Private equity is coming for pet care

There were no fireworks for the Democratic Party during last night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. While Trump made false claims throughout the night, Biden did little to assuage fears that he’s not up to the job. We’ll get into how the Biden campaign’s fundraising strategy is already shifting and what it might mean for downballot races. Then, we’ll weigh in on Fourth of July travel and drone light shows during a game of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side” from AP News
• “Biden-Trump presidential debate draws 48 million TV viewers” from Axios
• “Politics and ‘a tale of different economies”’ from Marketplace
• “Why taxpayers keep footing much of the bill for new sports stadiums” from Marketplace
• “Google puts an end to continuous scroll” from Marketplace
• “MTV News Website Goes Dark, Archives Pulled Offline” from Variety
• “Fourth of July travel is set to break records. Here’s how to plan.” from The Washington Post
• “Why drones are replacing fireworks shows” from National Geographic
• “We RICK ROLLED The City of Austin, TX With 600 Drones” on YouTube

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to the Securities and Exchange Commission today when it ruled against its use of in-house judges to enforce securities fraud laws. We’ll get into why the decision will make the SEC’s job harder and what it could mean for other federal agencies. Plus, we’ll bust a common myth about Social Security and explain why homeownership is key factor in how Americans are faring in this economy.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “US Supreme Court faults SEC’s use of in-house judges in latest curbs on agency powers” from Reuters
• “The Supreme Court’s chaotic SEC v. Jarkesy decision endangers ‘hundreds of statutes'” from Vox
• “Social Security cuts are inevitable by 2035 unless lawmakers act” from Marketplace
• “How the Inflation Reduction Act could change the future of one Native American reservation” from Marketplace
• “Credit card delinquencies are climbing” from Marketplace
• “Are we living in a K-shaped economy?” from Marketplace

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This year’s Supreme Court decision season has been a busy one, and it’s not over yet. We’ll get into the court’s leaked opinion on emergency abortions and two other expected decisions that have the business world watching. Plus, another round of Cybertruck recalls and why it’s fine to keep referring to X as Twitter (per one Supreme Court justice).

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Supreme Court Poised to Allow Idaho Emergency Abortions: Exclusive” from Bloomberg
• “Trump’s immunity, Jan. 6, abortion: The Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions are about to drop” from Politico
• “What would Congress do without Chevron deference?” from Roll Call
• “Tesla recalls every Cybertruck again” from Mashable
• “Tesla is recalling the Cybertruck again, this time because a piece can fly off” from CNN
• Tweet from John Shelton about the Supreme Court and the X/Twitter name debacle
• Your donation powers the journalism you rely on. Give today to support “Make Me Smart.”

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In the wake of the COVID-19 recession, many economists were describing the United States’ economic recovery as K-shaped. Basically, high-income Americans bounced back quicker than those at the lower end of the income scale. So, did we ever ditch that K shape? The person who coined the phrase “K-shaped recovery” back then, says no. On the show today, Peter Atwater, president of Financial Insyghts and adjunct professor at the College of William & Mary, explains why he believes economic inequality has grown since the pandemic recovery, why considerable wage gains for low-wage workers tell only part of the story and the risks of letting a K-shaped economy run wild.

Then, we’ll get into how the fragility of global shipping supply chains could be playing into Federal Reserve decisions on interest rates. And, happy wedding anniversary, Susanna!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “The ‘K’ Is Not OK” from LinkedIn
• “Inflation Is Bringing Back the K-Shaped Economy” from Bloomberg
• “Behind America’s divided economy: Booming luxury travel and a jump in ‘relief’ loans” from CNBC
• “A tight labor market and state minimum wage increases boosted low-end wage growth between 2019 and 2023” from the Economic Policy Institute
• “U.S. Wealth Inequality: Gaps Remain Despite Widespread Wealth Gains” from the St. Louis Federal Reserve
• “First publicly funded religious charter school in US ruled unconstitutional” from The Hill
• “Fed’s Bowman Warns of Upside Risks to Inflation, Not Time to Cut” from Bloomberg
• “Supply Chain Under Strain as Houthis Intensify Red Sea Strikes” from The New York Times
• Support Make Me Smart: Marketplace.org/givesmart

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Groups aligned with former President Trump are hunting through information to come up with a list of federal employees who might be resistant to a second Trump administration. We’ll discuss the push to reshape government. Plus, is the urban/rural divide a myth? And, a viral voicemail pep talk from a testing center worker makes us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “In This Debate, CNN Is the Decider” from The New York Times
• “Growing rural-urban divide exists only among white Americans” from Cornell Chronicle
• “The Number of People Primarily Working From Home Tripled Between 2019 and 2021” from the U.S. Census Bureau
• “Conservative-backed group is creating a list of federal workers it suspects could resist Trump plans” from AP News
• “A 3-year-old voicemail goes viral, leads to emotional reunion” from The Washington Post
• “Why Men Are ‘Rawdogging’ Flights” from GQ

