Make Me Smart

The new fight for states' rights under Trump

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The power struggle between the states and federal government is as old as the U.S. itself. But under the second Trump administration, that struggle ha...

From "This Is Uncomfortable": Wait...where did my retirement money go?

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! We’ll be back next week. For now, we’re sharing a...

It's tough out there for new college grads

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re approaching graduation season for this year’s crop of college seniors. But along with all the celebrations, there’s an extra dose of uncer...

How second chance employment is lowering recidivism in the U.S.

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the United States, recidivism rate, or the likelihood that a criminal re-enters the prison system after being released, is among the highest in the...

The economic outlook of the great outdoors

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are you team camping or glamping? On today’s show, we’re checking in on the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States. KUNC’s Moun...

Mass deportations don’t lead to more jobs for Americans. Why does the myth persist?

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic...

Vietnam's economy on the rise

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While the United States’ workforce is aging out of its prime, some countries, like Vietnam, are just hitting their stride. On today’s show, Kai jo...

Seattle's tech industry blues

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, Seattle’s tech workforce has been hit by wave after wave of layoffs. Some company execs say it’s AI’s fault. KUOW’s Monica Nickelsbu...

Anthropic’s head of economics answers our questions about AI and the job market

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Will AI take my job? On today’s show, Anthropic’s head of economics Peter McCrory sits down with Kimberly to answer our burning questions about ar...

Here’s how the ultrarich avoid paying taxes

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In her book “The Second Estate,” Boston College Law School professor Ray Madoff argues that the tax code in the United States lets billionaires ke...

"Marketplace" Live

11 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 600 Marketplace fans gathered at the Aratani Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to watch Kai Ryssdal present Marketplace Live, in partnership with...

Rejecting climate doomerism with solarpunk

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of sci-fi is dystopian. Solarpunk flips that on its head. The subgenre imagines a brighter future where humans have fostered a better relationsh...

Who can stop insider trading on prediction markets?

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A series of suspiciously well-timed Iran war bets placed on Polymarket have revived concerns about insider trading on prediction markets. But enforcem...

ICE and the “wide, deep and ever-growing” surveillance state

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Doorbell cameras, license plate readers and social media platforms are just a few of the tech products that make up an ever-growing surveillance netwo...

Make Me Smart: Lunar Edition

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s launch of Artemis II marked the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. This time around, the spaceflight industry looks pret...

One wild year of Trump's tariffs

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Happy first tariff-versary? Despite the fact that many of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were recently struck down, small businesses...

Inside the "Super Bowl of energy”

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, at a time when the war with Iran has been roiling global energy markets, executives from energy companies all over the world gathered for C...

Make Me Smart about the business of sake

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s peak bloom in Washington, D.C.! Cherry blossom viewing is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying Japan’s n...

The humanitarian risks of a fertilizer shock

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war with Iran is having all sorts of effects on energy markets and the flow of other commodit...

The super PAC spending flooding the primaries

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Primary season for the 2026 midterm elections is underway. And the money from super PACs is already flowing. But how well is it working? On today’s ...

The economics behind the rise of BTS and Korean culture

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has ...

Who gets to set limits on AI?

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In line with the Pentagon’s ambitions to build an “AI-first warfighting force,” earlier this year, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded ...

How the farm bill became the everything bill

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Farm bills are huge, sprawling pieces of legislation that affect all Americans — not just farmers. But as they’ve gotten more expensive, they’ve...

Can Hollywood make a comeback?

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, we’re preparing for the Oscars by checking in on the state of the film industry. Marketplace’s Amy Scott sits down with Wall St...

The economic ripple effects of ICE in Minnesota

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

ICE may have wound down its operations in Minnesota, but the state is still facing the economic consequences of Operation Metro Surge. This has fueled...

The ski industry squeeze

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As prices have risen over the past decade, snow sports have gotten farther and farther out of reach for many Americans. And this has big implications ...

The big money in the Texas primaries

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s Texas primary elections were heated — and historic in terms of campaign spending. On today’s show, Blaise Gainey, state politics rep...

The Trump administration scrapped the endangerment finding. Now what?

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The endangerment finding paved the way for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and power plants. Now that the Environmen...

The U.S., Iran and the rise of drone warfare

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As war in the Middle East widens, it’s become clear that drones now play a fundamental role in global conflict. They’ve changed the way wars are f...

Make Me Smart: Vermont Edition

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, we’re taking a trip to the Green Mountain State for an up close look at one of Vermont’s most pressing economic issues: housing...

Kai returns to unpack Trump's new tariff

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Things have felt pretty chaotic in this economy since the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s signature tariffs last week. On today’s show...

Sled hockey's Declan Farmer makes us smart about the Winter Paralympics

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Want more of the Winter Games? We have good news for you: The Winter Paralympics kick off in Milan next week. On today’s show, three-time Paralympic...

