Today, we’re answering questions from our listeners about everything going on in this economy (we know, it’s a lot). Like, whatever happened to that bipartisan bill that would pass authority over tariffs back to Congress? We’ll get into the status of the legislation and how states are jumping into the fight. Plus, we’ll discuss the legality of the Trump administration’s funding freezes and how foreign trade zones are helping some companies avoid sky-high tariffs.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Congress gave presidents power over tariffs. They could aways take it back” from CNN Politics

“12 States Sue Trump Over His Tariffs” by The New York Times

“Trump says he has 'no intention' of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell” from AP News

“If Trump wants rate cuts, he would likely need to replace the Fed's full board along with Powell” by CNBC

“How Congress — and not the president — controls how taxpayer money is spent” from Marketplace

“Trump tariffs lead to surge of companies parking imports in tax-free 'foreign trade zones’” from CNBC

“How Foreign Trade Zones In The U.S. Came Into Existence” by NPR

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The Overton Window is a concept that helps explain how the range of policies considered politically acceptable shifts over time. But have you heard of the “Ryssdal Window"? We’ll explain how it relates to what’s happening in the markets right now as president Trump hints at a possible change of heart on China tariffs. Plus, the FDA suspended a milk quality testing program. With less federal oversight, can private industries regulate themselves? And, the physics behind a great cup of coffee.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-Escalate Trade War" from The Wall Street Journal

"FDA milk quality testing program suspended after job cuts" from The Hill

"‘Crazy’: Forest Service cuts ignite fear, fury over wildfire risks" from Politico

"The Physics of Perfect Pour-Over Coffee" from The New York Times

"Hegseth orders makeup studio installed at Pentagon" from CBS News

Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. This season, host Amy Scott and the team dig into the rise of environmental, social and governance-based investing, or ESG, and the right wing backlash that followed. In this episode, the story of ESG’s start revolves around some unexpected players: rabbis, nuns and other faith-based investors.

Yes — Obamacare is before the Supreme Court, again. This time, the case centers on the legality of an advisory task force. Experts worry it could spell the end of an ACA mandate requiring insurers to cover certain preventative care services at no cost. But first: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is caught up in another Signal group chat scandal. Plus, Paul Revere wasn’t the only midnight rider to warn that the British were coming.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"‘An amateur person’: GOP Rep. Bacon says Hegseth should go" from Politico

"Obamacare returns to SCOTUS, with preventive care on the line" from Politico

"Court to hear challenge to ACA preventative-care coverage" from Scotus Blog

"Kristi Noem’s Purse, With Security Badge and $3,000, Is Stolen" from The New York Times

"Paul Revere Wasn't the Only Midnight Rider Who Dashed Through the Darkness to Warn the Patriots That the British Were Coming" from Smithsonian Magazine

"April 18, 2025" from Heather Cox Richardson

Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: We’re in an unprecedented economic moment. But this time really is different. America’s place in the global economy is shifting. And what happens next is going to matter for businesses, consumers and you. Today, Kai Ryssdal’s popping into your feed with special coverage and reporting from Marketplace to help you make sense of the scale and scope of the economic change in real time.

We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the reporting that you rely on. If you can, please donate to help keep Marketplace programming free and accessible for all.

Undocumented workers aren’t the only immigrants being targeted by the Donald Trump administration. Green card holders are facing deportation threats as well. We’ll discuss the far-reaching implications of Trump’s immigration crackdown, from the labor market to higher education in the United States. Plus, what Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation case could mean for due process. And, we’ll weigh in on crunchy foods and living underwater during a round of Half Full/Half Empty.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Expands to Green Card Holders" from The New York Times

Tweet from the White House

"Colleges Fear Decline in International Student Enrollment" from Inside Higher Ed

"A Young Generation Goes to Work for Mom and Dad Inc." from The Wall Street Journal

"How crunch took over our taste buds" from Fast Company

"The Techno-Utopian Seasteaders Who Want to Colonize the Ocean" from The New York Times

"Fox Nation Plans Game Show About Isolated People Guessing What Trump Did In His First 90 Days" from The Hollywood Reporter

