Make Me Smart

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 origins of the holiday? The little ones in your life may be wondering about that too. Today, we’re sharing a special crossover episode from Marketplace kids podcast “Million Bazillion.” Bridget and Ryan team up with the hosts of “Forever Ago” to explain Black Friday’s history. Plus, they share tips on how to shop smarter during the holiday season.

Hey Smarties! Happy Thanksgiving. Today we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of Marketplace’s climate podcast, “How We Survive,” that has to do with the future of what’s on your dinner table. As the planet heats up, the climate of the Midwest is changing. It’s pushing the invisible line separating the humid East and arid West eastward which has major implications for our food supply. In this episode, Amy Scott drives across Kansas to find out how farmers are adapting.

Business has been booming for the online sports betting industry. Prediction markets threw a curveball. On today’s show, sports betting industry writer and analyst Dustin Gouker joins Kimberly to explain how prediction markets are disrupting sports betting and the legal questions surrounding it. Plus, we’ll get into what it means to live in a world where you can bet on anything, anytime from your phone.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Why are sports betting companies getting into the prediction market?" from Marketplace"FanDuel, DraftKings Leaving American Gaming Association" from The Closing Line"From Kalshi to Polymarket to FanDuel, America Is One Giant Casino" from Business Insider"What is Kalshi, the predictions market that’s attracted the NCAA’s attention?" from The Athletic"The Sports-Betting Disaster" from The New YorkerHow to contact the National Problem Gambling HelplineWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 party. Regardless of which side of the gathering you’re on, it can be stressful. But fret not! Casey Elsass, author of the book “What Can I Bring? Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life,” joins Kimberly from New York City to share tips on how to host and attend a great holiday party without breaking your bank account. Plus, we’ll play a round of This or That!Here’s everything we talked about today:“What Can I Bring? Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life” from Hachette Book Group“Potluck problems solved: Recipes that travel well and always impress” from MPR News“Americans Need to Party More” from The Atlantic“2024 Is the Year of the Dinner Party” from Eater“Song of the Shirt” from Thomas Hood

The United Nations’ climate summit, COP30, is underway in Brazil. But one country is notably absent: the United States. On today’s show, climate law expert Jennifer Haverkamp joins Kimberly to share her takeaways from COP30 so far and what the United States’ absence means for the future of global climate progress. Plus, the growing debate over whether climate finance should prioritize adapting to climate change or curbing fossil fuels.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Cop30 live: current climate pathway ‘a death sentence for many’, says UN secretary-general" from The Guardian "Debatable: How to fight climate change" from Semafor"With Trump absent from COP30 talks, the world moves on without U.S." from The Washington Post "Brazil Officials Are Divided Over Fossil Fuel Plan at COP30" from Bloomberg"India wants COP30 to focus on climate adaptation, but dries up own fund" from Al Jazeera  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 are just the latest flash point in the law’s 15-year history. KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner joins Kimberly to break down where things stand with the ACA and whether we’re on the cusp of another national healthcare debate. Plus, the other health policy changes coming under the Trump administration.Here’s everything we talked about today:"The State of the Affordable Care Act" from KFF Health News"Oz: Trump administration weighing ACA subsidies extension" from The Hill "8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period" from KFF "Obamacare sticker shock is more shocking in some states than others" from Politico"GOP plans to replace Obamacare have failed. Here’s what lawmakers propose now." from Washington Post  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 on the Latin entertainment industry. Mountain West News Bureau reporter Yvette Fernandez joins Kimberly from Las Vegas to share her reporting, including how the city is handling a lengthy tourism slump. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Latinx Files: Recapping the Latin Grammys" from The Los Angeles Times"Immigration crackdown, visa issues spark issues for Latin music festivals" from Marketplace "New Statistics Underscore Las Vegas' Prolonged Tourism Slump" from Travel Pulse"Healthcare costs continue to be at the heart of the government shut down as costs will still increase" from KNPR"He has a soulful voice, a No. 1 hit and he's not real. Meet AI star Breaking Rust" from USA Today"The death of the penny is leaving businesses stuck in the middle" from Marketplace"The growing business of disconnecting" Marketplace"Holiday catalogs are making a comeback" MarketplaceTest your news knowledge with Marketplace’s new weekly quizWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 show today, Kai and Kimberly get into what comes next in the shutdown’s wake, how the Trump administration’s tariff arguments went over at the Supreme Court and what the sliding balance of power in the federal government has to do with the health of the U.S. economy.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Court appears dubious of Trump’s tariffs" from SCOTUSblog"Trump floats $2,000 tariff rebate checks: Here's what you need to know" from CNBC"Trump claims tariff loss would force $3 trillion ‘unwind'" from Axios"If SCOTUS strikes down President Trump's current tariffs, he has plenty of other options" from Marketplace"How Congress Gave Up Its Own Power" from Time"Senate sinks measure to block military action against Venezuela" from PoliticoJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

