Copyright © 2026 VPM, all rights reserved.
PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
VPM News Morning Edition
NEXT UP: 9:00 AM

Thanks to our sponsors – Become a Sponsor

Tree laws are raising constitutional — and even philosophical — questions

Many towns have regulations about when a homeowner can cut down their own trees. We examine these laws, and one lawsuit in particular, to learn more about what ownership means in a legal sense.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Tags

Jeff Guo (he/him) is a co-host and reporter for Planet Money, NPR's award-winning podcast that finds creative, entertaining ways to make sense of the complicated forces that move our economy. He joined the team in 2022.

Previously, Guo covered economics and policy for The Washington Post, where his work frequently blended reporting and data analysis. Ask him about tontines or the curse of the potato or why Christmas is probably not an "orgy of wealth destruction." His one rule is to always get the name of the cat. And really, he doesn't mind if you listen to him at double speed. Guo also served as NPR's first Ishiyama Transparency in Government legal fellow. As a lawyer, he helped reporters draft Freedom of Information Act requests and sue the government over unanswered requests.

Guo holds bachelor's degrees in math and economics from MIT, a J.D. from Yale Law School — and, occasionally, his two cats. He's from Maryland.

Related Stories