Got a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In over a hundred years, no president has ever fired the chair of the Federal Reserve … yet! President Donald Trump says he could show Jerome Powell the door, even though Powell says he’s not going anywhere. We’ll explain why it might all come down to the Supreme Court. Plus: the economic conditions that led to the American Revolution. And, a smile-worthy photo reminds us it's never too late to try new things!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump: If I ask Powell to leave, ‘he’ll be out of there’” by The Hill




• Humphrey's Executor v. United States from Oyez




• “Recreating Paul Revere's ride from Boston 250 years later, 2 men prepare for landmark journey” from CBS News Boston




• “A Hall of Fame baseball player picked up photography in retirement. He captured one of the defining shots of the Masters.” by Business Insider

Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has ignored court rulings on a range of issues from press access to deportations. Now, a federal judge might hold him in criminal contempt of court. We’ll unpack the Zeno’s paradox of constitutional crises. Plus, where luxury goods actually come from and why you may want to think twice before buying one. And if you’re looking to zone out, turn on the “Great Moose Migration.”

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• @kyledcheney.bsky.social‬ on Bluesky




• “What happens if a president and the federal government fail to follow a judge's orders?” by NBC News




• J.G.G., et al., v. Donald J. Trump, et al. from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia 




• “What to do in case of a constitutional crisis” by CNN




• “How is civil society responding to the US constitutional crisis?” from the Brookings Institution




• “Trump’s China tariffs spark viral TikTok work-arounds” from Fast Company




• “'Chinese Warehouse' TikTok Videos Urge Americans to Buy Directly From Them” from Newsweek




• “Ignore advice to buy direct from Chinese factories with DHGate, others” from The Washington Post




• “The ‘Great Moose Migration’ Livestream Captivates Sweden” from The New York Times

Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Happy Tax Day, folks. While you’re hitting “Submit” on your returns, lawmakers in Washington are negotiating over what next year’s Tax Day could look like. Congress is aiming to pack President Donald Trump’s promised tax cuts into one behemoth reconciliation bill. But Caitlin Reilly, tax and economics reporter at CQ Roll Call, said there’s a long way to go before making these promises a reality. On the show today, Reilly explains why Congress is pursuing “reconciliation,” the accounting magic lawmakers are using to make certain tax cuts look free, and how the House and Senate will square two drastically different mandates for spending cuts.

Then, we’ll look into how Boeing is getting caught up in the U.S.-China trade war. And, a tax professor answers the “Make Me Smart” question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "House Republicans Passed a New Budget. Here's What's in It." from The New York Times




• "Senate GOP passes budget plan, setting up a critical next phase for Trump agenda" from NPR




• "House GOP adopts budget framework, paving the way for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’" from Politico




• "'Current policy' debate dogs budget reconciliation efforts" from Roll Call




• "Your cheat sheet to Congress’ budget fight" from PBS Newshour




• "China Goes After Boeing, Tells Airlines Not to Order New Aircraft From U.S. Jet Maker" from The Wall Street Journal

We want to hear your answer to the “Make Me Smart” question. Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Nearly a decade after Brexit, the British economy is still feeling the fallout. Now, President Donald Trump seems to be pulling from a similar playbook — with tariffs that could reshape the U.S. economy in eerily familiar ways. (Shocker, we know!) But first: Trump threatens to send Americans to prisons in El Salvador. The constitutional crisis alarm bells are ringing. Plus, poop in space is a bigger problem than you might think.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Trump again threatens to send Americans to prisons in El Salvador" from Axios




• "Fox Nation Plans Game Show About Isolated People Guessing What Trump Did In His First 90 Days" from The Hollywood Reporter




• "Trump admin shrinks federal Medicaid funding available to states" from Axios




• "HHS Lays Off All Full-Time Cruise Ship Health Inspectors Amid Illness Outbreaks: Report" from The Huffington Post




• "NASA offers $3M in competition to recycle human poop in space" from UPI




• "How Brexit, a Startling Act of Economic Self-Harm, Foreshadowed Trump’s Tariffs" from The New York Times




• "Meet the Comedian Putting Trump Voter Regret to Music" from Rolling Stone

Got a question for our hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.