Episodes (Page 7)
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Investigative reporter Zeke Faux deliberately responded to a random scam text message to investigate who sends 'wrong number' texts and why they do it
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Economists and social media users are identifying recession indicators ranging from practical metrics (lipstick sales, men's underwear demand) to absurd trends (babysitter bun hairstyles)
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A 145% tariff on Chinese imports lasted only one month but caused lasting economic damage across global supply chains
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During the 2018 trade war, China retaliated against U.S. tariffs by targeting American agricultural products like soybeans, sorghum, and livestock that hurt Trump's voter base
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The U.S. dollar has been the world's reserve currency for decades, with central banks holding it and approximately 90% of foreign exchange transactions involving dollars
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Products imported to the U.S. require a 'country of origin' designation for tariff purposes, but this classification uses counterintuitive and sometimes philosophical rules
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The U.S. historically had many publicly accessible toilets, but many required coins, creating unequal access based on ability to pay
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Planet Money hosts discuss consumer frustrations including stingy coffee shops, manufacturers avoiding repair-friendly design, and excessive marketing emails
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23andMe's bankruptcy announcement includes plans to sell its massive genetic database containing DNA samples from over 15 million customers
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The Federal Reserve has maintained independence from day-to-day political pressure for its entire 45-year history, but Trump has criticized Chair Jerome Powell and threatened removal
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An NPR colleague offers excess farm-fresh eggs at a fair price during a shortage, requiring an innovative distribution system beyond simple auction
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OIRA (Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs), an obscure but powerful office near the White House, is gaining expanded authority under Trump's executive order
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A Canadian small business navigates the uncertainty of Trump's tariff announcements, pauses, and restarts affecting their trade relationships
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Trump's tariff strategy centers on eliminating the U.S. trade deficit
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War on Drugs anti-cocaine efforts in Peru led to trade policies that enabled year-round fresh blueberry imports to America
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Mainstream economists historically opposed tariffs, but Trump administration economists argue they can correct trade imbalances and serve policy goals
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Planet Money partners with Radiolab to examine Earth's finite raw materials including sand, copper, and oil, and how much supply remains
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Planet Money purchases a diamond from a suspiciously cheap online retailer and sends it to Gemological Institute of America for analysis
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposes removing government spending from GDP calculations, a major change to nearly a century-old methodology
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Investor Walter Schramm loses a small fortune through an obscure government program called escheat that seizes forgotten money