Make Me Smart

Ahead of this year’s election, politicians are spinning out all kinds of narratives about how immigration hurts the U.S. economy. But an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office projects that a surge in immigration over the next decade will ultimately lower the federal deficit. We’ll do the numbers. Then, we’ll get into why former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers compared the Republican Party’s economic agenda to former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss’ infamous mini-budget disaster. And, Kai tells us about his cool dad moment. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Summers Says GOP Fiscal Plans Set US Up for ‘Liz Truss Moment’”“Undocumented immigrants will boost economy, lower deficit, CBO says”“Effects of the Immigration Surge on the Federal Budget and the Economy”“Why Hydrangeas Are Blooming Spectacularly in the Northeast This Summer”“Chappell Roan Booked a Tour. Then She Blew Up.” Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today, we’re talking about one of Kai Ryssdal’s favorite topics: soccer! The sport’s U.S. audience is only expected grow, especially as the country gets ready to host the World Cup in 2026. Paul Tenorio, soccer writer for The Athletic, said access to the sport has changed dramatically for Americans over the last decade. On the show today, Tenorio explains why soccer is gaining a new audience, what lessons American stadiums can learn from mistakes at the recent Copa América tournament, and how legendary player Lionel Messi is bringing eyes and money to the game in the United States. Then, we’ll get into how companies are using troves of data to target different consumers, and why this “surveillance pricing” has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. And, what a travel editor got wrong about repeat travel. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Messi Effect – How One Single Player Will Impact Soccer In America”“‘It was inhuman’: Why the Copa America final was delayed and dangerously close to disaster”“U.S. Soccer Fans Are Younger, More Diverse Than Fans of Other Sports”“What Messi’s MLS, Apple, Adidas deal means for everyone else”“You’re not going crazy — you may actually be paying higher prices than other people”“FTC Issues Orders to Eight Companies Seeking Information on Surveillance Pricing”“Why Is the US Deficit So Big? Depends on Who You Ask”“What the bond market’s telling us, or not, about Biden’s withdrawal” Send us your suggestions for Paris Games-themed cocktails or let us know what Olympic events you’re looking forward to watching. Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s official, folks. Over the weekend, President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in. Some are pointing out similarities between VP Harris’ eleventh-hour candidacy and the “glass cliff effect,” when a woman is put in a position of leadership to fix a company in crisis. We’ll get into it and fill you in on how the Harris campaign is leaning into memes to attract the Gen Z vote. Plus, gaps in China’s newly released economic plans leave questions about the country’s ability to turn things around. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Heat pumps, EV chargers and more: U.S. unveils $4.3 billion in local climate funds”“When That Job Promotion Is Really a ‘Glass Cliff'”“China’s Long Blueprint for Economy Falls Short on Details, Raising Concerns”“What coconut trees and Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ have to do with Kamala Harris”“What is Kamala Harris’ ‘brat’ rebrand all about?”“Brat campaign: Harris team swiftly embraces Gen Z memes about VP” Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In May, President Joe Biden’s campaign said it had a hefty $91 million stashed in the bank. If Biden were to end his candidacy, what would happen to all that cash? We’ll get into it. And, we’ll explain why the federal government’s plan to phase out its purchases of single-use plastics could have a sizable impact on the country’s use of plastic overall. Plus, we’ll get nostalgic for DVDs and paper checks during a game of Half Full/Half Empty! And, would you talk politics in the office? Here’s everything we talked about today: “It’s time to stop arguing over the population slowdown and start adapting to it”“What happens to Joe Biden’s campaign money?”“The White House Has a Plan to Slash Plastic Use in the U.S.”“FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Releases New Strategy to Tackle Plastic Pollution, Takes Action to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Federal Operations”“What is Microsoft’s “blue screen of death?” Here’s what it means and how to fix it.”“RIP Redbox, a Bad Idea at the Worst Time”“Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat and We’re Not OK”“Target will stop accepting this old-school form of payment”“How can we talk about politics in the workplace?” Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This week Sean O’Brien became the first ever president of the Teamsters union to speak at the Republican National Convention. We’ll explain why this ruffled some feathers and what it could mean for the relationship between unions and the Democratic Party. And, we’ll get into how the lock-in effect is shaping today’s housing market and why the Federal Reserve won’t wait for inflation to fall to 2% before lowering interest rates. Plus, when it comes to avoiding online misinformation while a crisis unfolds, patience is a virtue. “Sean O’Brien: Why a union president crossed partisan lines for a starring role at Trump’s RNC”“A Teamsters Boss Delivers Rare Speech to R.N.C.”“First-time homebuyers are a growing share of the market”“We fact-checked some of the rumors spreading online about the Trump assassination attempt”“How to Avoid Online Misinformation After Political Violence”“CPI inflation report June 2024”“Interest rates may work like a ‘Jedi mind trick’ to drive price trends” 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 and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

