Make Me Smart With Kai And Molly

Southern European economies, including Greece, are growing faster than some of Europe’s longtime powerhouses, like Germany. We’ll get into how Greece pulled off an economic turnaround after the devastating 2012 financial crisis. And, Halle Berry’s shouts from the steps of the Capitol are calling attention to the need for more menopause research. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Europe’s Economic Laggards Have Become Its Leaders” from The New York Times “Halle Berry shouts from the Capitol, ‘I’m in menopause’ as she seeks to end a stigma and win funding” from AP News “Dave & Buster’s to let adult customers bet on arcade games” from Marketplace “As work communication migrates to mobile devices, desk phones hang up for good” from Marketplace “Pop-up coworking events are uniting lonely workers” fro

“Spotting tech-driven disinformation isn’t getting easier” from Marketplace 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 and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. It’s time to rewind and revisit some of the big business stories of the week. First up, stagflation. Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell isn’t seeing signs of it, and neither is Kai Ryssdal. We’ll explain why. Plus, what Walmart’s decision to shut down all of its health clinics says about the U.S. health care system. Also, we’ll break down the latest efforts to restructure the American economy through the CHIPS Act. And, a singer’s plea to protect artists from AI-generated deepfakes. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fed Holds Rates Steady, Noting Lack of Progress on Inflation” from The New York Times “GDP growth slowed to a 1.6% rate in the first quarter, well below expectations” from CNBC

With the presidential election less than six months away, election workers are raising concerns about their safety. We’ll get into the rising threats to election offices and how that might affect staffing ahead of November. Also, how Tesla’s disbanding of its Supercharger team could impact the Biden’s administration push to expand electric vehicle use. Plus, how a pest control professional saved a baseball game from a swarm of bees. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nearly Two-Thirds Of Election Officials Worry Politicians Will Interfere With Their Work: Poll” from HuffPost “Local Election Officials Survey” from the Brennan Center for Justice “They staffed the Jan. 6 committee. Threats still follow them” from Roll Call “Musk Undercuts Tesla Chargers That Biden Lauded as ‘a Big Deal’” from Bloomberg “Pest control ace clears Dodgers-Diamondbacks bee swarm, throws first pitch” from United Press International We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to mak

Today we’re talking about the trade deficit at the request of some of our curious listeners. Since the mid-’70s, the U.S. has persistently been importing more goods than it exports. Is that such a bad thing? We’ll hear from Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, about why the U.S. has a trade deficit, whether it’s a good or bad thing, and why a country’s overall trade deficit matters more than deficits with specific countries. Then, we’ll get into how online political donations are fueling election campaigns this year. Plus, the malleable idea of “old age” and the wonders of happy sheep in a solar field. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trade deficits aren’t good or bad, just weird” from Marketplace “The U.S. Trade Deficit: How Much Does It Matter?” from the Council on Foreign Relations Historical U.S. Trade Deficits fro

Nope. It’s not just your imagination. The Biden administration has been on a roll to finalize several regulations — from changes at nursing homes and updates to Title IX to health care protections for transgender people. Kimberly explains what’s really behind the mad dash. Also, Kai is back with a reminder: Don’t sleep on the foreign exchange market, folks! And we’ll smile about the tales of two cats. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden administration strengthens health care protections for LGBTQ+ Americans” from The 19th News “Congressional Review Act Threat Looms Over Biden Administration Rulemakings” from Inside Privacy “A Strong U.S. Dollar Weighs on the World”from The New York Times “Japan Intervenes After Yen Slides Against the Dollar” from The Wall Street Journal “Nebraska’s “Capitol Cat” brings paw-sitivity to politics” from USA Today “Stowaway Cat Gets From Utah to California in Amazon Returns Package” from The New Y

Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza have erupted at universities across the United States. We’ll discuss what the sweeping protests and other high-profile political battles at colleges could mean for the economics of higher education. And, what the Federal Reserve might look like under a second Donald Trump presidency. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Protests Threaten College Graduations, Denying Seniors Second Chance at Normalcy” from The New York Times “What students say about the protests rocking their campuses” from The Washington Post “Americans are falling out of love with the idea of college” from Noahpinion “Americans Are Losing Faith in College Education, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds” from The Wall Street Journal “Trump Allies Draw Up Plans to Blunt Fed’s Independence” from The Wall Street Journal “Job trend ̵

“Boeing failures are a case study of America’s manufacturing “dark age” from Marketplace “How science could disrupt the gin industry” from Marketplace 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 and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. It was a big week for tech earnings calls. Guest host Nova Safo unpacks how they went down for Tesla and Meta, and why the stock market reacted so differently to what their CEOs had to say. Plus, what Boeing’s troubles say about the state of U.S. manufacturing. And, would you try an AI-generated gin cocktail? Here’s everything we talked about today: Tesla, Inc. Q1 2024 Financial Results and Q&A Webcast “Elon Musk Would Like to Talk About AI” from Heatmap News Meta Q1’24 Earnings Presentation “Boeing failures are a case study of America’s manufacturing “dark age&#

