Seemingly infinite battles over President Donald Trump’s agenda have been playing out in the courts over the past year. But when all’s said and done, are these legal challenges actually working? Politico legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins Kimberly to discuss. Plus, they’ll get into the Supreme Court’s impending decision on Trump’s tariffs and why even some GOP members are breaking rank to speak up about the Justice Department’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Jan. 6 — five years later" from Politico 
• "Trump's push to politicize the Fed could cause further market "volatility'" from Marketplace 
• Post by @kyledcheney.bsky.social 
• "‘The courts are helpless’: Inside the Trump administration’s steady erosion of judicial power" from CNN Politics 
• "Trump’s ‘Superstar’ Appellate Judges Have Voted 133 to 12 in His Favor" from The New York Times
• "Supreme Court blocks Trump effort to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois" from Politico 
• "Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump admin's tariff arguments" from Marketplace 

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

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 Marketplace 
• "Google adds proofreading, AI summaries to Gmail with new update" from Marketplace 
• "Why you should put down your phone and daydream instead" from The Washington Post
• "At grocery stores, shopping with a side of biometric surveillance" from Marketplace

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

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 Marketplace

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

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 Marketplace

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

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 [email protected].