Logo
    Search

    The Titanic sub and the migrant shipwreck

    enJune 22, 2023

    Podcast Summary

    • Puerto Rico: A Tropical Paradise and Innovation HubPuerto Rico offers a rich talent pool, competitive tax incentives, and a vibrant ecosystem, making it an ideal location for startups and global players.

      Puerto Rico is not just a tropical paradise but also a thriving innovation hub for startups and global players. The island offers a rich talent pool of highly skilled and bilingual individuals, competitive tax incentives, and a vibrant ecosystem. Make Me Smart, a podcast, shares this news as they explore new segments and discuss recent developments in the media industry. One such development is a piece in The New Republic that sheds light on how the media covers stories, specifically the ongoing mystery of the missing submarine. Instead of focusing solely on the news, the media's approach to this story reveals much about the media landscape itself. As the podcast delves deeper into these topics, listeners can discover the significance of Puerto Rico's role in innovation and the intricacies of media coverage. For more information, visit investpr.org/marketplace.

    • The Titanic Submarine vs. Migrant Boat Disaster: A Tale of Two ContrastsThe media's focus on high-profile cases like the Titanic submarine sinking contrasts sharply with the lack of attention given to ongoing tragedies like the migrant boat disaster, highlighting the impact of political biases and economic conditions on the stories we prioritize.

      While the media and the world focus on the mysterious sinking of the Titanic submarine with its wealthy passengers, there is a tragic ongoing story of migrants drowning in the Mediterranean, with over 800 lives lost off the Greek coast just a few weeks ago. The resources and attention given to the Titanic sub contrast sharply with the lack of response to the migrant boat disaster, highlighting the disparity between the lives of the wealthy and the poor. The Hunter Biden case, on the other hand, showcases the politically charged nature of justice, with experts on both sides having differing opinions on the fairness of his plea deal. The media's attention to these stories underscores the importance of recognizing the impact of political biases and economic conditions on the stories we prioritize.

    • Politicization of DOJ hinders effective functioning and housing market stabilityThe politicization of the DOJ and other issues is hindering the housing market's stability by limiting the implementation of reasonable solutions, leading to record low inventory levels and a focus on high-end construction instead of affordable options.

      The politicization of the Department of Justice is hindering its ability to function effectively, and this issue relates to the current state of the housing market. The housing inventory in the United States is at record low levels due to a lack of affordable housing and the fact that many homeowners are unwilling to sell because they have low mortgage rates. This situation is worsened by the fact that new construction is primarily focused on higher-end homes, rather than affordable options. The politicization of various issues, including the Department of Justice and interest rates, makes it difficult for reasonable solutions to be implemented. This is a significant problem, as the housing market's instability can have far-reaching consequences for the economy as a whole.

    • Homeowners' reluctance and external factors fuel housing market tightness and price increasesHomeowners' reluctance to move due to higher mortgage rates and other factors, combined with the rise of short-term rentals and remote work, are causing housing affordability to remain a challenge in many areas.

      The existing homeowners' reluctance or inability to move due to higher mortgage rates and other factors is contributing to the tight housing market and elevated prices. This trend is further complicated by the increase in short-term rentals and remote workers buying homes in desirable areas, driving up prices for local residents. As a result, housing affordability remains a significant challenge in many parts of the country. Additionally, the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jay Powell, adding to the excitement with his appearance at a Dead and Company concert, may not have been directly related to the housing market, but it was a notable event that brought a smile to many!

    • Fed Chair's Double Life: Economist and Grateful Dead MusicianFed Chair Jay Powell balances his role as an economist with his passion as a Grateful Dead musician in Dead and Company, showcasing the importance of personal interests and work-life balance.

      Jay Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, is not only an accomplished economist but also a dedicated fan and musician in the Grateful Dead tribute band, Dead and Company. This unexpected connection adds an intriguing layer to his public persona, showcasing his diverse interests and passions. Additionally, the US Women's National Soccer Team's innovative roster announcement video, featuring celebrities and famous personalities, has generated excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Women's World Cup. To add to the soccer fervor, some cities, like Washington D.C., have even passed emergency laws to keep bars open 24/7 during the tournament. These entertaining and unique stories serve as a reminder of the importance of balancing work and personal interests, as well as the power of community and shared experiences.

    • US Women's Soccer Team to Receive Equal Pay at 2023 World CupThe US women's soccer team will receive equal pay at the 2023 World Cup, marking a historic victory in the fight for gender equality in sports.

