Make Me Smart

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” “Taxes 2024: I stopped paying taxes a decade ago. The results shocked me.” “‘The 401(k) industry owns Congress’: How lawmakers quietly passed a $300 billion windfall to the wealthy” “Fed Hiking Rates to 6.5% Is ‘Real Risk’ for UBS Strategists” “March retail sales data show the American consumer is still pretty strong” “World’s top cosmologists convene to question conventional view of the universe” 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.

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.” “The rise of the scammy car loan” “Decades later, Bonnie Tyler still finds new fans for her hit song every total eclipse” “Tech is supercharging pre-employment personality tests” “The Dumbphone Boom Is Real” “Broadband ‘nutrition labels’ help you comparison shop for cable” “Brands in Space: What’s behind the rush to advertise in the final frontier?” “‘Companies are starting to realize burnout is an issue’: Meet the lucky workers taking sabbaticals and ‘adult gap years’ to recharge” 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.

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” “US consumer prices heat up in March; seen delaying Fed rate cut” “$6.6 billion TSMC deal in Arizona the latest in the CHIPS Act’s rollout” “TSMC: Biden to give Taiwanese company $6.6 billion to ramp up US chip production” “Biden administration bets an old plant can make new chips” “‘Benefit of the doubt running thin with Boeing’: Capt. Dennis Tajer on whistleblower claims” “Boeing whistleblower says the Dreamliner 787 could ‘break apart’ because of safety flaws, report says” Beyoncé’s YA YA (Clean Version) Video breaking down Beyoncé’s “YA YA” Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. We’ll have news, drink, and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty.

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” “Insurers Are Spying on Your Home From the Sky” “The Soaring Cost of Homeowners Insurance” “MassMutual is rolling out free genetic testing for members, a dicey area for life insurers” “The scientists learning to speak whale” Solar Grazing Resources 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.

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?” “Opinion | China’s Electric Vehicles Are Going to Hit Detroit Like a Wrecking Ball” “The key to growing EV adoption is cars with lower sticker prices. They may be on their way.” “Here Comes the Flood of Plug-In Hybrids” “How Americans view electric vehicles” “Tesla’s Sales Drop, a Sign That Its Grip on the E.V. Market Is Slipping” “The U.S. Urgently Needs a Bigger Grid. Here’s a Fast Solution.” “Meet the Robots Slicing Your Barbecue Ribs” “Dogs can understand the meaning of nouns, new research finds” We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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” “Biden seeks student debt relief for millions” “Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Might Face Interest-Rate Spike” “2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA” “Hot Market for Pencils Help Kids Turn Lead Into Gold” 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.

Today, we’re talking earthquakes! First, our East Coast-based hosts react to the shaking on their side of the country. Then, we’ll examine how earthquake preparedness in Taiwan saved lives and prevented a big problem for the global tech economy. Later, we’ll weigh in on restoring blue check marks on X, New York earthquake memes and solar eclipse tourism in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness saved a lot of lives — and prevented a catastrophe for the global tech economy” “It’s not just you. Here’s why pollen allergies are worse than ever” “FDA to Drop Ban on Sperm Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men” “America has a Black sperm donor shortage. Black women are paying the price.” “Elon Musk’s X restores free blue check marks. Here’s what it means.” “Why demand for jeans persists across the decades” “Why multigenerational households are making a comeback in a big way” “X becomes ‘earthquake Twitter’ as users flood site with memes and jokes” “How much are you spending for the eclipse? Here’s what Americans are saying” “Countdown to the total solar eclipse: How it will unfold, play by play” 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.

Today, we’re picking guest host Amy Scott’s brain about two major news stories: the Baltimore bridge collapse and the recent Realtors settlement. We have lots of questions for the Baltimore resident and senior Marketplace correspondent covering all things housing! Plus, we’ll celebrate an American teen who made figure skating history. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Key Bridge disaster slows or stops Baltimore port jobs” “Maryland legislators hope to help port workers and others affected by the bridge collapse” “Lina Khan – FTC Chair on Amazon Antitrust Lawsuit & AI Oversight” “Jon Stewart claims Apple wouldn’t let him interview FTC chair on his podcast” “The U.S. sues Apple, saying it abuses its power to monopolize the smartphone market” “The Realtors settlement could change how agents work with homebuyers” “Teenager Ilia Malinin lands a record SIX quads to capture world figure skating title” “Ilia Malinin wins first world figure skating title with historic six quadruple jumps” 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, a game and more.

