Make Me Smart

Website : https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/
RSS Feed : https://www.marketplace.org/feed/podcast/make-me-smart
Last Episode : February 18, 2025 11:04pm
Last Scanned : 3.3 hours ago



Episodes
Episodes currently hosted on IPFS.

Confirmed 3
Today we’re talking about bird flu. It’s infecting flocks of chickens, causing egg prices to rise across the country, plus herds of dairy cattle and people are getting sick too. And all of this is happening amid sweeping changes at U.S. federal health agencies. The Trump administration has ordered mass firings and limits on public communications at agencies including the Centers for Disease Control, hindering its ability to keep the public informed. On the show today, Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist and science communicator explains the scale of the current bird flu outbreak, how the response in the United States has been disrupted by chaos in the federal government, and why state health systems may struggle to fill the gaps after years of underfunding.
Plus, for one listener, doing something is better than nothing. And, another listener shares how they changed their mind about the value of government work.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Urgent CDC Data and Analyses on Influenza and Bird Flu Go Missing as Outbreaks Escalate” from KFF Health News
“Mass firings at HHS: Thousands impacted across federal health agencies including CMS, FDA” from Fierce Healthcare
“RFK Jr. confirmed, elevating anti-vaccine activist to nation’s top health post” from The Washington Post
“How Trump’s Medical Research Cuts Would Hit Colleges and Hospitals in Every State” from The New York Times
“The U.S. and the WHO: An Imperfect but Essential Relationship” from Johns Hopkins
What’s something you thought you knew but later found out you were wrong about? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Expires in 33 hours
Published Tuesday

Elon Musk and his DOGE team have been inside the pipes of the federal government on a mission to cut government spending and root out waste. We know government waste exists. But today, we’ll explain the problem with the way DOGE is going about it. Plus, blue state Republicans and their newfound power! And, stick around for your daily dose of positive news: We’ll hear about some of the good things that have been happening to “Make Me Smart” listeners. (Keep ‘em coming!)
Here’s everything we talked about:
Watch: Watch live: House DOGE subcommittee holds first hearing on federal spending on YouTube
“DOGE fight: New subcommittee holds its first House hearing” by Roll Call
“The Government Waste DOGE Should Be Cutting” from The Atlantic
Improper Payments and Fraud: How They Are Related but Different from the Government Accountability Office
Watch: Happening Now: Powell Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee on YouTube
“What does having the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on hold mean for consumers?” from AP News
“How blue state Republicans could shape Congressional legislation this year” by Marketplace
Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published Friday

Throughout the 2024 election campaign, voters kept saying the economy felt bad, even though it looked good on paper. A new report blames that disconnect on the way the government measures the economy — sending economic circles abuzz! We’ll explain what the tizzy is all about. Plus, is the Senate confirmation process for federal officials still useful? And, we’ll smile about the adorableness that is the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Voters Were Right About the Economy. The Data Was Wrong.” from Politico
Article 2 Section 2 Clause 2 | Constitution Annotated from the Library of Congress
“Tulsi Gabbard confirmed by Senate as director of national intelligence” from The Washington Post
“Best of 2025 Masters Agility Championships from Westminster Kennel Club” from Fox Sports
“In pictures: The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show” from CNN
“A Spa Day for Louis Before the Westminster Dog Show” from The New York Times
“Westminster 2025 Preview: Why Can’t Golden Retrievers Win Best in Show?” from The New York Times
Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published Thursday

If President Donald Trump goes through with his plan to levy sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, it wouldn’t be the first time the U.S. has done such a thing. Ever heard of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930? Anyone? Those tariffs are widely credited with sinking the United States deeper into the Great Depression. And although global trade looks different nowadays, they can teach us a lot about how Trump’s protectionist approach to global trade could play out. On the show today, Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains how the Smoot-Hawley tariff debacle can shed light on the current moment, why the president has the power to wield tariffs in the first place, and how punishing trading partners could leave the U.S. economy at a disadvantage. Plus, what this fight has to do with the 1980s film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and Roomba vacuum cleaners!
Later, one listener’s call to visit your local butcher. And, dating coach Damona Hoffman, host of the “Dates and Mates” podcast, answers the “Make Me Smart” question just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Tariffs on Trading Partners: Can the President Actually Do That?” from Council on Foreign Relations
“One Response to Trump’s Tariffs: Trade That Excludes the U.S.” from The New York Times
“The United States has been disengaging from the global economy” from the Peterson Institute for International Economics
“Protectionism 100 years ago helped ignite a world war. Could it happen again?” from The Washington Post
“The US is one of the least trade-oriented countries in the world – despite laying the groundwork for today’s globalized system” from The Conversation
Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 02/12

