Make Me Smart August 25, 2023 Transcript

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Kai Ryssdal 

10 seconds. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I’m kidding.

Amy Scott 

At least we got a countdown

Kai Ryssdal 

I know right that yeah, not everybody does that. Not everybody. Who shall remain nameless, Jayk Cherry. Hi everybody, welcome back to Make Me Smart, where we make the day make sense. It is Friday, Friday, Friday, the 25th day of August 2023.

Amy Scott 

Finally, and I’m Amy Scott. It is great to be back with you all for happy hour or what we call economics on tap.

Kai Ryssdal 

We are going to do what we always do on Friday we’re gonna do a little news. We’re going to do a little “what are you drinking?” and then we’re going to do a little guest appearance because Drew’s out, on half full, half empty and then we’ll get on our merry way. What Amy Scott are you imbibing this afternoon if anything?

Amy Scott 

Well yes, I am imbibing something but I you know we have to plan ahead now and I heard a certain co host was drinking water so yes, I went with iced tea to go in solidarity, man.

Kai Ryssdal 

Let’s have a shoutout for for you know teetotaling. Like for sure, totally.

Amy Scott 

Totally. And this is, speaking of tea totaling totally This is really good. It’s it’s a mountain or what do they call it? Alpine peppermint from Banff National Park where I had the pleasure to go earlier this summer. It’s quite delightful. Oh my goodness. How about you? Oh, wait, we already talked about it. But tell me about your water Kai.

Kai Ryssdal 

Well it’s tap water from, anyway it’s tap water in LA. So just a very quick that’s right quick pass through the through the YouTube chat. Cutwater rum Mojito is making an appearance, Devil’s Canyon root beer. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Patricia Long. So Devil’s Canyon Root Beer Have you had Devil’s Canyon Beer Beer because I talked to the guy who runs that place about making beer from grey water. And once I get it when I get up San Francisco, he’s up in San Carlos. I am going to have one of his beers.

Amy Scott 

You can’t, you can’t do that story until after How We Survive. I’ll see your gray water and go one further.

Kai Ryssdal 

Well get the plugin.

Amy Scott 

Yes. Spoiler alert. I tasted some beer made from recycled sewer water

Kai Ryssdal 

Ooh was it actual sewer water as supposed to gray water?

Amy Scott 

Yeah, yeah. I mean, they don’t call it toilet to tap but but it’s that’s what it is. It’s highly treated and purified and so, we’ll have to chat. Yeah, it’s coming to all of us.

Kai Ryssdal 

Yeah it’s like, apparently this stuff is more than pure water. Right. It’s more pure than the water we get now.

Amy Scott 

Yeah absolutely, I tasted it. I tasted all kinds of water this season. It’s coming out in October. So lots more ahead. We’ll have to do a special like water economics on tap.

Kai Ryssdal 

What do you got news wise?

Amy Scott 

Oh, yeah, news. So remember that huge Cambridge Analytica scandal five years ago, which is hard to believe.

Kai Ryssdal

Yes, but reminds those who don’t.

Amy Scott

Yeah, so the British consulting firm. Yeah, they got in trouble for collecting personal data from millions of Facebook users without their consent to try to sway voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on behalf of the Cruz and then Trump campaigns. Facebook agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class action lawsuit over its role in that event. And today is the last day to file a claim for part of the settlement. So The Washington Post has an explainer on how you you can do this if you want to. Anyone who used Facebook between May 2007 and December 2022 is eligible, though, if you’re like me, you might be wondering if you really want to share your info with Facebook to get that payment.

Kai Ryssdal

Oh wait do you have to? Those, you know.

