Make Me Smart With Kai And Molly

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took a trip to Capitol Hill this week to testify about the health of the U.S. economy. We’ll get into the TL;DR of Powell’s testimony and why he doesn’t foresee a recession around the corner. And, we’ll talk about how political campaigns are spending on advertising these days. Plus, the latest regional banking woes and what rapidly advancing deepfakes could do to this year’s elections. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Key takeaways from Fed Chair Powell’s testimony on Capitol Hill” from CNN Business “What’s new in campaign ads? Asking for money to buy more ads and run them absolutely everywhere” from Marketplace “NYCB fallout has longer-term ramifications for regionals now, says Ritholtz’s Josh Brown” from CNBC “Steven Mnuchin Backs New York Community Bank in $1 Billion Deal” from The New York Times “Deepfakes and the 2024 election seaso

Nikki Haley has officially ended her 2024 presidential bid and had a lot to say about the state of the economy as she bowed out. We’ll get into that and look at where the dominoes are falling in the presidential contest post-Super Tuesday. Plus, the money moves political candidates sometimes make to cruise to victory. And, how “rumor clinics” helped combat mis- and disinformation during World War II. Here’s everything we talked about today: Statement about Nikki Haley’s exit from the presidential campaign “McConnell endorses Trump for president as Haley suspends campaign” from The Hill “RNC resolution to prohibit paying Trump’s legal bills is ‘dead’” from Politico “New York Community Bancorp to Get More Than $1 Billion Investment” from The Wall Street Journal “Steve Garvey’s Improbable Rise, Decades After His Baseball Heyday” from The New York Times “Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he̵

It’s Super Tuesday, and we’re talking about something that’s on the ballot in many nations around the world: populism. Right-wing populist movements have been gaining popularity in democracies like Hungary, Italy, India and the United States, to name a few. On the show today, sociologist Bart Bonikowski breaks down what populism is, how it shows up on the left and right, why right-wing populism seems to be catching foothold in so many countries and the economic factors at play. Plus, why this year could be a test for global democracy. Then, the reason you may be having trouble getting your prescription drugs lately. And, we’ll hear from our listeners about their favorite anime series. Here’s everything we talked about today: “It’s a major global election year, and populism is on the ballot” from Ipsos “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash” from Harvard Kennedy School “Revealed

Today we’re digging into a series of economic reports that give us more insight into what’s happening in this economy. First, we look at rising prices, the cost of money and why inflation might actually be higher than we think. Then, what a new report says about the most physically demanding jobs in America. Plus, how a school in Burkina Faso stays cool in triple-digit temps. And, a “Make Me Smart” listener shares anime-style fan art! Here’s everything we talked about today: “The cost of money doesn’t factor into the cost of living” from Marketplace “The Cost of Money is Part of the Cost of Living: New Evidence on the Consumer Sentiment Anomaly” from the National Bureau of Economic Research “The most physically demanding jobs in America” from The Washington Post “Direct file tax system opens to new users as IRS service levels improve” from The Hill “‘We don’t need air con’

Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, saying the artificial intelligence company abandoned its founding mission to prioritize the benefit of humanity over profit. Is this just a bunch of industry drama, or could it be a real turning point in the development of generative AI? And, how the cultural conversation around shoplifting has played out at one CVS store. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty, and Kimberly shares a hair-raising leech story. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The legend of the empty CVS in Washington, D.C.” from The Washington Post “CDC ending five-day COVID isolation guidance” from The Hill “Elon Musk Sues OpenAI, Sam Altman, Saying They Abandoned Founding Mission” from The Wall Street Journal “Can “Dune: Part Two” bring audiences back to movie theaters?” from Marketplace “Why are so many CEOs heading for the exits?” from Marketplace

We’ve got mail! And, lots of questions about inflation from listeners. Today, we’ll explain why interest rates cuts may be on the horizon even amid a booming economy; the relationship between the minimum wage and inflation; and what leap day means for your paycheck. Plus, Kai and Kimberly get a special delivery! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Cut Interest Rates in an Economy This Strong? A Big Question Confronts the Fed” from The New York Times “Personal Income and Outlays, January 2024” from Bureau of Economic Analysis “Fed’s Preferred Inflation Metric Increases by Most in a Year” from Bloomberg “Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2020” from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “Wage increases haven’t really boosted inflation, new Fed research says” from Marketplace “How does leap year affect your paycheck?” from Marketplace “It’s leap day

Mitch McConnell announced he’s stepping down as leader of Senate Republicans this year. The longest-serving Senate leader revealed the decision amid ongoing negotiations over Ukraine funding and a looming government shutdown. We’ll look back on his historic tenure. Plus, why some corporations should learn to read the room. And, the legacy of “Soul Train,” the iconic TV dance show. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Mitch McConnell to step down from Republican Senate leadership” from The Associated Press “Kellogg CEO under fire for cereal for dinner campaign” from The Washington Post “Wendy’s ‘Will Not Implement Surge Pricing,’ Spokesperson Says” from The Today Show “The revolutionary spirit of Soul Train” from Vox NASA satellite and Russian satellite get dangerously close to each other  from LeoLabs on X More thoughts about these satellites from Paul Byrne on X “What to do

