Can the U.S. Go ‘Cashless?’

Optimist Economy

Kathryn Anne Edwards and Robin Rauzi

Public Policy, Economics, Government, Economy

4.9 • 829 Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Cash is dirty, inconvenient, and so last century. Some 70% of Americans under age 50 think its days are numbered. But we still need those greenbacks, if as an alternative to banks. More than 4% of households are “unbanked,” and three times as many are “underbanked,” meaning bank services mostly don’t work for them, so rely on services like check cashers or payday lenders. And that's before you get to the racial disparities in who banks approve for credit. Reviving banking services at the post office might be one way to help the unbanked and keep from handing yet more power to the finance sector.

Chapters:

00:00:48 Announcements

00:02:30 Retcon: Semiquincentennia

00:03:35 Terms & Conditions: ChexSystems, Unbanked

00:05:46 Big Pilcrow: What’s keeping the U.S. from going cashless?

00:38:28 Executive Orders: Regulate youth sports schedules; Airline baggage fees by weight.

00:40:56 Spiritual Sponsors: Artemis splashdown; Friends with season tickets.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Frances Fry. And I'm Anne Morris. And we are the hosts of a new TED podcast called Fixable.
0:06.4	We've helped leaders at some of the world's most competitive companies solve all kinds of problems.
0:12.0	On our show, we'll pull back the curtain and give you the type of honest, unfiltered advice we usually reserve for top executives.
0:19.1	Maybe you have a coworker with boundary issues, or you want to know how to inspire and
0:23.4	motivate your team.
0:24.3	No problem is too big or too small.
0:26.9	Give us a call and we'll help you solve the problems you're stuck on.
0:30.1	Find fixable wherever you listen to podcasts.
0:35.4	I haven't slept all the way through the night in almost a year, and it's like really starting to show.
0:39.8	It's adding up. It's adding up.
0:45.2	Hello, and welcome to Optimist Economy. I'm economist Catherine Ann Edwards. I'm editor Robin Rousey. On this show,
0:55.6	we believe the U.S. economy can be better, and we talk about how to get there one problem and
0:59.8	solution at a time.
1:06.2	Today on Optimist Economy, we're going to talk about who uses cash anymore and why. And what does that
1:11.0	actually tell us? I'm wondering how long I can't wait until I say cash is king or something like that.
1:17.7	Cash is king, baby. Just get it out. Just get it out now. Okay. It's gone. Announcements.
1:24.2	First of all, I saw this review on Apple Podcast that says, I've become a better dinner party slash cocktail party guest since listening to this podcast, which I think is a great endorsement.
1:35.8	Also, maybe you go to different parties than I do. I don't know.
1:39.9	Or maybe nobody else thinks that but her, right?
1:44.0	Like, she's a great guest, or maybe he else is like, oh, God, this is taking a turn,
1:48.2	that damn show again.
1:51.1	Exactly.
	...

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