Amy Scott

Well, yeah, you have to get paid, so you have to share. I didn’t go through the process. But yeah, so like, at least share your address and username and all that. Which, you know, I may be paranoid, but I think rightly so. So the deadline is tonight at 11:55, sorry, 11:59pm Pacific Time. And Janet Nguyen, our  own Janet Nguyen for Marketplace also has a really nice piece about the value of class action lawsuits, which I thought was really interesting, because, you know, from a consumer advocacy standpoint, you’re not going to get paid that much, potentially, I think money.com estimated it would be $5 per user, if everybody who qualifies submitted a claim, which is not going to happen. But anyways, it’s not likely to be a ton of money. But consumer advocates say like if companies don’t get a large response, it’s kind of easier for them to sort of sweep it under the rug and move on. So you know that from a consumer, from a corporate accountability standpoint, maybe you want to submit.

Kai Ryssdal 

Yeah, and the companies get to say, “hey, look, we made a settlement and here’s the offer and people didn’t want it.” So we’ll just hang on to the money. Right, right. Yeah. Okay, hear that, right. Yes. Totally. Totally. Totally, totally. So here’s mine. It is very much a smash the patriarchy moment. So those of you who listen as podcasts know, I’m a soccer fan. You know, I watched the Women’s World Cup, Spain won spoiler alert, sorry, but it was like a week ago. Anyway. Well, you know, there are people who watch that video anyway. So at this ceremony where the Spanish women got their medals, and they got the hoist the trophy, the head of the Spanish Soccer Federation, the whole national soccer federation, his name is Luis Rubiales kissed one of the players, Jennifer Hermoso, smack on the lips, smack on the lips, not one of those European on the cheeks thing, but smack on the lips. She later came out and said I didn’t enjoy that at all. He apparently at some point during the course of that day said, Well, you know, maybe I shouldn’t have but it wasn’t so bad. Blah, blah, blah. There were calls to resign for him to resign. Mounting calls for him to resign. The Spanish government wants him to quit, FIFA wants him to quit apparently they can’t actually fire him. He gave a speech either yesterday or the day before in which he was completely defiant. And said not only am I not resigning, I swear to God, this is what he said, She basically liked it. And I just smash the patriarchy. That’s all I can say. Men are idiots.

Amy Scott 

Heck yeah. Oh my god, it’s so gross. This is the guy who by the way, also grabbed his crotch in celebration. Yes, but apologized for that, because apparently it was close to the Queen of Spain. So therefore he was willing to admit some wrongdoing. Yep. Yeah, it’s just gross.

Kai Ryssdal 

It’s just not tenable. And now of course, all the women are like, we’re not gonna play anymore. You fire him or we’re not gonna play anymore and more power to him, more power to him. And look, the Spanish team has had many, many issues over men in control and players being upset and I understand all that. That’s not what this is. This is just gross and violating by relative to violation. It’s just gross. And smash the patriarchy.

Amy Scott 

And it takes away from their amazing moment. That was totally such a beautiful team to watch. I was so excited that they won. So I’m glad you brought that up Kai, so I didn’t have to.

Kai Ryssdal 

It just, it just bummed me out. It just bummed me out. All right, yeah. No more bummer. Or maybe there will be because who knows what’s gonna happen in half full half empty. We’re done with the news. Quick break. coming right back half full of empty next. Surprise host as I said, because Drew’s taking the day off, come right back.

Kai Ryssdal 

All right half full half empty is the game. Drew Jostad is usually the guy, he is not today. Daniel Shin from Marketplace Tech is in the hot seat, Daniel, how are you?

Daniel Shin 

I’m doing all right. How are you?

Kai Ryssdal 

I’m good. And as I say, every time you show up on the air, you gotta be on the air, man. You gotta be, you’re wasting.

Amy Scott 

I know that voice, great to hear it Daniel.

Daniel Shin 

I know I’m doing it. And I’m right here, and I’m ready to throw some topics at you whenever you guys are ready.

Kai Ryssdal

Let’s go.

Daniel Shin

Let’s go. So half full half empty is the name of the game and the first topic for both you, Amy and Kai. Are you half full or half empty on American malls making a comeback, apparently.

