What if you got to choose where your tax dollars went?

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report – Episode Summary

Episode: "What if you got to choose where your tax dollars went?"

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: David Brancaccio

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Overview

This episode explores the innovative concept of "participatory budgeting"—where ordinary citizens get a say in how their tax dollars are spent—zooming in on recent experiments in American cities. Alongside, the show checks in on the latest G20 economic summit outcomes, record-breaking Thanksgiving travel trends, and a notable box-office figure.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. G20 Summit Wrap-Up: Focus on Development and Energy

Segment Timestamp: 01:40–02:44

• Summary:
  Nancy Marshall Genzer reports from the recently concluded G20 summit in South Africa, highlighting the meeting’s focus on supporting developing economies.
• Key Points:
  • Wealthier nations (EU, Russia, China) invited 20 smaller countries as guests.
  • Main Declaration: Calls for development banks/institutions to focus on disaster recovery, reconstruction, and preparedness.
  • Over 600 million Africans lack electricity; summit supported efforts to triple global renewable energy capacity.
  • The declaration was non-binding and didn't create a panel on wealth inequality as South Africa suggested.
• Quote:
  "The declaration urges development banks and international financial institutions to address recovery and reconstruction after disasters, along with disaster preparedness." — Nancy Marshall Genzer (02:11)

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2. Thanksgiving Travel Trends: Who’s Flying, Who’s Driving, and Why

Segment Timestamp: 02:44–04:20

• Summary:
  Reporting by Carla Javier on traveling patterns for Thanksgiving, focusing on passenger numbers and changing behaviors due to costs and remote work flexibility.
• Key Points:
  • Over 31 million passengers expected to fly (all-time high); 73 million will travel by car.
  • Remote work lets people travel earlier or stay longer, which spreads out air travel demand.
  • High travel costs may price some out of flying, skewing flyers toward higher-income passengers.
• Quote:
  "I think that the people who are going to be getting on airplanes this Thanksgiving will reflect a much more well-to-do base of customers than we have seen in the past." — Analyst Henry Hartevelt (03:32)
  • More drivers this year partly thanks to lower gas prices; AAA expects 1.3 million more road-trippers than last Thanksgiving.
• Peak Travel Days:
  Wednesday and Sunday are expected to be the busiest days on the roads and in the air.
  "The prediction is that return flights will make Sunday the very busiest at airports this year." — David Brancaccio (04:20)

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3. Participatory Budgeting: Can Citizens Really Direct Local Spending?

Segment Timestamp: 06:10–09:17

• Summary:
  The feature segment delves into participatory budgeting, using Nashville’s experience as a case study. Cynthia Abrams reports on what happens when people are invited to directly decide public budgets—and why the process can falter.
• Key Points:
  • Participatory budgeting trials in Nashville funded numerous local projects, e.g., playground upgrades.
  • Awareness and participation were extremely low: only 13,000 people voted (<2% of population).
  • Even though voting was inclusive (undocumented residents, teenagers), public engagement lagged behind expectations.
  • The city phased out the program, citing low participation and worries that wealthier neighborhoods could better organize for their interests.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Is this really participatory in the way that we're hoping it would be?" — David Brancaccio (07:41)
  • "It seemed like we were asking people to do more work for things that they should be getting ordinarily anyway." — Mayor Freddie O’Connell (08:06)
  • "It wasn't big enough for people to really notice." — Dr. Selina Su, urban studies professor, CUNY, on Nashville’s participatory budgeting (08:53)
• Insight:
  For participatory budgeting to truly transform democracy, advocates argue it needs wider implementation and better outreach. The approach remains successful in cities like New York and Chicago.

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4. Quick Hit: Box Office Highlight

Segment Timestamp: 09:17–09:41

• Summary:
  David Brancaccio notes a notable entertainment industry stat:
  • The second "Wicked" movie grossed $150 million on opening weekend—25% more than the first film’s debut.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "The declaration urges development banks and international financial institutions to address recovery and reconstruction after disasters, along with disaster preparedness." — Nancy Marshall Genzer (02:11)
• "I think that the people who are going to be getting on airplanes this Thanksgiving will reflect a much more well to do base of customers than we have seen in the past." — Henry Hartevelt (03:32)
• "Is this really participatory in the way that we're hoping it would be?" — David Brancaccio (07:41)
• "It seemed like we were asking people to do more work for things that they should be getting ordinarily anyway." — Mayor Freddie O’Connell (08:06)
• "It wasn't big enough for people to really notice." — Dr. Selina Su (08:53)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• G20 Summit Wrap-Up: 01:40–02:44
• Thanksgiving Travel Trends: 02:44–04:20
• Participatory Budgeting Feature: 06:10–09:17
• Box Office Highlight: 09:17–09:41

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains Marketplace's characteristic brisk pace and explanatory, curious tone. Quotes from sources and the host emphasize practical observations and measured skepticism about new civic ideas.

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Conclusion

This Marketplace Morning Report episode underscores how civic participation and decision-making about public funds can be both promising and fraught. It contextualizes local experiments like participatory budgeting amid national and global economic shifts, while capturing the American holiday travel hustle and providing a quick cultural touchstone with the "Wicked" box office numbers. The narrative asks: If you could allocate your tax dollars, what would really change—and would most people even show up to decide?

Transcript

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[David Brancaccio]

What if you got to pick how taxpayer money gets spent? I'm David Brancaccio in Los Angeles. First, the Group of 20 summit has just just wrapped up in South Africa. The US Wasn't there with the Trump administration making claims. South Africa persecutes its white minority Economics is at the center of G20 discussions. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer reports on that.

