The Indicator from Planet Money

The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR

114 episodes

Episodes

SK Hynix to the moon, Gen-Z to their rooms, and Connecticut tax reform looms
Jul 10, 2026 · 8m
This episode covers SK Hynix’s massive NASDAQ listing and its role in the AI chip boom, noting the risks of leveraged ETFs.
Why Google fell behind in the AI race
Jul 9, 2026 · 9m
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.
Cracking down on egg prices
Jul 8, 2026 · 9m
The hosts discuss three major economic stories: Venezuela’s massive debt restructuring amidst earthquake devastation, a DOJ settlement with egg…
We're in a renter's market (believe it or not)
Jul 7, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores whether 2026 is truly a "renter’s market," highlighting how location dictates the experience.
Why the US is losing the drone war
Jul 6, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores why the U.
Obama's new Presidential Center and his tricky relationship with the South Side
Jul 3, 2026 · 34m
This episode examines the complex impact of the newly opened Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side.
Does the new Fed chair care about jobs?
Jul 2, 2026 · 8m
This episode examines the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment, highlighting the tension between these goals.
Why Trump wants to rip up his own trade deal
Jul 1, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines the upcoming July 1 review of the USMCA, questioning why President Trump now favors terminating the deal he championed.
What Iran teaches us about why wars start
Jun 30, 2026 · 10m
Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods interview economist Chris Blattman to explore why countries go to war despite the high costs.
What you should know about your student loans
Jun 29, 2026 · 9m
This episode details the major overhaul of federal student loans taking effect July 1st, driven by new legislation.
GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?
Jun 26, 2026 · 8m
Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods, joined by Cooper Katzmark, discuss three economic indicators.
AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?
Jun 25, 2026 · 8m
This episode examines the surge in AI-generated books on Amazon, which tripled between 2022 and 2025.
How stock options made him an overnight millionaire
Jun 24, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores how employee stock options fuel Silicon Valley’s success, particularly in California where non-compete clauses are banned.
Why the $250 bill would be good … For criminals!
Jun 23, 2026 · 8m
This episode examines the proposal for a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump, arguing it would primarily benefit criminals and tax evaders.
An urban planner, infinite scroll, and … what is a public good?
Jun 22, 2026 · 9m
Hosts Waylon Wong and Adrian Ma quiz listener Jim Umbach on recent Planet Money topics.
How your phone keeps you scrolling ... even when you want to stop
Jun 19, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores the psychology behind social media addiction, drawing parallels to casino slot machines.
Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?
Jun 18, 2026 · 9m
The Indicator explores whether high inflation is the new normal, featuring economist Mark Thoma.
Is gambling the reason we have pro sports?
Jun 17, 2026 · 9m
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.
Your American Dream is pending review
Jun 16, 2026 · 7m
This episode examines the confusion and anxiety caused by the Trump administration’s new green card policy requiring applicants to leave the U.
Community colleges are kind of underrated
Jun 15, 2026 · 8m
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.
Inflation is bad, work from home sad, FIFA World Cup tix NOT deal to be had
Jun 12, 2026 · 9m
Host Adrian Ma is joined by Stephen Visaha and Mary Childs to discuss three key economic indicators.
The SpaceX IPO drama explained
Jun 11, 2026 · 8m
The Indicator examines SpaceX’s record-breaking IPO and Nasdaq’s controversial rule changes that accelerate index inclusion and triple the weighted share count.
Should we tax AI?
Jun 10, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores whether the US should tax AI to fund a dividend for citizens amid fears of job displacement and rising wealth inequality.
U OK, UK?
Jun 9, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines the UK’s persistent low economic growth, which experts attribute to Brexit, austerity, and underinvestment.
The fired labor economist who couldn't get unemployment
Jun 8, 2026 · 8m
The Indicator examines the flaws in the U.
Who should new grads boo more? AI or remote work?
Jun 5, 2026 · 9m
This Jobs Friday episode analyzes the May labor report, noting 172,000 jobs added and a steady 4.
