Prompt Cast
Investigating Raw Material Shortages in the Pet Food Industry
TLDR Planet Money investigates raw material shortages in the pet food industry after a listener's cat's special prescription food was out of stock, while also discussing full employment, Taylor Swift re-recording her old songs, the myth of free shipping, and the challenges of connecting real identities to crypto transactions.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
A listener reached out to Planet Money for help finding out why their cat's special prescription food was out of stock, leading to a investigation into raw material shortages in the pet food industry.
03:53
Planet Money discusses the concept of full employment and how economists define it.
07:57
Employers boosting wages to attract workers can lead to inflation, which is a concern for the Federal Reserve as it navigates the balance between full employment and rising prices.
11:46
Taylor Swift is re-recording her old songs to regain control over her music, utilizing her songwriter copyright to create new masters that she owns.
15:16
Free shipping is a myth, with large retailers like Amazon benefiting from special bulk pricing and strategically located fulfillment centers to reduce shipping costs, while regular customers end up paying the highest rates.
18:36
Retailers absorb the cost of shipping to keep online shoppers happy, even as goods become more expensive.
22:16
Investigators use various clues to connect real identities to pseudonymous crypto transactions, and even though seizing crypto can be challenging, law enforcement can compel individuals to hand over their private keys in certain situations.
25:48
Kenny Malone and the team are working hard to produce a comic book for the character Microface, with the artist Jamal Igle almost finished with the illustrations.
