. As the new deadline looms over us, we are wondering: Is there a way out? And, an unassuming Supreme Court case could change how a slew of laws are interpreted. Plus, video-chatting parrots make us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Luring Test: AI and the engineering of consumer trust” from the Federal Trade Commission “Supreme Court will consider major case on power of federal regulatory agencies” from SCOTUSblog “U.S. must raise debt limit by as early as June 1 to avoid default, Treasury says” from The Washington Post “The U.S. could hit the debt ceiling by June 1, much sooner than expected, Yellen warns” from NBC “Trump to appear at CNN town hall in New Hampshire” from CNN “NASA’s Perseverance rover loses its hitchhiking ‘pet rock’ after more than a year together on Mars” from Live Science “Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Other—and the Birds Loved It” from Smithsonian magazine Have a comment or question about something we talked about? Send it our way! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

As the United States edges closer to the deadline for a debt default, Wall Street speculators are hoping to capitalize on a crisis by trading credit-default swaps (shivers). We’ll talk about what they are and their role in the 2007-2009 Financial Crisis. Then, California passed a landmark zero-emission rule, but electrifying the state will come with some challenges. Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty that we hope gets us invited to Bluesky. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bets Offering 2,400% Payout on US Default Lure Growing Crowd” from Bloomberg “California air regulators approve landmark zero-emission rules for trucks and locomotives” from the Los Angeles Times “California moves to phase-out diesel-powered trucks, cut locomotive pollution” from Reuters “Grandchildren of ‘Sound of Music’ Von Trapp Family Form Indie Band” from Rolling Stone “What’s the future of retail shopping? Snap bets on virtual try-on tech.” from Marketplace “The Long Demise of the Stretch Limousine” from The New York Times “People Are Flocking to Jack Dorsey’s New Twitter Alternative” from Futurism “The Glorious Return of a Humble Car Feature” from Slate “The Real Problem With Fake Drake” from Billboard If you’ve got a question about business, tech or the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART, or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Leaked documents show Russia could fund another year of war with Ukraine despite a whole lot of U.S. sanctions designed to throw a wrench in the Russian economy. Plus, diesel prices are half what they were a year ago. We’ll get into why gas prices are falling and what it signals about the direction of the economy. And, to keep or not to keep butter in the fridge? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Russia can fund war in Ukraine for another year despite sanctions, leaked document says” from The Washington Post “Sliding Diesel Prices Signal Warning for U.S. Economy” from The Wall Street Journal “Fed’s Jerome Powell Tricked by Russian Pranksters Posing as Zelenskiy” from Bloomberg “Fed’s Powell spoke with prankster posing as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy” from Politico “The Battle Over Refrigerating Butter: ‘Enough Is Enough’” from The Wall Street Journal “Ya Ya, Panda at Center of Anti-American Rage in China, Is Heading Home” from Newsweek Got a question about the economy, business or technology? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

After Fox Corp. agreed to a jaw-dropping $787 million payout to settle a defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems, one listener thought to ask: Can insurance cover that? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about how the re-start of student loan payments might affect the economy and the complicated bond market. Plus, what’s up with all the matte, earth tone car colors? Here’s everything we talked about today: “How does one pay a $787 million settlement?” from Marketplace “Fox’s settlement with Dominion unlikely to cost it $787.5M” from AP News “Biden’s Education Department is planning for student-loan borrowers to resume payments in October — and companies would begin charging interest a month before” from Business Insider “What will the end of the pause on student loan payments mean for retailers?” from Marketplace “Will student loan forgiveness make inflation worse?” from Vox “Biden White House Keeps Student Loan Payments at Bay Amid Inflation” from The New York Times “What’s happening to the color of L.A. cars? Inside the obsession with muted earth tones” from The LA Times “Why Do Bond Prices and Yields Move in Opposite Directions?” from The Balance Money Got a question for our hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re talking about the wave of anti-trans legislation that lawmakers are pushing through at virtually all levels of government. Over 500 bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced this year alone — that’s a record number. On the show today, independent journalist and trans rights activist Erin Reed breaks down the swath of legislation seeking to restrict the rights of trans people, what gender-affirming care actually means and the political and economic implications of these bills. Plus, what gives Reed hope for the future of the trans community in the United States. In the News Fix: Guest host Amy Scott discusses the latest trends in the housing market, including what’s happening with home prices and new construction. Plus, new research looks at how ChatGPT impacts employee productivity. We’ll get into how creative industries might grapple with AI tools in the workplace. Later, one listener shares how volunteering unexpectedly changed their life. Plus, a tip for cat lovers. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s new “Financially Inclined” podcast. “Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures” from the American Civil Liberties Union “2023 anti-trans bills” from Trans Legislation Tracker “Missouri due to be first state to restrict adult gender-affirming care” from NPR “Trans Adults Officially Being Detransitioned In Missouri: ‘I’m Scared And Don’t Know What To Do'” from Erin Reed’s Substack “Anti-Trans and Anti-Abortion Activists Use the Same Playbook” from Intelligencer “Majority of Americans reject anti-trans bills, but support for this restriction is rising” from PBS NewsHour “Factors Leading to ‘Detransition’ Among Transgender and Gender Diverse People in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Analysis” from LGBT Health “Tennessee’s anti-drag law comes with economic costs” from Marketplace “U.S. home prices rise for first time in 8 months, Case-Shiller says” from MarketWatch “US New-Home Sales Unexpectedly Increase to a One-Year High” from Bloomberg “Storytellers at a Los Angeles planetarium join the union representing Broadway actors” from NPR “Office Overachievers Won’t Be Happy About ChatGPT, Study Says” from Gizmodo Do you have an answer to the Make Me Smart question? We want to hear it. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Two popular TV anchors are out of a job. CNN’s Don Lemon and Fox News’ Tucker Carlson were both ousted today as cable continues to lose viewers and advertisers to the ever-growing world of streaming. We’ll get into what the anchor departures could mean for the future of cable news. Then, what younger workers might be missing by WFH. And a Make Me Smile that might have more millennials saying, “Cheeeese.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Young Workers Miss Without the ‘Power of Proximity’” from The New York Times “Young remote workers are missing out on crucial IRL feedback from colleagues” from Insider “Tucker Carlson departs Fox News, pushed out by Rupert Murdoch” from LA Times “Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News, and what matters is why” from NiemanLab “Don Lemon and CNN part ways” from CNN “Don Lemon’s Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and ‘Diva-Like Behavior’” from Variety “A TikToker explains why millennials are so bad at posing and Gen Z is so good at it — and it’s changing how I take pictures” from Insider “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray labeling is not misleading, appellate court rules” from Food Dive “Remember Spray Butter? Here’s What Actually Happened To The Beloved ’90s Condiment” from Delish Do you have a burning question that you want to ask us or a comment about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

We weren’t planning to talk about Twitter today, but here we are! We’re rereading a story from late last year about the folks who helped Elon Musk buy Twitter and the ways that what’s happened to Twitter since then may align with the desires of those backers. And what will replace Twitter for building the influence of its users … like journalists? We’ll also talk about an alarming story from The Washington Post about a GOP lawyer’s ideas to limit voting in key battleground states like Wisconsin. And we look at indicators that life (and the economy) is returning to a pre-pandemic normal for some. Plus, a round of Half Full / Half Empty featuring ChatGPT’s “Seinfeld.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Top GOP lawyer decries ease of campus voting in private pitch to RNC” from The Washington Post “Twitter Frees Its Hostages” from New York magazine “NYC Subway Ridership Hits 4 Million For the First Time Since March 2020” from Bloomberg “Governor Hochul Announces Subway Ridership Surpasses 4 Million Riders in Single Day” from New York state website “More movies, more variety, more money: The box office is catching up to pre-Covid levels” from CNBC “You can pay your taxes in cash — if you’re up for the challenge” from Marketplace “Reddit to start charging AI companies for data” from Marketplace “Employers rely on internships as a recruiting tool in tight labor market” from Marketplace “Rising restaurant prices aren’t stopping Americans from ‘revenge dining'” from Marketplace “Streaming changed the Hollywood landscape. Now its writers are voting to go on strike” from NPR Tweet from @EdKrassen on ChatGPT’s “Seinfeld” episode If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Kai Ryssdal shares a story about parking at the movies and brushing up against an unpleasant economic indicator: the repo man. It illustrates how more Americans are falling behind on their car payments, which can have ripple effects throughout the economy. Plus, Tennessee state Rep. Scotty Campbell resigned after an ethics investigation found he’d violated workplace discrimination and harassment policy. Campbell, a Republican, is one of the lawmakers who voted to oust two Black lawmakers from the chamber over their protests against gun violence. And, Kimberly Adams reminisces about cooking on her George Foreman Grill. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Repo Man Returns as More Americans Fall Behind on Car Payments” from Bloomberg “More people are falling behind on car payments, and the consequences can be severe” from NPR “California to Supply Most Water Since 2006 After Winter Deluge” from Bloomberg “California increases water supply allocation to 100%” from CBS Sacramento “Tennessee GOP lawmaker resigns after ethics panel finding” from AP News “REVEALED: GOP leader, who voted to expel TN Three, resigns; found guilty of sexually harassing interns” from News Channel 5 Nashville “Family of Louisville bank shooter wants his rifle destroyed” from AP News “SpaceX’s uncrewed Starship explodes on launch attempt” from CNN “I Really Miss My George Foreman Grill” from Eater “‘Big George Foreman’ Trailer: Boxer Gets New Movie From Sony” from Variety “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award, and voting ends today. Go to to marketplace.org/votemms to cast your vote.

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund put out its weakest medium-term projection for global economic growth since 1990. This had one listener wondering: How accurate are the IMF’s predictions? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions, like why the U.S. Postal Service still delivers six days a week and what is the carbon footprint of space travel. Plus, we’ll explain why the Federal Reserve is losing billions every week. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The IMF’s 5-year growth forecast is its weakest since 1990” from Quartz “IMF Forecasts: Process, Quality, and Country Perspectives” from the International Monetary Fund “Economic Forecasting Is Really Difficult. Just Ask the IMF” from Bloomberg “The U.S. Postal Service and Six-Day Delivery: History, Issues, and Current Legislation” from the Congressional Research Service “Six-days-a-week mail delivery saved; Biden signs Postal bill” from AP News “Formerly a cash cow, the Fed is now losing ‘about $2 billion a week’” from Marketplace “What if the Federal Reserve books losses because of its quantitative easing?” from the Brookings Institution “The pollution caused by rocket launches” from the BBC “How the billionaire space race could be one giant leap for pollution” from The Guardian “Fact check: Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard rocket launch didn’t emit carbon” from USA Today “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” until Thursday by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

Today, we’re talking about two topics near and dear to our hearts: space and economics. Over the last several years, NASA’s Artemis program and the commercialization of space have given rise to a large and growing space economy estimated at $400 billion. We’ll talk with Namrata Goswami, co-author of  “Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space,” about the state and evolution of the space economy. In the News Fix: Are we seeing signs of a slowing economy? And bye-bye barcodes. Then, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question sent Kimberly down a rabbit hole. Note: Fox News reached a settlement in the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems after this show was recorded. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Among the goals of Artemis I: launching the lunar economy” from Marketplace “The Commercial Space Age Is Here” from Harvard Business Review “QR-style ‘2D barcodes’ will revolutionize retail as we know it” from Axios “Fox News, Dominion reach settlement” from The Washington Post “Fox News and Dominion reach a settlement” from NBC News “Biggest US banks write off $3.4 billion in bad consumer loans” from Bloomberg “More US consumers are falling behind on payments” from Reuters “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” until Thursday by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

The extensive use of the dollar around the world has helped to maintain a strong U.S. economy. But recent discussions about the dollar’s declining use has some people worried that another currency may take its place. We get into what it means for the dollar to be the world’s reserve currency and why the concern might be overblown. Plus, what the economy has to do with a shortage of volunteers. And, why small acts of kindness make us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The U.S. Dollar as an International Currency and Its Economic Effects” from the Congressional Budget Office “The Offshore World According To FACTA” from the National Bureau of Economic Research “Nonprofits scramble for help amid dearth of volunteers” from AP News “Small acts of kindness matter more than you think” from Vox “Highlights From SpaceX’s Scrubbed Starship Rocket Launch Attempt” from The New York Times “SpaceX calls off today’s launch of Starship” from CNN “George Santos Says He Will Run for Re-election in 2024” from The New York Times “George Santos launches 2024 reelection bid” from Politico “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” until Thursday by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

It is estimated that at some point this year, India’s population will surpass that of China’s. This means that India will not only be the biggest democracy, but also the most populous country. We get into how this change could alter the economic and political balance of the world. And, could unexplained flying objects be aliens? A senior Pentagon official has a theory. Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty that has us thinking deeply about Tupperware. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Ghana is the first country to approve Oxford’s malaria vaccine” from Popular Science “New rule to block Missouri library funding set to go into effect May 30” from St Louis Post-Dispatch “Alien motherships: Pentagon official floats a theory for unexplained sightings” from Politico “India’s Population Surpasses China’s, Shifting the World’s ‘Center of Gravity’” from The Wall Street Journal “How India will overtake China to become the most populous country” from Al Jazeera “Pickleball’s popularity presents equity challenges for city governments” from Marketplace “Is Substack Notes a ‘Twitter clone’? We asked CEO Chris Best” from The Verge “Can ‘milk core’ get Gen Z to drink its liquid dairy?” from Marketplace “What Tupperware’s money problems say about direct selling” from Marketplace “A Nation Tries to Impose Cat Curfews. Fur Is Flying.” from The Wall Street Journal “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” until April 20 by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

After dozens of classified documents were uploaded to an online gaming chat group, the FBI has arrested a suspect in connection with the leak. We’ll get into some of the digital breadcrumbs the suspect left behind and why there may be no such thing as anonymity on the internet. Then, the plot thickens in the Clarence Thomas scandal. Plus, what do Queen Latifah, Daddy Yankee and Super Mario have in common? Here’s everything we talked about today: Here’s what we know about the leader of the online group where secret documents were leaked from The New York Times “US arrests suspect behind leak of Pentagon documents” from The Guardian “Billionaire Harlan Crow Bought Property From Clarence Thomas. The Justice Didn’t Disclose the Deal.” from ProPublica “In a Growing Share of U.S. Marriages, Husbands and Wives Earn About the Same” from Pew Research Center “You Should’ve Asked” comic “That Famous Black Hole Just Got Bigger and Darker” from The New York Times “Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama” from Vanity Fair “Rupert Murdoch’s divorce settlement had a whole ‘Don’t talk to the Succession writers’ clause” from AV Club “Queen Latifah and the Super Mario Bros just made history together” from AV Club “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” from now until April 20 by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

On this Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, we’re going to turning over the mics to our sister podcast Million Bazillion, the show that answers questions kids have about money. In today’s episode, hosts Ryan and Bridget are tackling a question about the gender wage gap. If you missed our recent deep dive on the topic, this kid friendly version will make you just as smart. It even includes a cameo from our Kimberly!

In the span of just a few months, tech companies have released a plethora of new artificial intelligence products that are already influencing our digital lives. It all seems to be happening really, really fast, and it has us wondering: Are we at an inflection point with AI? “I do think it rises to that level of the printing press or the internet, where it’s this tool that fundamentally shapes everything we do, how we think, how we interact with the world. So, I kind of see it influencing everything that happens going forward,” said Kyle Chayka, technology and culture writer at The New Yorker. On the show today: How some folks are starting to use AI tools in their day-to-day lives, what ChatGPT can and can’t do well (yet), and why toying around with chatbots or image generators might help us feel a little less afraid of AI technologies. Plus, why it’s a big deal that so many of us fell for the viral AI-generated photo of the pope in a Balenciaga coat. In the News Fix: The tech community is divided over how to safely develop new AI tools, and the federal government is jumping into the debate by taking early steps toward AI policy recommendations. Plus, what you need to know about charging your phone in public. Later, one listener shares what ChatGPT had to say about “Make Me Smart.” And another listener tells us what they got wrong about a little-known side effect of eating asparagus. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bing A.I. and the Dawn of the Post-Search Internet” from The New Yorker “A.I. Pop Culture Is Already Here” from The New Yorker “Elon Musk, Other AI Experts Call for Pause in Technology’s Development” from The Wall Street Journal “AI might not steal your job, but it could change it” from MIT Technology Review “How AI Chatbots Are Helping Some People Have Hard Conversations” from The New York Times “Doomsday to utopia: Meet AI’s rival factions” from The Washington Post “The AI factions of Silicon Valley” from Semaphor “Commerce Department looks to craft AI safety rules” from Axios “FBI warns against using public phone charging stations” from NBC News We’ve been nominated for the Webbys! Help us bring home a win for the best business podcast. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” from now until April 20 by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

A mass shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, reminds us of an unfortunate reality: They’re becoming routine. As we discussed in a recent deep dive, the AR-15, the most popular weapon in the consumer market, is often used in mass shootings and has fueled debates on what should be done. Then: Crypto mining presents a huge environmental problem, but there are alternatives. And: A unique solution to the Pythagorean theorem makes us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Gunman Kills 4 Co-workers at Louisville, Ky., Bank on Livestream, Police Say” from The New York Times “Gunman livestreamed mass shooting at Louisville bank that left 4 dead and 9 wounded, police say” from CNN “Pfizer, Biogen among hundreds of US drugmakers calling for abortion pill ruling reversal” from Reuters “Why the GOP isn’t celebrating this major antiabortion ruling” from The Washington Post “The Real-World Costs of the Digital Race for Bitcoin” from The New York Times “An environmentally friendly model for crypto mining shows promise” from “Marketplace Tech” “With ‘the merge,‘ ethereum tries to set a greener example for crypto” from “Marketplace” “New Orleans East teens make ‘impossible’ mathematical discovery unproven for 2,000 years” from WWL “2 High School Students Prove Pythagorean Theorem. Here’s What That Means” from Scientific American “Can ChatGPT Decipher Fedspeak?” from SSRN Have I Been Encoded? “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” from now until April 20 by going to marketplace.org/votemms.

Recently, the United States’ economic policies have focused on America first. But those policies and the promise of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. could jeopardize the very thing they seek: a stronger U.S. economy. We get into the ways American protectionism could backfire. And, expelling a member of a state legislature is a rare occurrence; Tennessee did it twice in a day. Plus, we double jump into a game of Half-Full/Half-Empty.Here’s everything we talked about today: It is alcohol responsibility month! from Responsibility.org “BAC Calculator: The Virtual Bar” from Responsibility.org “America’s Zero-Sum Economics Doesn’t Add Up” from Foreign Policy “TN House expels two Dems over gun protest, despite removal looking temporary” from Tennessee Lookout Tweet from @jhollymc on the Tennessee General Assembly expelling two representatives A photo of Sabri’s ceramic art that was featured in the “Dungeons & Dragons” movie “Elon Musk replaced Twitter’s bird logo with the ‘doge’ meme” from KOMO News “Potatoes sprout as cheaper Easter egg substitute” from Axios “Has the banking crisis been a boon for crypto?” from Marketplace Video game adaptations are on the rise from the Make Me Smart newsletter “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for “Make Me Smart” from now until April 20 by going to webbyawards.com

A ProPublica investigation found that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has secretly been taking luxury vacations on a billionaire Republican donor’s dime for more than two decades. We’ll explain why these undisclosed gifts could be a serious ethical breach. Plus, guest host Sabri Ben-Achour, our resident plant expert, shares news of a rare corpse flower bloom in New York City. And, a Lizzo cameo. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From GOP Donor” from ProPublica “Airbus to Double Production in China as It Moves Ahead With New Orders” from The New York Times “Airbus widens its lead over Boeing in China with plans for second finishing line there” from CNN Business “Corpse flower blooms at New York Botanical Garden” from CBS News “Lizzo ‘Cried All Day’ After Nabbing ‘The Mandalorian’ Role” from Billboard “Make Me Smart” has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for Make Me Smart from now until April 20 by going to webbyawards.com.

Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign says it raised $7 million since his indictment. His campaign is pulling out all the stops to capitalize on his legal troubles — including T-shirts with a faux mug shot. One listener called in to ask if those donor funds can be used to pay his lawyers. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the value of clean water and why banks have been slow to raise savings interest rates. Plus, what was all that i bond hype from last year about? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump campaign says it raised more than $4 million in the 24 hours after his indictment” from NBC News “Trump has already spent millions from donors to cover legal fees.” from The New York Times “How Trump Draws on Campaign Funds to Pay Legal Bills” from The New York Times “Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage” from the World Health Organization “Clean Water” from Our World in Data “Why the $626.25M settlement may not be enough for survivors of Flint water crisis” from NBC News “EPA’s 6th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment” from the Environmental Protection Agency “Why has it taken so long for savings account interest rates to start rising?” from Marketplace “US Banks Are Finally Being Forced to Raise Rates on Deposits” from Bloomberg “Why CDs are music to banks’ ears right now” from Marketplace “Many Banks Pay High Rates on Savings. So Why Aren’t You Moving Your Money?” from The New York Times “Buyers snap up U.S. Treasury I bonds before interest rate deadline” from Marketplace “Procrastinators, Rejoice: The 6.89% I bonds Will Beat the Old 9.62% Bonds in Just 4 Years” from Yahoo Finance Make Me Smart has been nominated for a Webby Award! We are honored, but we can’t win without your support. You can vote for Make Me Smart from now until April 20 by going to webbyawards.com.

