Make Me Smart With Kai And Molly

Elon Musk’s business relationship with the Pentagon is going strong. SpaceX just scored its first defense contract from the U.S. Space Force, giving Musk more control over on-off switches (see: Ukraine). We’ll get into the potential consequences of having a single private citizen like Musk so entangled in geopolitics. Plus, welcome home, astronaut Frank Rubio, and bye-bye panda cams? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Elon Musk Wins US Space Force Contract for Starshield” from Bloomberg “Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule” from The New Yorker “Retail theft isn’t actually increasing much, major industry study finds” from CNBC “Target says it will close nine stores in major cities, citing violence and theft” from CNBC “NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is home after a year in space” from Ars Technica “US Won’t Have Any Pandas for the First Time in 50 Years” from Bloomberg

We’re on the brink of yet another government shutdown. If Congress fails to pass legislation to keep the federal government fully up and running past Oct. 1, it would be the country’s fourth shutdown in the last decade. This has us wondering: Why does passing the federal budget often get so messy? On the show today, Molly Reynolds, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains how the federal budget process is supposed to work, why it often breaks down and why other countries don’t seem to have the same problem. Plus, how we can make the process smoother, given the Congress we’ve got. Then, we’ll get into why the FTC is suing Amazon and how it might shape what “monopoly” means in this day and age. Plus, is President Joe Biden’s footwear really worth a headline? Later, how one listener is thinking about the kind of change our democracy needs. And, a Jekyll and Hyde-style mix-up involving a popular California university. Here’s everything w

Some big Republican donors are in a bind. They’ve been hoping for an alternative presidential nominee to Donald Trump to write their checks to, but now they seem to be giving up on that idea and are keeping their money on the sidelines. We’ll discuss what that means for spending in the 2024 election. Plus, what’s happened to Greece since its debt crisis? And what Kimberly discovered about cocktails and ChatGPT when she walked into a bar. Here’s everything we talked about: “Big GOP donors hoped for an alternative to Trump. Now some are giving up” from Politico “Greece, Battered a Decade Ago, Is Booming” from The New York Times “OpenAI’s ChatGPT offers new multimodal support for images and voice search” from Axios “Fetterman Plans to Give Back Menendez Donation In Cash-Filled Envelopes” The Messenger “Mammals’ Time on Earth Is Half Over, Scientists Predict” from The New York Times

Across the political spectrum, corruption seems to be the big news of the day. Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was indicted today for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Meanwhile, ProPublica reported that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas secretly attended Koch Network donor events that could be in violation of federal law. (And, let’s not forget the former president’s indictments.) We’ll discuss the role of the press and the Department of Justice in trying these cases. Then, we’ll play Half-Full/Half-Empty and debate whether shorts on the Senate floor should be the new norm. Here’s everything we talked about: “Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events” from ProPublica “FBI found gold bars in Menendez’s house, money stuffed in jackets, prosecutors say” from The Hill “New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez says he won’t resign” from NBC News “Time to brush up on the Food and Forage Act

We are nine days away from another government shutdown if Congress can’t reach a spending deal. We’ll hear from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on what a shutdown could do to our current economy. Plus, the facial recognition story that creeped out Kai. And, did you remember? We’re celebrating one of Earth, Wind & Fire’s greatest hits. Here’s everything we talked about: “‘Absolutely no reason’ for a government shutdown, says Treasury secretary” from MSNBC “Barrymore apologizes to unions for resuming show” from YouTube “Clearview AI could change privacy as we know it” from Marketplace “Earth, Wind & Fire – September” from YouTube 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.

A new chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to mimic the leading candidates in the 2024 presidential race is fresh on the scene. Users can query a candidate’s avatar or conjure up a one-on-one debate. We’ll get into the potential impact of AI on future U.S. elections and what some politically engaged citizens are doing about it. Plus, we’ll explain why the wait for your morning latte at Starbucks might be getting out of hand. And Operation Santa is open for business. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Conspiracy Theorists Go Viral With Claim Sen. John Fetterman Actually Body Double” from Forbes “John Fetterman would be particularly hard to body-double” from The Washington Post “Prepare yourself. A Donald Trump chatbot is about to be unleashed.” from Politico “Artificial Intelligence in Campaign Ads” from the Federal Register “Write to Santa Today!” from the USPS “

President Biden is pitting his plan for the U.S. economy against so-called ‘MAGAnomics’, the economic ideas that defined the Trump era. Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University, said the clash is all about who wins and who loses as the U.S. decarbonizes. On the show today, Blyth explains what Bidenomics actually means and why it’s not the easiest message to sell to voters. Plus, how the United States let go of its industrial base and what it will take to re-industrialize for a clean energy future. Then, strikes across the country are putting President Biden’s pro-union reputation to the test. And, we’ll get into what rising oil prices that could mean for the Fed and the American consumer. Later, a listener’s perspective on why many Americans don’t feel the economy is all that strong. Plus, a bonus fantasy writing vocab lesson. And, the thing you probably didn’t know about cows? Here’s everything we talked about today: “40 years later, is this the e

