The Indicator from Planet Money
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A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons.Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney
- 9 minutes 26 secondsICE influencers, a world-record trade surplus, and the moon goes nuclearWelcome back to Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.
On today’s episode: Influencers for ICE, China’s tremendous trade surplus, and America heads back to the moon.
Related episodes:
We resolve to watch these 2026 indicators
China's trade war perspective
Who owns the moon?
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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NPR Privacy Policy16 January 2026, 8:00 am - 9 minutes 12 secondsWhy Trump resurrected the Monroe Doctrine203 years ago, President James Monroe declared the Western Hemisphere off limits to powerful countries in Europe. Fast forward, and President Trump is reviving the Monroe Doctrine to justify intervening in places like Venezuela, and threatening further action in other parts of Latin America and Greenland. On today’s show, how is Trump redefining the Monroe Doctrine and what does it mean for the world?
Related episodes:
Add to cart: Greenland
Is the Panama Canal a rip-off?
Venezuela didn’t steal U.S. oil. Here’s what happened
Can Europe stand without the U.S.
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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NPR Privacy Policy15 January 2026, 8:05 am - 8 minutes 27 secondsCan a good story change economic reality?
Economic decisions aren’t only driven by hard data. A compelling story can change economic behavior and outcomes. In today’s episode, we explore real-world examples of “narrative economics” like how the Suez Canal ended up getting built. And we ask: why do narratives sometimes matter more than truth or data?
Related episodes:
This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble
Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape Ratio. Pick The Indicator of The Year!
The Beigie Awards: Manufacturing takes center stageFor 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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NPR Privacy Policy14 January 2026, 8:00 am - 8 minutes 43 secondsOne Fed battle after anotherOver the weekend, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Department of Justice served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas. Powell says it’s all a sham. But the stakes are unprecedented: A potential criminal indictment. Central bank independence. Today on the show, the administration’s case against the Fed. How did we get here? And what comes next?
Related episodes:
Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed
Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed
A primer on the Federal Reserve's independence
Why Is The Fed So Boring?
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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NPR Privacy Policy13 January 2026, 1:47 pm - 8 minutes 11 secondsHow far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?While Americans are known for their generosity, the U.S. government, increasingly, is not. The Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP benefits among other aid programs have forced states, foundations and donors to fill the gaps. But can they? On today’s show, the limits of philanthropic efforts to supplant federal aid.
Related episodes:
Why tech bros are trying to give away all their money (kind of)
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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NPR Privacy Policy12 January 2026, 8:00 am - 9 minutes 29 secondsHow AI is shrinking the job market for teensKarissa Tang is a 17-year-old in California who got curious about the impact of AI on typical teen jobs like cashiers and fast food counter workers. She embarked on an ambitious economic research project and shares her findings with us.
Related episodes:
How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs
When does youth employment become child labor?
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.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy9 January 2026, 2:48 pm - 9 minutes 27 secondsVenezuela didn't steal U.S. oil. Here's what happenedPresident Trump claims Venezuela stole American oil. Is that true? We trace Venezuela's oil industry from its 1920s birth through nationalization and then collapse. Today on the show, how did the Venezuelan oil industry get to a point where it’s barely pulling from its reserves? And will anything change now?
Related episodes:
Venezuela’s economic descent (Update)
Venezuela’s recent economic history (Update)
Why oil in Guyana could be a curse
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. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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NPR Privacy Policy8 January 2026, 8:05 am - 9 minutes 6 secondsCan you trust you're getting the same grocery prices as someone else?When you're in a grocery store nowadays, chances are your data is being collected. From a swipe of the loyalty card to the purchase of an ice cream pint, your data tells stores what you like, how much they should stock, and more.
But what if that data meant a grocer could charge you a different price than another shopper?
On today's show, the evolving price tag.
Related episodes:
Should 'surveillance pricing' be banned?
How Grocery Shelves Get Stacked
How niche brands got into your local supermarket
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.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy7 January 2026, 8:00 am - 9 minutes 15 secondsHow cocaine smuggling through Latin America really worksFormer Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, appeared in a New York court yesterday. He’s facing drug-trafficking and weapons charges after the U.S. abducted him and his wife in an explosive operation over the weekend. But is there any credibility to the drug-trafficking accusations? And what does the cocaine supply chain look like in 2026?
Today on the show, tracing cocaine’s journey from the Andes to the streets of U.S. cities.
Further reading:
Ioan Grillo – El Narco
Related episodes:
Venezuela’s economic descent (Updated)
Why Are Venezuelans Starving?
Lessons from a former drug dealer
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 Cooper Katz McKim and Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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NPR Privacy Policy6 January 2026, 8:00 am - 9 minutes 1 secondWhy China pulled the plug on Japan
Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi made waves last fall after saying her country might intervene if China invaded Taiwan. In response, China launched state-organized boycotts against Japan — canceling concerts, restricting seafood imports, and even recalling pandas. Today on the show, what does it look like for a state to organize a boycott, and does it work?
Related episodes:
How Japan’s new prime minister is jolting markets
When do boycotts work?
Forging Taiwan's Silicon ShieldFor 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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NPR Privacy Policy5 January 2026, 8:00 am - 10 minutes 24 secondsVenezuela’s economic descent (Updated)At The Indicator, we’ve been following the conditions in Venezuela over the years. In 2024 we covered how Venezuela’s economy went into freefall, and have been checking in with an economist there frequently — including after the U.S. attacked over the weekend, deposing its leader Nicolás Maduro.
On today’s show, we’re revisiting our episode about Venezuela’s economy, and hear from our contact in Caracas.
Send us questions you’d like The Indicator to answer on future episodes about Venezuela: [email protected].
Related episodes: The Measure of a Tragedy Why are Venezuelans starving? An Economist in Caracas: Day In The Life
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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