Today we’re talking about the weapon we seem to talk about after every mass shooting in the United States: the AR-15. The AR-15 is the most popular rifle on the consumer market. An estimated 1 in 20 American adults owns at least one. But, it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the AR-15’s rise in popularity is pretty recent, and when the gun first became available to consumers, it was something of a black sheep. On the show today, Washington Post reporter Todd Frankel walks us through how the AR-15 went from military weapon to consumer product, the marketing that boosted its appeal and what the AR-15 signifies to a country plagued by gun violence. In the News Fix: Finland is the newest member of NATO. We’ll get into what that means for Russia’s war in Ukraine. And, some news you can use: There are significant delays for passport processing at the State Department. If you’re planning an international trip, renew your passport ASAP! Later, one listener shares a piece of trivia about cherry blossom trees in Tokyo. Plus, another listener sent us a stunning photo of cherry blossoms in Seattle. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander of the Artemis II mission to the moon. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How the AR-15 became a powerful political, cultural symbol in America” from The Washington Post “Analysis | Decades of marketing reinvented the AR-15 into a top-selling firearm” from The Washington Post “Nashville attack renews calls for assault weapons ban – data shows there were fewer mass shooting deaths during an earlier 10-year prohibition” from The Conversation “The Rifle That Ruined America” from The Atlantic “Hoping to Travel Abroad? Don’t Put Off Your Passport Application.” from The New York Times “Passport Processing Times Just Increased Due to Summer Travel Demand” from Thrillist “Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine war” from AP News “Why did Sanna Marin lose Finland’s election?” from The Guardian What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear it. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Donald Trump made headlines last week, when news broke out that he had been indicted. The news helped him fundraise over $4 million in just 24 hours. Now, politicians and parties are using the indictment to rake in big bucks. Even Meta is benefiting. And, ChatGPT could revolutionize the world, but Italy has some concerns. Plus, dinosaurs had what?! Here’s everything we talked about today: “ChatGPT Banned in Italy Over Data-Privacy Concerns” from The Wall Street Journal “Italian regulators order ChatGPT ban over alleged violation of data privacy laws” from The Verge “Millions on Medicaid May Soon Lose Coverage as Pandemic Protections Expire” from The New York Times “Millions will start losing Medicaid coverage as Covid safety net is dismantled” from CNBC “Meta is profiting from Trump’s ads that fundraise off of his indictment” from Media Matters “Trump’s fundraising efforts after indictment pay off, with over $4 million raised” from The Hill “Adam Schiff called out by MSNBC host for fundraising off Trump indictment” from Fox News “NASA Names Astronauts to Next Moon Mission, First Crew Under Artemis” from NASA “T. Rex Had Lips That Concealed Its Teeth, Study Says” from Smithsonian magazine “Theropod dinosaur facial reconstruction and the importance of soft tissues in paleobiology” from Science If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today’s News Fix comes with a side of cherry blossom-themed cocktails: New survey data shows that while most workers in the United States value paid time off, nearly half aren’t using all their vacation time. We’ll get into what the new research says about norms in the American workforce. And, it’s Trans Day of Visibility. We’ll explore how the LGBTQ+ community experiences the economy differently and how language shapes discussions of LGBTQ+ issues. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “A guide to words related to gender identity and sexual orientation” from The Washington Post “The LGBTQI+ Economic and Financial Survey” from the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research “Nearly half of American workers don’t take all of their PTO” from Business Insider “How Americans View Their Jobs” from Pew Research “How 3D printing could revolutionize auto manufacturing” from Marketplace “Why CDs are music to banks’ ears right now” from Marketplace “Could return-free tax filing actually be on the horizon?” from Marketplace “Ramen for breakfast? Cup Noodles’ new flavor tastes like egg, sausage and maple syrup pancakes” from CNBC We can’t do this without you! Please keep sending us your comments and questions by calling 508-U-B-SMART or emailing makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Donald Trump has become the first former president to be charged with a crime. A Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump after hearing evidence about payments given to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 election run. We’ll discuss the significance of the case and what may follow in the days and week’s ahead. Plus, an age-defying story that made us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump indicted by N.Y. grand jury, first ex-president charged with crime” from The Washington Post “Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime” from AP News “U.S. Considers Asking Black Americans on Census if They Are Slave Descendants” from The Wall Street Journal “High egg prices send profits at largest US producer soaring more than 700%” from CNN “Egg Producers Accused of Price Gouging After 718% Profit Revealed” from Newsweek “Eggflation rate lower, milk prices decrease, in February 2023” from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “Coloring eggs, eating fesikh: how Egyptians celebrate Sham El-Nessim?” from Egypt Today “How low unemployment lifts workers at the bottom” from Marketplace “Lamborghini’s plug-in hybrid supercar runs for a cool six miles in electric-only mode” from Engadget “Japanese Surfer, 89, Still Plans To Be Catching Waves At 100” from Huffpost Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap and the cherry blossom festival! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time/6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

In times of financial turbulence, banks head to the Federal Reserve’s (virtual) discount window for short-term emergency loans. The week after SVB failed, U.S. banks borrowed over $150 billion from the central bank. One listener called in to ask: Why didn’t SVB do the same? We’ll get into SVB’s fruitless attempt to secure rescue funds and answer more of your questions about faux job openings and what really counts as consumer spending. Plus, what should you look for in a personal financial adviser? Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Is the Fed Discount Window and Why Are Banks Using It So Much?” from The Washington Post “How the Last-Ditch Effort to Save Silicon Valley Bank Failed” from The Wall Street Journal “Job Listings Abound, but Many Are Fake” from The Wall Street Journal “Survey: Job Seekers Beware of Ghost Jobs” from Clarify Capital “The Fed monitors job openings for inflation decisions. But many listings aren’t real.” from CBS News “Why job openings data might not mean what we think it means” from Marketplace “Consumer Spending” from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis “Introduction to U.S. Economy: Consumer Spending” from the Congressional Research Service “Fiduciary Definition: Examples and Why They Are Important” from Investopedia “Regulators Revive 401(k) Fiduciary Effort in New Legal Landscape” from Bloomberg Law Laura Adams’ “Money Girl” podcast” Got a question about the economy, business or technology? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today, women in the United States are paid 22% less than men on average. Twenty years ago, that number looked about the same, despite women’s many advancements in education and the workforce. The gender pay gap is stark, stubborn and often misunderstood in its intricacies. On the show today, Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, unpacks why the gender pay gap hasn’t really budged in the last two decades, what people get wrong about it and what needs to change to finally close it. In the News Fix: One Republican lawmaker is stalling military promotions to keep service members from getting better access to abortion care. His colleagues are not pleased. And, the Senate has started hearings on the failures of SVB and Signature Bank. We’ll discuss the mind-blowing speed of the banks’ meltdowns and the group chat behind it all. Later, one listener tells us about a restaurant subscription they love. And in the spirit of cherry blossom season, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Diana Parsell, author of “Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees.” Here’s everything we talked about today: It’s Equal Pay Day. The salary gap between men and women isn’t shrinking. from NPR “‘Women’s work’ and the gender pay gap: How discrimination, societal norms, and other forces affect women’s occupational choices—and their pay” from the Economic Policy Institute “As Women Take Over a Male-Dominated Field, the Pay Drops” from The New York Times “Gender pay gap figures: debunking the myths” from The Guardian “Why do some people get paid more than others?” from Marketplace’s “Million Bazillion” “The Republican senator who is stifling the Pentagon over abortion” from Punchbowl News “Defense chief slams Tuberville’s hold on Pentagon nominees over abortion policy” from The Hill “‘It’s a powerful effect’: Austin fires back at GOP senator’s blockade of military promotions” from Politico “US Officials Signal New Rules for Banks After SVB, Signature Failures” from Bloomberg “Senate holds its first hearing into SVB and Signature Bank failures” from NBC News The FTC wants to make it easy to cancel subscriptions from The Washington Post Diana Parsell’s “Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees” What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

It was a tough news day. The school shooting in Nashville is the latest mass shooting in the United States. There have been 130 mass shootings this year alone. We’ll talk about what happened in Nashville and the role of the AR-15 in America’s gun violence history. Here’s everything we talked about today: “3 children, 3 adults killed in shooting at Nashville private school” from PBS NewsHour 2023 gun violence statistics from Gun Violence Archive “We spent 7 months examining the AR-15’s role in America. Here’s what we learned.” from The Washington Post (Some of the images in this article may be disturbing.) “The Blast Effect: This is how bullets from an AR-15 blow the body apart” from The Washington Post We always want to hear from you. Send us your thoughts and questions by calling 508-U-B-SMART or emailing us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Oops! How did nearly $2 million worth of nickel owned by JPMorgan Chase turn out to be just bags of rocks? We’ll give you the TL;DR on commodity trading and tell JPMorgan’s tale of woe. And, the House passed a piece of GOP-backed legislation that’s in line with many conservative politicians’ push to limit what can be taught and read in schools. While the bill won’t make it through a Democratic Senate, it could still be used as a political tool. Plus, a round of Half Full/Half Empty with a surprise guest host! Here’s everything we talked about today: “JPMorgan’s Mystery ‘Nickel’ Rocks: The Hunt for Clues Begins With a Kick” from Bloomberg “JPMorgan Had Some Fake Nickel” from Bloomberg “Parents Bill of Rights: 5 things to know about the House GOP’s legislation” from The Hill “House passes the GOP’s Parents Bill of Rights measure opposed by Biden” from NBC News “Twitter claims ‘legacy’ blue checkmarks will start to disappear on April Fools’ Day” The Verge Moderna will charge around $130 for its COVID vaccine — and Congress isn’t too happy “Subway’s Footlong Pass is back as more restaurants test subscriptions” from Axios “These New Yorkers Hate the New ‘We ❤️ NYC’ Logo” from The New York Times “WGA Would Allow Artificial Intelligence in Scriptwriting, as Long as Writers Maintain Credit” from Variety “Our Film Critic on Why He’s Done With the Movies” from The Daily We can’t do this without you! Please keep sending us your comments and questions by calling 508-U-B-SMART or emailing makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which monitors foreign investments in this country, usually keeps its work secret. But during today’s congressional TikTok hearing, it released a statement saying that it takes data security seriously. The unusual comment, and how the federal government has been dealing with TikTok, has us wondering: What are we missing? Plus, we become nostalgic for Blockbuster and its catchy jingle. Here’s everything we talked about today: “With no merger deal, failed SPAC faces lawsuit over legal fees” from Reuters “Will ChatGPT Break Notice and Comment for Regulations?” from George Washington University “US Regulator Warns About Data Security During TikTok Hearing” from Bloomberg “The internet rediscovered Blockbuster’s website. Press play on nostalgia.” from The Washington Post “Washington’s cherry blossoms are in peak bloom” from The Washington Post Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Following the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress the United States banking system is healthy — for now — but a debt limit breach would throw it back into chaos. One listener asked if the recent banking hubbub might get Congress to finally take action on the debt ceiling. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about what makes credit unions different from banks and why it’s so hard to turn office buildings into apartments. And, what’s in a Kai Ryssdal sandwich? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Yellen: Debt limit breach would be ‘devastating’ for banks” from Roll Call “U.S. Treasury says record FDIC cash draw won’t affect debt ceiling ‘X-date'” from Reuters “U.S. government assures on bank deposits, but debt ceiling still looms” from Axios “Credit Unions vs. Banks: Which One Is the Best for You?” from Investopedia “Failed bank fallout could open doors for credit unions. Here’s what to know” from AZ Central “Can empty office space help solve the housing shortage?” from Marketplace “So You Want to Turn an Office Building Into a Home?” from The New York Times “Churches convert to rentals as young people leave the flock” from Marketplace “Why Office-to-Apartment Conversions are Likely a Fringe Trend at Best” from Moody’s Analytics Wax Paper sandwich shop’s website Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re talking about the topic of the day, week, month, and maybe even year — banking. Silicon Valley Bank’s tech startup-centric clientele and remarkably high amount of uninsured deposits made it different from a lot of other banks. But there’s a regulatory landscape in the background of SVB’s downfall story. On the show today, Mehrsa Baradaran, a banking law professor at the University of California Irvine and author of the books “The Color of Money” and “How the Other Half Banks,” explains how regulatory changes made way back in the 80’s landed us where we are now, the psychological nature of bank runs, and what regulators can learn from this SVB-triggered banking episode. In the News Fix, the case for incorporating more lentils and other climate-friendly foods into the American diet. Also, we’ll give an economics crash course on “Minsky moments.” And, why commercial real estate debt could become another problem for banks. Later, one listener shares why they’re on TikTok, and another listener reminds us to remember the folks who are hit hardest by climate change. And, Kaye Wise Whitehead, president of the National Women’s Studies Association, explains why she was wrong about motherhood. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Silicon Valley Bank & Signature Bank Lobbied to Weaken Regulations That Could Have Prevented Collapse” from Truthout “Opinion | After Silicon Valley Bank collapse, scrap the deposit insurance limit” from The Washington Post “Federal Reserve and Lawmakers Eye Bank Rules After Collapse” from The New York Times “What Is a Minsky Moment? How Do World Debt Levels Look Now?” from Bloomberg “Why Americans should eat more lentils” from The Washington Post “Commercial Property Debt Creates More Bank Worries” from The Wall Street Journal What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be feat

The Federal Reserve will meet this week to discuss the possibility of increasing interest rates to fight inflation once more. But after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, some are concerned that the higher rates are putting too much pressure on the banking system. And, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its latest report. The conclusion? We have to do something now. Plus, Kimberly makes us smile with a story about the friendship between a girl and a very scary “monster.” Here’s everything we talked about today: “Did SVB break the Fed? Officials mull risks of more rate increases” from Reuters “Five Ways Banking Turmoil Will Impact the Fed’s Decision” from Bloomberg “World can still avoid worst of climate collapse with genuine change, IPCC says” from The Guardian “Biden issues first veto, taking on new Republican House” from The Washington Post Tweet from @davidlgutman on King County, Washington, voting to adopt the Oxford comma TikTok from @spiritwalker about a girl happy to meet a “monster” Have a comment or question about something we talked about? Send it our way! You can leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART or write to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

For years, using social media has been mostly free. But that’s slowly changing. Following in Twitter’s footsteps, Meta has launched a subscription service for its platforms. We’ll discuss what paying for social media might mean for our online culture. And, the latest news about SVB (of course) and the regulators that may have dropped the ball. Plus, a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why American whiskey is the real winner of St. Patrick’s Day” from CNN “Meta launches subscription service in US” from Reuters “Fed Blocked Mention of Regulatory Flaws in Silicon Valley Bank Rescue” from The New York Times “The Fed Was Too Late on SVB Even Though It Saw Problem After Problem” from Bloomberg “U.S. Pushes for TikTok Sale to Resolve National Security Concerns” from The New York Times “Buffalo Wild Wings sued over boneless wings” from CBS “Could the Fed’s new emergency bank lending program encourage risky behavior?” from Marketplace Beer Purchasers’ Index from the National Beer Wholesalers Association Our March fundraiser ends today! Help us meet our goal this week so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

A team of large banks are coming together to save First Republic from this week’s banking woes with a hefty $30 billion deposit. We’ll explain what their move could mean for regulators. Also, an investigation into nursing homes in the United States found that some Medicare policies are putting seniors into poverty. And Kimberly makes us smile with a story about how pet owners deal with clever cats that can open microwaves and steal wallets. Here’s everything we talked about today: “First Republic Set to Get $30 Billion of Deposits in Rescue” from Bloomberg “The FBI And DOJ Are Investigating ByteDance’s Use Of TikTok To Spy On Journalists” from Forbes “In nursing homes, impoverished live final days on pennies” from AP News “Axiom Space reveals next-generation spacesuit for astronauts returning to lunar surface” from Axiom Space “When cats can lock doors and raid food, pet-proofing gets extreme” from The Washington Post Our March fundraiser ends tomorrow. Help us meet our goal this week so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

This week’s Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday comes with a bonus News Fix! We’ll get into the ripple effects of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse on the U.S. Treasury debt market and on international banks like Credit Suisse. Then, we’ll answer your questions about the FDIC insurance limit and the “moral hazard” risk involved in covering all SVB deposits. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Market Stress Snarls Trading in U.S. Treasurys” from The Wall Street Journal “Bank Chaos Clouds Outlook for Markets” from The Wall Street Journal “Swiss Regulators Offer Financial Lifeline to Credit Suisse” from The Wall Street Journal “The FDIC was created exactly for this kind of crisis. Here’s the history” from NPR “Regional banks rush to reassure customers after SVB failure” from Marketplace History and Timeline of Changes to FDIC Coverage Limits from American Deposits “Who’s responsible for paying the failed banks’ depositors?” from Marketplace “Experts flag moral hazard risk as U.S. intervenes in SVB crisis” from Reuters “Will the FDIC’s move to cover uninsured deposits set a risky precedent?” from NPR Our March fundraiser ends Friday. Help us meet our goal this week so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Some members of Congress recently introduced legislation that would give President Biden the power to ban TikTok, despite the company’s best efforts to get on Congress’ good side. How did an app known for viral dance videos find itself in the middle of a national security debate? On the show today, Forbes tech reporter Emily Baker-White explains why some members of Congress see TikTok as a national security threat, how real that threat actually is, and what an all-out ban would even look like. Plus, how it felt to be spied on by TikTok. In the News Fix: How a viral parody tweet may have helped bring down insulin prices. Also, Kai Ryssdal explains what the latest round of job cuts at Meta say about the larger tech industry. And, a little Silicon Valley Bank update, for good measure. Later, one listener shares their experience with rooftop solar panels. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from a listener who was wrong about the volatile nature of the tech industry. Here’s everything we talked about today: “TikTok’s master plan to win over Washington” from Vox “Senate, White House push new bipartisan bill that could ban TikTok” from Politico “EXCLUSIVE: TikTok Spied On Forbes Journalists” from Forbes “TikTok tries to sell ‘Project Texas’ as it fights for survival in the U.S.” from NBC News “How A TikTok Ban Would Work — And How TikTok Could Fight Back” from Forbes “Novo Nordisk to slash US insulin prices, following move by Eli Lilly” from Reuters Tweet from @MorePerfectUS about their staff writer’s viral parody Eli Lilly tweet “Meta to Lay Off 10,000 Employees, Cut 5,000 More Open Jobs” from Bloomberg “George Santos Signals Intention to Seek Re-election in 2024” from The New York Times What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

The dust hasn’t yet settled around Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse and people are trying to figure out who, or what, is to blame. We’ll unpack some of the finger pointing, explain what SVB represents 15 years after the 2008 financial crisis and look into what the bank’s failure means for the 2024 presidential race. Plus, the Oscar moments that made us smile! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bank rules rollback contributed to SVB’s failure, critics say” from Marketplace “Barney Frank blames crypto panic for his bank’s collapse. Elizabeth Warren blames Trump.” from Politico “As military spending soars, Congress must take critical look at Pentagon budget” from The Hill Severe erosion in North Carolina from The Washington Post “Oscars Analysis: Why ‘Everything Everywhere’ — and the Academy — Won” from The Hollywood Reporter “Naatu Naatu” performance at the Oscars from Variety “Parties, food deals and more ways to celebrate St. Louis on 314 Day” from St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Celebrating and honoring Scott Joplin and his legacy in St. Louis” from KSDK It’s our March fundraiser! Help us meet our goal so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is the second largest bank failure in U.S. history. Many of SVB’s clients were startups and tech investors putting hundreds of billions of dollars in assets at risk. We’ll explain some of the factors that led to SVB going under and what it has to do with “venture debt.” Plus, how a health data breach could be weaponized against Congress. Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty with a special guest host! Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Silicon Valley Bank failed” from Marketplace “Health data breach hitting Congress ‘could be extraordinary’” from The Associated Press “Could companies be persuaded to bring back pensions?” from Marketplace Oscar viewing party ideas from Peerspace “Business Schools Soften Admissions Requirements to Scoop Up Laid-Off Tech Workers” from Bloomberg “Consumers’ “revenge reviews” have been rising since the pandemic” from Marketplace It’s our March fundraiser! Help us meet our goal so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The majority of women in the United States are single, and they’re becoming a big force in our economy. Single women now make up a significant share of the job market, homeowners and college graduates. But we’ll get into why that doesn’t necessarily amount to a boon for women’s wealth and wages. Also, business owners are coming clean about price-raising strategies, dubbed “excuseflation.” Plus, how mending your clothes became a hot fashion trend. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Crestfallen, veterans demand accountability for Afghan exit’s failures” from The Washington Post “Washington Suffers as Federal Employees Work From Home” from Bloomberg “Single women take an outsize role in the workforce — and the economy” from The Washington Post “How ‘Excuseflation’ Is Keeping Prices — and Corporate Profits — High” from Bloomberg “Elon Musk Is Planning a Texas Utopia — His Own Town” from The Wall Street Journal “Does Anyone Mend Clothes Anymore?” from Southern Living It’s our March Fundraiser! Help us meet our goal so we can cover our costs and plan for the future: https://support.marketplace.org/smart

This week, we got a call from a listener who said a serving of cold brew costs $1.30 more than a serving of hot coffee at his local Starbucks. That has him wondering, what makes the cold stuff so special? We’ll get into the economics of iced coffee. Plus, we’ll answer your questions about SNAP benefits and the beef between the state of California and Walgreens. Here’s everything we talked about today: A Quick Guide to SNAP Eligibility and Benefits from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities “Does SNAP Cover the Cost of a Meal in Your County?” from the Urban Institute “California will cut ties with Walgreens over the company’s plan to drop abortion pills” from NPR “The Possible Effects Of California ‘No Longer Doing Business With Walgreens'” from The California Globe “The Iced-Coffee Economy: Why the Cold Stuff Costs More” from Grub Street “Why the Hell Is Iced Coffee So Expensive? An Investigation” from Vice “For All Mankind” from IMDB “Southern California startup bets on 3D printing to drive down rocket-building costs” from NPR If you’ve got a question about business, tech or the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

