This episode of Planet Money celebrates Valentine's Day by exploring various economic and cultural phenomena the hosts admire. The show highlights the entry of the 1930 version of Betty Boop into the public domain, discussing the implications of intellectual property laws and the character's unique status as an independent female figure. The hosts also discuss the surprisingly intense world of competitive spreadsheeting, spotlighting a Washington Post article on the College Excel Championships. Additionally, the hosts explore the cultural significance of the U.S. penny, lamenting its discontinuation despite its embeddedness in American idioms. Finally, the episode investigates the data-driven reporting of 404 Media on ICE's technological tools, emphasizing the importance of public access to government procurement records. The episode culminates in the creation of an official Planet Money Valentine card featuring Betty Boop and an economics-themed pun.
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