This week: The Fed announced an expected rate cut with an unexpected dissent.      Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck are joined by Axios’ Neil Irwin who breaks down why the Fed meeting was so unusual – thanks to the very recent Trump appointee Stephen Miran– and what it means for the future of the central bank. Then, AMEX announced an increase that brings their Platinum fee to $895. Neil and the hosts reflect on the trend of making credit cards more and more premium and explain why you should think again before signing up. And finally, Publishers Clearing House filed for bankruptcy and its new owner ARB Interactive has said it won’t be honoring the “lifetime” winners from before July 15 of this year. What will happen to the people who have built their lives around those payouts?

In the Slate Plus episode: Labubus, the Avatar of 2025? 

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Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth.

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