Make Me Smart

Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.

Website : https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart

RSS Feed : https://www.marketplace.org/feed/podcast/make-me-smart  

Last Episode : May 29, 2025 10:54pm

Last Scanned : 2.5 hours ago

Episodes

Episodes currently hosted on IPFS.

Introducing "What We Spend" (Sponsored by Audacy)
Confirmed 1

From our sponsor: Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On “What We Spend,” people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets — and their lives — to tell you everything: What they make, what they want, and — for one week — what they spend.


“What We Spend” is available wherever you get your podcasts!

Expires in 25 hours
Published Thursday
Financially Inclined: Going green with your money
Confirmed 1

Hey Smarties! Make Me Smart is taking a short break while Kimberly and Reema cook up something good for you!


In the meantime, we’re bringing you an episode from “Financially Inclined” a podcast from Marketplace that helps families learn more about money. It turns out where you park your money can actually make a difference in the fight agains climate change. Today, host Yanely Espinal speaks with author and financial educator Kara Perez about how you can spend, save and invest your money in a way that aligns with your values, without sacrificing your financial goals. Plus, they share practical tips for how to use your money to make a real impact.

Expires in 10 hours
Published Tuesday
Higher education is a major U.S. export. And it’s under threat.
1

It’s Kai’s last day as a regular co-host of “Make Me Smart” and he’s got a solid rant (and two bleeps). We’ll get into the Trump administration’s push to block international students at Harvard, thretening one of American’s biggest exports: higher education. Plus, we’ll unpack the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split over a separation of church and state case. And, could penguin poop be a tool against global warming?


Here’s everything we talked about today:




“Make Me Smart” is going on a break! Kimberly and Reema will be back with new episodes June 9. We’d love to hear from you while we’re away. Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Published 05/22
No tax on tips? Here's what that could mean.
1

The Senate unexpectedly passed the No Tax on Tips Act, one of President Trump’s many campaign promises. We’ll explain what’s actually in the bill and where it goes from here. Plus, the Trump administration has officially accepted a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One. We’ll get into the grift of it all. Plus, one man’s search for younger looking skin and a manga story to smile about.


Here’s everything we talked about today:




We need your help to reach our fundraiser goal in a moment when public media is threatened like never before. Give now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Published 05/21
Watch the dollar!
1

Things aren’t looking so good for the U.S. dollar. Though it’s spent decades as the world’s reigning reserve currency, it’s been weakening lately thanks to tariffs and uncertainty in the U.S. economy.


But its declining value, has been in the making for a while, according to Harvard economist and author of the new book, “Our Dollar, Your Problem,” Kenneth Rogoff.


“The problem we’re facing is that, independent of this dollar phenomenon, interest rates are going up,” said Rogoff. “And if you’re the world’s biggest debtor, that’s tough.”


Rogoff joins Kai and Kimberly to unpack how the greenback became the world’s go-to currency, what a reserve currency actually is, why it’s been losing some of its value lately and what might take its place. Plus, how does military power tie into all this? 


We’ll also get into some potential cryptocurrency regulation coming down the pipeline and discuss the troubling parallel between Trumpism and Brexit. 


Then, you tell us what books help you reset – from classic literary romances to an apocalyptic sci-fi tale. And, our intern, Zoha Malik (hi!) shares her answer to the Make Me Smart question. 


Here’s everything we talked about today:




Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Published 05/20
Where are the GOP's free market diehards?
1

Walmart had said it would raise prices in response to tariffs. Then, it got a call from the White House. Now, the retailer says it will swallow some of the costs. This has us wondering: where have all the free market diehards gone? Plus, Kimberly reflects on the tornadoes that hit her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri and explains FEMA’s plan to shift disaster costs to the states. Also? Did the GOP really name their reconciliation bill the “One Big Beautiful Bill?”


Here’s everything we talked about today:




It’s the final matching opportunity of our May Fundraiser! Double your impact when you give right now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Published 05/19
Kai shares some news
1

On today’s show, Kai makes a special annoucement! But first, Moody’s knocked the United States’ government’s credit rating down a peg below Triple-A. We’ll break down what that actually means and why it may not be as dire as it sounds but still matters a lot for the vibes. Plus, we’ll explain why, even with a majority, the House GOP hasn’t been able to pass its budget bill. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty and nerd out on “Star Wars” spin-off shows.


Here’s everything we talked about today:




Got a message for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Published 05/16
You've got questions about this economy. We've got answers!
1

In today’s show, Kimber-Kai are answering your questions about all the wild things going on in the U.S. economy. Isn’t the 30% tariff rate on China still crazy high? And, how are local governments preparing for potential federal funding cuts? We’ll discuss how states are weighing their next moves, and how the “Trump Slump” has taken shape in California. Then, we’ll get into the Federal Reserve’s wait-and-see tariff strategy. 


Here’s everything we talked about today:




Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.


Donate during our May Fundraiser and get a classic public radio thank-you gift: tote bags, mugs, t-shirts, hats, and more! Give now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn 

Published 05/15
Congress' AI power grab
1

On today’s show, Kimberly continues to make us smart about the GOP’s massive tax bill. This time, we’re digging into a small (but important) detail buried in the bill that could have enormous consequences for the regulation of artificial intelligence: a clause that would block states from enforcing AI laws for ten years. We’ll break down what’s at stake. And, the U.S. dollar is getting weaker. We’ll explain what it could mean for the economy.


Here’s everything we talked about today:


Published 05/14
K2-18b and the search for alien life
1

Today we’re ditching the drama on Earth and talking about K2-18b, an exoplanet 120 light-years away. K2-18b recently made headlines after researchers claimed to observe possible “signs of life” in the planet's atmosphere. So, did we find aliens? Michaela Musilova, an astrobiologist and analog astronaut, said it’s too early to tell. On the show today, Musilova breaks down the debate over K2-18b, why better telescopes are needed to find definitive proof of life on another planet, and why President Trump’s proposed funding cuts to NASA could disrupt this search. Plus, what’s it like to be an analog astronaut, and what do they actually do?


Then, why a healthy reading diet contains both “broccoli” and “chocolate pie” books. And, Jessamine Chan, author of “The School for Good Mothers,” answers the Make Me Smart question.


Here’s everything we talked about today:


Published 05/13
What's inside the new GOP tax bill?
1

House Republicans’ newly released tax plan includes trillions in tax breaks. But those tax cuts will come at a cost. We’ll get into it. And, Apple plans to raise iPhone prices but won’t point fingers at President Trump’s tariffs. We’ll unpack how all the tariff chaos could lead to elevated prices, no matter what they actually cost companies. Plus, sci-fi escapism and Pope Leo XIV’s love of baseball make us smile.


Here’s everything we talked about today:


Published 05/12
1
Is U.S. trade policy being run on vibes?

As the Trump administration heads into a weekend of trade talks with Chinese officials, the President is floating a new tariff rate on Chinese imports: 80%. While it’s much lower than the current tariff rate of 145%, it’s still far too high for many businesses. We’ll get into it. And, a recent legal win for Epic Games could shake up Apple’s App Store. Plus, we’ll weigh in on mass producing orchids and going cashless during a round of Half Full/Half Empty!


Here’s everything we talked about today:


Published 05/09