Today, we’re talking about two different kinds of bans. As expected, President Joe Biden signed the TikTok sell-or-ban bill. But first, guest host Meghan McCarty Carino breaks down the Federal Trade Commission’s decision to ban noncompete agreements and their impact on workers and innovation. Plus, we’ll smile about Emily Dickinson and her newfound love of exclamation points!!! And how “old” is “old”? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Business Groups Race to Block FTC’s Ban on Noncompete Agreements” from The Wall Street Journal “FTC Bans Noncompete Agreements That Restrict Job Switching” from The Wall Street Journal “Did California’s Noncompete Ban Fuel Silicon Valley Innovation?” from Bloomberg Law “Banning Noncompetes Is Good for Innovation” from Harvard Business Review “TikTok may be banned in the US. Here’s what happened when India did it” from The Associated Press “U.S. Approve

Several American dollar store chains have been down bad these days. Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and 99 Cents Only have all recently announced store closures. On the other hand, Dollar General is poised to expand. This has us wondering: What’s going on with the dollar store business model? Has today’s inflationary economy broken it? On the show today, Sandro Steinbach, professor of agribusiness and applied economics at North Dakota State University, explains the economics behind dollar stores, how they keep prices so low, and the impact they have on different communities. Then, we’ll discuss privacy risks while using popular dating apps. And, what the Australian kids’ show “Bluey” can teach us about the economy. Here’s everything we talked about: Video: “How can dollar stores still sell things for a dollar?” from Marketplace “Why are discounters like 99 Cents Only Stores in dire straits?” from Marketplace “Here

Today, the Biden administration announced plans to implement strict staffing requirements at nursing homes. Kimberly Adams unpacks what this rule may mean for care and the nursing home business model. Plus, guest host Nova Safo returns to discuss the United Auto Workers’ historic victory in the South and the latest troubles at Tesla. And, high-speed rail is finally coming to the U.S. Here’s everything we talked about today: “UAW wins big in historic union vote at Volkswagen Tennessee factory” from Reuters “Tesla shares tumble on price cuts in run-up to earnings” from Reuters “Biden administration finalizes controversial minimum staffing mandate at nursing homes” from CNN “Nursing homes must hit minimum staffing levels under new federal rule” from The Hill “Long Term Care Insurance Costs by State and Region” from New York Life “How much does long-term care insurance cost?” from CBS News “I’m 68 and My Long-Term Car

The Joe Biden administration announced highly anticipated updates to Title IX. The new rule expands protections for LGBTQ+ students and sexual assault survivors. But it stops short of addressing the rights of trans athletes. Then, we’ll get into the outrageous hoops rich people jump through to get out of paying state taxes. Plus, we’ll weigh in on swapping seats on airplanes and more in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “How to Avoid State Taxes? New York Rich Use Private Jets” from Bloomberg “New Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students, avoids trans athletes” from AP News “New Title IX rules offer ‘comprehensive coverage’ for LGBTQ+ students and sexual violence survivors” from The 19th “As drive-thrus get bigger, some cities aren’t lovin’ it” from Marketplace “Make robots like Boston Dynamics’ new Atlas hairy” from The Verge

The Biden administration is aiming to triple tariffs on Chinese steel to protect U.S. manufacturers. Sound familiar? We’ll explain who is actually paying the price and what raising tariffs would mean for U.S. workers. We’ll also get into why economic data doesn’t always translate into how voters view the economy, especially in an election year. And, what the buzz over the popular animated series “Bluey” is all about. Here’s everything we talked about today: “President Biden Gives Remarks on Labor Unions and Manufacturing Jobs in Pittsburgh” from C-SPAN “Biden vows to shield US steel industry by blocking Japanese merger and seeking new Chinese tariffs” from The Associated Press “Once again: Who pays for tariffs on Chinese steel?” from Marketplace “Fed Chair Powell delivers remarks at the Washington Forum on the Canadian economy” from CNBC “Fed Chair Jerome Powell Dials Back Expectations on Interest-Rate Cuts” from

A union election at Volkswagen is testing the power of the United Auto Workers. As voting gets underway this week, guest host Nova Safo explains what unionization could mean for three big automakers and the labor movement in the South. Plus, how a unanimous Supreme Court ruling expands the scope of workplace bias suits. And, why Billy Joel came up at a Pentagon press briefing. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The South has few unionized auto plants. Workers say this one could be next.” from The Washington Post “Supreme Court makes it easier to sue for job discrimination over forced transfers” from The Associated Press “Hugh Grant says he took ‘enormous sum’ to settle suit alleging illegal snooping by The Sun tabloid” from The Associated Press “Conservative Broadcaster OAN Settles Defamation Claims by Voting-Machine Company Smartmatic” from The Wall Street Journal Pentagon press conference moment from Travis Akers on X Billy Joel’

