Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2024. We can’t do this show without you and we still need your support. If you can, donate today to keep independent journalism going strong into 2025 and beyond. Give now to support “Make Me Smart.” Thank you so much for your generosity, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year.In case you haven’t heard, the Summer Olympics aren’t over! This year’s Paralympics kick off in Paris on Aug. 28. It’s the first time all 22 Paralympic events will be aired live, and total broadcast revenues are up by more than 20% from the delayed 2020 Paralympics. Chuck Aoki, an American Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, said content creators like himself are also bringing eyes to the event. On the show today, Aoki breaks down the basics of wheelchair rugby (aka “murderball”), the system that classifies para athletes based on their disability, and why this year’s Paralympics are getting more buzz than ever.Then, we’ll get into how pharmaceutical companies’ new direct-to-consumer programs could impact drug prices. And, listeners tell us about the trafficless 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and a lesson in credit cards learned the hard, heartbreaking way.Here’s everything we talked about today:“Passion And Guts: Chuck Aoki’s World of Wheelchair Rugby” from Team USA“Paralympic Games in Paris set to reach largest audience after broadcast deals” from The Guardian“What sports are in the Paralympics and how does the classification system work?” from AP News“How to Watch the 2024 Summer Paralympics: Streaming Schedule, Free Options” from Wired“Pfizer Follows Lilly With Website Selling Directly to Patients” from Bloomberg“Eli Lilly lowering weight loss drug prices” from The Hill“Health Insurance Costs Will Rise Steeply if Premium Tax Credit Improvements Expire” from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities“How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2025” from KFF“Pfizer launches new website for migraine, respiratory offerings” from Reuters“Panama Canal Eases Limits That Caused Global Shipping Bottleneck” from BloombergWe want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at [email protected].

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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