Congress has a job to do. But lately, some of the work on the Hill seems to have come to a standstill. There’s been drama over the debt ceiling, a Republican senator is holding up key military promotions, and now a government shutdown is looming. We’ll tackle the question of who is really to blame for all the governmental dysfunction and unpack the challenges of framing these issues in the media. Here’s everything we talked about: “Marines issue stand-down order amid search for missing F-35” from The Hill “Congress is in crisis. There’s no clear escape” from Politico “With democracy on the ballot, the mainstream press must change its ways” from The Guardian Got a question for the hosts? Send them our way. We’re at 508-UB-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Celebrities are starting to have eerily similar smiles — flawlessly straight and pearly white teeth. But what’s the cost behind those perfect smiles? We’ll talk about yet another unrealistic beauty standard and the rise of the cosmetic dentistry industry. And the Roman Empire might be a thing of the past, but it seems that many men are still fascinated by it. We’ll get into some reasons why the ancient world power is engrained in our minds. Then, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty to settle some fashion debates. Here’s everything we talked about: Watch: Marketplace’s video series “Burning Questions” from “How We Survive” Listen: Marketplace’s new series “Burning Questions” from “How We Survive” “Celebrity teeth look the same thanks to veneers, and TikTok has thoughts” from The Washington Post “Why don’t you fix your teeth?” from Marketplace “Many men think a

In the before times, some of America’s top corporations pledged to rebalance their priorities and serve all stakeholders instead of just shareholders. Today, workers still aren’t feeling the love. We’ll get into the disconnect between employees and CEOs and explain how that’s playing out in recent labor disputes. Plus, why patrons at a Milwaukee bar are feeling that Jets win extra-hard. Here’s everything we talked about: “Detroit automakers and auto workers remain far from a deal as end-of-day strike deadline approaches” from AP News “UAW tees up select strikes if no deal by deadline” from Politico “Nearly 200 CEOs say shareholder value is no longer a main objective” from CNBC Sen. Mitt Romney announces he won’t be running for office in 2024 from X Gurner Group founder Tim Gurner talking to the Financial Review from X “CEO Tim Gurner calls for more unemployment, give employers more lev

What does air conditioning have to do with political dysfunction in Washington? Apparently, more than you’d imagine. We’ll get into the history behind AC in the halls of Congress and how that’s affected the way lawmakers do their jobs. Then, what drove Sen. Mitt Romney to call it quits? Plus, staging a career comeback isn’t easy. Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are showing us how it’s done. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate” from The Atlantic “Wall Street Bet Big on Used-Car Loans for Years. Now a Crisis May Be Looming.” from ProPublica “‘We Put in Air Conditionin’, Stayed Year-Round, and Ruined America’” from Politico “Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are modeling how to stage a career comeback” from Quartz “It Only Tuesday” from The Onion Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@ma

This year alone, lawmakers in more than two dozen states have introduced or passed legislation in favor of ranked choice voting systems, where voters rank candidates in order of preference on their ballot. Advocates sing the praises of ranked-choice elections, claiming it could be an antidote to the United States’ extreme political polarization. Others say switching to a new voting system would be too complicated for voters. On the show today, Maresa Strano, deputy director of political reform at New America, unpacks ranked choice voting: what it does well, where it falls short, and what our voting systems have to do with the broader economy. Then, a new strategy for wiping out medical debt is catching the attention of some local governments. And we’ll get into why mixed signals about the U.S. economy are complicating things for the Biden campaign. Later, a listener shares how they learned the difficulty of farm work firsthand. Plus, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart Question comes from s

There’s been a lot of reporting lately about a rise in retail theft and a growing shoplifting problem. But a closer look at those claims and the relevant data seems to suggest something else is going on. We also revisit the attack on the World Trade Center and consider how American unity and perceptions have changed in the past 22 years. We end with some smiles about Mother Nature and a significant discovery that could be a big deal for the clean energy economy. “Is retail theft really rising?” from Marketplace “Today, Explained: Blame Capitalism: Souring on the system” from Apple Podcasts “September 11, 2001 — The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from Comedy Central “Spain federation president Rubiales resigns amid kiss fallout” from ESPN “Ancient Supervolcano in US May Hide Largest Lithium Deposit Ever Found” from Science Alert “In a 1st, scientists grow human kidneys inside developing pig embry

We’re in the quadruple digits, y’all, and we’re celebrating! But first we’ll dive into the news with an exciting development on Mars — how NASA’s Perseverance space rover is generating oxygen on the Red Planet. And a new climate change report card shows that we’ve averted the worst-case scenarios, but there’s still a long way to go. Plus, we’re marking this special episode with a new game of Would You Rather featuring a special (and beloved) guest! Here’s everything we talked about: “Perseverance Mars rover wraps up MOXIE oxygen-making experiment” from Space “FAA Orders SpaceX to Take Dozens of Steps Before Future Starship Flights” from The Wall Street Journal “Africa proposes global carbon taxes to fight climate change” from BBC News “U.N. Report Card Shows World Is Far From Meeting Climate Goals” from The New York Times Thank you to those who tuned in to the livestream.

