Pulling the SNAP lever + Why Gen Zers bet (invest?) differently

A Planet Money/ The Indicator newsletter uses a playful video-game premise—Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator—to illustrate “information advantage,” while shifting into real policy analysis. It then focuses on SNAP rules around sugary drinks. After President Trump took office, his administration encouraged states to remove soda from SNAP eligibility under the “Make American Healthy Again” initiative; 23 states have implemented the restriction. A University of Chicago working paper questioned whether the change would meaningfully reduce consumption because most recipients spend more on groceries than their SNAP allotment. However, purchases of excluded drinks fell 12.4% in the first half of the year. The study also found substitution, with recipients redirecting up to 39% of excluded purchases to non-banned items like energy drinks and fruit juices.