The transition to our clean energy economy is already underway. But progress on climate change may slow down as climate populism on the far right is taking root in developed economies. We’ll explain why cheaper, green technologies might be the antidote. Meanwhile, in Arizona, ballooning costs for a school voucher program triggered a state budget crisis. Plus, NASA blasted a Missy Elliot song all the way to Venus at the speed of light! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Populist opposition is threatening progress on climate change”“School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.”“A Missy Elliott Song Travels to Venus at the Speed of Light”“Paris mayor swims in Seine ahead of Olympic Games opening”“Pressed about jumping into Baltimore Harbor, Mayor Scott and others admit it’s still unsafe and illegal outside of organized events” Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

If you’ve been feeling hopeless about the news, the election, the economy, the climate crisis and everything else that’s going on, today’s episode is for you. Emily Amick, lawyer and co-author of “Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives,” argues we can all become better participants in our democracy. And we don’t need to have a gazillion dollars to do it. On the show today, Amick explains why we should treat civic engagement as self-care, how to find your civic personality and ways to cultivate a news diet that doesn’t put you in a doom loop. Plus, the moment she realized our democracy was headed in the wrong direction. Then, we’ll get into how voters in Utah fought to protect the power of citizen-led ballot initiatives and why shoppers hide purchases from their romantic partners. Plus, an anime cosplayer was wrong about what it would take to create her own costume. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Despite Recent Setbacks, There Is Still Hope For Democracy”“In ‘Democracy in Retrograde,’ Emily Amick Talks About Political Engagement and Her Cancer Diagnosis”“What does Utah’s redistricting ruling do to voters’ ability to change laws?”“Utah Supreme Court: Lawmakers must heed voter-passed gerrymandering reforms ““Amazon’s Prime Day a ‘major’ cause of worker injuries, Senate probe finds”“US Retail Sales Excluding Autos Rise by Most in Three Months”“Gym Bags, Trunks, Back Doors: How Stealth Shoppers Hide Purchases”“Financial Infidelity Report 2023: Why People Hide Purchases From Partners”“Inside a UPS warehouse that prioritizes super-fast shipping” How are you getting involved in civic life? What helps you fend off feelings of hopelessness? Let us know at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

We’re still processing the news of the shooting at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend. On top of that, a federal judge dismissed the classified documents case against the former president. We’ll get into the news and why it matters how we talk about it. Then, we’ll explain why eviction rates remain above pre-pandemic levels in many parts of the country. Plus, some good news from the world of science about a malaria vaccine rollout in Ivory Coast and a $14 million investment in battery recycling. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Evictions Surge in Major Cities in the American Sunbelt”“Judge dismisses Trump’s classified documents case”“Malaria Vaccines: Which Countries in Africa Are Using Serum’s New Shots?”“It Will Soon Be Easier for Americans to Recycle Batteries”Biden-Harris Administration Announces $14 Million to Increase Domestic Battery Recycling“How can we talk about politics in the workplace?” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In the aftermath of the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, money’s been talking. Major donors to a key pro-Biden super PAC are reportedly putting donations worth $90 million on ice if Biden stays in the race. We’ll get into what the funding freeze means for the future of Biden’s campaign. Plus, guest host Sabri Ben-Achour makes us smart about cricket protein powder. And we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Donors to Pro-Biden Super PAC Are Said to Withhold Roughly $90 Million”“Inside the glitzy Biden fundraiser that lost the president George Clooney”“Silkworm satay? Singapore approves insects as food”“Dynamic pricing tech may brighten retail bottom lines and put consumers in the dark”“Kids want $70 wrinkle creams. Parents and lawmakers are “fighting a losing battle”’“A Fancy Card Is Becoming the Only Way to Get a Restaurant Reservation”“Influencer Style Case Risks More Stolen Vibe Suits From Creators”“Amazon launched an AI shopping assistant — just in time for Prime Day” Before you get your weekend started, send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

