The infrastructure side of the AI boom

Tech companies are pouring billions into developing the infrastructure necessary to meet the demand for artificial intelligence. But what does that infrastructure look like on the ground? Marketplace Tech’s Meghan McCarty Carino joins Kimberly to share her takeaways after visiting a variety of data centers and reporting on the surge in AI investment. Plus, we’ll weigh in on microdramas and AI slop during a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Inside the relentless race for AI capacity" Financial Times"Redwood Materials built record grid storage project using old EV batteries" Canary Media"Just how big is the AI investment wave?" from Reuters"YouTube says battling ‘AI slop’ is a top priority" from The L.A. Times"TikTok-like microdramas are going to make billions this year, even though they kind of suck" from Tech Crunch"Apple to Revamp Siri as a Built-In iPhone, Mac Chatbot to Fend Off OpenAI" from Bloomberg "Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT. Here’s How They’ll Work" from WiredWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

President Trump has routinely sought to influence the business dealings of U.S. media companies, including Netflix and Paramount’s fight over the future of Warner Bros. Rodney Benson, author of the book “How Media Ownership Matters,” has argued there’s a word for this trend: media capture. On today’s show, Benson joins Kimberly to explain how the phenomenon works and why he believes it’s playing out in the U.S. Plus, we’ll smile about the wonders of the cosmos.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Trump World Is Picking Sides in the Battle for Warner Bros." from The Wall Street Journal"Is the US Media Captured?" From Columbia Journalism Review"Trump's Year of Media Capture" from Rolling Stone"Inside Bari Weiss’s Hostile Takeover of CBS News" from The New Yorker"Rodney Benson on the Value of Publicly Backed Journalism" from Columbia Journalism ReviewJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

For student loan borrowers, the past few years have felt like whiplash. From the fallout of the Biden-era SAVE plan to policies in the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federal financial aid system is getting an overhaul this year. On today’s show, founder and president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors Betsy Mayotte joins Kimberly to break down what borrowers need to know about the major changes coming to federal student loans in 2026.

On today’s show, Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR News, joins Kimberly to share how her community has been affected by a recent surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, including the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good. We’ll also discuss the impact on small businesses in the Twin Cities and the political fallout from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision to end his reelection campaign.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Minnesota business owners feeling the effects of ICE enforcement actions" from MPR News"As immigration raids roil Minnesota, corporate leaders stay silent" from Marketplace "Tim Walz drops out of Minnesota governor’s race, Klobuchar considers jumping in" from Politico"With limited political power, Minnesota Democrats navigate resistance to Trump" from MPR News"Walz's exit from Minnesota governor's race will pose challenges for both parties" from MPR News"What to Nosh in the North Star State: Minnesota's Most-Iconic Dishes" from Food Network "Photos: The Minneapolis music scene, from the 1980s to now" from MPR NewsWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Marketplace’s “This Is Uncomfortable” is back with new episodes about life and how money messes with it. Today, host Reema Khrais joins Kimberly to share some of what she’s learned from conversations on how to survive job hunting in today’s brutal labor market and what it really means to have “enough” money. Plus, how anxiety about money can actually hold you back financially.Check out new episodes from “This Is Uncomfortable:”"We're back: How much money is ‘enough’?" from “This Is Uncomfortable”"Surviving job hunting hell" from “This Is Uncomfortable”"The number of long-term unemployed is growing. What does that tell us about the economy?" from Marketplace Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Seemingly infinite battles over President Donald Trump’s agenda have been playing out in the courts over the past year. But when all’s said and done, are these legal challenges actually working? Politico legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins Kimberly to discuss. Plus, they’ll get into the Supreme Court’s impending decision on Trump’s tariffs and why even some GOP members are breaking rank to speak up about the Justice Department’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Jan. 6 — five years later" from Politico "Trump's push to politicize the Fed could cause further market "volatility'" from Marketplace Post by @kyledcheney.bsky.social "‘The courts are helpless’: Inside the Trump administration’s steady erosion of judicial power" from CNN Politics "Trump’s ‘Superstar’ Appellate Judges Have Voted 133 to 12 in His Favor" from The New York Times"Supreme Court blocks Trump effort to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois" from Politico "Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump admin's tariff arguments" from Marketplace We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

On today’s show, WNYC reporter Brigid Bergin joins Kimberly to talk about New York City’s brand new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign on affordability caught nationwide attention. We’ll get into how Mamdani is tackling affordability during his first days in office, how the business community is reacting, and how his administration is navigating an unpredictable White House. Plus, the case for daydreaming more in 2026.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani announce push for free child care for NYC 2-year-olds" from Gothamist "NYC to provide expansion of free child care in "high-need" areas" from Marketplace"MAMDANI’S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps" from amNY"The Mamdani vs. big business era begins as mayor pledges 'economic justice'" from Gothamist"Politics Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid to 5 states over fraud concerns" from CNBC  "The new go-to for Napa Valley wine lovers? Costco" from Marketplace "Google adds proofreading, AI summaries to Gmail with new update" from Marketplace "Why you should put down your phone and daydream instead" from The Washington Post"At grocery stores, shopping with a side of biometric surveillance" from MarketplaceWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

In the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela, including the capture of the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro, we’re left with questions about what this moment could mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and the global economy. On the show today, director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marczak joins Kimberly to explain why the Trump administration is shifting its focus back toward the Western Hemisphere, harkening back to the Monroe Doctrine. Plus, what it would take to revitalize Venezuela’s economy. Here’s everything we talked about today:"Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What’s next for Venezuela and the region?" from the Atlantic Council"Donald Trump asserts control over Venezuela—and all the Americas" from The Economist"For Big Oil, Venezuela's reserves show long-term promise" from Marketplace  "What Is the Monroe Doctrine, and How Is Trump Reasserting It?" from Time"Dispatches from Venezuela: Red roofs and the new ogling" from MarketplaceJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

It’s been a year since the Eaton and Palisades fires swept through Southern California, taking 31 lives and destroying over 16,000 structures — including the homes of “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio and his neighbors in Altadena. On the show today, David joins Kimberly to talk about the road to rebuilding the community and the complicated, costly task of rebuilding with fire resistant materials. Here’s everything we talked about today:"How my Altadena neighbors are rebuilding, one year since the Eaton Fire" from Marketplace "L.A. wildfires broke record for costliest in the history of the planet" from the San Francisco Chronicle "These numbers tell the story of the Los Angeles wildfires, one year later" from AP News"Marketplace’s David Brancaccio on community, loss and rebuilding in Altadena" from Marketplace"To rebuild homes cheaper, faster and safer, some want new rules" from MarketplaceWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Hey smarties! Happy New Year. We’re taking a short break for the holidays. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Reema Khrais and the team are getting ready to relaunch the show on Jan. 15. Stay tuned for new episodes!Nikki Massie never had a reason to question her salary. After more than a decade with the same company, she’d earned awards, promotions and the trust of co-workers who felt like family. But then one day, she discovered she might have missed out on tens of thousands of dollars over the years. Nikki began to wonder: What do you do when you suspect you’ve been underpaid? And at what point do you consider walking away? If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!