Jess Jiang appears in the following:
How 23andMe's bankruptcy led to a run on the gene bank
Friday, April 25, 2025
Reporter Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi's Aunt Vovi signed up for 23andMe back in 2017, hoping to learn more about the genetic makeup of her ancestors. Vovi was one of over 15 million 23andMe customers who sent their saliva off to be analyzed by the company.
But last month, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, and it announced it would be selling off that massive genetic database. Today on the show, what might happen to Vovi's genetic data as 23andMe works its way through the bankruptcy process, how the bankruptcy system has treated consumer data privacy in the past, and what this case reveals about the data that all of us willingly hand over to companies every single day.
This episode was produced by Sylvie Douglis and edited by Jess Jiang. It was engineered by Harry Paul and Neal Rauch and fact-checked by Tyler Jones. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.
Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: NPR Source Audio - "Lazybones," "Twirp," and "On Your Marks"
But last month, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, and it announced it would be selling off that massive genetic database. Today on the show, what might happen to Vovi's genetic data as 23andMe works its way through the bankruptcy process, how the bankruptcy system has treated consumer data privacy in the past, and what this case reveals about the data that all of us willingly hand over to companies every single day.
This episode was produced by Sylvie Douglis and edited by Jess Jiang. It was engineered by Harry Paul and Neal Rauch and fact-checked by Tyler Jones. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.
Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: NPR Source Audio - "Lazybones," "Twirp," and "On Your Marks"
Malthusian Swerve
Friday, March 28, 2025
Earth can sustain life for another 100 million years, but can we?
The last time we shrank the federal workforce
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
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 in the 90s, under a Democrat.
Today on the show: Where they found waste the last time we really looked. (Hint: it wasn't jobs.) And why the pace of firings under Trump might start to slow down.
For more:
- Lessons for the Future of Government Reform
- Is government too big? Reflections on the size and composition of today's federal government
- Creating a Government That Works Better and Costs Less
This episode of Planet Money was produced by Willa Rubin. It was edited by Jess Jiang and engineered by Jimmy Keeley. We had fact-checking help from Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer. Special thanks to Ben Zipperer.
Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: Audio Network - "West Green Road," "Raise Up," and "Blue and Green."
A president has tried to massively shrink the size of the federal government before. It was in the 90s, under a Democrat.
Today on the show: Where they found waste the last time we really looked. (Hint: it wasn't jobs.) And why the pace of firings under Trump might start to slow down.
For more:
- Lessons for the Future of Government Reform
- Is government too big? Reflections on the size and composition of today's federal government
- Creating a Government That Works Better and Costs Less
This episode of Planet Money was produced by Willa Rubin. It was edited by Jess Jiang and engineered by Jimmy Keeley. We had fact-checking help from Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer. Special thanks to Ben Zipperer.
Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Music: Audio Network - "West Green Road," "Raise Up," and "Blue and Green."
The case for Fed Independence in the Nixon Tapes
Friday, January 10, 2025
You know Watergate, but do you know Fedgate? The more subtle scandal with more monetary policy and, arguably, much higher stakes.
In today's episode, we listen back through the Nixon White House tapes to search for evidence of an alarming chapter in American economic history: When the President of the United States seemingly flouted the norms of Fed Independence in order to pressure the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board into decisions that were economically bad in the long run but good for Nixon's upcoming election.
The tale of Nixon and his Fed Chair, Arthur Burns, has become the cautionary tale about why Fed Independence matters. That choice may have started a decade of catastrophic inflation. And Burns' story is now being invoked as President-elect Trump has explicitly said he'd like more control over the Federal Reserve.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
In today's episode, we listen back through the Nixon White House tapes to search for evidence of an alarming chapter in American economic history: When the President of the United States seemingly flouted the norms of Fed Independence in order to pressure the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board into decisions that were economically bad in the long run but good for Nixon's upcoming election.
The tale of Nixon and his Fed Chair, Arthur Burns, has become the cautionary tale about why Fed Independence matters. That choice may have started a decade of catastrophic inflation. And Burns' story is now being invoked as President-elect Trump has explicitly said he'd like more control over the Federal Reserve.
Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
What Happens When A Nation Goes To War, And A Small Few Bear The Costs
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
As 20 years of war draw to a close, a divide separates those who served and those who haven't. The "civ-mil divide" can leave veterans alienated and civilians unfamiliar with what it means to serve.
Have You Ever Been Conned? NPR Wants To Hear From You
Wednesday, July 03, 2019
Millions of people are defrauded each year. NPR wants to hear your stories.
Episode 661: The Less Deadly Catch
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Today on the show: how an economic fix helped made the deadliest job in America safer, and why people are angry about it.
Episode 454: The Lollipop War
Friday, March 16, 2018
What do sugar farmers have against candy? A lot, according to candy manufacturers.
How Fossil Fuels Helped A Chemist Launch The Plastic Industry
Thursday, September 29, 2016
A century ago, people relied on nature to make basic things: toothbrushes were made of silver, combs were made of ivory, and clothes were made of cotton. In a lot of ways, life as we know it today, is possible because of plastic. We can now afford phones, computers and medical devices in part because of one chemist's discovery a century ago. But his descendants have some regrets.
After Hurricane Sandy, Many Chose To Move Rather Than Rebuild
Friday, August 26, 2016
After catastrophic flooding, it might make sense not to rebuild and insure homes that were damaged. Some neighborhoods have retreated rather than rebuilt and insured. That has a lot of advantages, but it is hard to pull off.
To Lure Patients, Pennsylvania Hospital Refunds Unhappy Customers
Friday, April 29, 2016
As patients increasingly have more choice in hospitals, hospitals look to stand out. Geisinger Health is taking cue from retail and refunding unsatisfied customers. Experts say that's smart business.
Economists On Candidates' Proposals: Mostly Bad
Friday, February 26, 2016
Presidential candidates are making a slew of promises on the campaign trail.
We took a sample of the most economically novel proposals and asked a panel of economists: Are they good or bad?
Our panel includes 22 economists from across the political spectrum. They identified themselves as left, right and ...
Once Prone To Danger On The High Seas, New System Protects Alaska Fishermen
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
When regulations were imposed to protect Alaska's fisheries it led to a dangerous race to catch fish as fast as possible. A new system to manage sustainable fishing is making the job safer.
How The Desperate Norwegian Salmon Industry Created A Sushi Staple
Friday, September 18, 2015
Salmon is a staple of sushi now, but it used to be unheard of in Japan to eat raw salmon. The story of how Norway convinced Japan to love salmon sushi.
With Fares Constantly In Flux, Price Tags May Be On Their Way Out
Thursday, July 02, 2015
It's easy to forget that the price tag was only invented 150 years ago. It's a fairly recent innovation, and the Planet Money podcast explains how it might be on its way out.
A 12-Year-Old Girl Takes On The Video Game Industry
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
In a lot of video games, the default character is a man. If you want to play as a woman, you often have to pay.
Trash Travels: One Teddy Bear's Journey
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Last week, for our show on the global business of trash, we talked to the MIT trash trackers. The researchers attached small trackers to three thousand pieces of garbage — an old cell phone, a sofa, a soda can, a banana peel, anything that people in Seattle ...
One Reason To Get Whatever Size Pizza You Want
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
My Planet Money colleague Quoctrung Bui argues that you should always buy a larger pizza. Using a fancy infographic, he shows that often for just a small amount of money, you can get a lot more pizza.
The only problem with his argument: negative marginal returns on pizza.
...
When The Supreme Court Decided Tomatoes Were Vegetables
Thursday, December 26, 2013
In a recent show, we talked about an importer that sold pillows shaped like stuffed animals. Or maybe they're stuffed animals that can be used as pillows.
It turns out, this distinction — is it fundamentally a pillow or a stuffed animal? — is important, because there's a tariff on ...
Millions Of Americans Are Leaving The Workforce. Why?
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Earlier this year, the percentage of Americans who are working or looking for work fell to its lowest level since 1979.
The figure (wonks call it labor force participation rate) rose for decades, as more women entered the workforce. It started falling over a decade ago. And the decline is ...
