The secret meeting that launched OPEC

Recently, a listener wrote in with a question about OPEC and oil prices. She was prepping for a camping trip… thinking about how much it costs to fill up her diesel-guzzling camper van at the pump. “It would be so awesome if you guys could do an episode explaining OPEC to us,” she emailed us. She wanted to know: why does OPEC exist? Why does it limit the supply of oil? And now that the United Arab Emirates has dropped out, what will happen to gas prices? We love when our listeners write in (and send us voice notes!). The simplest questions can reveal how the complicated web of the economy works. On our latest: we answer our listener’s questions… and the questions behind those questions! Related episodes: • Chevron, Venezuela and the Paradox of Plenty Book info. /

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The secret meeting that launched OPEC is an episode from Planet Money by NPR.

This episode is 27:33 long.

This episode was published on May 13, 2026.

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