Category: Series

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The Indicator from Planet Money - Are you not entertained … by our movie-related indicators?

The movies come to Indicators of the Week. We dig into why one film is letting you reserve tickets a whole year in advance, what ticket prices might tell us about tariffs and inflation, and how Los Angeles might be cutting back on the red tape when it comes to making movies there.

Related episodes:
Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA? (Apple / Spotify)
The story of China and Hollywood's big-screen romance (Apple / Spotify)
When is cosplay a crime? (Apple / Spotify)
Before La La Land, there was Fort Lee, New Jersey (Apple / Spotify)

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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Audio Mises Wire - In Their Own Words: Revolutionary Voices on Inflation

This article is dedicated to some of the quotes, especially from key participants and primary sources, about inflation and its consequences during the American Revolution. As usual, war led to inflation, which in turn facilitated war, and both contributed to centralization.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/their-own-words-revolutionary-voices-inflation

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Curious City - Car, bike, public transit: What’s the best way to get around town?

What would win in a race between a car, bike and the Chicago Transit Authority? Over the past few years, Chicago has been abuzz with road construction projects. There are more protected bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands and curb bump-outs across the city. As we learned in our last episode, that also includes the installation of miniature traffic circles in residential areas. It’s all in service to make the roads safer by slowing cars down. Safer streets is a win, but it doesn’t necessarily satisfy the urge to get somewhere fast. Cycling and public transportation are viable alternatives, but sometimes it’s hard to separate yourself from the convenience of driving somewhere. In this episode, the Curious City team puts the different modes of transportation to the test in a good old-fashioned transit race. From the Garfield Park Conservatory to Navy Pier, who will win? Car, bike or public transportation? Plus, Midwest correspondent for the Economist, Daniel Knowles makes the case for why we should rethink our relationship with cars, and answers why the fastest isn’t always the best. “People will always drive if it's the most convenient or the quickest way,” said Knowles, author of “Carmeggedon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What to Do About It.” “You can't exhort people to change, you have to kind of change the incentives.”
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Cato Podcast - Aimless Rivalry: U.S. and China in the Middle East

Justin Logan and Jon Hoffman delve into Hoffman's latest policy analysis, "Aimless Rivalry: The Futility of U.S. China Competition in the Middle East." They debunk justifications for U.S. Middle East policy based on competition with China and challenge prevailing narratives in international relations. Tune in for a thorough discussion that puts threats in context and examines U.S. policy through a skeptical lens.


Show Notes:

Jon Hoffman, "Aimless Rivalry: The Futility of US–China Competition in the Middle East" Policy Analysis No. 1000, July 10, 2025


Justin Logan, “Why the Middle East Still Doesn’t Matter,” Politico Magazine, October 9, 2014

 

Justin Logan, “The Case for Withdrawing from the Middle East,” Defense Priorities, September 30, 2020

 

Justin Logan, “Middle East Security,” Cato Handbook for Policymakers, 9th Edition, 2022


Jon Hoffman, "The U.S. Has Nothing to Fear from China in the Middle East" World Politics Review, December 6, 2023


Jon Hoffman, “U.S.-China competition and the value of Middle East Influence” Defense Priorities, June 10, 2025

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Audio Mises Wire - Subsidies to Amtrak and Siemens: A Pathway To Cronyism For The Few

Despite assurances from Amtrak's administrators that profitability is just around the corner, Amtrak remains a huge money loser. However, even given the long distances of some of the routes, Amtrak could still be profitable if its leadership is willing to make changes.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/subsidies-amtrak-and-siemens-pathway-cronyism-few

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The Indicator from Planet Money - When is cosplay a crime?

Cosplay—or dressing up as your favorite character from pop culture—is fun! But it can fall into a legal gray area when it comes to companies' intellectual property.

Today on the show: a group of cosplayers, Lucasfilm(!), a lawyer, and finding economic symbiosis in order to express yourself.

Related episodes:
Before La La Land there was Fort Lee, New Jersey (Apple / Spotify)
Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA? (Apple / Spotify)

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 Policy
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Audio Mises Wire - Democratic Socialism IS Totalitarianism

The word "democratic" is supposed to soften the blow of socialism, with Zohran Mamdani's campaign being the latest to fool the voters. In reality, there is no softening real socialism, as it depends upon coercion, violence, and ultimately becomes totalitarian.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/democratic-socialism-totalitarianism