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Four years after the Internal Revenue Service created a tax credit to help struggling businesses get through the pandemic, the agency ultimately plans to reject the majority of claims filed under the program. We’ll explain how it became swamped with fraud. And, Major League Baseball legend Reggie Jackson opened up about the racism he and other Black players faced in the ’60s. We’ll get into it. And, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “IRS says it will deny most claims of pandemic tax credit for employers” from The Washington Post
• “With pardons in Maryland, 2.5 million Americans will have marijuana convictions cleared or forgiven” from The Associated Press
• MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson remembers Willie Mays from Gary Parrish on X
• “It’s Time to Stop Inviting Plus-Ones to Weddings” from The Atlantic
• “First Came ‘Spam.’ Now, With A.I., We’ve Got ‘Slop’” from The New York Times
• “Netflix House Will Let You Experience Your Favorite Shows, Movies in Real Life” from Netflix Tudum
• “What’s to become of summer Fridays in the age of hybrid work?” from CNN
• “Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms” from The New York Times

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

This week, senators grilled Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun about the aviation company’s safety culture and its retaliation against whistleblowers. But these problems are just the tip of the iceberg for Boeing. We’ll explain. Plus, why President Joe Biden’s new immigration plan is a big deal. And, who knew there were this many cricket fans in the U.S.?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies before Senate committee on safety issues” from CNBC
• “‘Why haven’t you resigned?’ Senators torch Boeing CEO as he apologizes for deadly failures” from Politico
• “Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Apologizes for Quality and Safety Issues at Senate Hearing” from The New York Times
• “Boeing’s CEO Search Hits Some Snags” from The Wall Street Journal
• “President Biden Announces Plan for Undocumented Spouses on DACA Anniversary” from C-SPAN
• “Biden immigration program offers legal status to 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens. Here’s how it works.” from CBS News
• “The economy is roaring. Immigration is a key reason.” from The Washington Post
• “Supreme Court rejects challenge to tax on foreign corporate investments” from CNBC
• “The Supreme Court upholds a tax on foreign income over a challenge backed by business interests” from The Associated Press
• “The Supreme Court leaves a Trump-era offshore tax in place on investors” from NPR
• “Supreme Court Upholds Trump-Era Tax Provision” from The New York Times
• “ Rising Popularity of Cricket in US” from Bloomberg
• “Uber Drivers, Techies Score Wins for Team USA at ICC T20 World Cup 2024” from Bloomberg 
• “T20 World Cup: The USA cricket team is capturing hearts and minds with historic run” from CNN

Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap! The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. We’ll have news, drinks and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

In honor of Juneteenth, we’re bringing you an episode of a new podcast from APM Studios that’s especially relevant on this holiday. In the podcast, “What Happened in Alabama?” host Lee Hawkins unpacks his family history, confronts cycles of trauma and grapples with an issue many Black families face: how to keep land in the family.

This episode is about Black land loss. In 1910, Black farmers collectively owned over 16 million acres of farmland. A century later, over 90% of that land is no longer owned by Black farmers. Lee explores that tumultuous history and what Black families can do to hold on to their property.

If you’d like to hear more episodes from the series, you can find “What Happened in Alabama?” wherever you get podcasts.

A recent survey found that almost 15% of Americans have co-bought a home with someone other than a romantic partner, and almost half said they’d consider it. This is part of a larger trend — many Americans are choosing to structure their lives around friends as opposed to a spouse or romantic partner. On the show today, Rhaina Cohen, author of “The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center,” explains what it really means to build your life around friends and the financial costs and benefits that come with it. Plus, how the LGBTQ+ community has shaped the conversation around the  issue.

Then, we’ll unpack what baby boomers’ retirement readiness says about the wealth gap in the United States. And, the endless possibilities for crab emojis and why our intern, Thalia, was wrong about her curly hair.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Why more people are buying houses with their friends” from Axios
• “What If Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life?” from The Atlantic
• “Inflation Widens Married Couples’ Money Lead Over Their Single Friends” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Want financial security in America? Better get married.” from Vox
• “Two Women Redefine What it Means to Marry Your Best Friend” from The New York Times
• “If you can’t stay indoors during this US heat wave, here are a few ideas” from AP News
• “Northeast Heat Wave 2024: This Is a Disaster. Treat It That Way” from Bloomberg
• “US Retirement Accounts Are Flush for Millions of Older Americans” from Bloomberg