What can Jell-O tell us about the United States during the Gilded Age? What about Spam during World War II? According to Anna Zeide, food historian and author of the new book “US History in 15 Foods,” they can tell us a lot about the evolution of American values, government — and of course, the American economy. On the show today, Zeide walks us through the history baked into food items from all-American whiskey to Korean tacos. And, why food is often much more than something we simply eat. In the News Fix, we remember Judy Heumann, an activist who championed crucial pieces of disability rights legislation. Also, eyes are on Walgreens after the company said it would stop dispensing abortion pills in some Republican-led states where abortion is still legal. Plus, we’ll get into why some women in high-level positions are too burned out to stay in the workforce. Later, a listener sings us a song inspired by Marketplace’s Nova Safo. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from a listener who was wrong about dancing. Here’s everything we talked about today: Anna Zeide’s “US History in 15 Foods” “Remembering Judy Heumann’s lasting contributions to disability rights” from PBS Newshour “Walgreens in the hot seat” from Politico “California to not do business with Walgreens over abortion pills issue, Governor says” from Reuters “Debt Default Would Cripple U.S. Economy, New Analysis Warns” from The New York Times “Female Execs Are Exhausted, Frustrated and Heading for the Exits” from Bloomberg What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

This week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will head to Congress for two days of hearings as required under the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Today, we’ll trace the little-known history behind this important piece of legislation and explain what it has to do with the civil rights movement and Coretta Scott King. Plus, make me smiles that have us reminiscing about family. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Republican Votes Helped Washington Pile Up Debt” from The New York Times “Inflation pressures put Powell in spotlight before Congress” from The Associated Press “Understanding the civil rights movement as a labor and economic movement” from Marketplace Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 from GovInfo “Biden scraps reliance on market for faith in broader government role” from Washington Post “Toblerone Is Removing the Matterhorn From Its Packaging” from The Wall Street Journal “Virgin chicken wranglers, tired of pricey eggs, are snatching up birds” from The Washington Post Learn more and register for the March 8 International Women’s Day virtual event with Kimberly: marketplace.org/womensday

Across the U.S., kids as young as 13 are being employed to do everything from packaging cereal to cleaning meatpacking plants. Many are migrants who came into the U.S. without their parents and were driven to work out of desperation. Now, lawmakers want to push for change. The story has us shaking our heads. Plus, is it OK to order the same dish as your spouse? Our hosts dive into a lively food debate. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Lawmakers Clamor for Action on Child Migrant Labor as Outrage Grows” from The New York Times “Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.” from The New York Times “Biden Awards Medal of Honor to Black Vietnam Veteran” from The New York Times “Walgreens won’t sell abortion pills in some states where they’re legal” from The Washington Post “Alaska’s Fisheries Are Collapsing” from Politico Snow in the Southern California mountains from The Los Angeles Times “TikTok expanding time limits on app” from Axios “The FTC Is Readying a Crackdown on Online Therapy” from Futurism “The products we buy are shrinking, and so is the value” from Marketplace “The Bidens ordered the same dish at a restaurant — and the internet has thoughts” from Today “It’s Fine to Order the Same Dish as Your Spouse” from Josh Barro Learn more and register for the March 8 International Women’s Day virtual event with Kimberly: marketplace.org/womensday

In the before times, when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, the number of people filing for unemployment benefits would rise too. But we’re far from that today. U.S. weekly jobless claims are remarkably low. So where’s the recession we’ve been hearing so much about? Kai tells us what Janet Yellen had to say about this in his recent interview with the treasury secretary. Plus, the complicated task of creating a time zone for the moon. And guess who’s a Swiftie. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump can be sued by police over Jan. 6 riot, Justice Department says” from The Washington Post “ChatGPT and Whisper APIs debut, allowing devs to integrate them into apps” from Ars Technica “Apple Blocks Update of ChatGPT-Powered App, as Concerns Grow Over AI’s Potential Harm” from The Wall Street Journal “Yellen: Progress on inflation isn’t a straight line” from Marketplace “US Jobless Claims Edge Lower in Sign of Strong Labor Market” from Bloomberg “Elon Musk Is So Busy His Private Jet Is Taking 13-Minute Flights” from Bloomberg “Merrick Garland Is a Huge Taylor Swift Fan” from The Wall Street Journal “What time is it on moon? Europe pushing for lunar time zone” from AP News Paula Perry rescues baby squirrels in her Mississippi home from The Washington Post Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Norfolk Southern, the train company involved in the recent derailment in Ohio, spent $1.8 million on lobbying last year. One listener called in to ask about what lobbying dollars actually pay for. We’ll explain and answer more of your questions about how menstrual symptoms can affect productivity and what it might take for climate NIMBYs to become climate YIMBYs. Plus, Kimberly and guest host Reema Khrais share financial advice they’d give their younger selves. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Lobbying Data Summary” from OpenSecrets “How Corporate Lobbyists Conquered American Democracy” from The Atlantic “‘Crafting an illusion’: US rail firms’ multimillion-dollar PR push” from The Guardian “Before Ohio derailment, Norfolk Southern lobbied against safety rules” from The Washington Post “Productivity loss due to menstruation-related symptoms: a nationwide cross-sectional survey among 32 748 women” from BMJ “Menstrual cycle-associated symptoms and workplace productivity in US employees: A cross-sectional survey of users of the Flo mobile phone app” from National Library of Medicine “Even in the U.S., poor women often can’t afford tampons, pads” from Reuters “Solar Tax Credit By State In 2023: What You Need To Know” from Forbes “Wind energy gives American farmers a new crop to sell in tough times” from USA Today “The Power of Compound Interest: Calculations and Examples” from Investopedia Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

To reach the Joe Biden administration’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, the country’s energy infrastructure needs a massive overhaul, and fast. But many communities are not on board with the idea of a massive wind or solar farm in their area. Some counties are banning renewable energy developments before the planning can even begin. “All those wind turbines and solar panels, and then all the transmission lines that you need to build … it has a big footprint. And that creates lots of land use conflicts,” said Ted Nordhaus, founder of The Breakthrough Institute. On the show today, Nordhaus breaks down climate NIMBYism, the threat it poses to our green-energy economy and what it might take to keep the green transition moving forward. In the News Fix: Work as we know it is changing. Many U.S. companies are already using ChatGPT in one way or another, and the artificial intelligence chatbot is replacing jobs. Plus, workers in Asia and Europe are going back to the office at much higher rates than American workers. Then, we’ll hear from listeners about how later school start times have improved their family’s mornings, the debate about what to call mocktails, and why Americans keep eggs in the fridge. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Decarbonization and its Discontents” from The Breakthrough Institute “Will NIMBYs sink new clean energy projects? The evidence says no – if developers listen to local concerns” from The Conversation “The Environmentalists Undermining Environmentalism” from The Atlantic “America needs a new environmentalism” from The Economist “Should I Learn Coding as a Second Language?” from Wired “1 in 4 companies have already replaced workers with ChatGPT” from Resume Builder “As Americans Work From Home, Europeans and Asians Head Back to the Office” from The Wall Street Journal “What’s happened to the lunch places in office neighborhoods?” from Marketplace “Why do we refrigerate eggs and other countries don’t? from the Egg Safety Center What have you been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Drag show performances have become the new front in America’s culture wars. Lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering legislation that would limit or ban drag shows. But after major corporations came out against anti-LGBTQ laws last year, we’re wondering: Where is corporate America now? Plus, big news on the ban on British sausages. Here’s everything we talked about today: “To Tap Federal Funds, Chip Makers Will Need to Provide Child Care” from The New York Times “Watchdog Report on Afghan Collapse Points to Abrupt Withdrawal, Lack of Planning” from The Wall Street Journal “Florida Governor DeSantis ends ‘corporate kingdom’ of Walt Disney World” from Reuters “Memphis drag community says Tennessee bill restricting drag shows is ‘dehumanizing’ and bad for local businesses” from WATN “Tennessee residents, business owners worry about the ‘unintended’ consequences of new drag bill” from WTVF “The story behind Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood comeback” from Screen Tweet from @RishiSunak on the U.K.-EU agreement on Northern Ireland “Why are British sausages being blocked from entry into Northern Ireland? The dispute explained” from The Conversation We can’t do this without you! Please keep sending us your comments and questions by calling 508-U-B-SMART or emailing makemesmart@marketplace.org.

During the early years of the pandemic, people throughout the country left major cities and never returned. But in New York City, it seemed people were coming back in droves. What else would explain the lower availability of apartments and the increasing rent prices? The real reason may not be that simple, and it may have to do with algorithms and something called “warehousing.” Also, the patent examiner who sought to demonstrate the ingenuity of Black Americans through their inventions is being honored. Plus, we play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! “New Yorkers Never Came ‘Flooding Back.’ Why Did Rents Go Up So Much?” from New York magazine “9 Charts on the Russia-Ukraine War” from Gallup “Found on Baker’s list” from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office “No cow needed: Oat and soy can be called milk, FDA proposes” from AP “United launches $100 million green jet fuel fund” from Marketplace “How does a water bottle go viral — and stay viral?” from Marketplace “New York City’s push to become a tech hub” from Marketplace “Samsung Now Cloning Users’ Voices So an AI Can Answer Calls for Them” from Futurism We love hearing and reading your questions and comments, so please keep sending them! You can write to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

There’s tons of research showing teenagers aren’t getting enough quality sleep. One big contributing factor: early school start times. So why aren’t more schools getting with the program? Also, we’ll get into the different narratives being created about the Joe Biden administration’s pick for the next leader of the World Bank. Plus, Wordle cheaters, we know who you are. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Let Teenagers Sleep” from Scientific American “Republicans Will Hold Their First Presidential Debate in Milwaukee” from The New York Times “US to Pick Ex-Mastercard CEO Banga as World Bank President” from Bloomberg “Have Scientists Found a Rogue Supermassive Black Hole?” from Sky & Telescope “Brittney Griner returns to Phoenix Mercury on 1-year deal” from ESPN “Study calls DC residents’ Wordle streaks into question” from WTOP News Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

DALL-E, ChatGPT and now … Bing? It can be hard to keep up with all the new artificial intelligence systems hitting the scene. One listener called in to ask what makes the new AI-powered Bing different from ChatGPT. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about how a tax cut works versus a stimulus and the hidden costs of police misconduct. Plus, can journalists who cover business trade stocks? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bing (Yes, Bing) Just Made Search Interesting Again” from The New York Times “The new Microsoft Bing will sometimes misrepresent the info it finds” from The Verge “Microsoft’s new Bing chatbot is fun but sometimes more cautious than ChatGPT” from CNBC “Why a Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled” from The New York Times “What Is Economic Stimulus? How It Works, Benefits, and Risks” from Investopedia “Cities pay millions in police misconduct settlements” from Marketplace “Repeated police misconduct cost taxpayers $1.5 billion in settlements” from The Washington Post “Insurers force change on police departments long resistant to it” from The Washington Post “How Police Misconduct Affects Cities And Taxpayers Financially” from NPR Marketplace’s Standards of Behavior Got a question for our hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The national COVID-19 public health emergency will be ending in May, but that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Hundreds of people are still dying from COVID in the U.S. every day and many more are getting sick. So then why is the emergency ending? On the show today: Dr. Céline Gounder, an epidemiologist and editor at large for public health at Kaiser Health News, walks us through the state of the pandemic right now, what will change when the public health emergency expires and what it could mean for the American health care system as a whole. In the News Fix, we’ll tell you about a case before the Supreme Court that may drastically change how the internet works. Also, Russia temporarily pulled out of a major nuclear arms treaty. We’ll get into what that means for the future of international arms control. Later, one listener shares a perspective on pay transparency, and another tells us why we should discuss menopause more. Plus, this week a chatbot answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: What happens to COVID vaccines and drugs after the health emergency? from The Los Angeles Times “Millions of people are about to get kicked off Medicaid” from Vox “WHO says Covid-19 remains a global health emergency, but pandemic is at a ‘transition point'” from CNN “The End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Details on Health Coverage and Access” from KFF An Etiquette Guide for Long COVID from The Atlantic “Need time off work for period pain? These countries offer ‘menstrual leave.'” from The Washington Post “Justices will consider whether tech giants can be sued for allegedly aiding ISIS terrorism” from SCOTUSblog “Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count” from The New York Times “Putin’s Move on Nuclear Treaty May Signal End to Formal Arms Control” from The New York Times What’s something you’ve been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Although climate change risks are well known, they are often unaccounted for in property values. New research shows that when flood risks are taken into account, property prices are overvalued by as much as $237 billion. So what does this all mean for the U.S. real estate market and a looming climate change housing bubble? We’ll also discuss the bombshell legal filing by Dominion Voting Systems and what it reveals about Fox News’ business model. Plus, we play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “4 takeaways from the bombshell Fox News legal filing” from The Washington Post “I Never Truly Understood Fox News Until Now” from The Atlantic “The climate change real estate bubble risks billions” from Axios “The pitfalls of letting an algorithm set the rent” from Marketplace Tech “Why “eat the rich” storylines are taking over TV and movies” from Marketplace “At the Federal Games Guild, video games and public policy play together” from Marketplace “Taco Bell Cantina Has Hit Hollywood—Yes, With Alcohol On Its Menu” from Secret Los Angeles “How ASMR videos earn bonus revenue for this cleaning company” from Marketplace Are you half full or half empty on something we talked about? Or maybe you have a question that you want to ask us? Let us know by calling 508-U-B-SMART or sending us an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org!

It’s common for people to relocate or downsize when they get older, but new research shows that age is not working in their favor when it comes to getting a mortgage. We’ll get into it. Also, Tesla workers in Buffalo launched a campaign to unionize last week. Now, some leaders of the drive  are getting fired. Plus, guest host Samantha Fields tells us why the early warm weather in the Northeast is sort of creeping her out. And, an owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo takes on the big city! Here’s everything we talked about today: “It can be harder for seniors to get mortgages, research shows” from Marketplace “Are Older Mortgage Applicants More Likely to Be Rejected?” from the Center for Retirement Research “January 2023 warmest on record for New York City” from Yahoo! “‘The climate I lived in as a kid is long gone’: Climate change is stealing New England’s winters” from The Boston Globe “Tesla Fired Buffalo Workers Seeking to Organize, Union Says” from The New York Times “Hobby Club’s Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF” from Aviation Week Network “Flaco the Owl Spreads His Wings and Learns to Survive in Central Park” from The New York Times “Daylight saving time 2023: Is it time to change your clocks again?” from USA Today Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. PT 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

As the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl victory Sunday, red, yellow and white confetti showered the field while the winners put on preprinted NFL Super Bowl LVII Champions gear, complete with the Chiefs’ logo. One listener called in to ask what happens to the stuff that’s premade for the team that ends up losing. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the gamification of credit card spending and the benefits of being open with your co-workers about how much money you make. Here’s everything we talked about today: What happens to the Super Bowl 57 championship gear for the Eagles? from USA Today Hot Dogs, Hotels, Tickets and Confetti: 16 Fun Facts About the Super Bowl in Phoenix from Phoenix New Times “How Is Cashback Profitable for Credit Card Companies?” from Investopedia “U.S. credit card debt jumps 18.5% and hits a record $930.6 billion” from CNBC “What Happens When COVID-19 Emergency Declarations End? Implications for Coverage, Costs, and Access” from KFF “What the End of the Covid Public Health Emergency Could Mean for You” from The New York Times “Millions of people are about to get kicked off Medicaid” from Vox Federal COVID-19 emergency ends in May; what will change? from The Chicago Sun-Times “Why You Should Tell Your Co-Workers How Much Money You Make” from The New York Times “Pay transparency laws can help fix the wage gap — but not erase it” from Vox If you’ve got a question about business, tech or the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re digging into the thing that’s at the heart of President Biden’s vision to reshape the American economy: industrial policy. After the U.S. ghosted industrial policy decades ago, it’s become a hot topic again. Biden championed the Inflation Reduction Act, ballyhooed the CHIPS and Science Act and announced rules requiring federal infrastructure projects to use only American-made materials — all with the goal of spurring the country’s manufacturing industries. But, is Biden’s vision for the U.S. economy a perfect match? On the show today: Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic and host of The Ringer’s “Plain English” podcast, makes us smart about the evolution of industrial policy in the U.S. and why Biden’s “Buy American” is a great political slogan, but not a perfect policy in practice. In the News Fix, we’ll discuss the economic costs of romantic scams, Donald Trump’s first official challenger in the Republican presidential primary and unionization efforts at Tesla. Later, we’ll hear from a listener on giving preloved items a second chance. And, a professional matchmaker tells us how to be smart about finding a partner. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Don’t ‘Buy American'” from The Atlantic “Joe Biden’s Innovative Attempt to Reshape the American Economy” from The New Yorker “Is Industrial Policy Making a Comeback?” from the Council on Foreign Relations “A Tale of Two Industrial Policies” from Foreign Affairs “A Simple Plan to Solve All of America’s Problems” from The Atlantic “Romance scammers’ favorite lies exposed” from the Federal Trade Commision “Nikki Haley announces 2024 White House run” from Politico “Tesla Workers in Buffalo Begin Union Drive” from The New York Times What’s something you’ve been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

Since the discovery of the Chinese balloon floating over Montana, it seems the U.S. is suddenly seeing more unidentified flying objects. We’ll get into why the U.S. had previously been missing all these strange crafts. Plus, a train derailment in eastern Ohio has residents worried about the long-term dangers of released chemicals. And, would you drink AI-generated beer? Here’s everything we talked about today: “US Has ‘No Indication’ Alien Activity Is Behind Objects Shot Down” from Bloomberg Tweet from @DanLamothe on NORAD changing velocity gate of radars “East Palestine train derailment: What we know about the situation” from Cincinnati Enquirer “After a train derailment, Ohio residents are living the plot of a movie they helped make” from CNN “White Noise” | Official Trailer from Netflix Sabri Ben-Achour’s ceramic art Instagram page TikTok from @nightshiftbrewing about an artificial intelligence-generated beer recipe Instagram Reel from @chefbaobae cooking rose dumplings Now through Valentine’s Day, show off your love of Make Me Smart by grabbing an Investor T-shirt when you donate $5/month. https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Inflation has hit American consumers hard over the last couple of years. But we’re not the only ones feeling the pinch. The government is too. We’ll talk about the ways inflation is affecting the national debt. Then, there may be more to imposter syndrome than we initially thought. Plus, we play a Super Bowl-themed round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fed’s Inflation Fight Pushes Up Cost of U.S. Debt” from The Wall Street Journal “Why Everyone Feels Like They’re Faking It” from The New Yorker “I Won’t Be Watching the Super Bowl Because I Think Football Is Too Dangerous to Exist” from Teen Vogue “‘The Ship Beneath the Ice’ Review: Endurance Found” from The Wall Street Journal “Move Over Crypto, Booze Ads Are Flooding the Super Bowl” from Bloomberg “Super Bowl LVII halftime show features Rihanna” from Axios “Former NFL players are suing the league over denied disability benefits” from NPR “Millions plan to call out sick Monday after the ‘Big Game’” from WHNT/CBS Now through Valentine’s Day, show off your love of Make Me Smart by grabbing an Investor T-shirt when you donate $5/month. https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

In Twitter’s latest effort to up revenue, the company is shutting down free access to its API for many users. That means developers who rely on the Twitter API to run apps like TweetDelete will have to pay for access to its data. Also, Adidas’ decision to split with Yeezy last year is turning out to be an expensive one. And, one man’s career behind the scenes on Broadway is more than just a nice story about a guy doing a job. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Twitter is shutting down its free API, here’s what’s going to break” from Engadget “Twitter Says Low-Level API Usage Will Cost $100 Per Month” from Business Insider “Adidas Sees EUR500 Mln Hit From Potential Yeezy Stock Writeoff” from MarketWatch “He’s Seen ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ 13,000 Times” from The Wall Street Journal “Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XIX” from Discovery Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. PT 6:30 p.m. ET. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

Students are already using ChatGPT to cheat on assignments, and teachers want tools to spot it. One listener called in to ask what tech will become available for teachers to identify AI-written work. We’ll get into what’s out there right now and why these tools may not be a perfect solution just yet. Plus, we’ll answer more of your questions about how the recent California floods are affecting produce prices and the cost of solar panels. Plus, when did we start referring to jobs by collar color? Here’s everything we talked about today: “The advent of ChatGPT creates demand for software to detect its use” from Marketplace “Princeton student builds app to fight ChatGPT cheats” from NJ Spotlight News “ChatGPT sparks surge of AI detection tools” from Axios “Storm flooding compounds misery for California farms and workers” from The Los Angeles Times “California Storms Have Farmers Rushing to Avoid Crop Shortfall” from Bloomberg “Documenting a Decade of Cost Declines for PV Systems”  from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory “Why China Is Dominating the Solar Industry” from Scientific American “Do Solar Panels Save Money? Yes. Here’s How” from CNET “The Big Apple: White Collar” from etymologist Barry Popik “Is the Blue-Collar Shirt Still Blue Collar?” from The New York Times If you’ve got a question about business, tech and the

This weekend’s Super Bowl is almost certain to be the most legally bet-on sports event in U.S. history. Since the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting five years ago, the industry has seriously taken off, mostly thanks to online wagers. Goldman Sachs predicts that by 2033, the online sports betting business could rake in $39 billion in annual revenue. With online sports betting, you can bet from almost anywhere. And it turns out, you can bet on almost anything. “At BetMGM for example, there are a thousand of these prop bets. How many yards is Patrick Mahomes going to throw? … How long is Chris Stapleton’s National Anthem going to last? What song will Rihanna start with at the halftime show?” said Danny Funt, editor at The Week magazine and a freelance sports journalist. On the show today, Funt explains the business of sports betting, how it’s transformed the fan experience and some of the risks that come with a rapidly growing gambling industry. In the News Fix: Speaking of the Super Bowl, HBO’s zombie drama “The Last of Us” will release its next episode early to avoid going head-to-head with the big game. Also, a recent interview with Jerome Powell gives some insight on the Federal Reserve chair’s game plan. And Kimberly Adams shares a story about local Buy Nothing groups that she found serendipitously while reading a good old-fashioned newspaper. Later, we’ll hear what some listeners have to say about the State of the Union address. Plus, one listener digs into a niche pop culture reference and another weighs in on the nonalcoholic beer market. Here’s everything we talked about today: “All In: How gambling swallowed sports media” from the Columbia Journalism Review “US Super Bowl Betting Projection Tops $1.1 Billion For 2023” from Play USA “The Sports Gambling Gold Rush Is Absolutely Off the Charts” from Bloomberg “Sportsbooks call them risk-free bets. Just don’t read the fine print.” from The Washington Post “Super Bowl Is Poised to Become Most Bet-Upon Game in US History” from Bloomberg A list of resources from the National Council on Problem Gambling 1-800-522-4700 National Problem Gambling Hotline “Why ‘The Last of Us’ Fans Will Get to Watch Episode 5 Early” from E! News “Hon. Jerome Powell” from the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. “Buy Nothing groups and the culture of free stuff” from The Washington Post “From the Ground Up: The obligatory tomato” from Waldo County VillageSoup “See Thomas Jefferson’s Letter Declaring That He Wouldn’t Give a State of the Union Speech” from Time What’s something you’ve been wrong about lately? We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question! Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

