Planet Money
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How Tupperware took over our homes, with Decoder Ring
Tupperware is the stealthy star of our modern homes. These plastic storage containers are ubiquitous in our fridges, pantries, and closets. But the original product was revolutionary. So was its breakthrough sales strategy: the Tupperware…
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The last time we shrank the federal workforce
If you cut every single federal job President Donald Trump wants to cut, how much money would that save? A president has tried to massively shrink the size of the federal government before. It was…
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How to start a bank
In some ways, starting a bank is a lot like starting any other business. Who will you hire? Where will you be located? What color will the couches be? But it’s also way more complicated.…
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The Parable of Peanut the Memecoin
Memecoins are having a moment. Everyone from Hawk Tuah to President Donald Trump to animal influencers like Moo Deng the pygmy hippo have been turned into cryptocurrency. But what are the costs of all the…
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The Memecoin Casino
What do Moo Deng the pygmy hippo, social media sensation Hawk Tuah, and the President of the United States all have in common? They’ve all inspired highly valuable, highly volatile memecoins. The humble memecoin began…
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The controversy over Tyson Foods’ hiring of asylum seekers
Last year, Tyson Foods shuttered a meat processing plant in Perry, Iowa. The company said it made the decision because the plant was old and inefficient. But the closure was devastating for the residents of…
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The rise and fall of Long Term Capital Management
There’s this cautionary tale, in the finance world, that nearly any trader can tell you. It’s about placing too much confidence in math and models. It’s the story of Long Term Capital Management. The story…
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Can the president override Congress on spending?
So the president can’t spend more money than Congress has agreed and voted to spend. But can the president spend less money than Congress wants? It all comes down to something called “impoundment” and the…
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The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze
There has been chaotic uncertainty around billions of dollars allocated by Congress. The Trump administration ordered a pause on — and review of — certain types of federal assistance. A judge blocked that freeze. But…
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The ‘Crypto Wizard’ vs. Nigeria
The trip that changed Tigran Gambaryan’s life forever was supposed to be short — just a few days. When he flew to Nigeria in February of 2024, he didn’t even check a bag. Tigran is…