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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Cabbage Patch, Beanie Babies, now Labubu: Unboxing latest toy phenomenon

    An unattractive little plush doll from China has taken the world by storm. Labubus’ rising popularity also comes with higher price tags, sparking an underground market of counterfeits.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Jul 30, 2025 • 1 min read

    An unattractive little plush doll from China has taken the world by storm. Labubus’ rising popularity also comes with higher price tags, sparking an underground market of counterfeits.

    The full episode

    4 of 4
    Life amid Trump’s ICE is tougher than era of illegal street vending in LA
    1. 0:00Why does Trump’s EPA want to get rid of ‘endangerment finding?’
    2. 10:51LA street vendor shares ‘very ugly situation’ amid Trump’s ICE raids
    3. 26:27Penn Jilette’s ‘Felony Juggler’ explores life’s what-ifs, alternate realities
    4. 42:29Cabbage Patch, Beanie Babies, now Labubu: Unboxing latest toy phenomenonYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

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      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

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      Alisha Haridasani Gupta

      New York Times reporter

      CultureNationalBusiness & Economy

    The full episode

    4 of 4
    Life amid Trump’s ICE is tougher than era of illegal street vending in LA
    1. 0:00Why does Trump’s EPA want to get rid of ‘endangerment finding?’
    2. 10:51LA street vendor shares ‘very ugly situation’ amid Trump’s ICE raids
    3. 26:27Penn Jilette’s ‘Felony Juggler’ explores life’s what-ifs, alternate realities
    4. 42:29Cabbage Patch, Beanie Babies, now Labubu: Unboxing latest toy phenomenonYou’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand