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Planet Money

Planet Money

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 Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At Planet Money, we explore the forces that shape our lives and bring you along for the ride. Don't just understand the economy – understand the world.

Wanna go deeper? Subscribe to Planet Money+ and get sponsor-free episodes of Planet Money, The Indicator, and Planet Money Summer School. Plus access to bonus content. It's a new way to support the show you love. Learn more at plus.npr.org/planetmoney
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Episodes
  • Why I joined DOGE

    Why I joined DOGE
    Jun 14 2025
    What was it like to work inside Elon Musk's DOGE? The cost-cutting initiative promised transparency, but most of its actions have been shrouded in secrecy.

    For months, there were reports of software engineers and Trump loyalists entering agencies and accessing sensitive data. DOGE also helped the Trump administration lay off thousands of government workers. NPR reporters have been trying for months to get anyone from DOGE to talk on the record. Now, Sahil Lavingia, a former DOGE staffer assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, is speaking.

    Today, what drew Sahil to DOGE and what he learned about the inner workings, in a way we've never heard before.

    For more on DOGE and the federal workforce:
    - The last time we shrank the federal workforce
    - Can... we still trust the monthly jobs report?
    - Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

    This episode was hosted by Kenny Malone and Bobby Allyn. It was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Jess Jiang and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. It was engineered by Neal Rauch. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

    Find more     Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

    Listen free at these links:     Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.

    Help support     Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

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    27 mins
  • Are Trump's tariffs legal?

    Are Trump's tariffs legal?
    Jun 11 2025
    When President Trump announced his sweeping new tariffs this year, many trade law experts were startled. Typically, presidents don't have the authority to impose broad tariffs with a snap of their fingers.

    But Trump's advisors have an unusual new legal theory. They say that as long as there's a national emergency of some kind, Trump may be able to create whatever tariffs he wants. This is a creative interpretation of a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. To justify his latest tariffs, the president declared national emergencies involving illegal immigration, the fentanyl crisis, and the trade deficit.

    But no president has ever tried to use the law in this way.

    Now, the fate of Trump's tariffs — and the creative legal theory behind them — lies with the courts. About a dozen lawsuits have challenged his tariffs, claiming that they are unlawful and possibly even unconstitutional. And some judges have started to agree.

    On today's show: What are the President's powers when it comes to tariffs? Where do they come from? What are their limits? And, what will be the fate of Trump's tariffs?

    For more on Trump's tariffs:
    - The 145% tariff already did its damage
    - Do trade deficits matter?
    - What "Made in China" actually means

    Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

    Help support     Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    25 mins
  • When Chinese manufacturing met Small Town, USA

    When Chinese manufacturing met Small Town, USA
    Jun 6 2025
    Over the past decade, politicians from both parties have courted American voters with an enticing economic prospect – the dream of bringing manufacturing and manufacturing jobs back to America. They've pushed for that dream with tariffs and tax breaks and subsidies. But what happens when one multinational company actually responds to those incentives, and tries to set up shop in Small Town, USA?

    Today on the show – how a battery factory ignited a political firestorm over what kind of factories we actually want in our backyard. And what happens when the global economy meets town hall democracy.

    This episode of Planet Money was produced by Emma Peaslee and Sylvie Douglis. It was edited by Marianne McCune and Jess Jiang. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. It was engineered by Robert Rodriguez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

    Read Viola Zhou's reporting on the Gotion battery factory.

    Find more Planet Money:     Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

    Listen free at these links:     Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.

    Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+     in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

    Music: NPR Source Audio - "Collectible Kicks," "Arturo's Revenge," and "Liquid Courage"

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    31 mins
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Its very interesting they talk about tax loopholes in a way that makes you want to listen to it.

Very Interesting

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This is one of my all time favorite podcasts! keep up the great work 😃

Best!

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Amazing podcast, the energy of the hosts is unmatched (is it just me or does Mary sound exactly like Cortana?)
Everyone should be tuning into every episode.

The tax loophole is still my favorite episode... so far!!

Incredibly informative analysis on... everything!

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planet money is so slay and it made me do the griddy. it gave me skibidi rizz 🤔😨😪😧

planet skibidi toilet slay

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This show is a classic, everybody performs so great and such good stories, I highly suggest.
Thank you for reading 

Nice

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Way too much advertising which makes it real annoying to listen. otherwise the content is good.

too much advertising

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