Alan Greenspan, the legendary former Federal Reserve chair, dies ^39.3%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 6/22/2026, 11:53 AM

Post Hoc (False Cause) 29.7% - Halo Effect 25.5% - Ambiguity (Equivocation) 21.6%

Alan Greenspan, who steered the Federal Reserve for nearly two decades, through some of the longest economic booms in U.S. history, has died. Greenspan died Monday at his home in Washington. He was 100. Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s. At a time when it seemed... more

Here's how much the the Iran war cost — and how its effects will linger ^33%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 6/17/2026, 9:23 PM

Appeal to Authority 46.5% - Post Hoc (False Cause) 38.2% - Biased Writer Voice 22%

As conflicts go, the Iran war, should a loose framework and ceasefire deal hold, was relatively short in duration. But its costs and aftereffects will likely linger for years. The months-long conflict, which pitted the world's most powerful military against a far weaker, yet strategically adept, adversary cost the lives of 13 U.S.... more

Inflation tops 4% for the first time in 3 years on spike in gasoline prices ^38.5%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 6/10/2026, 1:08 PM

Post Hoc (False Cause) 35.5% - Negativity Bias 31.5% - Framing Effect 23.3%

Soaring gasoline prices, triggered by the U.S. war with Iran, have pushed inflation to its highest level in more than three years. A report from the Labor Department on Wednesday showed consumer prices in May were up 4.2% from a year ago. That's the biggest annual increase since April of 2023. By contrast, the Labor Department says... more

Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as next chair of the Federal Reserve ^28.7%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 5/13/2026, 7:00 PM

Post Hoc (False Cause) 18.3% - Ambiguity (Equivocation) 17.3% - Negativity Bias 16.5%

President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve won Senate confirmation on Wednesday, just in time to officially take over as the leader of the central bank this week. Trump is hoping Kevin Warsh can lead the Fed into much lower interest rates — but the president could be frustrated by persistent inflation. Warsh was confirmed on a... more

Prices are up, but Mother's Day still means brunch ^15%

KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR - By Alina Selyukh, Scott Horsley - 5/10/2026, 1:27 PM

Appeal to Authority 7.7% - Framing Effect 7.5% - Optimism Bias 7.2%

Sign up for the Planet Money newsletter. The world is confusing. Economics can help. Economist Michael Swanson offers a tip for this Mother's Day: "If you really want to show mom that love and TLC, you can whip up a pretty nice buffet at home for a lot less money" than going out for that classic brunch, says Swanson, who tracks food... more

Trade court strikes down a second round of Trump tariffs ^13.3%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 5/7/2026, 10:35 PM

Framing Effect 9.1% - Biased Writer Voice 9.1% - Availability Heuristic 6.6%

Trade court strikes down more of Trump's tariffs The Court of International Trade has struck down a second round of global tariffs ordered by President Trump, after his earlier import taxes were outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a victory for importers and a setback for the Trump administration, the Court of International Trade... more

The U.S. economy shows resilience despite the war with Iran ^63.3%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 4/30/2026, 8:43 AM

Framing Effect 19.8% - Biased Writer Voice 19.8% - Post Hoc (False Cause) 16.8%

The U.S. economy grew at a solid pace in the first three months of the year, despite soaring energy prices triggered by the war with Iran. The Commerce Department said Thursday that the nation's gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 2% in January, February and March. That's a significant improvement from the anemic 0.5% growth... more

Inflation surges to highest level in nearly 2 years as energy costs spike ^7.1%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 4/10/2026, 1:07 PM

Post Hoc (False Cause) 20.7% - Pessimism Bias 14.5% - Availability Heuristic 13.1%

The U.S. war with Iran and the resulting spike in energy prices have pushed inflation to its highest level in nearly two years. A report from the Labor Department Friday showed consumer prices in March were up 3.3% from a year ago. That's the biggest annual increase since May of 2024. Prices jumped 0.9% between February and March, with... more

Judge blocks DOJ's criminal probe of Federal Reserve, blasting it as political ^88.1%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 3/13/2026, 9:07 PM

A federal judge put the brakes on the Justice Department's criminal probe of the Federal Reserve, saying it was part of an improper campaign by the Trump administration to pressure the central bank into cutting interest rates more aggressively. Judge James Boasberg quashed subpoenas that had been issued to the Fed in January, ostensibly... more

7 key things to know about Trump's tariffs after the Supreme Court decision ^65.7%

NPR - By Scott Horsley - 2/20/2026, 3:38 PM

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Trump overstepped his authority when he ordered tariffs on imports from nearly every country in the world, using a 1970s "emergency" statute. Here are 7 things to know about what's at stake. Tariffs are raising a lot of money — but not as much as Trump claims more