The view from cattle country

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s edition of “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly is joined by Anna Pope, agriculture and rural affairs reporter for KOSU and Harvest Public Me...

Congress set aside $50 billion to transform rural health care. Will it work?

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A $50 billion pot of money for rural health care made it into last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump’s hallmark tax and spending ...

Medical providers grapple with Trump's attempts to end gender-affirming care for minors

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In December, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that would ban hospitals from receiving any Medicare and Medicaid funding...

From "This Is Uncomfortable": In America, cultural education doesn't come cheap

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! “Economics on Tap” will return soon on Feb. 20. F...

Can AI bots help us find love?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, in this episode we’re taking a look at what it’s like to be looking for love right now — and the techn...

The power of reading and writing as self-care

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Cliche or not, engaging with art is certainly one of the best ways to take a step back when the news cycle gets extra heavy. On the show today, Kimber...

From "This Is Uncomfortabe": Help! My coworker wants a copy of my house key!

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! “Economics on Tap” will return soon on Feb. 20. F...

What do American families really care about right now?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, pollsters and strategists from all over the world of politics are trying to get a pulse on American families. ...

The political cloud hanging over the Fed

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! We recorded today’s episode before the House passed a spending package that will end the partial government shutdown. We’re monitori...

Make Me Smart about Olympic figure skating

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Winter Olympics kick off next week in Milan, Italy. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Jackie Wong, self-described skate nerd and host of “...

What does the end of TPS mean for Haitian workers in the U.S.?

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In line with President Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration, the administration has moved to end the Temporary Protected Status program for cert...

Trump’s rift with Europe

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The European Union is still reeling after President Trump’s Davos appearance, even after he walked back some of his Greenland threats. A big questio...

The infrastructure side of the AI boom

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tech companies are pouring billions into developing the infrastructure necessary to meet the demand for artificial intelligence. But what does that in...

What is media capture?

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has routinely sought to influence the business dealings of U.S. media companies, including Netflix and Paramount’s fight over the fu...

The changes coming to federal student loans in 2026

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For student loan borrowers, the past few years have felt like whiplash. From the fallout of the Biden-era SAVE plan to policies in the Trump administ...

On the ground in Minnesota

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR News, joins Kimberly to share how her community has been affected by a recent surge ...

It's brutal out here (in the job market)

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” is back with new episodes about life and how money messes with it. Today, host Reema Khrais joins Kimberly...

Trump vs. the courts

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Seemingly infinite battles over President Donald Trump’s agenda have been playing out in the courts over the past year. But when all’s said and do...

New year, new mayor, New York

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, WNYC reporter Brigid Bergin joins Kimberly to talk about New York City’s brand new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign on afford...

Venezuela and Trump's new Monroe Doctrine

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela, including the capture of the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro, we’re left with questions about w...

The road to rebuilding, one year after the LA wildfires

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a year since the Eaton and Palisades fires swept through Southern California, taking 31 lives and destroying over 16,000 structures — in...

From "This Is Uncomfortable": Wait, I think I’m being underpaid

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey smarties! Happy New Year. We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “T...

From "This Is Uncomfortable": "You'll never be ready to buy a home"

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey smarties! Happy New Year. We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “T...

Cheers to hosting better parties this holiday season (rerun)

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2025. We can’t do this show without you and we still ...

"Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" and anime's biggest year yet

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey smarties! We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, enjoy this bonus episode on one of Kimberly’s favorite topics: anime!A...

The music industry vs. AI (rerun)

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey smarties! We’re taking a short break for the holidays. So today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from 2025. Enjoy!Today we’re ...

Your thoughts on the economy in 2025

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, we’re digging into the mailbag to hear our listeners’ thoughts on the economy in 2025. Spoiler: tariffs came up a lot. And, we’...

Feeding the Family

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! We’re dropping into your feeds today to share this special coverage from Marketplace.For many people gathering around the table this h...

How to start the caregiving conversation

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Family caregivers in the United States are increasingly under mental and financial stress. Elizabeth Miller, founder of the caregiver resource platfor...

Can we fix America’s long-term care system?

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long-term care is expensive in the United States. With Medicaid spending cuts looming and the Trump administration’s deportation plans threatening t...

The "invisible workforce" of family caregivers

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Roughly 1 in 4 Americans now identifies as a family caregiver. That share has risen dramatically over the past decade. With more people needing care a...

Floridians feel the impacts of climate change

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Florida is a state that often feels tangible impacts of climate change, with strong storms and hurricanes making landfall in the state every hurricane...

Why the Fed cut interest rates

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday. And this decision comes as President Donald Trump continues to pu...

Deep-sea mining: The next frontier for critical minerals

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rare-earth elements help power our everyday electrical devices, and that’s because most batteries are made with minerals like lithium, nickel, cobal...

Shopping through a K-shaped holiday season

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As another holiday season kicked off on Black Friday, finding the perfect gift is top of mind for many. But how much will weary American consumers be ...

