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The great HQ migration Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

Some states are trying to lure companies seeking to move their headquarters by offering a slew of financial perks. We’ll explain how these big relocations can impact local economies and the businesses themselves. And, the House of Representatives passed a defense bill that would restrict transgender medical care for children covered by the military’s health program. We’ll unpack how federal funding for health care can be used as a powerful political tool. Plus, do you dread winter? We’ll get into tips for embracing the season.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Transgender Provision Injects Tension Into Defense Vote” from The Wall Street Journal

“Will Democrats Let the GOP Gut Trans Health Care?” from Rolling Stone

“Brace for a Nationwide Shuffle of Corporate Headquarters” from Bloomberg

“9 Ways to Embrace Winter — Even if You Think You Hate It” from Time

“New Jersey Politician Fakes Spotify Wrapped to Show All Springsteen Songs” from The New York Times

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

Trump’s contradictory economic agenda Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Before this year’s election, Heather Cox Richardson, a historian at Boston College, joined “Make Me Smart” live in Boston to explain the high stakes for our economy and democracy.

Now that the election is over and the transition to a second Donald Trump administration is underway, we’re following up.

“The thing about Trump coming in again is that he’s made a number of promises to a number of people that are completely contradictory,” said Richardson. “You can’t both lower prices and put on tariffs. I mean, that’s like saying you can be dry and wet at the same time.”
On the show today, Richardson weighs in on the election aftermath. She explains how the current media environment in the United States played into the election, how economic narratives have influenced American politics throughout history, and what the past can tell us about how President-elect Trump might brand his economic agenda while in office.

Then, we’ll get into the bipartisan effort to add federal judges that’s suddenly falling apart. Plus, why Pete Hegseth might be confirmed to lead the Pentagon after all.

Later, a listener weighs in on “brain rot” as the word of the year. And, author Evan Schwartz was wrong about the inspiration behind L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“December 9, 2024” from “Letters from an American”

“What Donald Trump’s Win Means for the Economy” from Time

Opinion “Voters prefer Harris’s agenda to Trump’s — they just don’t realize it. Take our quiz.” from The Washington Post

“On Issue After Issue, Trump Promises the Moon. No Word on the Rocket.” from The New York Times

“Biden special envoy for hostages is in Beirut in search of Austin Tice” from The Washington Post

“House sets up vote on bill to add dozens of new federal judgeships” from Roll Call

“Ernst, Under MAGA Pressure, Signals Backing for Hegseth’s Pentagon Bid” from The New York Times

Power the show with a donation today and don’t forget to pick up one of our thank you gifts at a discount. Head to marketplace.org/givesmart.

CEO killing and our for-profit health care system Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

A person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson was arrested today. We’ll get into the public’s reaction to the killing and what it says about our for-profit health system. Plus, we discuss the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in U.S. history, which is projected to take place over the next 25 years. And, Dick Van Dyke has us smiling as he waltzes into his 99th birthday.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Live Updates: Police Identify ‘Strong Person of Interest’ in C.E.O.’s Killing” from The New York Times

“Suspect in fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ID’d as Luigi Mangione, an ex-Ivy League student” from New York Post

“Manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer Meets Unexpected Obstacle: Sympathy for the Gunman” from The Wall Street Journal

“A $105 Trillion Inheritance Windfall Is On the Way for US Heirs” from Bloomberg

“Dick Van Dyke, Approaching 99, Dances in Coldplay’s Latest Video” from The New York Times

“Biden says U.S. government believes Austin Tice is alive in Syria” from Axios

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

For NASA, the moon just got farther away Dec 07, 2024

Show notes

NASA is pushing back its highly anticipated Artemis 2 mission from September 2025 to April 2026. It will be the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. We’ll unpack NASA’s setbacks. Plus, momentum is building for a TikTok ban. And the hosts share their thoughts on the word of the year in a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“NASA delays Artemis 2 moon mission to 2026, Artemis 3 astronaut landing to mid-2027” from Space

“Trump Defends His Imperiled Pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth” from The New York Times

“Appeals court upholds nationwide TikTok ban-or-sale law” from The Washington Post

“TikTok advertisers stay put after US appeals court upholds law forcing sale” from Reuters

“Bitcoin mining surge strains energy grids as miners make a fortune” from Marketplace

“OpenAI is charging $200 a month for an exclusive version of its o1 ‘reasoning’ model” from The Verge

“50% off! Cyber Monday deal today only! (Kidding!)” from Marketplace

“Dolly Parton launches search for actors to play her in a new Broadway musical” from USA Today

“‘Brain rot’ is the Oxford University Press word of the year” from AP News

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

The AI in your Spotify Wrapped Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

This year, Spotify’s popular Wrapped feature includes a podcast generated by artificial intelligence that tells users all about their individual listening habits from 2024. But it’s not perfect — at least not yet. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll explain how Amazon is getting into the AI chip game and what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell anticipates from a second Trump administration. Plus, why talks for a global treaty to manage plastic pollution were a bust.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Nvidia Rules A.I. Chips, but Amazon and AMD Emerge as Contenders” from The New York Times

