The Indicator from Planet Money Trump's parade, FEMA phase out, and Warner Bros. Discovery divorces ... itself?
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Jun 13, 2025 The podcast dives into the hefty $45 million cost of Trump's military parade, igniting debates over budget priorities. It examines the future of FEMA, pondering potential cuts and the impact on disaster response. Listeners learn about the recent corporate restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery, revealing challenges post-merger, including plummeting viewership and mounting debt. The separation aims to refocus their entertainment strategies amidst shifting dynamics in both the economy and media landscape.
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Parade Cost Is Negligible
- The $45 million cost of Trump's Army parade is about half a percent of 1% of the military budget.
- In the scale of U.S. defense spending, such parade costs are rounding errors and quite small.
Military Expenses in Protests
- Sending Marines and National Guard to LA protests costs $134 million and could scale to $1.5 billion nationwide.
- Even $1.5 billion is less than a sixth of a percent of total U.S. military spending.
FEMA Phase-Out Plans
- FEMA's $30 billion budget might be phased out after hurricane season according to President Trump.
- There are concerns the president wants more control over disaster funds, potentially changing their distribution to states and individuals.