Episodes

  • Is the Panama Canal a rip-off?

    Is the Panama Canal a rip-off?
    Mar 5 2025
    Who pays to use the Panama Canal and how much? These questions are part of the tensions between the U.S. and Panama after President Trump threatened to take over the canal. We look at the global shipping lane's fee structure in light of the president's claim that the U.S. is getting ripped off.

    Related episodes:
    A drought, a jam, a canal — Panama!
    Add to cart: Greenland (Apple / Spotify)

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    Fact-checking by Lilly Quiroz. Music by     Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

    Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?
    Mar 4 2025
    President Trump has been on an executive order-signing spree since returning to office, with 76 so far. Today we look at two of them. Can the Fed really split up independent and non-independent roles? And what does DOGE's cost-cutting streak add up to?

    Related episodes:
    Slender Starbucks, Medicaid at risk, and the gold card visa (Apple / Spotify)
    What happens with billions in research funding goes away (Apple / Spotify)
    Should presidents have more say over interest rates? (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    10 mins
  • How tourist destinations recover after terrorism

    How tourist destinations recover after terrorism
    Mar 3 2025
    Mardi Gras is in full swing. It's a crucial time for the New Orleans' economy, but the celebrations are cast behind the shadow of the recent terrorist attack. Today on the show, we talk about how terrorism impacts tourism and why some places recover faster than others.

    Related episodes:
    Do dollar store bans work (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    8 mins
  • Slender Starbucks, Medicaid at risk, and the gold card visa

    Slender Starbucks, Medicaid at risk, and the gold card visa
    Feb 28 2025
    It's Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at interesting numbers from the news.

    On today's show, we have potential cuts ahead for Medicaid, Starbucks goes back to basics and gold card immigration.

    Related episodes:
    How Magic Johnson's Starbucks created new neighborhood businesses (Apple / Spotify)
    What's missing in the immigration debate (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • Europe's NATO members take an economic hit

    Europe's NATO members take an economic hit
    Feb 27 2025
    When it comes to defense, one thing looks certain: European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are going to have to pay more. Countries that are struggling economically will soon need to spend hundreds of billions of dollars. Can they do it?

    Related episodes:
    Can Europe fund its defense ambitions? (Apple / Spotify)
    The weapons supply chain

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • A polite message from Canada to the U.S.

    A polite message from Canada to the U.S.
    Feb 26 2025
    President Donald Trump has said that Canada should be the 51st state... and Canadians? Well, they're furious about it. The nation's former finance minister is calling Trump the biggest threat Canada has faced since World War 2. So today on the show, we dig into what lessons Canada can teach the US, and how the two North American nations are already deeply intertwined.

    Related episodes:
    Add to cart: Greenland (Apple / Spotify)
    Canada's key resource against Trump's potential trade war (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • What's the long-term cost of federal layoffs?

    What's the long-term cost of federal layoffs?
    Feb 25 2025
    The personal story of how an energetic lawyer got knocked off from her dream career and what she thinks that might mean for whether the government can attract talented people in the future.

    Related Episodes:
    A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees (Apple / Spotify)
    Bailing out the FAIR plan, broligarchs beef, and CFPB RIP? (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • What if our income was taxed ... totally differently?

    What if our income was taxed ... totally differently?
    Feb 24 2025
    We are back to answer YOUR listener questions. This time, we answer why bananas can be considered the 'unbothered fruit', what a flat income tax would actually look like, and how extended-hours stock trading works. If you have your own question about the economy, please email us at indicator@npr.org.

    Related episodes:
    My Favorite Tax Loophole (Apple / Spotify)
    The cautionary tale of a recovering day trading addict (Apple / Spotify)
    So imPORTant: Bananas, frogs, and... Bob's?? (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Fact-checking by     Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins