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. 
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We have some grievances. Economic ones. And we’re airing them out. 

On today’s show: Redeeming fast food rewards points in airports, not knowing the full price of your meal upfront, and the pen-and-paper restaurant bill slowdown. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.  

Your Next Listen 

— Three beefs: U.S. and Brazil, Taco Bell and liability, Waymo and trial lawyers

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The Indicator from Planet Money

Petty! Econ! Grievances!

It’s Indicators of the Week! 

Today on the show: Brazil’s fast payments system that’s got the Trump administration huffy, why Taco Bell might be liable for their role in cyclospora infections and why some lawyers are lobbying against driverless cars. 

Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges. 

Your Next Listen 
— Can I get my tariff money back now? 

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Three beefs: U.S. and Brazil, Taco Bell and liability, Waymo and trial lawyers

Paramount’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has a few hurdles ahead of it. One of them is an FCC approval. But a recent investigation shows that Paramount and the FCC have a dubious relationship, one with potential conflicts of interest.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.

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Can Paramount "gift" its way past the FCC?

Biz-friendly Texas is opening a stock exchange, built and based in the state. Can it become—or best—Wall Street? And how has politics influenced the birth of Y’all Street?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— ESG bans cost Texas

Connect with The Indicator 
— Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter!
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See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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Can Y’all Street outflank Wall Street?

The formerly sleepy economies of suburban Austin, Texas and Syracuse, NY are getting two new semiconductor chip plants. They’re bringing thousands of jobs and dollars to the area but while Austin’s housing market seems to be handling the change well, Syracuse is in the midst of an affordability crisis. On today’s show, why?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. 

Your Next Listen 
— A solution to the housing shortage?

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— Find our socials, YouTube and more! 
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Tale of Two Cities

Why has the Food and Drug Administration taken so long to approve new sunscreens? Unlike the rest of the world, the FDA only just approved its first new ingredient in nearly three decades. We learn about a proposal to speed up drug and sunscreen innovation, and a skincare influencer who lobbied for change. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.  

Your Next Listen 
— The sneaky way companies get new chemicals into our food

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 preferences.

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The Indicator from Planet Money