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Latest Episodes:

The heavy price of living in disaster-prone areas Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Recovery efforts are continuing in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida last Thursday and caused widespread devastation across several southeastern states. We talk about the cost of moving to areas prone to natural disasters. Plus, why Americans now, more than ever, are reliant on state and federal support to supplement their incomes. Then, Kai has a Jon Stewart moment. And, the backstory of an iconic photo from the 1970s of a group of friends enjoying an extravagant breakfast at the National Mall has us smiling!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Where Americans Have Been Moving Into Disaster-Prone Areas” from The New York Times

“Welcome Home, Hostages, and Pay Up” from The Wall Street Journal

“Americans Are More Reliant Than Ever on Government Aid” from The Wall Street Journal

“How this first-time voter is helping other students get registered” from The Washington Post

“The real story behind the iconic 1974 breakfast photo at the National Mall” [gift link] 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.

How some politicians are trying to sell their image Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

Branding is big in contemporary political campaigns. But some candidates are going to odd lengths to appeal to women in 2024. We’ll explain. Plus, the wave of new state voting laws since 2020 has the potential to dramatically reshape ballot access in the 2024 election. And we’ll weigh in on the doomsday prepping economy and “fridgescaping” during a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“G.O.P. Candidates, Looking to Soften Their Image, Turn to Their Wives” from The New York Times

“In the tightest states, new voting laws could tip the outcome in November” from Stateline

“Battleground State Removes Nearly 10 Percent of Voters for Being Ineligible” from Newsweek

“VoteFlare’s mission to upgrade voter communication” from Marketplace

“In uncertain times, the prepper supply business is booming” from Marketplace

“Spurned by Social Media, Publishers Chase Readers on WhatsApp” from The New York Times

“Southwest may need to change the perks that made customers loyal” from Marketplace

“Earth will capture ‘second moon’ this weekend, scientists say” from Space

“The pros and cons of fridgescaping your refrigerator” from The Washington Post

New artist-designed Marketplace sweatshirts are half off this weekend! Invest in Marketplace and get yours: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Should jobs require a college degree? Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

In a speech outlining her economic vision this week, Vice President Kamala Harris said she’d boost manufacturing in the United States by supporting trade school programs and getting rid of unnecessary college-degree requirements for federal jobs. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll explain why the DOJ is suing Visa. Plus, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde’s wild search for butter prices.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Harris pledges ‘pragmatic’ approach to the economy in Pittsburgh speech” from Politico

“Kamala Harris says she will cut degree requirements for certain federal jobs” from Reuters

“Justice Department Sues Visa for Monopolizing Debit Markets” from the Department of Justice

“Justice Department accuses Visa of stifling competition in the debit card business” from NPR

“Cruz gets heated after Booker blocks deepfake revenge porn bill” from The Hill

“Christine Lagarde – Stabilizing Inflation & Regulating AI for the Global Economy” from the Daily Show

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

The little short-term spending bill that could Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Congress has agreed on a temporary spending bill to fund the federal government through Dec. 20. The House GOP’s hotly debated SAVE Act didn’t make the final cut. We’ll get into what did make it into the bill beyond bare-bones funding measures. And, a wave of homeowners are looking to refinance their mortgages as borrowing costs ease. Plus, we’ll cry happy tears over a “Homeward Bound” story come to life.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Kushner’s Fund Has Reaped Millions in Fees, but So Far Returned No Profits” from The New York Times

“US Mortgage Rates Fall Again, Triggering Big Wave of Refinancing” from Bloomberg

“The final countdown” from Punchbowl News

“Shippers scramble for workarounds ahead of looming US East Coast port strike” from Reuters

“Cat Missing in Yellowstone Returns Home to California After an 800-Mile Trek” from The New York Times

Tweet from Jacqui Heinrich about President Biden’s hot mic moment on “The View”

Got any questions about inflation or interest rates? Send ’em to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Kai on the military and climate change Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Kai Ryssdal takes over the mic today as he digs into the U.S. military’s climate change paradox. While the military is fueling the climate crisis, it’s also on the frontlines of the fallout. It’s an issue that hits home for Kai, a Navy veteran. And it’s all part of the latest season of Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast, “How We Survive.” Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

The return of Three Mile Island Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

The 1979 disaster at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant helped define the energy conversation in the United States. Now it’s being reopened to help power artificial intelligence. We’ll get into the deal between the owner of the plant and Microsoft. Plus, the hosts weigh in on how some schools are warming up to AI and whether companies should take a political stand in a game of Half-Full/Half-Empty.

