Make Me Smart With Kai And Molly

On today’s show, WNYC reporter Brigid Bergin joins Kimberly to talk about New York City’s brand new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign on affordability caught nationwide attention. We’ll get into how Mamdani is tackling affordability during his first days in office, how the business community is reacting, and how his administration is navigating an unpredictable White House. Plus, the case for daydreaming more in 2026.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani announce push for free child care for NYC 2-year-olds" from Gothamist "NYC to provide expansion of free child care in "high-need" areas" from Marketplace"MAMDANI’S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps" from amNY"The Mamdani vs. big business era begins as mayor pledges 'economic justice'" from Gothamist"Politics Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid to 5 states over fraud concerns" from CNBC  "The new go-to for Napa Valley wine lovers? Costco" from Marke

In the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela, including the capture of the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro, we’re left with questions about what this moment could mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and the global economy. On the show today, director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marczak joins Kimberly to explain why the Trump administration is shifting its focus back toward the Western Hemisphere, harkening back to the Monroe Doctrine. Plus, what it would take to revitalize Venezuela’s economy. Here’s everything we talked about today:"Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What’s next for Venezuela and the region?" from the Atlantic Council"Donald Trump asserts control over Venezuela—and all the Americas" from The Economist"For Big Oil, Venezuela's reserves show long-term promise" from Marketplace  "What Is the Monroe Doctrine, and How Is Trump Reasserting It?" from Time"Dispatches from Venezuela: Red roofs and the new ogling" from MarketplaceJoin us tomo

It’s been a year since the Eaton and Palisades fires swept through Southern California, taking 31 lives and destroying over 16,000 structures — including the homes of “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio and his neighbors in Altadena. On the show today, David joins Kimberly to talk about the road to rebuilding the community and the complicated, costly task of rebuilding with fire resistant materials. Here’s everything we talked about today:"How my Altadena neighbors are rebuilding, one year since the Eaton Fire" from Marketplace "L.A. wildfires broke record for costliest in the history of the planet" from the San Francisco Chronicle "These numbers tell the story of the Los Angeles wildfires, one year later" from AP News"Marketplace’s David Brancaccio on community, loss and rebuilding in Altadena" from Marketplace"To rebuild homes cheaper, faster and safer, some want new rules" from MarketplaceWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey smarties! Happy New Year. We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Reema Khrais and the team are getting ready to relaunch the show on Jan. 15. Stay tuned for new episodes!Nikki Massie never had a reason to question her salary. After more than a decade with the same company, she’d earned awards, promotions and the trust of co-workers who felt like family. But then one day, she discovered she might have missed out on tens of thousands of dollars over the years. Nikki began to wonder: What do you do when you suspect you’ve been underpaid? And at what point do you consider walking away? If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!

Hey smarties! Happy New Year. We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Reema Khrais and the team are getting ready to relaunch the show on Jan. 15. Stay tuned for new episodes!When newlyweds Chantal and Travis Lisback started searching for their dream home in Seattle, they weren’t entirely on the same page. Chantal was eager to settle down as soon as possible, while Travis was more comfortable waiting a few years. As the search dragged on, what began as a shared dream started to feel more like a standoff. This week, a story about how a big life decision can bring to light the money and communication issues you didn’t know were there. Plus, later in the episode, Chantal and Travis sit down with financial therapist Aja Evans to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface, and how to approach money fights with more care and intention. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

Hey smarties! We’re on a break for the holidays and revisiting some of our top episodes from 2025. We can’t do this show without you and we still need your support. If you can, donate today to keep independent journalism going strong into 2026 and beyond. Give now to support “Make Me Smart.” Thank you so much for your generosity, happy holidays and we’ll see you in the new year.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!

Hey smarties! We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, enjoy this bonus episode on one of Kimberly’s favorite topics: anime!Anime had a big year in 2025. The animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” broke Netflix’s record for most-watched movie on the streaming platform. And “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" became the top-grossing international film ever at the North American box office. When “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” debuted in theaters earlier this year, Kimberly spoke with Crunchyroll’s executive vice president of global commerce Mitchel Berger about the strategy behind the film’s release and the future of anime content.

Hey smarties! We’re taking a short break for the holidays. So today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from 2025. Enjoy!Today we’re diving into the business of music. Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to explain what Anthropic’s recent copyright settlement with authors could mean for record labels who’ve sued AI companies, the “fair use” debates dominating the music industry, and why even the biggest stars are struggling to create chart-toppers these days. Plus, we’ll celebrate a win from one of our listeners.

On today’s show, we’re digging into the mailbag to hear our listeners’ thoughts on the economy in 2025. Spoiler: tariffs came up a lot. And, we’ll hear from some of the reporters who helped us make sense of the news this year about what they’ll be keeping an eye on in 2026. Plus, we’ll celebrate a win!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Trump shook up global trade this year; some uncertainty may persist in 2026" from Reuters"Trump tests his 'affordability' message in a midterm battleground district" from NBC News "This K-shaped economy is reliant on high-income spenders" from Marketplace"Jerome Powell’s era of consensus at the Fed is over" from CNN Business"Missouri House advances proposal that could curtail ballot initiatives passing" from STLPR We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Hey Smarties! We’re dropping into your feeds today to share this special coverage from Marketplace.For many people gathering around the table this holiday season, things feel a little different. Maybe it’s the cost of ingredients that’s on your mind, or cuts to USDA funding that have left your food bank running low. Or maybe it’s the simple reality of a packed schedule — there’s a lot to cook, and so little time. In this special from Marketplace, we bring listeners a collection of stories on the business and economics of food. Our reporters take us across the country to farms, home kitchens, and restaurants. We visit a refugee farmer in Houston, a chocolate-making lab in California, and stop for a bite at an award-winning restaurant in Portland. 

Family caregivers in the United States are increasingly under mental and financial stress. Elizabeth Miller, founder of the caregiver resource platform Happy Healthy Caregiver, is here to help. On today’s show, Miller joins Kimberly to talk about prioritizing self-care and how you start caregiving conversations with family. Plus, we’ll get in the holiday spirit with a round of This or That!Here’s everything we talked about today:"New Report Reveals Crisis Point for America’s 63 million Family Caregivers" from AARP "How To Prepare To Be A Caregiver And Manage The Costs" from Today "5 Powerful Tips to kick off “the Talk” with Your Loved Ones" from Happy Healthy Caregiver"How to Make a Caregiving Plan (So It’s Ready When You Need It)" from The New York TimesIf our reporting has been valuable to you in 2025, consider becoming a Marketplace Investor. Give now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Long-term care is expensive in the United States. With Medicaid spending cuts looming and the Trump administration’s deportation plans threatening the caregiving workforce, the system is under even more pressure. On today’s show, Allison Hoffman, health law expert at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, joins Kimberly to unpack why the caregiving industry suffers from chronic labor shortages and how the U.S. could finance long-term care differently to make it more affordable. Here’s everything we talked about today:"What Role Do Immigrants Play in The Direct Long-Term Care Workforce?" from KFF"Trump’s deportation plans threaten 400,000 direct care jobs: Older adults and people with disabilities could lose vital in-home support" from Economic Policy Institute "A brief history of Medicaid and America’s long struggle to establish a health care safety net" from The Conversation "The age-old problem of long-term care" from MIT News "Solving the Home Care Quandary" from The New York TimesJoin us tomor

Roughly 1 in 4 Americans now identifies as a family caregiver. That share has risen dramatically over the past decade. With more people needing care and limited options for affordable long-term care services in the United States, caregivers are strained—often mentally and financially. On today’s show, Debra Whitman, chief public policy officer of AARP, joins Kimberly to unpack how this “invisible workforce” fits into the broader economy and how we can make caregiving more sustainable for families.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Caregiving in the US 2025" from AARP"The number of “sandwich generation” caregivers is growing" from Marketplace "If Americans Were Paid For Their Caregiving, They Would Make More Than $1.1 Trillion" from the National Partnership for Women and Families"Returning to the Workforce After Being a Caregiver" from Harvard Business Review"Invisible crisis: America’s caregivers and the $600 billion unpaid cost of their labor" from ABC News"Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across Stat