President Donald Trump has fired dozens of government officials since he took office. The latest is the chair of the Federal Election Commission. But is any of this legal? We’ll get into it. Plus: A “Make Me Smart” alum shares the trauma of losing his home in the Los Angeles fires. Finally, we’ll wrap with a dose of uplifting news (thanks to you!) and a round of our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty!
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Democratic FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub says Trump fired her. She says it’s not legal.” from CBS News
“Trump Illegally Attempts to Fire Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub” from Campaign Legal Center
“How to Watch All the 2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films” by Town & Country magazine
“2025 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!” by Erin in the Morning
“The Trauma of Losing Your Home in the Eaton Fire” from The New York Times
“A Los Angeles-area developer gives advice on rebuilding after the fires” from Marketplace
Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 02/08

Elon Musk and the rest of the DOGE gang have been inside the guts of the federal government attempting to shut down agencies and gain access to the Treasury Department’s main payment system. We’ll discuss the constitutionality of it all and why some members of Congress may be reluctant to say it like it is. Plus, the toy business is paying attention to prices as Trump threatens trade war. And, AI is making a splash at the 2025 Super Bowl.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
Watch: “Rep. Khanna: If Elon Musk finds fraud or wasteful spending, come to Congress and force a vote on it” by CNBC Television
“Is the way Trump and Musk are running the economy even legal?” by Marketplace
“Trump admin agrees to limit DOGE access to Treasury payments system” from Axios
“Musk DOGE agents access sensitive personnel data, alarming officials” by The Washington Post
“U.S. nonprofits still reeling from federal funding freeze” from Marketplace
2024 Q4 Earnings Call from Alphabet Investor Relations
“Mattel may hike prices for Barbie, Hot Wheels and other toys after Trump tariffs” by CBS News
“Fast fashion, laptops and toys are likely to cost more due to US tariffs on Chinese imports” from AP News
Watch: Act Like You Know :60 | GoDaddy Super Bowl Commercial 2025 on YouTube
“Super Bowl to feature AI product ads from Big Tech” from Marketplace
Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Published 02/06

Is Elon Musk’s control of government offices as an unelected official a coup? Lots of people seem to think so. We’ll explain why. Plus, another potential government shutdown is looming and it may work in Democrats’ favor. And, one surprisingly effective (and protein-rich) way food insecurity in Pennsylvania is being addressed.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“What the Black Hawk Pilots Could See, Just Before the Crash” by The New York Times
“Shutdown fears grow as Trump battles multiply” by The Hill
“‘We would call it a coup’: Watchdogs and Dems attack Elon Musk Treasury Department takeover” from USA Today
“The ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ of the United States Government” by The Atlantic
“Elon Musk’s Power Grab Is Lawless, Dangerous, and—Yes—a Coup” from Slate
“The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s power grab: a coup veiled by chaos” by The Guardian
“Processing Deer to Eliminate Food Insecurity” by the Daily Yonder
Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 02/06

