The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR’s Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento investigates how record labels secretly pay TikTok and Instagram influencers to promote songs without disclosing the sponsorship.

This episode of The Indicator covers three economic trends: NYC’s plan for government-subsidized grocery stores, the surge in US sports betting revenue, and Gen Z’s drinking habits.

The AI boom is driving up memory prices, disrupting the long-held belief in Moore’s Law that electronics would consistently get cheaper and faster.

Host Waylon Wong and Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather discuss the stagnant U.

Hosts Waylon Wong, Darian Woods, and Stephen Bissaha explore three petty restaurant grievances: slow tableside payment systems, menu prices excluding…

This episode of The Indicator covers three key stories: U.

This episode investigates how FCC commissioners accepted lavish gifts from Paramount Skydance while overseeing its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.

Host Waylon Wong and guest Maria Aspin explore “Y’all Street,” the financial boom in Dallas as banks like Goldman Sachs expand there.

The episode examines how Micron’s massive chip plant in Syracuse, New York, is driving housing prices up due to regulatory hurdles and limited construction.

Charlotte Palomino discusses the U.

This episode promotes "We Keep Us Safe," an NPR Embedded series investigating the 2020 killing of 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr.

The Indicator hosts discuss a proposed Strait of Hormuz toll, China’s pollution drop signaling reduced oil demand, and the economics of IMAX screenings for The Odyssey.

This episode explores Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical on artificial intelligence, drawing parallels to Pope Leo XIII’s 19th-century stance on industrialization.

Hosts answer listener questions about economic diversification in Gulf states, the U.

This episode explores the "zero-click internet," where AI summaries and walled gardens reduce website visits, threatening publishers' ad and affiliate revenue.

Former FDIC chair Sheila Bair hosts a mock "Car Talk" show to advise young adults on car purchases.

This episode covers SK Hynix’s massive NASDAQ listing and its role in the AI chip boom, noting the risks of leveraged ETFs.

Hosts Terriam Woods and Waylon Wong discuss journalist Sebastian Malaby’s book on Demis Hassabis, exploring why Google often finishes second in AI despite its resources.

The hosts discuss three major economic stories: Venezuela’s massive debt restructuring amidst earthquake devastation, a DOJ settlement with egg…

This episode explores whether 2026 is truly a "renter’s market," highlighting how location dictates the experience.

This episode explores why the U.

This episode examines the complex impact of the newly opened Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side.

This episode examines the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment, highlighting the tension between these goals.

This episode examines the upcoming July 1 review of the USMCA, questioning why President Trump now favors terminating the deal he championed.

Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods interview economist Chris Blattman to explore why countries go to war despite the high costs.

This episode details the major overhaul of federal student loans taking effect July 1st, driven by new legislation.

Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods, joined by Cooper Katzmark, discuss three economic indicators.

This episode examines the surge in AI-generated books on Amazon, which tripled between 2022 and 2025.

This episode explores how employee stock options fuel Silicon Valley’s success, particularly in California where non-compete clauses are banned.

This episode examines the proposal for a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump, arguing it would primarily benefit criminals and tax evaders.

Hosts Waylon Wong and Adrian Ma quiz listener Jim Umbach on recent Planet Money topics.

This episode explores the psychology behind social media addiction, drawing parallels to casino slot machines.

The Indicator explores whether high inflation is the new normal, featuring economist Mark Thoma.

Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods interview David Vecchino, author of *Over Under*, who argues that gambling fueled the rise of professional American sports rather than merely accompanying it.

This episode examines the confusion and anxiety caused by the Trump administration’s new green card policy requiring applicants to leave the U.

The Indicator hosts celebrate the Beige Book’s anniversary by awarding the Minneapolis Fed for highlighting older adults returning to community college amid job market anxiety.

Host Adrian Ma is joined by Stephen Visaha and Mary Childs to discuss three key economic indicators.

The Indicator examines SpaceX’s record-breaking IPO and Nasdaq’s controversial rule changes that accelerate index inclusion and triple the weighted share count.

This episode explores whether the US should tax AI to fund a dividend for citizens amid fears of job displacement and rising wealth inequality.

This episode examines the UK’s persistent low economic growth, which experts attribute to Brexit, austerity, and underinvestment.

The Indicator examines the flaws in the U.

This Jobs Friday episode analyzes the May labor report, noting 172,000 jobs added and a steady 4.

The hosts answer listener questions about why airlines maintain high baggage fees, noting they are lucrative and untaxed.

Fordham Law professor Olivier Sylvain argues that viewing the internet as a neutral "digital town square" is a harmful myth that grants Big Tech excessive power.

This episode explores how the mid-20th century destruction of single-room occupancy (SRO) housing contributed to modern homelessness.

This episode examines how AI is transforming self-represented litigation, making it easier for people to file cases but often resulting in poor outcomes and court backlogs.

The hosts discuss three economic indicators: 700 applicants for rural shepherd jobs in China, highlighting labor market struggles; the box office…

This episode examines how Saudi Arabia’s $5 billion investment in Liv Golf failed to achieve its goals of soft power and economic diversification.

Hosts Adrian Ma and Waylon Wong discuss their favorite films about business and economics, ranging from The Insider and It’s a Wonderful Life to The Big Short.