The Journal.

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here!The Trump administration has shrunk the IRS. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on how the federal government has scaled back tax enforcement, leaving fewer federal employees to audit returns and collect unpaid tax debts. The cutbacks could lead to more Americans skirting the tax law. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Do You Refund $166 Billion? - DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the GovernmentSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. military would blockade the Strait of Hormuz sets up a risky showdown to control the strategic chokepoint. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains what the blockade could look like, explores the global economic damage caused by the conflict and discusses what could come next in the war. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire - Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold? - Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Tom Curtis took over as president of Burger King in 2021, the company was struggling. After joining, Curtis worked to update restaurants and streamline the menu. Jessica Mendoza talks with Curtis about the fast food chain’s recent struggles, the rising price of beef and his turn as a social media influencer.  Further Listening: - KFC Got Fried in the Chicken Wars. Can It Come Back? - The Epic Mess at TGI Fridays - Red Lobster's New CEO Plots Its Comeback  - McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here!After nearly six weeks of war in Iran, a fragile cease-fire is holding for now. But for people on the ground, the uncertainty is far from over. Jessica Mendoza speaks with a Tehran resident living through the strangeness of war and WSJ’s Jared Malsin unpacks the sticking points for achieving long-term peace. Further Listening: - Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold? - Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire. President Trump said the truce was conditional on Iran opening up the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ’s Damian Paletta explains how the fragile cease-fire came together, why there are still many unanswered questions and what comes next. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding? - Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War - The Escalating Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! After the smash success of ChatGPT, OpenAI positioned its video generation model Sora as AI’s next consumer-friendly frontier. Disney signed on to the vision, promising a huge investment and allowing the studio’s characters to appear in Sora videos. Then OpenAI abruptly shut Sora down. WSJ’s Berber Jin takes us inside the pivot and explores what it means for the AI industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - OpenAI's 'Code Red' Problem - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - Artificial: The OpenAI Story Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new billion-dollar industry of hemp-derived THC drinks exploded onto the market last year by exploiting an apparent legal loophole. Now, a federal ban is set to wipe the popular alcohol alternatives off shelves by November. WSJ's Laura Cooper and Cann CEO Jake Bullock detail the last-ditch effort to lobby Washington. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Scotts Miracle-Gro's Weed Business Went Up in Smoke - California's Wine Industry Is in Crisis Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here!After Jeffrey Epstein’s death, Svetlana Pozhidaeva said she finally felt free. The former Russian model, who became one of Epstein’s “assistants” and a victim of his abuse, changed her name and moved to another city. Then the Epstein files dropped. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar unspools Pozhidaeva’s story and what it reveals about who Epstein allegedly ensared and how he did it. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Jeffrey Epstein Made Millions From His Connections - The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Supreme Court ruled that many of President Trump’s tariffs were illegal, thousands of companies have sued the government in the hopes of getting their money back. WSJ’s Lydia Wheeler reports on the obscure court at the center of the refund battle and explains why the process will be slow and messy. Ryan Knutson hosts.   Further Listening: - How One Company Is Navigating a New Era of Tariff Uncertainty - Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! When the war with Iran started, Israel had three goals: reduce the threat from Iranian missiles, eliminate its nuclear capabilities and, most importantly, create the conditions for regime change. WSJ’s Dov Lieber reports that about four weeks in, achieving those goals against Israel’s biggest enemy is proving elusive. With President Trump stating that he wants the war to end within weeks, Israel is now racing to cripple Iranian industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War - The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! OpenAI planned to launch an “adult mode” for ChatGPT, opening the door to AI-generated, sexually explicit conversations. The decision created an internal uproar as some company experts warned of potential risks to minors and unhealthy emotional attachments. WSJ’s Sam Schechner discusses the complicated future of sex and artificial intelligence. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame. - Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! In a landmark case, a 20-year-old woman just beat Meta and YouTube in court. WSJ’s Erin Mulvaney explains how a new legal strategy got around a decades-old legal shield for social media companies, and how Big Tech could end up like Big Tobacco. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - In a Landmark Trial, Zuckerberg Takes the Stand - The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Genetically engineered babies are banned in the U.S. But that isn’t stopping Silicon Valley tech titans from trying to make one. In this final installment from The Journal’s investigation into the fringes of the fertility industry, WSJ’s Emily Glazer reports on the controversial new companies pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Fertility Inc.: One Dad, One Hundred Babies - Fertility Inc.: ‘Our Money Was Gone’ - Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill - Fertility Inc. from The Journal Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here!The most recent batch of the Epstein files show how easily Jeffrey Epstein collected confidential information from his well-connected associates. WSJ’s Emily Glazer reports on how Epstein sometimes used the tips to invest for himself. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey EpsteinSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! If you’ve taken a flight lately, you might have noticed hourslong lines to get through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports like New York, Atlanta and Houston. This week, President Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports to try to ease bottlenecks as Congress works to try to make a deal to end the partial government shutdown. WSJ's Michelle Hackman dives into the situation at airports and what’s being done in Washington to get lines moving again. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:- Americans Are Now a Target in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown- The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE AgentsSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about our L.A. live show here! Just weeks after the war started, Iran believes it is winning, but not because it has more firepower than the US and Israel. The regime wants its control over the Strait of Hormuz to become a permanent economic weapon. WSJ's Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov reports on the steep price Iran wants to end the war. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Escalating Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz - Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about our L.A. live show here! Click here to see the Wall Street Journal’s full visual investigation. American citizens are being targeted in the government's immigration enforcement operations. That's according to a Wall Street Journal visual investigation that reviewed thousands of videos, social media posts, and court documents. WSJ's Hannah Critchfield breaks down the Journal's findings, and explains how the government's actions are impacting free speech in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Kristi Noem’s $200 Million Mistake - The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE AgentsSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third episode from the fringes of the fertility industry, The Journal examines the rise of the surrogacy superuser. In the absence of meaningful regulation, the industry has enabled a new phenomenon of wealthy foreign men having dozens of children via surrogacy in the U.S. Ryan Knutson speaks with WSJ’s Katherine Long, who reports on the strange case of Xu Bo, a Chinese tech entrepreneur on a mission to have a mega-family.  Further Listening: - Fertility Inc.: ‘Our Money Was Gone’ - Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill - Listen to all the Fertility Inc. episodes Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s oil blockade is grinding Cuba’s economy to a standstill, spreading unrest and intensifying pressure on the Communist regime. On Monday, the island nation’s obsolete power grid collapsed, causing blackouts across the country and exposing the magnitude of its economic implosion. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains the U.S. pressure campaign and its impact. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment alleging a widespread cheating scandal in D1 college basketball. WSJ's Jared Diamond reports on how this scandal unfolded, where endorsement deals come in, and how it might affect this year's March Madness tournament. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - How Gambling Scandals Are Rocking Sports Leagues - How a Psychiatrist Lost $400,000 on Gambling AppsSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is moving to increase regulation over the crypto industry with the CLARITY Act. But the potential legislation has provoked a big clash between crypto companies like Coinbase and traditional banks over rewards that function a lot like interest. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar explores the tension and the impact the new bill could have on both industries. Ryan Knutson hosts.    Further Listening: - Coinbase’s CEO on the Future of Crypto - Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just one week into the blockbuster antitrust trial between the Justice Department and Live Nation, the two parties reached a tentative agreement. WSJ’s Dave Michaels explores a deal that would allow the dominant concert promoter to keep ownership of Ticketmaster, a potential monopoly the DOJ had been concerned about for years. But for a coalition of state attorneys general who were also part of the original lawsuit, the deal wasn't good enough. Jessica Mendoza speaks to North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson about why he didn’t sign onto the agreement and what he’s looking for as the case continues. Further Listening: - The Trustbuster Taking on Ticketmaster - The Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Journal’s investigation into the wild west of the fertility industry continues, this time from an intended parent’s perspective. Ryan Knutson speaks with AnnaMaria Gallozzi, who wanted to have a child through surrogacy after a cancer diagnosis. Gallozzi and her husband set aside a large sum of money, but they lost it all when the escrow company entrusted with that cash defrauded them. WSJ’s Ben Foldy walks us through the complicated legal battle, and reveals how a lack of oversight has exposed hopeful parents to fraud.  Further Listening: - Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill - The Mystery of the Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global economic disruption and created a major military and political challenge for the Trump Administration. WSJ's Jared Malsin explores the militarization of the strait, the options for its reopening and the risks of a prolonged closure of the world’s most important energy-transport route. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War? - The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the start of the war in Iran, the U.S. and regional allies have relied on American-made Patriot missile systems to counteract Iran’s airstrikes. But WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski reports that production shortfalls are draining reserves. This urgent math problem is not only straining U.S defenses around the world, it’s also creating an existential crisis for another country seeking to defend itself: Ukraine. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War? - Trump’s Shifting Reasons for War With Iran - What’s Next for Iran? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthropic is taking the Trump administration to court, after the Trump administration designated the AI company a security threat and tried to cancel its federal contracts. The move brings the ongoing battle between the two sides to new heights. WSJ’s Keach Hagey explains Anthropic’s ‘red lines’ at the heart of the saga, how rival OpenAI stepped in to make its own deal with the Pentagon, and what all of this could mean for the future of Anthropic’s business. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Anthropic’s Pentagon Problems - The AI Economic Doomsday Report That Shook Wall Street Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristi Noem brought a camera-ready leadership style to the Department of Homeland Security. Now, after a turbulent year leading the agency, Trump has fired her. WSJ's Michelle Hackman takes us behind the scenes of her controversial tenure and what led to her downfall. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz - Inside ICE's Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reproductive technology is a modern miracle. It's made it possible for millions of people to become parents who might otherwise not have been able to. But growing demand has spawned a multibillion-dollar industry that’s largely unregulated in the U.S.  In our first episode looking at the wild west of the fertility industry, Ryan Knutson speaks with a three-time surrogate who ended up in a big legal battle. Nia Trent-Wilson was left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt after a family didn’t pay up after delivery. WSJ’s Katherine Long reports on how the industry fosters a dramatic power imbalance between surrogates and intended parents. Further Listening: - The Mystery of the Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children - America’s Maternal Health Crisis Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a months-long bidding war, Paramount Skydance has secured a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, snatching the media giant away from Netflix. WSJ’s Joe Flint breaks down how Paramount CEO David Ellison pulled off the $81 billion takeover and what this debt-heavy merger means for the future of entertainment and news. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Man Who Wants Netflix to Save Hollywood  - She Swore Off Legacy Media. Now She's Running CBS News. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conflict with Iran has raised energy prices and sent shock waves through markets. WSJ’s Rebecca Feng explains what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iran-controlled waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically travels. And WSJ’s Harriet Torry breaks down what this could mean for consumers and inflation in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Trump’s Shifting Reasons for War With Iran - Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S.’s war with Iran has entered its fourth day. The Trump administration has given several reasons for initiating attacks on Iran. All of them are coming under scrutiny. WSJ's Alex Ward discusses the intelligence President Trump is using for his case for war and explores the challenges ahead. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - What’s Next for Iran? - U.S. and Israel Attack Iran Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has launched its own strikes in return. Now, the Middle East is on a path to a broader regional war. WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explains the Iranian regime's existential fight and how its retaliation is drawing in countries around the region. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Bank Collapse Behind Iran's Protests - Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to start on episode one, or hear the full series up to this point, click on this playlist.  Jennifer Spivey Foley has her day in court. After a long hearing with new evidence, a judge decides whether Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams should have immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law for the killing of her brother Scott. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports from the courtroom.  Read the Reporting: - What Happened on Camp Swamp Road? Follow the Story: - Camp Swamp Road Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special episode from our sister podcast, What’s News. The U.S. and Israel launched a wave of strikes against Iran, targeting its leadership and military assets in an attack that risked sparking a wider conflict in one of the most economically sensitive regions in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A viral blog post by a relatively unknown research firm sent the stock market on a wild ride this week. The post by Citrini Research tapped into a new strain of fears about artificial intelligence, painting a dark portrait of a future in which technological change leads to mass white collar unemployment. WSJ’s David Uberti explains why Wall Street is jumpy about the prospects for AI. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun- AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs And listen to Camp Swamp Road, full playlist here.