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 market according to Peter McGraw, behavioral economist and host of the podcast “Solo: The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life.” But as the single population grows in the United States, will that change? We’ll get into it. Plus, the realities of the “singles tax.”Here’s everything we talked about today:"Singles’ Day is a $150B holiday in China. Here’s why I think ‘11/11’ will catch on in the US" from The Conversation "The rise of singlehood is reshaping the world" from The Economist"The rise of the ‘solo economy’ is driving new consumption patterns" from Futures Platform "The ‘singles tax’ means you often pay more for going it alone. Here’s how it works" from The Conversation We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 voters. VPM News reporter Patrick Larsen joins Kimberly to debrief the election results and explain why rising energy costs were a key campaign issue—and what data centers have to do with it. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"How do data centers figure into Virginia's 2025 elections?" from VPM News"Virginia’s Rural Voters Shift 12 Points Toward Democrats" from The Daily Yonder"Soaring energy prices gave Democrats a winning message" from Semafor"Pumpkinscaping could be coming to a porch near you" from Marketplace"iRobot Is in Trouble, but Roomba Is Already Dead" from Wirecutter"How is this novelty team outselling over half the MLB?" from Marketplace "What Travelers Need to Know About the Shutdown, Flight Reductions and Delays" from The New York Times We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Quantum computing is still in an experimental phase, but tech companies say it could eventually have an enormous impact on the global economy. How long is that going to take? On today’s show, science journalist Dan Garisto joins Kimberly to break down the basics of quantum computing and why it could take many years for the technology to move out of the lab and into the real world.Here’s everything we talked about today:"This Year’s Nobel Physics Prize Showed Quantum Mechanics Is a Big Deal—Literally" from Scientific American  "The Next Big Quantum Computer Has Arrived" from The Wall Street Journal "Google Measures ‘Quantum Echoes’ on Willow Quantum Computer Chip" from Scientific American "Futuristic quantum computing stocks take speculators on roller-coaster ride" from Reuters"Here’s How Quantum Computing Could Change the World" from The Wall Street Journal Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

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 future of some of these tariffs hinge on the outcome of a Supreme Court case challenging their legality. On today’s show, Asma Khalid, co-host of “The Global Story” podcast from the BBC, joins Kimberly to explain what’s at stake. Plus, how international relationships are shifting in the Trump era.Here’s everything we talked about today:"The Global Story, The Supreme Court battle over Trump’s tariffs" from the BBC World Service"Geopolitics of Trump Tariffs: How U.S. Trade Policy Has Shaken Allies" from Council on Foreign Relations"The president who cried tariffs: will the US supreme court challenge Trump’s trade war?" from The Guardian  "China and India pledge to be 'partners not rivals'" from BBC News "The rise and fall of globalisation: the battle to be top dog" from The ConversationWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 “This Is Uncomfortable,” joins Kimberly to unpack the financial anxieties some of our listeners shared with us, from feeling behind on retirement savings to feeling uncertain about the economy future generations will inherit. Plus, we’ll play a spooky game! Here’s everything we talked about today:"Financial Anxiety Is Rising. Here’s What You Can Do About It" from Bloomberg"Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think" from The Atlantic"8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period" from KFF"People insured through their employers likely to see higher premiums in 2026" from Marketplace"Government shutdown resources for federal employees" from Partnership for Public ServiceVIDEO: ”Inkwo for When the Starving Return Official Trailer” from the National Film Board of Canada"Halloween candy's getting lighter on the chocolate" from MarketplaceWe want to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 Kimberly’s recent panel discussion at Aspen Ideas: Economy. President of the AARP Foundation Claire Casey, 1Huddle founder and CEO Sam Caucci, and Union College of Union County New Jersey President Margaret McMenamin share their insights on building a more diverse and resilient labor market in the years ahead. Plus, we hear a listener’s recent win: sewing a historically-accurate dress to sport at the local Renaissance Faire. Nice stitching, Hannah! Here’s everything we talked about today:"Layoffs are piling up, raising worker anxiety. Here are some companies that have cut jobs recently" from AP News"Tens of Thousands of White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing as AI Starts to Bite" from The Wall Street JournalVIDEO: "Beyond Lip Service: Building a Resilient Labor Market" from Aspen Ideas: EconomyJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

