The Indicator from Planet Money

Trade wars. Financial panics. Inflation. How come it feels like it’s all bad news in the global economy these days? Economist Eswar Prasad’s answer: something he calls the ‘doom loop.’ That’s where massive geopolitical and economic forces feed off each other and send us careening into disorder. Sounds dire. But it’s not hopeless.<br/><br/>On today’s show, are we in a doom loop? And if we are … how do we get out of one?<br/><br/>Eswar Prasad’s new book is called <a href="https://thedoomloopbook.com/"target="_blank" >“The Doom Loop: Why the World Economic Order Is Spiraling into Disorder”</a>.<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/11/1197962938/negative-consumer-sentiment-npr-indicator-media-economy"target="_blank" >Is the financial media making us miserable about the economy?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/15/1211165443/the-indicator-from-planet-money-nobel-economics-prize-institutions-10-15-2024"target="_blank" >Why are some nations richer?</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">It’s a weird time for jobs numbers. Another month, another jobs report pushed back by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Averaging two private sources, ADP and Revelio Labs: an estimated 4,500 jobs were added in January. Sounds like … not many. <p dir="ltr">And, yet, the unemployment rate hasn’t seemed to have risen. This might be, in part, due to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. We’ll explain through the story of one Angeleno.<p dir="ltr">On today’s show, how bad are these job numbers? Or are they not bad at all? And what does immigration have to do with it? <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/08/05/1256758542/bls-firing-economic-data-integrity-update"target="_blank" >Can we still trust the monthly jobs report? (Update)</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/1256812323/bureau-of-labor-statistics-revisions-explained"target="_blank" >What you need to know about the jobs report revisions</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/1256727558/trump-fires-bls-director-jobs-report"target="_blank" >What really goes on at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Update)</a> For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  <br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How did the U.S. become the Olympic powerhouse it is today? Cold War competition. The Soviet Union sponsored their athletes. But America wanted its athletes to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. It birthed an unexpected accelerator of Olympic development: College football. Stay with us now.<br/><br/>On today’s show, how college football became an Olympic development engine. And how that engine might not be running as smoothly as it once did.<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/01/1197967951/paris-2024-olympics-hosting-costs"target="_blank" >Why the Olympics cost so much</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/1197968045/paris-olympics-trademarks-enforcement-intellectual-property"target="_blank" >You can't spell Olympics without IP</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/30/nx-s1-5693173/a-huge-eu-india-deal-heated-rivalry-and-a-hefty-200k-to-olympians"target="_blank" >A huge EU-India deal, Heated Rivalry, and a hefty $200k to Olympians</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1025310133/why-host-the-olympics"target="_blank" >Why Host The Olympics?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112316993/the-monetization-of-college-sports"target="_blank" >The monetization of college sports</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">People wanting to purchase heat pumps might soon face sticker shock. Many consumers have sought out energy credits to find a greener and more affordable alternative to heating oil, but the tax credit to help make them cheaper has expired. Today on the show: how homeowners, the renewables industry, and its critics all feel about it.<p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194742750/metals-government-debt-and-a-climate-lawsuit"target="_blank" >Metals, government debt, and a climate lawsuit<br></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5696566/all-these-data-centers-are-gonna-fry-my-electric-bill-right"target="_blank" >All these data centers are gonna fry my electric bill … right?<br></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/02/04/691359678/cold-o-nomics"target="_blank" >Cold-o-nomics</a><p dir="ltr">For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>. <br><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">Data centers are getting a lot of heat right now. There’s neighborhood pushback against them for water usage and environmental concerns, and some politicians on both sides of the aisle aren’t fans for the same reasons. There’s also fear that they could drive up the cost of electricity bills. <p dir="ltr">But that last bit isn’t set in stone. <p dir="ltr">Data center electric bill upcharge is not a guarantee. In fact, it is even possible for data centers to cause power bills to go down. Today on the show: the future of your power bill.<p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/22/nx-s1-5581445/no-ai-data-centers-in-my-backyard"target="_blank" >No AI data centers in my backyard!</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649814/ai-data-center-electricity-bill"target="_blank" >What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill</a><p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Kevin Warsh has been tapped as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. We’re sure that he’ll have a lot of questions about how to run the Fed if confirmed. So we put together this briefing.<br/><br/>On today’s show, three Fed watchers give their advice for the next chair. On politics, interest rate cuts and dealing with the Fed’s repeated trading scandals. Oh, and can someone please forward this episode to Kevin Warsh?<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/13/nx-s1-5675867/one-fed-battle-after-another"target="_blank" >One Fed battle after another</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/08/29/nx-s1-5522330/lisa-cook-trump-lawsuit-federal-reserve-independence"target="_blank" >Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/1246593555/federal-reserve-independence"target="_blank" >A primer on the Federal Reserve's independence</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/08/1249919772/jerome-powell-fed-reserve-job-security"target="_blank" >It's hard out there for a Fed chair</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. <br/><br/>On today’s episode: a HUGE trade deal between India and the European Union, all the hot hockey romance New Yorkers could ever want, and a heavy earnings purse for Olympic competitors, win or lose.  <br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/01/1197967951/paris-2024-olympics-hosting-costs"target="_blank" >Why the Olympics cost so much</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/18/1118289764/the-surprising-economics-of-digital-lending"target="_blank" >The surprising economics of digital lending</a> <br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.  </em><br/><br/>Preorder Planet Money's new book <a href="https://www.planetmoneybook.com/"target="_blank" >here</a>! <br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">Macadamia nuts. Labor shortages. Volcanoes. All that might sound like econ Mad Libs, but they’re all connected to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s entry into the Beige Book this month: labor shortages are hurting macadamia nut harvests in Hawaii. <p dir="ltr">On today’s show, we take a vacation and talk to someone on the Big Island who runs a macadamia nut farm. He calls them “mac nuts.” <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5539846/why-beef-prices-are-so-high"target="_blank" >Why beef prices are so high</a> <p dir="ltr">For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  <br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

President Trump has been storming through corporate America — taking a stake in Intel, demanding a cut of Nvidia’s sales, restricting skilled workers, among other big footed policies.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, corporate leaders have mostly just … rolled over.<br/><br/>Today on the show: As Trump rewrites the rules of doing business, why aren’t business leaders doing more to speak up?<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/02/nx-s1-5559759/how-close-is-the-us-to-crony-capitalism"target="_blank" >How close is the US to crony capitalism?</a> <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/23/nx-s1-5685413/davos-drama-credit-card-caps-and-tariff-truths"target="_blank" >Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths</a> <br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>. </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

“Sell America.” There’s new talk of how Europe could turn the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/beeaf869-ca12-4178-95a1-bfb69ee27ae4"target="_blank" >economic screws</a> on the U.S. after President Trump’s play for Greenland. Selling U.S. Treasury bonds is one way. Another is a legal tool. It’s been called the EU’s bazooka.<br/><br/>On today’s show, taking stock of Europe’s financial arsenal. How could America’s largest foreign lender lighten Americans’ wallets?<br/><br/><em>Planet Money wrote a book and is going on tour, come see us: </em><a href="https://www.planetmoneybook.com/"target="_blank" ><em>tickets and tour dates here</em></a><em>. </em><br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/23/nx-s1-5685413/davos-drama-credit-card-caps-and-tariff-truths"target="_blank" >Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5677625/why-trump-resurrected-the-monroe-doctrine"target="_blank" >Why Trump resurrected the Monroe Doctrine</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/22/1256040785/trump-taco-wall-street-stock-market-tariffs"target="_blank" >Lunch with the man who coined TACO</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Pakistan has had some major economic bumps as of late, including a near default in 2023. At the root: seriously low tax collection. Millions of Pakistan residents opt out of paying income taxes entirely. This is a problem a lot of lower- and middle-income countries face. On today's show, we talk about why there are so many tax dodgers in Pakistan and what the government is trying to do about it. <br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/1247777247/pakistan-us-china-trade-tariffs-aid"target="_blank" >Is the US pushing countries towards China?</a> <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/04/18/714788538/a-brief-history-of-income-taxes"target="_blank" >A brief history of income taxes</a> <br/><br/><br><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

