The typical prison job, like being a cook, pays maybe $0.63 cents per hour. In seven states, people in prison don’t have to be paid at all. But now, some prisoners are earning fair market wages while they’re incarcerated. And the pay… can be six figures. buff.ly/QuPkrOv

We're going live now on Zoom to talk about updates on our board game project. Come join Kenny, Erika, and Exploding Kittens. Bring questions. npr.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Reminder: We go live at 3pm ET TODAY to share updates on our Board Game project and take questions. Sign up here: buff.ly/LASbINs

The government shutdown has put millions at risk of losing their SNAP benefits. But, even after the shutdown ends, SNAP will still be in danger in a more permanent way. buff.ly/gJHASpB

24 hours until we go live to talk about the Planet Money board game project. Register here: buff.ly/LASbINs

The U.S. has long been the biggest source of remittances worldwide. But with immigration plummeting and the current ICE crackdowns, we try to figure out why remittances are surging in some countries. And why that surge in money sent home inspires joy – but also fear.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, western countries sanctioned Russian oil. But Russian oil exporters quickly sailed around them, building a shadow fleet of rickety oil tankers to move that sanctioned oil around the world.

I talked with @wailinwong.bsky.social of NPR @planetmoney.bsky.social about the US Administration’s unprecedented policy to slash immigration by high-skill STEM workers Americans can expect diminished innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity across all sectors www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

@planetmoney.bsky.social made a board game! First episode about it is out now. A version of it was tested at my board game day. I love hearing about the industry wide aspiration to create a Monopoly killer. Monopoly is not a great game.🤘 www.npr.org/series/g-s1-...

Episode 2 with @planetmoney.bsky.social is out! Listen to us bring this game to life. You can also download the print-at-home prototype of the game and tell us what you think at planetmoneygame.com

Did you know you can download a prototype of the @planetmoney.bsky.social game? A friend of a friend printed this one. This is the most amazing home print job I’ve seen. He even made a box! Download your copy today at planetmoneygame.com and send us feedback if you’d like! Thanks for sharing Henry

The Treasury basis trade, OR: how the US government got hedge funded, on today's @planetmoney.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

Go to planetmoneybook.com to preorder our new book! It's filled with brand-new stories about all the economic forces that affect our lives — it’s everything you love about Planet Money, but in book-form. Preordering gets you one free month of Planet Money+ AND a Limited Edition poster!

The U.S. government spends way more money than it brings in. So, it borrows money – in the form of U.S. treasuries, which it sells on the international bond market in exchange for interest payments.

In 1975, New York City ran out of money. Teachers went on strike. Garbage piled up in the streets. For months, the city teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. On today’s show, the story of how NYC was saved. And how it changed the way the city was run, forever.

We want to hear from people whose jobs are affected by the shutdown. If the government hadn’t shut down, what would you be doing today? What is NOT getting done? How is this affecting you? Share your shutdown story with us: [email protected]. (We might use your note in a show!)

We want to make a board game. It has to be fun and teach economics. That’s our goal when we make podcasts. But for a game? We need your help! Give a listen to the latest episode and then tell us what games you love that we should take inspiration from. buff.ly/9SqX3m6

The modern economy relies on the cold chain, an unbroken series of links that keeps food chilled all the way from the farm to your plate. Here’s the story of the birth of that chain, beginning with a thrifty butcher and a train-hopping chemist. buff.ly/ACmIF5P

A few years ago, the Wall Street firm, Jane Street, discovered a sort of goldmine in one of the biggest economies in the world. They became the envy of Wall Street. But when they tried to keep that goldmine a secret, things spiraled out of their control.

on this episode of @planetmoney.bsky.social, Sarah Gonzalez looks at the state of money in Gaza right now. how to get money into Gaza, how to get money out of a bank in Gaza, how cash works, and what there is to buy: www.npr.org/2025/09/20/n...

Money in Gaza is falling apart. Israel has been blocking the flow of physical cash into Gaza for almost two years. Now, two best friends – one in Gaza and one in Belgium – are finding ways to get money in – in order to get people food, milk, tents.

Do you know the exact year that CEO pay took off? And why then? It wasn’t exactly on purpose, and on our latest ep, an update on a 2016 episode, we find the cause (Hint: Two words - stock compensation).

So the United States now owns a major stake in the microchip company Intel. Why is that such a big deal? And what does it say about Trump’s unconventional approach to managing the economy?

Parents & Teachers! Want to read us your school supply list this year and tell us if it cost more than last? Send us a note at [email protected].

There’s one question we seem to be hearing everywhere lately: “Is my job safe from AI?” If only there were a list that could tell you how likely you are to lose your job to AI. We go looking, and come away knowing more about our future robot overlords…and ourselves. buff.ly/aYM3siI

Internet addresses can be worth big bucks. Take milk.com. Experts told us could go for millions. But right now, milk.com is just some guy's website with cat photos and coding projects. Huh? On our latest show: We go inside the strange market for domain names. buff.ly/k34BCgi

Today's @planetmoney.bsky.social is on the unprecedented interference at the Fed. So....what actually is the Fed board, why does it matter, and what we might be in for? www.npr.org/2025/08/29/n...

