Planet Money marked Valentine’s Day with a curated sweep of stories it says it “loves,” pulling together copyright shifts, competitive spreadsheets, surveillance reporting, and the language of small change. Hosted by Kenny Malone, the episode brings voices from law, technology, culture, and sports to explain why these quirky threads matter right now.
Public Domain Day Sets the Tone
The episode leans on work by Jennifer Jenkins and colleagues at Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain, whose annual Public Domain Day list has become a key reference. On January 1 each year, a new wave of books, films, and music is freed for re-use in education, art, and business. This year includes a character that listeners may recognize instantly.
“An iconic cartoon character liberated from copyright.”
By highlighting that change, the team points to a practical outcome: fresh adaptations, remixes, and teaching materials that do not require licensing. The segment frames these openings as part of a steady cycle that shapes which stories and images the public can share without legal risk. It also invites listeners to celebrate with public domain Valentines, a playful nod to how quickly new cultural works can flourish once restrictions lift.
From Excel Esports to Surveillance Tech
Another thread follows Jesse Dougherty’s reporting from the world of competitive spreadsheeting. What started as a niche contest has gathered student athletes, sponsors, and a real audience. The appeal, according to Dougherty’s work, is a mix of strategy, speed, and live problem-solving, as contestants race through complex data tasks under pressure.
The show contrasts that kinetic energy with a sober look at technology used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Drawing on reporting from 404 Media, the team examines how data systems shape enforcement and how difficult it is for the public to track what those tools actually do. The questions raised are clear: who gets data, how long is it kept, and what oversight exists?
While details vary case by case, the episode treats surveillance as a policy issue with daily human stakes, not just a technical one. It adds to a growing record of newsrooms pressing for transparency around government tech.
The Penny’s Language and Cultural Weight
Then, the show turns to money’s smallest unit. The penny is cheap to mint yet expensive in time, a coin that economists often argue should disappear. But its language has stuck. Listeners hear an “ode to the language of the penny,” with references in music and speech—phrases like “pennies from heaven”—that keep the coin alive in culture even as retail counters fill with jars no one empties.
“A controversial piece of US currency.”
By pairing the penny’s cultural pull with policy debate, the segment weighs symbolism against measurable costs. It leaves open whether tradition or efficiency will win.
A Swipe at Self-Checkout
The team also tips its hat to a rare standout in a frustrating corner of retail.
“The only self-check out that doesn’t waste your time.”
Many shoppers complain that scanners slow lines and shift labor to customers. The praise hints at a design that cuts errors and speeds payments, suggesting that better tools—and not just fewer kiosks—could fix common bottlenecks.
Why This Mix Matters
Together, the selections sketch a picture of how rules, tools, and habits shape daily life. Copyright expirations free old icons for new art. Spreadsheet contests show how data skills turn into sport. Surveillance reporting asks who is watched and why. The penny shows how language resists change even when math points the other way.
- Public domain lists map what creators can reuse each year.
- Excel competitions turn practical skills into spectacle.
- Surveillance reporting presses for transparency and oversight.
- Penny debates pit culture against cost and time.
Host Kenny Malone guides the throughline: love for stories that explain money and power without losing the human angle. The production team—James Sneed with help from Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, fact-checking by Sierra Juarez, engineering by Cena Loffredo and Kwesi Lee, and editing by executive producer Alex Goldmark—keeps the pacing brisk and the sourcing clear.
This approach offers a forward look as well. Expect more legal fights over characters entering the public domain. Watch colleges and sponsors test the limits of “mind sports” on streaming platforms. Follow transparency battles as reporters probe government data tools. And listen for fresh arguments about retiring the penny as inflation and checkout tech evolve.
In the end, the episode is a case for curiosity. It treats familiar objects and obscure contests as windows into policy, markets, and culture. The latest picks show how small shifts—an expiring copyright, a faster scanner, a viral spreadsheet match—can change what people make, watch, and carry in their pockets.
