The Indicator from Planet Money - Should “surveillance pricing” be banned?

When you walk into a store, you're probably used to seeing price tags on things, saying what they cost. 

But when you shop online, there is no price tag. There's just the price you see on screen. What if companies use your online data — like your location and browsing history — to charge you more than somebody else … or maybe less?

Today on the show: Surveillance pricing vs. personalized pricing. 

Related episodes: 

Is dynamic pricing coming to a supermarket near you?

Wendy's pricing mind trick and other indicators of the week

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 - Can LA host a ‘car-free’ Olympics?

Los Angeles is synonymous with car culture. But now that it's hosting the 2028 Olympics, could that be changing? On today's show, LA's public transit building bonanza, and why some worry the new infrastructure will benefit tourists more than locals. 

Related episodes:
Why the Olympics cost so much 
Why building public transit in the US costs so much 

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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More or Less: Behind the Stats - Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?

On September the 10th 2025, right-wing political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at an event in Utah. In the aftermath, his friend JD Vance, the US Vice President, hosted a special memorial edition of ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’, live from the White House, during which he called for unity, but said that could only be found by “climbing the mountain of truth”.

“While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left,” he said. We investigate the statistical evidence around political violence – both in people’s attitudes and the crimes themselves.

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Hal Haines Editor: Richard Vadon

The Indicator from Planet Money - The Fed cuts rates, America’s FICO dips, and forever ends for sweepstakes winners

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. 

On today’s show: A rate cut and drama at the Federal Reserve, the average American gets a little less creditworthy, and those giant check sweepstakes winners? Well, they might have to get a job soon. 

Related episodes: Why an aggressive rate cut could backfire on Trump Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed What goes into a credit score? 


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

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Cato Podcast - Free Speech and Domestic Tranquility

Are Americans becoming dangerously tolerant of political violence? After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, our Cato panel looks at trends in public opinion, past episodes of political terrorism, and new risks to free expression. Plus, Milei’s electoral setback in Buenos Aires province—what now for Argentina's libertarian experiment?


Alex Nowrasteh, "Politically Motivated Violence Is Rare in the United States," September 11, 2025.

Emily Ekins, "The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America," October 2017 Survey Report.

YouGov, "What Americans really think about political violence," September 12, 2025.

Ian Vasquez, "Deregulation in Argentina." Spring 2025.

Lorenzo Bernaldo de Quirós, "Argentine President Milei Should Let the Peso Float," September 17, 2025.


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