The Indicator from Planet Money
ExplorePodcast overview and latest content
EpisodesBrowse the full episode archive
TopicsDiscover episodes by category
PostsBrowse published articles & write-ups

Podcast

  • Explore
  • Episodes
  • Topics
  • Posts

Recent Episodes

  • Want a 2.5% mortgage? Buy it.
  • The anxiety rattling China’s youth
  • Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.
  • Should the families of organ donors be compensated?
  • ICE is bad for business, heat is bad for coffee, and sci-fi is bad for markets

Links

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Overcast

About

The Indicator from Planet Money

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.

Powered byPodRewind

    All Episodes

    300 episodes

    Why beef prices are so high

    Why beef prices are so high

    Sep 15, 20259 min

    Beef is getting more expensive, and it doesn’t look as though that’s going to change any time soon. That’s the view of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, which wrote in its Beige Book entry this month that the trend of rising beef prices continues. There’s solid demand for beef, but falling supply, as production decreases. Ranchers are making more per cow, but their costs are rising. We speak with a rancher in Wyoming to learn what high beef prices mean for him and other ranchers. Related episodes:  What happened to US farmers during the last trade war (https://www.npr.org/2025/05/14/1251284848/american-farmers-trade-war-tariffs-crops-commodity-credit-corporation)  How USAID cuts hurt American farmers (https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/1232435535/how-usaid-cuts-hurt-american-farmers) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Beef PricesCattle InventoryNew World Screwworm
    ICE raids, cooling on capitalism, and a Murdoch settlement

    ICE raids, cooling on capitalism, and a Murdoch settlement

    Sep 12, 202510 min

    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 concept of capitalism is cooling in American minds; the U.S. policies behind the Hyundai ICE raid; and an influential family’s succession saga comes to a thrilling (and expensive!) conclusion. Related episodes:  Salvaging democratic capitalism, with Martin Wolf (https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1155230031/salvaging-democratic-capitalism-with-martin-wolf) How to pass on a global media empire (https://www.npr.org/2024/09/24/1201394744/how-to-pass-on-a-global-media-empire)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money). To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    CapitalismSocialismGallup Poll
    We read your mail on AI-proof jobs and how to fix crime labs

    We read your mail on AI-proof jobs and how to fix crime labs

    Sep 11, 20258 min

    We’ll never leave your messages unread. On today’s show, we open the inbox to hear from Indicator listeners about why seasoned software developers might have more AI-proof jobs, and an idea for how to improve accreditation for crime labs (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X25000609?via%3Dihub).  Got a question, comment on a recent show or idea for an episode? Send us a message at indicator@npr.org (mailto:indicator@npr.org).  Related episodes: Tech layoffs, recession pop and more listener questions answered (https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/1255100744/tech-layoffs-recession-pop-and-more-listener-questions-answered)  Mail bag! Grad jobs, simplified branding and central bank independence (https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/1202833899/listener-mailbag-jobs-branding-fed-independence)  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    AI-proof jobsSoftware engineersJohn Cox
    Can shareholders influence Elon Musk's trillion dollar pay package?

    Can shareholders influence Elon Musk's trillion dollar pay package?

    Sep 10, 20259 min

    Tesla’s board of directors recently proposed  a pay package for CEO Elon Musk that could pay him about a trillion dollars if he meets certain goals. It’s not a done deal yet—Tesla shareholders will vote on the proposal at the company’s annual meeting in November. But just how much of a say do shareholders actually have in that decision? Or any decision? Today on the show, we look at what it takes for a shareholder to get their voice heard and how this may be changing under the Trump administration. Plus we talk to one Tesla investor agitating for changes at the company. Related episodes:  An epic proxy battle comes to Hasbro (https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/1102294858/an-epic-proxy-battle-comes-to-hasbro) Elon Musk and the fear of the activist investor (https://www.npr.org/2022/04/11/1092079315/elon-musk-and-the-fear-of-the-activist-investor) Impact investing, part 1: Money, meet morals (https://www.npr.org/2022/12/06/1141066344/impact-investing-part-1-money-meet-morals) Impact investing, part 2: Can money meet morals? (https://www.npr.org/2022/12/07/1141432421/impact-investing-part-2-can-money-meet-morals) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money). To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Elon MuskTeslaShareholder Vote
    The cost of saving a species