The U.S. Constitution requires that presidents give Congress a report on the state of the union. It’s a way to hold the nation’s leader accountable. But critics say the tradition of delivering a speech in front of a joint session of Congress has become a political tool. We’ll debate the value of the SOTU and whether it’s time it goes away. Also, an earthquake in Turkey and Syria could become one of the deadliest this decade. Here’s everything we talked about today: Please, Biden, do us all a favor: Skip the State of the Union speech from The Washington Post Explainer: Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so bad? from Reuters AMC Theatres to Change Movie Ticket Prices Based on Seat Location from Variety Watch Beyoncé Break The Record For Most GRAMMY Wins In History from Grammy Awards Watch Trevor Noah hand Beyoncé the Grammy she won while she was stuck in traffic from CNN Tweet from @Jaredbkeller on no balloon-shaped victory marking We can’t do this show without you! Keep sending in your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Finding constant success in life may not always be a good thing. Some psychologists argue that the biggest obstacle to success may be success itself. How do we fix it? Changing an aspect of our lives every 10 years. Also, could states prevent CVS and Walgreens from selling abortion pills by mail? Kimberly Adams and Kai Ryssdal get into it. Plus, a round of Half-Full/Half-Empty filled with coupons and inflation chickens. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Chinese balloon high over US stirs unease far below” from Associated Press “20 attorneys general warn Walgreens, CVS over abortion pills” from AP “The Ten Year Rule: Change Your Life Every Decade” from Psychology Today “Extreme couponing is back. But it’s on TikTok this time.” from Marketplace “Adieu to the Boeing 747, the first jumbo jet” from Marketplace “Old-school cameras are making a comeback” from Marketplace “Showtime and Paramount+ Merging, With Rebrand Planned” from The Hollywood Reporter “Forget Pandemic Puppies. Meet the Inflation Chicken” from The New York Times Do you have a burning question that you want to ask us or a comment about something we talked about? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

We’ll get to the important news, but first— a Make Me Smile for the ages. In a series of tweets about the spiritual significance of each finger, Pope Francis said the middle finger means honesty. Of course, Twitter ran away with it. In other news, the United States will now have more access to bases in the Philippines, another sign of high tensions in the South China Sea. Plus, we’ll discuss the story of Marie Van Brittan Brown, the largely unknown Black woman behind a familiar invention. And, Harvard University is discontinuing a high-profile project dedicated to studying online misinformation. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Philippines grants U.S. greater access to bases amid China concerns” from Reuters “A Black woman invented the home security system, then fell into obscurity” from The Washington Post “Harvard is shutting down a “disinformation” research hub” from Semafor “Pope Briefly Endorses Giving People the Finger” from Intelligencer 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, a game and more.

The federal debt limit crisis was already looming when the Democrats lost their House majority in the midterm elections. Many of them called for the limit to be raised, suspended or eliminated during the lame duck period to avoid the political turmoil that’s going on now. One listener called in to ask why they didn’t raise the ceiling while they had the chance. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about a Plan B for Biden’s student debt relief, the Trump tax cuts and the rise of white-collar unions. Plus, did you catch the Kai Ryssdal reference on another popular public radio program? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling” from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget “Leaders Back Away From Raising Debt Ceiling, Punting Clash to New Congress” from The New York Times “Raising debt ceiling wasn’t always a heated source of debate” from NPR “Biden’s student-loan forgiveness might not be doomed if the Supreme Court strikes it down — he could take another legal path” from Business Insider “The Booming Economy, Not The 2017 Tax Act, Is Fueling Corporate Tax Receipts” from the Tax Policy Center 2022 was tech’s biggest year yet for labor unions and workplace organizing from Axios “The unionization bug bites Congress” from Marketplace “The Professional and Technical Workforce: By the Numbers” from the AFL-CIO “This is not your grandpa’s union” from Make Me Smart “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” from NPR featuring a Kai Ryssdal name drop Got a question for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. Or leave us a voice message at 508 U-B-SMART, or 508-827-6278.

The new wave of generative artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT and DALL-E, has got the tech business in a frenzy. Venture capitalists are pouring money into new AI startups: Investments in generative AI have already exceeded $2 billion. But there’s lots of unknown unknowns about the innovation. There’s virtually no oversight from the government, and teachers, artists, researchers and others are raising concerns. “There’s so much happening under the hood that we don’t get access to … there needs to be much more transparency,” said Alex Hanna, director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute. On the show today: why AI is getting so much attention these days, ethical issues with the tech and what lawmakers should focus on when trying to regulate it. Plus, why some say it could exacerbate the climate crisis. In the News Fix, some Kia and Hyundai cars keep getting stolen, and insurance companies are taking notice. Plus, we might spend the most on health care, but health in the United States falls behind other high-income countries by several measures. And, why you might want to get ready for some inflation whiplash. Later, we’ll hear from a listener who’s pro-ChatGPT when it comes to writing cover letters. And in the spirit of Dry January, Elva Ramirez, author of “Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking,” gives us a little history lesson on mocktails (or cleverages). Here’s everything we talked about today: “Investors seek to profit from groundbreaking ‘generative AI’ start-ups” from Financial Times Alex Hanna’s “Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000” streamed weekly on Twitch “AI rockets ahead in vacuum of U.S. regulation” from Axios “Robots trained on AI exhibited racist and sexist behavior” from The Washington Post “What jobs are affected by AI? Better-paid, better-educated workers face the most exposure” from the Brookings Institution “Yellen Sees Low Inflation as More Likely Long-Term Challenge” from Bloomberg “State Farm says it has stopped insuring some Kia, Hyundai vehicles” from CBS News “Health care spending in the US is nearly double that of other wealthy nations: report” from The Hill We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART, and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

The U.S. has hit the debt limit 78 times since the 1960s, but for the first time in history, five women are responsible for shaping U.S. fiscal policy. Their experience and perspectives, could change how the country deals with the debt limit. And they might be able to do what other politicians cannot: get along. Plus, how did George Santos fund his campaign? Kimberly is back from vacation and joins Kai to talk all things Washington, and shares what made her smile while she was gone. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Mint the coin? Buy back bonds? 7 ‘gimmicks’ for dodging the debt limit.” from The Washington Post “Ford Cuts Prices of EV Mustang Mach-E” from The Wall Street Journal “5 women, immense power: Can they keep US from fiscal brink?” from The Associated Press “George Santos, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Citizens United” from the Brennan Center for Justice “Watch the moon eclipse Mars tonight” from Space Have any thoughts, or questions that you want to share with us? You can write to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Higher mortgage rates have cooled off the once-hot housing market. But for the first time in seven months, pending home sales have improved, which means the market is seeing some movement. And China’s oil and gas use fell for the first time in decades! Kai is joined by guest host Amy Scott to discuss all this and play a round of Half Full / Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: In light of Tyre Nichols video coming out, a roundup of police reforms in the years since George Floyd’s murder from The New York Times Pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors “China’s Oil and Gas Use Fell in 2022 for First Time in Decades” from The New York Times “New Costco Design With Apartments Overhead Has Property Brokers Buzzing” from CoStar “Amazon Starts Drug Subscription Service for Prime Members” from Bloomberg “Should you use ChatGPT to apply for jobs? Here’s what recruiters say” from Fast Company “M&M’s replaces its spokescandies with Maya Rudolph after Tucker Carlson’s rants” from NPR We love hearing and reading your questions and comments, so please keep sending them! You can write to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

The drought in California is by no means over, but the recent winter storms made a big difference. We’ll discuss what it all means for the state’s residents, reservoirs and wildflowers! Then we’ll unpack a sobering statistic about gun violence in the United States. And Kai Ryssdal geeks out over SpaceX’s new Starship rocket. Here’s everything we talked about today: “California to get major boost in water supplies following January storms” from the Los Angeles Times “More mass shootings in U.S. than days in 2023 so far” from Axios “NYSE Mayhem Traced to a Staffer Who Left a Backup System Running” from Bloomberg “SpaceX completes fueling test, will now work toward massive engine firing test” from Ars Technica “Chipotle Beefs Up Hiring Ahead of ‘Burrito Season’” from The New York Times 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, a game and more.

As Kai Ryssdal puts it, the United States is like House Lannister from “Game of Thrones”: It always pays its debt. But if Congress isn’t able to increase the debt limit, the government won’t have enough money to pay all its bills later this year. A listener called in to ask how that would affect regular Americans. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the economic consequences of exclusionary zoning, how tariffs work and how households of different income levels are affected by rising inflation. Plus, is Kai an electric vehicle convert? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership on the Debt Limit” from the U.S. Department of the Treasury “Debt Limit Brinkmanship (Again)” from Moody’s Analytics “America’s racist housing rules really can be fixed” from Vox “Understanding Exclusionary Zoning and Its Impact on Concentrated Poverty” from The Century Foundation “What Is A Tariff And Who Pays It?” from The Tax Policy Center “Congress Should Take Back Its Authority Over Tariffs” from Foreign Policy “The Truth About Tariffs” from the Council on Foreign Relations “For Black and Latino families, inflation can hit even harder” from Marketplace “Inflation Disparities by Race and Income Narrow” from Liberty Street Economics “EV Consumer Survey Report” from Plug In America If you’ve got a question about business, tech and the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

With all the rage tweets about gas stoves, it may be hard to believe, but climate change wasn’t always so polarizing. Studies show that public opinion on the topic started to splinter in the 1990s, when governments and corporations had to reckon with the threat of a warming planet. “Prior to 1997, it was a conversation among a bunch of scientists, but once the Kyoto treaty came, it became an issue that affected powerful political and economic interests,” said Andrew Hoffman, professor of sustainable enterprise at the University of Michigan and author of “How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate.” On the show today: Hoffman explains how climate change became a partisan issue, the financial and economic interests that got us to where we are today, and what might get us back to some common ground. In the News Fix, guest host Amy Scott tells us about an ad campaign bringing attention to gender bias in internet search results. Plus, we’ll explain why classified documents in surprising places is more common than you might expect. And stick around for the TL;DR on Elon Musk’s trial over what he said about Tesla on Twitter (the social media platform he now owns). Later, we’ll hear from a listener who did the math on the cost-effectiveness of fueling up with diesel vs. gas, and a loyal listener makes us smarter about our own theme music! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Climate Science as Culture War” from the Stanford Social Innovation Review A widening gap: Republican and Democratic views on climate change from Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development “For Earth Day, key facts about Americans’ views of climate change and renewable energy” from Pew Research Center “Politics & Global Warming, March 2018” from Yale Program on Climate Communication “How the humble gas stove became the latest flash point in the culture wars” from The Washington Post “Wyoming lawmaker behind electric-vehicle ban says he didn’t mean it” from The Washington Post “The business opportunity that is climate change” from Marketplace “Correct The Internet & DDB NZ on a mission to highlight bias against women’s sport” from The Drum “Global ‘Correct the Internet’ campaign launches to make sportswomen more visible via DDB NZ” from Campaign Brief “Classified Documents Found at Mike Pence’s Home” from The Wall Street Journal “Elon Musk Securities-Fraud Trial” from Bloomberg It’s a new year, and we’re looking for new answers to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

In case you haven’t heard, we’ve hit the debt limit. That means a whole lot of debate about how to avoid a debt default is likely ahead. One of the more creative solutions involves minting a trillion-dollar platinum coin. We’ll explain why that probably won’t fly. Also, we’ll have an update on the artificial intelligence wars in tech. And guest host Amy Scott makes us smiley and sporty with a story about soccer star Erling Haaland. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Janet Yellen Dismisses Minting $1 Trillion Coin to Avoid Default” from The Wall Street Journal “Microsoft to Deepen OpenAI Partnership, Invest Billions in ChatGPT Creator” from The Wall Street Journal “Wind Turbines Taller Than the Statue of Liberty Are Falling Over” from Bloomberg “Earth’s Core Has Stopped and May Be Reversing Direction, Study Says” from Vice “Man City star Erling Haaland’s incredible hat trick stats as he surpasses last year’s Golden Boot tally” from ESPN Got a question for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. Or leave us a voice message at 508 U-B-SMART, or 508-827-6278.

Google has been the most popular search engine in the world for over two decades, but the company is bringing in the big shots to help fight the company’s most significant threat since the iPhone came out: ChatGPT. To keep up with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, Google said it’s making serious investments in the technology. Meanwhile, Google cut jobs in its AI unit amid widespread layoffs in the tech industry. Guest hosts Amy Scott and Matt Levin get into it. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Google Calls In Larry Page and Sergey Brin to Tackle ChatGPT and A.I. Chatbots” from The New York Times “Google’s Treasured AI Unit Gets Swept Up in 12,000 Job Cuts” from Bloomberg “Google is slashing 12,000 workers, as a wave of layoffs continues into 2023. Here’s the full list of major US companies making cuts.” from Business Insider “Affordable-housing hopes are building around 3D printed homes” from Marketplace “The NBA is experiencing a points explosion” from Axios “CNET pauses publishing AI-written stories after disclosure controversy” from The Verge “Mountain Dew Is Turning Its Baja Blast Soda Into A Hot Sauce” from Tasting Table We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

The guy who’s now running FTX, the imploded cryptocurrency exchange founded by now-indicted Sam Bankman-Fried, said he’s considering reopening shop. Too soon? Also, mortgage rates are coming down, but all the commotion about the debt ceiling could undo that. And, guest host Amy Scott makes us smile with a video of celebrities reenacting conversations on Nextdoor, the neighborhood social networking platform. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Mortgage Rates Fall as Services Sector Contracts” from Zillow Research Mortgage Rates from Freddie Mac “New FTX Chief Says Crypto Exchange Could Restart” from The Wall Street Journal Union membership rate in 2022 hit all-time low despite Starbucks, Amazon efforts from Axios Debt ceiling cartoon from @newyorkercartoons on Instagram Tweet from @JimmyKimmelLive of “Nextdoor Theatre” video Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream will be back! 6:30 ET/3:30 PT. There will be drinks, news and a round of Half Full / Half Empty.

Disney is calling employees back to the office four days a week. One listener called in to ask about the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid work. We’ll talk about how businesses are making the choice. And guest hosts Amy Scott and Samantha Fields answer more of your questions about the death of starter homes and the stubbornly high price of diesel. Plus, are states ready to dole out unemployment benefits for the next recession? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Disney will soon require workers to be in-office four days a week” from Marketplace “Whatever Happened to the Starter Home?” from The New York Times “New Single-Family Homes are Getting Smaller” from the National Association of Home Builders “Homebuilders may finally be turning a corner as inflation stabilizes and lower mortgage rates bring buyers back into the market” from Business Insider “Top Fed official warns US unemployment could hit 5% next year” from Financial Times “America’s unemployment insurance system is still broken as a recession looms” from Vox “Price of Diesel, Which Powers the Economy, Is Still Climbing” from The New York Times “U.S. Gasoline and Diesel Retail Prices” from the U.S. Energy Information Administration “How a massive refinery shortage is contributing to high gas prices” from NPR If you’ve got a question about business, tech and the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today we’re talking about a key player in international trade: the World Trade Organization. The WTO is responsible for setting and enforcing the rules of global trade between 164 member countries. While the United States once supported the idea of a rules-based system, lately the country hasn’t been a big fan of the rules. Among other things, the Trump administration’s decision to impose steel and aluminum taxes in violation of WTO policies sent the organization’s ability to govern into freefall. What would it take for the WTO to get back on its feet? “It’s clear that we need new trade rules on things like digital trade, e-commerce, and privacy data. There’s a whole series of areas that are completely unregulated by the WTO, and we need rules. It needs to get back to becoming that forum in which you can negotiate rules,” said Jennifer Hillman, Georgetown law professor and former member of the WTO appellate body. On the show today: the ins and outs of the WTO, why the organization isn’t running like it’s supposed to, and what that could mean for the future of global trade. In the News Fix: Despite the ongoing trade war, imports and exports between the United States and China are higher than ever. We’ll discuss how this fits into the shifting landscape of globalization. Plus, we’ll look at the effects a 20-year-long drought is having in one community outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. Later, climate scientist and author Kimberly Nicholas shares what she got wrong about a popular climate a statistic. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What’s Next for the WTO?” from the Council on Foreign Relations “Australia and China team up to protest WTO blockages caused by US vetoes on appeal body” from The Guardian “Trump, China, and Steel Tariffs: The Day the WTO Died” from the Council on Foreign Relations “WTO says Trump’s steel tariffs violated global trade rules” from Politico “US-China Trade is Close to a Record, Defying Talk of Decoupling” from Bloomberg “Davos summit is starting. What’s on the agenda?” from Marketplace “Skipped Showers, Paper Plates: An Arizona Suburb’s Water Is Cut Off” from The New York Times It’s a new year, and we’re looking for new answers to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART and your submission may be featured in a future episode.

New research shows Exxon Mobil understood the dire consequences of burning fossil fuels decades ago — with scary accuracy. Yet, the company continued to mislead the public about the effects of climate change. We’ll discuss the billions in damages attributed to more frequent extreme weather events. And, a dungeon masters’ revolt! Dungeons & Dragons players united to preserve the spirit of the game. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Assessing ExxonMobil’s global warming projections” from Science “Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters” from the National Centers for Environmental Information “The Dungeons & Dragons’ OGL 1.1 Tightens Grip On Competition” from Gizmodo “‘People are leaving the game’: Dungeons & Dragons fans revolt against new restrictions” from The Guardian “Amid widespread backlash, D&D maker scales back ‘open’ license changes” from Ars Technica Tweet from @ttjourneys “CNET Has Been Quietly Publishing AI-Written Articles for Months” from Gizmodo Get smart on “Spare” from the Make Me Smart newsletter “Spare review: The weirdest book ever written by a royal” from BBC News “Thousands of Airline Passengers Affected by FAA System Outage” from The New York Times “Disney will soon require workers to be in-office four days a week” from Marketplace We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, the voice of American business had one message for Congress: Get it together! The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says political gridlock is making it harder for businesses to function. We’ll explain what’s ahead for the 118th Congress and why you’re about to hear a lot more about a big fight over the national debt. Plus, are you seeing bizarre flying objects in the sky? You’re not alone. And SBF is defending his innocence, again. This time on Substack? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Sam Bankman-Fried Resurfaces With Fresh Defense of FTX Collapse on Substack” from The Wall Street Journal “U.S. Deficit Fell to $1.4 Trillion in 2022” from The New York Times “First look: Chamber of Commerce says business is “fed up” with Washington” from Axios “U.S. Chamber Calls on Lawmakers to Reject Gridlock and Pursue ‘Agenda for American Strength’” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “House Republicans plan crypto panel in first move to oversee troubled industry” from Politico “More than 360 new UFO cases have been reported to U.S. intelligence agencies since March 2021” from CNBC “2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence “New lawmaker sworn in with ‘Superman’ No. 1 comic pays it a visit at Library of Congress” from The Hill Tweet from U.S. Rep Robert Garcia displaying “Superman” No. 1 comic We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Some Republican politicians are attacking environmental, social and governance investing strategies. One listener is wondering what the fight is really about. We’ll explain. Plus, are crypto losses tax deductible? And we’ll answer more of your questions about whether more immigration can help tame inflation, and developing vs. developed countries. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Crypto tax guide” from Fidelity “Are FTX Losses a Tax Write-Off? IRS Deduction Advice” from Bloomberg “Who are the developing countries in the WTO?” from WTO “Human Development Index” from the United Nations Development Programme “Florida, DeSantis yank billions in investments from ‘woke’ BlackRock over ESG investing” from USA Today Republicans Ramp Up Anti-ESG Campaign for 2023 from Bloomberg “Fed Chair Finds Trump-Era Immigration Policies Still Harm Economy” from Forbes “Scoop: Biden administration plotting immigration reform in 2023” from Axios “A seemingly surprising factor in inflation? Immigration” from NPR If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

A lot has happened since the attack on our Capitol two years ago. We’ve had congressional hearings, impeachments, investigations. And through it all the country has remained deeply polarized. In the past 40 years, the United States has polarized a lot faster than other wealthy democracies like Canada or Germany. Why is the U.S. so different? “Right now, our [political] system makes it extremely difficult to break out of this kind of rigid binary, the two-party system that we have,” said Jennifer McCoy, a political science professor at Georgia State University. On the show today, McCoy breaks down the state of our democracy post-Jan. 6, why the U.S. can’t seem to bridge its extreme political divide and what that could mean for the health of our economy and our democracy. Plus, some signs that all hope is not lost. In the News Fix, we’ll go further into the far-right insurrection in Brazil over the weekend. Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s main government buildings in a strikingly similar fashion to the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. We’ll discuss what connects the two and what kind of influence the U.S. may have had in Brazil. Later, we’ll hear from a listener about keeping New Year’s resolutions, and a writer shares how her own research proved her wrong about creating lasting habits. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Can American Democracy Be Saved?” from Jennifer McCoy “Polls show Americans are divided on the significance of January 6” from The Brookings Institution “U.S. is polarizing faster than other democracies, study finds” from Brown University “Videos of Brazil attack show striking similarities to Jan. 6” from The Washington Post “How Trump’s allies stoked Brazil Congress attack” from BBC News Got a question for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. Or leave us a voice message at 508 U-B-SMART, or 508-827-6278.

