Category: 3-DailySometimeCommentary

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Can 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 stage 

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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The Indicator from Planet Money - One Fed battle after another

Over 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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What A Day - Trump’s War On The Fed

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck back on Sunday night after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into his handling of renovations to the Fed’s DC headquarters. Whether or not he lied to Congress about them, this is all happening as the Supreme Court is set to debate another one of Trump’s efforts to take control of the Fed – by getting rid of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. So to talk more about Jerome Powell, the Supreme Court, and Donald Trump’s various attempts to prosecute people he does not like, we spoke with Leah Litman. She’s cohost of Crooked Media’s legal podcast, Strict Scrutiny.

And in headlines, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly sues the Department of Defense over Pete Hegseth’s attempts to punish him for criticizing the Trump administration, The New York Times reports the E.P.A. plans to stop monitoring the health benefits of limiting pollution, and a new Gallup poll shows young people are abandoning both the Democratic and Republican parties in droves.

Show Notes:


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What Next - What Next | Daily News and Analysis – The Case for a Blue Wave

Midterm elections are typically bad for the president’s party. Given how Trump’s second term is going, do the Democrats have a chance to do something historic?


Guest:  David Faris, politics professor at Roosevelt University and a contributing writer for Slate. 


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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.

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What A Day - The ‘Dark Fleet’ Behind Venezuela’s Oil Trade

The United States Coast Guard seized another oil tanker, the Olina, on Friday. It is the fifth Venezuela-linked tanker seized by US forces under President Trump, and the third since the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier last week, the US seized a vessel near Iceland following a slow chase across the Atlantic Ocean. That ship, the Bella 1, was renamed the Marinera and started flying the Russian flag after US forces first tried to board it back in December. So, what’s going on with all of these sneaky name changes? To find out, we spoke to Shelby Holliday. She’s a senior video producer and journalist for The Wall Street Journal, where she focuses on geopolitics.

And in headlines, protests across the U.S. continue following the death of Renee Good at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, and Trump weighs his options in Iran as state violence against protestors ramps up.

Show Notes:


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The Indicator from Planet Money - How 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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What Next - What Next | Daily News and Analysis – Emperor Trump Wants Greenland

Is Trump genuinely interested in expanding America’s borders or is this all just to further their mission of “looking tough online”? For the people surprised to suddenly find themselves on America’s bad side, does it matter? 


Guest: Jonathan M. Katz, journalist and the author of Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America’s Empire and author of theracket.news newsletter.


Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.


Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.

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What Next - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future – How Grok Filled X With Deepfake Porn

To kick off the new year, users on X have been asking Grok to nudify people - and kids - at an astonishing rate. And X leadership is egging them on. 


Guest: Jason Koebler, founder of 404 Media and host of the 404 Media Podcast


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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort.

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Audio Mises Wire - Did the Articles of Confederation Fail? Probably Not

The standard explanation for the Constitutional Convention was that the Articles of Confederation were a failure. However, the Articles actually worked the way they were supposed to work. Unfortunately, the advocates of a strong central government ultimately got their way.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/did-articles-confederation-fail-probably-not