These are tumultuous times in the economy. Inflation is still happening, the job market is weakening, and there's uncertainty over tariffs and other federal policies. But the headlines don’t capture the real costs of everything happening right now. Today, Kai Ryssdal is popping into your feed with special coverage and reporting from “Marketplace" to explore the way we measure this economy and what’s at stake if those statistics become suspect.

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On the show today, Kimberly joins us from the anime convention AnimeNYC to share more about the economic impact of the anime industry and what cosplayers and business owners are saying about the economy right now. Spoiler alert: Tariffs are top of mind! And, we’ll weigh in on corporate apologies and the spicy food craze during a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Plus, a big thank you to Reema as she wraps up her time on the show.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "10 anime series that will teach you about economics" from Marketplace
• "Here's the corporate strategy behind switching from merit increases to flat raises" from Marketplace
• "The era of the public apology is ending" from Axios
• "Amazon now sells used Hertz rental cars" from The Verge
• "How spicy became the hottest flavor in town" from Marketplace

• "Money and Relationships" e-book from Marketplace

  
  

  “Make Me Smart” will be back Sept. 9. Until then, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, and the federal guidelines for who should get vaccinated are in flux. We’ll unpack how it could impact what insurers are willing to cover this fall. And, as President Trump’s federal takeover of Washington D.C. continues, why is the city so quiet? Kimberly shares her take as a local. Plus, The Onion is proving that print publications can still thrive in the digital age.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Why Washington Residents Aren’t Flooding the Streets to Protest Trump" from Politico  
• "Top White House officials turn to public appearances with troops as a tense Washington watches" from AP News
• "JD Vance booed during hamburger handout to national guard troops in DC" from The Guardian 
• "Trump's police takeover of DC has a surprising casualty: restaurant reservations" from Fortune
• "Will I Be Able to Get the New 2025 COVID Vaccine This Fall?" from The Cut 
• "For some, fall Covid shots may come with copays — or no coverage at all" from NBC News
• "The Onion Brought Back Its Print Edition. The Gamble Is Paying Off." from The Wall Street Journal

Don’t miss Kimberly’s anime recommendations in this week’s Marketplace newsletter. Sign up at marketplace.org/subscribe.

Ahead of the central bank’s big meeting in Jackson Hole this week, President Trump is ramping up pressure on the Federal Reserve, calling for Fed governor Lisa Cook to resign over accusations of fraud. We’ll get into it. And, SpaceX got a win in federal court that could have lasting effects on the power of the National Labor Relations Board. Plus, what makes a good life?

• "Appeals court says NLRB structure unconstitutional, in a win for SpaceX" from Tech Crunch
• "The Government Just Made it Harder for The Public to Comment on Regulations" from 404 Media
• "Trump Says Smithsonian Focuses Too Much on ‘How Bad Slavery Was’" from The New York Times
• "Trump Considers Firing Fed Official After Accusation of Mortgage Fraud" from The Wall Street Journal
• "There’s a path to a good life beyond happiness and meaning" from The Washington Post 

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Over the past few years, the anime industry has reached new heights on the global stage. Netflix reported that over half of its global viewers watch anime. And, certain anime titles will soon be streaming on Delta flights. On the show today, Anime News Networks’ Egan Loo makes us smart about the rise of the anime and manga industries, the global dynamics of anime production, and how AI could change everything. 

Later, we’ll get some advice on making a career change from a listener. And chess player-turned-economist Kenneth Rogoff answers the Make Me Smart question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Anime Is Booming. So Why Are Animators Living in Poverty?" from The New York Times
• "From Piracy Problems to Labor Shortages, the Anime Industry Is Facing a Reckoning" from Screen Rant
• "Thousands of Anime Titles Will Soon Be Streamable on Delta Flights" from Timeout
• "Sony’s Crunchyroll Makes Layoffs as It Restructures to Lean Into International Growth Markets" from Variety
• "The Biggest Movie You Haven't Seen Is Finally Coming To US Theaters" from Inverse  

• "How Korean webtoons are changing the comic industry—and the careers of creators" from Fast Company

  
  

  Don’t miss Kimberly’s anime recommendations in this week’s Marketplace newsletter. Sign up at marketplace.org/subscribe.