“Amazon Announces Supercomputer, New Server Powered by Homegrown AI Chips” from The Wall Street Journal

“Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions” from AP News

“In a 2nd Trump term, Fed independence would go “out the window,” economist says” from Marketplace

“Climate activist calls for plastic treaty after UN summit failure” from Reuters

“Nations Fail to Reach an Agreement on Plastic Pollution” from The New York Times

“Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast powered by Google’s NotebookLM” from TechCrunch

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

A developing relationship with Africa Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

President Joe Biden today announced an additional $600 million investment in a rail project that will connect multiple African countries. It will expand U.S. access to important minerals like cobalt and copper. But will it be enough to counter China’s dominance over the critical minerals supply chain? We’ll get into it. Plus, why President-elect Donald Trump’s trade adviser pick is giving us serious deja vu. And, Dylan Bachelet, the “Jack Sparrow” of “The Great British Baking Show,” is making us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Biden in Africa pledges millions more for a rail project the US hopes will boost its influence there” from AP News

“Biden Hopes Train Project in Angola Defines Africa Legacy” from The New York Times

“Trump picks Peter Navarro as top trade advisor” from CNBC

“Q&A With Dylan Bachelet of ‘Great British Baking Show’” from The New York Times

If you haven’t made your gift to “Make Me Smart” yet, there’s still time! Make your donation here.

How billionaires took over U.S. elections Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Billionaire families contributed roughly 18% of all money raised during the 2024 election cycle. And many of those mega donors are being tapped for high-level positions in the incoming Donald Trump administration. This begs the question: Is the U.S. government controlled by the ultra rich? David Sirota, founder and editor in chief of The Lever, said he believes the U.S. resembles an oligarchy. On the show today, Sirota explains how the erosion of campaign finance regulations has created a culture in which big money in politics is normalized.

Then, we’ll get into China’s latest move in the ongoing chip trade war with the United States. Plus, what’s the correct way to pronounce “pecan”?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Election 2024: How Billionaire Avengers Destroyed Democracy” from The Lever

“What’s different about billionaire donor Elon Musk’s relationship with Trump” from Vox

“How billionaires are influencing the 2024 U.S. election” from Axios

“Battle of the billionaires: the mega rich spending to swing the US election” from Financial Times

“Remember that study saying America is an oligarchy? 3 rebuttals say it’s wrong.” from Vox

“China bans export of critical minerals to US as trade tensions escalate” from Reuters

“SpaceX Weighs Tender Offer Raising Valuation to $350 Billion” from Bloomberg

“Yes We Pecan, with Martha Stewart” from NPR

It’s Giving Tuesday! Your donation will be matched today when you support Marketplace.

Should the Fed open more regional reserve banks? Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

Nine of the Federal Reserve’s 12 reserve banks are on the Mississippi River or east of it. One former Fed official says it’s caused the central bank to disproportionately reflect the interests of the eastern United States. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll unpack how some businesses are pushing consumers to shop now in anticipation of potential tariffs under the incoming Donald Trump administration. Plus, we’ll smile about one runner’s 700-mile quest to create art on the GPS-tracking app Strava.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“The Fed tilts toward the eastern U.S. It’s time to change that.” [gift link] from The Washington Post

“Now is the time to prepare for tariffs” from The Hill

“Tariffs and you: What products will cost more, when prices will rise, and what to buy now” from USA Today

“Buy Now Before Tariffs Hit, Retailers Are Telling Shoppers” from The Wall Street Journal

“Man ran 700 miles to make ‘insanely impressive’ art on GPS fitness app” [gift link] from The Washington Post

“Why not enlist an army of volunteer retirees?” from The Washington Post

“Do Your Passwords Meet the Proposed New Federal Guidelines?” from The Wall Street Journal

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

How small acts can create global change Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

As many Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends and families, gratitude is top of mind. We’ll break down research that shows how individual acts of kindness and connection can have large-scale impact. And, we’ll discuss a poignant firsthand account of an award-winning journalist experiencing homelessness. Plus, we’ll get into why the Justice Department isn’t satisfied with the National Association of Realtors commission lawsuit settlement, and why parking lots will be the new hot spot for solar energy in France.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“‘The DOJ is coming for NAR’: What’s next after the $418M settlement?” from HousingWire

“The Invisible Man” from Esquire

“An upward spiral – how small acts of kindness and connection really can change the world, according to psychology research” from The Conversation

“Solar installations are now mandatory for large parking lots in France” from The Progress Playbook

Let us know what you’re thankful for. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The history behind Black Friday Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

This week, Black Friday kicks off the traditional holiday shopping season. But have you ever wondered about the origins of the shopping frenzy on the day after Thanksgiving? The little ones in your life may be wondering about that too. Today, we’re bringing you a special crossover episode from the latest season of Marketplace kids podcast “Million Bazillion.” Bridget and Ryan team up with the hosts of “Forever Ago” to explain Black Friday and what it has to do with a football game in Philadelphia. Plus, they share tips on how to shop smarter during the holiday season.

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

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