Planet Money

The Rest of the Story, 2025

December 26, 2025

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  • The Federal Trade Commission's 'click-to-cancel rule' aimed at curbing subscription abuse was struck down by a federal appeals court and its new chair opposes it, leaving subscription regulation in limbo despite ongoing one-off enforcement actions. 
  • The creators of Rocket Money, who built a billion-dollar subscription management business by ironically charging a subscription fee, continue to see growth as consumers add an average of three new subscriptions annually. 
  • The lab-grown diamond purchased cheaply for a previous Planet Money segment has seen its retail price drop from \$1,000 to \$800, while the individual who requested it for an engagement ring ultimately used a family heirloom instead. 

Segments

NPR Funding Appeal (Unknown)
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  • Key Takeaway: None
  • Summary: None
Communication Preferences Update
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(00:01:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The host prefers direct phone calls over modern asynchronous communication methods like text or voice memos.
  • Summary: The host expressed a preference for calling people directly, citing the lack of subtext and instantaneous feedback compared to texting or voice memos. Voice memos were specifically criticized as an ‘assault on human dignity.’ The host declared ‘More phone. Not scrolls, calls’ as a 2026 resolution.
Subscription Trap Regulation Update
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(00:03:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The FTC’s ‘click-to-cancel rule’ was struck down due to procedural errors, despite its goal to mandate easy subscription cancellation.
  • Summary: The FTC’s new regulation, intended to make canceling services as easy as signing up, was struck down by a federal appeals court citing procedural errors. The newly appointed FTC Chair, Andrew Ferguson, who previously voted against the rule, stated the agency will still use tools like ROSCA and pursue lawsuits against egregious offenders. The subscription economy continues to boom, with the average user adding three subscriptions in the past year.
Rocket Money Founders Update
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(00:06:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Rocket Money founders pivoted to a subscription model to achieve profitability, eventually selling the company for over a billion dollars.
  • Summary: Haroon Mukhtarzada and his brothers initially resisted charging a subscription for their cancellation service but adopted the model when facing business failure. This pivot led to soaring revenue and the eventual sale of Rocket Money for over a billion dollars. The company processed over 10 million cancellations this year, indicating continued consumer oversubscription.
Mystery Diamond Price Drop (Unknown)
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  • Key Takeaway: None
  • Summary: None
Gaza Money and Living Conditions (Unknown)
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  • Key Takeaway: None
  • Summary: None
Planet Money Board Game Development
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(00:22:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Listener feedback on the prototype led to a simpler, faster Version 4 of the Planet Money board game, due for final design input by January 15th.
  • Summary: The board game, developed in partnership with Exploding Kittens, is evolving into a project covering the retail industry, including securing shelf space in big box stores. Hundreds of listeners playtested the messy prototype, providing feedback that resulted in clearer rules, simpler winning conditions, and faster gameplay in Version 4. Feedback on the current version must be submitted via PlanetMoneyGame.com by January 15th.
Safer Saw Regulation Setback
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(00:26:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Lobbying efforts for mandatory finger-detecting technology on table saws failed after President Trump fired three of the five CPSC members, including its head.
  • Summary: The inventor of the finger-saving saw technology, Steve Gas, had spent two decades lobbying the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for mandatory adoption. The regulation effort stalled in May when President Trump fired three of the five CPSC members, leading Steve to feel angry and frustrated. Steve is now attempting a market-based solution by launching a safer bandsaw, hoping consumers will pay for safety.
Paul Harvey Estate Lawsuit
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(00:30:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The estate of radio host Paul Harvey is suing Paramount for using an excerpt of ‘The Rest of the Story’ in the show ‘Landman’ without permission.
  • Summary: The Paul Harvey estate alleges that Paramount used an excerpt from his famous radio segment out of context and without authorization. The estate is demanding that Paramount remove the audio and pay damages. Paramount had not responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.