[Nancy Marshall Genzer]

The wealthier nations at the summit, like EU members, Russia and China, invited 20 smaller countries as guests. The G20 members signed a declaration meant to help them. The declaration urges development banks and international financial institutions to address recovery and reconstruction after disasters, along with disaster preparedness. It noted that more than 600 million Africans don't have access to electricity and supported efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally. But the declaration is non binding and it doesn't say anything about creating a new panel on wealth inequality, which South Africa had called for. I'm Nancy Marshall Genser for Marketplace.

[David Brancaccio]

More than 31 million passengers are expected to fly for this week's holiday, an all time high. Using numbers from a trade association called Airlines for America. Some of that may be rebound from the recent government shutdown. The Automobile association predicts 73 million are traveling by car for Thanksgiving. Marketplace's Carla Javier has more.

[Carla Javier]

Many passengers set out on their Thanksgiving trips on Friday and may stay longer than they used to, says analyst Henry Hartevelt of Atmosphere Research Group.

[Henry Hartevelt]

It's a function of people flying on days where the airfares may be less expensive and it also reflects that a lot of air travelers have the ability to work remotely, he says.

[Carla Javier]

Consumers are feeling squeezed, so people who usually fly might decide they can't afford to this year.

[Henry Hartevelt]

I think that the people who are going to be getting on airplanes this Thanksgiving will reflect a much more well to do base of customers than we have seen in the past. Even by the way, if they're sitting in a standard coach seat.

[Carla Javier]

The consulting firm Deloitte surveyed holiday travelers. Many said they are driving instead of flying in order to save money. That could be one of the reasons AAA estimates 1.3 million more people will road trip this Thanksgiving compared to last year. Aixa Diaz is with aaa. Particularly if you have, you know more than a couple of people in your family already, you're you're saving because gas prices are pretty cheap right now. More drivers means more traffic, though, with tomorrow, Wednesday and Sunday expected to be the busiest on the roads. I'm Carla Javier for Marketplace, and with.

[David Brancaccio]

Remotely connected workers going early to avoid the Wednesday mess, the prediction is that that return flights will make Sunday the very busiest at airports this year.

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The adage says it isn't what you say, it's how you say it. And when you lead with power, poise and performance, you're making an impact from the start. Introducing the Range Rover Sport. Designed to set an example with its assertive stance and refined drive, it blends dynamic elegance with agile precision. Whether you're navigating city streets or conquering rugged terrain. Its cutting edge innovations, including a cabin air purification system and active noise cancellation, offer unreal unrivaled comfort, control and peace of mind. Seven terrain modes Check A choice of powerful engines, including a plug in hybrid with a 48 mile range. Absolutely. Take on anything with the Range Rover Sport. Build yours today at range Rover.com US Sport Explore the Range Rover Sport at range Rover.com USSport.

[David Brancaccio]

Here's a topic to enliven a Thanksgiving table Ask everybody how they would like America to spend all the money it raises from taxes. We are not asked. Elected and non elected officials decide at the national level, but locally. Sometimes taxpayers are asked through a process called participatory budgeting, where residents have a say on paying for nude speed bumps or for musical instruments for the local library to lend out direct democracy. But the track record is mixed. The Cynthia Abrams of WPLN in Nashville.

[Cynthia Abrams]

Reports at a neighborhood park in Nashville. The rubber ground is bouncy and makes for a soft landing when jumping off the towering play structure. Both are new, and 10 year old Jalija Williams says they're an upgrade.

[Dell PC Announcer]

They got different materials that the park never have.

[Cynthia Abrams]

The park renovations were one of two dozen projects funded through Nashville's participatory budgeting process in 2023. Jaleishah's mom, Janae, says she and her kids appreciate the improvements. They love this park. We come very often. But she didn't vote for them. Like most people in Nashville, Janai didn't even know participatory budgeting was a thing. The project started in select neighborhoods and at first city leaders were excited. So Nashville scaled it up, dedicating $10 million to projects citywide. But then engagement was really low.

[David Brancaccio]

It's just kind of like, okay, is this really participatory in the way that we're hoping it would be?

[Cynthia Abrams]

Mayor Freddie O' Connell points out that only 13,000 people voted, less than 2% of the city's population. That's even though the process was more open than regular elections. Undocumented residents, teenagers can cast ballots. So o' Connell phased out the process.

[David Brancaccio]

It seemed like we were asking people to do more work for things that they should be getting ordinarily anyway.

[Cynthia Abrams]

Plus, there's a concern that, well, resourced neighborhoods might be able to scrounge up more votes for, say, pickleball courts, while communities in need can't get that same level of engagement. But supporters of participatory budgeting say it's really about changing the way government works.

[Carla Javier]

It's a boot camp for democracy and helping folks to work together.

[Cynthia Abrams]

That's Dr. Selina Su, an urban studies professor at the City University of New York. Hsu says the very fact that Nashville's process is gone is evidence that it wasn't done right.

[Carla Javier]

It wasn't big enough for people to really notice.

[Cynthia Abrams]

More dollars and better outreach are ways to make sure it does get noticed. Sue says participatory budgeting is active in cities like New York and Chicago, but in Nashville, it's gone, and many residents aren't even aware the process ever existed in Nashville. I'm Cynthia Abrams for Marketplace.

[David Brancaccio]

And one more number before we go $150 million. That's the amount of money pulled in by the second Wicked movie. That's an even 25% above Wicked One's first weekend. With reviews ranging from great to mediocre. We'll see how that box office holds up in Los Angeles. I'm David Brancaccio. It's the Marketplace Morning Report from apm, American Public Media.

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