Happy New Year! We’re back from our holiday break to discuss some of the biggest news stories of 2023 so far, including last week’s C-SPAN soap opera. New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made some serious concessions to win that could spell out a future mess for debt limit and budget negotiations. Plus, why interest rates will likely stay up — for a while — and what that means for the economy. And, some good news about our planet: The ozone layer is healing! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fed’s Raphael Bostic Favors Holding Rates Above 5% for ‘a Long Time’” from Bloomberg “Kevin McCarthy Deal With Rebels Would Heighten Risk of Debt Standoff” from Bloomberg “McCarthy concessions raise stakes on budget, debt limit” from Roll Call “Bills S Damar Hamlin discharged from Cincinnati hospital 1 week after terrifying collapse” from Yahoo Sports “The ozone layer is slowly, but surely, healing, the UN says” from PBS NewsHour Do you (like Kimberly) already have some big thoughts about 2023? Share them with us! We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some favorite episodes from 2021. We want to say a big thank-you for being part of the “Make Me Smart” family this year — every voicemail, question and donation made a huge difference. None of us is as smart as all of us, and we couldn’t do this show without you. There’s still time to help Marketplace reach its end-of-year fundraising goal. If you can, please donate here. Thanks, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year. Labor organizing looks a lot different today. The workplaces are different compared to decades ago. Think less industrial factories with thousands of workers and more Starbucks, REI and Trader Joe’s with bargaining units of a couple of dozen employees, all organizing one location at a time. “On one hand, it could be easier because you’ve got a smaller group of people to be making the demands. But then you have this challenge of power … it’s hard when you’re looking at a massive corporation, but you’re organizing it piece by piece,” said Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and co-host of the podcast “Belabored.” The AFL-CIO’s goal is to unionize 1 million workers in the next decade. Could organizing smaller workplaces be the path toward reversing decades of declining union membership? On the show today, what labor organizing looks like in the modern economy, why it’s different from what we saw in the past and what it means for the workplace of 2022 and beyond. In the News Fix, the wild story of an Olympic athlete and what it says about modern-day slavery. Plus, we’ll tell you about an airport to avoid if you’re traveling this summer. Later, we’ll hear from listeners about deep sighs and coupons, and we’ll make you smart about flapjacks! Here’s everything we talked about today: “How do workers take on a national chain like Starbucks? One store at a time” from Fast Company “Americans have lost confidence in everything from organized religion to Congress, but their faith in unions is staying strong” from Business Insider “Union Election Petitions Increase 57% In First Half of Fiscal Year 2022” from the National Labor Relations Board Jan. 6 hearing live updates: Panel to explore how Trump summoned extremist groups to Washington from The Washington Post “British Runner Mo Farah Says He Was Trafficked as a Child” from The New York Times “London’s Heathrow Airport Will Limit Passengers for the Summer” from The New York Times Got a question for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. Or leave us a voice message at (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some favorite episodes from 2022. We want to say a big thank-you for being part of the “Make Me Smart” family this year — every voicemail, question and donation made a huge difference. None of us is as smart as all of us, and we couldn’t do this show without you. There’s still time to help Marketplace reach its end-of-year fundraising goal. If you can, please donate here. Thanks, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year. As the threat of climate change grows, expect to hear more about solar geoengineering. It came up during our recent episode with sci-fi author Neal Stephenson, and it involves spraying tiny particles into the stratosphere to deflect the sun’s rays away from the Earth and cool the planet. “It’s a pretty old idea and it has run into such opposition, in terms of research, that we have yet to have any rigorous tests of whether it is even, you know, remotely possible,” said Elizabeth Kolbert, a climate journalist and author of “Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future.” Critics still believe the risks outweigh potential benefits, but that hasn’t stopped others from supporting the idea as a potential solution to our climate woes. On the show today, the promise and peril of solar geoengineering. In the News Fix, we’ll discuss a historic settlement between Sandy Hook families and gun manufacturer Remington Arms. Also, we’ll explain why billionaire philanthropists are a social policy issue. Then we’ll hear from listeners about last week’s episode on the NFL racial discrimination lawsuit, and we’ll have an answer to the Make Me Smart question that will teach you something about weather forecasting! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Should We Block the Sun? Scientists Say the Time Has Come to Study It.” from The New York Times “Why a landmark experiment into dimming the sun got canceled” from Grist Plaintiffs say they have a settlement agreement with the maker of the gun used in the Sandy Hook shooting from Connecticut Public Radio “U.S. Producer-Price Inflation Stays Hot, Reinforcing Fed’s Plan to Start Raising Rates” from Bloomberg “Elon Musk Gave $5.7 Billion of Tesla Shares to Charity Last Year” from The Wall Street Journal How to Become a National Weather Service Storm Spotter

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some favorite episodes from 2022. We want to say a big thank-you for being part of the “Make Me Smart” family this year — every voicemail, question and donation made a huge difference. None of us is as smart as all of us, and we couldn’t do this show without you. There’s still time to help Marketplace reach its end-of-year fundraising goal. If you can, please donate here. Thanks, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year. On Make Me Smart, we often turn to economists, professors and policy wonks to make us smart about some big topics that need explaining. Today, we’re turning to a different kind of expert, sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson. His latest book, “Termination Shock,” is about climate change, geoengineering and what happens when a billionaire decides to take matters into his own hands. “I’m past trying to convince people that climate change is real. What I was more interested in was, for an audience that believes that climate change is real, what are some outcomes that we might see, in the near future, as different people in different countries begin to try to come to grips with that problem, because opinions differ as to what the right approach might be. And whenever you get differing opinions, you’ve got conflict, and whenever you’ve got conflict, you have the potential for a good story,” Stephenson said. We’ll talk with Stephenson about how he thinks about big, complex issues like climate change and what this genre can teach us about the future and solving problems in the real world. Speaking of the future, Stephenson, who coined the word “metaverse” in 1992, weighs in on all the hullaballoo over the metaverse today. In the News Fix, what’s behind all the news, or lack thereof, that we’re not getting from Tonga after this weekend’s volcano eruption? Also, you can get your free rapid COVID-19 test now. Then, a listener drops some facts on the James Webb Space Telescope and what a former Google researcher was really wrong about. Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘Termination Shock,’ by Neal Stephenson: An Excerpt” from The New York Times Neal Stephenson on “Termination Shock,” geoengineering, metaverse from CNBC “Neal Stephenson Thinks Greed Might Be the Thing That Saves Us” from The New York Times “Undersea cable fault could cut off Tonga from rest of the world for weeks” from Yahoo Finance “California surpasses 7 million coronavirus cases” from The Los Angeles Times U.S. stocks fall sharply as 10-year yield tops 1.80%, Goldman earnings disappoint from MarketWatch “Mum admits to being mystery Netflix user who’s watched Bee Movie 357 times in a YEAR” from The Sun

For our final episode of 2022, we’re throwing a holiday party with music, Santa hats, drinks and our favorite game, Half-Full/Half-Empty. But can’t forget about the News Fix. Today, we’re talking about a surge in COVID cases amid the holiday travel season. Also, the struggle to find housing in D.C. is real. We’ll explain what happened to a soon-to-be congressman when he went apartment hunting. Plus, we want to hear about your New Year’s resolutions! Here’s everything we talked about today: “WTO says Trump’s steel tariffs violated global trade rules” from Politico “Maxwell Frost, future Gen Z congressman, denied D.C. apartment over bad credit” from The Washington Post “BofA Chief Moynihan Says He Likes His Job, Hasn’t Focused on Yellen’s” from Bloomberg Los Angeles County COVID Case Tracker from The New York Times “Hellmann’s Wants You to Put Mayo in Your Eggnog This Holiday Season” from Food & Wine “Mayonnaise eggnog? Here’s why brands still gamble on wacky food promotions” from Marketplace “Who Is—and Isn’t—Getting a Holiday Bonus This Year” from The Wall Street Journal Holiday Gift Guides from Wirecutter “The jazzy ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ soundtrack swings on after 57 years” from NPR “‘Metaverse’ lost the word of the year contest to ‘goblin mode'” from Business Insider We’ll be back with new shows Jan. 9! Until then, we’re dropping some of our top episodes of the year in your feeds. If you’d like to share your New Year’s resolutions, leave us a voicemail at (508) U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Today’s episode mentions heavy topics like substance use disorder and death, which some listeners might find distressing. Last year, 80,000 Americans died due to opioid overdoses. Kimberly opens up about losing a loved one to the epidemic and highlights new research on the impact of opioids on the labor market. Plus, political prisoner Brittney Griner is home. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Labor Market Consequences of the Opioid Tragedy” from American Action Forum NEXT Distro offers free harm reduction resources Never Use Alone is a 24/7 overdose response hotline Find Harm Reduction Resources Near You from the National Harm Reduction Coalition SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Tweet from @ABCPolitics about Brittney Griner’s homecoming “Free Austin Tice” from the National Press Club Join us tomorrow for our final episode of 2022. We’re hosting a festive Economics on Tap starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time/3:30 p.m. Pacific time on YouTube Live. And if you have a holiday cocktail recipe or beer we should try, please send it our way. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or (508) U-B-SMART.

When the latest jobs report dropped, so did stock prices. A listener wrote in to ask why Wall Street isn’t a fan of the hot labor market. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about how post-merger SPACs are holding up and how switching to an electric vehicle can save you money. Also, we’ll hear from Kimberly’s mom about her early Christmas decorating! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Dow Down 300 Points After Strong Jobs Report — Here’s Why The Market’s Rooting For Higher Unemployment Right Now” from Forbes “Fed’s Powell: Rate hikes to slow, but adjustment just beginning” from Reuters “According to at least one statistic, the job market seems to be cooling” from Marketplace “The SPAC craze, explained” from Marketplace “SPACs Were All the Rage. Now, Not So Much.” from The New York Times “How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV?” from Lifewire As 2022 winds down, so are we! Join us Friday for our final episode of the year. We’re hosting a special holiday-inspired Economics on Tap starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time/3:30 p.m. Pacific on YouTube Live. And if you have a holiday cocktail recipe or beer we should try, please send it our way. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or 508-U-B-SMART.

Today we’re talking about that thing we all sort of dread paying: insurance. It’s a big business and a critical part of the housing market and our economy. But in the era of climate change, this multitrillion-dollar industry is being disrupted in a major way. There’s data that shows insured losses from extreme weather disasters will exceed $100 billion for the second year in a row. And in one state in particular, the situation is, well, messy. On the show, Marketplace’s Amy Scott walks us through Florida’s complicated insurance marketplace and explains what’s at stake if the insurance industry doesn’t prepare for our changing climate. In the News Fix, there are signs the U.S. economy is dis-inflating. Kai talks about what this might mean for interest rates. Meanwhile, Kimberly highlights a blockbuster case before the Supreme Court that could have major implications for the 2024 election and beyond. Later, we’ll hear from a listener who picked up ice skating, and a writer explains what she got wrong about the mantra “It’s better to give than to receive.” Here’s everything we talked about today: Check out episode 5 and episode 6 of the “How We Survive” podcast on Florida’s broken insurance market “Insurance needs insurance too: reinsurance and cat bonds explained” from APM Research Lab “Insured losses from disasters will exceed $100B for second year in a row, led by Hurricane Ian, new data shows” from CBS Miami “In high-stakes election case, justices will decide validity of ‘independent state legislature’ theory” from SCOTUSblog “Club Q alleged shooter charged with murder, hate crimes in second court appearance” from Colorado Public Radio “The Best Santa Hats for Christmas” from Wirecutter As 2022 winds down, so are we! Join us Friday for our final episode of the year. We’re hosting a special holiday-inspired Economics on Tap starting at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on YouTube livestream. And if you have a holiday cocktail recipe for Kimberly, please send it our way. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or 508-U-B-SMART!

There’s a new AI chatbot that’s going viral. Popular results shared on social media show just how scary accurate the chatbot can be. We’ll discuss what widespread use of artificial intelligence like this could mean for certain sectors of the economy and the spread of misinformation. Also, an update on the status of Iran’s morality police. And, Kimberly shares her encounter with a feisty camel. Here’s everything we talked about today: “New AI chatbot is scary good” from Axios “Real ID Deadline for Airline Travel Is Being Pushed Back to 2025” from Bloomberg “Is this the end for Iran’s notorious morality police?” from CNN “Did Iran Actually Abolish Its Morality Police?” from Foreign Policy “Life, Death, and Total Football” from GQ “Camel pageant is among World Cup’s sidelines attractions” from AP News If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, we’re doing the numbers on the latest national jobs report. Women got the majority of jobs gained in November. We’ll explain why this isn’t a total win. Plus, Iowa traditionally holds the first Democratic caucus, making the state superinfluential during election seasons. But that’s all about to change. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “DNC moves forward with dramatic change to presidential primary calendar” from Politico Tweet from @BetseyStevenson about the jobs report “Why Are Middle-Aged Men Missing From the Labor Market?” from The New York Times “November Jobs Report: Strong Job Growth Continues, But There Are Hints of Weakness” from the University of Michigan “The Big Problem With Spotify Wrapped” from Wired Tweet from @TheDailyShow about World Cup spectators yelling at each other “Black Twitter has been a cultural engine. Where will that community go if the site breaks?” from Marketplace “Amazon Plans to Invest $1 Billion a Year in Movies for Theaters” from Bloomberg “Why Japan’s winning goal vs. Spain was awarded by the VAR after the ball appeared to go out” from ESPN “Pepsi wants you to drink soda mixed with milk this holiday season” from CNN Business We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

idespread access to charging stations is key to getting drivers to go electric. But the businesses who can build those stations still aren’t sure how they’ll make money. Today, we’ll discuss the EV charging station dilemma. Plus, we’ll highlight an investigation into the failures of Florida’s foster care system. And, tell you about the women making history at the men’s World Cup. Then, Kimberly defends her status as a Midwesterner. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why America Doesn’t Have Enough EV Charging Stations” from The Wall Street Journal “Austan Goolsbee Named Next President of the Chicago Fed” from The Wall Street Journal “Innocence Sold: Foster system a pipeline for child sex traffickers” from The Sun Sentinel “Referee Stéphanie Frappart Will Lead First All-Woman Team at World Cup” from The New York Times “NASA Awards $57M Contract to Build Roads on the Moon” from Nextgov We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

When the former cryptocurrency exchange FTX went under, billions of dollars in investments seemingly vanished. A listener asked us why FTX customers didn’t move money to a wallet. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about what happens when your company goes public and who benefits when you make a charitable donation at the grocery store checkout lane. Also, where do political campaign signs end up when the election’s over? Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Are The Risks Of Crypto Savings Accounts?” from Forbes “Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, Larry David and Other Celebrities Are Being Sued for Pushing FTX” from Observer “The Ups and Downs of Initial Public Offerings” from Investopedia “So Your Company Is Going Public? 5 Things Every Employee Should Know” from Nasdaq “How to recycle political campaign signs” from Today “Who Gets the Tax Benefit For Those Checkout Donations?” from the Tax Policy Center “Where do your donations at the checkout register go?” from Marketplace “Meet America’s Charity Checkout Champions 2021” from Engage for Good “‘Checkout charity’ can increase a shopper’s anxiety, especially when asks are automated” from The Conversation If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Amazon. Meta. Twitter. A lot of tech companies are letting workers go. According to one estimate, nearly 140,000 have been laid off in the industry this year. And while that’s small compared to job losses during the dot-com bust, the vibes are not great. On the show today, Rucha Vankudre, a senior economist at labor analysis firm Lightcast, walks us through what’s driving the latest layoffs across the tech industry and what it all might mean for the U.S. economy. Is it a sign of things to come? (Fyi: We expect JOLTS numbers and the November jobs report this week.) In the News Fix, it’s all about the Democrats. We’re taking a closer look at their position on the railroad strike along with plans to shake up future Democratic presidential contests. Then, we’ll hear about the world’s greatest eggnog recipe, and a listener calls in to share what she got wrong about being laid off. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Tech Layoffs Are Here. That Doesn’t Mean the Sky Is Falling.” by Rucha Vankudre in Barron’s “Tech layoffs show why managing growth can be so tricky for companies” from Marketplace “Congressional Leaders Say They Will Act to Prevent Rail Strike” from The New York Times Twitter thread from the NYT’s Binyamin Appelbaum “Democrats prepare to upend presidential primary calendar” from Politico “World’s Greatest Eggnog” from Garden & Gun magazine It’s Giving Tuesday. TRIPLE the impact of your donation to Marketplace today: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s strict zero-COVID policies have kept the virus at bay, but public frustration with lockdowns and a stunted economy are coming to a boil. We’ll discuss what recent mass protests could mean for the Chinese economy. Plus, who gets to access public lands in the United States? A navigation app is revealing how much public land is blocked by privately owned land. And, how artificial intelligence could help us connect with our inner child. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Chinese Protests Put Xi Jinping in a Bind” from The Wall Street Journal @jpakradio’s coverage of the Chinese lockdowns on Instagram “Musk claims Apple threatens to remove Twitter from App Store” from The Washington Post “It’s Public Land. But the Public Can’t Reach It.” from The New York Times “Supreme Court Case Could Curtail Rights of Medicaid Patients” from The Pew Charitable Trusts “Merriam-Webster’s word of the year is gaslighting” from CNN Tweet from @Reuters about a protestor at the FIFA World Cup “White House reveals a homier look for 2022 holiday decorations” from The Washington Post Tweet from @michellehuang42 about talking to her inner child via AI bot Be a Giving Tuesday early bird! TRIPLE the impact of your donation to Marketplace today: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

There’s lots of debate over globalization. Some experts believe globalization is dying. Others say it’s going through a reboot. And some think the free flow of goods across borders is evolving into something else. But what if we never really globalized to begin with? On the show today, Shannon O’Neil, author of “The Globalization Myth,” breaks down what we got wrong about globalization and what it means for the future of the U.S. economy. In the News Fix, how inflation is affecting the cost of a Thanksgiving meal. Plus, are rich people running a shell game with money and the global economy? Then, we’ll hear from a teacher who left the profession and learn why talking about the weather isn’t so boring after all. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter” by Shannon K. O’Neil “Is this the end of globalization?” from Marketplace “Sam Bankman-Fried, Elon Musk, and a secret text” from Semafor “The rising cost of Thanksgiving” from CNN “Real wages are falling nearly everywhere” from Axios “The Types of Clouds and What They Mean” from Jet Propulsion Lab “Make Me Smart” will be off the rest of the week for the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ll be back on Monday. In the meantime, keep sending your comments and questions to 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

FTX customers fear they’ll never get their money back from the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange. They’re not wrong to worry. Could this further erode consumers’ trust in the financial system? Plus, mourners are grieving the victims of a deadly mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Meanwhile, in Qatar, anti-LGBTQ rules are already being tested at the 2022 World Cup. Then, Kimberly makes us smile with a story about ice-skating and perseverance. Here’s everything we talked about today: “FTX Crypto Customers Worry They Will Never See Their Money Again” from The Wall Street Journal “Charities funded by Sam Bankman-Fried may be asked to return donations: ‘I had assumed FTX to be a reputable company'” from MarketWatch “American journalist detained at World Cup” from News.com.au “Seven European World Cup captains ditch One Love arm band under FIFA pressure” from Reuters “GLAAD CEO blasts anti-LGBTQ pols, social media companies after Club Q shooting” from ABC News “Interfaith church gathers to remember Club Q victims and raise awareness of anti-trans violence” from Colorado Public Radio “In a First, Rich Countries Agree to Pay for Climate Damages in Poor Nations” from The New York Times “COP27 climate talks: what succeeded, what failed and what’s next” from Nature “Pink Rollerskates Into 2022 AMAs With Dazzling ‘Never Gonna Not Dance Again’ Opener” from Rolling Stone We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

At the start of the year, a survey from the National Education Association revealed that more than 50% of teachers were thinking about leaving their jobs. And now teachers are quitting en masse. We’ll discuss what this could mean for classrooms nationwide. Also, the case of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is coming to a close. Plus, the moral quandary of World Cup 2022. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Empty Classrooms, Abandoned Kids: Inside America’s Great Teacher Resignation” from The New York Times “Elizabeth Holmes Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison: Live Updates” from The Wall Street Journal “Qatar Bans Beer Sales at World Cup Stadiums” from The New York Times “How Ticketmaster came to dominate live events (and incur the wrath of Taylor Swift fans)” from Marketplace “Ticketmaster’s Parent Company Said to Face Justice Department Investigation” from The New York Times “What Silicon Valley’s boom-and-bust history tells us about its latest slowdown” from Marketplace “There’s a hiring boom for diversity and inclusion managers. And the jobs have high turnover.” from Marketplace “American workers are bummed out” from Marketplace We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

FTX, the recently imploded cryptocurrency exchange, has filed for bankruptcy. The new CEO said he’s never seen corporate mismanagement quite like this. We’ll unpack new revelations about what went wrong from the company’s bankruptcy filings. Plus, we’ll look back on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s legacy. And, Kai and Kimberly stan Lizzo! Here’s everything we talked about today: Editorial: “Nancy Pelosi has been a trailblazer. The U.S. is better for her leadership” from The Los Angeles Times Opinion | “Nancy Pelosi’s strategies were flawed. Democrats must move on from them.” from The Washington Post “Senate advances bill to protect same-sex marriage in federal law” from The Washington Post “Never seen ‘such a complete failure’ of corporate controls, says new FTX CEO who also oversaw Enron bankruptcy” from CNBC Tweet from @GRDecter on FTX’s bankruptcy court filing Musk Softens Remote-Work Mandate to Retain Twitter Staffers from Bloomberg Tweet from @nataliewsj about Nancy Pelosi’s daily lunch “Here’s What Happened to the Writer Who Wore Lizzo’s Dress to Out100” from Out TikTok from @auriellebewritin unboxing Lizzo’s dress “Lizzo Monologue” from SNL 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, a game and more.