If you’re waiting for interest rates to fall back to the near-zero levels of the 2010s, don’t hold your breath. On Capitol Hill this week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told senators that era is probably over. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll unpack why more NATO members are spending more on defense and what’s causing widespread financial strain for hospitals and health systems. Plus, how things could change for federal agencies and lawmakers in a post-Chevron doctrine world. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Era of near-zero interest rates likely over: Powell”“Fed steers interest rates on path toward ‘neutral'”“NATO’s place in the global economy”“NATO on the Edge: Biden Praises and Trump Denigrates a 75-Year Alliance”“Health care openings still hot amid cooling job market”“New AHA Report: Hospitals and Health Systems Continue to Face Rising Costs, Economic Pressures”“With end of ‘Chevron deference,’ Supreme Court changes how agencies, lawmakers work” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

For the oldest members of Gen X, retirement is right around the corner. But a new report from BlackRock found only 60% of Gen X feels on track to retire, the lowest of any generation. We’ll do the numbers on which Americans feel confident in their retirement savings and what could explain generational and gender gaps. And, we’ll get into a social media horror story playing out at a Pennsylvania middle school. Plus, Team USA gymnasts will bring the sparkle factor to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Reality bites for Gen X retirement”“Read on Retirement”“Rules for 401(k) Withdrawals”“Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School”“Team USA’s Olympic Gymnasts Will Wear Leotards With a Record Number of Crystals”“See the U.S. Olympic gymnastic team’s new leotards encrusted in crystals”“SNL’s Teacher Sketch Gets Real About the Most Important Job: “Y’all Won”‘“‘Shrek 5’ Set for 2026 with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz Returning” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is as American as apple pie. But it wasn’t always this way, and it’s putting the housing market in a tough spot lately. A substantial amount of homeowners with low-rate mortgages are choosing to stay put in their homes rather than selling and buying a new one at higher rates. It’s created what’s known as a lock-in effect. On the show today, Andra Ghent, professor of finance at the University of Utah, explains how a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage became the norm in the United States, why it’s now putting the housing market in a bind, and how our mortgage system perpetuates inequality. Plus, could the Danish mortgage model work here? Then, we’ll get into why the Federal Trade Commission is eyeing pharmacy benefit managers, the third-party companies that negotiate drug prices between health insurance providers and drugmakers. And, an editor at The Points Guy shares the story of a travel lesson learned. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why do we have a 30-year mortgage, anyway?”“A Huge Number of Homeowners Have Mortgage Rates Too Good to Give Up”“A 30-Year Trap: The Problem With America’s Weird Mortgages”“Denmark’s genius housing fix”“Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell, So the Market for Brand-New Homes Is Booming”“FTC Releases Interim Staff Report on Prescription Drug Middlemen”“F.T.C. Slams Middlemen for High Drug Prices, Reversing Hands-Off Approach”“State Pharmacy Benefit Manager Legislation”“Prescription Drugs: Selected States’ Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers”“Fed Chair Powell talks up progress on inflation but says rate cuts not imminent yet”“Software and social media to grab Congress’ attention” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In June, global temperatures had surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for 12 months straight, encroaching on the goal set in the Paris climate accord. We’ll explain why scientists use 1.5 degrees as a key benchmark and why it’s important to have hard conversations about climate change. Then, we’ll get into an investigation revealing how insurers profited from false diagnoses of Medicare patients. And, a billion-dollar donation to a medical school and new developments in textile recycling make us smile. Here’s everything we talked about today: “In a troubling milestone, Earth surpasses 1.5 degrees C of warming for 12 consecutive months”“June 2024 marks 12th month of global temperature reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial”“Burning Questions: What’s the deal with 1.5 degrees?”“‘We’re Not Dead Yet.’ Baby Boomers’ Good Times Drive the Economy.”“Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated”“How the Journal Analyzed Medicare Advantage Data”“Why scientists think they may finally have found a way to recycle clothes”“Johns Hopkins to offer free medical school tuition from $1 billion Bloomberg Philanthropies grant”“$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! We’re on a little break for the Fourth of July holiday. So today we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at “This Is Uncomfortable.” It’s all about the fashion industry and the workers who make the clothes we buy (and often throw away). In this episode, producer Alice Wilder introduces us to one garment worker’s personal fight for fair pay and the push to improve conditions for garment workers like her.

