The Indicator from Planet Money

Episode: AI creeps in, KATSEYE milkshakes, and China says “Zaijian!” to US soybeans
Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: Darian Woods, Waylon Wong, Jeff Gore

Overview

This episode of The Indicator delivers its signature quick-fire insights into three major, timely economic stories: the tangible impact of AI on young workers’ job prospects, the chilling trade climate between the US and China over soybeans, and how "nowstalgia" is fuelling an unexpected turnaround at The Gap—propelled by viral marketing and the power of K-pop.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AI and the Squeeze on Young Workers

• Indicator: "-13%—the change in young people’s employment at highly AI-exposed firms compared to their older colleagues"
  • Since late 2020, young workers (ages 22–25) have seen a 13% larger drop in employment at firms most exposed to AI, especially in software development and customer service roles.
  • Contrarily, mid-career and senior developers are holding steady or even increasing in employment.
• Context:
  • The trend is unique to sectors where AI can substitute for entry-level work, not seen in jobs like stock clerks, health aides, or manufacturing supervisors.
  • The research referenced comes from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, which analyzed payroll data for millions of workers and adjusted for broader economic slumps.
• Hope for the Future:
  • The study suggests older workers have skills not easily automated: company know-how, connections, strategic thinking.
  • Quote:
    • Darian Woods [04:14]: "Employees often pick up attributes in the workplace, like tacit knowledge, connections and strategy that aren't taught much in a university. And once younger workers pick up those skills and assets, they'll be less susceptible to being replaced by a chatbot."
• Memorable Moment:
  • Waylon Wong [04:07]: "Remember when we were all supposed to learn how to code? Now it's like, don't learn how to code, there's no jobs available."

2. China Says Zaijian (Goodbye) to US Soybeans

• Indicator: "Zero—number of new soybean orders from China for the next marketing year"
  • Typically, at this point ahead of harvest, China would’ve ordered about 14% of its annual US soybean imports.
  • This year: zero orders, signaling fraying trade ties and steeper challenges for American farmers.
• Background:
  • The US-China trade war fallout (post-2018) slashed exports, costing American farmers over $9 billion in annualized losses.
  • Currently, China’s retaliatory tariffs make US soybeans pricier than Brazil’s, despite similar base prices.
  • The marketing window (September–February) is critical, as Brazilian soybeans take over after February.
• Quote:
  • Waylon Wong [05:05]: "American soybean farmers have received zero new orders from China for the upcoming year. And to put that into perspective, usually around this time, Chinese buyers have already put in orders for around 14% of their total purchases."
• Memorable Moment:
  • Waylon Wong [07:40]: "Time is ticking, and we have heard on this show from American soybean farmers, and they don't want to be stuck with metric tonnes of soybeans they can't sell."

3. "Nowstalgia": Gap’s KATSEYE Milkshake Ad Goes Viral

• Indicator: Gap’s viral ad campaign featuring Cat’s Eye and Khalees’s “Milkshake”—a sign of both marketing prowess and the company’s ongoing resurgence ("Gappissance").
• The Ad:
  • Features the international girl group Cat’s Eye (huge with Gen Z), choreographed to the 2000s hit "Milkshake" by Khalees, sparking a new TikTok dance trend.
  • Bridges generations: Gen Z (for the group) and Millennials (for the song)—the essence of "nowstalgia."
• Turnaround Strategy:
  • Spearheaded by CEO Richard Dixon (formerly of Mattel/Barbie turnaround fame).
  • "Nowstalgia" seeks to modernize Gap while harkening back to their iconic 90s–2000s dance ads with celebrities like Madonna and Missy Elliott.
  • Sales are up, with observers dubbing the resurgence the “Gappissance.”
• Quotes:
  • Jeff Gore [09:21]: "For Gap in particular, it's kind of a tough sell because what even is the Gap brand? Right? Like, they do basics. They do denim and khakis. That's kind of their DNA. They're not glued to the latest trends. And so they've come up with this strategy and it's called Now Stalgia."
  • Waylon Wong [10:07]: "The gappissance. You have nowstalgia. The Gappissance."
  • Darian Woods [10:10]: "I don't know if that's a... that's a Portman. No. For me."
  • Waylon Wong [10:13]: "Portman no. Oh, my gosh. Amazing."
• Memorable Moment:
  • Jeff Gore [08:12]: "This is the new fall ad campaign from the Gap. It features the international girl group Cat's Eye. And it is just going bonkers viral right now, which is an indicator not only of how good marketing works in the year of our Lord 2025, but also it is the latest chapter in Gap's big turnaround story."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Darian Woods: "Young people's employment has dropped 13% more than their older colleagues." [02:11]
• Waylon Wong: "Remember when we were all supposed to learn how to code? Now it's like, don't learn how to code, there's no jobs available." [04:07]
• Waylon Wong: "American soybean farmers have received zero new orders from China for the upcoming year." [05:05]
• Jeff Gore: "There’s even now a name for the turnaround itself. People are branding this the Gappissance." [09:55]
• Waylon Wong: "The gappissance. You have nowstalgia. The Gappissance." [10:07]
• Darian Woods: "I don't know if that's a... that's a Portman. No. For me." [10:10]

Section Timestamps

• AI Shutting Out Young Workers: 02:00–04:50
• China’s Soybean Snub: 05:03–07:40
• Gap’s Viral "Milkshake" Ad & "Gappissance": 07:59–10:13

This episode of The Indicator spotlights how new technology, global trade tensions, and savvy marketing can dramatically shift fortunes—for individual workers, entire sectors, or iconic American brands.