It seems like politicians cannot agree on a lot. But many seem to agree on… manufacturing. Leaders of both political parties have been working to try and make the U.S. a manufacturing powerhouse again.

On today’s show, what is so special about manufacturing? Is it particularly important for the economy? And if manufacturing jobs are so great, then why have companies been struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have?

For more on manufacturing in the U.S:

– Made in America, an episode about what manufacturing work in the U.S. can be like for garment workers and how much they’re paid to make each piece of clothing “made in the U.S.”
– Why aren’t Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have?
– What makes manufacturing jobs special? The answer could help rebuild the middle class
– Can bringing back manufacturing help the heartland catch up with ‘superstar’ cities?
– And, for more, check out the Planet Money newsletter’s manufacturing series at npr.org/manufacturing

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 quartet each dive into their paths to space and what lies ahead aboard the International Space Station. HWHAP 393. 

As AI infiltrates every aspect of our lives, who are some of the people behind this huge inflection point? In this special three-part series, you’ll hear from the people predicting and shaping our tech future. Host Manoush Zomorodi reports on the latest and revisits her favorite conversations with the minds crafting the digital world we live in today: what they’ve gotten right — and wrong — and where they think we’re headed next. Part 2 features Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman and MIT psychologist Sherry Turkle.

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Ira Glass talks with longtime producer Nancy Updike about the most personal stories they have put on the radio. This is a sample of the bonus episodes we regularly release to our This American Life Partners.

To gain access to all the bonus episodes AND help us keep making This American Life, join at thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners.

We all know the government uses taxes to pay for things. But what about using taxes to control behavior? This week on Summer School, Professor Darrick Hamilton of The New School, helps us explore the true power of the tax code. Can taxes help lift people out of poverty? What about saving the planet?

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The series is hosted by Robert Smith and produced by Eric Mennel. Our project manager is Devin Mellor. This episode was edited by Planet Money Executive Producer Alex Goldmark and fact-checked by Emily Crawford and Sierra Juarez. Engineering by Robert Rodriguez.

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What people might picture when they think of “Made in America” … might not look like the “Made in America” we have today.

The U.S. does have a domestic manufacturing industry, including a garment manufacturing industry.

In today’s episode: We buy a garment made by factory workers in the U.S. – a basic purple sports bra – and learn how many people it took to make it, how much workers got paid to work on it … and whether garment manufacturing is a job Americans want, or even know how, to do.

Plus: why domestic garment manufacturing exists at all in the U.S., and whether the industry can grow.

Other episodes:

– What “Made in China” actually means

This episode was reported and hosted by Sarah Gonzalez. It was produced by Willa Rubin with production help from Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Marianne McCune, and it was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez who also helped with research. It was engineered by Robert Rodriguez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

Support Planet Money, get bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening and now Summer School episodes one week early by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.

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Houston We Have a Podcast celebrates eight years! Three astronauts from the agency’s most recent class discuss their first year of training and answer questions from our listeners. HWHAP 392.