Is the U.S. a gerontocracy?

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The average age of Congress' members has gotten older compared to the Americans it represents. This 119th Congress is the third oldest since 1789. On ...

The human story behind a digital time capsule

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you could send a message to yourself, 20 years into the future, what would you say? On today’s show, Scientific American’s editor-in-chief Davi...

From "Million Bazillion": What is Black Friday?

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year on Black Friday, millions of Americans go out in search of the best holiday season shopping deals. But have you ever wondered about the orig...

From "How We Survive": The Dry Line

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! Happy Thanksgiving. Today we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of Marketplace’s climate podcast, “How We Survive,” th...

How prediction markets are transforming sports betting

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Business has been booming for the online sports betting industry. Prediction markets threw a curveball. On today’s show, sports betting industry wri...

Cheers to hosting better parties this holiday season

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays are just around the corner. And for many, it might mean being a guest at, or hosting, a friendsgiving get-together or other holiday par...

The COP without the U.S.

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United Nations’ climate summit, COP30, is underway in Brazil. But one country is notably absent: the United States. On today’s show, climate l...

Are we on the cusp of another big health care debate?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the Affordable Care Act, it’s been one battle after another. The ongoing fight over the ACA subsidies at the center of the government shutdown a...

What’s happening in Vegas?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Latin Grammys threw a party in Las Vegas last night. But this year, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has had a chilling effect o...

An unbalancing of power

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress may have ended the shutdown (finally), but it’s still entangled in a power struggle with the Executive Branch. Kai Ryssdal has thoughts. On...

The rise of the "solo economy"

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Singles Day in China: a retail holiday that runs circles around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. By comparison, single Americans are an untapped ...

How rising energy costs factored into Virginia's elections

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s edition of Economics on Tap, we’re heading to Virginia! The state held major elections this week, and affordability was top of mind for...

Quantum computing: What's all the hype about?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Quantum computing is still in an experimental phase, but tech companies say it could eventually have an enormous impact on the global economy. How lon...

Friends, foes, and tariffs

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have rattled the global economy this year. That goes for both allies and adversaries of the United States. But the ...

How to face your financial fears

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, we’re talking about facing your financial fears, because it’s a scary time for many in this economy! Reema Khrais, host of “T...

How can we build a more resilient labor market?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As big companies announce waves of layoffs, lots of workers are worried about AI coming for their jobs. On today’s show, we tune in to part of Kimbe...

The shutdown continues

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Day 28 of the government shutdown, and lawmakers still aren’t budging on the budget. But Congress faces key deadlines this week: Funds for as...

From "How We Survive": The Uncanny Valley of Meat

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing another episode from the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. Host Am...

Chicago vs. ICE

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago has been dealing with a lot these days. The city has been a battleground for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and efforts to...

How can our food systems become more sustainable?

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The climate crisis has a lot to do with what we eat. That’s what the latest season of Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast “How We Survive”...

From "How We Survive": Food Tour of the Future

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! Today we’re passing the mic to our friends over at “How We Survive.” This season, Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast is div...

Make Me Smart: St. Louis Edition

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re taking a trip to Kimberly’s hometown: St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Public Radio’s politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins Kim...

This labor market is ripe for job scams

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this rough labor market, job seekers are more vulnerable to scams. We’ve all seen those texts, right? The ones offering jobs with suspiciously hi...

When the government shuts down, tribal communities get the shaft

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The effects of government shutdowns are felt particularly deeply in tribal communities across the United States. That’s because the federal governme...

Dealing with credit card or medical debt? Here's how to handle it.

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by the host of NPR’s “Life Kit” podcast, Marielle Segarra, who’s recently been working on a four-week ne...

An economic vocab lesson for the Trump era

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re all getting smarter about some of the economic and political terms dominating the headlines these days. Terms like “authoritarianism”...

The politicization of the National Guard

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A growing list of U.S. cities are set to see National Guard troops in their communities as President Trump explores ways to deploy the military on Ame...

Is craft beer's popularity going flat?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Marketplace’s very own Henry Epp to chat about his reporting on the “maturing” of the craft beer indust...

Another budget breakdown. Why are we like this?

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Messy fights over funding the federal government have become all too familiar in American politics. Why are we like this? On the show today, The Broo...

Checking the pulse of the Las Vegas economy

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Las Vegas is facing a months long decline in tourism, partly due fewer international visitors to the United States overall. So is Las Vegas dead? “M...

From "How We Survive": The climate crisis is an economic crisis

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing a special bonus episode from “How We Survive.” It’s a conversation between host Amy Scott, “Marketplace”...

Make Me Smart: Fat Bear Week Edition

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s show, Alaska Public Media reporter Ava White joins Kimberly to make us smarter about Fat Bear Week and the issues that are top of mind fo...

The music industry vs. AI

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re diving into the business of music. Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to explain what Anthropic’s recent copyright settlement ...