Make Me Smart

Latest Episodes:

FEMA’s job is getting even harder Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

Federal Emergency Management Agency crews working hurricane recovery efforts paused aid in parts of North Carolina over the weekend after threats were made against workers and an armed suspect was arrested. We talk about the rise of misinformation around FEMA’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including falsehoods pushed by former President Donald Trump. And, we discuss an atmosphere of political violence as Trump urges using the military on Election Day. Plus, are we one step closer to commercial space travel?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Trump urges using military to handle ‘radical left lunatics’ on Election Day” from The Washington Post

“North Carolina authorities arrest armed man after threats against FEMA workers” from The Washington Post

“Federal personnel are facing threats during hurricane response, DHS chief warns” from Government Executive

Hurricane Rumor Response from FEMA

“SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test” from Reuters

“Why yesterday’s SpaceX launch was such a huge deal for space travel” from Business Insider

“SpaceX catches Starship rocket booster in historic test launch” from NBC News

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

What TikTok knew of the app’s toll on teens Oct 12, 2024

Show notes

This week, more than a dozen states came together to sue TikTok over the social media app’s effects on young users. Now, a report by NPR and Kentucky Public Radio shows executives at the company were well aware of the harms to teens. We’ll get into it. Plus, is the cost of rebuilding after a natural disaster becoming a luxury few can afford? And, would you wear pajama pants to school or work? That and more in a round of Half Full/Half Empty.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege” from NPR

“No Hurricane Will Make Rich People Leave Florida” from Slate

“The CIA runs a nonprofit venture capital firm. What’s it investing in?” from Marketplace

“Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice’ hits theaters amid fury from his campaign” from NBC News

“Black Friday in October: Here come early holiday deals” from Axios

“Tim Walz Rally Is Livestreamed on Twitch in Pitch to Young Voters” from The New York Times

“Get Comfortable With It: Pajama Pants Are for Everywhere” from The Wall Street Journal

Join Kai Ryssdal and Kimberly Adams for a live taping of “Make Me Smart” on Oct. 25 in Boston. In-person tickets are sold out, but you can still join us virtually. Get your tickets here.

The future of FEMA funding Oct 10, 2024

Show notes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already burned through almost half of its $20 billion Disaster Relief Fund that’s meant to last for another year. We’ll get into why the agency’s current budget shortfall is a sign of future problems as extreme weather events like Hurricane Milton become more common. Then, we’ll get into Vice President Kamala Harris’ new plan for funding at-home health care, some in the weeds inflation vocab, and why the identity of the creator of Bitcoin matters.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“FEMA spent nearly half its disaster budget in just 8 days” from Politico

“As Helene barrels into the Gulf Coast, FEMA faces shortfall for longer-term recovery” from Marketplace

“Chicago Fed’s Goolsbee: Inflation has come down and job market is around full employment level” from CNBC

“Inflation slowed again, new CPI report shows: Will the Fed keep cutting rates?” from USA Today

“Kamala Harris proposes Medicare pay for more in-home health care during appearance on “The View'” from CBS News

“Harris proposes expanding Medicare to cover home health care” from Marketplace

“The quest to discover the creator of bitcoin” 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.

Who will pay for Helene’s damage? Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

Total damages from Hurricane Helene in the United States could cost $250 billion. But only a small fraction of homeowners have flood insurance. As another major hurricane looms, we’ll unpack why coverage is becoming so expensive that many Americans choose to go without. Plus, some news you can use about communicating during an emergency, and how zoo workers and animals ride out big storms.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Kamala Harris Has Raised $1 Billion Since Entering 2024 Presidential Race” from The New York Times

“CBS ’60 Minutes’ airs two different answers from VP Harris to the same question” from Fox News

“Most U.S. homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene don’t have flood insurance” from CBS News

“Hurricane Milton could cost insurers up to $100 billion, analysts say” from Reuters

“The flood insurance crisis facing Americans” from Axios

“‘We’ve used hallways, we’ve used bathrooms’: How zoos protect animals when hurricanes hit” from BBC News

“Tampa zoo and aquarium staff to ride out Milton with the animals” from The Washington Post

“When Cell Service Is Down, You Can Send iPhone Texts via Satellite” from The Wall Street Journal

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

Live from Denver: The Economics of Being Single Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

Almost half of adults in the U.S. are single. But so many of our economic policies and financial systems, from homeownership to retirement planning, cater to couples. Today’s episode is an excerpt from a Marketplace live show in Denver, hosted by “Make Me Smart” co-host Kimberly Adams, on the economics of being single. Kimberly is joined by a panel of experts who break down the financial challenges (and perks) of living the single life, and the power of pushing back against the societal pressures to pair up.