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 assistance programs like SNAP could run out, and Americans may see their healthcare premiums skyrocket as open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans begins Nov. 1. On today’s show, Kimberly unpacks what’s at stake with CQ Roll Call reporter Aris Folley. Plus, we’ll answer some of your questions along the way.Here’s everything we talked about today: ”6 ways the shutdown is about to get worse” from Politico ”Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats” from NBC ”Government shutdown continues to add to stress on air traffic controllers and disrupt flights” from AP News ”As Shutdown Drags and Trump Flexes, Congress Cedes Its Relevance” from the New York TimesWe want to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing another episode from the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. Host Amy Scott and the “How We Survive” crew continue their exploration into the future of climate-conscious food with a look at the cutting edge of meat alternatives. Plus, Francis Lam, host of “The Splendid Table,” joins Amy to put cell cultivated meat to the test and shares some tips for cooking climate-friendly proteins.

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 deploy the National Guard. On today’s show, Kimberly asks WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons about what it’s like to be there now. And, we’ll get into more economic stories from the Windy City you should know about. Plus, we’ll play a game of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"ICE Is Cracking Down on Chicago. Some Chicagoans Are Fighting Back." from The New York Times"Local leaders react to ‘brutal escalation’ of immigration arrests in Little Village, Cicero" from WBEZ"Judge’s order blocking National Guard deployment will remain in effect for now, but all eyes on Supreme Court" from WBEZ"Coca-Cola taps mini cans and new flavors to spark a fizzling soda market" from Marketplace"‘It’s PR, not the ER’: Gen Z is resisting the workplace emergency" The Washington Post"Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Officially Coming to Theaters, Despite Previous Statements" from The Hollywood Reporter"Amazon Plans to Replace More Than Half a Million Jobs With Robots" from The New York Times We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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” is all about. On today’s show, host Amy Scott joins Kimberly to share her big takeaways from the season. We’ll get into the business of cell cultivated meat and the tradeoffs that come with regenerative farming. Then, we’ll do some smiles. Plus, Kimberly’s PSA to use your fancy china!Here’s everything we talked about today:"How We Survive" from Marketplace"State of Climate Action 2025" from Systems Change Lab"I paid $65 for a giant collection of vintage dishes at a thrift store. Then I found out it's worth almost $1,000." from Business InsiderJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re passing the mic to our friends over at “How We Survive.” This season, Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast is diving into the future of food on a hotter, drier planet. In this episode, host Amy Scott and the “How We Survive” crew go on a food tour around Northern California to find out how some companies are experimenting with new ways to make foods threatened by climate change.

Today we’re taking a trip to Kimberly’s hometown: St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Public Radio’s politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins Kimberly to break down the fights over Missouri’s congressional maps and voter-led ballot initiatives. And, we’ll get into how St. Louis is recovering from the historic tornado that swept through the city earlier this year. Plus, are you Half Full or Half Empty on St. Louis style pizza?Here’s everything we talked about today:"Democratic National Committee will contribute to blocking Missouri congressional map" from STLPR"Missouri voters and lawmakers clash over ballot initiative powers" from AP News"Missouri Gov. Kehoe activates National Guard to assist ICE agents" from STLPR"FEMA approves additional funding and assistance for St. Louis tornado debris cleanup" from STLPR"Should you postpone your flight during the government shutdown?" from Marketplace"Thune dangles Obamacare vote after shutdown ends" from Politico "Thin-Crust Fans, Meet St. Louis Pizza: Crunchy, Cheesy, and Totally Underrated" from Serious EatsWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.