Kai Ryssdal 

So Kristen Schwab did this story for us on Marketplace the other day based on some data from some real estate consulting firm in which foot traffic and malls is up to where it was like, sort of in the before times, like sort of early 2020, something like that. I think it’s really interesting, because as regular listeners to almost any business program will know, malls have been dying for five or 10 years. And now apparently they’re not. And I think it’s cool. I think it’s great. Look, retail is important. Consumers are important. The interesting part, of course, is that malls these days, at least in LA, are not just you know, let’s go to the mall mall. They are like branded, and they are places you go to be entertained. And there’s a frequent trolley train in the one that’s closest to my house. Thank you, California. But I think it’s good. I’m hopeful.

Amy Scott 

Yeah, I would say I’m hopeful. I’m skeptical though, that it’s really going to last. So we’ll see. I mean, there are a lot of there are a lot of malls that are already dead. True. I would love to see a renaissance because I find the history of the mall and what it’s been for people like socially. You know, even fitness wise, I think it’s fascinating. So I would like to see a comeback. I have to say I went to a shopping center or one of those sorts of outdoor malls with my mom in Colorado Springs a week or two ago and I was amazed by the foot traffic. So yeah, people were out.

Kai Ryssdal 

They’re coming back. People wanna get out. Good. Good. Daniel. Number two, please.

Daniel Shin 

Number two, New York City is cracking down on Airbnb short term rentals. Are you half full or half empty on that?

Kai Ryssdal 

I saw the story go by I don’t know the details. It kind of makes sense because of a lot of reasons. Right? It takes, it takes apartments off the market. It can boost prices. I don’t know. Amy you used to be a real estate agent.

Amy Scott 

I know. I know. I can’t be on the record with this story.

Kai Ryssdal

You like how I stuck you with that one?

Amy Scott

Let’s say yeah, I mean. Yeah, I can really argue both sides of this. What’s the like cop out version of half empty, half full?

Kai Ryssdal 

The cop out version is for you to agree with whatever I say but I tossed it to you because I was copping out. So look. I think basically I’m half full right? Because while Airbnb’s are great for a lot of circumstances, they do come with some downsides. And I’m not sure those downsides have been fully explored. So I will say half full on cities cracking down it’s not that I want them to go away. It’s not that I think Airbnb is bad, but regulation is not a terrible thing. So half full, how about that?

Amy Scott 

And I will recuse myself as a housing reporter.

Kai Ryssdal 

That’s There you go. That’s fair. Totally fair. Diplomatically done. Number three, Daniel please. That’s right.

Amy Scott

Diplomatic cop out.

Daniel Shin 

Number three. Subway sandwich chain has been bought by a private equity firm for estimated $10 billion.

Kai Ryssdal 

I want to know what happened to the $5 sub. That’s all I’m saying. That’s all I’m saying.

Amy Scott 

That’s a lot. Yeah, I haven’t followed this story too closely. I would say I’m half full because you know, certain members of my household love subway and it’s nice to be able to stop at a subway on a road trip and have something that people will be willing to eat. But I don’t know about like, are they going to loaded up with debt and the kind of usual private equity shenanigans? I don’t know.

Kai Ryssdal 

Right? That’s the question. They do, they do say it well let them expand more overseas. Which Okay, fine. So you know, I’m okay with it. I’m not wild about it. I’m I’m you know, the glass is half full and half empty at same time about that. We got a lot of cop outs here today.

Amy Scott 

It’s the reason we got this game, right?

Kai Ryssdal 

That’s right. That’s right. That’s right, half full and half empty old same time.

Daniel Shin 

I feel like number four may be a little bit polarizing, but um.

Amy Scott

Oh, good.

Daniel Shin

Half full or half empty on this? Apparently LinkedIn is cool now in context of what’s happening on other social media platforms I guess.

Kai Ryssdal 

Wow, I didn’t see that one coming.