    The cost of saving a species

    Sep 9, 20259 min

    Animals are going extinct at an alarmingly fast rate, largely due to human activity. Same for plants. This is bad for all kinds of reasons, not least of which is that breakthrough drugs often come from nature. But there isn’t consensus on how to save these species. Part of the debate asks the economic question: with limited money going to the work, where will it have the most impact? Today on the show, the cost-effective plan to maximize biodiversity that asks ecologists to approach the question more like economists. Related episodes:  The Habitat Banker (https://www.npr.org/2024/12/20/1220579265/biodiversity-credit-spectacled-bear-colombia)  The echo of the bison (https://www.npr.org/2023/08/21/1195091189/the-echo-of-the-bison) Savings birds with economics (https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019488080/saving-birds-with-economics) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Hugh PossinghamMass ExtinctionBiodiversity Conservation
    Teamwork actually does make the dream work

    Teamwork actually does make the dream work

    Sep 8, 20259 min

    Behavioral scientist Jon Levy’s new book — Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius (https://www.jonlevy.com/team-intelligence) — argues that, in the workplace, leadership is overrated and teamwork is underrated. Today on the show: How super chickens and NBA All-Stars demonstrate the perils of individual performance. Related episodes: Why women make great bosses (https://www.npr.org/2022/05/24/1101064874/why-women-make-great-bosses)  The Virtual Office (https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983097569/the-virtual-office)  The Science of Hoops (https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/911898347/the-science-of-hoops)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Jon LevyTeam IntelligenceSuper Chickens
    Why moms are leaving their paid jobs

    Why moms are leaving their paid jobs

    Sep 5, 202510 min

    Moms are quitting — or getting pushed out. Workforce participation for mothers in the U.S. has been dropping for most of this year, and the reasons are more complicated than return-to-office mandates. Today on the show, we talk to moms about why they left their jobs and to economist Misty Heggeness (https://www.ucpress.edu/books/swiftynomics/hardcover), who has studied the phenomenon. Find more of Misty’s research here (https://thecareboard.ku.edu/labor-force-participation-tracker-parents-children-under-5). Related episodes:   How insurance is affecting the cost of childcare (https://www.npr.org/2024/07/29/1197967900/how-insurance-is-affecting-the-cost-of-childcare)  Women, work and the pandemic (https://www.npr.org/2021/06/09/1004892039/women-work-and-the-pandemic)   That time America paid for universal daycare (https://www.npr.org/2021/06/30/1011968802/that-time-america-paid-for-universal-daycare) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Moms quitting jobsLabor force participationMisty Heggeness
    How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?

    How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?

    Sep 4, 20259 min

    There’s been a lot of big talk about how artificial intelligence is going to replace white collar workers. But what data do we actually have around AI’s impact on the workforce? Today on the show, we speak to an expert who has measured one aspect of these changes. She tells us how this moment in AI compares to the Industrial Revolution. Related episodes:  AI creates, transforms, and destroys… jobs (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-creates-transforms-and-destroys-jobs/id1320118593?i=1000637979392)  The golden ages of labor and looms (https://www.npr.org/2024/07/17/1197961085/history-of-labor-movements) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).  Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).  To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Artificial IntelligenceWorkforce ImpactWhite Collar Workers
    So long, farewell, super cheap tariff-free shopping

    So long, farewell, super cheap tariff-free shopping

    Sep 3, 20259 min

    In late July, President Trump signed an executive order to get rid of de minimis, a kind of a loophole where packages valued less than $800 could come into the US without tariffs. Last week, post offices from India to Austria to France suspended some types of packages to the US. We speak to an Australian jewelry maker, a logistics expert and an economist to learn how this is changing shopping in America. Related episodes:  Three ways companies are getting around tariffs (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/26/nx-s1-5515756/three-ways-companies-are-getting-around-tariffs) What olive oil tells us about Trump's tariffs (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/28/nx-s1-5519721/what-olive-oil-tells-us-about-trumps-tariffs) What is Temu? (https://www.npr.org/2024/03/22/1197958526/temu-website-app-shopping)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    De Minimis ExemptionTrump Executive OrderTariffs
    Inside the illegal vape boom

    Inside the illegal vape boom

    Sep 2, 20259 min

    A booming underground vape market is thriving. It’s unapproved, unregulated, and risky. Today on the show, we hear from The Atlantic’s Nick Florko to dig into why illegal vapes have flooded the U.S., and what’s at stake.Related episodes:  The vapes of wrath (https://www.npr.org/2024/06/21/1197959345/the-vapes-of-wrath)  How sports gambling blew up (https://www.npr.org/2024/12/18/1219982253/michael-lewis-against-the-rules-draft-kings-fanduel-sportsbook) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Illegal VapesFDA RegulationsNick Florko
    AI creeps in, KATSEYE milkshakes, and China says “Zaijian!” to US soybeans

    AI creeps in, KATSEYE milkshakes, and China says “Zaijian!” to US soybeans

    Aug 29, 20259 min

    It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: AI shuts out youth from the grind (https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Canaries_BrynjolfssonChandarChen.pdf), China leaves U.S. soybeans behind, Gap has the then-and-now in marketing mind. Related episodes:  AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs (https://www.npr.org/2023/12/08/1197958787/ai-jobs-friday)  What do farmers do in a trade war? (https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/1249331174/farmers-soybean-trump-china-tariffs) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez) and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    AIYouth EmploymentStanford Digital Economy Lab
    What olive oil tells us about Trump's tariffs

    What olive oil tells us about Trump's tariffs

    Aug 28, 20259 min

    Trump's tariffs are making business harder for international olive oil producers and it turns out those tariffs are even complicating other parts of the Trump administration's agenda, too. Today on the show: Olive oil and the unintended consequences of Trump's tariffs. Related episodes:  Three ways companies are getting around tariffs (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/26/nx-s1-5515756/three-ways-companies-are-getting-around-tariffs) The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/07/1256971807/are-trumps-tariffs-legal) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money). To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Trump TariffsOlive OilOlio Piro
    Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed

    Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed

    Aug 27, 20259 min

    Last night, President Donald Trump posted a letter firing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. The reason? She was accused of listing two properties as her primary residences, which potentially gave her more favorable lending terms. This marks another escalation in the president’s battle for control of America’s central bank.  We’re publishing our conversation early about whether this is legal, what the Fed might do, and how the Fed’s independence is more fragile than we may think.   Related episodes: Should presidents have more of a say in interest rates? (https://www.npr.org/2024/08/14/1197968126/should-presidents-have-more-of-a-say-in-interest-rates) Can the Federal Reserve stay independent? (https://www.npr.org/2025/03/04/1235758702/executive-orders-federal-reserve-doge) It's hard out there for a Fed chair (https://www.npr.org/2025/05/08/1249919772/jerome-powell-fed-reserve-job-security)Patent Racism (https://www.npr.org/2020/06/12/876097416/patent-racism) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Donald TrumpLisa CookFederal Reserve
    Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

    Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

    Aug 26, 20259 min

    Businesses are scrambling for ways to minimize the impact of the Trump administration’s global tariff policy. Today on the show, we go over some of the tricks and legal loopholes that companies are employing to get around these sudden import taxes. Related episodes:  The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/07/1256971807/are-trumps-tariffs-legal) The secret tariff-free zone (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/1253992695/beige-book-bonded-foreign-trade-zone-warehouses) You told us how tariffs are affecting you (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/1254614613/you-told-us-how-tariffs-are-affecting-you) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/). Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Trump TariffsTariff EngineeringProduct Engineering
    Can you copyright artwork made using AI?

    Can you copyright artwork made using AI?

    Aug 25, 20259 min

    Copyright is the legal system used to reward and protect creations made by humans. But with growing adoption of artificial intelligence, does copyright extend to artwork that’s made using AI? Today on the show, how a test case over a Vincent Van Gogh mashup is testing the boundaries of copyright law.    Related episodes: ‘Let’s Get it On’ … in court (https://www.npr.org/2023/04/20/1171161616/lets-get-it-on-in-court)  Copyright small claims court (https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110928086/copyright-small-claims-court) The alleged theft at th heart of ChatGPT (https://www.npr.org/2023/11/10/1197954613/openai-chatgpt-author-lawsuit-preston-martin-franzen-picoult)  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).  Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).  To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Copyright LawAI ArtAnkit Sani
    Job retraining and the brain, DC dining, and Robinhood's sports bet

