The Indicator from Planet Money

How to get your tariff cash back

Businesses might finally see some tariff money refunded to them. That’s because this week, the federal government officially rolled out a process that allows businesses to apply for a refund. Today on the show, we speak with three business owners about the unexpected simplicity and frustration of the Trump tariff refund process.  Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour] The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter [http://npr.org/newsletter/indicator]  Related episodes:  Can I get my tariff money back now? [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5721268/can-i-get-my-tariff-money-back-now] Trump's backup options for tariffs [https://www.npr.org/2025/11/12/nx-s1-5605545/trumps-backup-options-for-tariffs] Three ways companies are getting around tariffs [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/26/nx-s1-5515756/three-ways-companies-are-getting-around-tariffs] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter]. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://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 [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

The Iran war puts the petrodollar regime to the test

The global oil market has supported the U.S. dollar for more than 50 years. But the system has shown signs of cracking. Amidst the Iran war, Iran has reportedly been collecting some tolls in yuan. Today on the show, how the petrodollar regime came to be and what losing it would mean for the U.S. Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour]The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter [http://npr.org/newsletter/indicator]  Related episodes:  Can Europe sell America? [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/27/nx-s1-5689039/can-europe-sell-america] Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/15/nx-s1-5785228/think-the-oil-shock-is-bad-in-the-us-look-here#:~:text=Look%20here%20%3A%20The%20Indicator%20from%20Planet%20Money%20Shipping%20through%20the,trying%20to%20stop%20the%20bleeding.] Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian gulf [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5786830/fixing-the-oil-crisis-might-not-fix-the-persian-gulf] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter].   See pcm.adswizz.com [https://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 [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Corporate landlords aren't the real villain

So you want to buy a house. You MIGHT notice that the owner isn’t a neighbor in your town, but a large corporation. A recent housing bill that passed the Senate wants to change that. This bill would restrict large institutional investors from owning too many single family homes. The hope is to improve affordability. But what’s the real connection between housing affordability and corporate landlords? We look at the evidence.  Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour] The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter [http://npr.org/newsletter/indicator]  Related episodes:  Is the YIMBY movement doomed?  [https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/02/24/g-s1-111204/is-the-yimby-movement-doomed] How to fix a housing shortage [https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/1197961522/minneapolis-minnesota-housing-2040-tim-walz]  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter].   See pcm.adswizz.com [https://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 [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Is anyone gonna do anything about these Iran War trades?

Traders have made millions betting on the Iran War. They are also suspiciously timed. No public information, then boom: a Truth Social post from President Trump. Cue fat windfalls for the traders. It’s starting to look a lot like insider trading.  On today’s show, suspicious bets on the Iran War. And are federal regulators or prosecutors looking into these trades … is anyone? Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour] Related episodes:  Did Trump enable insider trading? [https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/1245044457/did-trump-enable-insider-trading#:~:text=barred%20from%20government-,The%20Indicator%20from%20Planet%20Money,Arch'%20near%20Arlington%20National%20Cemetery] Do traders who place big bets make big money? [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5723935/do-traders-who-place-big-bets-make-big-money] How much is the Iran war costing us? [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/18/nx-s1-5751161/how-much-is-the-iran-war-costing-us] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money]. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://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 [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Fed chair, health care, and AI shoe repair

It’s Indicators of the Week. Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.  On today’s episode: the drama behind the Fed Chair nominee’s wealth; the shoe company Allbirds is becoming an AI firm; and a drop in how many people are paying for their Affordable Care Act plans. The Indicator is launching a newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter [http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter] Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour] Related episodes:  One Fed battle after another [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/13/nx-s1-5675867/one-fed-battle-after-another] The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future [https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5646628/the-ghosts-of-obamacare-past-present-and-future]Allbirds: Tim Brown & Joey Zwillinger [https://www.npr.org/2019/06/07/730695224/allbirds-tim-brown-joey-zwillinger] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money]. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://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 [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]