      The Women's World Cup 2023 is taking place in Australia and New Zealand, and for the first time, the US women's soccer team will be receiving equal pay as their male counterparts, following a historic lawsuit against US Soccer for gender discrimination. This comes after the team sued for unequal pay due to making less money despite consistently winning. The agreement for equal pay will see both teams pooling and splitting the prize money from the 2022 and 2023 World Cups. This victory serves as inspiration for female players fighting for equal pay in their home countries. The Women's World Cup, which is taking place in July, presents a unique challenge due to the time difference between the US and the host countries, but the progress towards equal pay is a significant step forward. The fight for equal pay continues globally, but the US team's success sets a powerful precedent.

    • Learning about money through engaging podcast adventuresMillion Bazillion is an educational podcast for kids that answers complex money questions through entertaining stories, helping them understand the role of money in the world.

      "Million Bazillion," a podcast from Marketplace, provides entertaining and educational answers to kids' complex money-related questions. Through engaging adventures, this podcast tackles tough inquiries such as "What is a college account and how does it work?" or "What are unions and what are they for?" It also addresses intriguing topics like "Why does the US have so much gold in Fort Knox, and what do they use it for?" By listening to Million Bazillion, kids can gain a better understanding of how money fits into the larger world around them. So, if you're looking for a fun and informative way to help your kids grasp the intricacies of money, tune in to Million Bazillion on your favorite podcast platform.

    Recent Episodes from Make Me Smart

    From “Million Bazillion”: Why is there so much gold at Fort Knox?

    From “Million Bazillion”: Why is there so much gold at Fort Knox?

    Hey Smarties! We’re off for the Fourth of July holiday. So today we’re bringing you a super fun episode of “Million Bazillion” that’ll teach you and your kiddos about a bit of our nation’s history and a highly secretive landmark. It’s all about Fort Knox, known as one of the most secure places in the world, and why it holds so much of the country’s gold. Plus, its role in stabilizing the U.S. economy in a time of crisis.

    Make Me Smart
    enJuly 04, 2024

    Our GPS system is wearing down

    Our GPS system is wearing down

    Much in our modern lives depends on GPS. But the United States’ GPS system is getting old and hasn’t kept up with international competition. We’ll get into how this leaves the U.S. vulnerable to national security threats. And, new data shows that as abortion protections have eroded across the country, more young women have been getting sterilized. Plus, one nonprofit’s work to give kids who’ve aged out of foster care a bona fide college move-in experience, and a women’s soccer stadium’s surprise success story.

    Here’s everything we talked about today:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJuly 03, 2024

    The evolution of the American office

    The evolution of the American office

    It’s been about four years since the great remote work experiment took off for many employees who work computer-bound jobs. After plenty of back and forth between return-to-office mandates and work-from-home advocates, neither side really won. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the share of Americans doing some or all of their work from home has leveled off to about 35%. On the show today, The New York Times’ Emma Goldberg explains who’s working from home these days and how it’s impacting both employees and their bosses. Plus, the commercial real estate question looms large over the remote work debate.

    Then, we’ll get into why the Joe Biden administration’s new protections for workers in extreme heat could be threatened by recent Supreme Court rulings and a potential second Trump presidency. And, the CEO of GS1, the company administering retail barcodes, didn’t see the QR code takeover coming.

    Here’s everything we talked about today:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJuly 02, 2024

    A one-two punch for the power of federal agencies

    A one-two punch for the power of federal agencies

    A Supreme Court ruling today gives companies a dramatically wider window to challenge federal regulations with lawsuits. We’ll get into why this is particularly important in light of a separate decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine, and how it could impact other federal regulations like the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete clauses. Then, we’ll discuss the Supreme Court’s decision on former President Donald Trump’s immunity case and where the heck we go from here. Plus, what you can do to protect the health of our democracy.

    Here’s everything we talked about today:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJuly 01, 2024

    Our take on the debate (and drone light shows)

    Our take on the debate (and drone light shows)

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 29, 2024

    SCOTUS shakes up SEC

    SCOTUS shakes up SEC

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 27, 2024

    Keeping up with the Supreme Court

    Keeping up with the Supreme Court

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 26, 2024

    Are we living in a K-shaped economy?

    Are we living in a K-shaped economy?

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 26, 2024

    The conservative push to weed out anti-Trump federal workers

    The conservative push to weed out anti-Trump federal workers

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 24, 2024

    The IRS battles a fraud-plagued tax credit

    The IRS battles a fraud-plagued tax credit

    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:

    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.

    Make Me Smart
    enJune 22, 2024

    Related Episodes

    E151: WW3 risk, War with Iran?, 4.9% GDP, startup failures growing, new Speaker & more

    E151: WW3 risk, War with Iran?, 4.9% GDP, startup failures growing, new Speaker & more

    (0:00) Bestie intros!

    (1:16) WW3 risk, is WSJ trying to escalate US vs Iran?

