Make Me Smart With Kai And Molly

Since the pandemic, younger adults have become wealthier than older generations. That’s according to a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Guest host Amy Scott joins us to discuss how that happened and what the stock market has to do with it. Plus, why there might be trouble ahead for regional banks. And, a look inside the world of competitive speed puzzling. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Young Americans’ Wealth Growth Outpaces Older Generations Since Pandemic” from Bloomberg “Wealth Inequality by Age in the Post-Pandemic Era” from Liberty Street Economics “Why One Shaky Bank Is Stirring Fears of a Wider Financial Mess from The New York Times “Yellen Says Commercial Property Is a Worry, But Regulators Are on It” from Bloomberg “Polar bear sleeping on iceberg wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award” from The Washington Post “For top jigsaw puzzlers, 500 pi

Congress hasn’t passed meaningful immigration policy reform in decades. And the fate of the border deal the Senate has been weighing is looking bleak. But immigrants are an important part of the U.S. economy, and the status quo is not working. So what do we do? On the show today, César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, an immigration law professor at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law and author of the new book “Welcome the Wretched: In Defense of the ‘Criminal Alien,'” explains why our current immigration policies don’t match the country’s economic needs, what a realistic approach to immigration would look like, and why states and cities might have to take the lead on the issue if Congress continues to stagnate. Then, we’ll break down the betting forecast for this year’s Super Bowl by the numbers. And, Big Tech’s AI crutch. Plus, we’ll get smarter about cicadas! Here’s everything we talked about today: “The Senate border deal i

Facebook turned 20 over the weekend, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Guest host Matt Levin joins the pod to discuss the parallels between the (begrudging) acceptance of Facebook and the rise of artificial intelligence. And the SAT requirement is back at a top college and others may follow suit. We’ll talk about what this means for students. Plus, a Kai rant on how traders are responding to Powell’s “60 Minutes” interview, and the Make Me Smile of all Make Me Smiles … it’s the 2024 Puppy Bowl! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Facebook Turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard Dorm Room to the Metaverse” from The Wall Street Journal  “A Top College Reinstates the SAT” from The New York Times “Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Falls After Powell Says Caution Needed on Rate Cuts” from The Wall Street Journal “Fed Chair Jerome Powell: The 2024 60 Minutes Interview” from C

A new report from Human Rights Watch found ties between forced labor in China and the aluminum products used by many popular automakers. We’ll get into what the discovery could mean for companies that want to ramp up electric vehicle production. And, meet the sailor making history as the first American woman to race solo around the world. Plus, we’ll weigh in on Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and more in a game of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Asleep at the Wheel: Car Companies’ Complicity in Forced Labor in China” from Human Rights Watch “Major automakers may be using Chinese aluminum produced with Uyghur forced labor, rights group says” from AP News “Sailor Cole Brauer Is Making History as the First U.S. Female to Race Solo Across the Globe: ‘It’s a Dream Come True'” from People “Why Universal is calling time out on TikTok” from Marketplace “How

The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming the companies’ artificial intelligence systems were illegally trained on copyrighted articles from the news outlet. But can our current intellectual property laws stand up to rapidly developing AI technology? We’ll get into it. And, we’ll hear what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wants to see more of before cutting interest rates. Plus, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the first time she smoked pot in college. Here’s everything we talked about today: “OpenAI Says New York Times Lawsuit Against It Is ‘Without Merit’” from The New York Times “The economy and ethics of AI training data” from Marketplace “Fed Signals Cuts Are Possible but Not Imminent as It Holds Rates Steady” from The Wall Street Journal “NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Ends Its Mission” from The New York Times “‘Wait Wait’ for January 27, 2024: With No

Today, U.S. senators grilled the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies on online child safety. And while there’s lots of blame to go around, aren’t lawmakers responsible for making laws to protect kids? Get ready for a Kai rant. Plus, how the system we use to pick presidential candidates has fallen apart. And a new discovery on the power of music! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Social Media Company CEOs Testify on Online Child Sexual Exploitation” from C-SPAN “The Real Reason We’re Stuck with Trump v. Biden” from Politico “Did a Young Democratic Activist in 1968 Pave the Way for Donald Trump?” from Politico “Music found to cause similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures” from Phys.org “Bodily maps of musical sensations across cultures” from PNAS We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voi

