Planet Money

  • 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…


  • 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…


  • 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…


  • 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…


  • 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…


  • The fight for a legendary shipwreck’s treasure

    The San Jose was a marvel of 17th century technology. The Spanish galleon weighed more than a thousand tons, was made of wood reinforced with iron, and featured three masts and 64 cannons. In its…


  • How the scratch off lottery changed America

    Americans spend more on scratch lottery tickets per year than on pizza. More than all Coca-Cola products. Yet the scratch ticket as a consumer item has only existed for fifty years. Not so long ago,…


  • How DeepSeek changed the market’s mind

    On Monday, the stock market went into a tizzy over a new AI model from Chinese company DeepSeek. It seemed to be just as powerful as many of its American competitors, but its makers claimed…


  • Re-imagining the energy grid … through batteries (Two Indicators)

    When it comes to solar and wind power, renewable energy has always had a caveat: it can only run when the wind blows or the sun shines. The idea of a battery was floated around…


  • The “chilling effect” of deportations

    After being sworn into office, President Trump signed a whole host of executive actions and orders that affirm his campaign promise to crack down on immigration. Trump’s border czar has said Chicago is at the…