Anime seems to be just about everywhere these days: film, music videos, the NFL and big streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. “Anime is colossal. In terms of raw revenue, anime and the NLF are tied at about $20 billion in [annual global] revenue,” said Chris Plante, editor in chief and co-founder of Polygon at Vox Media. “When you think of anime, it can be seen as niche, but the reality is that couldn’t be further from the truth.” On the show today, Plante explains anime economics, what’s behind the rise of anime in the United States and some of the problematic aspects of the medium. Later, we’ll discuss how climate change is impacting cherry blossom season and why the commercial real estate crisis could be a big problem for regional banks. Later, one listener calls in on a landline about landlines. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from a digital illustrator based in Long Beach, California. Here’s everything we talked about today:

Next month, Congress has a jam-packed to-do list, including funding the government, the ongoing impeachment proceedings of the Homeland Security secretary and high-stakes congressional primaries. We’ll explain all the reasons March is about to be a doozy in Washington. Plus, the work and money behind TikTok’s viral trick-shot videos. And the inspiration behind the theme music for Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Here’s everything we talked about today: “35 Hours for a 10-Second Clip: The Art of the TikTok Trick Shot” from The New York Times “Editor’s Note: Never mind the Ides of March, beware all of March” from Roll Call “The rhythmic world of Koji Kondo, maestro of Mario” from The Washington Post “$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School” from The New York Times Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class A stock price from Google Finance We love to hear from you. Send your questions and commen

It’s been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the U.S. is imposing new sanctions on Russia in an attempt to weaken the Kremlin. But sanctions aren’t proving to be all that effective. We’ll get into some research weighing how well government sanctions work compared to consumer-driven boycotts. And, Instagram is a popular news destination, whether the social media operation likes it or not. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Instagram’s Uneasy Rise as a News Site” from The New York Times “2 Years Into Russia-Ukraine War, U.S. Campaign to Isolate Putin Shows Limits” from The New York Times “Biden announces over 500 new sanctions for Russia’s war in Ukraine and Navalny death” from NPR “A Theory of International Boycotts” from economist Abdoulaye Ndiaye “Google tests removing the News tab from search results” from

Nvidia’s fourth quarter results blew past analysts’ expectations with a revenue of $22.1 billion. We’ll get into what sizzling hot demand for the chip maker’s products says about the larger generative AI boom. And, we’ll discuss the threat AI-generated misinformation poses to the 2024 election, and what states are doing to combat it. Plus, experiencing sticker shock at the grocery store lately? Kellogg suggests trying cereal for dinner. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nvidia Sales Reach New Heights as Company Forecasts Bigger AI Boom” from The Wall Street Journal “Authorities target two Texas firms in probe of AI-generated robocalls before New Hampshire’s primary” from AP News “After the chaos of 2020, states are preparing for election challenges — and threats” from “Marketplace” “‘I think our fear of high inflation is well warranted,’” Minneapolis Fed president

Most of the cargo cranes at U.S. ports are made in China, and they could be spying. The Biden administration announced a plan to spend billions of dollars to replace and manufacture the equipment domestically over national security concerns. We’ll explain. Plus, how an Alabama court ruling on embryos may affect fertility treatments in a post-Roe world. And, the story of a man, an astronaut and a homemade antenna. Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. to Invest Billions to Replace China-Made Cranes at Nation’s Ports” from The Wall Street Journal “Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children, imperiling IVF” from  The Washington Post “Alabama health system pauses IVF treatments after court embryo ruling” from The Hill “Man in Backyard Talks to Orbiting Astronaut Using Homemade Antenna” from kottke.org “Florida farmworkers created America’s strongest workplace heat rules” from The Was

After former President Trump’s recent digs at NATO, officials at a global security conference in Munich over the weekend weighed what European countries would do if Trump were re-elected and abandoned the United States’ treaty commitments. On the show today, Kathleen McInnis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the history and future of NATO and why it matters to the global economy. We’ll also share our takeaways from Fani Willis’ testimony. Plus, a former NASA astronaut was wrong about what we (earthlings) gain from going to space. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump said he might ignore NATO’s duty to defend. Here’s what the group does.” from The Washington Post “After Trump’s claims, here’s what to know about NATO member defense spending” from ABC News “NATO’s Article 5 Collective Defense Obligations, Explained” from Brennan Center for Just

