Episodes (Page 8)
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Mary Childs, Kenny Malone, and Erika Beras compete in Econ Battle Zone, with each contestant presenting economic topics in creative formats (rhyme, country song, romantic comedy)
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The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has policed international bribery for 50 years, but Trump administration is rolling back enforcement
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The U.S. government spends more than it takes in annually, requiring Congress to raise, suspend, or eliminate the debt ceiling to continue paying bills
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Sahil Lavingia, a former DOGE staffer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses what drew him to join Elon Musk's cost-cutting initiative and its inner workings
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Trump's administration uses an unconventional legal theory based on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify broad tariffs without congressional approval
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A Chinese battery manufacturer (Gotion) attempts to establish a factory in small-town USA after politicians incentivized domestic manufacturing through tariffs and subsidies
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Trump and his business partners launched the $TRUMP memecoin before his second administration, which quickly generated hundreds of millions of dollars with significant earning potential remaining
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U.S.-China trade relations are analyzed through game theory frameworks, comparing scenarios like chicken or prisoner's dilemma to understand Trump and Xi Jinping's strategic decisions
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American universities have received billions in federal funding over eight decades, resulting in innovations like drone technology, inhalable COVID vaccines, and Google search code
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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