The Indicator from Planet Money
A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.
Episodes
Obama's new Presidential Center and his tricky relationship with the South Side
How do residents of the South Side of Chicago feel about their new neighbor: the Obama Presidential Center? A mixture of pride and excitement, tempered with some concerns about what it could do to housing affordability. On today’s show, we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Code Switch on the new center and its relationship to the historically Black neighborhoods around it. Connect wit
Does the new Fed chair care about jobs?
Last month, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh presided over his first interest rate decision and press conference … but he didn't talk much about maximum employment. How much does Kevin Warsh care about the jobs side of the Fed’s dual mandate?Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new
Why Trump wants to rip up his own trade deal
During President Donald Trump’s first term, he touted the USMCA as the largest and most fair trade deal ever achieved. So why is he now talking about ‘terminating’ it? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Are Trump’s trade deals the real deal?Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Buy the Planet Money book— Find our socials, YouTube and more!— F
What Iran teaches us about why wars start
If war is so costly, why do we keep fighting them? We dig into the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence. Today on the show, the five factors that lead to war. Chris Blattman’s book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — The new economic arms race Connect with The Indicator
What you should know about your student loans
For many of the 43 million Americans with federal student loans, July 1 is a day to mark on the calendar. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is introducing stricter borrowing caps and new repayment plans. Today on the show, we talk with NPR’s Education Reporter Cory Turner about the impact.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad school?Connect
GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).On today’s episode: The effect of GLP-1s on women and the workplace; NYC’s once flailing office space is BACK; your boss asking you to come back to the office miiiight be a narcissist. Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges. Your Next Listen —Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costsConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s br
AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?
Are all these AI books any good? And by good, we mean are people willing to buy them — not whether the prose is singing. We talk to two researchers who’ve got some answers and a travel guide expert on why AI can’t replace first-hand experience. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Human certification in the age of AI slopConnect with The Indicator— Sign up for The Indicator’s brand
How stock options made him an overnight millionaire
In 2019, Juan Hernandez was laid off from SpaceX. Luckily, he still had the opportunity to buy $50K - $60K of the company’s stock and, years later, it’s safe to say the risk was worth it. Today on the show, how stock options built California as a tech hub. Fact-checking by Emma Ferrara. Your Next Listen — Do traders who make big bets make big money? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Ind
Why the $250 bill would be good … For criminals!
A plan to create a new $250—with President Donald Trump’s face on it—has created a lot of pushback. Who probably won’t be pushing back, though? Criminals. On today’s show, we explain why. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump dronesConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Buy the Planet Money book— Find our so
An urban planner, infinite scroll, and … what is a public good?
It’s time for The Indicator Quiz! We test you, dear listener, on your knowledge of topics that we’ve covered on The Indicator. For today's quiz show, we are putting an urban planner from Nevada to the test. Play along with us and see how you do!Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in t
How your phone keeps you scrolling ... even when you want to stop
You pick up your phone to do one quick task, and suddenly 20 minutes have flown by without you even noticing. How do apps do that to you? Today on the show, we bring you an episode of Short Wave that explains how your phone is designed specifically to hold your attention.Fact checking by Tyler Jones.Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Buy the Planet Money
Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?
Inflation is at a three-year high. That’s a problem for the Fed. Yet, under the leadership of new chair Kevin Warsh, it opted yesterday not to hike interest rates. So today on the show, who are the winners and who are the losers amidst higher inflation? Mark Blyth’s book, co-authored with Nicolò Fraccaroli is Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen
Is gambling the reason we have pro sports?
