The Indicator Archives - TPR: The Public's Radio

President Trump holds a rendering of a proposed White House ballroom

NPR

Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones

by Wailin Wong May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

What do a Florida-based drone company, a crypto billionaire, and a European steelmaker have in common? Ties to President Trump. Since returning to office, the president, as well as his family and friends, have inked a number of business deals that raise questions about conflicts of interest. On today’s show, we scrutinize three of these deals.

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Related:
Trump’s crypto interests
Mixing family business with US trade policy in Vietnam
Gilded Age 2.0?
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel

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.

Some of the earliest signs of dementia can show up in your financial portfolio

NPR

How your bank account might predict dementia

by Wailin Wong May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Some of the earliest signs of dementia can show up in your financial portfolio. Missed bill payments and erratic investments could be indicators, and they can happen years before an official diagnosis. Today on the show, we dig into the connection between finances and dementia, and why the financial health of seniors is falling through the cracks.

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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.

US Senator Bernie Sanders is proposing a bill for a 5% wealth tax on billionaires.

NPR

How taxing the wealthy could work

by Darian Woods May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Tax cuts for the middle and working classes, and tax hikes for the rich. What’s behind this trend? We ask Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen to explain his bill that eliminates federal income tax for many workers while hiking taxes for high earners. We also hear from a tax policy expert who has some reservations.

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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.

Trump supporters clash with police as they storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

NPR

Jan. 6ers already got pardoned. Will they get their money back too?

by Vito Emanuel April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

In 2025, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 of the Jan.6 rioters who ransacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In addition to being convicted of crimes, many of the Jan. 6ers paid fines, the bulk of which went toward repairing the damage to the Capitol. After being pardoned, some of them want their money back. Today on the show, are they entitled to get those fines refunded?

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On Monday, the U.S. Customs portal began accepting refund requests from businesses that paid President Trump's tariffs before the Supreme Court ruled them illegal.

NPR

How to get your tariff cash back

by Alina Selyukh April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Businesses might finally see some tariff money refunded to them. That’s because this week, the federal government officially rolled out a process that allows businesses to apply for a refund.

Today on the show, we speak with three business owners about the unexpected simplicity and frustration of the Trump tariff refund process.

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour

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A Kashmiri man scrolls through a social media post featuring Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on his phone in Srinagar on June 28, 2025.

NPR

Is anyone gonna do anything about these Iran War trades?

by Ricky Mulvey April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Traders have made millions betting on the Iran War. They are also suspiciously timed. No public information, then boom: a Truth Social post from President Trump. Cue fat windfalls for the traders. It’s starting to look a lot like insider trading.

On today’s show, suspicious bets on the Iran War. And are federal regulators or prosecutors looking into these trades … is anyone?

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour

Investor Bill Gurley's new book is "Runnin' Down a Dream" is about pursuing your career passions.

NPR

Can you really do what you love?

by Darian Woods April 13, 2026April 13, 2026

They say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. But c’mon. Is that possible in this day and age? On today’s show, we speak to a tech investor who tells us the ingredients he believes are needed to make passion pay. And we hear from an economist who’s run the numbers on luck.

Bill Gurley’s book is Runnin’ Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love.

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour

Related episodes:
Teamwork actually does make the dream work
Why women make great bosses

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.

As data centers pop around the U.S., locals wonder how it's affecting their electricity prices

NPR

Where AI data centers are reducing power bills

by Darian Woods April 9, 2026April 9, 2026

Over the last half decade, wholesale electricity prices have increased 267% in places close to data centers. That’s contributed to a backlash against new ones.

But some experts believe data centers are a scapegoat for long-term issues with an aging U.S. grid. Today on the show, we ask who is responsible for rising electricity prices and whether the U.S. can handle a new era of grid growth.

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour

A teenager uses her mobile phone to access social media.

NPR

Why infinite scroll’s inventor wants to kill his creation

by Adrian Ma April 7, 2026April 7, 2026

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com

We practically live on our phones these days. Scrolling and scrolling, endlessly. Entrepreneur Aza Raskin is responsible for creating this infinite scroll. He also testified against Meta, who have been under fire — and in court — charged with making their apps addictive to children.

On today’s show: Raskin tells us about the changes he thinks platforms should make to help people take their attention back.

Related episodes:
The Social Media Crisis
How algorithms are changing the way we speak
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. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

Pokémon cards displayed at a vendor's table in Denver, Colorado.

NPR

Why Pokémon cards are growing faster than your retirement account

by Ricky Mulvey April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Pokémon cards are scorching hot right now. An index tracking the thousands of rare cards shows that valuations have increased 170% in the last year alone. Growth like that really makes you wish you hadn’t given away all your childhood cards years ago.

Today on the show, we cover three things that are contributing to the rapid growth of shiny cards produced by the world’s highest-grossing media franchise.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

The Curse Of The Black Lotus (Update)
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.