Every election season, headlines speculate about which political polls got it right and how others got it so wrong. A listener called in to ask if they even matter. We’ll get into it and answer  questions about whether the 2017 tax cuts set us up for inflation and state lawmakers’ surprisingly low wages. Plus, how are individual shareholders affected when companies like Twitter go from public to private? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Reporting on Asian Americans’ views is a challenge even as polls evolve” from Pew Research Center “Why it’s so hard to agree on the causes of inflation” from Marketplace “Conservatives rally behind pay raise for Nebraska lawmakers” from AP News “Comparison of state legislative salaries” from Ballotpedia “Low Pay In State Legislatures Means Some Can’t Afford The Job” from NPR “Twitter shareholders vote in favor of Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover deal” from CNN Business “How do I vote at a corporate election?” from Investor.gov “Few individual investors participate in shareholder voting. Here’s how that may be changing” from CNBC If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, over a million people (including Kai and Kimberly) have joined Mastodon, a decentralized social media network. On the show today, Robert Gehl, professor of communications and media studies at York University in Toronto, explains the ins and outs of Mastodon and decentralized social media and what it means for our public discourse. In the News Fix, we’ll talk about why mortgage rates are so darn high (it’s not all because of rising interest rates) and the future of self-driving cars — don’t plan to take your hands off the wheel anytime soon. Later, we’ll hear from a listener about what it takes to run for a local school board in Wisconsin. Plus, the eBay hack you didn’t know you needed. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Is Mastodon and Why Are People Leaving Twitter for It?” from The New York Times “Mastodon Mobs and Mastodon Mods: Dealing with Outside Groups Pressuring Instance Administrators” from Code Sections Kai’s Mastodon handle: @kairyssdal@mastodon.world Kimberly’s Mastodon handle: @kimberlyadams@mastodon.online You can also find Kimberly on Tribel and Cohost “What Riding in a Self-Driving Tesla Tells Us About the Future of Autonomy” from The New York Times “Mortgage Rates Are High Because Nobody Is Buying Mortgages” from The Wall Street Journal We want to hear from you. If you’ve joined Mastodon or are staying with Twitter, let us know how it’s going. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the leaders of the two most powerful countries in the world met face to face, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit today. We’ll talk about why this IRL meeting matters and what the future of U.S.-China relations could mean for the global economy. Plus, there are signs the Federal Reserve is getting ready to slow its roll on interest rate hikes. And, Kai Ryssdal and Kimberly Adams talk missions to the moon, past and present! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden and Xi clash over Taiwan in Bali but Cold War fears cool” from Reuters “Lael Brainard Says Fed Probably Will ‘Soon’ Slow Pace of Interest-Rate Hikes” from Bloomberg “Time Is Running Out for the Leap Second” from The New York Times “NASA’s Artemis 1 moon mission still ‘go’ for Nov. 16 launch” from Space.com Kai recommends the book “Apollo Remastered” by photographer Andy Saunders If you’ve got a question for the hosts or your own answer to the Make Me Smart question, call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. Or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Rich countries, like the United States, are the biggest emitters of gases that drive climate change. Should they pay developing countries for climate damage? Kai and guest host Andy Uhler recap the COP27 summit and the debate over climate reparations. Plus, NASA thought it had collected all the artifacts from the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster, until now. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “About Biden’s climate pit stop” from Politico “Here’s What Happened on Tuesday at the COP27 Climate Summit” from The New York Times “Divers Discover Piece of Space Shuttle Challenger Off Florida Coast” from The New York Times “It’s not a fluke, it’s a rot: Why the political media blew the 2022 election” from Press Watch “Why high interest rates are partly responsible for the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot” from Marketplace “Coming soon to a theater near you: company Zoom meetings” from Marketplace “Elon Musk’s first big Twitter product paused after fake accounts spread” from The Washington Post “Are ‘I Voted’ stickers worth the cost?” from Marketplace We can’t do this show without you. Keep sending your comments and questions to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Earlier this week, we told you about two cryptocurrency giants joining forces. Well, that deal fell apart, and now a major crypto exchange is in big trouble. Kimberly and guest host Andy Uhler talk about the fallout from FTX’s collapse. Plus, we’ll check in on El Salvador’s bitcoin investments. Then, the hosts’ attempt to make us smile fails, but they later redeem themselves. Here’s everything we talked about today: Opinion | Brittney Griner moves to a Russian penal colony. Biden has no good options from The Washington Post “Behind FTX’s fall, battling billionaires and a failed bid to save crypto” from Reuters El Salvador Says China Offered to Buy Its Debt Amid Default Fears from Business Insider El Salvador’s bitcoin holdings down 60% to $60 million, one year later from CNBC “For the first time, Texas voters send Muslims and openly gay Black men to Legislature” from The Texas Tribune Tweet from Eli Lilly and Co. parody account Tweet about a classroom of second-graders paying rent on their desks 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, a game and more.

You can now pay to get verified on Twitter (without actually verifying your identity). What does this mean for misinformation on the app? We’ll discuss. Plus, Kai Ryssdal explains why he joined Mastodon, the Twitter alternative. And we’ll answer more of your questions about inflation, the future of sports broadcasting and California’s sky-high gas prices. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why eBay Wins From Supply Chain Woes” from The Motley Fool “Twitter Is Said to Delay Changes to Check Mark Badges Until After Midterms” from The New York Times “Twitter Blue verification separates ‘notable’ accounts from subscribers” from The Verge Tweet from @elonmusk about the brief “official” badge “NWSL has plenty of ‘ammo’ for TV rights deal, says Angel City’s Ohanian” from Reuters “Apple scores deal for Major League Soccer streaming rights worth $2.5bn” from the Financial Times “Why are California’s gas prices so high?” from Marketplace “California repeatedly warned about spiking gas prices, fragile supply. But fixes never came” from the Los Angeles Times “Why are gas prices high in California? Consumer group calls for windfall profit tax on oil companies” from ABC7 News Tweet from @tweetohkyle asking about Mastodon If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

School board races have become some of the most contentious elections of the 2022 midterms. These used to be mostly local affairs, with candidates typically raising less than $1,000 from friends and family. But now it’s not uncommon for big national political action committees to sink tens of thousands into a single race. It’s a trend that goes back more than a decade and has been supercharged by culture war issues and the pandemic. Today, we talk with Rebecca Jacobsen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, about the implications of outside money in school board elections for education policy and local democracy. In the News Fix, we’ll discuss what’s being done to address voter intimidation at the polls. Plus, two cryptocurrency giants are joining forces. Then, we’ll hear from a listener who wonders if the universe is sending us an Election Day message, and a mathematician who has thought a lot about “How Not to Be Wrong” answers the “Make Me Smart” question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Conservative groups are spending big on school board races” from Marketplace National Super PACS are spending on local school board races from USA Today CZ’s Binance to Buy Rival FTX After Sam Bankman-Fried Faces Liquidity Crunch from Bloomberg “Justice Dept. dispatching Election Day monitors to 64 jurisdictions” from The Washington Post This hotline is ready to troubleshoot your voting related issues Next Up in the Night Sky: A Total Lunar Eclipse from The New York Times Meet the mathematician who answered this week’s “Make Me Smart” question We want to hear your answer to the “Make Me Smart” question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. You can also email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Twitter is supposed to be the digital version of the public square. But what happens when the richest person in the world buys it and tells you how to vote? We’ll talk about why that’s troubling and whether Twitter is turning into the next Truth Social. Plus, young Latinas in Texas are using their quinceañeras to get their communities to the polls. And, after years of complaints, Airbnb is finally doing something about those pesky hidden fees. Here’s everything we talked about today: Tweet from @elonmusk about which party he thinks you should vote for “Senator Elizabeth Warren Raises Pressure on Fed Over Ethics Lapses” from Bloomberg Airbnb makes cleaning fees more transparent with total price searches from The Washington Post “Young Latinas are using their quinceañeras to get Texas voters to the polls this election” from Prism “Pasadena school becomes nation’s first named after Octavia Butler” from The 19th “National Park Service Asks Visitors to Please Stop Licking Toads” from The New York Times If you’ve got a question for the hosts or your own answer to the “Make Me Smart” question, call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. You can email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

If you’re looking for a job in the oil and gas industry, chances are it’s yours. The jobless rate for the U.S. oil industry is at a historic low, and producers are scrambling for workers. We’ll explain what this means for President Joe Biden’s plan to ramp production and bring down gasoline prices. Plus, new revelations about Russian atrocities in Ukraine. On a lighter note, we’ll also play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! And, guest host Andy Uhler’s dog makes a surprise appearance. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Russian soldiers ran a ‘cleansing’ operation in Bucha” from AP News “Shale Patch Unemployment Plummets as US Explorers Vie for Crews” from Bloomberg “Deepfake videos on TikTok can be fun. They can also be malicious.” from Marketplace EV sales accelerate, but crucial graphite is in short supply from Marketplace “With prices rising on cheap beer, some consumers spend extra on premium” from Marketplace “Is the era of free returns for online purchases coming to an end?” from Marketplace If you’ve got a question for the hosts, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. You can also send an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org. Donate $5 a month or $60 to Marketplace today, and we’ll send you the cool Marketplace flight paddle: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Companies like Audi and General Mills are temporarily pulling their ads from Twitter. They’re not fans of Elon Musk’s ideas for more relaxed content moderation policies on the platform. We’ll talk about what that might mean for the future of the company. Plus, Kimberly Adams talks about the new social media sites she’s checking out in case Twitter goes off the rails. And, Daylight Saving or standard time? Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. Congress split on making daylight-saving time permanent” from Reuters “Why daylight saving time is worse for your body than standard time” from The Washington Post “General Mills, Audi and Pfizer Join Growing List of Companies Pausing Twitter Ads” from The Wall Street Journal “The next attempt to launch the Artemis I mission will be at night” from The Verge “A huge tunnel has opened below Niagara Falls” from CNN 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, a game and more.

Political candidates are always asking for money. A listener called in to ask if donating actually makes a difference so close to Election Day and what happens to donations that go unspent after Tuesday. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and why fines might not keep Meta from breaking campaign finance laws. Plus, Kai and Kimberly fill us in on what they look for when they’re car (or motorcycle) shopping. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Did Money Win?” from OpenSecrets “The 2018 Small Donor Boom Was Drowned Out by Big Donors, Thanks to Citizens United” from the Brennan Center for Justice “Republicans Confront Unexpected Online Money Slowdown” from The New York Times “Supreme Court overturns law that barred Ted Cruz from fully recouping a personal loan he made to his campaign” from The Texas Tribune “Money isn’t leaving politics any time soon” from Marketplace “When a political campaign ends, where does all the extra money go?” from CBS News Strategic Petroleum Reserve from the Department of Energy “What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?” from PBS NewsHour “Selling the government’s oil stockpile while prices are low seems ridiculous … is it?” from Vox “Strategic oil release comes with guaranteed buybacks, but will anyone do the drilling?” from Marketplace “Meta fined $24.7M for campaign finance disclosure violations” from AP News If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Spoiler alert: We’re not in a recession. But maybe one is on the way. That debate reignited last week after the yield curve inverted, again. As we’ve talked about on the show, inverted yield curves can be a warning sign. “A lot of this is psychological. It’s a lot about what you think is going on, not necessarily what is going on,” said Todd Knoop, professor of economics at Cornell College and author of “Business Cycle Economics: Understanding Recessions and Depressions From Boom to Bust.” While the National Bureau of Economic Research has the final word on whether we’re in a recession, today we’re asking: If recessions are a regular part of the economy, why are they so hard to predict? Knoop breaks it down. Plus, we dig into the psychology of recessions and why they could become self-fulling prophecies. In the News Fix, Kai gives a lesson in how to decode the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. Plus, Kimberly gets an up-close look at the ongoing supply chain crisis. And for this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question, a listener explains what potty training her kids taught her about creating new habits. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The 8 economists who decide if the U.S. is in a recession” from The Washington Post “Another Yield Curve Inversion Rings Recession Alarm Bells” from The New York Times “GDP report shows U.S. economy grew 2.6% in the third quarter, but recession fears loom” from The Washington Post “Fed Meeting to Focus on Interest Rates’ Coming Path” from The Wall Street Journal “Mississippi River has dropped to record-low levels amid severe drought” from CNN “America Is Facing a Dramatic Diesel Shortage That Could Get Even Worse” from Business Insider Join us for tomorrow for Whaddaya Wanna Know Wednesday. If you have a question you’d like the hosts to answer in a future episode, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases on affirmative action in higher education. We’ll talk about what it means for race and diversity across society, from college campuses to corporate America. Plus, can haunted houses ease stress and anxiety? And, Kimberly gets in the Halloween spirit by sharing a few jokes and last-minute costume ideas. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Highlights: Supreme Court Hears Affirmative Action Cases From Harvard and U.N.C.” from The New York Times “Why we like scary things: The science of recreational fear” from The Washington Post “Haunted houses and scary movies may actually help reduce stress, lower anxiety. Here’s how to have the best experience this Halloween” from CNBC “Why do St. Louis kids tell jokes on Halloween?” from STL magazine Tweet from @nick_kapur on mundane Halloween costumes If you’ve got a question for the hosts or your own answer to the Make Me Smart question, call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. You can email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

You can bet in Vegas. At the racetrack. On sports. But what if you could place a bet on the midterm elections? A government commission is weighing a startup’s proposal. We’ll explain. Also, President Joe Biden reacts to Exxon’s record-breaking profits. Plus, a round of Half Full/Half Empty! And, find out what listeners think about political candidates on TikTok. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden Chides Exxon CEO Over Investor Payouts as Profits Surge” from Bloomberg Tweet from @lisaabramowicz1 on Exxon’s earnings “Political betting: Is it a ‘gambling den’ or ‘better than polls’?” from Politico “Voting security still depends on low-tech paper trails” from “Marketplace Tech” “How much ‘art’ can there be in artificial intelligence?” from Marketplace “Biden targets hidden ‘junk fees’ from banks, cable TV, concert tickets” from Reuters Tweet from @tonydwagner on this radio host Halloween costume “Candidates turn to TikTok to woo young voters” from “Marketplace Tech” If you’ve got a question for the hosts, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. You can also send an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The International Energy Agency says we’re experiencing the first global energy crisis. But the United Nations says we’re also falling way short of meeting our climate goals and need to do more to reduce our demand for fossil fuels. We’ll talk about a pair of reports and what they mean for the clean energy economy. Plus, will Twitter become a free-for-all hellscape? And guest host Andy Uhler and Kai make a bet. Here’s everything we talked about today: World Energy Outlook 2022 – Analysis from the International Energy Agency UN emissions report: “World falls ‘pitifully short’ of meeting climate goals” from The Washington Post “Treasury Says Orders for I Bonds With 9.62% Rate Might Not Be Completed by Deadline” from The Wall Street Journal “Elon Musk Says Twitter Won’t Be ‘Free-for-All Hellscape,’ Addressing Advertisers’ Concerns” from The Wall Street Journal Tweet from @lizrhoffman on Elon Musk’s Twitter deal “LAFC vs. Austin FC: How to watch & stream, preview of Western Conference Final” from Major League Soccer “More than a debut: Angel City FC’s home opener felt like the start of a new NWSL era” from The Athletic Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific/6:30 Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

After last week’s discussion about political advertising, a listener wrote in to ask how candidates get away with putting misleading info or even complete lies on the air. The answer is at the top of the Bill of Rights. We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions about the Kroger-Albertsons merger, “normal” recessions and dollar-slice pizza joints. Here are links to everything we talked about today: “Worried about an economic downturn? Here’s what you can expect in a typical recession, according to economists” from CNBC “Who gets to decide if we are in a recession?” from Marketplace “How to survive a recession and thrive afterward” from Harvard Business Review “What a K-shaped recovery means, and how it highlights a nation’s economic inequalities” from Insider “The truth in political advertising: ‘You’re allowed to lie’” from NPR “Why Don’t Truth In Advertising Laws Apply To Political Ads?” from WGBH Check out our morning show’s series on dark money “Kroger-Albertsons Antitrust Review Likely to Focus on Local Store Overlap” from The Wall Street Journal “Kroger, Albertsons spin-off is extra ammunition in regulatory battle” from Reuters “What does it mean to put a security freeze on my credit report?” from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “How to Freeze Your Credit” from NerdWallet “A lifelong scam” from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” “The $1 Pizza Slice Becomes Inflation’s Latest Victim” from The New York Times “Pizza Prices Surpass Subway Fares, Upending Decades of NYC Economics” from Bloomberg If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, we’re bringing you an episode from “How We Survive”, Marketplace’s podcast about solutions to climate change. Hosted by Marketplace senior correspondent (and occasional “Make Me Smart” host) Amy Scott, this season of “How We Survive” is all about how we will (or won’t) adapt to rising waters. The team headed to Miami, Florida, which is now considered one of the most vulnerable coastal cities in the world. But you’d never know that by looking at the local housing market. Florida’s economy is powered by real estate, and the state has no income tax. Local governments depend on revenue from property taxes, which is a precarious situation to be in when billions of dollars of property is at risk from rising seas and flooding (not to mention hurricanes). In this episode we’re asking: If Miami is doomed, why isn’t the housing market acting like it? “How We Survive” Season 2 is out now with new episodes dropping every Wednesday.

It’s a tough day to be reading the news. We’ll discuss the consequences of Kanye West’s antisemitic hate speech, including racist protests in Los Angeles and reactions from some of his corporate partners. We’ll also talk about a personal connection to today’s school shooting in St. Louis. Then, we’ll try to pivot to a Make Me Smile with a not-so-friendly neighborhood clown and a data dive into bugs on your windshield. And Kimberly reveals an unplanned answer to the Make Me Smart question (what is something you thought you knew and later found out you were wrong about?). Here’s everything we talked about today: “Kanye West Tests Adidas and His Other Corporate Partners” from The New York Times Fears of rising antisemitism after banner saying ‘Kanye is right’ is hung over Los Angeles freeway from NBC News “Teacher and teen student killed in shooting at south St. Louis high school. Suspect dead.” from St. Louis Today Student describes being in St. Louis school during shooting An adorably creepy Make Me Smile from listener Miranda A.! “This woman bakes recipes she finds on gravestone epitaphs: ‘They’re to die for’” from The Washington Post “Wait, why are there so few dead bugs on my windshield these days?” from The Washington Post If you’ve got a question for the hosts or your own answer to the Make Me Smart question, call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. You can email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Elon Musk’s business dealings come with some pretty important international implications. And officials in the U.S. are wondering if those deals should be subject to review for national security concerns. We’ll discuss. Plus, a huge research gap in the medical field negatively impacts about half the world. We’ll talk about some of the repercussions of the lack of medical study on the clitoris. And, a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Half the world has a clitoris. Why don’t doctors study it?” from the New York Times “Twitter tumbles as US weighs security reviews for Musk deals” from Bloomberg Make Me Smart has an intern opportunity! “Supply chain snarls finally show signs of easing” from Marketplace “‘Avogeddon’ hits Philly: Surplus avocados to be given away for free” from WHYY “Everyone wants to sell your attention” from Axios “Can your workplace store your fingerprint or facial scan data?” from Marketplace “Dr Pepper Releases Bourbon-Flavored Soda (That Doesn’t Contain Any Alcohol)” from Food & Wine “Lizzy Lettuce’s 7 day journey to victory” from the Daily Star If you’ve got a question for the hosts, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. You can also send an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter is pulling out her famous charts. This time it’s to argue that corporate greed is driving inflation. We’ll explain why this debate isn’t settled. Plus, Liz Truss’ time as the United Kingdom’s prime minister comes to an abrupt end. And, why is lettuce all over our feeds? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Katie Porter pulls out chart at hearing to show corporate greed is the “biggest driver of inflation” from Salon “Corporate profits have contributed disproportionately to inflation. How should policymakers respond?” from The Economic Policy Institute “Why are company profits rising despite inflation?” from Marketplace “How shareholders jumped to first in line for profits” from Marketplace Listen: “Truss fall” from “Today, Explained” “Adderall shortage is so bad some patients can’t fill their prescriptions” from The Washington Post “Americans can now select their sex marker in Social Security records” from CNN “Daily Star lettuce celebrates victory as Prime Minister Liz Truss resigns” from The Daily Star Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 Pacific time/6:30 Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks, a game and more.