Amy Scott 

I saw that but like, I saw that but like.

Kai Ryssdal 

Well tell us the story is because I don’t know.

Amy Scott 

Well, I’ll say what I saw. And then Daniel, maybe you can elaborate. Basically, because of the demise of Twitter slash X, a lot of people are posting on LinkedIn instead and I have to say I am amazed by the staying power of LinkedIn. I remember how easy it was to like roll your eyes at it. But yeah, a lot of people I know use it. I’ve even started posting a little because I had professional stuff that I wanted to share. And I didn’t know where to put it where people would actually see it. So yeah, I mean, cool. I don’t know, but maybe more relevance. Sure.

Kai Ryssdal 

Yeah, I missed. I missed the transition of LinkedIn, from a place where you put stuff and your resume and your experiences to find a job. It is still that but also people now use it to post professional stuff and writings and all that jazz. And I totally missed that. Because in believing it was a place to find a job. My theory always was anybody who wants to hire me for anything I’m professionally qualified for, already knows who I am. And they know how to get a hold of me. And they don’t need my LinkedIn to tell them what I’ve been doing for the last way too long. You know, I think it’s really interesting that it’s becoming a place now or is becoming a place that’s cool, because people can use it in a way that is not the cesspool that is Twitter and or Facebook.

Amy Scott 

Well again, let’s not let’s not exaggerate this word, cool. Yeah, well, that’s for you to go there. That’s totally fair. I mean, I just feel like I can’t I mean, I can’t say what’s cool. When my kids tell me they’re posting on LinkedIn then. Right? Right.

Kai Ryssdal 

Right. Kate Gilbert says in the chat, Kai, we’re not all on radio every day. Yes, I know. That was that was my thing. That’s why I didn’t I didn’t quite get it. Anyway, one thing I want, I think, what, go ahead,

Daniel Shin 

I’m sorry. One thing I will quickly add is LinkedIn has become the way I track birthdays now as opposed to when it used to be Facebook, so.

Amy Scott 

Huh, really? Oh that’s interesting.

Kai Ryssdal 

So when you fire up your computer in the morning or your phone or whatever do you like go and check LinkedIn?

Daniel Shin 

You know, I oddly do. It is mostly for the job. But you know, it is more post oriented as opposed to other platforms now that are becoming more short form video oriented. And, you know, some people just don’t want that. They just want like, sort of posts from people they know, I guess. Yeah.

Kai Ryssdal 

Yeah. Totally fascinating. Okay, next one is I believe, sorry, Amy if I step on you. We got a little Comrex lag here. Okay. Next one is the last one that means it is poll time. So Amy and I will, you know, tap dance for a minute or so while you all weigh in on the poll. And and again, no aspersions will be cast for those of you not voting. I get it. I understand. I heard you. I heard you. So, Daniel, what? What’s our last topic on this Friday?

Daniel Shin 

The last topic if you’re, sorry, here you go. Half full or half empty on the arrival of pumpkin spice season?

Kai Ryssdal 

Okay, so I’m gonna try to camouflage my feelings on here.

Amy Scott 

We’ll just laugh here for a minute while people fill in their answers,

Kai Ryssdal 

But let’s make sure everybody knows what the what the story is. So I think on. Let’s see, I did it yesterday on the show. So it was Wednesday, Starbucks decided that this week was going to be Pumpkin Spice Latte week for the 20th year in a row. Rather they are rolling out pumpkin spice lattes. They are doing it because money, not because it’s like fall or anything. Howard Schultz did say last year that that in the week following the rollout of pumpkin spice latte last year, foot traffic in stores was up an average of 26% which just is mind boggling. Simply Wow. Yeah. Yeah.

Amy Scott 

So Kai, not everyone shares your opinion.

Kai Ryssdal 

Oh I know. I know.

Amy Scott 

About pumpkin spice. That’s what that tells me.

