Coffee shops, hospital waiting rooms and train cars are a few of the places Chicago’s homeless go to escape the cold.
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Disposable Razor
King Camp Gillette came up with an idea which has helped shape the modern economy. He invented the disposable razor blade. But, perhaps more significantly, he invented the two-part pricing model which works by imposing what economists call “switching costs”. If you’ve ever bought replacement cartridges for an inkjet printer you experienced both when you discovered that they cost almost as much as the printer itself. It’s also known as the “razor and blades” model because that’s where it first drew attention, thanks to King Camp Gillette. Attract people with a cheap razor, then repeatedly charge them for expensive replacement blades. As Tim Harford explains, it’s an idea which has been remarkably influential.
Producer: Ben Crighton
Editors: Richard Knight and Richard Vadon
(Image: Razor, Credit: Shutterstock)
The Gist - George Saunders’ American Ghosts
George Saunders’ first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, is a bit of a head trip. Half of it takes place in the liminal phase between life and death. It’s about Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie, who died at the age of 11, but we almost never hear from him. And it takes about four to five chapters to understand what’s going on. “My goal is the early difficulty pays off later,” says Saunders. “Once the book teaches you how to read it, it takes you to places you couldn’t have gone otherwise.” Saunders talks to Mike about Lincoln, research, and his recent nonfiction work for the New Yorker.
In the Spiel, why CPAC has come around on Trump. (Hint: It’s because he’s the president.)
Today’s sponsors:
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More or Less: Behind the Stats - WS More or Less: What happened last night in Sweden?
What happened last night in Sweden?
Cato Daily Podcast - If States Don’t Play Ball, How Much Cash Can Feds Withhold?
Feds often condition federal funds on state government behavior. But how much can the feds withhold if states don't play ball? That may be a critical question as President Trump seeks state help with his immigration plans. Josh Blackman comments.
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Containers - Introducing Containers
Containers provides an illuminating, deep, and weird look at how capitalism works now. It's about huge ships and global trade and the work people do to bring you the stuff you buy from all over the world.
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The Gist - An Experiment to Save Local News in Nevada
Jon Ralston has decades of experience covering politics in Nevada, as a columnist for both major Las Vegas newspapers and a host on local TV. But as the major news outlets have cut their politics coverage, Ralston has launched an experiment to save local political news: a nonprofit site called The Nevada Independent. Ralston is also a contributing editor to Politico.
In the Spiel: Republican lawmakers face their constituents. It’s not going well for the lawmakers.
Today’s sponsors:
Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm’s podcast, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, available on iTunes.
And Green Mountain Coffee. Green Mountain Coffee is passionate about making a smoother-tasting cup. Try it today with code TRYGMC.
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Cato Daily Podcast - Trump Pushes Expansive Immigration Enforcement
What laws are enabling President Trump's stepped up immigration enforcement? Alex Nowrasteh explains.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pod Save America - “A conversation about our divides.”
Trump's relatively tame week on Twitter, his orders on deportations and transgender policies, and the growing activism at town halls. Then Ana Marie Cox joins Jon and Dan to talk about her new Crooked Media podcast, With Friends Like These.
Bay Curious - This Lumberjack Frat Once Had the Coolest Clubhouse in S.F.
A Cupertino couple wondered where the street name "Hoo Hoo Way" came from. Turns out, it's a long story.
Reported by Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is Olivia Allen-Price, Vinnee Tong, Paul Lancour, Julia McEvoy, Suzie Racho, Holly Kernan, David Weir and Ethan Lindsey. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.
Ask us a question at BayCurious.org.
Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.