It’s hard to overstate the role immigrant workers play in the U.S. economy. Key industries rely on them — nearly half of meat-processing jobs, for instance, are held by immigrants. And many work in low-wage jobs that are vulnerable to exploitation.
Ted Genoways, a reporter with the Food and Environment Reporting Network, said Trump’s promises of mass deportations is creating fear and uncertainty for immigrant workers, both authorized and unauthorized, as well as for the massive food companies that employ them.
“If history is any guide, this will probably mean increased food prices, if only for companies trying to hedge against the possibility of something disastrous happening,” said Genoways.
On today’s show, Genoways gives us a snapshot of the low-wage immigrant workforce’s role in our economy and unpacks how Trump’s deportation plans could disrupt America’s food supply. Plus, why aren’t food companies held accountable for exploiting their employees?
And, we’ll get into what restrictions on the U.S. Agency for International Development could mean for Cuba. Plus, would you trust Kai with the aux?
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“This Week’s Episode of Reveal: Immigrants on the Line” from Mother Jones
Opinion | “How Trump’s Deportation Plans Could Blow Up the Food System and Increase Migrant Labor” from Politico
“Brooke Rollins, Trump’s Agriculture Pick, Addresses Tariff and Immigration Impact on Farmers” from The New York Times
“How Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants threatens the workforce for U.S. farm workforce” from CBS News
“Trump’s Pause of U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America: An ‘America Last’ Policy” from WOLA
“US secretly created ‘Cuban Twitter’ to stir unrest and undermine government” from The Guardian
“Chappell Roan wins best new artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards” from AP News
Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 02/05

Kimberly’s back from Cuba just in time to discuss the onslaught of President Donald Trump’s executive actions, from tariffs to his federal funding freeze. Lawsuits are being filed left and right against the administration’s moves, but will the Supreme Court still serve as a check on the executive branch? Plus, Kimberly unpacks lasting reflections on Cuba’s contradictions as a country with strong social services like universal education yet acute wage disparities.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Trump’s Driving Legal Principle This Time: ‘What Are You Gonna Do About It?’” by Rolling Stone
“Trump is using a nearly 50-year-old law to justify new tariffs. It may not be legal.” from Politico
“Will the Supreme Court rule that any laws still apply to Donald Trump?” from Vox
“Egypt to Cover Tuition Costs for 1,077 Students After Suspension of USAID Scholarship Programs” by Egyptian Streets
Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].
Published 02/03

Today, we’re diving into a listener’s question about the new artificial intelligence chatbot on the scene. Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s AI model is said to be more cost-effective, less complex, and in some ways, just plain better than OpenAI’s ChatGPT. We’ll explain why the stock market’s freaking out and what it means for the U.S.-China AI race. Plus, we’ll share a story about a historic test flight that’ll have aviation nerds smiling. And the iconic “When Harry Met Sally” diner scene is recreated 35 years later. IYKYK.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“How DeepSeek Went From Stock Trader to A.I. Star” from The New York Times
“Chevron Wants to Tap Into A.I. Boom by Selling Electricity to Data Centers” from The New York Times
“DeepSeek’s AI Model Just Upended the White-Hot US Power Market” from Bloomberg
“DOE Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers” from the Department of Energy
“China’s DeepSeek Ends the Party for U.S. Energy Stocks” from Heatmap News
“Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan Return as Harry and Sally in Hellmann’s Super Bowl Spot” from The Hollywood Reporter
Video: “Boom Supersonic XB-1 jet breaks sound barrier on historic test flight” from Space
Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 01/30

Today we’re handing the mic over to the team behind “Burning Questions” from Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast “How We Survive” as they survey the devastation on the ground in the Pacific Palisades, and dig into the homeowners insurance crisis. Since the Los Angeles fires broke out, thousands have lost their homes and current estimates say insured losses may exceed $30 billion. The disaster has raised existential questions about the future of the insurance industry and its potential impact on the housing market. Host Amy Scott talks with Carolyn Kousky from the Environmental Defense Fund to find answers.
Published 01/28

On today’s episode, Kimberly takes us along her trip to Cuba, a country that remains under strict U.S. economic sanctions. She’ll explains some unique aspects of the Cuban economy, from how the currency works to the island’s complicated complicated past as a colonial outpost for sugar plantations. Plus, what makes the Cuban mojito special.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
“Cuba predicts 1% growth in 2025 after dismal year, economy minister says” from Reuters
“How U.S. sanctions and a Communist government caused Cuba’s power crisis” from NPR
“Biden’s move to remove Cuba from terror list continues ‘yo-yo’ policy likely to be reversed by Trump” from The Conversation
“How Cuba’s sugar industry has been ground into dust” from Al Jazeera
Got a question or comment for us? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
Published 01/28