General Electric is breaking up! The megacorporation is splintering off into three separate companies. We’ll get into what that means for one of America’s biggest industrial conglomerates. Also, guest host Amy Scott joins us to discuss the dangers of humanitarian work in times of war. And dynamic pricing is coming for checked luggage. We’ll get smart (and angry!) about airline baggage fees. Here’s everything we talked about today: “José Andrés: Let People Eat” “Israel-Hamas war: Aid group halts delivery in Gaza after Israeli strike” “How José Andrés and World Central Kitchen Became Leaders in Disaster Aid” “We Feed People” documentary “With GE’s split, the last chapter of the Jack Welch era is over” “JetBlue’s new checked bag fees now depend on the day” “Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why” “For families that need the most help, child care costs are about to drop” “Column: Disneyland is ditching gas cars at Autopia. It’s a great first step for Tomorrowland” 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.

It’s spring break for a lot of you. So, today we’re taking you on a little road trip (sort of) to the Southwest. Water is running really low there. As part of the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast, host Amy Scott traveled across the region to dig into the water tech solutions that are helping communities adapt. So buckle up and get ready to get smart about the water crisis in the West.

Starting today, many fast-food workers in California will be paid $20 an hour under a new minimum-wage law. It’s time for a Kimberly rant! We’ll get into the subsidization of low-wage work, the reals costs behind all the stuff we buy — from burgers to clothes — and who’s picking up the tab. Plus, guest host Reema Khrais reminisces about the early years of Google as the company celebrates 20 years of Gmail. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fast fashion retailer Shein doubles profits as it awaits IPO approval” “California’s Fast-Food Workers Just Got a Pay Bump” “California’s Crazy ‘Fast Food’ Minimum Wage Takes Effect” “Your hair looks gorgeous. It cost … what?!” “Hey, Gen X, Z and millennials: the great wealth transfer could go to health care, not you” “Ancient giant dolphin discovered in the Amazon” “Gmail revolutionized email 20 years ago. People thought it was Google’s April Fools’ Day joke” 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.

Carmakers are keeping a close eye on the steel industry. A bidding war over U.S. Steel, an iconic American manufacturer, is brewing, and car companies are concerned about antitrust issues and what that could mean for the auto business. We’ll get into it and explain our new theory about why the economy feels so precarious at the moment. Plus, we’ll weigh in on side hustles, raising the retirement age and Beyonce’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Automakers urge White House to oppose US Steel sale to Cleveland-Cliffs” “Powell says Fed wants to see ‘more good inflation readings’ before it can cut rates” “Fed chair: Focusing solely on inflation is “no longer appropriate'” “Biology is not as hierarchical as most textbooks paint it” “Dolly Loves Beyoncé: The Country Legend Is Wowed By The Fiercely Revised ‘Jolene'” “LinkedIn moves in on TikTok’s turf with video option” “Owning a vending machine is an emerging side hustle” “Krispy Kreme doughnuts are coming to McDonald’s” “Should the U.S. raise the retirement age?” 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.

Even though the economy is going strong, many Americans are still pessimistic about it. We’ll get into how feelings and beliefs about the economy are playing into the 2024 presidential election. Plus, guest host Matt Levin joins us to discuss the latest AI news, including a new state law — known as the ELVIS Act — focused on protecting artists’ voices. And he’ll explain why he has the song “Barbie Girl” (Johnny Cash’s version) stuck in his head. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Bush Campaign Rally” “The Media’s Role in Forming Voters’ National Economic Evaluations in 1992” “Should politicians know the price of a pint of milk?” “The Primary Problem” “Johnny Cash Covers Aqua Girl’s ‘Barbie Girl’ Using AI” “New Tennessee law aims to protect musicians from generative AI” “An early look our AI Music experiment” “First stop on the road to regulating AI? Finding humans to do the job.” “Every US federal agency must hire a chief AI officer” 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, a game and more.

In corporate America, struggling companies often pull a classic move: They promote women to lead them through a crisis. Boeing did just that. We’ll talk about the new boss at Boeing and how the “glass cliff” phenomenon impacts women and people of color moving up the corporate ladder. Also in this episode, a Kai rant about Truth Social and the greater fool theory, why dogs might be even smarter than we think, and is “bazoodaful” a new Kai word? Here’s everything we talked about today: Trump’s Truth Social stock The greater fool theory “Boeing just pulled a classic corporate America move and promoted a woman to clean up its mess” “Dogs can understand the meaning of nouns, new research finds” “Dogs can understand words for specific objects” 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.

