Episodes

  • Should the families of organ donors be compensated?

    Should the families of organ donors be compensated?
    Mar 2 2026

    Two economists get into the business—and stakes—of organ donation, and they argue why the government should financially compensate their families.

    FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.

    Related episodes:
    Too many subscriptions, not enough organs
    Your Organs, Please

    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
  • ICE is bad for business, heat is bad for coffee, and sci-fi is bad for markets

    ICE is bad for business, heat is bad for coffee, and sci-fi is bad for markets
    Feb 27 2026
    It’s … Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!), our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

    On today’s episode: How Minnesota workers were affected by Operation Metro Surge, why coffee’s getting more expensive, and what happens when a sci-fi AI scenario meets the stock market.

    Related episodes:

    How ICE crackdowns are affecting the workforce

    Why this rural town wants an ICE facility

    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 Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • How your favorite fish sticks might be funding Russia's war

    How your favorite fish sticks might be funding Russia's war
    Feb 26 2026

    Russia exports billions of dollars worth of fish a year across the world. But after the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. banned imports of Russian fish. It turns out those bans are only so effective. Today on the show, how Russia has dodged import bans to keep selling billions of dollars worth of seafood every year, and how the U.S. has struggled to stop it.

    FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.

    Related episodes:
    What’s propping up Russian oil?
    How Russia’s shadow fleet is sailing around oil sanctions

    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 Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.


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    9 mins
  • What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs

    What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs
    Feb 25 2026

    What do the latest batch of documents tell us about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and elite networking? Quite a bit. Today on the show, we analyze one exchange between Epstein and a former world leader to find out how the revolving door works for the rich and powerful.

    FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited-edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.

    Related episodes:
    Gilded Age 2.0?
    How close is the US to crony capitalism?

    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 Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • Do traders who place big bets make big money?

    Do traders who place big bets make big money?
    Feb 24 2026
    We’re going whale watching today. No, not orcas or great blues, but financial traders that place big bets on something called options. On today’s show, who are these option whales and do their bets always pay off?

    FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com. Related episodes: Invest like a Congress member 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
  • Why there are roving rotisserie chicken mobs

    Why there are roving rotisserie chicken mobs
    Feb 23 2026

    You asked, we answered.

    On today’s show, we tackle questions from our dear listeners on whether AI interviewers are biased, what the heck M2 money supply is, and what’s up with the frenzied mobs fighting for rotisserie chickens at the grocery store.

    Related episodes:
    When AI is your job interviewer
    How beef climbed to the top of the food pyramid
    Retirement luck, Hassett hassles the Fed, and boneless chicken in ... court?
    Behind the Tiny Desk and other listener questions 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
  • Can I get my tariff money back now?

    Can I get my tariff money back now?
    Feb 21 2026
    The Supreme Court struck down a bunch of President Trump’s tariffs yesterday. The Trump administration originally used an emergency economic powers law to justify the tariffs. And the court said: No! You can’t do that! Bad Trump, bad! This is despite the U.S. having raked in over a hundred billion dollars in import taxes already.

    On today’s show, unpacking the Supreme Court’s blockbuster tariffs decision. What’s next for tariffs? And … are we getting tariff refunds? Asking for a friend.

    Related episodes:
    Trump's backup options for tariffs
    Tariffied! We check in on businesses
    Are Trump's tariffs legal?
    Worst. Tariffs. Ever.

    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 and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • Retirement luck, Hassett hassles the Fed, and boneless chicken in ... court?

    Retirement luck, Hassett hassles the Fed, and boneless chicken in ... court?
    Feb 20 2026
    It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

    On today’s episode: Why you better hope you retire at juuuust the right time, why the researchers at the Federal Reserve are being scolded by a White House economic advisor, and taking boneless chicken to court.

    Related episodes:


    Chicken meat, Gulf of Mexico lawsuit and Social Security beyond the grave

    Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths

    What would it take to fix retirement?

    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 and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins