Make Me Smart

This week’s launch of Artemis II marked the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. This time around, the spaceflight industry looks pretty different, with private companies playing a more dominant role. On today’s show, Kimberly gets into the future of NASA and the commercial space sector with Ars Technica’s senior space editor Eric Berger. Plus, why are we going back to the moon, anyway? Here’s everything we talked about today: "Artemis II is unlikely to be the cultural touchstone Apollo 8 was, and that's OK""Isaacman aims to reinvigorate NASA’s image, starting with the moon""Trump FY2027 NASA Budget Supports Moon Missions, But Cuts Everything Else""Big Banks Seeking a Piece of SpaceX’s I.P.O. Must Subscribe to Elon Musk’s Grok""SpaceX quietly files for big bang IPO""Artemis II: What's on the Menu?""Astronaut Reid Wiseman was wrong about how rockets get to space" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Happy first tariff-versary? Despite the fact that many of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were recently struck down, small businesses across the country are still dealing with the aftermath. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with two small business owners: Justine Kahn, founder of Botnia Skincare in Sausalito, CA and Will Sissle, owner of Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers & Grocers in Portland, ME, about how they’ve navigated a year of tariffs.

Last week, at a time when the war with Iran has been roiling global energy markets, executives from energy companies all over the world gathered for CERAWeek, the “Super Bowl” of energy conferences. But as Marketplace’s Elizabeth Trovall tells us, conflict in the Middle East wasn’t the only hot topic there. Trovall joins Kimberly to discuss how the energy sector is confronting a wide range of disruptions, from geopolitics to technology. Here’s everything we talked about today: "At "Super Bowl of the energy industry," war in the Middle East is the hot topic""Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022""How Blocking Oil and Gas From Leaving the Strait of Hormuz Ripples Around the World""Venezuela oil production has reached 1.1 mln bpd in March""Energy demand from AI " Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

It’s peak bloom in Washington, D.C.! Cherry blossom viewing is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying Japan’s national beverage: sake. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Reiko Hirai, founder of D.C. Sake Co., to talk about the ins and outs of the sake industry and why more breweries are popping up in the United States. Oh, and we’ll taste some sake too! Here’s everything we talked about: "Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival""Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales""American Sake Is Having a Major Moment""How to Drink Sake, According to Pros" from Wine Enthusiast https://www.instagram.com/p/DI0C02mRKbB/ If you count on this show to bring a little clarity to the chaos, consider pitching in. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war with Iran is having all sorts of effects on energy markets and the flow of other commodities—like fertilizer. Roughly one third of the world’s fertilizer passes through the narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf. On today’s show, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Michael Werz joins Kimberly to make the case that the ongoing disruption to the fertilizer trade is causing a chain reaction that could raise food prices and intensify humanitarian crises across the globe. Here’s everything we talked about today: "The Iran War’s Hidden Front: Food, Water, and Fertilizer""The Iran War’s Other Energy Shortage—Food""Energy shock talk grabs headlines but the Iran war is also driving the world towards a food crisis""Russia reaps fertiliser windfall from Iran war" If “Make Me Smart” adds something meaningful to your week, we’d love your help keeping it going. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Primary season for the 2026 midterm elections is underway. And the money from super PACs is already flowing. But how well is it working? On today’s show, Kimberly talks with democratic strategist Tim Lim about how spending from outside groups is shaping this year’s races so far and why strategists are waiting on the outcome of an under-the-radar Supreme Court case that could loosen the rules on how parties can coordinate with candidates. Here’s everything we talked about today: "MAGA Inc.’s $300 Million War Chest Waits for Go-Ahead From Trump""Super PAC spending passes $200M, with some groups hiding their cause""Big-spending Democratic PACs see mixed results in Illinois""This Supreme Court decision could upend millions in political spending ahead of the midterms. Here’s how the parties are preparing.""Pivotal U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Further Reshape Federal Campaign Finance Law" Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has a decades-long backstory of investment by the South Korean government. On “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly talks with Michelle Cho, researcher of East Asian pop cultures at the University of Toronto, about the history behind the spread of Korean culture and how it’s shaped industries from entertainment to beauty. Speaking of K-beauty: sunscreen or sheet masks? Here’s everything we talked about today: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Leads the Wave Back to KoreaBTS Is Back With ‘Arirang,’ but the K-Pop Landscape Has ChangedK-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture"Americans Are Learning Korean Because of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’""What’s So Special About Korean Sunscreens?""How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond" We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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?