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Make Me Smart

Make Me Smart

Written by: Marketplace
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Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.Copyright 2026 Minnesota Public Radio Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Make Me Smart about Olympic figure skating
    Jan 30 2026

    The Winter Olympics kick off next week in Milan, Italy. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Jackie Wong, self-described skate nerd and host of “The Rocker Skating Podcast” to break down the basics of Olympic figure skating and who to watch at the Milan Cortina Games. Despite the sport’s popularity, figure skaters frequently struggle financially off the ice. We’ll get into it. Plus, you pick: real hockey or “Heated Rivalry”?


    Here’s everything we talked about today:


    • "Winter Olympics 2026 guide: All you need to know about the Milan Cortina Games" from AP News
    • "Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating could have multiple American golds" from Yahoo Sports
    • "What Should I Watch at the 2026 Winter Olympics?" from The Cut
    • "Around 5 billion people - 84 per cent of the potential global audience - followed the Olympic Games Paris 2024" from the International Olympic Committee
    • "To Go for the Gold, These Olympians Went Into the Red" from The Wall Street Journal


    We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

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    25 mins
  • What does the end of TPS mean for Haitian workers in the U.S.?
    Jan 29 2026

    In line with President Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration, the administration has moved to end the Temporary Protected Status program for certain countries including Venezuela and Haiti. TPS has allowed immigrants from countries with unsafe environments to temporarily live and work legally in the United States for decades. On today’s show, Marketplace’s Elizabeth Trovall joins Kimberly to share her recent reporting on Haitian care workers in Florida who will soon lose their legal status and the wider impact it could have on the U.S. economy.

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    19 mins
  • Trump’s rift with Europe
    Jan 27 2026

    The European Union is still reeling after President Trump’s Davos appearance, even after he walked back some of his Greenland threats. A big question remains: How should the EU deal with Trump going forward? Financial Times correspondent Paola Tamma joins Kimberly from Brussels to explain Europe’s shifting approach to Trump and why officials haven’t yet taken more drastic measures to respond to his economic threats. Could a push to seek alternative trade allies be an antidote?

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    24 mins
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