Can we make Social Security better for blue-collar workers?

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1. 

   9 Oct 2026 · 9 min

   SNAP strains, youth baseball's class divide, and Meta's bug bounty

   This week our top indicators include changes to the funding model for SNAP, private equity’s influence on youth baseball and Meta’s attempt to find flaws in its brand new AI assistant. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen – Why Trump's spending bill could close your grocery store –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at…

2. 

   8 Oct 2026 · 9 min

   The chilling effect of ICE in hospitals

   Federal immigration enforcement arrests reached record highs this past summer, and under the second Trump administration, immigration agents can now more easily access so-called sensitive areas, including hospitals. Today on the show: how both patients and healthcare workers are bearing the physical and economic costs of these deportation campaigns. Featuring Dr. William D. Lopez, author of Raiding the Heartland: an American Story of Deportation and Resistance. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen How ICE arrests are creating 'economies of fear' Connect with The Indicator from…

3. 

   7 Oct 2026 · 9 min

   One economist's answer to data center anxiety

   Rising electricity prices are one of the primary reasons why data centers are a public enemy this election cycle. But is it realistic to expect energy prices to stay high forever? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen No AI data centers in my backyard! Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. Instagram , TikTok and YouTube Find the Planet Money book Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media…

4. 

   6 Oct 2026 · 8 min

   Inside Norway's sovereign wealth fund dilemma to divest from Israel

   Norway has the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, but it’s facing a self-imposed dilemma. Should the fund's investments include companies that directly or indirectly contribute to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war? On today’s show, the ethical tightrope Norway is walking to invest its oil riches responsibly. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen — How would a US sovereign wealth fund even work? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more ! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to…

5. 

   5 Oct 2026 · 9 min

   The proper etiquette of the Venmo nudge

   How do you ask your friends to pay you back in a timely way? We’ve got an etiquette coach to help with that. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen — Is this a bank? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more ! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of…

6. 

   1 Oct 2026 · 8 min

   New college degrees designed to job-proof graduates

   What do influencing, AI and health sciences have in common? They’re all degree programs colleges have launched in the last few years to attract students looking for a new career path. On today's show, how colleges are rethinking degrees for a changing job market. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen — Community colleges are kind of underrated Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more ! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for…

7. 

   30 Sep 2026 · 9 min

   Is investing in sports worth it for universities?

   Universities spend millions of dollars every year on their athletics programs. But does that investment pay off? Today, we interrogate the “Doug Flutie Effect.” Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Your Next Listen — How college sports juiced Olympic development Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly 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…

8. 

   29 Sep 2026 · 9 min

   What does every business need but not every industry has?

   What rhymes with "snakes" and helps the government classify economic activity? NAICS — or the North American Industry Classification System. These codes categorize every industry from artificial turf installation to zucchini farming. But they’re not exactly easy to get. Today we look at one business’ quest for a NAICS code and what makes them so valuable. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen — How to take the temperature of the US consumer Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more ! —…

9. 

   28 Sep 2026 · 9 min

   How the rich make money by losing money

   Decades ago, rich Americans used to pay taxes as high as 40% on their investments. Nowadays, an obscure investment strategy is helping them slash that figure toward … 0%. Today on the show, Bloomberg reporter Loukia Gyftopoulou, tells us about this generation’s “great American tax dodge,” and the “mad genius” behind it. A Tax Strategy for the Rich Built the World’s Largest Hedge Fund - Bloomberg Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen — What’s a revenge tax? Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials,…

10. 

    25 Sep 2026 · 9 min

    Unaffordability index: Rent, GLP-1s, Obamacare

    This week’s indicators: Rent is squeezing middle-income earners, the Trump admin is squeezing ACA enrollees, and GLP-1s are squeezing employers. Fact checking by Julia Ritchey. Your Next Listen — Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter ! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube ad more ! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See…