Month: May 2025

It’s Kai’s last day as a regular co-host of “Make Me Smart” and he’s got a solid rant (and two bleeps). We’ll get into the Trump administration’s push to block international students at Harvard, thretening one of American’s biggest exports: higher education. Plus, we’ll unpack the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split over a separation of church and state case. And, could penguin poop be a tool against global warming?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Supreme Court deadlocks, blocking creation of first religious public school” from The Washington Post
• “Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students” from The New York Times
• “Harvard University Loses Student and Exchange Visitor Program Certification for Pro-Terrorist Conduct” from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• “Stop making cents: US Mint moves forward with plans to kill the penny” from AP News
• “Penguin Poop Could Limit Global Warming’s Impact on Antarctica” from Bloomberg

“Make Me Smart” is going on a break! Kimberly and Reema will be back with new episodes June 9. We’d love to hear from you while we’re away. Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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. 

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In the wake of protests following the murder of George Floyd, corporations made big promises on diversity, equity and inclusion. Now, five years later, some are backing away from DEI commitments. Others are not — including Costco, which is doubling down on diversity. But first: The GOP tax and spending bill passed the House this morning by one vote. It extends the 2017 tax cuts and would also start forcing most adults enrolled in Medicaid to work.