It’s time for … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. <br/><br/>On today’s episode: Why does Davos feel interesting this year? What if we did cap credit card interest rates? And we’re paying most of those tariffs, aren’t we?  <br/><br/>Also, big news! Planet Money wrote a book and we’re going on tour this spring. Find tickets and info at <a href="http://planetmoneybook.com"target="_blank" >planetmoneybook.com</a>. <br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/12/nx-s1-5605545/trumps-backup-options-for-tariffs"target="_blank" >Trump's backup options for tariffs</a> <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2019/01/28/689518374/globalization-at-davos-what-happened"target="_blank" >Globalization At Davos: What Happened?</a> <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/11/11/1136169902/the-carbon-coin-a-novel-idea"target="_blank" >The carbon coin: A novel idea</a> <br/><br/><br><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Beef is back on top. Well, at least on top of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new food pyramid, unveiled alongside updated national dietary guidelines. Red meat really never left the great American menu. But how’d it climb all the way up there?<br/><br/>On today’s show, America’s storied love affair with beef. And how big business and government have long influenced what winds up on our plates.<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5539846/why-beef-prices-are-so-high"target="_blank" >Why beef prices are so high</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/24/nx-s1-5616521/whos-buying-all-the-beef"target="_blank" >Who’s buying all the beef?</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">President Donald Trump is dead set on acquiring Greenland, and while national security is the stated reason, the country’s untapped mineral wealth could offer another explanation. <p dir="ltr">Today on the show: is Greenland really an untapped land of riches? We talk to one Australian geologist who discovered the great costs and potential rewards of extracting these minerals himself. <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/21/1225890655/add-to-cart-greenland"target="_blank" >Add to cart: Greenland</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5677625/why-trump-resurrected-the-monroe-doctrine"target="_blank" >Why Trump resurrected the Monroe Doctrine</a> <p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a> and Julia Ritchey. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

In early January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening bans on defense contractors paying dividends or buying their stock back.<br/><br/>Today on the show, we learn about the Trump Administration’s frustrations with the weapons supply chain, find out what a defense industry investor makes of the move, and ask whether this reflects the state tightening its grip on the industry that arms the U.S. military.<br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1197961492/are-we-overpaying-for-military-equipment"target="_blank" >Are we overpaying for military equipment?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/30/1197961507/can-just-in-time-handle-a-new-era-of-war"target="_blank" >Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/31/1197961524/how-to-transform-a-war-economy-for-peacetime"target="_blank" >How to transform a war economy for peacetime</a><br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" ><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>. </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Welcome back to Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. <br/><br/>On today’s episode: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/12/31/ice-wartime-recruitment-push/"target="_blank" >Influencers for ICE</a>, China’s tremendous trade surplus, and America heads back to the moon. <br/><br/><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/02/nx-s1-5662709/we-resolve-to-watch-these-2026-indicators"target="_blank" >We resolve to watch these 2026 indicators </a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/22/1246322286/chinas-trade-war-perspective"target="_blank" >China's trade war perspective</a> <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1029084078/who-owns-the-moon"target="_blank" >Who owns the moon?