To hear author David Bockino tell it, gambling has always been a key ingredient of pro sports in the U.S.—it’s as American as apple pie. Bockino is the author of the new book Over/Under: An Unexpected History of Sports Betting. So what gave rise to this new wave of sports gambling? And what are we risking placing so many bets on games? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Prediction
Your American Dream is pending review
The Trump Administration recently announced changes to how would-be immigrants get green cards. And it’s causing a lot of confusion, fear and even panic. Today on the show, we hear firsthand from people navigating green card uncertainty. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — If economists controlled the bordersConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newslett
Community colleges are kind of underrated
Community college is an increasingly popular hack for those who want to change their career. Here’s what you should know about this gateway to economic mobility.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Which jobs are future-proofed? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Buy the Planet Money book— Find our socials, YouTube and more!— For sponsor-fre
Inflation is bad, work from home sad, FIFA World Cup tix NOT deal to be had
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: Inflation is back, working from home is making us sad, and World Cup ticket sales are NOT hitting their goooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Cooper Katz McKim. Your Next Listen —Who is the World Cup for anymore?Connect with The
The SpaceX IPO drama explained
What the SpaceX IPO, the largest ever, reveals about big tech, the NASDAQ and more big IPOs to come. Sure it will make Elon Musk a trillionaire, but what does this mean for your retirement account? Fact checking by Emma Ferrara. Your Next Listen — What a second Trump term could mean for SpaceX Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Buy the Planet Money book
Should we tax AI?
Should we tax AI? The AI race has made a lot of people richer … but most of those gains seem to have gone to the wealthy while everyday workers aren't seeing their incomes go up. We speak with Democratic congressional candidate, Alex Bores, who wants to tax AI. Also, we talk to a tax expert who has her reservations. Fact checking by Tyler Jones. Your Next Listen — It's come to this: Human certific
U OK, UK?
In the United Kingdom, young people are out of work, government borrowing costs are high, and the nation is burning through PM’s like yesterday’s leftovers. A lot of countries are feeling the economic strain of the Iran war. But is the UK the country we should be worrying about? Fact checking by Leyla Doss.Your Next Listen — What broke Britain’s economy?Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The
The fired labor economist who couldn't get unemployment
A top labor economist encounters the endlessly frustrating labyrinth of filing for unemployment after getting fired by President Trump. Why are unemployment benefits so hard to get, and can we do anything to fix the system? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — What you need to know about the job report revisions Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsl
Who should new grads boo more? AI or remote work?
Is AI really to blame for young people finding it hard to land first jobs? Is Black unemployment a leading indicator for the rest of the economy? Here’s what the hosts of our Ambies award-winning business podcast think you should take away from the May jobs report.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez and Vito Emanuel. Your Next Listen — Which jobs are future-proofed? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up
Equinomics, bag fees, and leftover campaign dollars
Our listeners have QUESTIONS about the economy. And we have answers. Today on the show, we look at why horse breeding might be slowing down, why airlines charge baggage fees, and where campaign cash actually goes. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Can the yield curve still predict recessions? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Find our
Can the internet be reclaimed from Big Tech?
Why one former senior advisor of the FTC thinks a libertarian myth of the internet has given Big Tech too much power.Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.Your Next Listen — Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creationConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Find our socials, YouTube and more!— For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ See pcm.adswizz.
Why boardinghouses could make a comeback
There is a burgeoning effort across the U.S. to revive boardinghouses, aka single room occupancy units or SROs, as a solution to the housing crisis. But what happened to them in the first place? We track the disappearance of the first rung of the housing ladder.Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Your Next Listen — How to build abundantly Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand n
How AI is clogging the courtroom
AI has made it infinitely easier for anyone who can’t afford a lawyer, can’t get one, or doesn't want one to file a lawsuit and pro se cases are skyrocketing. But the wins haven’t followed and courts are starting to get overwhelmed with new AI filings. Today on the show, what happens when AI gets its day in court.Your Next Listen — Most People Can’t Afford Legal Help. 1 Reformer Wants To Change T
Obsession, the most fun job in China, and a new green card policy
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: China’s baaaaad job market has led to an interest in becoming a shepherd, a young YouTuber strikes Hollywood gold, and the Trump administration's new green card policy is telling immigrants to 'go home.'Fact checking by Vito Emanuel. Your Next List
Saudi’s LIV golf exit is just the start
Is Saudi Arabia no longer a golf state? The Saudi sovereign wealth fund poured billions into culture and sports in the last decade, none more high profile than LIV Golf, a rival to the PGA. So why is it reversing course now?Fact checking by Vito Emanuel. Your Next Listen — Why Saudi Arabia is building a new city in the desert Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsl
What the movies teach us about recessions, memestocks and gold
The Indicator hosts Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong discuss their favorite econ and business movies.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen —Before La La Land, there was Fort Lee, New JerseyConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter— Find our socials, YouTube and more!— For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our c
Who’s behind that shell company? We may never know
Why is a law to reign in shell companies getting shelved by the Trump administration? The Corporate Transparency Act had bipartisan support, until it didn’t. We explain what the law was designed to do and why it’s on life support. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — We set up a shell company Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Find our soc
Game of 'roids, trader Trump, and searching for Shakira's tax residence
Diving deep into President Trump’s many stock trades, a peptide business posing as a sporting event and a new breakthrough in Shakira’s ongoing tax drama. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Find our socials, YouTube and more! — For sponsor-free episodes, sub
So ... how long until these oil prices get REALLY bad
The US-Israel War in Iran is almost three months in and oil prices have risen, but they’re not catastrophic … yet. Why isn't the price of oil even higher? We learn about how the world is adapting to the blocked Strait of Hormuz. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look hereConnect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsle
It's come to this: Human certification in the age of AI slop
In an era of AI slop, we find out how some artists are seeking out human verification for their work. Plus, we prove our own episode is 100% human-made. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Can you copyright artwork made using AI? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Find our socials, YouTube and more! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe
Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs
The vast majority of employer health plans do not cover GLP-1s for weight loss. But roughly 20% do, many believing it will help their bottom line. Perhaps when employees take Wegovy or Zepbound, they’ll need less medical care tied to health issues from obesity. Today on the show, can GLP-1s save employers money in the long run?Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — No healthcare premium
Taiwan arms sales, Board of Trade, and Chinamaxxing
Unpacking Donald Trump’s trip to China: arms sales to Taiwan, the Board of Trade proposal and China’s growing soft power. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — What might save China's economy Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter — Find our socials, YouTube and more! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ See pcm.adswizz.com for informat
GameStop rejected, a troubling loan trend, and no to pre-IPO AI shares
On today’s Indicators of the Week: the Gamestop and eBay romance that never was, more and more people are taking out loans for everyday things, and no, everyday people can’t invest in OpenAI and Anthropic before they’ve gone public. Fact checking by Julia Ritchey and Corey Bridges. Your Next Listen — OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’
How Trump's central bank beef could hurt the economy
A new documentary from Frontline PBS, called “The President vs. the Fed”, helps us make sense of the unprecedented power struggle between the world’s most powerful politician and the world’s most powerful bank. You can watch the film, directed by Frontline Correspondent James Jacoby, on Frontline’s website, YouTube channel, or the PBS app. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Trump’s
Should NATO be pay-to-protect?
NATO was formed after World War 2 as a collective security alliance that would prevent future world wars. But President Trump sees NATO more like a transaction between countries where allies have to pay up or be left undefended. On today’s episode: How NATO is actually funded, why this longstanding alliance is under strain, and how the U.S. could pay the cost for these frayed relationships.Fact ch
Prediction markets are threatening national security. Who's gonna fix it?
It’s the Wild West of online betting. Prediction markets have been plagued by insider trading allegations, ethical questions and even national security concerns. Today on the show, what are sites like Polymarket doing to self-police, and what other regulations might be necessary? We talk to one U.S. senator with some ideas. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Sign up now: npr.org/indicatornewsl
The new AI model that could steal your life savings
Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Mythos, is very powerful. SO powerful it can find software vulnerabilities that might let it, I don’t know, steal your bank login information. Anthropic is holding back the model from a wider release for now. Today on the show, how worried should we really be about Mythos? And are its capabilities actually unique? The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Sign up now: npr
Which jobs are future-proofed?
With AI disrupting the workplace, is your job even going to be around in ten years? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just the handbook for that. Today on the show, we flip through the Occupational Outlook Handbook and answer your questions about the future of work. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Sign up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter Related episodes: How AI is shrinking the job marke
Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones
What do a Florida-based drone company, a crypto billionaire, and a European steelmaker have in common? Ties to President Trump. Since returning to office, the president, as well as his family and friends, have inked a number of business deals that raise questions about conflicts of interest. On today’s show, we scrutinize three of these deals. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Sign up now: np
When will the Iran war hit food prices?
The US-Israel war in Iran is already being felt by American consumers at the gas pump, but when — and how badly — could it be felt at the supermarket? Today on the show, a food economist takes a crack at forecasting just how much our grocery bills could increase in the coming months, and which items will take the biggest hit. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first to sign up now
How your bank account might predict dementia
Some of the earliest signs of dementia can show up in your financial portfolio. Missed bill payments and erratic investments could be indicators, and they can happen years before an official diagnosis. Today on the show, we dig into the connection between finances and dementia, and why the financial health of seniors is falling through the cracks.The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the
How taxing the wealthy could work
Tax cuts for the middle and working classes, and tax hikes for the rich. What's behind this trend? We ask Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen to explain his bill that eliminates federal income tax for many workers while hiking taxes for high earners. We also hear from a tax policy expert who has some reservations. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first to sign up now: npr.org/in
Polymarket bots, lithium found: lots!, marathon shoe thoughts
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: who wins and loses their Polymarket bets, an American lithium motherlode, and the economics of lightweight running shoes. Related episodes: The race to produce lithium Advanced Fairness At The Marathon For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator fro
The UAE wants a dollar lifeline
With the Iran War underway, the United Arab Emirates is looking for some economic certainty. The rich Arab nation is home to a lot of foreign-held deposits, and they’re worried investors will pull those funds. So, they’re looking for an economic backstop. Enter: currency swap lines. Today, we explain why the UAE is looking to its close ally, the U.S., for a currency swap line and how it would work
The new economic arms race
Iran’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz is the perfect example of how modern warfare is increasingly waged, not only with drones and bombs, but also through the weaponization of economic choke points. Today on the show, we talk to author Edward Fishman, who says the U.S. innovated a new kind of economic warfare a couple of decades ago, and that has sparked a new economic arms race. Edward Fis
Jan. 6ers already got pardoned. Will they get their money back too?
In 2025, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 of the Jan.6 rioters who ransacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In addition to being convicted of crimes, many of the Jan. 6ers paid fines, the bulk of which went toward repairing the damage to the Capitol. After being pardoned, some of them want their money back. Today on the show, are they entitled
Premium and affordable products are having a moment
It’s the Beigie awards! Our less than ten times a year salute to the art and science of telling stories about the economy. Today on the show, Kevin Dancy, vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, lays out a worrying consumer trend that’s affecting how retailers do business.Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com
The Devil Wears Prada Index, SNAP, and flight cancellations
It’s Indicators of the Week, our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news! And unlike florals for spring, these numbers ARE groundbreaking.On today’s episode: A dramatic SNAP decrease, fuel costs ground flights, and the Devil Wears Wages Increasing Slightly Faster Than A Small Sample Of Luxury Items!The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now:
How to get your tariff cash back
Businesses might finally see some tariff money refunded to them. That’s because this week, the federal government officially rolled out a process that allows businesses to apply for a refund.Today on the show, we speak with three business owners about the unexpected simplicity and frustration of the Trump tariff refund process. Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here:
The Iran war puts the petrodollar regime to the test
The global oil market has supported the U.S. dollar for more than 50 years. But the system has shown signs of cracking. Amidst the Iran war, Iran has reportedly been collecting some tolls in yuan. Today on the show, how the petrodollar regime came to be and what losing it would mean for the U.S.Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tourThe Indic
Corporate landlords aren't the real villain
So you want to buy a house. You MIGHT notice that the owner isn’t a neighbor in your town, but a large corporation. A recent housing bill that passed the Senate wants to change that. This bill would restrict large institutional investors from owning too many single family homes. The hope is to improve affordability. But what’s the real connection between housing affordability and corporate landlor
Is anyone gonna do anything about these Iran War trades?