Kai Ryssdal 

I know. Well, so lucky. So Jin Peck, “Full, I had my first pumpkin donut today. Oh, wait, it’s cool that I had my first pumpkin donut today and I’m gonna have more tomorrow.” It’s It’s amazing. It’s just amazing. Here we go. So here’s the Kay Gilbert is drinking a CBTL Pumpkin Spice Latte drink which I added rum. What is a CBT pumpkin spice drink? I don’t know. I don’t know.

Amy Scott 

I don’t know. Maybe she will? Someone said Is there a candy corn flavored latte? That I might try. Yeah, keep the pumpkin flavor and pumpkin pie. I’m with you there.

Kai Ryssdal 

Oh, just sorry. A rare ad hominem attack here. Jason Hildreth, you’re dead to me. Here’s what he said. “Bring the pumpkin beers,” there is there are very few things worse than pumpkin beers. Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of them. That’s it. That’s it. That’s what I got. Alright, so everybody knows how I feel about pumpkin spice lattes. Miss Scott, how do you feel?

Amy Scott 

You were on the record? Yeah I would say you’ve been on the record. I am half empty on this because it’s August 25. I think it’s 95 percent humidity out there, here in Baltimore. I mean, I’m drinking tea but I put ice on it for crying out loud. It’s it’s just it’s summer. I’m not ready. I’m not ready. And it doesn’t even matter how I feel about pumpkin spice lattes because I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had one.

Kai Ryssdal 

I had in the before times, I had one in the before times because Stephanie Patterson, who used to run development and membership at Marketplace, convinced people to donate in order to watch me drink a pumpkin spice latte. And it was ridiculously successful. So I did drink one and it tasted like motor oil. Anyway, Marissa says in our Slack coffee cbtl is Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. So there’s that. Oh, Courtney, you need to hit me up with the poll here so that we can close this one out.

Amy Scott 

Yeah, what’s the results here? Are people on our side?

Kai Ryssdal 

Wait, and let’s see what the people say. Last week the people were with Nova so I don’t even know what to tell you. Don’t even know what to tell you. And Nova actually made sure that everybody knew it, too. All right. So half empty on Pumpkin Spice Latte 69%, half full 30%. Thank you that people are with me. 190 votes out of 296 people thank you very much for participating. There we go. Daniel Shin, how do you feel about pumpkin spice anything?

Daniel Shin 

I’ve kind of forgotten that pumpkin stuff existed to be quite honest. I don’t really eat them much, so.

Amy Scott 

Are pumpkins real though? All right.

Kai Ryssdal 

Fair enough. Thank you, Charlton Thorpe for the sting. Alright, we’re done today. I am back on Monday. Samantha Fields is in for Kimberly who is still traipsing around the Himalayas. In the meanwhile, keep the comments coming. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART. God, I’m yelling, why am I being so loud? Or email me or us at makemesmart@marketplace.org and we will get you on the pod. I was just being very loud, maybe pumpkin spice got me fired up. I don’t know, I don’t know.

Amy Scott 

It’ll do that, it’s all that water you’re drinking.

Kai Ryssdal 

I know, it does. And now I’m gonna have to go to the bathroom.

Amy Scott 

Make Me Smart is produced by Courtney Bergsieker. Today’s episode was engineered by Charlton Thorp. Our intern is Niloufar Shahbandi. Drew Jostad wrote the theme music for our game half full, half empty.

Kai Ryssdal 

Emily MaCune and Antoinette Brock are the team behind half full and half empty. Marissa Cabrera is the senior producer of this podcast. Bridget Bodnar is the director of podcast. Francesca Levy is the executive director of Digital and on demand. And there we go. Friday, Friday, Friday, Happy

Amy Scott 

Happy Friday, everybody.

Kai Ryssdal 

Happy Friday. Thank you Amy Scott for taking a couple of days out of your busy life and helping us out.

Amy Scott 

Happy to do it.