The Indicator from Planet Money The US loses tech hires, sayonora to Sora, and Afroman's win
16 snips
Mar 27, 2026 A quick tour through eye-catching economic numbers. Europe briefly flips the script on tech hiring as U.S. immigration gets tighter. OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora after a short run. Then things get wonderfully weird with Afroman, police raid footage, parody songs, and a courtroom fight over free speech.
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Europe Briefly Flips The Tech Talent Flow
- Europe briefly reversed the usual brain drain, gaining a net 112 tech workers from the U.S. in early 2025.
- Darian Woods links it to better stock-option rules, more government backing for local tech, and tighter U.S. immigration discouraging moves.
OpenAI Pulls Back From Sora After Six Months
- OpenAI shut down Sora after about six months, suggesting a pivot away from flashy consumer video apps.
- Waylon Wong says the team will focus on AI for real-world physical tasks, while the fate of Disney's $1 billion tie-up remains unclear.
Afroman Turned A Police Raid Into A Court Win
- A jury rejected Ohio deputies' $3.9 million case against Afroman over songs and videos mocking a failed raid on his home.
- He used security footage, dubbed one deputy Officer Pound Cake, and Mary Childs says people even mailed the officer hundreds of pound cakes.