Traders have made millions betting on the Iran War. They are also suspiciously timed. No public information, then boom: a Truth Social post from President Trump. Cue fat windfalls for the traders. It’s starting to look a lot like insider trading. On today’s show, suspicious bets on the Iran War. And are federal regulators or prosecutors looking into these trades … is anyone?Come see Planet Money l
Fed chair, health care, and AI shoe repair
It’s Indicators of the Week. Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: the drama behind the Fed Chair nominee’s wealth; the shoe company Allbirds is becoming an AI firm; and a drop in how many people are paying for their Affordable Care Act plans.The Indicator is launching a newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatorn
Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf
If the Strait of Hormuz completely reopens, it still might not be enough to restart the economies in the Persian Gulf. Many countries there have been hammered by the oil crisis. And although allowing ships through would stanch the immediate bloodletting in the energy sector, other sectors might not spring back so quickly. Tourists are visiting less. Property markets are at risk. On today’s show, w
Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is pretty slow right now. A once steady stream of global oil has been severed, and oil prices have shot into the stratosphere. Countries across the world are trying to stop the bleeding. One is counting down the days until it runs out of oil. Another is … just fine.On today’s show, we take stock of how three countries, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and China, are nav
How the workplace helps you win Survivor
With the 50th season of Survivor underway, three former Survivor winners tell us how some of the skills they learned in their careers helped them win the show. There’s game theory, social engineering, and learning how to get along with a group of castaways who have a $1 million incentive to vote you off the island. Come see Planet Money live on stage! Twelve cities. Details and tix here: planetmon
Can you really do what you love?
They say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. But c’mon. Is that possible in this day and age? On today’s show, we speak to a tech investor who tells us the ingredients he believes are needed to make passion pay. And we hear from an economist who’s run the numbers on luck. Bill Gurley’s book is Runnin’ Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love. Come see Plane
Class myths, an influx of e-ships, and pricey Olympics tix!
It’s Indicators of the Week, our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news. (Now on YouTube!) On today’s episode: Is the middle class actually hollowing out? Are more e-ships powered by batteries on the horizon? And how much are the first batch of L.A. Olympics tickets going for??? Related episodes: Why the Olympics cost so much The Indicator Takes On Batteries Are the Simp
Where AI data centers are reducing power bills
Over the last half decade, wholesale electricity prices have increased 267% in places close to data centers. That’s contributed to a backlash against new ones. But some experts believe data centers are a scapegoat for long-term issues with an aging U.S. grid. Today on the show, we ask who is responsible for rising electricity prices and whether the U.S. can handle a new era of grid growth. Come se
How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?
Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com If you’re a commuter, gas prices may not be your friend right now. The average cost of a gallon is more than $4 across the country. California’s average is close to $6. So how are drivers around the country responding? Today on the show, we hear how they’re adapting to higher prices and how much this gas pric
Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creation
We practically live on our phones these days. Scrolling and scrolling, endlessly. Entrepreneur Aza Raskin is responsible for creating this infinite scroll. He also testified against Meta, who have been under fire — and in court — charged with making their apps addictive to children. On today’s show: Raskin tells us about the changes he thinks platforms should make to help people take their attent
Is the economy red, orange, yellow or green?
Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com It’s not often you get to talk to a regional Fed president, let alone two at the same time!Today on the show, we take the temperature of the economy with regional Fed presidents Austan Goolsbee and Beth Hammack.Related episodes: One Fed battle after anotherAmerica's next top Fed ChairFor sponsor-free episodes
Jobs that new college grads are and are not landing
Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.comEconomists have described the state of the jobs market as “low hire, low fire.” That means employers are not cutting many jobs, but they're also not adding much either, a dismal prospect for many new college grads. On this edition of Jobs Friday, we go to Howard University in Washington, D.C. to see how gradua
Greetings from: Our favorite public goods
Freedom of the Seas. GPS. The Large Hadron Collider. These are all public goods that make our world more prosperous, accurate, and knowledgeable. But we don’t always give them the attention they deserve. Today on the show, the Planet Money book’s main author Alex Mayyasi joins us to take an audio world tour of spectacular public goods, one whimsical postcard at a time. These postcards are gorgeous
Why Pokémon cards are growing faster than your retirement account
Pokémon cards are scorching hot right now. An index tracking the thousands of rare cards shows that valuations have increased 170% in the last year alone. Growth like that really makes you wish you hadn’t given away all your childhood cards years ago.Today on the show, we cover three things that are contributing to the rapid growth of shiny cards produced by the world’s highest-grossing media fran
Who's afraid of private credit?
There is a $3 trillion dollar black box at the center of the economy. It’s called private credit. These are direct loans from private investors to private companies. They’re often riskier, less regulated than traditional bank loans – and far less transparent. Spooked investors are scrambling to cash out, and some funds aren’t letting them. It’s all fueling fears of another financial crisis. On tod
Do school lunches really need an overhaul?
School lunch has been revamped a ton over the last two decades. Now, the Trump administration wants to rejigger the menu once more to align with its Make America Healthy Again agenda. That means more meat. More dairy. But do schools really need another menu overhaul? And could they even afford it?On today’s show, we join a school lunch line in South Carolina to find out what kids are actually eati
The US loses tech hires, sayonora to Sora, and Afroman's win
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: The US ain’t doing too hot in attracting European tech workers; OpenAI takes its video generator Sora behind the barn; and a rapper, pound cake, and the police. Related episodes: OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy We're about to lose a lot
Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA
Every time you buy a ticket that leaves a U.S. airport, you pay a fee that’s supposed to help fund the TSA. So why have TSA workers been working without pay? Today on the show, we explore the history behind an earmarked tax and its very personal impacts.Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour. Related episodes: Your next flight doe
Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why
Why are flight tickets so expensive right now? Increased oil prices seems like it’d be the obvious answer. That’s mostly right. Airlines used to do some financial magic to help keep airfare down as oil prices increased, a strategy called “fuel hedging.” But they stopped. And now fliers are on the hook for a lot of the difference. On today’s show, the lost art of fuel hedging. How it worked, plus w
Why hasn't the Russian economy collapsed?
How has Russia’s economy not completely collapsed after four years of war, sanctions and billions in debt? One economist says it is the war that has been propping up Russia's economy, not the other way around. He calls it smertonomika or death economics.On today’s show, six reasons why Russia’s economy is still chugging along despite burning money by the billions waging war on Ukraine.Come see Pla
The multimillion dollar Saturday Night Live UK gamble
Live from London, it’s Saturday Night? Saturday Night Live made its UK debut over the weekend after a well-hyped promotional campaign. Will this all-American sketch show translate to British audiences? We examine SNL’s multi-million dollar gamble. Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour. Related episodes: Why Paramount went looney
Trump and truckers, Poland prospers, and a booming ant biz
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: The Trump administration cracks down on immigrant truck drivers, Poland becomes a top-twenty economy, and the booming business of … ant smuggling? Related episodes: A trucker, a farmer, and an entrepreneur walk into a global supply shock You Could
How Iran is wasting American resources
Iran is using an affordable strategy to even the playing field in the war with the U.S. It’s using drones that cost in the thousands of dollars to combat American missiles that cost several million. Military analysts have already signaled concern about the U.S. producing enough munitions, and this isn’t helping. Today on the show, why the U.S. spends so much on munitions and what it’s learning fro
How much is the Iran war costing us?
It’s really hard to estimate the total cost of war in the middle of one. Over the first six days of the Iran war, an estimated $11.3 billion was charged to the public purse. But long-term costs take years to manifest. Even daily costs are fuzzy. Take munitions: the Department of Defense hasn’t budgeted for many of the bombs it's dropping. One more time. The bombs – the bombs! – are not totally pr
A trucker, a farmer, and an entrepreneur walk into a global supply shock
The U.S. and Israel war with Iran is causing a shock to the economic system. Gas prices are higher, diesel too, and even fertilizer is being affected. Today on the show, we speak to three people about the economic ripple effects of the conflict: a truck driver, an Iowa corn farmer, and a manufacturer of an alternative to plastics.Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and
Can anything save the news biz?
If you were in the business of making a bunch of money in 2026, you probably wouldn’t pick journalism. From social media to AI, the attention economy has upended the economic calculus for delivering news. But some entrepreneurs are looking to buck the trend.Today on the show, we examine what the success of two startups could mean for the future of journalism.Come see Planet Money live on stage in
A lot of gas trapped, oil reserves tapped, and Live Nation gets a (tiny) cap
It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!), our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: How big is this gas crisis and could releasing oil reserves help? Also, Live Nation gets a deal from the government. Related episodes: Are concert tickets UNDER priced? Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indic