On Monday, President Trump attempted to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Cook has countered with a lawsuit against Trump. On our latest episode, we look inside the Federal Reserve Board, and what it might mean for the economy if Trump gets more control.

Drugs like Ozempic have exploded in popularity, ever since people realized they can help them lose weight. But, what happens when a drug takes off like this? Basically goes viral? How does the pharmaceutical industry keep up with demand? And what happens when it can’t? buff.ly/belvXeo

We'd like to hear from moms who've left the workforce for an upcoming Indicator episode. Reach out to [email protected], and we may get in touch.

Food prices are almost 30% higher than 5 years ago. We’re reminded of that on every trip to the grocery store.

On this @planetmoney.bsky.social, we visit two countries that have some experience with data manipulation -- Argentina and Greece. To see what happens when governments get tempted to cook the books, and how hard it is to UN-cook them. www.npr.org/2025/08/08/1...

Great to join NPR Planet Money's latest episode. I talked about Argentina's manipulation of inflation data in 2007, and George Papaconstantinou shared Greece's story --showing that when people lose trust in public data, it is very hard to win it back. www.npr.org/transcripts/...

Health care is different from other goods. If people can’t pay for health care, they don’t suddenly stop needing it. So, where do people get their health care if they don’t have health insurance? Our latest newsletter on why poor health makes us all poorer: www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Let’s say you’re a country with a statistics crisis. Today’s episode is about how to cook the books, and then, when you realize it was a bad idea, how to uncook them. Two statistical historical cautionary tales, from Argentina and Greece. buff.ly/0bQ4gVm

Many politicians and voters are disenchanted with economists. Now Trump has even fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On our latest show, trust in experts is down. And economists are feeling the burn. buff.ly/Th6hlma

Nippon Steel is acquiring the storied American company U.S. Steel. But under the new owner, President Trump — and the United States — will have an unusual amount of power. buff.ly/ItxSTjh

It's true - you can Venmo the US gov't to help pay down the nat'l debt (as made famous by NPR's Jack Corbett)! People have mailed paper checks, gold, and even old blankets to the Treasury. What can YOU do to fix the national debt? Listen to The Indicator's 2023 story: www.npr.org/2023/05/18/1...

Politicians on both sides of the aisle don’t agree on much, except about… trying to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S. What makes manufacturing special, that every politician wants to bring it back to America? Is that even a good idea? buff.ly/4y50Ksv

Most of your clothes were probably NOT made in the U.S. Maybe your shirt’s label says, “made in Vietnam.” Your pants? They could be from Bangladesh. Your underwear? Maybe from China. But the U.S. does have a domestic garment manufacturing industry, too. buff.ly/rx2yzeA

Why are some countries rich and others poor? How do institutions drive prosperity — or inequality? @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social unpacks these questions and more on this week's @planetmoney.bsky.social episode. www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1...

Is AI already affecting your job hunt? If you are thinking about this question - how should I handle my career given AI - we wanna hear from you! Email us at [email protected] with the subject line: AI Career Question

The taxing and spending bill we’ve been hearing so much about has passed the House and President Trump is set to sign it into law. The big economic headline: A bigger deficit. What does that mean for you and me? www.npr.org/2025/07/04/1...

Just a few years ago, Trump shunned cryptocurrencies, calling them “based on thin air.” Today, a large part of the Trumps’ business ventures are built on stablecoins, memecoins, and crypto mining. All while Trump makes way for deregulation in the crypto world. buff.ly/V3tDpkl

Three Planet Money hosts throw down in our latest edition of Econ Battle Zone. Their challenge – to elucidate the fight over the federal budget, while incorporating their mystery ingredients: rhyme, music, and the genre of romantic comedy. buff.ly/zjhaaYo

The U.S. has been policing bribery all over the world for nearly half a century. But President Trump has said that our anti-corruption laws are crippling American businesses. On our latest episode, is bribery making a comeback? buff.ly/QamI1vK

What was it like to work inside DOGE? The initiative promised transparency, but most of its actions have been shrouded in secrecy. NPR reporters have been trying for months to get anyone from DOGE to talk publicly. We follow one former DOGE staffer during his days inside DOGE. buff.ly/BJ2SQbw

About a dozen lawsuits are now challenging the President's tariffs, claiming they are unlawful and possibly even unconstitutional. What are their arguments, and why are some courts starting to listen? buff.ly/yHidukO

What does the U.S.-China trade war look like through the lens of game theory? Are Trump and Xi competing in a game of chicken? Or is it more like a prisoner’s dilemma? We look at who is playing well and who might need to adjust their strategy. buff.ly/AKbll18

Universities are places of learning, yes. But they’re also so many other things. Including: science labs. Many of which get federal money for research. That system’s been going on for decades.