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The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR
The Indicator from Planet Money
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  • The Indicator from Planet Money

    Why the US is losing the drone war

    06/07/2026 | 9 mins.
    The US defense industry is struggling to keep up with the revolution in cheap drones vs. expensive reusable military equipment. 

    Today on the show, we talk with Stacie Pettyjohn, the director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security on the three big reasons the U.S. is falling behind.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen 
    — How Iran is wasting American resources

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  • The Indicator from Planet Money

    Obama's new Presidential Center and his tricky relationship with the South Side

    03/07/2026 | 34 mins.
    How do residents of the South Side of Chicago feel about their new neighbor: the Obama Presidential Center? A mixture of pride and excitement, tempered with some concerns about what it could do to housing affordability. On today’s show, we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Code Switch on the new center and its relationship to the historically Black neighborhoods around it. 

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter 
    — Buy the Planet Money book 
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
  • The Indicator from Planet Money

    Does the new Fed chair care about jobs?

    02/07/2026 | 8 mins.
    Last month, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh presided over his first interest rate decision and press conference … but he didn't talk much about maximum employment. 

    How much does Kevin Warsh care about the jobs side of the Fed’s dual mandate?

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen 
    — Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
  • The Indicator from Planet Money

    Why Trump wants to rip up his own trade deal

    01/07/2026 | 9 mins.
    During President Donald Trump’s first term, he touted the USMCA as the largest and most fair trade deal ever achieved. So why is he now talking about ‘terminating’ it?

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen 
    — Are Trump’s trade deals the real deal?

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
  • The Indicator from Planet Money

    What Iran teaches us about why wars start

    30/06/2026 | 10 mins.
    If war is so costly, why do we keep fighting them? We dig into the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence. Today on the show, the five factors that lead to war. 

    Chris Blattman’s book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. 

    Your Next Listen 
    — The new economic arms race

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter 
    — Buy the Planet Money book 
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ 

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
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About The Indicator from Planet Money
A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. Sign up for our newsletter.
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