Equinomics, bag fees, and leftover campaign dollars
Jun 4, 2026 · 8m
The hosts answer listener questions about why airlines maintain high baggage fees, noting they are lucrative and untaxed.
Can the internet be reclaimed from Big Tech?
Jun 3, 2026 · 9m
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.
Why boardinghouses could make a comeback
Jun 2, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores how the mid-20th century destruction of single-room occupancy (SRO) housing contributed to modern homelessness.
How AI is clogging the courtroom
Jun 1, 2026 · 9m
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.
Obsession, the most fun job in China, and a new green card policy
May 29, 2026 · 9m
The hosts discuss three economic indicators: 700 applicants for rural shepherd jobs in China, highlighting labor market struggles; the box office…
Saudi’s LIV golf exit is just the start
May 28, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines how Saudi Arabia’s $5 billion investment in Liv Golf failed to achieve its goals of soft power and economic diversification.
What the movies teach us about recessions, memestocks and gold
May 27, 2026 · 9m
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.
Who’s behind that shell company? We may never know
May 26, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines the Corporate Transparency Act, a law requiring small businesses to disclose owners to combat illicit finance, and its recent suspension by the Trump administration.
Game of 'roids, trader Trump, and searching for Shakira's tax residence
May 22, 2026 · 9m
The hosts discuss three major stories: President Trump’s 3,642 stock trades, some of which coincided with favorable policy announcements; the…
So ... how long until these oil prices get REALLY bad
May 21, 2026 · 7m
Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods explore why oil prices remain near $100 despite the Iran conflict, defying earlier $200 predictions.
It's come to this: Human certification in the age of AI slop
May 20, 2026 · 9m
Novelist Ned Hayes founded Human Intelligence to certify human-made art amid rising AI concerns, inspired by his background in tech standards.
Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs
May 19, 2026 · 10m
Host Weyland Wong and reporter Julie Wernow examine whether employer coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs saves money.
Taiwan arms sales, Board of Trade, and Chinamaxxing
May 18, 2026 · 9m
The Indicator examines three takeaways from the Trump-Xi summit: Xi’s priority on halting U.
GameStop rejected, a troubling loan trend, and no to pre-IPO AI shares
May 15, 2026 · 9m
The hosts discuss GameStop’s rejected $55.
How Trump's central bank beef could hurt the economy
May 14, 2026 · 9m
With inflation rising and Jerome Powell stepping down, this episode explores President Trump’s escalating conflict with the Federal Reserve.
Should NATO be pay-to-protect?
May 13, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines the strain on U.
Prediction markets are threatening national security. Who's gonna fix it?
May 12, 2026 · 8m
This episode examines the regulatory challenges surrounding prediction markets, focusing on insider trading risks and platforms like Polymarket.
The new AI model that could steal your life savings
May 11, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines whether bank accounts remain safe amid the rise of powerful AI models like Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, which can identify complex software vulnerabilities.
Which jobs are future-proofed?
May 8, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, exploring how it predicts future job growth and its historical accuracy.
Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones
May 7, 2026 · 9m
This episode examines potential conflicts of interest involving the Trump family, starting with a legal dispute between crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and the Trump-backed World Liberty Financial.
When will the Iran war hit food prices?
May 6, 2026 · 7m
Food economist David Ortega explains how the Iran war’s impact on diesel and fertilizer costs could raise U.
How your bank account might predict dementia
May 5, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores how dementia impacts financial well-being, often causing wealth to decline six years before a clinical diagnosis.
How taxing the wealthy could work
May 4, 2026 · 8m
This episode explores Senator Chris Van Hollen’s proposal to eliminate federal income tax for earners under $46,000 while imposing surtaxes on millionaires.
Polymarket bots, lithium found: lots!, marathon shoe thoughts
May 1, 2026 · 8m
The hosts discuss three economic indicators: a study revealing that bots and top traders dominate profits on Polymarket; the US Geological Survey’s discovery of 2.
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