</a><br/><br/><br><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. <p dir="ltr">On today’s episode: A big goshDRAM memory problem, a holiday spending mystery, and apartment rental prices … decline?! <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1197964634/cpi-inflation-rental-market-matthew-mcconaughey"target="_blank" >The highs and lows of US rents</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/10/12/1197955810/the-indicator-from-planet-money-consumer-sentiment-survey"target="_blank" >Taking the temperature of the US consumer</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/12/11/945606413/we-buy-a-lot-of-christmas-trees"target="_blank" >We Buy A Lot Of Christmas Trees</a><p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges and Julia Ritchey. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">When people lose their homes to wildfire, hurricanes or flooding, they're eager to rebuild. But scammers are also ready to take advantage. On today’s show, the lucrative business of contractor fraud and advice on how to avoid them. <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes:<br></strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/04/1253616079/an-indicator-lost-big-disaster-costs"target="_blank" >An indicator lost: Big disaster costs</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/22/1183854206/when-insurers-cant-get-insurance"target="_blank" >When insurers can’t get insurance</a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/21/1197954265/selling-safety-in-the-fight-against-wildfires"target="_blank" >Selling safety in the fight against wildfires</a> <br/><br/><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  </em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Tariffs. They’ve been announced, unannounced, re-announced, raised and lowered. It’s an on-going saga with billions at stake!<br/><br/><br>On today’s episode, we run full-on at the twisty, turny drama of life with broad-based tariffs and tackle perhaps our most asked question: Are we, regular U.S. shoppers, feeling the tariffs yet? When we’re at the grocery store or the coffee shop, are we paying more for things because of the tariffs?<br/><br/><br>We now have the data to get a very clear answer to that question. Plus, we hear a cautionary tale from our dear colleague James Sneed, who ordered a collectible doll and wound up with a surprise tariff bill at his door.<br/><br/><br><em>Related episodes:</em><br/><br/><ul class="rte2-style-ul"><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/1253992700/tariffs-ieepa-trump-legal-emergencies-law"target="_blank" >Are Trump's tariffs legal?</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/22/1197958526/temu-website-app-shopping"target="_blank" >What is Temu?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/1249592921/tariff-customs-made-in-america-china-france"target="_blank" >What "Made in China" actually means</a></li></ul><br><a href="https://www.planetmoneybook.com/"target="_blank" ><em>Pre-order the Planet Money book and get a free gift</em></a><em>. /  </em><a href="https://n.pr/3HlREPz"target="_blank" ><em>Subscribe to Planet Money+</em></a><br/><br/><br><em>Listen free: </em><a href="http://n.pr/PM-digital"target="_blank" ><em>Apple Podcasts</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://n.pr/3gTkQlR"target="_blank" ><em>Spotify</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://n.pr/3Bkb17W"target="_blank" ><em>the NPR app</em></a><em> or anywhere you get podcasts.</em><br/><br/><br><a href="https://n.pr/3h92GwS"target="_blank" ><em>Facebook</em></a><em> / </em><a href="https://n.pr/3FqLuws"target="_blank" ><em>Instagram</em></a><em> / </em><a href="https://n.pr/3sGZdrq"target="_blank" ><em>TikTok</em></a><em> / Our weekly </em><a href="https://n.pr/3zrFvUB"target="_blank" ><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br/><br/>This episode was produced by Willa Rubin and edited by Jess Jiang. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez with research help from Vito Emanuel. It was engineered by Jimmy Keeley and Maggie Luthar. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.<br/><br/><br>Music: NPR Source Audio - “Mirror,” “Remorse,” “Endless,” “Secrets,” “Schmaltzy,” “Water Mirror.”<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

<p dir="ltr">The U.S. labor market is stagnant right now, with little hiring and lots of people holding onto their jobs for dear life. In Denmark, there’s a different kind of labor system where it’s easy for employers to hire and fire, but at the same time people have a strong safety net in-between jobs. Today on the show, we learn how “flexicurity” works through the story of a Danish woman who left her job, and we ask how the model could work in the U.S. <p dir="ltr"><font color="#1d1c1d"><strong>Related episodes: <br></strong></font><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/14/nx-s1-5573115/why-do-we-live-in-unusually-innovative-times"target="_blank" >Why do we live in unusually innovative times?<br></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/nx-s1-5587923/how-marxism-went-from-philosophy-to-cudgel"target="_blank" >How Marxism went from philosophy to cudgel<br></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/07/26/g-s1-13534/ozempic-biggest-side-effect-denmark-pharmastate"target="_blank" >Ozempic's biggest side effect: Turning Denmark into a 'pharmastate'?</a> For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Translation from Jasmine Lolila. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.  <br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>