How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 12, 2026 · 8 MIN

How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?

from The Indicator from Planet Money

While Americans are known for their generosity, the U.S. government, increasingly, is not. The Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP benefits among other aid programs have forced states, foundations and donors to fill the gaps. But can they? On today’s show, the limits of philanthropic efforts to supplant federal aid. Related episodes: Why tech bros are trying to give away all their money (kind of) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 12, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?

0:00 8:11

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Indicator from Planet Money?

This episode is 8 minutes long.

When was this The Indicator from Planet Money episode published?

This episode was published on January 12, 2026.

Can I download this The Indicator from Planet Money episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!