President-elect Donald Trump tapped Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as his choice for Secretary of Commerce this week. We’ll get into why the role could be critical to the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to enact sweeping tariffs. Then, we’ll explain why earnings at big-box retailers like Target and Walmart have been mixed ahead of the holiday season, and how the Justice Department wants to shakeup Google’s monopoly over the online search market. Plus, why is Bitcoin on a record-breaking streak?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Trump picks Lutnick to be Commerce secretary” from CNN
• “Who will lead the Commerce Department?” from Marketplace
• “Target’s Stock Plunges 21% on Weak Sales Ahead of Holiday Season” from The New York Times
• “A tale of two retailers: Target reports sluggish spending while Walmart has a stellar quarter” from The Associated Press
• “DOJ says Google must sell Chrome to crack open its search monopoly” from The Verge
• “Bitcoin hits fresh record, marches toward $100,000 as rally continues” from CNBC

Join us tomorrow for Economics on Tap. The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Comcast said it plans to turn its cable networks, including CNBC and MSNBC, into a new, separate company. We’ll get into why it could be a sign of what’s to come in the media industry. And, the Joe Biden administration is shifting into overdrive trying to spend money intended to boost microchip manufacturing before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. Plus, we’ll smile about breakthroughs in automatic braking technology and a new version of chess that’s pushing the game forward.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Comcast to Spin Off MSNBC, CNBC and Other Cable Networks” from The New York Times
• “It’s Official! Comcast To Spin Off Cable Networks, Sees New Standalone Company A ‘Partner And Acquirer’ Of Media Assets” from Deadline
• “Raimondo’s new mission: Leave no cash for Trump” from Politico
• “Automatic Braking Systems Save Lives. Now They’ll Need to Work at 62 MPH” from Wired
• “The Greatest Chess Player of All Time Is Bored With Chess” from The Wall Street Journal

We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today we’re talking about American exceptionalism: the idea that the United States is a uniquely virtuous nation and a “shining city on a hill.” It’s a belief that’s long shaped how the U.S. acts on the global stage and how Americans see themselves, the economy and democracy. In the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, many Americans are questioning the idea of exceptionalism.

Journalist Suzy Hansen challenges the notion of American exceptionalism in her book “Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World.” On the show today, she explains where the idea of American exceptionalism comes from, how it has shaped today’s world, and why many Americans are disillusioned with it. Plus, is a new version of national pride the answer to the pitfalls of American exceptionalism?

Then, we’ll get into the creative ways the European Union is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs. Plus, perspectives from an American abroad and thoughts on mandatory national service.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Unlearning the myth of American innocence” from The Guardian
• “Opinion | Is America a City on a Hill or a Nation on the Precipice?” from The New York Times
• “The End of American Exceptionalism: Trump’s Reelection Will Redefine U.S. Power” from Foreign Affairs
• “American Exceptionalism Is a Dangerous Myth” from Intelligencer
• “The US is leaving millions behind: American exceptionalism needs to change by 2030” from The Brookings Institution
• “Democrats look at late-night, weekend votes to confirm last Biden judicial nominees” from The Hill
• “Locked and loaded? The EU weapons to fight Trump’s trade war.” from Politico
• “Oil Glut Set to Thwart Trump’s Call to ‘Frack, Frack, Frack’” from Bloomberg

We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.