By Election Day, campaigns and PACs will spend an estimated $9.7 billion on ads. One of our listeners wants to know: Does flooding the airwaves even move the needle? Where’s the saturation point? We’ll do our best to answer on this Whaddaya Wanna Know Wednesday. Plus, your questions about student loan forgiveness, the poverty line and regional Halloween traditions. Here are links to what we talked about today: “Social Security recipients to get their biggest cost-of-living raise in over 40 years” from Marketplace “How many people are really facing poverty in the U.S.?” from Marketplace “Campaigns spend over $6.4 billion on ads for 2022 elections, making race one of the most expensive ever” from CNBC “Do Political Ads Even Work?” from The New Republic “In Midterm TV Ad Wars, Sticker Shock Costs Republicans” from The New York Times “This Ad’s for You (Not Your Neighbor)” from The New York Times “Federal Student Loan Forgiveness: Your Questions Answered” from U.S. News & World Report “Halloween Is More Funny Than Scary In St. Louis” from NPR If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Telemedicine exploded at the start of the pandemic, for all the obvious reasons. Doctor visits went virtual and lots of companies, including Walmart, started going all-in on telehealth. But usage has slowed and remained flat over the last year as some patients go back to in-person appointments. Some waivers that allowed physicians to practice across state lines have expired too. So is telehealth at a crossroads? Not exactly, said Dr. Aditi Joshi, who has been in the telehealth industry for more than a decade and is the chair of the telehealth committee for the American College of Emergency Physicians. She said while there will be some aspects of virtual health care that may go away in the short term, telehealth is still here to stay. “I see it as just part of our health care in the future. We’re having this conversation about telemedicine, but in 10 years, we’re not going to say this is a telemedicine visit or an in-person visit. It’s just ‘I saw my doctor.’ It’s going to be just a normal part of our everyday care,” she said. On the show today, Joshi makes us smart on the future of telehealth and why it’ll look less like online banking and more like the hybrid workplace. In the Newsfix, homebuyers are flocking to … Florida? We’ll continue our ongoing conversation about the state’s housing market in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Plus, remember The Onion’s SCOTUS brief in defense of parody? The guy who wrote it answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Telemedicine was made easy during COVID-19. Not any more” from The Associated Press “Virtual care isn’t as novel as it once was” from Politico “Home Buyers Flock to Florida Cities Devastated by Hurricane Ian” from The Wall Street Journal “A tiny Florida beach town is rebuilding after a hurricane. Is it becoming a preserve of the rich?” from The Los Angeles Times “Trump charged Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ hotel rates, records show” from The Washington Post “Biden to ask Congress to codify Roe v. Wade abortion rights protections if Democrats keep control” from CNBC Listen: “Spotlight on virtual mental health care” from “Call to Mind” There’s still time to submit your questions for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. Call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. You can also email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

There’s a lot that determines the cost of housing. And it goes beyond market forces like supply and demand. Kimberly Adams and guest host Janet Nguyen talk about the unexpected ingredients that are playing a role in housing prices and how they affect where people get to live. Plus, now that Fat Bear Week is over, meet the world’s chunkiest parrot! Here’s everything we talked about today: “ProPublica investigation: Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why.” from ProPublica “Florida Coastal Living Reshaped by Hurricane Housing Codes” from The Wall Street Journal “Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk” from the National Institutes of Health “Chemical hair straighteners linked to higher risk of uterine cancer for Black women, study shows” from NBC News “Fat parrot ineligible for ‘Bird of the Year’ because it keeps winning” from The Washington Post “‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ Teaser’: Peter Billingsley As Ralphie” from Deadline If you’ve got a question for the hosts, call 508-U-B-SMART and leave us a voicemail. You can email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

One of the largest supermarket chains in the country wants to eat its competition. Today, Kroger announced a deal to buy Albertsons. Guest host Sabri Ben-Achour talks about what it might mean for your grocery bill and the food delivery industry. Plus, what we know about Germany’s decision to buy natural gas from Russia months before the invasion of Ukraine. And we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Germany Saw No Risk in Russian Gas, Declassified Report Reveals” from Bloomberg Tweet thread about Sen. Patrick Leahy’s memoir “How would a Kroger-Albertsons merger change grocery prices?” form Marketplace “COVID-19 Vaccination Rates And New COVID-19 Boosters” from Kaiser Family Foundation “Did Mark Zuckerberg’s little dance actually show us real metaverse legs?” from The Verge “Kodak is Hiring Film Technicians: ‘We Cannot Keep Up with Demand’” from PetaPixle “Big Tech employees are TikToking on the job — and their bosses don’t always like it” from The Verge “Netflix launching ad-supported tier in U.S. on Nov 3 for $6.99” from Axios If you’ve got a question for the hosts, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. You can also send an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org

Despite the latest inflation numbers, the stock market had a great day today. We even got to play the happy, jazzy music on “Marketplace.” But that doesn’t mean we’re out of bear market territory. We’ll explain. Plus, guest host Samantha Fields talks about the big changes to a popular student loan program. (No, not President Biden’s student debt relief.) And, tastier beer? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Dow closes 800 points higher after a historic one-day turnaround” from CNBC “Bank of England Insists Bond Buying Will End Friday” from The Wall Street Journal “Social Security recipients to get their biggest cost-of-living raise in over 40 years” from Marketplace “Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Has Changed Temporarily. Here’s What It Means For Borrowers” from the U.S. Government Accountability Office Public Service Loan Forgiveness from the Institute of Student Loan Advisors “Scientists Just Figured Out a Way to Make Beer Taste Even Better” from Science Alert “I tried Be My Eyes, the popular app that pairs blind people with helpers” from The Guardian If you’ve got a question for the hosts, call us and leave us a voicemail. Our number is 508-U-B-SMART. You can also send an email to makemesmart@marketplace.org

Galveston, Texas, was all but wiped out when a Category 4 storm hit the port city in 1900. Thousands died, surviving residents fled and Houston became the economic center of the region. One of our listeners wants to know: Could that be the future of other coastal cities? We’ll talk about it on this Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. Plus: What are i bonds, and where’d the arugula go? “What are i bonds and should you invest in them?” from Marketplace “Grocery Store Shortages Are Back. Here’s Why.” from Eater “‘There’s just not enough water’: California drought hits grocery stores” from Axios “What’s With the Surge in Mortgage Rates?” from NerdWallet “The Tempest At Galveston: ‘We Knew There Was A Storm Coming, But We Had No Idea’” from NPR “Introducing ‘How We Survive Season 2: Saving Miami’” from Marketplace If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Credit scores matter — a lot. They matter if you want to buy a car, a house and sometimes even if you want a job. In a recent deep dive, we covered the history of credit scores, how they work and whether it’s time to rethink how we measure creditworthiness. But Kimberly still had questions. So she and the “Marketplace Tech” team took an even closer look. Today, we’re bringing you an excerpt from their series “The Score.” Get ready to get smart (and take notes) on what the algorithms behind your credit scores get wrong, the difference between your FICO and your VantageScore and what happened when a financial planner tried to trick the system to boost her score. If you have a question about credit scores or anything else, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

For years, we’ve been asking experts, celebrities, authors and you our Make Me Smart question: What’s something you thought you knew but later found out you were wrong about? From the power of poetry to the problem with perfectionism, we’ve heard lots of smart answers, and today we’re going to listen to some of the most memorable ones. Plus, Kai Ryssdal and Kimberly Adams share their top picks from two celebrity guests. What’s something you’ve been wrong about? Leave us a voice message at 508-827-6278 or 508-U-B-SMART.

While the backlog of ships at West Coast ports has mostly cleared, there’s a new log jam along the Mississippi River. We’ll talk about the effects it could have on our supply chain, food prices and inflation. Then, a look at the history behind the Supreme Court’s group photos. Plus, the hosts weigh in on Kim Kardashian getting a crypto fine, Black Friday and extra large skeleton Halloween decorations during a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Low Water Levels on Mississippi River Threatens Shipments” from AgWeb “Barges grounded by low water halt Mississippi River traffic” from The Associated Press “Mississippi River Drought: Barge Backup Stalls Millions of Tons of Cargo” from Bloomberg “The History and Power of the Supreme Court Portrait” from The New York Times “The CHIPS Act could relieve some semiconductor chokepoints — but how quickly?” from “Marketplace Tech” “What message is the SEC sending about celebrity crypto endorsements with Kim Kardashian fine?” from “Marketplace Morning Report” “Raising the curtain on ‘productivity theater'” from “Marketplace” “How a 12-foot skeleton became the hottest Halloween decoration around” from CNN If you have questions about the economy, business or technology you want answered on Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org. We need your help us finish the fall fundraiser strong! Give generously today: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

What do oil and gas companies have to do with reproductive health care? Some of them are funneling donations to “pregnancy resource centers” that discourage abortion in exchange for a break on the energy producers’ taxes. Kimberly and guest host Janet Nguyen dig into an analysis from the Gulf States Newsroom. We’ll also talk about President Biden overhauling the country’s policy on marijuana. Plus, Fat Bear Week is here. And an Oregon Trail musical? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden overhauls U.S. policy on marijuana, pardons prior federal offenses” from Reuters “Mississippi’s latest move in its anti-abortion agenda? A tax break for corporate donations” from WWNO “CEO pay has skyrocketed 1,460% since 1978: CEOs were paid 399 times as much as a typical worker in 2021” from the Economic Policy Institute Oregon Trail musical in the works from Variety Fat Bear Week — Katmai National Park & Preserve from the  National Park Service If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART. With the midterm elections approaching, help us make everyone smarter about the economy. Donate today.

We’re a nation of student loan debtors. Wiping out up to $20,000 of that debt should boost each borrower’s score, right? On this Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, we have to let one listener down easy. Plus, Kai Ryssdal and Kimberly Adams answer more of your questions on the peso, the pandemic and pumpkin pie. Here’s everything we talked about today: Check out Kimberly’s interview with Ethan Dornhelm, who leads research and analytic development for FICO. “Here’s how up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness could affect your credit score and ability to borrow” from CNBC The current dollar/peso exchange rate “Mexico’s ‘Super Peso’ Shocks Traders Who Had Bet on Wipeout” from Bloomberg “Shifting supply chains settle on Mexico” from Marketplace This great thread from Alexandra Phelan on how pandemics end “Why COVID isn’t like the flu (yet) in one brutal graph” from Fortune “End of COVID pandemic is ‘in sight’ – WHO chief” from Reuters If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART. With the midterm elections approaching, help us make everyone smarter about the economy. Donate today.

This is the third week of protests in Iran. Dozens have died and hundreds have been arrested in the demonstrations following the death of a young Iranian woman in police custody. And now the outrage seems to be spreading and tapping into a deep well of grievances. “This is really anger at the entire system for its 43 years of corruption and abuse of power,” said Jason Rezaian, opinion columnist for the Washington Post and author of “Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison.” On the show today, Rezaian explains what’s driving the latest protest movement in Iran, the role of the United States and what may come next. In the News Fix, the Supreme Court started a new term this week and it’s expected to be a doozy. We’ll explain. Plus, get ready for the return of Donald Trump on Twitter. Then, the gif vs. jif debate continues. And, in case you didn’t know, the climate crisis is so bad that the city of Los Angeles hired a chief heat officer. Hear her answer to the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Opinion | To help the next Iran protests, the U.S. should change these policies” from The Washington Post “Iran Protests Underline Economic, Social Pain” from Bloomberg “Musk Proposes to Buy Twitter for Original Price of $54.20 a Share” from Bloomberg “Three Huge Supreme Court Cases That Could Change America” from The New York Times “Watch world’s first all-electric plane soar through test flight” from CNN “Los Angeles Becomes Latest City to Hire ‘Chief Heat Officer’” from Smithsonian Magazine Join us tomorrow for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. If you’ve got a question you’d like us to answer, leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART or makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Climate change is making storms stronger and more destructive. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, some are wondering whether investing in rebuilding is really worth it. We’ll discuss. Plus, why the drama over Credit Suisse is not a Lehman Brothers moment. And, the parody news site The Onion filed an amicus brief, and it’s truly a chef’s kiss! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Should we rebuild in hurricane-prone areas?” from Poynter “Surviving Hurricane Ian in a Fort Myers Apartment Complex” from The New Yorker “Pakistanis save their town from floodwaters by building an embankment” from NPR “Credit Suisse Whipsaws as CEO Memo Backfires, Analysts Back Bank” from Bloomberg Tweet from @AnthonyMKreis on The Onion’s amicus brief Read: The Onion’s brief about satire Donate any amount and download five exclusive Marketplace ring tones: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

After seven years in the host’s chair, Trevor Noah is leaving “The Daily Show” to do more stand-up and touring. We’ll talk about the evolution of the late-night TV business. Plus, a case before the Supreme Court could determine what’s considered the “waters of the U.S.” And, we play a round of Half Full/Half Empty with a surprise guest emcee! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trevor Noah is leaving ‘The Daily Show’” from CNN New HHS Reports Illustrate Potential Positive Impact of Inflation Reduction Act on Prescription Drug Prices from the Department of Health and Human Services “Supreme Court to hear case on EPA’s Clean Water Act authority” from Roll Call Tweet thread from @JasonLeopold on an off-the-record conversation between then-President Barack Obama and reporters about incoming President Donald Trump It’s Half Priced Hoodie Weekend! Get our popular new Make Me Smart or Marketplace hoodie when you contribute $8/month: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Hurricane Ian left behind vast destruction in Florida. But what’s actually making the situation worse is the state’s insurance crisis. We’ll explain. Plus, some people who thought their student loans would be forgiven are learning they won’t eligible for President Biden’s relief program after all. And, if you like Fat Bear Week, you’ll love Fat Bear Junior. Here’s everything we talked about today: Hurricane Ian’s damage in Florida is part of a larger crisis from MSNBC “In a reversal, the Education Dept. is excluding many from student loan relief” from NPR Tweet from @LizAnnSonders of Schwab on the rising cost of the monthly house payment “After 14 years, Lehman Brothers’ brokerage ends liquidation” from Yahoo “Meet the Bears of Fat Bear Junior” from Explore.org We’re in the middle of our fall fundraiser! For a limited time, donate $8 a month and we’ll thank you with the popular new Make Me Smart hoodie. Donate today.

The United Kingdom’s economy is hurting. But the plan to get it under control — cutting taxes and raising interest rates — is a bit of a head scratcher. We’ll explain why we can’t make this one make sense (well, I guess we can, but the answer is not great). Plus, guest host Reema Khrais answers questions about boycotts and the multilevel marketing world. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Q&A: Here’s when boycotts have worked — and when they haven’t” from the Los Angeles Times “1 in 4 Americans Are Currently Boycotting a Product or Company” from LendingTree Meet the 400 Ph.D. economists who work at the Federal Reserve Listen: “This Is Uncomfortable” episode on multilevel marketing “How the Pandemic Stoked a Backlash to Multilevel Marketing” from The Atlantic If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART. With the midterm elections approaching, help us make everyone smarter about the economy. Donate today.

By now, you’ve probably heard about the racist backlash against the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” the GOT prequel “House of the Dragon” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” for casting Black actors. But hobbits and dragon riders aside, this is a story about so much more than casting decisions. “We’re really talking about labor … who gets work gets to work in the entertainment industry. Who gets work as an actor. Who gets work as a director, as a producer,” said Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic. “And if you’re trying to push companies to be less diverse, in part, what you’re saying is you should not hire Black people, Hispanic people to do these jobs.” On the show today, Serwer discusses the pressure media companies are under to conform to conservative politics, how it impacts the industry and what it says about this political moment. In the Newsfix, more from the files of “this is what’s supposed to be happening.” This time, we’ll check in on the housing market and what high mortgage rates are doing to home prices. Then, women everywhere are feeling validated after a new study on COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual periods confirmed what many suspected. Plus, Kai Ryssdal describes what it was like at Dodger Stadium when Albert Pujols made history with his 700th home run. Also, one writer explains what he got wrong about writing. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fear of a Black Hobbit” from The Atlantic “‘Rings of Power’ draws racist backlash and threats, but Amazon and Frodo stand behind it” from USA Today Check out this Rolling Stones article about legacy of Public Enemy’s “Fear of a Black Planet” album “Home prices cooled in July at the fastest rate in the history of S&P Case-Shiller Index” from CNBC “Women said covid shots affect periods. A new study shows they’re right.” from The Washington Post “Germany Suspects Sabotage Hit Russia’s Nord Stream Pipelines” from Bloomberg “Cardinals’ Albert Pujols hits 700th home run, becoming 4th player to reach the mark” from NPR With the midterm elections approaching, help us make everyone smarter about the economy. Donate today.

More seniors are aging at home, alone. Today, we’ll explain why the home care worker shortage just went from bad to worse and why we likely blew a chance to fix it. Then, how a 100-year-old law is getting in the way of Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Fiona. Plus, spooky airplane sounds. And what’s that really bright star in the sky? Grab your binoculars. You won’t want to miss this! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Seniors are stuck home alone as health aides flee for higher-paying jobs” from The Washington Post “Storm-ravaged Puerto Rico calls on Washington to allow ship carrying fuel to dock” from NBC News “Women now outnumber men in the U.S. college-educated labor force” from Pew Research Center “People are fleeing Puerto Rico, Guam and every other U.S. territory. What gives?” from The Washington Post “Ghoulish moans are haunting the intercoms of American Airlines flights” from The Washington Post “Jupiter’s Exceptionally Close Opposition” from Sky & Telescope This tweet about the National Intelligence Manager for Aviation seal caught our attention Video: “DART’s Impact with Asteroid Dimorphos” With the midterm elections approaching, help us make everyone smarter about the economy. Donate today.

Central banks all over the world are on a interest-raising spree. We’ll explain why that raises the risk of a recession. Buckle up, folks! Plus, how a volcano eruption led to the discovery of a new island in the Pacific Ocean. And Kimberly Adams gives us a lesson in pawpaw fruit harvesting! Here’s everything we talked about today: “A New Baby Island Has Just Been Born In The Pacific Ocean” from IFL Science “New 6-Acre Island in Pacific Ocean Has Been Seen From Space” from Newsweek Video: Disney Music “Lava” (Official Lyric Video from “Lava”) Tweet from economist @Neil_Irwin “Move Over, Açai—It’s the Pawpaw’s Time” from The New Yorker Got a question for a our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today we’re getting caught up on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Putin’s announced he’ll draft 300,000 Russian reservists to fight in that conflict. Is this the moment we look back on as the moment he overreached? Then, the Food and Drug Administration issued new guidance on some drugs used to reverse opioid overdoses that would make the life-saving drugs more accessible. Also, we got an update from listeners about our SodaStream/beer query! Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘A Lot of Panic’: Russian Men, Fearing Ukraine Draft, Seek Refuge Abroad” from The New York Times “Putin’s Order for 300,000 Fighters Drives Russians to the Streets in Protest” from Bloomberg “Opioid-Reversal Drug Access to Ease Under Relaxed FDA Rules” from Bloomberg Law Tweet from our listeners @ToddAlstrom and @ClsScience

The Federal Reserve continued its interest-rate-raising spree today to help curb inflation. The other thing the Fed has been working on is unwinding its “quantitative easing” program. One listener wants to know how that works. We’ll explain. Plus, why can members of Congress buy and sell stocks so freely? Isn’t that a conflict of interest? We’re wondering the same thing. Here’s everything we talked about today: “To understand the Fed’s bond-buying dilemma, picture a lake” from “Marketplace” “Despite their influence and extensive access to information, members of Congress can buy and sell stocks with few restrictions” from The New York Times “72 members of Congress have violated a law designed to prevent insider trading and stop conflicts-of-interest” from Business Insider “Democrats Eye a Major Shift in How Corporations Are Taxed” from The New York Times “Why the U.S. is struggling to modernize the electric grid” from CNBC Keep sending your questions. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice memo at 508-U-B-SMART.

For years, China has been forecast to overtake the U.S. as the world’s top economic superpower. But recently, the second-largest economy has been slowing under its zero-COVID policy. There’s also problems in its housing market, and its currency, the yuan, is falling. On the show, Jennifer Pak, Marketplace’s China correspondent, makes us smart about China’s standing in the global economy and whether it’s still on track to topple the U.S. from the top spot. In the News Fix: Supply chain problems aren’t over, and neither is the pandemic. Plus, Hurricane Fiona is still on a tear. Then, are Make Me Smart listeners trolling the hosts? We’ll also hear about a potential solution to the beer shortage. Fizzless beer, anyone? We’re calling on all cicerones out there! Here’s everything we talked about today: “China’s Economy Won’t Overtake the U.S., Some Now Predict” from The Wall Street Journal Marketplace’s Jennifer Pak is a must-follow on IG and Twitter. “Ford Selloff Deepens After Warning of $1 Billion in Extra Costs” from Bloomberg “Hurricane Fiona slams Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico; three dead” from Reuters “What’s Driving Greg Abbott’s Escalating Migrant Busing Scheme?” from Texas Monthly “Texas Sheriff Launches Investigation Into Migrant Flights to Martha’s Vineyard” from NBC Dallas-Fort Worth “The United States of Cussing: Every U.S. State’s Favorite Swear Word” from WordTips Join us tomorrow for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. Submit your question about money, business or the economy at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice mail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Almost five years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is reeling (again) after Hurricane Fiona flooded large parts of the island and left it in the dark. We’ll talk about the big mess behind Puerto Rico’s energy problems. Plus, John Kerry: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. And, is a beer shortage on the horizon? Here’s everything we talked about: Puerto Rico’s Power System Heads Toward Litigation for Debt Deal from Bloomberg “Hurricane Fiona Exposes Puerto Rico’s Failure to Fix Frail Power Grid” from Bloomberg “Here’s How Much a New Monthly Mortgage Payment Has Surged in 10 US Metros” from Bloomberg “U.S. climate envoy Kerry calls on African nations to help curb emissions” from Reuters “Scientists have calculated how many ants are on Earth. The number is so big, it’s ‘unimaginable.’” from The Washington Post “Brace for the coming beer shortage” from Axios If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, let us know. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s Friday, and we all wish we could be Ferris Bueller. Well, one reporter actually tried. Kimberly Adams and guest host Amy Scott discuss what happened when said reporter skipped work for a day of fun. Plus, could this be “Phantom of the Opera’s” last hoorah on Broadway? Then, our favorite game stumps the hosts (oops). Here’s everything we talked about today: “Could ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ really be done? We found out.” from The Washington Post “‘Phantom of the Opera’ to close after 35 years on Broadway: sources” from the New York Post “‘Phantom of the Opera,’ Broadway’s Longest-Running Show, to Close” from The New York Times “Apple and Starlink compete to turn your smartphone into a satellite phone” from Marketplace “California’s grid withstood the heat wave with texts, batteries and conservation” from Marketplace “Kourtney Kardashian Should Call Patagonia’s CEO” from The Cut “For Gen Z, TikTok Is the New Search Engine” from The New York Times Got a question for a our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

A couple of Republican governors are paying to send migrants to Democratic strongholds, including Washington, D.C. and Martha’s Vineyard. We’ll talk about the history of using people to make political statements. Plus, Patagonia’s founder gave away his company, but the deal might not be what you’re thinking. And, congrats, Lizzo! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fla. Gov. DeSantis sent migrant flights to Massachusetts, his office says” from NPR Tweet thread from the JFK Library “Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change” from The New York Times “The bill to make daylight saving time permanent that unanimously passed the Senate is not moving in the House anytime soon.” from Politico “Lizzo’s ‘Big Grrrls’ Wins Competition Series Emmy” from Variety IYKYK: National Press Club wins spelling bee contest against politicians Grab a beverage and join us Friday for Economics on Tap. We’ll be on the YouTube livestream starting at 6:30 Eastern time/3:30 Pacific. We’ll have more news, drinks and a game.