Boeing’s 737 Max 9 planes are flying again after the recent door-plug blowout incident that had kept the planes grounded for nearly a month. But the company’s troubles are far from over. Over the past two decades, Boeing’s reputation has been in decline. On the show today, Peter Robison, author of “Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing,” explains where things went wrong for America’s aviation giant, the 737 Max’s potential fate, and whether Boeing’s crisis could make way for a new competitor in the commercial aerospace industry. Plus, would you let Elon Musk implant a chip in your brain? And the one-two punch at UPS. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How Did a Boeing Jet End Up With a Big Hole?” from The New York Times “Boeing, not Spirit, mis-installed piece that blew off Alaska MAX 9 jet, industry source says” from The Seattle Times “The Crash of Two Airplanes and the Cris

A two-year investigation by the Associated Press digs into the prison labor behind the foods we eat every day. We’ll discuss how incarcerated people’s labor is tied to some of the world’s biggest companies, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Walmart. Then, we’ll unpack the negotiations over a bipartisan border security deal. And, a wild conspiracy theory involving the NFL, Taylor Swift and the election? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands” from The Associated Press “Lankford defends bipartisan border security bill after attacks by Trump, GOP” from The Washington Post “OKGOP State Committee Condemns James Lankford” from OKGrassroots “Vivek Goes Full Tinfoil Hat With New Taylor Swift Election Conspiracy” from The Daily Beast “Young Swifties are tuning in to the NFL. Their dads are lovi

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain announced that the union has endorsed President Biden’s bid for re-election. It’s a big deal for Biden’s pro-labor image. But what else could the union endorsement mean for his campaign? And, we’ll get into the conflict between facts and feelings in today’s economy. Plus, the political implications of a decline in local journalism and what the history of the New Deal can teach about ambitious investment in our country’s infrastructure. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What UAW backing means for Biden − and why the union’s endorsement took so long” from The Conversation “U.S. Economy Grew at 3.3% Rate in Latest Quarter” from The New York Times “Yellen, Criticizing Trump, Says Biden’s Economy Has Delivered Gains” from The New York Times “L.A. Times to lay off at least 115 people in the newsroom” from L.A. Times “More than

The federal deficit is growing, and a former U.S. Treasury secretary is offering a solution: raising taxes! We’ll get into why talking tax hikes is a big no-no in Congress and why spending cuts may not cut it this time either. And, foreign nationals aren’t allowed to contribute to U.S. elections. But a loophole is seemingly allowing some foreign-influenced companies to do just that. Plus, the story of an astronaut and a dangerous ultimatum. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Joe Manchin’s debt crusade” from Politico “Rubin Says US In a ‘Terrible Place’ on Deficit, Urges Tax Hikes” from Bloomberg “All these government shutdown close calls cost money” from Marketplace “Foreign-Influenced Corporate Money in State Elections” from Open Secrets “Jon Stewart Returns to ‘Daily Show’ as Monday Host, Executive Producer” from Variety “What happens when an astronaut in orbit says he’s not c

The long-term care industry has been plagued by unaffordable prices and staffing shortages, squeezed by growing demand as the country ages. But public health officials have been voicing concerns about another, more hidden issue: the rise of private-equity-owned nursing homes. On the show today, Mark Unruh, professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medical College, breaks down the long-term care industry, how nursing homes are impacted by private equity ownership, and what high, convoluted costs and staffing shortages mean for aging Americans seeking nursing home care. Then, we’ll dig into a niche economic indicator and how work is weighing on us. Plus, how one listener used their pandemic stimulus cash. Here’s everything we talked about today: “How do nursing homes make money?” from Marketplace “How Patients Fare When Private Equity Funds Acquire Nursing Homes” from the National Bureau of Economic Research “‘They Were Traumatiz

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ended his 2024 presidential bid. One feature of his campaign that caught our attention: the tight-knit relationship between himself and the Ron DeSantis super PAC, two things that should be very separate. We’ll get into how DeSantis’ team pushed the boundaries of campaign-finance law and what it says about how we govern campaign cash in the U.S. And, we’ll peel back the layers of DeSantis’ recent misattributed Winston Churchill quote. Plus, a record morning for manatees in a Florida state park! Here’s everything we talked about today: “DeSantis-linked super PAC broke new ground in pushing campaign finance rules in Iowa in support of a 2nd-place finish” from The Conversation “Boeing Faces More Pressure as United CEO Vents Frustrations” from Bloomberg “Pour One Out for Ron DeSantis” from The Atlantic A Facebook post celebrating a record manatee count from Blue Spring State Park in Flor

