Make Me Smart
Make Me Smart

Make Me Smart

Marketplace

Overview
Episodes

Details

Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.

Recent Episodes

How rising energy costs factored into Virginia's elections
NOV 7, 2025
How rising energy costs factored into Virginia's elections
<p>On today’s edition of Economics on Tap, we’re heading to Virginia! The state held major elections this week, and affordability was top of mind for voters. VPM News reporter Patrick Larsen joins Kimberly to debrief the election results and explain why rising energy costs were a key campaign issue—and what data centers have to do with it. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!</p><br/><p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p><br/><ul><li><a href="https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-10-28/election-2025-data-centers-earle-sears-spanberger-dominion-clean-virginia">"How do data centers figure into Virginia's 2025 elections?"</a> from VPM News</li><li><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/virginias-rural-voters-shift-12-points-toward-democrats/2025/11/07/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Virginia%27s%20Rural%20Voters%20Shift%2012%20Points%20Toward%20Democrats&amp;utm_source=d1c8c07805&amp;utm_source=Center+for+Rural+Strategies+-+The+Daily+Yonder+and+Rural+Assembly&amp;utm_campaign=e3dd19b026-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_07_03_18&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-e3dd19b026-246452331&amp;mc_cid=e3dd19b026&amp;mc_eid=9bad986c64">"Virginia’s Rural Voters Shift 12 Points Toward Democrats"</a> from The Daily Yonder</li><li><a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/11/06/2025/soaring-energy-prices-gave-democrats-a-winning-message">"Soaring energy prices gave Democrats a winning message"</a> from Semafor</li><li><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/11/03/pumpkinscaping-could-be-coming-to-a-porch-near-you">"Pumpkinscaping could be coming to a porch near you"</a> from Marketplace</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/roomba-obit/">"iRobot Is in Trouble, but Roomba Is Already Dead"</a> from Wirecutter</li><li><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/31/how-is-this-novelty-team-outselling-the-mlb?utm_campaign=MKP_DAILY_newsletter_20251103&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=sfmc_&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=219212853">"How is this novelty team outselling over half the MLB?"</a> from Marketplace </li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/shutdown-faa-flight-delays-cancellations.html">"What Travelers Need to Know About the Shutdown, Flight Reductions and Delays"</a> from The New York Times </li></ul><br/><br/><p>We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email <strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="interallink">[email protected]</a></strong>.</p>
play-circle icon
26 MIN
Quantum computing: What's all the hype about?
NOV 6, 2025
Quantum computing: What's all the hype about?
<p>Quantum computing is still in an experimental phase, but tech companies say it could eventually have an enormous impact on the global economy. How long is that going to take? On today’s show, science journalist Dan Garisto joins Kimberly to break down the basics of quantum computing and why it could take many years for the technology to move out of the lab and into the real world.</p><br/><p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p><br/><ul><li><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-years-nobel-physics-prize-showed-quantum-mechanics-is-a-big-deal/">"This Year’s Nobel Physics Prize Showed Quantum Mechanics Is a Big Deal—Literally"</a> from Scientific American  </li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-next-big-quantum-computer-has-arrived-c1053c2a?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdyv2JMNUo5MgfAo-O4ISQIyClgQo3q1vOsxFMiRES8eNsFSyE55lC2usLPogI%3D&amp;gaa_ts=690ba8a1&amp;gaa_sig=zKrMYQdrtif_YAGCnCwXIHwvn0PqPOccc8MESgYKE8QJ2QpF-1Uf6nej5Iz5LxT65RI01Y8KX-eYXQB4PYRtUQ%3D%3D">"The Next Big Quantum Computer Has Arrived"</a> from The Wall Street Journal </li><li><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/google-measures-quantum-echoes-on-willow-quantum-computer-chip/">"Google Measures ‘Quantum Echoes’ on Willow Quantum Computer Chip"</a> from Scientific American </li><li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/futuristic-quantum-computing-stocks-take-speculators-roller-coaster-ride-2025-11-05/">"Futuristic quantum computing stocks take speculators on roller-coaster ride"</a> from Reuters</li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/heres-how-quantum-computing-could-change-the-world-c7a995b1?mod=article_inline">"Here’s How Quantum Computing Could Change the World"</a> from The Wall Street Journal </li></ul><br/><br/><p>Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@marketplaceAPM/streams" class="externallink">YouTube livestream</a></strong> starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.</p>
play-circle icon
18 MIN
Friends, foes, and tariffs
NOV 4, 2025
Friends, foes, and tariffs
<p>President Donald Trump’s tariffs have rattled the global economy this year. That goes for both allies and adversaries of the United States. But the future of some of these tariffs hinge on the outcome of a Supreme Court case challenging their legality. On today’s show, Asma Khalid, co-host of “The Global Story” podcast from the BBC, joins Kimberly to explain what’s at stake. Plus, how international relationships are shifting in the Trump era.</p><br/><p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p><br/><ul><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct71ct">"The Global Story, The Supreme Court battle over Trump’s tariffs"</a> from the BBC World Service</li><li><a href="https://www.cfr.org/article/geopolitics-trump-tariffs-how-us-trade-policy-has-shaken-allies">"Geopolitics of Trump Tariffs: How U.S. Trade Policy Has Shaken Allies"</a> from Council on Foreign Relations</li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/02/trump-tariffs-supreme-court">"The president who cried tariffs: will the US supreme court challenge Trump’s trade war?"</a> from The Guardian  </li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrwv0egzro">"China and India pledge to be 'partners not rivals'"</a> from BBC News </li><li><a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-globalisation-the-battle-to-be-top-dog-267910">"The rise and fall of globalisation: the battle to be top dog"</a> from The Conversation</li></ul><br/><br/><p>We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email <strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="interallink">[email protected]</a></strong>.</p>
play-circle icon
20 MIN
How to face your financial fears
OCT 31, 2025
How to face your financial fears
<p>On today’s show, we’re talking about facing your financial fears, because it’s a scary time for many in this economy! Reema Khrais, host of <a href="https://www.marketplace.org/shows/this-is-uncomfortable-reema-khrais" class="default">“This Is Uncomfortable,”</a> joins Kimberly to unpack the financial anxieties some of our listeners shared with us, from feeling behind on retirement savings to feeling uncertain about the economy future generations will inherit. Plus, we’ll play a spooky game! </p><br/><p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p><br/><ul><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-08-07/how-to-deal-with-financial-anxiety-tips-from-financial-therapists">"Financial Anxiety Is Rising. Here’s What You Can Do About It"</a> from Bloomberg</li><li><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/work-peak-professional-decline/590650/?gift=cJ7XvuaMR-KPdslkL6wBNqj1dmjwnyopIZCb3Ha47ck&amp;utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=share">"Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think"</a> from The Atlantic</li><li><a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/8-things-to-watch-for-the-2026-aca-open-enrollment-period/">"8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period"</a> from KFF</li><li><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/28/private-insurance-premiums-likely-to-climb-next-year">"People insured through their employers likely to see higher premiums in 2026"</a> from Marketplace</li><li><a href="https://ourpublicservice.org/shutdown/resources-for-federal-employees/">"Government shutdown resources for federal employees"</a> from Partnership for Public Service</li><li>VIDEO: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGuM4eK0-WQ">”Inkwo for When the Starving Return Official Trailer”</a> from the National Film Board of Canada</li><li><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/24/halloween-candys-getting-lighter-on-the-chocolate">"Halloween candy's getting lighter on the chocolate"</a> from Marketplace</li></ul><br/><br/><p>We want to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email <strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="interallink">[email protected]</a></strong>.</p>
play-circle icon
28 MIN
How can we build a more resilient labor market?
OCT 30, 2025
How can we build a more resilient labor market?
<p>As big companies announce waves of layoffs, lots of workers are worried about AI coming for their jobs. On today’s show, we tune in to part of Kimberly’s recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHTy0E9MOU0" class="default">panel discussion</a> at Aspen Ideas: Economy. President of the AARP Foundation Claire Casey, 1Huddle founder and CEO Sam Caucci, and Union College of Union County New Jersey President Margaret McMenamin share their insights on building a more diverse and resilient labor market in the years ahead. Plus, we hear a listener’s recent win: sewing a historically-accurate dress to sport at the local Renaissance Faire. Nice stitching, Hannah! </p><br/><p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p><br/><ul><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-2025-amazon-ups-job-cuts-8413af9ac5b434b092ed76d6fa6cd196">"Layoffs are piling up, raising worker anxiety. Here are some companies that have cut jobs recently"</a> from AP News</li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/white-collar-jobs-ai-324b749c?msockid=0224d72f162563bf2c55c4ac174f6295">"Tens of Thousands of White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing as AI Starts to Bite"</a> from The Wall Street Journal</li><li>VIDEO: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHTy0E9MOU0">"Beyond Lip Service: Building a Resilient Labor Market"</a> from Aspen Ideas: Economy</li></ul><br/><br/><p>Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@marketplaceAPM/streams" class="externallink">YouTube livestream</a></strong> starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.</p>
play-circle icon
24 MIN