Marketplace Morning Report Appoints Its First Black Woman Host.

American Public Media has named Kimberly Adams as the new host of its flagship weekday program.

American Public Media announced on May 7 that Kimberly Adams will be the next host of Marketplace Morning Report, its flagship weekday show. Currently serving as senior Washington correspondent and host of the podcast Make Me Smart, Adams will officially take on the role starting June 8 — marking the first time a Black woman has led one of Marketplace’s flagship programs.

Marketplace Morning Report airs every weekday morning during Morning Edition across nearly all NPR affiliates nationwide. The program reaches around 8 million listeners live each morning in the U.S. and is also available globally on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, generating over 76,000 daily downloads across platforms.

“I grew up in St. Louis, where economic divides across race, class, and geography were impossible to ignore. Those experiences have shaped my work as a journalist over the years. While many people see business and economic news as centered on markets and corporations, most stories ultimately connect to money and power—and who holds it and who doesn’t,” Kimberly Adams shared.

“I’ve centered my work at Marketplace on breaking down economic policy and what it means for people’s everyday lives, and I’m excited to broaden that scope—looking not only at decisions made in Washington, but also at what’s happening in boardrooms, at the grocery store, and how this economy affects people from all walks of life,” Kimberly Adams added.

Before becoming a Washington, D.C. correspondent, Adams built her career as a freelance journalist, earning recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists, the Religion Communicators Council, and the Association for Women in Communications.

She has also served as a regular weekend guest host on Washington Journal and currently sits on the board of the International Women’s Media Foundation.

American Public Media shared that since joining Marketplace over a decade ago, Kimberly Adams has earned the trust of listeners through her sharp, insightful economic reporting.

“Beyond her strong reporting, audiences have come to value Kimberly’s leadership and range as host of Call to Mind, Marketplace Tech, and Make Me Smart,” said Neal Scarbrough, vice president and general manager at Marketplace. “She’s proven herself to be a trailblazing, multiplatform journalist who has built a deep and lasting connection with our audience.”

Adams also shared her excitement about helping listeners better understand how the global economy shapes their daily lives. “At a time of major economic change, it’s essential that people have access to clear, reliable journalism about how money moves through our society. I’m truly honored to step into this role and help deliver timely, meaningful insights to those who need them most.”