Republicans’ freshly passed spending bill sets aside $45 billion just to expand immigration detention centers. And a number of private companies are poised to profit from the surge in funding. On the show today, Deirdre Conlon, co-author of the new book “Immigration Detention Inc" explains how immigration detention became dominated by private companies, how local economies have become entangled with the business of detention, and how Trump’s spending law changes everything.

Plus, we’ll celebrate a listener’s cross-country move. And, a reminder to try being a local tourist.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Trump got $170 billion for immigration. Now he has to enact it." from Politico
• "We Asked Trump’s Former Prisons Chief How $45 Billion Will Reshape Immigrant Detention" from Mother Jones
• "Budget Bill Massively Increases Funding for Immigration Detention" from the Brennan Center for Justice
• "Trump administration seeks to turn mass deportations into an efficient business ‘like Amazon’" from PBS News
• "Unchecked Growth: Private Prison Corporations and Immigration Detention, Three Years Into the Biden Administration" from the ACLU

Got a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Republicans’ newly passed tax and spending law establishes the first major federal program for shifting public money to private schools. It comes in the form of a wonky tax break. We’ll explain how it will work. And, we’ll get into how massive cuts to Medicaid will impact rural hospitals across the United States. Plus, anime is more popular than ever on Netflix.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Burning Questions: How do cuts to NOAA impact all of us?" from Marketplace
• "Congress Passes National Private School Voucher Program as Part of Policy Bill" from The New York Times
• "The new wave of private school vouchers" from Make Me Smart
• "Rural hospitals will be hit hard by Trump’s signature spending package" from The Conversation
• "Trump bill's health effects won't be felt until after midterms" from Axios
• "Netflix Says 50 Percent of Global Users Now Watch Anime, Reveals Expanded Slate" from The Hollywood Reporter
• "A new start after 60: I quit my job, bought a camera – and became a successful wildlife photographer" from The Guardian
• "At 40, She Discovered She Was One of America’s Best Free Divers" from Texas Monthly

Got a question for the hosts? Call 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Since President Trump began imposing on-and-off tariffs earlier this year, “tariff” has become a buzzword. And you might have a kid in your life who’s asked what the deal with tariffs is all about. So today, we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of Million Bazillion that breaks down how they work. Hosts Bridget and Ryan help out a local fifth-grader whose slime business is facing competition from a rival school. Could a tariff solve her problem?

The Labor Department today reported the United States added 147,000 jobs in June. The number beat economists expectations, and it sits in stark contrast to yesterday’s ADP report which showed private sector lost 33,000 jobs last month. So what gives? We’ll explain what the two reports can tell us about the labor market right now. And, President Trump’s immigration crackdown could lead to more federal surveillance on all Americans. Plus, we want to hear about the wins in your life!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "ADP report June 2025: Private sector lost 33,000 jobs, missing expectations" from CNBC
• "Republican Budget Bill Signals New Era in Federal Surveillance" from Tech Policy Press
• "Steady Hiring Added 147,000 Jobs to U.S. Economy in June" from The Wall Street Journal
• "Can We Trust a Jobs Report From the Trump Administration? Yes, With Caveats." from The New York Times

Got a question for the hosts? Call 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

On today’s show, we’ll discuss some headlines that might’ve slipped under the radar this week. First, most staff at the U.S. Agency for International Deveopment officially marked their final day with the agency. What might the dismantling of USAID mean for U.S. influence abroad? Plus, school districts are scrambling as federal education dollars are on hold. Then, we’ll smile about Andy Weir’s latest sci-fi novel being adapted for the big screen and the WNBA expanding into more cities!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day” from The New York Times
• “The US says 'little to show‘ for six-decade aid agency. Supporters point to millions of lives saved” from The Associated Press
• “USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths over the next five years, researchers say” from NBC News
• “Education Department freezes cash for school districts, teacher training, migrant students” from POLITICO
• “Watch the first trailer for ‘Project Hail Mary’” from Popular Science
• “WNBA adds three more franchises as league’s popularity continues to grow” from The Washington Post
• “‘Friendship’ Review: Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd Hit Maximum Cringe” from The New York Times

If you have a question, give us a call: 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org

Summer is here and like many you might be planning your next vacation. But here’s the thing, a lot of popular destinations are grappling with the pressure of overtourism or mass tourism.

On today’s episode, we dig into the phenonmenon of over tourism, the growing tensions between locals and visitors and the global economic forces at play. Plus, is it possible to be a responsible tourist or have we pushed some destinations too far?

Later, listeners sound off on the power of labor unions and food allergies. Finally, are you team check-in bag or carry-on? This week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question might make you rethink everything!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Destination dupes" offer glam vacation vibes at a fraction of the price from Marketplace
• “Surging travel in Europe spikes concerns over tourism's drawbacks” from AP News
• “Overtourism was the buzzword of 2024. This summer looks to be just as crowded and chaotic” from CNN
• “Affordable travel is to blame for Europe’s overtourism problem, spoiling its most sought-after cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam and Athens” from Fortune
• “Hawaii will tax vacation stays and use money to help counter climate crisis” from The Guardian
• “The Goal: Tourism That Regenerates Hawai‘i, Not Degrades It” from Hawaii Business

We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question: What’s something you thought you knew, but you later found out you were wrong about? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART!

We’ve been a bit obsessed with the GOP’s budget bill lately. And with a Senate vote expected any day now, we’re keeping a close eye on the debate. We’ll break down how the GOP is playing with the numbers to make the bill look less costly on paper than it actually is. Plus, Gen Z’s not just good at memes and TikTok, they’re better at saving for retirement than millllenials. So how’d they do it? And a mildly terrifying story with a happy ending!

Here’s everything we talked about:

• “What is a vote-a-rama? Senate vote marathon ahead of Trump legislative package” from USA Today

• “Senate Republicans reject Democrats' accounting baseline challenge” from POLITICO

  
  

  “A List of Nearly Everything in the Senate G.O.P. Bill, and How Much It Would Cost or Save” from The New York Times

• “Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement” from The New York Times
• “They sing to remember: The power of memory choirs” from National Geographic
• “Child reportedly fell overboard on Disney cruise. Her dad jumped in after her.” from USA Today
• “Heroic Dad Jumps Off Disney Dream to Rescue Overboard Daughter” from Cruisehive

Questions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART and we just might feature it on the show!

The Supreme Court today ruled to limit the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions blocking President Trump’s executive orders. The decision will have major implications for how businesses push back against federal policy in the United States. We’ll get into it. And, American consumers aren’t feeling too hot about the economy. How much do those feelings matter? Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on nationwide injunctions in birthright citizenship case" from SCOTUSblog
• "America’s Top Consumer-Sentiment Economist Is Worried" from Bloomberg
• "Opinion | How the N.B.A. and M.L.B. Shattered America’s Sports Culture" from The New York Times
• "Bumble stumbles as dating apps struggle" from Marketplace
• "Latest time use survey shows Americans are spending more time at home" from Marketplace
• "The colleges using ultimate frisbee to boost enrollment" from Marketplace
• "After a tough decade, American malls are reinventing themselves" from Marketplace

Got a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.