A drop in preowned home sales in December was the cherry on top of the worst year for the U.S. housing market since 1995. We’ll get into the causes of the slump and what it would take for the housing market to get back on track. And, a tax deal that would expand the child tax credit is gaining momentum. Then, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Strong bipartisan showing in first test of tax deal’s support” from Roll Call “Mars Express finds evidence of large water deposit at the Medusae Fossae Formation” from Phys.org “What Is an Assumable Mortgage?” Buy Side from The Wall Street Journal “US Existing-Home Sales Decline to Cap Worst Year Since 1995” from Bloomberg “Expect restaurants to go all in on breakfast this year” from Marketplace ‘”Super shoes” take their place in the $50B running shoe market” from Ma

The head of the International Monetary Fund said artificial intelligence could impact over half of jobs in advanced economies. But is AI already displacing workers? We’ll get into the latest layoffs sweeping the tech industry. And, the forecast on Capitol Hill: snowy with a chance of negotiations on border security and spending bills. Plus, NASA’s return to the moon is facing some setbacks. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Johnson Casts Doubt on Border Deal to Unlock Ukraine Aid, Defying Biden” from The New York Times “AI will affect 40% of jobs and probably worsen inequality, says IMF head” from The Guardian “Watch IMF’s Georgieva on Economic Impact of Generative AI” from Bloomberg “‘AI made us do it’ is Big Tech’s new layoff rationale” from Axios “The Tech Employee Who Went Viral for Filming Her Firing Has No Regrets” from The Wall Street Journal R

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases that deal with a foundational part of administrative law, known as the Chevron deference, which gives federal agencies broad powers to create policies and regulations. We’ll explain the fight over the Chevron deference and how the economy could be impacted if it were overturned. And, what do we lose when we don’t get to see candidates debate each other? Plus, don’t talk to me about this year’s presidential election until I’ve had my coffee. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Conservative Justices Appear Skeptical of Agencies’ Regulatory Power” from The New York Times “China’s Economic Growth Disappoints, Fueling Stimulus Calls” from Bloomberg “CNN cancels New Hampshire Republican primary debate” from Politico “Rumors Circulating That James Webb Has Discovered Life on Another World” from Futurism “No, the James Webb Space Telescope

In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that “the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income.” Decades later, while still a divisive idea, the conversation around guaranteed income is starting to simmer, and pilot programs looking at universal basic income, a similar idea, are popping up around the country. On the show today, Stacia West, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research, explains why King called for a guaranteed income, why UBI is gaining traction today, and what early results from pilot programs are showing us about its impact. Then, we’ll get into the haggling over the child tax credit on Capitol Hill and check in with the world’s second largest economy. Plus, one historian was wrong about Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the American economy. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Solution to

Certain dietary supplements with an ingredient that mimics opioids are a bubbling problem for public health officials. Sometimes called “gas station heroin,” they’re sold at run-of-the-mill smoke shops and convenience stores. We’ll get into why health officials are concerned and how under-regulation can muddy our understanding of how safe a substance actually is. Then, a much needed-happy puppy story. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Utah Jazz player Kelly Olynyk and wife found dog then found her owner” from The Washington Post “Supreme Court to review restrictions on homeless encampments” from The Washington Post “More Teens Who Use Marijuana Are Suffering From Psychosis” from The Wall Street Journal “‘Gas-Station Heroin’ Sold as Dietary Supplement Alarms Health Officials” from The New York Times “Why the earliest version

We’re approaching a partial government shutdown, again. We’ll get into why it feels like we’re back at square one and where Congress goes next. And, we’ll explain why the panel blowout during an Alaskan Airlines flight is a big problem for Boeing, despite its strong position in the market. Plus, what bitcoin exchange-traded funds mean for the future of crypto and Nikki Haley’s Social Security plan. Here’s everything we talked about today: “US Senate Democrats plan for stopgap to avert shutdown, House Republicans bicker” from Reuters “Boeing CEO says company is “acknowledging our mistake” after Alaska Airlines door blowout” from CBS News “Boeing’s design of a part that blew off a jetliner is being investigated by the federal government” from AP News “Nikki Haley wants to reform Social Security and Medicare. Donors are paying attention” from CNN Politics “Gary Gensl

Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to approve the first exchange-traded funds holding bitcoin. But regulators still have concerns, and a recent hack of an SEC social media account have only heightened fears. Plus, the pandemic relief funds that’ve been keeping state budgets afloat are gone. We’ll unpack why state budgets can be trickier beasts than the federal budget. And: This is normally a zombie-free zone, but “The Last of Us” TV series has us reconsidering. Here’s everything we talked about today: “SEC Hack Adds to Unease Over Bitcoin ETF Approval” from The Wall Street Journal “State Budget Problems Spread” from The Pew Charitable Trusts “‘It was a mirage’: States face budget woes as huge infusions of federal cash run out” from Politico “The Last Of Us Show Casts Beef Actor As Key Character” from Kotaku We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@