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, has died in a Russian penal colony. We’ll reflect on Navalny’s impact and what it means to push back against the slow creep of political change. Plus, more evidence that plastic recycling is a myth pushed by the plastics industry. And, we’ll weigh in on the romance novel revival and landline phones in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘They lied’: plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals” from The Guardian “Tucker Carlson: ‘No decent person would defend’ what happened to Navalny” from The Hill “OpenAI teases ‘Sora,’ its new text-to-video AI model” from NBC News “Best Buy to End DVD, Blu-ray Disc Sales” from Variety “Making beer with the help of AI” from Axios “Steamy, sultry and stigmatized no more: romance novels are having a momen

Joe Biden’s re-election campaign launched a meme-heavy TikTok account in an effort to reach young voters. But considering national security concerns related to the platform, will the move pay off? We’ll get into it. Plus, strikes by Uber and Lyft drivers across the country are once again highlighting the distinction between contractors and employees. And, we’ll get into Bitcoin’s rebound and Beyoncé’s venture into country music. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Why Lyft and Uber drivers did their largest strike ever” from Vox “Chicago Uber, Lyft drivers join Valentine’s Day strike with thousands across country” from The Chicago Sun-Times President Biden’s first post on TikTok “Biden campaign joins TikTok in an effort to reach younger voters” from The Washington Post “Bitcoin briefly crosses $52,000 as it recaptures $1 trillion market cap” from CNBC “Crypto ET

Israel plans to expand its military offensive into Rafah, a city on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip where many Palestinians are sheltered. On the show today, guest host Reema Khrais reflects on her personal connection to the major conflict and shares some of her reporting on the experience of Palestinians in Gaza right now. Plus, how the Joe Biden administration is grappling with growing pushback against unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. Then, we’ll smile about lifelong female friendships and AI-generated breakup texts. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Some Palestinians leave Rafah refuge, fearing Israeli assault” from Reuters “A conversation with Baba” from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” “My name is Hana” from Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” “Calls grow in Europe to halt arms exports to Israel as US Senate passes aid package” from CNN “

This Valentine’s Day eve, we’re thinking about love and what the economy has to do with it. Coming off the heels of a high-inflation period, is this a good time in our economy to find love? On the show today, Julia Carpenter, a personal finance reporter for The Wall Street Journal, discusses how the economy shapes our relationships, the growing wealth gap between single and married people, and the idea of a “money date.” Then, married people enjoy many legal benefits that aren’t extended to single folks. Is it time to change that? And this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question is all about Swiftynomics! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Couples Embrace the Least Romantic Date Ever: The Money Date” from The Wall Street Journal “It’s Now 40% More Expensive to Be Single and Dating Than It Was a Decade Ago” from Time “‘I’m So in Debt That I’m Afraid to Date’” from The Cut “How

Former President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO allies that don’t pay their bills. We’ll discuss why Trump’s willingness to ignore our treaty obligations hurts Americans’ freedom and standard of living. Plus, why robots aren’t coming for our jobs anytime soon. And, we’ll make you smart on why cats get stuck in trees! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump told S.C. rally that he supports Russian aggression against NATO allies” from NPR “Wealth disparities by race grew during the pandemic, despite income gains, report shows” from The Associated Press “Robot invasion hit a bump in 2023 as North American economy cooled” from Reuters “Yes, cats do get stuck in trees. This climber rescues them for free.” from The Washington Post Travis Kelce yelling at coach becomes Super Bowl meme from Scott Lincicome on X We love to he

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers a glimpse into the gender and racial makeup of occupations in the U.S. workforce. One takeaway from the data: Many jobs are still highly gendered. Guest hosts Amy Scott and Nova Safo get into it. And, we’ll explain why the chickens may be coming home to roost for banks due to commercial real estate vacancies. Plus, we’ll play a heated round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Yellen: It’s ‘obvious’ that empty office buildings will create banking stress and losses” from CNN Business “Yellen sees more commercial real estate stress, losses, but no systemic banking risk” from Reuters “40% of Lawyers Are Women. 7% Are Black. America’s Workforce in Charts” from The Wall Street Journal “Some colleges are bringing back the SAT and ACT requirement” from Marketplace “The Hottest New Accessory in LA Restaurants? Your Takeout Con

The Congressional Budget Office projects that the national deficit will grow by a trillion dollars in the next 10 years. Soaring interest payments on the national debt are one reason why. We’ll explain why that’s a problem for the United States’ fiscal future. And, was the Senate’s high-profile hearing with a spread of Big Tech CEOs all for show? Plus, Disney’s new one-stop-shop sports streaming venture and what Sweethearts’ clever rebrand says about today’s dismal dating culture. Here’s everything we talked about today: “U.S. deficit will soar in the next decade, new CBO projections show” from Axios “Sen. Klobuchar explains what it takes to protect children online” from Marketplace “Disney CEO Bob Iger on new streaming bundle partnership: I’d rather be a disruptor than be disrupted” from CNBC “When it comes to live sports, consumers show streaming services the money” from Mark