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Headshot of Cooper Katz McKim
Courtesy of Cooper Katz McKim

Cooper Katz McKim

Assistant Producer, The Indicator from Planet Money

Cooper Katz McKim is an Assistant Producer for NPR's daily economics podcast The Indicator from Planet Money. Before The Indicator, McKim reported at NPR Member stations in South Carolina and Wyoming. At Wyoming Public Radio, he filed stories with NPR's Environment And Energy Collaborative on bankruptcies, carbon capture and economic transition. He's won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Use of Sound. More recently, he's served as a podcast producer at Sports Illustrated and the HISTORY Channel. He graduated from Tufts University and now resides in Denver, Colorado, where he spends his time mountain biking and playing jazz piano.

Story Archive

Thursday

Goodbye, Chevron. Hello, lawsuits!

The Supreme Court's decision to effectively end Chevron deference will have far-reaching implications for agency regulations, including from the Environmental Protection Agency. NurPhoto/Getty Images hide caption

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NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Goodbye, Chevron. Hello, lawsuits!

The Supreme Court's decision to quash Chevron deference means countless agency regulations are now more vulnerable to being challenged and struck down. Think the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to boost electric vehicle sales, discrimination protections against transgender people, and rules that expand eligibility for overtime.

Goodbye, Chevron. Hello, lawsuits!

Listen · 9:23
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Wednesday

The conservative roots behind the Chevron doctrine

One of the boats named in the Loper Bright case prepares to dock in New Jersey. Rachel Wisniewski/Getty Images hide caption

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Rachel Wisniewski/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

The conservative roots behind the Chevron doctrine

When the Supreme Court decided Chevron U.S.A., Inc v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. 40 years ago, it didn't turn many heads. But eventually, it became the most widely cited case in all of administrative law. It set a legal precedent to give federal agencies the benefit of the doubt when the law is ambiguous, known as Chevron deference.

The conservative roots behind the Chevron doctrine

Listen · 9:29
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Wednesday

How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy?

President Joe Biden receiving updates on economic conditions in 2022. Susan Walsh hide caption

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Susan Walsh

The Indicator from Planet Money

How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy?

Voters have a bleak outlook on the economy right now, and many are pointing the finger at President Biden. At the same time, many voters have a rosy view of the economy when Donald Trump was president. But how much credit or blame should a president get for the economy? And how do partisan politics play into our perception of the economy's performance?

How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy?

Listen · 9:09
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Friday

One of the hottest jobs in AI right now: 'types-question guy'

Prompt engineers ask AI questions like the rest of us. But they make the answers more useful. CFOTO hide caption

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CFOTO

The Indicator from Planet Money

One of the hottest jobs in AI right now: 'types-question guy'

U.S. job growth cooled this month. But one job is hot to the touch: AI prompt engineer. The role can command a six figure salary, but ... what is it? Today, we speak to an AI prompt engineer to figure out what they actually do and how long the job could remain hot.

One of the hottest jobs in AI right now: 'types-question guy'

Listen · 9:24
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Tuesday

The economic implications of Europe's jolt right

Italian Prime Minister, from the right-wing populist party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) Giorgia Meloni standing with other European leaders Thierry Monasse/Getty News Images hide caption

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Thierry Monasse/Getty News Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

The economic implications of Europe's jolt right

Europe is expecting a wave of victories from far-right candidates in upcoming national elections. Voters are showing they're worried about income inequality, immigration and the effects of participating in a global economy. Today, we take a look at what the swing to the right means for Europe's economy and the European stance on globalization.

Globalization v2

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Thursday

Do polluters pay, or do they get paid?

Activists demonstrate for the Loss and Damage Fund, which provides a flow of money from rich to less rich nations to address the impacts of climate change. Peter Dejong/AP hide caption

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Peter Dejong/AP

The Indicator from Planet Money

Do polluters pay, or do they get paid?

For years, rich nations have sent money to lower-income countries to help deal with the impacts of climate change. But it turns out, these wealthy nations are finding creative ways to funnel some of that financing back into their own economies. Today, we look at how the climate crisis is reviving a debate over how money should flow from rich to less-rich nations.

Do polluters pay, or do they get paid?