Today we’re talking about a key voting bloc in this year’s elections: white evangelical Christian voters. In 2016 and 2020, they helped Donald Trump rise to power. NPR’s Sarah McCammon, author of “Exvangelicals,” discusses why evangelicals continue to back Trump, her personal journey leaving evangelicalism and the economic systems built around the evangelical movement. We’ll also talk about the Maryland bridge collapse and the state of U.S. infrastructure. Plus, Neil King Jr., author of the memoir “American Ramble,” answers the Make Me Smart question. Here’s everything we talked about today: “‘You gotta be tough’: White evangelicals remain enthusiastic about Donald Trump” “How younger voters will impact elections: What is happening to the white evangelical vote?” “Why White Evangelicals Stuck with Trump” “Latinos Will Determine the Future of American Evangelicalism” “Bridge Collapse in Baltimore Puts an Election Year Spotlight on Infrastructure” “Elon Musk’s Starlink Terminals Are Falling Into the Wrong Hands” We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This week, the Supreme Court will hear its first major abortion case since the Dobbs decision. We’ll get into how the use of abortion pills has changed post-Roe and the possible revival of a 150-year-old anti-obscenity law. Plus, an update on the efforts to limit judge shopping. And, the story of a woman who completed an extreme running race. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Biden’s Trustbuster Draws Unlikely Fans: ‘Khanservative’ Republicans” “Showdown in Cowtown” “Where a Suit Can Proceed: Court Selection and Forum Shopping” “Use of Abortion Pills Has Risen Significantly Post Roe, Research Shows” “What is the Comstock Act?” “Optimist Pollster Finds Americans Are Far More Alike Than Different, With Shared Values Bridging Political Divides” “Jasmin Paris Is First Woman to Finish Barkley Marathons” 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.

Since the Congressional Budget Office last released its long-term outlook for the federal deficit and strength of the U.S. economy, things have become a teeny bit better. Why? The CBO points to increased immigration and last year’s spending deal struck between Congress and President Joe Biden. And, we’ll get into the looming commercial real-estate reckoning. Plus, we’ll weigh in on tote bags, Free Blockbuster libraries and more in a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “PRP Pays $323M For Market Square, D.C.’s Largest Sale In 18 Months” “Budget Office report credits immigration and spending deals with improved outlook despite huge debt” “The Long-Term Budget Outlook: 2024 to 2054” “How the tote bag became the hottest fashion accessory around” “Tired of Streaming? Free Blockbuster Libraries Offer an Alternative.” “Encyclopædia Britannica is eyeing a $1 billion valuation in its IPO, report says” “I Pizza A | Voodoo Ranger” “Walmart Is Luring Wealthy Shoppers With Blazers and Duck Breast” Help us meet our spring fundraiser goal and get your throwback Marketplace swag today!

Congress is once again in a race against the clock to pass a gargantuan federal spending bill to keep the government up and running past Saturday. We’ll get into it. And, the Joe Biden administration made a groundbreaking investment in Intel’s chip manufacturing business in an effort to spur the domestic semiconductor industry. Plus, Nvidia’s next generation AI chips and Caitlin Clark’s place in the booming world of women’s sports. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Nvidia reveals Blackwell B200 GPU, the ‘world’s most powerful chip’ for AI” “CHIPS Act to give Intel $8.5 billion in direct funding, plus loans” “For Women’s Basketball, Caitlin Clark’s Lasting Impact May Be Economic” “NCAA women’s basketball success is about more than Caitlin Clark” Pledge to give monthly to support our newsroom and your donations will be matched for a full year by the Investors Challenge Fund!

Our happiness is slipping. According to Gallup, the U.S. has dropped out of the cohort of 20 happiest countries. What gives? Guest host Matt Levin joins Kimberly Adams to discuss some of the possible economic explanations. Plus, the Joe Biden administration’s efforts to expand women’s health research, and menopause might need more looking into. And, our growing obsession with houseplants. Here’s everything we talked about today: “What’s the Happiest Country on Earth?” “The U.S. is falling in global happiness and this time it’s young people’s fault” “Biden just signed the largest executive order focused on women’s health” “Bayer to seek approval for menopausal relief drug after third trial win” “Is menopause getting worse? Scientists say it is.” “Parkinson’s Disease Can Now Be Detected Through the Skin” “Gardening bloomed during the pandemic. Garden centers hope would-be green thumbs stay interested” 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.

Today, we’re bringing you a special series from “Marketplace Morning Report” that explores how communities are impacted by the absence of local news coverage, especially in a big election year. As part of the “Democracy in the Desert” series, host David Brancaccio travels to “news deserts” in Texas, North Carolina and Virginia to learn how various business models are struggling to inform voters, and where newspaper economics went wrong. Pledge your monthly support for our newsroom and your donations will be matched for a full year by the Investors Challenge Fund!