    (22:02) Nuclear risks

    (33:28) Best case scenarios for de-escalation

    (40:34) Murky macro picture: Main Street disconnects from Wall Street, startup shutdowns, challenged returns

    (1:09:14) Cruise robotaxi accident update

    (1:12:59) Hurricane Otis's rapid progression and the second-order effects on US coastal communities

    (1:24:47) Jason reflects on his time in the Middle East

    (1:31:09) New House Speaker and Trump case update

    Follow the besties:

    https://twitter.com/chamath

    https://linktr.ee/calacanis

    https://twitter.com/DavidSacks

    https://twitter.com/friedberg

    Follow the pod:

    https://twitter.com/theallinpod

    https://linktr.ee/allinpodcast

    Intro Music Credit:

    https://rb.gy/tppkzl

    https://twitter.com/yung_spielburg

    Intro Video Credit:

    https://twitter.com/TheZachEffect

    Referenced in the show:

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/28/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-map-front-line.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/us-israel-gaza-ground-invasion.html

    https://unherd.com/2023/10/republican-hawks-now-want-a-war-with-iran/

    https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-oe-heilbrunn-iran-framework-republican-neocon-response-20150403-story.html

    https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/09/no-evidence-yet-of-iran-link-to-hamas-attack-says-israeli-military

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/blinken-says-no-direct-evidence-iran-was-involved-hamas-attack-israel-rcna120110

    https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hamas-fighters-trained-in-iran-before-oct-7-attacks-e2a8dbb9

    https://www.reuters.com/article/israel-palestinians-usa-senator-idAFS8N3BG0A6

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-red-line-moment-with-iran-9e1bbf5a

    https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25

    https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iranian-backed-militias-mount-new-wave-of-attacks-as-u-s-supports-israel-d51364d4

    https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukrainian-counteroffensive-pierces-main-russian-defensive-line-in-southeast-9441e204

    https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/07/politics/joe-biden-cluster-munitions-ukraine/index.html

    https://nypost.com/2023/10/15/biden-insists-us-can-tend-to-both-ukraine-and-israel-at-the-same-time

    https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat

    https://twitter.com/DavidSacks/status/1717049864180379761

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/world/middleeast/erdogan-turkey-hamas-israel.html

    https://jordantimes.com/opinion/daoud-kuttab/king-abdullah-calls-peace-immediate-stoppage-war-gaza

    https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/gdp3q23_adv.pdf

    https://twitter.com/DavidSacks/status/1716608344264470868

    https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fddce62ff-33dd-4a38-a659-25e192825c29_1250x630.png

    https://www.google.com/finance/quote/CART:NASDAQ

    https://www.google.com/finance/quote/KVYO:NYSE

    https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/bank-americas-unrealized-losses-securities-rose-1316-bln-2023-10-17

    https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/24/dmv-immediately-suspends-cruises-robotaxi-permit-in-california

    https://getcruise.com/news/blog/2023/a-detailed-review-of-the-recent-sf-hit-and-run-incident

    https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2023/10/25/mike-johnson-is-a-social-conservatives-social-conservative-00123619

    https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/25/democrats-opposition-mike-johnson-house-speaker-00123624

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/mike-johnson-house-speaker.html

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9017431/Farting-sound-heard-twice-Rudy-Giulianis-voter-fraud-hearing-Michigan.html

    https://thosenerdygirls.org/can-farts-spread-covid

    Why government benefits are likely to stick around

    Why government benefits are likely to stick around

    The U.S. spends about half of its $6 trillion budget on three government entitlements: Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. When it comes to the national debt, cutting these benefits is often part of the cost-cutting conversation. In this episode, we hear how these entitlements grew to be so costly and why reducing them has been so difficult historically. Plus, the layoff that allowed one woman to focus on her small business, and the economic impact of university divestment.

    The Intelligence: is America’s media fair?

    The Intelligence: is America’s media fair?

    News outlets are often hounded by the right for being too left-leaning. Our data show there might be something to that, but the reasons why are more complicated than you think. As a NATO frontline state, the war in Ukraine is prompting Poland to ramp up its military spending – and double the size of its armed forces (08:42). And, what a hit property show reveals about the British dream (15:25).


    Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


    GDP keeps climbing

    GDP keeps climbing

    U.S. gross domestic product grew at a 3.2% annual rate in the fourth quarter of last year, demonstrating the persistent strength of the economy. America is an outlier — at least for now — among world economies that have hiked interest rates to quell inflation. Plus: Some New York office towers are being repurposed and repopulated as apartment buildings, airlines are expanding routes between smaller cities and analysts say consolidation could settle the streaming wars.