The Indicator from Planet Money - America’s small GDP bump, China’s big stimulus dispersal, and a Monkey King

It's time for ... Indicators of the Week! It is our show where we talk about fascinating numbers from the news. On today's episode, America's small GDP increase, a big assist from China's government to its lower income residents, and a high-grossing, centuries-old Monkey King.

Related Episodes:
How Red Lobster got cooked and other indicators
China's luxury liquor indicator

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Bay Curious - Proposition 6: Ending Forced Labor for Prisoners

In 1865, the U.S. ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude — except as punishment for convicted crimes. That exception has allowed dozens of states, including California, to force incarcerated people to work in prisons, whether they want to or not. Proposition 6 would add an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced labor in prisons. KQED's arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to break it all down.

Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot.

This episode has been updated to clarify the status of California's volunteer firefighter program.

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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts

This story was reported by Pendarvis Harshaw. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, and Ana De Almeida Amaral. The Bay is made by Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Jessica Kariisa. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, and the whole KQED family.

Everything Everywhere Daily - The Sistine Chapel (Encore)

Located in Vatican City, just off St. Peter’s Square lies one of the plainest and most uninteresting buildings you might ever find. It has no adornments and it is just a solid beige color. 

However, inside that bland structure, you will find one of humanity’s greatest artistic achievements, and to enjoy it you just might get a sore neck.

Learn more about the Sistine Chapel, the building, the art, and its history, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.


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NPR's Book of the Day - Newbery Medalist Meg Medina and NBA star Jayson Tatum are out with children’s books

Newbery Medalist Meg Medina remembers her childhood babysitter perfectly. Medina called her Señora Mimí–and now, the author is celebrating caregivers of all kinds in her new children's book. No More Señora Mimí, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese, tells the story of a little girl whose relationship with her babysitter changes after the girl's grandmother moves in. Then, NBA champion Jayson Tatum is also out with a new kids' book. Baby Dunks-a-Lot, co-authored by Sam Apple and illustrated by Parker-Nia Gordon, is about a baby basketball star. In today's episode, NPR's Ayesha Rascoe introduces a conversation between Medina and Cicchese about illustrating culturally specific references, like Cuban crackers, and representing subtle changes in a children's story. Then, Here & Now's Scott Tong chats with Tatum about the NBA player's relationship with his son and the upcoming Celtics season.

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The Indicator from Planet Money - What does the next era of Social Security look like?

Peak 65 is here. More than 4 million Americans will turn 65 each year between 2024 and 2027, representing the largest retirement surge in history. Years ago, older Americans could count on Social Security. But today there is some uncertainty on the program's solvency in the next decade plus. Now, many are entering their golden years with financial insecurity. Today on the show, how did Social Security become a thing? And what could the safety net for the Peak 65 generation and beyond look like?

James Chappel's book: Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old AgeGolden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age

Related episodes:
Iceberg ahead for Social Security (Apple / Spotify)
What would it take to fix retirement? (Apple / Spotify)
Social Insecurity

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Bay Curious - Proposition 5: Lower the Voting Threshold to Pass Some Local Bonds

Bonds are a way for state and local governments raise money for projects—things like schools, infrastructure, or transportation. In part 4 of our Prop Fest series, a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay, we talk about Proposition 5. Prop 5 would lower the voting threshold to pass local bonds from two-thirds (66.67%) down to 55%—but only for bonds related to affordable housing and public infrastructure projects. It sounds pretty straightforward, but as we find out from reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi, it could have wider implications for taxpayers.

Editor's Note: This episode has been updated from a previous version to clarify ramifications of Proposition 13.

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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts

This story was reported by Adhiti Bandlamudi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, and Ana De Almeida Amaral. The Bay is made by Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Jessica Kariisa. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, and the whole KQED family.

Everything Everywhere Daily - The United States Supreme Court

The United States Constitution identifies three separate branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Each branch has a set of checks and balances, which, in theory, limits the power of the others. 

Two of those branches are outlined in detail in the Constitution. The third, the judicial, is given very little mention in comparison to the other two, and much of its workings and its power in relation to the other two, had to be created over time. 

Learn more about the United States Supreme Court, its founding, and its development on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.


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NPR's Book of the Day - ‘What If We Get It Right?’ envisions new possibilities for our climate future

It can be difficult to feel optimistic when faced with the existential threat of climate change. But a new book from marine biologist and writer Ayana Elizabeth Johnson asks us to imagine a different version of our climate future: one in which things work out. What If We Get It Right? is a collection of essays and interviews with environmental experts, farmers, advocates, architects, investors and others on what it would look like to "get it right" on climate change. In today's episode, Johnson speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about tailoring climate conversations for different audiences, moving from an extractive to a regenerative economy in this decade and the effort it will take to create a new future.

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The Indicator from Planet Money - Are pharmacy benefit managers driving up drug prices? (Update)

A group of obscure yet powerful players in the prescription drug industry are under the microscope. On Tuesday, at a Senate hearing in D.C., the head of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk blamed the health insurance industry and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, for allegedly making products like the weight loss drug Ozempic way more expensive in the U.S. than it is in other countries. A few days before that, the Federal Trade Commission sued three of the country's largest PBMs for allegedly using unfair tactics to artificially inflate the price of insulin.

So what exactly are PBMs and how do they work? In an episode that aired two years ago, we explain how the answer involves secret deals and double agents.

Related episodes:
Who can and cannot get weight loss drugs (Apple / Spotify)
New drugs. Cheaper drugs. Why not both? (Apple / Spotify)

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