Hey Smarties! We’re off for the Fourth of July holiday. So today we’re bringing you a super fun episode of “Million Bazillion” that’ll teach you and your kiddos about a bit of our nation’s history and a highly secretive landmark. It’s all about Fort Knox, known as one of the most secure places in the world, and why it holds so much of the country’s gold. Plus, its role in stabilizing the U.S. economy in a time of crisis.

Much in our modern lives depends on GPS. But the United States’ GPS system is getting old and hasn’t kept up with international competition. We’ll get into how this leaves the U.S. vulnerable to national security threats. And, new data shows that as abortion protections have eroded across the country, more young women have been getting sterilized. Plus, one nonprofit’s work to give kids who’ve aged out of foster care a bona fide college move-in experience, and a women’s soccer stadium’s surprise success story. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why GPS Is Under Attack”“Rate of Young Women Getting Sterilized Doubled After Roe Was Overturned”“Move-In Day Mafia Helps Kids From Foster Care Settle In College”“No One Wanted to Finance Their Stadium. Now Every Game Is a Sellout.” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

It’s been about four years since the great remote work experiment took off for many employees who work computer-bound jobs. After plenty of back and forth between return-to-office mandates and work-from-home advocates, neither side really won. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the share of Americans doing some or all of their work from home has leveled off to about 35%. On the show today, The New York Times’ Emma Goldberg explains who’s working from home these days and how it’s impacting both employees and their bosses. Plus, the commercial real estate question looms large over the remote work debate. Then, we’ll get into why the Joe Biden administration’s new protections for workers in extreme heat could be threatened by recent Supreme Court rulings and a potential second Trump presidency. And, the CEO of GS1, the company administering retail barcodes, didn’t see the QR code takeover coming. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Work From Home Data Shows Who’s Fully Remote, Hybrid and in Person”“Research: How Remote Work Impacts Women at Different Stages of Their Careers”“More Americans now prefer hybrid over fully remote work, survey finds”“Remote Workers Are Losing Out on Promotions, New Data Shows”“Dell said return to the office or else—nearly half of workers chose “or else'”“Tesla delivered fewer vehicles to customers for the second quarter in a row”“Biden to announce heat rules as climate-related deaths rise”“Fact check: Republicans, not Democrats, eliminated the Senate filibuster on Supreme Court nominees” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A Supreme Court ruling today gives companies a dramatically wider window to challenge federal regulations with lawsuits. We’ll get into why this is particularly important in light of a separate decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine, and how it could impact other federal regulations like the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete clauses. Then, we’ll discuss the Supreme Court’s decision on former President Donald Trump’s immunity case and where the heck we go from here. Plus, what you can do to protect the health of our democracy. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Supreme Court rules Trump has some immunity in D.C. election interference case”“Supreme Court Extends Time Frame for Challenges to Regulations”“Biden to extend overtime protections for 1 million workers”Post on Bluesky“American democracy is cracking. These ideas could help repair it.”“Five Strategies to Support U.S. Democracy”“How to Protect Democracy”“Opinion | John Lewis: Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

There were no fireworks for the Democratic Party during last night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. While Trump made false claims throughout the night, Biden did little to assuage fears that he’s not up to the job. We’ll get into how the Biden campaign’s fundraising strategy is already shifting and what it might mean for downballot races. Then, we’ll weigh in on Fourth of July travel and drone light shows during a game of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side”“US Presidential Debate Viewership Analysis”“Biden-Trump presidential debate draws 48 million TV viewers”“Politics and ‘a tale of different economies”’“Why taxpayers keep footing much of the bill for new sports stadiums”“Google puts an end to continuous scroll”“MTV News Website Goes Dark, Archives Pulled Offline”“Fourth of July travel is set to break records. Here’s how to plan.”“Why drones are replacing fireworks shows”“We RICK ROLLED The City of Austin, TX With 600 Drones” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to the Securities and Exchange Commission today when it ruled against its use of in-house judges to enforce securities fraud laws. We’ll get into why the decision will make the SEC’s job harder and what it could mean for other federal agencies. Plus, we’ll bust a common myth about Social Security and explain why homeownership is key factor in how Americans are faring in this economy. Here’s everything we talked about today: “US Supreme Court faults SEC’s use of in-house judges in latest curbs on agency powers”“The Supreme Court’s chaotic SEC v. Jarkesy decision endangers ‘hundreds of statutes'”“Social Security cuts are inevitable by 2035 unless lawmakers act”“How the Inflation Reduction Act could change the future of one Native American reservation”“Credit card delinquencies are climbing”“Are we living in a K-shaped economy?” We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.