President Biden’s hallmark Inflation Reduction Act set aside nearly $150 billion for various climate projects. But not all of that money has been spent, and President-elect Trump has vowed to take it back. The question, is how much money is leftover? Kimberly explains why it’s taken years to get the money out the door. Plus, we’ll unpack some gains in women’s sports and wage growth.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Carbon emissions from fossil fuels hit record highs in 2024: report” from Axios
• “Dreaming of snow this winter? Look up the forecast in your area.” from The Washington Post
• “Fossil fuel CO2 emissions increase again in 2024” from the Global Carbon Project
• “The mystery number that’s key to whether Biden’s spending survives” from Politico
• “Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again” from AP News
• Tweet from The Washington Post’s Heather Long about wage growth

Got a question for the hosts about the election, Trump’s next presidency and the U.S. economy? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

COP29, the United Nations’ annual climate summit, is underway in Azerbaijan. This year’s conference is all about how the world will pay to deal with climate change. But Donald Trump’s election victory looms large over the talks. President-elect Trump could roll back United States climate policy like he did during his first term. On the show today, Gautam Jain, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, explains why climate investment won’t come to a complete halt under the next Trump administration. Plus, he weighs in on who might fill the void in global energy transition talks.

Plus, the message ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods is sending Trump about the nation’s energy policy. And, how early is too early for Christmas lights?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change” from The Conversation
• “COP29: What are the key issues at the UN climate summit in Baku?” from Reuters
• “Trump Victory Leaves China Calling the Shots at COP29 Climate Negotiations” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Burning Questions: What are the climate wins and setbacks from the election?” from Marketplace
• “Exxon chief urges stability in US climate policy, knocks carbon border tariffs” from Politico

We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

A new report estimates global damages from extreme weather events between 2014 and 2023 at about $2 trillion, roughly in line with the 2008 financial crisis. It comes as world leaders meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Cop29, under the shadow of President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to roll back environmental standards. We’ll get into what it all might mean for climate policy here at home. Plus, is economic growth abroad in Trump’s hands? Then, we’ll smile at Mattel’s mea culpa for a misprint on its new “Wicked” toys.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “‘Science is still science’: US still committed to climate fight despite Trump’s win, Podesta says at COP29” from Politico
• “A shadow ‘financial crisis’ has cost the world $2 trillion” from CNN
• “Rest of World’s Growth Is at Trump’s Mercy” from The Wall Street Journal
• “FDA to Finally Ban Controversial Ingredient in Popular Decongestants” from ScienceAlert
• “Mattel Apologizes for Porn Site Misprint on ‘Wicked’ Toy Packaging” from The Wall Street Journal

Got a question for the hosts about the election, Trump’s next presidency and the U.S. economy? Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.