Republicans in Congress are attempting to claw back federal funding to replace the U.S. Postal Service’s outdated mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet. We’ll break down the fight. And, parents across the country are facing a slew of economic headwinds. How does a couple with 5 kids and a modest income make it work? Plus, a mysterious comet and a rebrand at MSNBC.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service" from AP News
• "Senate Republicans cannot force US Postal Service to scrap EVs, parliamentarian says" from Reuters 
• "What It’s Really Like to Support a Big Family on a Modest Income in America" from The Wall Street Journal 
• "MSNBC to change name to MS NOW amid spinoff from NBCUniversal" from NBC News

• "A mysterious comet is shooting through our solar system. Why are scientists so excited about 3I/Atlas?" from The Guardian 

  
  

  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has plans to nearly double the number of its immigration detention centers by the end of the year. The agency has an enormous budget to carry out its agenda, but can it find enough workers to do the job? We’ll get into it. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "ICE documents reveal plan to double immigrant detention space this year" from The Washington Post
• "ICE Has Tons of Cash, But Is Struggling to Hire Enough Agents" from Time
• "Secretary Noem Unveils No Age Limit for Patriotic Americans to Join ICE Law Enforcement to Help Remove Worst of the Worst from U.S." from the Department of Homeland Security 
• "Spike in Corruption Followed Last Hiring Surge at CBP and ICE" from American Immigration Council
• "Adjustable-rate mortgages make a comeback" from Marketplace
• "The White House makes a play for Intel" from Marketplace
• "Work weeks are getting more intense for AI startups" from Marketplace
• "LA 2028 Olympics to sell venue naming rights" from Axios

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

It’s not just you — we feel the bad vibes in the job market too. On the show today, we’ll unpack how what we’re hearing from those on the job hunt compares to what the data shows about a labor market slump. And, President Donald Trump says he wants to allow riskier assets like crypto and private equity investments in retirement accounts. Plus, mocktails make us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(K) Investors" from The White House
• "Should You Include Cryptocurrency in 401(k) Investments?" from AARP
• "Trump wants your 401(k) to access crypto and private equity. Here's what to know." from CBS News
• "Would you add crypto to your retirement portfolio?" from Marketplace
• "How do hiring sites deal with a slowing job market?" from Marketplace

• "Long-term unemployment is rising as uncertain businesses hold off on hiring" from Marketplace

  
  

  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Since President Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner over a weak jobs report, we’ve been thinking a lot about the trustworthiness of U.S. economic data. Other countries like China can offer a glimpse of what happens when that trust erodes. On the show today, Marketplace’s China correspondent Jennifer Pak explains how she works around unreliable data when reporting on the Chinese economy. Plus, could the United States be headed in the same direction?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "12 million students in China will graduate this year into a shaky job market" from Marketplace
• "China says its unemployment rate is “stable,” but job seekers remain gloomy" from Marketplace 
• "Is GDP still a useful gauge of China’s economy?" from Marketplace
• "How Bad Is China’s Economy? The Data Needed to Answer Is Vanishing" from The Wall Street Journal  
• "How to deal with untrustworthy government economic data? Look to China" from Marketplace

• "Trump taps Heritage economist to lead BLS" from Politico

  
  

  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Today we’re diving into some ongoing battles over athlete pay, from college athletics to the WNBA. In the case of college sports, a recent lawsuit settlement involving the NCAA allows colleges and universities to pay their athletes directly. On the show today, sports journalist Kennington Lloyd Smith III explains how college athlete pay has evolved, how the recent House v. NCAA settlement could strain athletic departments, and what could come from the WNBA players’ current fight for more equitable pay. Plus, the sports private equity firms are eyeing.

Then, we’ll hear how one listener got involved in local government. Plus, Paralympic sled hockey gold medalist Declan Farmer answers the Make Me Smart question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "How college athletes will be paid after House v. NCAA settlement: NIL changes, enforcement, contracts and more" from CBS Sports
• "Trump signs executive order to 'protect' college sports" from Politico 
• "Down to Business: Valuations are wild, returns are rocky. But women’s sports teams are in demand" from The Athletic 
• "The WNBA Has a Good Problem on Its Hands" from The Atlantic 
• "Private equity tees up to invest in youth sports" from Marketplace  

• "Travelers aren't big fans of TSA's facial recognition program, report finds" from Marketplace  

  
  

  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].