There’s been a lot of debate lately about the potential effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s mental health. Some states like states like Florida and Utah have even tried to ban kids from using social media apps until they reach a certain age. But Mikey Jensen, professor of clinical psychology and director of the Interactions and Relationships Lab at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, said outright bans could do more harm than good. On the show today: How smartphones and social media are reshaping our lives. And why we should focus on the quality of kids’ online time instead of the amount of it.  Then, we’ll get into the cost of a major ransomware attack for a health care company and its clients. And, the mini pencil economy and what a history professor got wrong about ancient Rome. Here’s everything we talked about today: “The great rewiring: is social media really behind an epidemic of teenage mental illness?” from Nature 

It’s Tax Day! Millions of Americans have already filed their 2023 returns, but today we’re talking about tax protesters and the moral and ethical reasons some refuse to file their taxes or pay what they owe. Plus, the “no landing” scenario has entered the chat. And, what are we getting wrong about the cosmos? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Taxes are due even if you object to government policies or doubt the validity of the 16th Amendment’s ratification” from The Conversation “Taxes 2024: I stopped paying taxes a decade ago. The results shocked me.” from Slate “‘The 401(k) industry owns Congress’: How lawmakers quietly passed a $300 billion windfall to the wealthy” from Politico “Fed Hiking Rates to 6.5% Is ‘Real Risk’ for UBS Strategists” from Bloomberg “March retail sales data show the American consumer is still pretty strong” from Axios “World’s top co

It’s hard to get around without a car these days. But in the last couple of years, owning one has become very expensive. We’ll explain the deceptive practices happening in the auto lending market. And, we’ll explain how Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s power in the Democratic Party was demonstrated by a campaign contribution. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty and weigh in on “dumbphones” and adult gap years. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Ocasio-Cortez Never Steered Money to a Key Arm of Her Party. Until Now.” from The New York Times “The rise of the scammy car loan” from Vox “Decades later, Bonnie Tyler still finds new fans for her hit song every total eclipse” from CBC Radio “Tech is supercharging pre-employment personality tests” from Marketplace “The Dumbphone Boom Is Real” from The New Yorker “Broadband ‘nutrition labels’

Today, we’re discussing the bond market’s big reaction to the latest inflation news and why you shouldn’t worry about it. Plus, a new Boeing whistleblower comes forward, and Beyoncé calls out the home insurance industry. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bonds are talking to us after inflation gauge comes in above forecasts” from Marketplace “US consumer prices heat up in March; seen delaying Fed rate cut” from Reuters “$6.6 billion TSMC deal in Arizona the latest in the CHIPS Act’s rollout” from Marketplace “TSMC: Biden to give Taiwanese company $6.6 billion to ramp up US chip production” from CNN “Biden administration bets an old plant can make new chips” from Marketplace “‘Benefit of the doubt running thin with Boeing’: Capt. Dennis Tajer on whistleblower claims” from CNBC “Boeing whistleblower says the Dreamliner 787 could 

Inflation is coming in hot! Today’s consumer price index shows prices kept rising in March. Kai Ryssdal explains the one thing everybody should be doing right about now in addition to taking a deep breath! Plus, the rising cost of insurance — from homeowners coverage to life insurance — and what companies are doing to dump customers. Also, hear a whale talk to a scientist. Here’s everything we talk about today: “Hot Inflation Report Derails Case for Fed’s June Rate Cut” from The Wall Street Journal “Insurers Are Spying on Your Home From the Sky” from The Wall Street Journal “The Soaring Cost of Homeowners Insurance” from Comstock’s Magazine “MassMutual is rolling out free genetic testing for members, a dicey area for life insurers” from STAT+ “The scientists learning to speak whale” from BBC Solar Grazing Resources from the American Solar Grazing Association We love to hear from you. Send

There’s a lot of buzz about a slowdown in the electric vehicle market. EV sales, while still growing, are not accelerating at the pace of just a few years ago. At the same time, EV makers from Tesla to General Motors and Ford are pushing back EV plans. So, what gives? On the show today, Robinson Meyer of Heatmap explains what’s really happening with the U.S. EV market, what it’s going to take to rev it back up, competition from China and whether moves by the Biden administration will be enough to help domestic EV producers pull ahead. Then, can robots make the meatpacking industry safer? Plus, in celebration of Monday’s solar eclipse, a planetary scientist answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What happened to EVs?” from Business Insider “Opinion | China’s Electric Vehicles Are Going to Hit Detroit Like a Wrecking Ball” from The New York Times “The key to growing EV adoption is cars w

The Biden administration is in a mad dash to address student debt relief ahead of the presidential election. A new plan could benefit tens of millions of Americans. We’ll explain. Plus, a Kai rant about a CEO who gets too much attention. And, there seems to be a market for everything! We’ll tell you about a new fad involving kids and mini pencils. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden announces new student debt relief plan for millions of borrowers” from The Hill “Biden seeks student debt relief for millions” from NPR “Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Might Face Interest-Rate Spike” from The Wall Street Journal “2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA” from NASA “Hot Market for Pencils Help Kids Turn Lead Into Gold” from The Wall Street Journal We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.