Episode Overview

Podcast: Marketplace Morning Report
Episode: Gotta catch 'em all (as an investment)
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: David Brancaccio

This episode delivers a brisk rundown of the morning’s essential economic and business news, with stories spanning flight disruptions from a government shutdown, the quirky life of the $2 bill, and a spotlight feature on the surprising financial evolution of Pokémon trading cards as a modern alternative investment. The segment dives into Pokémon’s enduring cultural and economic influence, exploring how cards that began as childhood collectibles now form part of a surprisingly lucrative market.

Key Segments and Insights

Flight Cancellations and Government Shutdown

[00:26–02:24]

• Current Situation:
  Due to a government shutdown, the U.S. government has ordered a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major airports, with cancellations and delays mounting.
• Impact Data:
  • Over 800 U.S. flights canceled, and 1,000+ delayed (Nancy Marshall Genser, [01:32]).
• Industry Reaction:
  • American Airlines CEO Robert Isom: “Today’s reduction is manageable, but next, it becomes a lot harder. You're going to be really digging into … more heavily traveled areas.” ([01:56])
  • The cutbacks may rise to 10% if the shutdown persists.
• Key Concern:
  Air traffic controllers working unpaid are increasingly calling in sick, posing system-wide risks as the busy Thanksgiving season nears.

The Vanishing Penny and the Curious $2 Bill

[02:24–03:35]

• Pennies No More:
  Three months have passed since the U.S. ceased minting one-cent coins, causing retailers to train staff on rounding practices and prompting some to request exact change for cash sales.
• $2 Bill Stories:
  Inspired by a listener question on the Marketplace kids’ podcast Million Bazillion, the segment features sentimental and cultural stories about the rarely-seen $2 note:
  • “One time I lost my tooth, put it under my pillow and the next morning I had a two dollar bill.” ([02:56], Young Listener)
  • “The $2 bill is given every Lunar New Year because the two symbolizes luck. It brings good fortune for the new year.” ([03:20], Lydia)

Pokémon Cards as Investment: The New Alternative Asset

[04:43–07:56]

The Pokémon Boom

• Anniversary:
  Approaching 30 years since Pokémon’s launch; now the world’s most lucrative media franchise.
• Market Explosion:
  • Some cards’ prices have surged by as much as 4,000% since release.
  • Pete Earle, economist: “From 2004 to 2025, Pokémon cards as a group are up, you know, 3,800%.” ([05:41])

Why the Surge?

• Pandemic Influence:

  • Pandemic conditions—people stuck at home, stimulus checks, and nostalgia—spurred renewed interest.
    • “A lot of people at the same time reached into closets, pulled out shoeboxes, and said, ‘Hey, I remember these things.’” ([06:00], Pete Earle)
  • Combination of cash and spare time produced a “speculative run that has continued far longer than anyone… thought it would.” ([06:12], Pete Earle)

• Collector Perspectives:

  • Jared Allday, competitive player:
    • “It looked nice, like, ooh, Pokémon, this is my childhood. Got a pack, opened it up. From that moment on, here I am. It was just pure fun.” ([05:20])
  • Jimmy Chen, comic shop owner:
    • “[Millennials] now have more disposable income... they're able to sell some of their Pokémon cards to invest in something else.” ([06:59])
  • Alex Rafala, collector:
    • “We're not super happy with the scalping situation... Those people don’t seem particularly interested in the cards or the lore or the franchise at all.” ([07:20])
    • “They're really just trying to make a quick buck by gassing up prices on cards that we want.” ([07:30])

Warnings and Market Parallels

• Risk Factor:
  The comparison to the 1990s Beanie Babies bubble; now-worthless toys that once fetched hundreds.
  • Caution against chasing quick returns.

The Community and True Value

• While investors and speculators trade cards for profit, for many the value remains in nostalgia, community, and play.
  • “For players and collectors, the real value isn’t in dollars, but in the memories, the community, and the game that keeps on evolving.” ([07:35], Monica Miller, BBC)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Today’s reduction is manageable, but next, it becomes a lot harder. You're going to be really digging into … more heavily traveled areas.”
  — Robert Isom, American Airlines CEO ([01:56])
• “A lot of people at the same time reached into closets, pulled out shoeboxes, and said, ‘Hey, I remember these things.’ Combination of cash and time produced the perfect conditions for a speculative run.”
  — Pete Earle, economist ([06:00])
• “We're not super happy with the scalping situation... they're really just trying to make a quick buck by gassing up prices on cards that we want.”
  — Alex Rafala, collector ([07:20–07:30])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:26] — Flight cancellations due to government shutdown
• [02:24] — Pennies gone; $2 bill cultural significance
• [04:43] — Pokémon at 30 years; collectible cards as investments
• [05:41] — Economist on trading card value explosion
• [06:20] — Pokémon as alternative asset; risks and rewards
• [07:11] — Collector community insights and market cautions

Episode Tone

The tone is brisk, informative, and occasionally playful—particularly in the pop-culture-heavy Pokémon segment, which blends economic analysis with nostalgia and personal testimony. The host and guests maintain an approachable, engaging style suitable for a broad, business-curious audience.

This episode offers a snapshot of contemporary economic quirks and trends, from federal shutdown effects to the investment-grade boom of childhood nostalgia, connecting past and present in a matter of minutes.