The Indicator from Planet Money

Whether it’s oil from Venezuela or somewhere else, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve needs to be refilled. The SPR is widely considered critical for energy security.  On today’s show, the challenges to refilling the reserves at a time of high federal debt and climbing gas prices. 

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. 
Your Next Listen 
— So… how long before these oil prices get REALLY bad? 
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Follow us to Tennessee where hemp farmers are already pivoting in the face of a state ban and soon, a looming federal ban on basically all THC-derived hemp products. Will Congress step in to save this $28 billion industry? 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— How would-be weed merchants hit a ‘grass ceiling’ 

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This week’s indicators: Tracking your pain at the gas pump in real-time; OpenAI’s IPO hard-launch tug-of-war; one unexpected ingredient is making fertilizer—and potentially your groceries—a whole lot more expensive.

Fact checking by Schuyler Swenson.

Your Next Listen 
— What Iran teaches us about why wars start

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A vital artery for Saudi oil exports is under siege and it’s not the Strait of Hormuz. Today on the show, we explain what’s going on in the Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane connected to the Red Sea, why it’s important, and why the global oil crisis is poised to get even worse. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf   

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Big tech companies are borrowing billions of dollars to finance the build-out of AI data centers, and your 401(k) might be helping to fuel that. Today on the show, what AI hyperscalers are doing to the bond market.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Who's financing Meta's massive AI data center?

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— Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter! 
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