In a speech today, former Vice President Mike Pence and republican presidential candidate said the GOP is at a crossroad between conservatism and populism. We’ll get into why we’re hearing a lot less about fiscal conservatism these days. Before that, Kai gives us the skinny on his interview with Chicago Fed President and whether the central bank should raise it’s inflation target. Here’s everything we talked about: “Chicago Fed president on future rate hikes, likelihood of recession” from Marketplace “Pentagon launches media blitz to combat Tuberville blockade” from Politico “Senate Confirmation Still in Limbo for 301 Military Leaders” from U.S. Department of Defense “Growing feud over Tuberville’s stand on Pentagon nominations risks Senate confirmation of nation’s top military officer” from CNN “Mike Pence Warns GOP Face Choice Between Conservatism and Populism” from C-SPAN

As birthrates fall and baby boomers grow older, the demographic makeup of the United States is set to drastically change in the next decade. We’ll talk about what that could mean for the modern economy. And we’ll discuss the logistics of the 14th Amendment and the budding idea that it could bar former President Donald Trump from participating in next year’s election. Plus, a step forward for women’s sports in Spain. Here’s everything we talked about today: “I Can’t Keep Trump Off the Ballot” from The Wall Street Journal “A clause in the Constitution may disqualify Trump from returning to the White House?” from NPR “Trump 14th amendment debate more extensive than realized, election chief says” from Politico “Opinion | America’s Seniors and the Challenges of Old Age” from The New York Times “The Fastest 60-Year-Old Woman on Earth Is Only Getting Faster” from Outside Online “‘The Boy And Th

We’re back from Labor Day weekend and talking about a group of laborers that’s in short supply these days: farmworkers. The people who pick the food we eat are considered the backbone of the agricultural industry. So why are they treated differently than other workers and often go without the same labor protections like overtime and the right to unionize? On the show today, Mary Hoopes, associate law professor at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, explains why agricultural workers were left out of the New Deal’s labor protections, what’s changed since then and the exploitative nature of temporary visa programs used to fill ongoing farm labor shortages. Where do Big Ag and American consumers fit in all of this? And will the massive 2023 Farm Bill help? Then, we’ll get into how a drop-off in funding for many federal aid programs could impact low-income families. And projections from Bloomberg Economics show that China will probably not surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2030, as ma

It’s college football season, and if you’re having a hard time keeping up with all the changes, you’re not alone. This week, the Atlantic Coast Conference decided to go bicoastal by adding schools really far from, well, the Atlantic Coast. We’ll explain what this is all about (spoiler: money). Plus, why a new Biden administration proposal to increase staffing at nursing homes could make a big difference. Then we’ll play a game of Half Full/Half Empty and discuss why finding love might be coming with a bigger price tag. Here’s everything we talked about: “Nursing Homes Must Boost Staffing Under First-Ever National Standards” from The Wall Street Journal “ACC adds Stanford, Cal, SMU as new members beginning 2024-25” from ESPN “Return to office means the return of the business meal” from Marketplace “Beyoncé and Taylor Swift fans turn to fast fashion for concert attire” from Marketplace “Dating app

Not sure how to feel about today’s economy? Perhaps putting it to music will help. Today we’re dedicating the entire show to the economic anthems of this moment. We’ll play a round of Name That Tune with songs our dear listeners submitted. Plus, Kai and Kimberly will share their song picks! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Is the current job market music to the Fed’s ears?” from Marketplace Bleachers: “I Wanna Get Better” on YouTube R.E.M.: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” on YouTube Donna Summer: “She Works Hard for the Money” on YouTube “The Real Woman Behind Donna Summer’s Hit ‘She Works Hard For the Money'” from LAist Grateful Dead: “Truckin'” on YouTube “What’s your ‘economic anthem’?” from Marketplace Marketplace: “Your Economic Anthems” on Spotify Joi

The Biden administration proposed a new rule that would extend mandatory overtime pay to millions of American workers. We’ll get into the workers who stand to benefit and how the plan could give boost to Biden’s reelection campaign. Also, seismic wave research gives us a new understanding of the war in Ukraine. Plus, Kimberly is back from vacation and fills us in on her adventures in Bhutan and Thailand. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Earthquake Sensors Document Russian Bombings in Ukraine in New Detail” from The New York Times “What to Know About FEMA’s Nationwide Test Alert Planned for October” from The New York Times “Department of Labor announces proposal to restore, extend overtime protections for 3.6 million low-paid salaried workers” from the Department of Labor “Biden plan would guarantee overtime pay for 3.6 million workers” from Reuters “HHS Calls for Moving Marijuana to L