archive
Planet Money
Does Medicaid Make People Healthier?
July 3, 2012 The question is more contentious than it sounds. A new study may finally provide an answer.
Planet Money
Why Does The Mortgage-Interest Tax Deduction Still Exist?
June 6, 2012 If you own a home in the U.S., if you have a mortgage, you can deduct the interest you pay on that mortgage from your taxes. It's a popular, well-entrenched policy. But according to one policy adviser in Washington, "the mortgage-interest deduction ... makes no sense."
Planet Money
When Lobbyists Pay To Meet With Congressmen
April 20, 2012 "...the fundraiser has 35,000 bucks in checks sitting in her pocket right now. And we're going to talk about public policy while we take the checks."
Planet Money
Why Lobbyists Dodge Calls From Congressmen
April 19, 2012 We imagine the lobbyist stalking the halls of Congress trying to use cash to influence important people. But often, the Congressman is stalking the lobbyist, asking for money.
Planet Money
The Most (And Least) Lucrative Committees In Congress
April 6, 2012 See which committees do the most (and which do the least) to help lawmakers raise money for re-election.
Planet Money
Take The Money And Run For Office
March 30, 2012 We imagine lobbyists stalking the halls of Congress, trying to influence lawmakers with cash. But often, it's the other way around: Members of Congress stalk lobbyists, looking for contributions.
Planet Money
Senator By Day, Telemarketer By Night
March 30, 2012 Lawmakers have two jobs: making laws, and raising money. "I think most Americans would be shocked ... if they knew how much time a United States Senator spends raising money," says Sen. Dick Durbin.
Planet Money
Jack Abramoff Explains The 'Lobbyist Safecracker Method'
January 27, 2012 What do you do if you're a lobbyist and you need to get in the door to talk to a hostile senator? Start rounding up checks.
Planet Money
Forget Stocks Or Bonds, Invest In A Lobbyist
January 6, 2012 For every dollar spent on lobbying for a 2004 corporate tax bill, companies benefited $220, a new study says. That's a return of 22,000 percent.
Planet Money
Payroll Tax Fight: Where Are The Lobbyists?
December 22, 2011 "We are spectators at a dysfunctional and buffoonic clown show," one lobbyist says.
Planet Money
The National Debt: What The Left And Right Agree On
November 22, 2011 The supercommittee failed. But when it comes to long-term U.S. debt, the left and right agree. A lot.
Planet Money
Californians: Planet Money Is Coming!
October 19, 2011 David Kestenbaum and Alex Blumberg will be doing two live events next week in Santa Barbara and Chico.
Planet Money
How To Avoid The Oil Curse
September 6, 2011 Resource-rich countries like Libya often end up with broken economies and autocratic rulers. The trick to avoiding the resource curse: Fight basic human nature.
Planet Money
Preschool: The Best Job-Training Program
August 12, 2011 If you want adults to have jobs, the best time to train them is when they're 3 years old, an economist says.
Planet Money
An Internet Rock Star Tells All
May 13, 2011 Jonathan Coulton's songs almost never get played on the radio. He doesn't have a contract with a music label. Yet he's a one man counterargument to the idea that musicians can't make money making music. In 2010, his music brought in $500,000.