    Job retraining and the brain, DC dining, and Robinhood's sports bet

    Aug 22, 20259 min

    It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.  On today’s episode: Job retraining boosts mental health (https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w34095/w34095.pdf) (with more mixed results for romance); the complex picture behind why dinner reservations are down in DC; and the trading platform Robinhood gets into the sports definitely-not-betting game. Related episodes:  The cautionary tale of a recovering day trading addict (https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/1227458687/day-trading-addict-stock-market-robinhood-webull) The nepo baby premium, frothing markets, and Apple vs. Apples (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/nx-s1-5502731/the-nepo-baby-premium-frothing-markets-and-apple-vs-apples) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).   Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Job RetrainingMental HealthDepression
    What happens when railroads get hitched

    What happens when railroads get hitched

    Aug 21, 20259 min

    Two freight-rail giants could make history if their $85 billion merger gets approved. Union Pacific’s proposed marriage with Norfolk Southern would create the first coast-to-coast rail network. So why hasn’t it happened before now? Today on the show, the business of train mergers.   Related episodes:  How Yellow wound up in the red (https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194301913/how-yellow-up-wound-up-in-the-red)  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).   Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Union PacificNorfolk SouthernRailroad Merger
    Cobalt-free batteries reign in Chinese EVs. Why not the US?

    Cobalt-free batteries reign in Chinese EVs. Why not the US?

    Aug 20, 20259 min

    There’s been an era-defining race underway between two types of batteries used in electric vehicles: lithium batteries that use cobalt, and ones that use iron phosphate. Cobalt, a metal with a checkered human rights record, has been in the lead. Until recently.  Henry Sanderson’s book on the elements that build electric vehicles is Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Volt-Rush/Henry-Sanderson/9780861546190). Related episodes:  The race to produce lithium (https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/1224776146/the-race-to-produce-lithium)  How batteries are already changing the grid (https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/1224599777/the-indicator-from-planet-money-how-batteries-are-changing-the-us-01-13-2025)  How batteries are riding the free market rodeo in Texas (https://www.npr.org/2025/01/14/1224682730/how-batteries-are-riding-the-free-market-rodeo-in-texas)  How EV batteries tore apart Michigan (Update) (https://www.npr.org/2023/09/27/1197954378/the-indicator-battery-plant-michigan-evs-update)  Batteries are catching fire at sea (https://www.npr.org/2023/03/28/1166625069/batteries-are-catching-fire-at-sea)  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).  Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).  To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Cobalt BatteriesLithium Iron PhosphateBYD
    How algorithms are changing the way we speak

    How algorithms are changing the way we speak

    Aug 19, 202510 min

    Social media has birthed an entire lexicon replicated by millions online — even if these words don’t actually mean skibidi. On today’s show, we talk to author Adam Aleksic about how TikTok and Instagram's engagement metrics, and viral memes, are rewiring our brains and transforming language at warp speed. Adam Aleksic’s book is Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776856/algospeak-by-adam-aleksic/)  Related episodes:  What we’re reading on the beach this summer (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/11/1257106922/what-were-reading-on-the-beach-this-summer)   For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).   Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).  To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Adam AleksicAlgospeakRiz
    Three innovations pushing the medical field forward

    Three innovations pushing the medical field forward

    Aug 18, 20259 min

    Innovation is crucial for long-term economic prosperity. One area where that’s happening aplenty: medical technology. From a cancer vaccine to an Alzheimer’s blood test to a life-changing exoskeleton, we take you on a tour of the economics of health technology.  Related episodes:  The hidden costs of healthcare churn  (Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indicator-from-planet-money/id1320118593?i=1000712502674) / Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/2oSgq74jHsUolDJQ7fqwuk?si=9da68a0481994375))  More for Palantir, less for mRNA, and a disaster database redemption arc (Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indicator-from-planet-money/id1320118593?i=1000721117302) / Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rTGq4dvSVZxRKCdQQ81KU?si=ec16bc89e1164cab))  It's actually really hard to make a robot, guys (Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indicator-from-planet-money/id1320118593?i=1000706995204) / Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fg62jfArW9vSds0UDXx11?si=552a9dd541b54c38))  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/).  Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez (https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez). Voice-over by Greg Hardes. Music by Drop Electric (https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/). Find us: TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney), Newsletter (https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money).  To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy)

    Cancer VaccinemRNA TechnologyUniversity of Florida
    PreviousPage 7 of 15Next