Get even smarter with the "Make Me Smart" newsletter. We'll start your Friday right by explaining the news, rounding up the best stories we read this week and even sharing a cocktail recipe or two.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been sitting down with popular podcasts like the "The Breakfast Club," "Call Her Daddy," and "The Howard Stern Show." We'll get into what the campaign strategy can tell us about voters, our fragmented media environment and the future of news. Plus, lower interest rates mean the end of a golden period for savers. And, the return of panda diplomacy and a new life for a beloved maple tree.

Here's everything we talked about today:

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