Make Me Smart

• What’s driving the GDP slowdown?

  The Commerce Department reported the U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of this year. We’ll break down the GDP math formula and dig into what the latest report says about where the US economy may be headed. And, should businesses be transparent about the impact of tariffs on prices? A nixed plan from Amazon serves as a cautionary tale of the political risks. Plus, feeling stressed these days? Cow cuddling and bee therapy might help.Here’s everything we talked about today:-"Trump blames Biden after GDP shrinks in first quarter, says growth will 'take a while'" from CNBC -"Businesses weigh how much to tell customers about tariffs' impact on price" from Marketplace-"Trump-Bezos call sets stage for tense earnings report from Amazon" from CNBC-"Trump vs. Amazon’s Brilliant Tariff Idea" from The Wall Street Journal -"The Americans Fled Vietnam 50 Years Ago. I Visited the Buildings They Left Behind."  from The New York Times"Anxious about the world? Cow cuddling or bee buzzing might help ease your stress" from The Denver PostGot a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• The Canadian economy goes “elbows up”

  After declaring victory in yesterday’s Canadian election, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old relationship” with the United States is over. Over the past few months, President Donald Trump’s on-and-off tariffs and repeated annexation threats have caused Canadians to reconsider the United States as its leading trading partner and ally. But Patricia Goff, professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University, said the idea of disentangling the two economies is unrealistic. On the show today, Goff explains how Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats influenced the Canadian election, how Canadian industries are navigating the trade war, and what this all could mean for the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.Plus, we’ll hear a pitch for a new “Make Me Smart”-themed rear window sticker. And, what one psychologist got wrong about burnout. Here’s everything we talked about today:"Trump knows exactly what he just triggered in Canada" from CBC News"Liberal Bruce Fanjoy topples Pierre Poilievre in Carleton" from CBC News"Canada-U.S. Relations Continue to Reach Lows Over Tariffs and Annexation Threats" from The New York Times"Mike Myers Is Ready to Defend Canada" from The New York Times"Canada says its friendship with the US is ‘over.’ Now what?" From Politico "The future of the USMCA" from the Peterson Institute for International EconomicsWe want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• The Canadian Dispatch

  On the show today, Kimberly joins us from an Ontario polling station on Canada’s election day. We’ll get into how President Trump’s trade war has shaped the federal election and may boost voter turnout. Plus, what Canadians are saying about boycotting American products and canceling their U.S. vacations.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Canadians vote today after fierce campaign shaped by Trump" from CBC News"Canada votes in an election upended by Trump. Here’s what to know." from The Washington Post "Canada’s Political Landscape Upended by Trump, Trudeau and Tariffs" from The New York TimesGot a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• Inflation's self-fulfilling prophecy

  Americans expect inflation to rise to 6.5% this year according to the University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment survey. That’s the highest outlook since 1981. We’ll explain why those high inflation expectations could be keeping Federal Reserve Chair Powell up at night. And, the deal filmmaker Ryan Coogler made with Warner Bros. to make his latest horror movie “Sinners” is anything but ordinary. Could it shake up the Hollywood studio system? "Trump administration reverses abrupt terminations of foreign students’ US visa registrations" from Politico"Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' isn't just scaring audiences. It's scaring Hollywood." from MSNBC"Inflation expectations remain at highest level since 1981 even after Trump's 90-day tariff pause" "Pickle, a Fashion App, Lets Strangers Borrow Your Clothes" from The Cut"Subtitling Your Life" from The New Yorker"Is community fact-checking the future of social media moderation?" from Marketplace"The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen" from The VergeGot a question for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• Congress' tug-of-war for tariff authority

  Today, we’re answering questions from our listeners about everything going on in this economy (we know, it’s a lot). Like, whatever happened to that bipartisan bill that would pass authority over tariffs back to Congress? We’ll get into the status of the legislation and how states are jumping into the fight. Plus, we’ll discuss the legality of the Trump administration’s funding freezes and how foreign trade zones are helping some companies avoid sky-high tariffs.Here’s everything we talked about today:“Congress gave presidents power over tariffs. They could aways take it back” from CNN Politics“12 States Sue Trump Over His Tariffs” by The New York Times“Trump says he has 'no intention' of firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell” from AP News“If Trump wants rate cuts, he would likely need to replace the Fed's full board along with Powell” by CNBC“How Congress — and not the president — controls how taxpayer money is spent” from Marketplace“Trump tariffs lead to surge of companies parking imports in tax-free 'foreign trade zones’” from CNBC“How Foreign Trade Zones In The U.S. Came Into Existence” by NPRGot a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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