Florida is a state that often feels tangible impacts of climate change, with strong storms and hurricanes making landfall in the state every hurricane season. However, this year is the first time in a decade that the Sunshine State was spared from experiencing a single hurricane. Jessica Meszaros, a climate change reporter at WUSF, joins Kimberly to explain how Floridians are rebuilding a year after hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton hit the state. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s what we talked about on the show today:“Florida and the U.S. were spared of hurricanes in 2025, but storms are still rapidly intensifying” from WUSF“Hurricane Helene Response” from US Army Corps of Engineers“Assessment of Agricultural Losses Resulting from Hurricane Milton” from University of Florida IFAS“Disaster and insurance costs are rising. The middle class is struggling to hang on” from NPR“Sorting trash can be dirty and dangerous. Sounds like a job for AI” from Marketplace“Disney comes to Sora: What yo

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday. And this decision comes as President Donald Trump continues to put pressure on the supposedly independent agency to move the economy the way he wants. Plus, the president is reportedly beginning final interviews for Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s potential successor.Here’s everything we talked about today:“Fed lowers interest rates again amid debate over inflation, jobs” from The Washington Post“Trump to start final Fed chair interviews beginning with Kevin Warsh” from CNBC“What a Fed rate cut means for your home, car and credit card loans” from The Washington Post“Watch out for these refinancing red flags” from Marketplace Morning Report

Rare-earth elements help power our everyday electrical devices, and that’s because most batteries are made with minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite. As of now, China has the largest reserve of these minerals. But some mining companies are eyeing the deep sea’s floor, says Marketplace contributor Dan Ackerman, because such rare earths form organically way down there. Plus, the ethical concerns that come with this deep-sea mining.Here’s everything we talked about today:“Companies are betting on deep sea mining for critical minerals” from Marketplace Tech“New policies may part the waters for ocean mining” from Marketplace Morning Report“In the depths of the ocean, a new contest between the US and China emerges” from The Guardian“Trump’s New Executive Order Promotes Deep Sea Mining in US and International Waters While Bypassing International Law” from Inside Climate News

As another holiday season kicked off on Black Friday, finding the perfect gift is top of mind for many. But how much will weary American consumers be willing to spend this year? Based on early data … it’s a lot! Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to explain why the K-shaped economy may explain the contradiction and why AI is making its way into Americans’ shopping habits. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s what we talked about on the show today:”September retail sales fail to impress” from Marketplace”Black Friday, Cyber Monday spending expected to top records” from Marketplace”Black Friday Sales Spike Despite Economic Uncertainty, Study Shows—Here’s Why” from Forbes“‘Tis the season for credit card debt” from Marketplace”How are retailers benefiting from the "buy now, pay later" boom?” from Marketplace”What is your Spotify listening age?” from Marketplace”More than 8 in 10 Americans are more likely to purchase secondhand gifts this year” from Retail Brew”Target Launches New AI-Po

The average age of Congress' members has gotten older compared to the Americans it represents. This 119th Congress is the third oldest since 1789. On today’s show, Princeton economist Owen Zidar joins Kimberly to explain how decades of public policy have fueled a generational wealth gap and what our so-called gerontocracy has to do with it. Plus, what it would take for Congress to really address the economic issues younger Americans are facing.Here’s everything we talked about today:”It’s My Party and I’ll Leave When I Want To” from Intelligencer”Gerontocracy is everywhere” from Slow Boring”How baby boomers got so rich, and why their kids are unlikely to catch up” from The Washington Post”The Age Divide: How America’s Electoral System Reinforces the Gerontocracy” from New America”The Everywhere Millionaire” by Owen ZidarWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

If you could send a message to yourself, 20 years into the future, what would you say? On today’s show, Scientific American’s editor-in-chief David Ewalt joins Kimberly to share how he built an e-mail time capsule two decades ago and how human relationships kept the project alive despite the challenges of a rapidly changing technology and media landscape.Here’s the article we talked about today:"How Forbes Sent E-mails to the Future—And What Happened 20 Years Later" from Scientific American Become a Marketplace Investor today, and your impact will be  doubled. Give now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

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.