Make Me Smart

In the United States, recidivism rate, or the likelihood that a criminal re-enters the prison system after being released, is among the highest in the world. The state with the highest reincarceration rate (within 3 years) is Delaware at 55.9 percent. While the lowest is Virginia at 17.9 percent.

Earlier this month, Make Me Smart host, Kimberly Adams, moderated the 2026 Second Chance Forum at Georgetown University on the importance of second-chance employment programs to lowering recidivism rates in the United States. Adams sat down with two top law enforcement officials from across the aisle: Delaware Attorney General and Democrat, Kathy Jennings and Pennsylvania Attorney General and Republican, Dave Sunday.

Today’s podcast is an edited version of their conversation. To listen to the full panel discussion, click the link below:

2026 Second Chance Forum: Barriers to Breakthroughs — How Second Chances Are Driving Success

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Are you team camping or glamping? On today’s show, we’re checking in on the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States. KUNC’s Mountain West News Bureau reporter Rachel Cohen joins Kimberly to unpack the pressures facing the industry, from climate change to Trump administration policies. Plus, will President Trump’s new $100 foreign tourist fee hurt national parks?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"The Mountain West’s outdoor economy continues to grow – but pace may be slowing" from KUNC
"Ski resorts gain year-round adaptability in Forest Service rule" from KUNC
"Visits to national parks dipped slightly in 2025—after a record-breaking year" from KUNC
"Forest Service plans to move D.C. headquarters to Salt Lake City" from KUNC

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

The labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic). One reason for the decline? President Trump’s immigration crackdown. University of Colorado Boulder economist Chloe East joins Kimberly to break down the unexpected ways restrictive immigration policies affect the labor market, and trends she’s paying attention to during this second Trump administration.

While the United States’ workforce is aging out of its prime, some countries, like Vietnam, are just hitting their stride. On today’s show, Kai joins Kimberly to share his takeaways from reporting in Ho Chi Minh City for the “Marketplace” series “The Age of Work.” We’ll get into how Vietnam’s younger workforce is transforming the country’s economy for the future and the pressures it faces from all around the globe.

Recently, Seattle’s tech workforce has been hit by wave after wave of layoffs. Some company execs say it’s AI’s fault. KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg joins Kimberly on today’s show to share what she’s hearing from tech workers. And, we’ll get into another side of the AI boom: the push to build more data centers and the pushback from locals. Plus, a round of Seattle trivia!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"Booming" from KUOW
Why Seattle tech companies are still laying off workers from The Seattle Times
"From coder to shuttle driver: Where Seattle's laid off tech workforce is now" from KUOW
"A small town in Central Washington is Microsoft's answer to the data center backlash" from KUOW
"What produce prompted the creation of the Market?" from the Pike Place Market Foundation
"Seattle doesn't have many unicorns. Does it matter?" From GeekWire
"Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon" from Seattle Met
"Seattle area expected to generate $845 million from FIFA World Cup" from Fox 13 Seattle

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].