In the past couple years, demand has gone wild for drugs like Ozempic – and its cousins, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. For people who had never been able to lose weight before, suddenly the numbers on the scale were plummeting. And everybody wanted to get their hands on them.
Now, in most industries, if a product goes viral like this, it’s a golden ticket. And thanks to government-granted monopolies designed to encourage innovation, the big drug companies behind these blockbuster injections are currently the only ones allowed to make them.
In theory, anyway.
But, what if that explosive demand backfired, opening the door to legal knock-offs? You’ve maybe seen them - copycats advertised as the same thing as Ozempic. So, what’s the difference? And just how legal are they? On today’s show - a drug that’s changing peoples lives is also challenging the traditional way we buy and sell medicine.
This episode was hosted by Sydney Lupkin and Jeff Guo. It was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Marianne McCune, fact-checked by Sierra Juarez, and engineered by Gilly Moon and Debbie Daughtry. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money’s executive producer.
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Music: Source Audio - “Subtly Silly Thug,” “Got The Moves,” and “Vive le Punk”
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Marketplace All-in-One - Economics on Tap: Anime Edition
On the show today, Kimberly joins us from the anime convention AnimeNYC to share more about the economic impact of the anime industry and what cosplayers and business owners are saying about the economy right now. Spoiler alert: Tariffs are top of mind! And, we’ll weigh in on corporate apologies and the spicy food craze during a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Plus, a big thank you to Reema as she wraps up her time on the show.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
- "10 anime series that will teach you about economics" from Marketplace
- "Here's the corporate strategy behind switching from merit increases to flat raises" from Marketplace
- "The era of the public apology is ending" from Axios
- "Amazon now sells used Hertz rental cars" from The Verge
- "How spicy became the hottest flavor in town" from Marketplace
"Money and Relationships" e-book from Marketplace
“Make Me Smart” will be back Sept. 9. Until then, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
PBS News Hour - World - ‘Man-made disaster’: Famine declared in Gaza City where half a million face starvation
The international organization that monitors hunger crises around the world has declared that parts of Gaza are in famine. The U.N.-backed group of experts said that half a million people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, are facing “catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death.” Nick Schifrin spoke with David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
PBS News Hour - World - A glimpse of life in Gaza, through the voices of its children
As many as 132,000 children in Gaza under the age of five are at risk of dying from acute malnutrition between now and next summer, according to a U.N.-backed group of experts. Half of Gaza’s population is children, and many of them have been left scarred, traumatized and forever changed by the war. Nick Schifrin reports. A warning, images in this story are disturbing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Gist - The Working Class Party with the Post-Graduate Jargon
McKenzie Wilson of Blue Rose Research joins to dissect Democrats’ branding failures, from alienating language to ignoring cost-of-living pain. She explains why Gen Z may be drifting rightward, why “when we all vote we win” no longer holds, Plus: Trump’s doomed “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, shut down not for human-rights abuses but for threatening orchids and panthers. And in the Spiel it's an antwentig covering Israel, conspiracy theories and "punching left". Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
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Marketplace All-in-One - Chili’s is back (baby back, baby back)
Brinker International, which owns casual dining chain Chili’s, just beat 50-year sales and revenue records. In this fickle economic moment, how’d they do it? The answer involves viral fried mozzarella and the power of young consumers. Also in this episode: Jay Powell hints at rate cuts, AI data centers increase electricity costs for everyone, and automakers swear updated tech, not tariffs, drove up prices.
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Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
Consider This from NPR - Famine is declared in Gaza. Will anything change?
The people of Northern Gaza are starving. That’s according to an official declaration by a United Nations-backed group of experts, who comprise the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification or IPC. They say that famine has officially reached Gaza city and could soon reach other areas of the territory.
Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has says there is no famine in Gaza, and that food shortages are the result of Hamas seizing aid shipments.Jean-Martin Bauer is the director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis for the World Food Program. He explains how the ICP came to this conclusion and what the declaration means for the people facing starvation.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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Newshour - The UN says there is famine in Gaza City
The UN's top humanitarian official Tom Fletcher says the report on the famine in Gaza City is 'irrefutable testimony'. But Israel categorically denies any claims of famine.
Also in the programme: the FBI raids the home of President Trump’s former advisor John Bolton; and the Indian government cracks down on online gambling.
(Image: A child reacts surrounded by pots as Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on 21 August 2025. Credit: Reuters/Hatem Khaled)
The Bulwark Podcast - Tommy Vietor: Trump’s Security State
The fears of jack-booted thugs and the military in the streets that filled the fever dreams of numerous people on the right since the 90s have come to pass. Not to mention that these are boom times for private prisons, deportation camps, and huge data centers driving up electricity bills. (We're building things, Marc Andreessen!) Meanwhile, The Bulwark was live on the scene for the FBI raid at John Bolton's house—just the latest installment from Team Trump's pursuit of his enemies. Plus, Alex Jones is worried about Trump's cankles, and Gavin is proving to be a good fighter, but other Dems need to get in the game. Also, Gaza, Israel, and the exaggerated power of AIPAC.
Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
The Daily Signal - Victor Davis Hanson: Joy Reid and the Rise of Open Racism From the Left
This type of rhetoric, embraced by DEI ideology, is nothing short of racial essentialism—and dangerously divisive.
Victor Davis Hanson explains why such rhetoric threatens America’s identity as a successful multiracial democracy—and why ethnic and racial chauvinism must be rejected—on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
“Joy Reid is basically saying that black people are cognitively superior to other people. I wish this was an isolated incident. But remember, we've had this controversy before, about the president of Sacramento State, Luke Wood, who, in his past, was an African American intellectual activist, as he self-describes himself. And he said he wanted to ”eliminate”—that's a bad word to use, given the history of it in the 20th century—“eliminate whiteness.” Again, no repercussions.
“We have zero tolerance when racists, who are white, say such things about other groups. But in a truly multiracial, tolerant society, people who not only attack a group, collectively, and stereotype it, but they do so from positions of influence and power—like The New Yorker magazine or a former MSNBC anchor—they can do a great deal of damage, unless they're called out for it.”
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👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com
(0:00) Zero Tolerance for Racism
(0:18) Joy Reid's Controversial Statements
(0:30) The Dangers of the DEI Movement
(2:20) Historical Context and Misconceptions
(2:28) Modern Examples of Racial Essentialism
(5:02) The Importance of Multiracial Tolerance
(6:02) Conclusion
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