The latest survey data from the University of Michigan shows consumer sentiment in the U.S. is at a six-month low. We’ll unpack the numbers and get into what they can and can’t tell us about what’s really going on in the economy. And, a plan to split up U.S. Cellular between T-Mobile and Verizon is in the works. It’s part of a larger fiasco brewing at the Federal Communications Commission. Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full / Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• Consumer Sentiment Index from the University of Michigan

• “T-Mobile, Verizon in Talks to Carve Up U.S. Cellular” from The Wall Street Journal

• “A solar storm could produce northern lights in US” from AP News

• “Apple is revamping Siri with generative AI to catch up with chatbot competitors, report says” from Business Insider

• “Millions more Americans travel to bird-watch. Texas businesses are cashing in.” from Marketplace

• “McDonald’s Will Offer a $5 Meal Deal to Lure Customers Back Into Stores” from Yahoo Finance

• “Bluey Is Back! Disney Announces Collection of New ‘Minisodes’ Are Coming Soon” from People

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Joint fundraising committees allow aligned political campaigns to raise more money faster. We’ll break down how these operations work and how they’re affecting the cost of elections. Then, guest host Sabri Ben-Achour explains why China’s electric vehicle industry may not be at “overcapacity,” as U.S. and European officials have argued. Plus, artists’ fears summed up in one controversial iPad Pro commercial.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “Joint fundraising: A campaign strategy to increase contributions” from Marketplace

• • “U.S., Europe vexed by China’s ‘overcapacity’ of clean-energy goods” from Marketplace

• • “OpenAI’s Brad Lightcap on new content tool, copyright claims and AI outlook” from CNBC

• • “OpenAI says it’s building a tool to let content creators ‘opt out’ of AI training” from TechCrunch

• • “Watch Apple Trash-Compact Human Culture” from The Atlantic

• • “Apple’s new iPad ad has struck a nerve online. Here’s why” from AP News

Shrinkflation tote bags, mini pencils, maybe even some KaiPA glasses — check out our May fundraiser thank-you gifts and make your donation to support our newsroom today: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Increasingly popular buy now, pay later services allow shoppers to split their purchases into smaller, recurring payments. We’ll get into why these loans are blurring economists’ understanding of today’s consumer debt landscape. We’ll also discuss President Joe Biden’s climate and infrastructure spending spree, and the knock-on effects of parents dying from drug overdoses. Plus, singer Tyla’s sandy Met Gala look, and forgotten 100-year-old love letters make us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “More than 320000 U.S. children lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011-2021” from Axios

• • “Playbook: Biden’s race to Trump-proof his legacy” from Politico

• • “Biden’s biggest challenge: How do you even spend $1.6 trillion?” from Politico

• • “‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Has Americans Racking Up Phantom Debt” from Bloomberg

• • “Video: See moment Tyla is carried up Met Gala steps” from CNN

• • “Tyla’s sand-covered Met Gala 2024 gown was chopped in half after the red carpet” from Page Six

• • “When to use buy now, pay later services” from Marketplace

• • “Hidden love letters spark historical mystery in Baltimore” from The Baltimore Banner

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.