Inflation is still high (sigh), which means the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again next week. One listener is wondering why the Fed has pursued incremental rate hikes as opposed to one jumbo increase. We’ve got answers! Plus, why is the Fed’s inflation target 2% anyway, and what does it have to do with New Zealand? Then, questions about the queen, the Commonwealth and currency! Here’s everything we talked about: “Why does the Federal Reserve aim for inflation of 2 percent over the longer run?” from The Federal Reserve “Of Kiwis and Currencies: How a 2% Inflation Target Became Global Economic Gospel” from The New York Times “The Fed’s inflation target comes from a casual remark on New Zealand TV” from Quartz “The queen’s death opens the floodgates on self-rule campaigns” from Politico “Queen Elizabeth is featured on several currencies. Now what?” from The Associated Press Keep sending your questions. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice memo at 508-U-B-SMART.

High(er) interest rates are here and probably not going anywhere anytime soon. Today’s inflation numbers almost guarantee that the Federal Reserve will raise rates again by another three-quarters of a percentage point. But it’s been such a long time since the U.S. economy has been in a high-interest-rate environment that many of us are wondering exactly how to navigate our personal finances. On the show today, we’ll discuss what high interest rates mean for consumers and why they aren’t translating into higher savings rates. As always, consult your own personal finance expert before making financial decisions. Later, we’ll talk about the latest inflation report and whether child poverty really is getting better. We’ll do the numbers. Then, stick around to hear what artificial intelligence has to do with French fries, and a philosopher drops some wisdom on us. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How to take advantage of rising interest rates” from CNN “Money and millennials: The cost of living in 2022 vs. 1972” from Marketplace Pandemic Aid Reduced Poverty Again in 2021, Census Bureau Reports from The New York Times “The official U.S. poverty rate is based on a hopelessly out-of-date metric” from The New York Times “US inflation still stubbornly high despite August slowdown” from The Associated Press Join us tomorrow for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. And if you’ve got a question about money, business or the economy, leave us a voice mail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

COVID-19 has been circulating for well over two years, and new research looks at what the disease has meant for the workforce. Kimberly and guest host Amy Scott dig into it. Plus, who’s in charge of investigating a crash in space? Then, is it too early to start talking about leaf peeping and Halloween? Welp, we’re going to do it anyway. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Covid-19 Illnesses Are Keeping at Least 500,000 Workers Out of U.S. Labor Force, Study Says” from The Wall Street Journal Our deep dive episode on long COVID A thread from The Atlantic’s Ed Yong on brain fog “Blue Origin rocket suffers problem during uncrewed launch” from The Washington Post “Embrace ‘Shop Early’ and Cancel ‘Black Friday’” from Bloomberg 2022 Fall Foliage Map & Nationwide Peak Leaf Forecast Questions? Comments? Suggestions? We’re taking them all. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

We pick up today’s show where we left off yesterday, talking about global reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth. Plus, we’ll discuss the role of social media in driving counternarratives to stories from mainstream media organizations. Then, we play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. And, corgis FTW! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Thank You, Black Twitter”: State Violence, Digital Counterpublics, and Pedagogies of Resistance” from Temple University’s Marc Lamont Hill “Meta dissolves team responsible for discovering ‘potential harms to society’ in its own products” from Engadget “County official will be held without bail in reporter’s killing, judge rules” from Las Vegas Review-Journal “Former Colonies of Elizabeth II Want Their $400 Million Diamond Back From the Crown Jewels” from Vice If you’ve got a question about money, business and the economy, give us a shout. We’re at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

From the death of Queen Elizabeth to lifesaving vaccines, we’re mostly talking about news from the other side of the pond today. Plus, we’ll discuss the economic power of royal fashion, and what’s Jerome Powell thinking? Kai’s got answers! Here’s everything we talked about today: Opinion | “Mourn the Queen, Not Her Empire” from The New York Times “Dark Truths About Britain’s Imperial Past” from The New York Times Tweet thread on the complex legacy of the British royal family “The economic power of royal fashion” from Marketplace “New malaria vaccine is world-changing, say scientists” from BBC News “Jumbo Fed Rate Hike Is in Play as Powell Sticks to Hawkish View” from Bloomberg We want to hear how you’re feeling about the death of Queen Elizabeth. Leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART or drop us a line at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Let’s face it, it’s getting more expensive to eat out these days. One of our listeners noticed the price of his burrito went up by $2 and wonders if it’ll go back down now that inflation is a slowing a bit. Probably not. We’ll explain. Plus, we take your questions about student loan debt relief, electric vehicles and the military, and one of our listeners makes us smart about cherries! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Inflation is finally slowing down. Will things get cheaper?” from Vox “Why Biden’s $10,000 student loan relief will impact women the most” from MSNBC “US military is a bigger polluter than as many as 140 countries — shrinking this war machine is a must” from The Conversation “The U.S. Army has released its first-ever climate strategy. Here’s what that means.” from The Washington Post “Category on the Rise: Non-Alcoholic Wine, Beer, and Spirits” from Drizly We can’t make this show without you! Keep submitting your questions at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Artificial intelligence. It’s a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. But what are we really talking about? “Artificial intelligence is not one thing. It’s not a single technology. It’s a term that is applied to all sorts of technologies that vaguely behave like the human brain, and in some cases, aren’t even close to behaving like the human brain,” said Cade Metz, a technology correspondent covering artificial intelligence at The New York Times and author of the book “Genius Makers: the Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook and the World.” When the artificial intelligence field was created in the 1950s, the aim was to mimic human intelligence. Today, some researchers believe we’re already there or really close. But the thing is, there’s still lots about human intelligence we don’t understand. On the show today, we’re going to get smart about the state of AI as Metz walks us through how far AI has come, where it’s at, where it’s headed and what it has to do with cat photos! In the News Fix, Russia is saying the quiet part out loud, and an important marker in the ongoing aftermath of Jan. 6 insurrection. Then, we’ll hear from a new mom about quiet quitting, and what happened after one listener switched Siri’s voice to the one that sounds like Kimberly. Plus, a TikTok finance wiz answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is?” from The New York Times “The ABCs of AI, algorithms and machine learning” from “Marketplace Tech” “More Than 1 In 2 Americans Will Have An Election Denier On The Ballot This Fall” from FiveThirtyEight “Russia has cut off gas supplies to Europe indefinitely. Here’s what you need to know” from CNBC “Couy Griffin: New Mexico county commissioner removed from elected office for role in US Capitol riot” from CNN Join us tomorrow for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. If you’ve got a question you’d like us to answer, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART. 

There’s another problem to add to the list of issues piling up in the UK right now: The pound sterling took a dive. We’ll discuss the economic situation there and how it compares to what’s happening on this side of the pond. Plus, could Alaska’s voting system help our polarized politics? Then, we play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here is everything we talked about: Pound Latest: Sterling Collapse to $1.15 Shows Level of Market Despair from Bloomberg “With Peltola’s Defeat of Palin, Alaska’s Ranked-Choice Voting Has a Moment” from The New York Times “Among the goals of Artemis I: launching the lunar economy” from “Marketplace Tech” “Now, software can replicate your boss’s voice and tell you what to do” from “Marketplace Tech” “Californians Told Not to Charge Electric Cars Days After Gas Car Sales Ban” from Newsweek “Perseverance can make as much oxygen on Mars as a small tree” from CNN “Why is modern interior design so gray?” from Marketplace “Barking 9 to 5! Dolly Parton launches ‘Doggy Parton,’ a pet apparel collection” from NPR We can’t make this show without you. If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hit the dark place sting, we’re discussing some news stories that got our shells feeling a little hollow. First, residents of Jackson, Mississippi, have no clean water. Though help may be finally on the way, we still have questions. Also, a new survey shows just how devastating the pandemic was for students in the classroom. But we’ve at least got a Make Me Smile, thanks to a listener email on the physics of dragons. Get ready to laugh cry. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading” from The New York Times “Who Would Like to Explain to the Class WHY Jackson, Miss., Has No Water?” from Esquire “Water pump installed at O.B. Curtis Water Plant helping water pressure in Jackson” from Clarion Ledger “Tech tool offers police ‘mass surveillance on a budget’” from Associated Press If you want to send us your delightful voice memos and emails, you can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Student loan relief is here. But (and this is so awkward), so is inflation, still. One of our listeners wants to know whether the government’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt will make inflation worse. Plus, we’ll take your questions on electric cars, credit scores and LeVar Burton! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Will student loan forgiveness make inflation worse?” from Vox “Without a Gas Tax, How Will EVs Be Charged for Road Use?” from Consumer Reports “The secret history of ‘Y’all’: The murky origins of a legendary Southern slang word” from Salon The “Make Me Smart” episode on our credit rating system “The Score” from “Marketplace Tech” “The new tech behind LeVar Burton’s crusade for child literacy” from “Marketplace Tech” If you’ve got a question you’d like us to find the answer to, email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

American workers are becoming less productive, which means we’re producing fewer widgets per hour worked. The data shows there’s been drops in productivity for two back-to-back quarters. But the recent slowdown isn’t anything new. While productivity did spike momentarily last year, it’s actually been slowing for more than a decade. On the show today, we get smart about the productivity slowdown, how the “quiet quitting” phenomenon factors into this trend and what it all means for our economy. Later, the Federal Reserve is manifesting lower inflation, and the markets are finally getting with the program. A birth control pill for men is in the works, plus could our electric car future mean range anxiety for gas car drivers? And, an answer to the Make Me Smart question that got us all a bit misty-eyed. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Isn’t New Technology Making Us More Productive?” from The New York Times  “U.S. Productivity Falls for Second Straight Quarter” from The Wall Street Journal “Watch Fed’s Kashkari: ‘Happy’ to See How Powell’s Speech Was Received” from Bloomberg “Male Contraception Pills Show Promise – And They Have No Major Side Effects” from SciTech Daily “The Latest on Male Birth Control Options” from Men’s Health What is something you thought you knew, but later found out you were wrong about? We’re looking for your answers to the Make Me Smart question. Submit yours at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

This isn’t your usual “Make Me Smart” episode. From the delayed Artemis space shuttle launch to the decline of crab populations and the weight of dragon eggs, we’re going down a big rabbit hole or, shall we say, into the dragon’s den. Get ready to get smart about the news you probably didn’t hear anywhere else. Here’s everything we talked about today: “These recycled space shuttle parts are now powering Artemis I to space” from Tampa’s Fox 13 “‘At the Top Level’: Serena Williams Sets Her Sights on Venture Capital After US Open” from Bloomberg “Pakistan floods: One third of country is under water – minister” from BBC News Alaskan king and snow crab populations have plummeted from The Washington Post “‘They said it was impossible’: how medieval carpenters are rebuilding Notre Dame” from The Guardian “Is it safe to toss a Targaryen dragon egg? An eggspert weighs in.” from Vox We love hearing from you. Write us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, we’re going to get smart about two legal fights with big implications. First, we get into the weeds of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit. Then, we move to the world of pharmaceuticals, where a lawsuit could determine who owns the future of mRNA technology. And finally, we lighten up the mood with a round of our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump Mar–a-Lago affidavit reveals ‘handwritten notes,’ highly classified material led to warrant request” from Politico “Moderna files patent infringement lawsuits against Pfizer and BioNTech over mRNA Covid-19 vaccines” from CNN “Moderna Sues Pfizer and BioNTech Over Covid Vaccine Technology” from The New York Times “Potential ‘Ocean World’ Discovered 100 Light-Years Away From Earth” from CNET “For this firm, the 4-day workweek just didn’t work” from Marketplace “MoviePass is coming back. Its timing couldn’t be worse” from CNN We love hearing from you. If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, send us a voice memo at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Picture this: In the not-too-distant future, gas cars will be a thing of the past. This week, California moved to ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. We’ll discuss what it means for our clean-er economic future. Plus, big ups to the person running the White House Twitter account. And, if you paid a fee for being tardy on your taxes, the IRS might be sending you a check. Here’s everything we talked about today: “California bans sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Now the real work begins” from The Los Angeles Times Tweet thread on the hip-hop industry powering Cash App “Japan Set to Become One of World’s Biggest Defense Spenders” from Bloomberg White House claps back at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, others over canceling student loan debt “These Stones Graced the Capitol. They May Soon Be Removed From a Park.” from The New York Times “IRS to refund a ‘very welcome’ $1.2 billion in late-filing fees for nearly 1.6 million taxpayers” from CNBC Opinion | Inside the IRS ‘Pipeline’ used to process tax returns from The Washington Post Grab a beverage and join us Friday for Economics on Tap. We’ll be on the YouTube livestream starting at 6:30 ET/3:30 PT. We’ll have more news, drinks and a game.

It’s happening! After months of debate, President Joe Biden is forgiving up to $20,000 in student loan debt. One listener wants to know whether the bankruptcy system can offer an alternative solution to the student loan debt crisis. We’ll help break it down. Plus, more of your questions about how congressional staffers get paid, congestion at our ports and hard seltzer. Here’s everything we talked about today: Top economist Larry Summers echoes Sen. Elizabeth Warren about solving student debt problem from Fortune “Should student loans be dischargeable in bankruptcy?” from the Brookings Institution “Peak freight season is underway there’s no end in sight for congestion” from CNBC “House votes to allow congressional staffers to unionize” from NPR “Hard Seltzer Fad Fizzles as Light Beer Makes a Comeback” from The Wall Street Journal White Claw and Truly Hard seltzer, explained from Vox Have more questions for our hosts? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Have you heard of Leonardo Leo? He’s basically a kingmaker in conservative big money politics, and he’s making it rain! His dark money group just received $1.6 billion, what’s believed to be the largest single donation to a political nonprofit, and it’s expected to have an immediate impact on the November midterms. On the show today, Sheila Krumholz, executive director at Open Secrets, discusses what voters need to know about money in politics before they head to the polls. She explains how political contributions have evolved and why the system is not expected to change anytime soon. In the News Fix, we’ll talk about the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine and what it has to do with how much it might cost to warm your home this winter. Plus, what’s up with all the pearl clutching over “quiet quitters?” Then we hear a listener’s hack that’ll save you money in the kitchen. And actor and TV host LeVar Burton (we’re fangirling right now) answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Republicans Confront Unexpected Online Money Slowdown“ from The New York Times “Endless Demand Spurs U.S. Natural-Gas Prices to Shale-Era Highs” from The Wall Street Journal “Unengaged workers are fired up about ‘quiet quitting’” from “Marketplace” “If Your Co-Workers Are ‘Quiet Quitting,’ Here’s What That Means” from The Wall Street Journal “An Unusual $1.6 Billion Donation Bolsters Conservatives” from The New York Times “The new tech behind LeVar Burton’s crusade for child literacy” from “Marketplace Tech” What is something you thought you knew, you later found out you were wrong about? We’re looking for your answers to the Make Me Smart question. Submit yours at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

Ford announced it’s slashing 3,000 white-collar jobs as part of its transition to electric vehicles. We’ll discuss what the layoffs reveal about our changing economy. Plus, could a free tax filing system finally be in the works at the IRS? Then, want to hear what outer space sounds like? Listen till the end to find out. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Ford Will Cut 3,000 Jobs to Reduce Costs in the Transition to Electric Vehicles” from The New York Times “Inflation Reduction Act Will Require the IRS to Study Free Tax Filing Options” from ProPublica “The IRS could be on the verge of changing the way Americans file their taxes” from The Hill “New space telescope shows Jupiter’s auroras, tiny moons” from The Associated Press “NASA shares sound of black hole and it sounds exactly as creepy as you thought it would” from Mashable We want to hear from you. Write us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

The housing market has slowed, and that’s caused some mortgage lenders to go out of business. Kai and Amy Scott explain why we’re not in 2008 territory and what to actually take away from this news. Then, in today’s Half Full/Half Empty, we discuss muscle cars, creative inflation compensation, store brands and automatic college admissions! Here’s everything we talked about today: “US Mortgage Lenders Are Starting to Go Broke” from Bloomberg “Survivor of White House Lightning Strike Embraces Third Chance at Life” from The New York Times “A Famous Walrus Is Killed, and Norwegians Are Divided” from The New York Times “Dodge will retire Charger and Challenger, its muscle car mainstays” from The Washington Post “Employers get creative with inflation compensation” from Marketplace “How store brands went from shamed to chic” from Marketplace “Automatic college admissions can be a boon to students and schools alike” from Marketplace We want to hear from you. If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, send us a voice memo at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

We’ve got a lot to talk about today! First, we’re still considering the ways in which the Inflation Reduction Act is going to change our economy. Speaking of change, in July, Americans for the first time spent more time streaming than watching cable. Pause for quick detour into what we’re streaming now. Then, a Make Me Smile for those looking for a solution for hair loss: There might be a pill for that. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Buying an Electric Car Just Became More Complicated” from The New York Times “Americans Spent More Time Streaming Than Watching Cable TV in July — a First” from The Wall Street Journal “Florida’s ‘Stop Woke Act’ for Workplaces Blocked by Federal Judge” from Bloomberg “An Old Medicine Grows New Hair for Pennies a Day, Doctors Say” from The New York Times Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap! We’ll be livestreaming on YouTube starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, 3:30 p.m. Pacific time.

We’re still getting your questions about the newly passed Inflation Reduction Act, and we’ll try to answer them! Like, why is it called the Inflation Reduction Act and what is it actually going to do about inflation? Kimberly and Kai share some insight on that and field a few more questions, like where are we going to get all the water needed to make more semiconductors in the United States? And how do you measure productivity in an economy that doesn’t make as many widgets as it used to? Here’s everything we talked about today: “What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn’t do about rising prices” from NPR “Water shortages loom over future semiconductor fabs in Arizona” from The Verge Overview of BLS Productivity Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “The Rise of the Worker Productivity Score” from The New York Times Measuring productivity in service industries from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “Can a Hot but Smaller Labor Market Keep Making Gains in Participation?” from the Hamilton Project If you have more questions about the Inflation Reduction Act or anything else, send them our way. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program set up by the Obama administration. Under the program, hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants have received protection from deportation and the opportunity to officially participate in the American economy. It’s estimated that DACA recipients contribute more than $9 billion in federal, state and local taxes annually. But DACA was supposed to be a temporary fix in lieu of comprehensive immigration reform. So a decade later, why is it still on shaky legal ground, and where’s the real reform? “The dollars and cents, the costs and benefits of DACA are very clear in terms of positive impacts to individuals, families and to the broader American economy. But when we think about DACA, it is very much steeped in the broader debate over comprehensive immigration reform. And when we talk about that debate over comprehensive immigration reform, we are talking about a highly political, highly partisan and highly contentious debate over who we are as a country,” said Tom Wong, professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the UCSD. On the show today, we discuss how DACA has changed the economic lives of recipients, where it stands today and how it’s influencing the broader immigration debate. In the News Fix, we’ll also discuss the promise of commercial supersonic airplanes and the economics of hearing aids. Plus, we’ll hear from listeners about DACA, a lesson about inflation for kids and what an EV driver learned about her car. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Is DACA? And Where Does It Stand Now?” from The New York Times “2021 Survey of DACA Recipients Underscores the Importance of a Pathway to Citizenship” from The Center for American Progress “Immigrant advocates after W.H. meeting: ‘Next steps’ on policy remain unclear” from Politico “American Air Bets on New Supersonic Era, Orders 20 Boom Jets” from Bloomberg “F.D.A. Clears Path for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids” from The New York Times “What’s the deal with inflation?” from Marketplace’s “Million Bazillion” podcast Have a question for the hosts? Send it our way. We’re at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART. 

Adam Neumann, the guy who built and then nearly drove WeWork into the ground (we’ve talked about it, a lot) just got a ginormous check for his new business venture. We’ll talk about how that’s even possible (see, WeWork?). Plus, gas prices are falling like a feather, and why is China cutting interest rates? Then, the only guide you need to really understand Kai’s favorite type of beer! Here’s everything we talked about today: WeWork Founder Adam Neumann’s New Start-Up Is Backed by Andreessen Horowitz from The New York Times “China Shocks With Rate Cut as Data Show ‘Alarming’ Slowdown” from Bloomberg “Gas Prices Under $4 Per Gallon in Over Half of the Country” from Jalopnik “Academy Apologizes to Sacheen Littlefeather for Her Mistreatment at the 1973 Oscars (Exclusive)” from The Hollywood Reporter “1973: Marlon Brando Cannot Accept This Very Generous Award” from “And the Oscar Goes To” podcast “Pellicle’s Essential Guide to IPA” from Pellicle “No, seriously, NASA’s Space Launch System is ready to take flight” from Ars Technica Keep sending your voice messages. If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, send us a voice memo at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.

We couldn’t end the week without talking about the story we’ve (quietly) been avoiding: the FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. Kimberly and guest host Meghan McCarty Carino explain how the story went from an investigation about classified documents to espionage. Plus, is polio making a comeback? Then, the hosts weigh in on Serena Williams’ retirement, Peloton getting pricier and splooting! Here’s everything we talked about today: “FBI search warrant shows Trump under investigation for potential obstruction of justice, Espionage Act violations” from Politico “House passes Inflation Reduction Act, sending climate and health bill to Biden” from The Washington Post “Who Sploots?” from Slate “Did inflation just peak? The markets are acting like it.” from Marketplace “Cringey LinkedIn posts like the crying CEO are inspiring a culture of backlash” from Fast Company “Why Serena Williams’s Retirement Is Different” from The Atlantic “Peloton slashing 780 jobs, closing stores and hiking prices in push to turn profit” from CNBC We want to hear from you. If you’ve got a question, comment or suggestion, send us a voice memo at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave a voice message at 508-U-B-SMART.