Make Me Smart

Happy first tariff-versary? Despite the fact that many of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were recently struck down, small businesses across the country are still dealing with the aftermath. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with two small business owners: Justine Kahn, founder of Botnia Skincare in Sausalito, CA and Will Sissle, owner of Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers & Grocers in Portland, ME, about how they’ve navigated a year of tariffs.

Last week, at a time when the war with Iran has been roiling global energy markets, executives from energy companies all over the world gathered for CERAWeek, the “Super Bowl” of energy conferences. But as Marketplace’s Elizabeth Trovall tells us, conflict in the Middle East wasn’t the only hot topic there. Trovall joins Kimberly to discuss how the energy sector is confronting a wide range of disruptions, from geopolitics to technology.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"At "Super Bowl of the energy industry," war in the Middle East is the hot topic" from Marketplace
"Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022" from AP News
"How Blocking Oil and Gas From Leaving the Strait of Hormuz Ripples Around the World" from The New York Times
"Venezuela oil production has reached 1.1 mln bpd in March" from Reuters
"Energy demand from AI " from the International Energy Agency

Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

It’s peak bloom in Washington, D.C.! Cherry blossom viewing is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying Japan’s national beverage: sake. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Reiko Hirai, founder of D.C. Sake Co., to talk about the ins and outs of the sake industry and why more breweries are popping up in the United States. Oh, and we’ll taste some sake too!

Here’s everything we talked about:

"Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival" from the U.S. National Park Service
"Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales" from BBC News
"American Sake Is Having a Major Moment" from Bloomberg
"How to Drink Sake, According to Pros" from Wine Enthusiast

https://www.instagram.com/p/DI0C02mRKbB/

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The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war with Iran is having all sorts of effects on energy markets and the flow of other commodities—like fertilizer. Roughly one third of the world’s fertilizer passes through the narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf. On today’s show, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Michael Werz joins Kimberly to make the case that the ongoing disruption to the fertilizer trade is causing a chain reaction that could raise food prices and intensify humanitarian crises across the globe.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"The Iran War’s Hidden Front: Food, Water, and Fertilizer" from the Council on Foreign Relations
"The Iran War’s Other Energy Shortage—Food" from The Wall Street Journal
"Energy shock talk grabs headlines but the Iran war is also driving the world towards a food crisis" from The Guardian
"Russia reaps fertiliser windfall from Iran war" from The Financial Times

If “Make Me Smart” adds something meaningful to your week, we’d love your help keeping it going. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Primary season for the 2026 midterm elections is underway. And the money from super PACs is already flowing. But how well is it working? On today’s show, Kimberly talks with democratic strategist Tim Lim about how spending from outside groups is shaping this year’s races so far and why strategists are waiting on the outcome of an under-the-radar Supreme Court case that could loosen the rules on how parties can coordinate with candidates.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"MAGA Inc.’s $300 Million War Chest Waits for Go-Ahead From Trump" from Bloomberg
"Super PAC spending passes $200M, with some groups hiding their cause" from The Washington Post
"Big-spending Democratic PACs see mixed results in Illinois" from Semafor
"This Supreme Court decision could upend millions in political spending ahead of the midterms. Here’s how the parties are preparing." from Politico
"Pivotal U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Further Reshape Federal Campaign Finance Law" from Bernstein Shur

Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].