The cost of the Israel-Hamas war Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war a year ago, the U.S. has spent at record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel — more than any other year since this aid started. This adds to the already heavy human toll of the conflict. We’ll discuss the mounting costs of war. Plus, Anthony Fauci’s new warning about a mosquito-borne illness. And, is the pumpkin spice tax real?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Anthony Fauci: A Mosquito in My Backyard Made Me the Sickest I’ve Ever Been” from The New York Times

“US spends a record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since last Oct. 7” from The Associated Press

“United States Spending on Israel’s Military Operations and Related U.S. Operations in the Region, October 7, 2023-September 30, 2024” from the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs at Brown University

“Consumers Pay Up to 92% More for Pumpkin Items, but ‘Pumpkin Spice Tax’ Is Narrowing” from Lending Tree

“Retail Investor Had Too Much Tesla” from Bloomberg

Help us catch up to our Fall Fundraiser goal today: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The political attacks on economic data Oct 05, 2024

Show notes

The jobs report released today blew past economists’ forecasts, estimating that employers added about 250,000 jobs to the U.S. economy in September. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is falsely claiming the jobs report is “fake.” We’ll get into how big economic data is being politicized. And, what happens when October surprises aren’t so surprising anymore? Plus, we’ll weigh in on “white labeling” and flying taxis during a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“October surprises are piling up, but a toss-up race seems impervious to shocks” from CNN Politics

“Jack Smith’s latest filing in the Trump election case is no ‘Comey letter'” from MSNBC

“‘Trump Bible’ one of few that meet Walters’ criteria for Oklahoma classrooms” from The Oklahoman

Tweet from Sen. Marco Rubio about today’s jobs report

“Not hearing back on job applications? Some career consultants suggest a bold new tactic.” from Business Insider

“Denver is funding sidewalk maintenance with a property owner tax” from Marketplace

“Why do retailers white label certain products?” from Marketplace

“Costco adds platinum bars to its precious metals lineup” from CNBC

“Toyota puts another $500 million in an air taxi startup” from The Verge

Don’t let us fall short. We need your help to reach our Fall Fundraiser goal today!: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Whaddya wanna know about the Fed’s move to cut interest rates? Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

After the Federal Reserve’s recent move to cut interest rates, you had questions. Lots of them! Today, we’re answering your questions about why the Fed doesn’t hold more meetings, why it tends to adjust interest rates in quarter-percentage-point increments, and why it’s target inflation rate is 2%. Plus, Kai Ryssdal unpacks the wonky relationship between the federal funds rate and the Treasury bond market.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Introduction to the FOMC” from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

“A brief history of the Federal Reserve’s emergency rate shifts” from The Los Angeles Times

“Why does the Federal Reserve raise rates in quarter percentages?” from Marketplace

“Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement of longer-run goals and policy strategy” from the Federal Reserve

“Why the Fed Targets a 2 Percent Inflation Rate” from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

“The Fed cut rates, but the yield on the 10-year T-note is up” from Marketplace

“How Might Increases in the Fed Funds Rate Impact Other Interest Rates?” from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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

The connection between fast fashion and drug trafficking Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

A 2016 trade law has made it easier for fast-fashion companies like Temu and Shein to ship massive volumes of cheap clothes to customers in the United States. Now drug traffickers are exploiting that same law to import fentanyl ingredients. We’ll get into it. And, Kai watched last night’s vice presidential debate after all. The hosts share their takeaways. Plus, a story about repurposing old newspaper boxes takes us to nostalgia central.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“How fentanyl traffickers are exploiting a U.S. trade law” from Reuters

“Takeaways from the VP debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz” from AP News

“People fill old newspaper boxes with movies, call it ‘Free Blockbuster’” from The Washington Post

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

Why immigration numbers are a headache for economists Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

All sorts of statistics related to immigration are being thrown around in debates, speeches and campaign ads ahead of this year’s election. Immigration estimates are painstakingly calculated by various government agencies. But lately, economists have been wrangling with wide gaps between some of these numbers. On the show today, Jed Kolko, former under secretary for economic affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce, explains how government agencies actually crunch immigration numbers, why two agencies’ estimates aren’t matching up right now and why accurate immigration data is crucial to how we understand the economy and setting economic policy.

Then, we’ll get into why the ongoing dockworkers’ strike is about more than just higher wages. And, we’ll get smarter about a common cooking herb.

Here’s everything we talked about today: