Make Me Smart

In line with the Pentagon’s ambitions to build an “AI-first warfighting force,” earlier this year, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded unrestricted use of Anthropic’s Claude model. Anthropic had concerns. Now the two parties are engaged in a legal battle that could shape the future of AI safety. Kimberly talks with Justin Hendrix, CEO and editor of Tech Policy Press, to explain Anthropic’s lawsuit and why this could signal a turning point in the tech industry’s chummy relationship with the Trump administration.

Farm bills are huge, sprawling pieces of legislation that affect all Americans — not just farmers. But as they’ve gotten more expensive, they’ve gotten tougher to pass. And due to the SNAP cuts in Congress’s big budget bill passed last summer, the coalitions that have historically gotten this legislation over the finish line may be fractured beyond repair. Kimberly talks with Chris Neubert, agriculture policy expert at Arizona State University, about what this could mean for this year’s farm bill prospects.

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 Street Journal entertainment reporter Ben Fritz to discuss what slumping ticket sales means for the future of movies, why the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has Hollywood workers worried, and what it would take for the industry to make a comeback. Plus, movie watchers weigh in: subtitles on or off? Here’s everything we talked about today: A look at how the Oscar best picture nominees have fared at the box office"Disney’s Surprise Box-Office Champion is ‘Zootopia 2,’ Thanks to China""The Movie Theater Comeback That Wasn’t: Why 2025 Was Such a Dud for Struggling Cinemas""Teamsters Call on DOJ to Stop Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: “We’ve Seen What Happens When Corporations Consolidate Power'""Paramount Wins, Everybody Loses""Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing"”Saving Etting Street” We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 concerns that an eviction crisis could take hold, particularly in the Twin Cities. On today’s show, Kimberly joins MPR News correspondent Dana Ferguson in St. Paul, Minnesota to discuss measures the state legislature is taking to provide economic relief to renters, and what life has been like since she last checked in with us on “Make Me Smart.”

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 not just for the ski-inclined, but also for the workers and local businesses that rely on steady ski area traffic. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with University of Waterloo professor and sustainable tourism expert Daniel Scott about what’s driving up the cost of snow sports and how the effects of climate change are shaping the future of the industry.

This week’s Texas primary elections were heated — and historic in terms of campaign spending. On today’s show, Blaise Gainey, state politics reporter for The Texas Newsroom, joins Kimberly to share his election takeaways and the economic issues that brought voters out to the polls. Plus, what does the Texas Railroad Commissioner have to do with oil and gas? And, we’ll pit Texas icons against each other during a round of This or That. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Winners, losers and runoffs: How Texans’ November ballot is shaping up after the primaries""Across Texas, early voters share what’s pushing them to the polls for the 2026 party primaries""Big money moved the needle and down-ballot chaos reigned in Texas' action-packed primaries""Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad Commission""Big Red Is Texas Barbecue’s Unofficial Signature Soda""Why Topo Chico Is The Fizzy Water With A Loyal Fan Base" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The endangerment finding paved the way for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and power plants. Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has repealed the finding, the future of U.S. climate policy is in limbo. Marketplace’s Amy Scott joins Kimberly to explain what the repeal could mean for the auto industry, American consumers, and the United States’ place in the global transition to clean energy.

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 fought—and how much they cost. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, about how drone technology has evolved over the years, how the rise of drone warfare has changed the way global conflicts play out, and what that means for civilians. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Iran strike marks first time U.S. used new one-way attack drones in combat""Iran Fires Cheap Drones Into Arab Countries, Wreaking Havoc""How are Drones Changing War? The Future of the Battlefield""America’s Eroding Airpower"Obama’s Final Drone Strike Data We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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. Kimberly is joined by Carly Berlin, housing reporter for VTDigger and Vermont Public, to talk about the factors driving Vermont’s housing crisis and how solutions, like a catalog of pre-approved home designs, could help fix it. Plus, are you more of a Vermont cheddar or a Ben & Jerry’s type of person? Here’s everything we talked about today: "Vermont Housing Needs Assessment""Vermont is overhauling Act 250. Here’s what the development maps look like so far""Vermont develops catalog of prevetted home designs for faster building""Green Mountain Grub: The Best Things to Eat in Vermont" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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, Kai Ryssdal joins Kimberly to share his takeaways from the decision and the legal questions surrounding Trump’s new global tariff. Plus, how would tariff refunds actually work?

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 gold medalist Declan Farmer joins Kimberly to break down the basics of para ice hockey and how more eyes on the Paralympics can translate to more opportunities for adaptive athletes. Plus, we’ll get into the financial struggles many Paralympians face. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Milan Cortina Paralympics guide: Winter Games celebrate 50 years and Russian flag returns""Para Ice Hockey - About the Sport""Record 15.4 Million Total Viewers Watch Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Across NBCUniversal""It Shouldn’t Be This Expensive to Be a Paralympic Athlete" 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,” Kimberly is joined by Anna Pope, agriculture and rural affairs reporter for KOSU and Harvest Public Media, to talk about how Oklahoma’s agricultural workers are faring amid wildfires, federal workforce reductions and shifting global trade tensions. One bright spot: beef prices! And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Oklahoma fire crews battling several wildfires""Oklahoma-based federal ag workforce lost nearly 1 in 5 of its employees last year""Hunger rose slightly in the U.S., a new report shows. The USDA says it will stop tracking the data""Oklahoma had a bumper wheat crop, but it's not alone. Here's what that means for producers""Beef prices keep rising. What will it take to bring them down?""Gen Z Doesn’t Go to the Club. They Party at Coffee Shops Instead.""Job hunters turn to "reverse" recruiters to get an edge""Americans drank more milk in 2024, reversing a decade-long decline" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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 law. But the funding comes in tandem with massive cuts to Medicaid spending — an existential risk to many rural hospitals. On today’s show, Kimberly speaks with KFF Health News correspondent Arielle Zionts about the potential benefits of the Rural Health Transformation Program and its potential shortfalls. Plus, Congress never came to an agreement on the Obamacare subsidies at the heart of last year’s government shutdown. What does that mean for rural communities?

In December, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that would ban hospitals from receiving any Medicare and Medicaid funding if they offer gender-affirming care for minors. Today, Kimberly checks in with Marketplace’s Samantha Fields to hear about her reporting on how this is affecting health care providers across the country. Plus, we’ll get into how the proposed rule fits into a larger wave of restrictions on transgender health care, years in the making.

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. For now, we’re sharing a new episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Enjoy! Author and journalist Aymann Ismail wants his kids to grow up with a real connection to their Egyptian roots, including speaking Arabic. For his family, that means committing to a private Islamic school — and figuring out how to afford tuition. “This Is Uncomfortable” host Reema Khrais sits down with Aymann as he walks through his family budget and the financial trade-offs that decision requires. They talk about what’s at stake for him, financially and culturally, and why holding onto Arabic feels especially urgent right now. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or about a tricky financial decision you’ve made, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or call 347-RING-TIU. And follow our new social accounts on Instagram and Tiktok @ThisIsUncomfortablePod

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 technology that’s meant to help us do it. Lots of dating apps are integrating AI features these days, but are they making it easier to find real-life connections? We talk to Jason Parham, senior writer at Wired magazine, to try to find out.

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, Kimberly is joined by Maggie Smith, poet and host of “The Slowdown” podcast. They talk about why reading and writing are so good for the soul, and about the importance of practicing creativity when funding for the arts is under attack. Maggie also reads a poem she selected specially for us! Plus, we’ll hear from two listeners about their self-care rituals.

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. For now, we’re sharing a new episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Enjoy! “Work Drama” is the “This Is Uncomfortable” advice column, answering your questions about sticky work situations. This week, Reema tackles your questions about workplace tension, co-worker cliques, bosses behaving badly, and some bizarre office policies. And she’s joined by one of our favorite culture writers and podcasters, Sarah Hagi, who hosts “Scamfluencers.” If you have any work drama going on, we want to hear about it! You can send it to us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org, leave a message at 347-RING-TIU, or fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

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. Kimberly recently sat down with a panel of experts at the Aspen Forum on Children and Families to discuss what their research is revealing and what it means for the future of policies that affect children and families across the United States. So, we’re sharing some of that conversation today. Spoiler: the economy comes up a lot. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Reality Check: What's Really Going On With Families""Voters See a Middle-Class Lifestyle as Drifting Out of Reach, Poll Finds""The good, the bad and the ugly of election polling" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! We recorded today’s episode before the House passed a spending package that will end the partial government shutdown. We’re monitoring the situation as it develops. President Trump has shown no signs of easing his pressure campaign on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. But this could spell trouble for Trump’s pick for Powell’s successor, Kevin Warsh. Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall-Genzer joins Kimberly to explain. Plus, we’ll get into what you should know about Warsh’s history at the Fed and more of the latest news from the central bank. Here’s everything we talked about today: "Trump’s Political Drama With Powell Overshadows Fed Rate Decision""What would Kevin Warsh bring to the Federal Reserve?""Fed keeps interest rates unchanged, despite pressure from Trump""Trump Needs an Off-Ramp for Powell Feud to Speed Warsh Into Fed""The economic headache that's coming for Kevin Warsh" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.