This is Planet Money from NPR.

My eyes have been opened.

I am a changed man and it all stems from just a few days last week when there was a port strike, a port shutdown.

Of course this was not the first port disruption we have dealt with recently.

Looking at you, COVID ports mess.

But yes, you may recall the longshoreman

on the eastern seaboard walked off the job.

Those are the people in charge of basically

everything to do with loading and unloading cargo containers.

And those cargo containers are like the blood cells of our entire economy.

And you know, Amanda, it is very scary when the old blood cells stop pumping suddenly

which of course was the point of the strike yeah you know exert economic pressure and pressure they exerted, you know, people were freaking out during this shutdown, like, would this cause toilet paper shortages? Would this cause inflation? Is this going to ruin Christmas?

Kenny, you are saying people, but I think actually maybe you were the one freaking out, possible?

I mean, did I stockpile dog food and diapers and show up to staff meetings,

raving about ports? Who can say? dog food and diapers and show up to staff meetings,

raving about ports?

Who can say?

But I did start making a lot of port-related phone calls.

Hello, Kenny.

Hello, Steve.

Thanks for reaching out.

You were pitched to me as the man who knows all there is to know about ports.

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