It’s Day 28 of the government shutdown, and lawmakers still aren’t budging on the budget. But Congress faces key deadlines this week: Funds for assistance programs like SNAP could run out, and Americans may see their healthcare premiums skyrocket as open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans begins Nov. 1. On today’s show, Kimberly unpacks what’s at stake with CQ Roll Call reporter Aris Folley. Plus, we’ll answer some of your questions along the way.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• ”6 ways the shutdown is about to get worse” from Politico
• ”Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats” from NBC
• ”Government shutdown continues to add to stress on air traffic controllers and disrupt flights” from AP News
• ”As Shutdown Drags and Trump Flexes, Congress Cedes Its Relevance” from the New York Times

We want to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing another episode from the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. Host Amy Scott and the “How We Survive” crew continue their exploration into the future of climate-conscious food with a look at the cutting edge of meat alternatives. Plus, Francis Lam, host of “The Splendid Table,” joins Amy to put cell cultivated meat to the test and shares some tips for cooking climate-friendly proteins.

Chicago has been dealing with a lot these days. The city has been a battleground for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and efforts to deploy the National Guard. On today’s show, Kimberly asks WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons about what it’s like to be there now. And, we’ll get into more economic stories from the Windy City you should know about. Plus, we’ll play a game of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "ICE Is Cracking Down on Chicago. Some Chicagoans Are Fighting Back." from The New York Times
• "Local leaders react to ‘brutal escalation’ of immigration arrests in Little Village, Cicero" from WBEZ
• "Judge’s order blocking National Guard deployment will remain in effect for now, but all eyes on Supreme Court" from WBEZ
• "Coca-Cola taps mini cans and new flavors to spark a fizzling soda market" from Marketplace
• "‘It’s PR, not the ER’: Gen Z is resisting the workplace emergency" The Washington Post
• "Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Officially Coming to Theaters, Despite Previous Statements" from The Hollywood Reporter
• "Amazon Plans to Replace More Than Half a Million Jobs With Robots" from The New York Times 

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

The climate crisis has a lot to do with what we eat. That’s what the latest season of Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast “How We Survive” is all about. On today’s show, host Amy Scott joins Kimberly to share her big takeaways from the season. We’ll get into the business of cell cultivated meat and the tradeoffs that come with regenerative farming. Then, we’ll do some smiles. Plus, Kimberly’s PSA to use your fancy china!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "How We Survive" from Marketplace
• "State of Climate Action 2025" from Systems Change Lab
• "I paid $65 for a giant collection of vintage dishes at a thrift store. Then I found out it's worth almost $1,000." from 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.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re passing the mic to our friends over at “How We Survive.” This season, Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast is diving into the future of food on a hotter, drier planet. In this episode, host Amy Scott and the “How We Survive” crew go on a food tour around Northern California to find out how some companies are experimenting with new ways to make foods threatened by climate change.

Today we’re taking a trip to Kimberly’s hometown: St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Public Radio’s politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins Kimberly to break down the fights over Missouri’s congressional maps and voter-led ballot initiatives. And, we’ll get into how St. Louis is recovering from the historic tornado that swept through the city earlier this year. Plus, are you Half Full or Half Empty on St. Louis style pizza?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Democratic National Committee will contribute to blocking Missouri congressional map" from STLPR
• "Missouri voters and lawmakers clash over ballot initiative powers" from AP News
• "Missouri Gov. Kehoe activates National Guard to assist ICE agents" from STLPR
• "FEMA approves additional funding and assistance for St. Louis tornado debris cleanup" from STLPR
• "Should you postpone your flight during the government shutdown?" from Marketplace
• "Thune dangles Obamacare vote after shutdown ends" from Politico 

• "Thin-Crust Fans, Meet St. Louis Pizza: Crunchy, Cheesy, and Totally Underrated" from Serious Eats

  
  

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

In this rough labor market, job seekers are more vulnerable to scams. We’ve all seen those texts, right? The ones offering jobs with suspiciously high pay for suspiciously little work? On today’s show, Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to share what happened when she replied to one of these scam messages. Plus, why AI and the shift to remote work has fueled the rise in job scams.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Job scam texts have become more frequent and more believable" from Marketplace
• "Who experiences scams? A story for all ages" from the Federal Trade Commission
• "Job Scam Texts Are Duping Gen Z, Millennials Amid Unemployment Fears" from 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.

The effects of government shutdowns are felt particularly deeply in tribal communities across the United States. That’s because the federal government has a constitutional obligation to fund services in Indian Country. But when the government closes, tribal nations are left to pick up the tab. Marketplace’s Savannah Peters joins Kimberly to explain how tribal communities get caught up in the federal government’s dysfunctional budget process and why tribal leaders argue this needs to change.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "How the government shutdown is playing out in Indian Country" from Marketplace 
• "Tribal governments fend off the worst of the impacts of the shutdown" from High Country News 
• "The shutdown isn’t big for Utah’s tribes yet. If it drags on, that’s the problem" from KUER 
• "In Indian Country, federal budget dysfunction takes a toll" from Marketplace

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

On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by the host of NPR’s “Life Kit” podcast, Marielle Segarra, who’s recently been working on a four-week newsletter series all about credit card debt — and how to avoid it all snowballing. Plus, we’ll play a round of Headline or Head-lyin’!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “In credit card debt? There’s a path out” from Life Kit
• “Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here’s how to negotiate them” from Life Kit
• “A big misconception about debt — and how to tackle it” from Life Kit

Today we’re all getting smarter about some of the economic and political terms dominating the headlines these days. Terms like “authoritarianism” and “state capitalism” that have been hotly debated during the second Trump administration. Plus, “stagflation” and other vocabulary words our listeners have been curious about. With some help from experts, Kimberly breaks them all down.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy" from The Conversation
• "What do we call the Trump administration's economic interventions?" from Marketplace
• "The U.S. Marches Toward State Capitalism With American Characteristics" from The Wall Street Journal
• "Trump's Latest Trade Deals Raise More Questions Than Answers and Harm America’s Future" from the Center for American Progress
• "Supreme Court Agrees to Review Trump’s Sprawling Tariffs" from The New York Times
• "What Is Stagflation, What Causes It, and Why Is It Bad?" from Investopedia
• "Are Donald Trump's tariffs the new sanctions?" from Stanford University

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