Listen · 9:03
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Tuesday

Tracking the underground bike theft economy

Bike stripped of parts picture alliance hide caption

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picture alliance

The Indicator from Planet Money

Tracking the underground bike theft economy

A few years ago, bike enthusiast Bryan Hance got a tip. A whole bunch of expensive bikes that were stolen in the Bay Area had suddenly turned up ... for sale on a Facebook page in Mexico. The revelation started Bryan down a years-long investigation where he would uncover an intricate, large-scale criminal operation out of Jalisco, Mexico.

Tracking the underground bike theft economy

Listen · 9:11
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Monday

Is chicken getting cheap? And other questions

One expert says the Federal Reserve is at its best when it's sending out a signal, light a lighthouse. Mel Evans/AP hide caption

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Mel Evans/AP

The Indicator from Planet Money

Is chicken getting cheap? And other questions

We are back to answer your questions that you, our listeners, have been sending. On today's show, is chicken actually getting cheaper? Why doesn't the Federal Reserve use different interest rates around the country? And: is election spending an indicator of economic health?

Is chicken getting cheap? And other questions

Listen · 8:58
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Thursday

Why California's high speed rail was always going to blow out

Contractors work on a high-speed rail project in California. Bloomberg hide caption

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Bloomberg

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why California's high speed rail was always going to blow out

99.5 percent of megaprojects are either over time, over budget or have lower benefits than expected. What's going wrong? Today, we look at case studies from California's high speed rail project to the Sydney Opera House to consider the do's and don'ts of ambitious projects.

Why California's high speed rail was always going to blow out

Listen · 9:22
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Friday

The cutest indicator in the world

Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng announces two young pandas will come to The National Zoo in Washington DC by the end of the year. The Washington Post hide caption

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The Washington Post

The Indicator from Planet Money

The cutest indicator in the world

Indicators of the Week is back, where we dig into three economic snapshots from the global economy. This week, we are exploring consumers' ever so slightly improved perception of the economy, what's going on with carbon offsets, and why China is sending some pandas to U.S. zoos.

The cutest indicator in the world

Listen · 9:18
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Thursday

Why tariffs are SO back

An image characterizing the Whiskey Rebellion when a government inspector is tarred during the Insurrection of 1794 in the four western counties of Pennsylvania, caused by Hamilton's excise tax. Bettman hide caption

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Bettman

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why tariffs are SO back

Last week, President Biden placed tariffs on a slew of Chinese goods. When Donald Trump was president, he did the same. Regardless of who wins the election, the US is gearing up for heavy tariffs on imports in 2024. But this is far from the first time the economic tool has been in style.

Why tariffs are SO back

Listen · 9:25
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Friday

Trade wars and talent shortages

It may soon get easier to become a certified public accountant, reducing the number of required college credit hours from 150 to 120. SOPA Images/Lightrocket hide caption

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SOPA Images/Lightrocket

The Indicator from Planet Money

Trade wars and talent shortages

Indicators of the Week is back. This time, an in-depth look at what Biden's massive tariffs on Chinese imports might mean for inflation and jobs. After that, why it may soon become easier to become a certified public accountant, addressing that nagging CPA shortage.

Trade wars and talent shortages

Listen · 9:29
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Tuesday

The "Winner Take All" problem

A 2017 march against sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

The Indicator from Planet Money

The "Winner Take All" problem

When June Carbone, Naomi Cahn and Nancy Levit set out to write a book about women in the workforce, they initially thought it would be a story all about women's march towards workplace equality. But when they looked at the data, they found something more disturbing: of the ways in which women's push toward workplace equality has actually been stalled for years.

The "Winner Take All" problem

Listen · 9:29
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Friday

A new gold rush and other indicators

In 2010, gold surpassed $1400 an ounce for the first time. Today, it sits above $2300 an ounce. Al Grillo/ASSOCIATED PRESS hide caption

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Al Grillo/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Indicator from Planet Money

A new gold rush and other indicators

Indicators of the Week is back! This time, we dig into why gold prices are spiking, why the Biden administration has only spent a small portion of money pledged to infrastructure projects, and what the spurt of streaming consolidations means for you.

A new gold rush and other indicators

Listen · 9:20
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Thursday

Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

CA Highway Patrol officers walk on the University of California, Los Angeles campus on May 1, 2024 near a pro-Palestinian encampment. Hundreds of protesters have since been arrested on UCLA's campus. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

College campuses nationwide are erupting with protests against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. A consistent theme among these actions: a call for university endowment "divestment."

Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

Listen · 9:23
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Wednesday

What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

A cabinet maker in North Carolina is seeing interest rates slow down home development. His clients in the Outer Banks though, pictured here, are moving ahead as normal. John Greim/LightRocket hide caption

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John Greim/LightRocket

The Indicator from Planet Money

What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

The Beigie Awards are back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. This time, we shine a spotlight on one entry that explains how some businesses are feeling the impacts of higher for longer interest rates.

What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

Listen · 9:16
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Monday

Taxing the final frontier

Luxury beach front houses on the Outer Banks in North Carolina John Greim/LightRocket hide caption

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John Greim/LightRocket

The Indicator from Planet Money

Taxing the final frontier

Launches by commercial space companies are becoming more frequent. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration licensed 117, an all-time high. But these spaceflight companies aren't paying for all of the FAA's services that they use.

Taxing the final frontier

Listen · 8:54
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Wednesday

Grocery prices, credit card debt, and your 401K (Two Indicators)
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Planet Money

Grocery prices, credit card debt, and your 401K (Two Indicators)

What's going on with consumers? This is one of the trickiest puzzles of this weird economic moment we're in. We've covered a version of this before under the term "vibecession," but it's safe to say, the struggle is in fact real. It is not just in our heads. Sure, sure, some data is looking great. But not all of it.

Grocery prices, credit card debt, and your 401K (Two Indicators)

Listen · 17:41
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Profiting off greater risk: the reinsurance game

Insurers say they need higher premiums from FL homeowners to offset mounting losses from hurricane claims, severe weather events and resulting increases in the cost of reinsurance. South Florida Sun-Sentinel hide caption

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Indicator from Planet Money

Profiting off greater risk: the reinsurance game

When an insurance company can't cover all of its claims, it actually has its own insurance. This is called "reinsurance." How does that work and why do reinsurers look at their risk pool differently than say home or auto insurers?

Profiting off greater risk: the reinsurance game

Listen · 9:26
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Monday

Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions
AFP Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions

We are back to answer your listener questions. On today's show, we explain reverse mortgages and their risks, why insurance has gotten so expensive, and whether there's a catch to charitable donations at the store.

Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions

Listen · 9:29
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Wednesday

Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

EU Commission's Margrethe Vestager speaking to the media in Brussels in March 2024. On Tuesday April 9th she announced an investigation into Chinese wind turbine subsidies. Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Europe hide caption

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Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Europe

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

Europe wants clean energy, but it's struggling to compete with the low cost of China's green technology. The E.U. just announced it's investigating the subsidies received by Chinese wind turbine suppliers, which play a part in those low costs.

Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

Listen · 9:27
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Monday

Why companies spin off

A drone show in advance of General Electric splitting into three companies: GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, and GE Healthcare Gary Hershorn/Corbis News/Getty Images hide caption

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Gary Hershorn/Corbis News/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why companies spin off

General Electric has been staggering along for years as a conglomerate. But recently, it's turned to a popular strategy to unlock new value: spinning off. Just last week, GE spun off its clean energy business into a new company: GE Vernova. On today's show, we explore what a spin off is and why companies do them.

Why companies spin off

Listen · 9:22
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Wednesday

Can an old law bring down grocery prices?
David Zalubowski/AP

The Indicator from Planet Money

Can an old law bring down grocery prices?

Since 2020, grocery prices have shot up. If you're looking to save a buck, it's often more affordable to shop for groceries at a big retailer like Walmart. But some smaller grocers say those low prices are the result of an unfair playing field—and they're looking to a little-used antitrust law from the 1930s as a solution. Today, we consider the Robinson-Patman Act and whether reviving it could bring consumers some relief.

Can an old law bring down grocery prices?

Listen · 9:15
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Thursday

Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Shoppers walk past a delivery truck outside a Family Dollar in Hyattsville, Maryland. Family Dollar has announced it's closing 600 stores this year. Bloomberg / Contributor hide caption

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Bloomberg / Contributor

The Indicator from Planet Money

Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Many broad economic indicators are positive, but consumer sentiment is negative. Even with cooling inflation and low unemployment, consumers are still feeling the economic strain. In today's episode, we look at three ways the US consumer is feeling the pinch.

Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Listen · 8:13
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