Here’s everything we talked about:

1. “How Sparing the Parkland Shooter’s Life Changed Florida’s Death Penalty” from The Marshall Project

“Microsoft AI Needs So Much Power It’s Tapping Site of US Nuclear Meltdown” from Bloomberg

“Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Plant to Reopen, Help Power Microsoft’s AI Centers” from WSJ

If you’re in the Denver area, join Kimberly Adams for a live panel discussion on the economics of being single on Sept. 23. Make Me Smart listeners get a discount with the promo code SMART. And if you can’t make it in person, join the livestream on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Mountain time.

The lurking threat of political deepfakes Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

This year, fake content generated by artificial intelligence hasn’t created the massive election mess that many assumed it would in the United States … at least not yet. At a Senate hearing, tech executives pointed to recent efforts by Russia, China, and Iran to interfere with the upcoming election. And, no, the Teamsters union did not endorse former President Trump. We’ll explain. Plus, we’ll get into the ongoing strike at Boeing and Vice President Kamala Harris’ plan for a cap on childcare costs.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Censorship accusations loom over Big Tech hearing on election threats” from The Verge

“Teamsters union declines to endorse Trump or Harris in presidential race” from NPR

“Harris wants to limit child care costs to 7% of family income” from CNN Politics

“Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the economy, potential U.S. port strike and Boeing strike” from CNBC

“Boeing Workers Go on Strike: What to Know” from The New York Times

“Boeing Furloughs White-Collar Workers as Strike Worsens Cash Crunch” 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.

The Fed says go big or go home Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

The Federal Reserve today said it’s lowering its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point. The rate cut is bigger than we’d predicted, and bigger than what the Fed normally does, but its effects will take some time to ripple through the economy. We’ll also get into former President Donald Trump’s switch-up on the state and local tax deduction cap and why Sen. Rand Paul wants Congress to reclaim power over tariffs.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Federal Reserve lowers interest rates by 0.50 percentage points in first cut since 2020” from CBS News

“Dr. Rand Paul Celebrates Constitution Day with the No Taxation Without Representation Act” from Sen. Rand Paul

Tweet from Burgess Everett about Rand Paul’s tariff proposal

“Trump signals SALT deduction cap reversal” from Axios

“Schumer calls out Trump for ‘selective amnesia’ on SALT” from The Hill

“NPR Exclusive: U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives” from NPR

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.

Interest rates, inflation and the American consumer Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates this week for the first time in four years. It would be a major milestone in the central bank’s long fight to get inflation under control. The Fed changes interest rates to keep inflation in check. But inflation is a complex phenomenon, and people have different ideas about what drives it. On the show today, Harvard economics professor Stefanie Stantcheva explains what Americans believe about the root causes of inflation and how the government should manage it, how views differ along party lines and the role media play.

Then, the narrative around retail theft is changing. And, comedian Rola Z who hosts the “Funny Arabs” show in Washington, D.C., answers the Make Me Smart question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“People’s Understanding of Inflation” from the Social Economics Lab at Harvard

“The Fed And Public Opinion” from Forbes

“What actually happens when the Fed cuts interest rates?” from Marketplace

“No, Americans Are Not Completely Stupid About Inflation” from The New York Times

“The Growing Use of Voting Before Election Day” from the Center for Election Innovation and Research

“America’s stores are winning the war on shoplifting” from CNN Business

“Federal Debt Is Soaring. Here’s Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About It.” from The Wall Street Journal

“How would Project 2025 impact troops and veterans?” from Military Times

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.

How big will the Fed go? Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

It’s decision week for the Federal Reserve! Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues are expected to reduce interest rates for the first time since 2020. Investors are predicting a half-percentage-point cut, but we’re on Team 25. We’ll explain why. Plus, the origin of the false rumors about Haitian immigrants that reached the presidential debate stage. And why the cost of your Temu and Shein orders may go up.

Here’s everything we talked about today: