Make Me Smart with Kai and Molly

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.