On today’s episode: Marketplace’s Reema Khrais joins Kimberly to discuss two stories from opposite ends of the housing spectrum – cuts to rental assistance programs and the soaring cost of starter homes. Then, Kimberly explains yet another reason why the rest of the world is giving the U.S. major side-eye. And we’ll smile about a slimy substance that might help keep microplastics at bay and parrots connecting over Facetime.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Proposed cuts to housing programs could affect millions, experts warn” from The Washington Post

• “Where starter homes cost at least $1 million” by Axios

• LISTEN: This Is Uncomfortable Season 11 from Marketplace

• “You Have a Message From Taiwan” by The Wall Street Journal

• “Why the Asian currency blowup matters” from Axios

• “Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Other—and the Birds Loved It” from Smithsonian Magazine

• “Okra and fenugreek extracts remove most microplastics from water, finds research” on Phys.org 

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

Correction (May 8, 2025): An earlier version of this story misstated the dollar amount of the White House’s proposed cuts to federal housing assistance programs. The error has been deleted.