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

With the elections for president, the Senate and the House just 4½ months away, misinformation is on the rise. We’ll get into the kind of false narratives to look for on the campaign trail. Plus, how loopholes in medical billing underscore the importance of change at the state and local levels. And, the story of a remote-controlled robot that rescues swimmers in distress.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• Post about the Republican National Committee from Jay Nordlinger on X
• “Even Doctors Like Me Are Falling Into This Medical Bill Trap” from The New York Times
• “Watch a robot race over Lake Michigan waves to help a swimmer” from MLive
• “Which sentence do you think is grammatically correct?” from YouGov

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Episode 172: Neal and Toby explain the significance of President Biden visiting Israel today and what the implications are of the House attempting to elect a speaker. Plus retail rates are up as Americans love to spend and why real estate brokers may be heading to trial for broker's fees. The guys also take a look at Marc Andreessen's "Techno Optimist Manifesto" and what is United's new boarding protocol? And finally, why one Citi banker was fired for expensing two sandwiches. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here: https://link.chtbl.com/MBD Watch Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home buyers and sellers face the prospect of major changes to the ways they pay their real-estate agents, following a historic verdict against the National Association of Realtors and large residential brokerages. WSJ’s Laura Kusisto explains the stakes. Further Reading: -The Way You Pay to Buy or Sell a Home Is About to Change  -Jury Finds Realtors Conspired to Keep Commissions High  -Real-Estate Commissions Could Be the Next Fee on the Chopping Block  Further Listening: -Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell. So Builders Are Cashing In.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Real Estate Realities with The RebelBroker, we delve deep into the crucial topic of compensating real estate agents when selling your home while keeping in mind the recent court case where Sellers won a $1.8 billion judgement against the National Association of Realtors and a number of real estate brokerages. Finding the right compensation structure is pivotal for buyers, sellers and agents, impacting the quality of service and the overall success of the transaction.

This latest court case covers ground that have been visited many times over the years. However, in todays show, I try to support the position that current method of allocating commissions is actually our best option.

We dive deep into the importance of transparent communication, ensuring both parties understand the services included in the compensation agreement. Whether you're a seasoned seller or a first-time home seller, this episode equips you with valuable insights to optimize your real estate experience.

Tune in to gain expert advice, market insights, and actionable tips that will guide you through the intricate process of compensating real estate agents. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of the real estate landscape and make confident decisions for your next property transaction.

To stay updated on future episodes, click Subscribe and never miss out on valuable real estate wisdom. If you find this episode helpful, please consider leaving us a rating and review on iTunes. Your feedback fuels our mission to provide you with the best real estate content.

Thank you for joining us on Real Estate Realities with The RebelBroker. Knowledge is your strongest asset in the world of real estate, and we're here to empower you every step of the way.

For more resources and exclusive content, visit our website at soldbyrobert.com.

If you have ever bought a home, or are thinking about buying one, you know it can be expensive. For most people a home is the most expensive purchase they will ever make.

But selling a home can be expensive too. In part, that's because of the commissions real estate agents collect when a home is sold.

Depending on the price of the home commissions can be tens of thousands of dollars.

A class action lawsuit brought by a group of Missouri home sellers against the National Association of Realtors argues that these fees hurt consumers by artificially inflating home prices.

This past week, a federal jury awarded the home sellers $1.8 billion dollars.

Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong, co-hosts of NPR's The Indicator, breakdown how that decision could change the entire real estate industry.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org

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College endowment funds are at the center of student protester’s calls for their schools to divest from Israel. Charlie Eaton, a sociology professor at the University of California, Merced, and author of “Bankers in the Ivory Tower,” said the size of these funds have created a moral dilemma for the wealthiest universities. On the show today, Eaton explains how college endowments work, why most universities don’t disclose how those funds are invested, and how colleges could manage their endowments to better align with their values.

Then, we’ll check-in on the youths. And, Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop, the puppet, answer the Make Me Smart question. Plus, a tribute to Jasper.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “University endowments show few signs of direct Israel, defense holdings” from The Washington Post

• • “If the divestment movement succeeds, will it have an economic impact?” from Marketplace

• • “Gaza protests: Divestment from Israel becomes focus of student demands” from The Washington Post

• • “Students protest Gaza war: The history of divestment protests” from Marketplace

• • “Top companies are on students’ divest list. But does it really work?” from NPR

• • “Gen Z Sinks Deeper Into Debt” from The Wall Street Journal

• • “Abortion bans drive away up to half of young talent, new CNBC/Generation Lab youth survey finds” from CNBC

• • “Businesses are speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws” from Marketplace

Want more “Make Me Smart” in your life? Sign up for our newsletter at marketplace.org/smarter.