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[The Planet Money Valentine’s Day Special: Public Domain, Data Journalism, and Economic Romance]-[Betty Boop, Excel Olympics, Penny-isms: Our 2026 Valentines]

Planet Money · B2 · 2026-02-13

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📋 Summary

Celebrating Intellectual Property and Economic Quirks: A Planet Money Valentine

In this special Valentine's Day episode, Planet Money hosts celebrate their favorite facets of economics, data, and intellectual property. The episode serves as a tribute to the "public domain," the rise of rigorous data journalism, and the unique, often overlooked systems that power our daily lives.

The Liberation of Betty Boop

Jennifer Jenkins, a law professor and copyright expert, joins the show to discuss the significance of "Public Domain Day." After two decades of frozen copyright terms—driven largely by lobbying from corporations like Disney—the public domain has finally begun to expand again. As of January 1st, works from 1923, including the original 1930 version of Betty Boop, are now free for public use. The hosts celebrate this by creating an official Planet Money Valentine featuring the iconic character, playfully punning her catchphrase into "Boop-boop-a-duopoly" to appeal to the "market dominator" in one's life.

The Art of Spreadsheeting

Senior Supervising Editor Jess Jang highlights the "Microsoft Excel Collegiate Competition," a niche event that treats data manipulation with the same intensity as esports. The hosts laud the Washington Post’s coverage of these "Excel experts," noting that the article by Jesse Daugherty applies the rigor of sports journalism to the mastery of spreadsheets. They reflect on how Excel serves as a universal "language"—a powerful, user-friendly tool that is surprisingly vital in industries ranging from finance to manufacturing.

The Efficiency of RFID Technology

Alexei Horowitz-Gazi offers a Valentine to the self-checkout system at Uniqlo. Unlike the frustrating, error-prone self-checkouts found in most grocery stores, Uniqlo’s system uses RFID (radio transponder) tags to scan entire bins of items instantly. The episode explains the economics behind this: while RFID tags have dropped in price to roughly four cents each, they remain too costly for low-margin items like produce, explaining why this "Valentine-worthy" technology hasn't reached the grocery sector yet.

The Resilient Penny

Erica Barris presents a heartfelt tribute to "the one that got away": the U.S. penny. Despite the Treasury’s decision to stop minting new pennies due to the fact that they cost more than one cent to produce, the hosts discuss how the coin remains a permanent fixture of American culture. Its influence is deeply embedded in the English language through idioms like "a penny for your thoughts" and "penny-wise and pound-foolish," ensuring the penny will live on in our vernacular long after it disappears from circulation.

Accountability Through Data Journalism

Finally, the team honors the investigative journalists at 404 Media. This independent, reporter-owned outlet is praised for its "retro internet vibe" and its commitment to following public data to uncover government activities. Nick Fountain highlights their reporting on Palantir and ICE, demonstrating how simple, "old school" searches of federal procurement databases can hold powerful entities accountable. The segment serves as an inspiration for listeners to engage with public records, emphasizing that "the public has a right to lots of information."

By blending legal history, technological analysis, and a love for the niche corners of the economy, Planet Money delivers a Valentine that celebrates the curiosity and accountability that define their work.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I need a moment.
2
I need a moment.
3
I need a moment.
4
I'm trying to find the right word.
5
That's the one.
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📝Key Phrases

1
chock full of
2
have an affinity for
3
fiercely independent
4
unapologetically sexy
5
enter the public domain
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📖 Transcript

This is Planet Money from NPR.
So, Jennifer, you got what I sent you, yes?
I did.
It's the greatest mystery of the year so far.
This is Jennifer Jenkins, lawyer, professor.
You may have heard her before.

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