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newell Brands, the Atlanta-based maker of dozens of household brands including Rubbermaid, Coleman and Yankee Candle, paid more than $170 million in tariffs last year. Newell’s CEO Chris Peterson tells Jessica Mendoza that those tariffs hurt business and the company is considering requesting a refund. He also talks about plans to bring more manufacturing to America. One of its brands, Sharpie, is now almost completely made in the United States. But making that happen wasn’t easy.  Further Listening:  Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B. How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S. How to Make a $12.98 T-Shirt... in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Mexican authorities killed El Mencho, the country’s most powerful drug lord, his cartel responded with violence across the country. The operation came amid pressure from the U.S. government on Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum. WSJ’s José De Córdoba explains the power struggle that will ensue among the cartels and what it means for the global drug trade. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Mexico's New Cocaine Kingpin is Cashing In- Drug Cartels' New Weapon: Chinese Money Launderers Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has spent much of the past year trying to pump up international investment in U.S. factories. He's promised to bring back jobs that have moved overseas. WSJ’s Gavin Bade investigates a Chinese automotive glass plant in the Ohio heartland and explores the risks when America’s biggest rival sets up shop. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B. - How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S. - The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthropic is feuding with the U.S. military, despite their massive $200 million contract. The company says that its AI model, Claude, cannot be used for weapons development or surveillance. The Pentagon is pushing back against those limitations. WSJ's Amrith Ramkumar joins Jessica Mendoza to explain why the Department of Defense is now threatening to label Anthropic a supply chain risk.  Further Listening: - AI Bots Have Social Media Now. It Got Weird Fast. - Vibe Coding Could Change Everything - Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s global tariffs are illegal. It is the first time the Supreme Court has definitively struck down one of Trump’s second-term policies, saying the president went too far in enacting his most sweeping tariffs without clear authorization from Congress. WSJ’s Gavin Bade unpacks the ruling and discusses Trump’s next steps. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Trump's Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade - How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S. - The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a first-of-its-kind trial with one central question: Are social media platforms causing mental health disorders among young people? The plaintiff argues that platforms like Instagram are designed to keep children addicted, potentially bypassing long-standing legal shields that have protected tech companies in the past. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky takes us inside the courtroom for Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony and explains why this trial could impact thousands of other cases. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety  - “The Facebook Files’ from The Journal. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Food and Drug Administration agreed to begin a review of biotech company Moderna’s application to make a new seasonal flu shot available. The decision comes after the FDA initially refused to review the company's application. It's a back and forth that reveals increased turmoil within the agency. WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte takes us inside the FDA’s unexpected reversals and explores what’s next for the mRNA flu vaccine. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust - Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are booming, but they’re facing questions about users betting on information that is not publicly available, from Super Bowl performances to geopolitical crises. Advocates for the platforms say they are "truth machines" but critics say they’re a new vehicle for insider trading. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff explains how users are making fortunes, and why regulators are starting to take notice. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery - How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in SportsSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boy Throb is a new boy band going viral on social media, but member Darshan Magdum is stuck in India. To get him to the U.S., the band needs to convince the United States government that Darshan qualifies for an "extraordinary ability" visa, the type of thing that’s often reserved for Olympians and scientists. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains the visa process and Boy Throb tells Jessica Mendoza about their unconventional quest to get their fourth member stateside. Further Listening: - Are Waymos Driving More Like Humans? - Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department recently released millions of additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. These files detailed Epstein’s expansive social and business network and reveal how the disgraced financier maintained ties with the global elite. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar discusses the new revelations, the fallout for those named in the documents, and the impact of unredacted victim information. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein- How Jeffrey Epstein Made His MoneySign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An influential California labor union is gathering signatures for a proposed asset tax on billionaires. But some of California’s ultra-wealthy are threatening to pack their bags — leaving the state’s tax revenue in the balance. WSJ’s Laura J. Nelson explains what’s potentially at stake and why a billionaire exodus is harder than simply renting a truck. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - The Healthcare Costs of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill  - Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Xi Jinping has solidified control over China's military after firing his top general Zhang Youxia in an unprecedented military purge that has sent shockwaves through the country. The allegations against Zhang include corruption and a nuclear secrets leak. WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains how this move potentially gives Xi more room to pursue his long-standing goal of reunifying with Taiwan. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - China's Cheap Goods Are Europe's Problem Now - China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug McMillon was Walmart's CEO for more than ten years, overseeing the company's return to retail success. WSJ's Sarah Nassauer sat down with him to talk about Walmart's turnaround, its future and a CEO's role in politics. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Battle to Be the King of Retail: Walmart vs. Amazon - The 20000 Steps to a Walmart Manager's Six-Figure Salary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a new social media platform for AI agents, but things are getting weird. It’s called Moltbook, and agents use it to apparently talk about things like coding and dating profiles, but also about overthrowing their human overlords and forming their own lobster religion. Initially, Moltbook shocked even some of the most experienced AI researchers, but how much of that is just humans messing around? WSJ’s Angel Au Yeung explains what’s actually happening on the site and how it came to be. Ryan Knuston hosts. Further Listening: Vibe Coding Could Change Everything  AI Has Come for Advertising Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, SpaceX and xAI, two companies controlled by Elon Musk, merged into a $1.25 trillion company. The deal combines a successful rocket and satellite business with an AI startup. Musk says the goal is to put AI data centers in earth’s orbit. WSJ’s Berber Jin reports on the deal. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: The Woman Behind SpaceX Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame. Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaire investor and CEO Ken Griffin runs one of the world’s most successful hedge funds, Citadel. He’s also a Republican who has been outspokenly critical of some of President Trump’s policies. Griffin sat down with WSJ Editor in Chief Emma Tucker at WSJ Invest Live to discuss his concerns about political uncertainty, the dangers of crony capitalism and the erosion of ethics in public service. Further Listening:  - JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on What's Next for the Economy - It’s Almost 2026. How’s the Economy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vibe coding, the process of turning a text prompt into actual software, has taken the AI world by storm. And it has investors in everything from software to legal services nervous. WSJ’s Joanna Stern and Ben Cohen tell us about their experience using Claude Code to develop an article. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last year, the dollar has been declining in value. And last week, President Donald Trump said he wasn’t concerned about the recent slide. WSJ’s Greg Ip explains how a weaker dollar fits into Trump’s broader economic strategy to boost U.S. growth. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Who Is the New Fed Chair? - It's Almost 2026. How’s the Economy? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kraft macaroni and cheese has been a household staple for decades. But owing to shifting consumer tastes towards healthier options and a tumultuous corporate shakeup, Kraft’s status as the big cheese is slipping. WSJ’s Jesse Newman reports on how Kraft lost its dominance in the mac and cheese aisle, and what the company plans on doing about it. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup - ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump will be nominating former Fed official Kevin Warsh to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos profiles the pick, explores the lingering issues Trump has with the current Fed chair and details the implications for the U.S. economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin - Why is the Fed Chair Facing a Criminal Investigation? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howard Rubin is a Wall Street legend, famous in the 1980s and ‘90s for being a risk-loving star trader. He also allegedly was involved in secret sex trafficking for years, hidden in a midtown penthouse. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel traces the saga and explains the allegations of abuse that ultimately led to Rubin’s arrest. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The High Pressure Tactics Gloria Allred Uses On Her Own Clients - Behind the Scenes at Davos, Claims of a Toxic Boss Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney’s largest source of revenue is its theme parks and cruises. The people responsible for designing those attractions are the secretive Imagineers. WSJ’s Ben Fritz reports that the company is spending $60 billion to create more Disney magic and it's up to the Imagineers to make it work. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening: - Disney’s Big AI Dilemma - Disney Gets Into Gambling Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer who had a child with Elon Musk, sued Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, alleging that its chatbot Grok generated and shared nonconsensual, sexually explicit images of her. St. Clair’s lawsuit is emblematic of the thorny legal issues that surround new AI tools and deepfakes. It also confronts the question: Who is responsible for the content that users prompt chatbots to create? Jessica Mendoza spoke with St. Clair’s lawyer, Carrie Goldberg, about the lawsuit. Further Listening: - Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue - How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, a federal officer shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minneapolis. WSJ’s Joe Barrett describes how events unfolded in the wake of Pretti’s killing, and WSJ’s Michelle Hackman breaks down how ICE tactics have led to clashes with local residents. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE Agents The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danielle Gansky was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at age 7. Soon, she was prescribed a daily cocktail of powerful psychiatric drugs that she would be on for years. A new Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that children who start on ADHD medication at a young age are more than five times as likely to be prescribed additional psychiatric drugs. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran breaks down that investigation. WSJ’s Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Is America on Too Many Psychiatric Drugs? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, has overseen the rise of the rocket and satellite company. She’s also maintained a long relationship with the company’s CEO Elon Musk. Now, with a potential IPO looming, WSJ’s Micah Maidenberg reports on how expansive Shotwell’s role is, and explains the big year ahead. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - When Elon Musk Moves In Next Door- Elon Musk’s Unusual Relationships With Women at SpaceXSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The explosive growth of artificial intelligence is straining the U.S. power grid and driving up electricity prices. Tech giants and politicians are scrambling to determine who will pay for the massive infrastructure needed to keep the lights on. WSJ's Jennifer Hiller explains what this energy crisis means for the future of the power industry. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - AI Has Come for Advertising - The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, President Trump intensified calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark. WSJ’s Max Colchester explains how European leaders are reacting to Trump’s push for the arctic island, and what might happen next. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy - Greenland Has Tons of Minerals. So Where Are All the Miners? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this mini-episode of The Journal, WSJ's Katherine Bindley investigates a recent change in behavior among San Francisco’s ubiquitous Waymos, the self-driving robotaxis. Suddenly, the cars are behaving less like deferential drivers and more like New York cabbies. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Waymo Won Over San Francisco - The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is Here Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a young age, it was clear that Phillip Bell was a football phenom. He got his first college scholarship offer in middle school. But that talent drew Bell into Southern California’s unruly youth football black market. In that system, high schoolers and their families are paid millions to play football. WSJ's Harriet Ryan reports on a system that ultimately tore Phillip Bell's family apart. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - NCAA President on a New Era for College Sports  - Private Equity Finally Can Get a Piece of the NFL Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past two weeks, Iran has been consumed by protests that have resulted in a heavy government crackdown with deaths estimated in the thousands. But the prelude to the unrest wasn’t just political. It stemmed from a deep financial crisis, and specifically, as WSJ’s Jared Malsin explains, the collapse of an obscure and indebted bank. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Iran Retaliates After U.S. Strike. How Could This End? - Iran May Be Running Out of Options Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump's sweeping plan for Venezuelan oil is coming into focus. It includes cutting off illicit oil exports, gaining more control over Venezuela's state-run oil company and rebuilding infrastructure. Some of these goals require the participation of U.S. oil companies, but those companies are reluctant to invest in the still-unstable country. WSJ's Andrew Restuccia explains Trump's gambit to bring down oil prices and reshape the global oil market. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy - Was Maduro's Capture About Oil? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After receiving grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department last week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the investigation was part of a pressure campaign to get the Fed to lower interest rates. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains how the investigation could change who controls monetary policy in the future. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse? The Fed Says It’s Hard to Tell - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An AI bubble. Geopolitical turmoil. Inflation and interest rates. These things and more could rock the stock market in 2026, and investors have to be prepared. WSJ’s Jason Zweig, writer of The Intelligent Investor column and newsletter, discusse s how investors can best set up their portfolios for the new year and breaks down his outlook for the year ahead. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - It's Almost 2026. How’s the Economy? - Investment Accounts for Babies Are Coming. Wall Street Can’t Wait. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August, a troubled man named Stein-Erik Soelberg killed his mother and took his own life. In the months leading up to the tragedy, Soelberg had been engaging in delusion-filled conversations with ChatGPT. Now, his mother’s estate has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, and Soelberg’s son Erik wants the tech giant to take responsibility for a product that he believes deepened his father’s decline. WSJ’s Julie Jargon tells Ryan Knutson about the challenges facing OpenAI when it comes to mental health.  Further Listening: - A Troubled Man and His Chatbot - OpenAI’s ‘Code Red’ Problem Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix is in a high-stakes fight to buy storied movie studio Warner Bros. The company has a $72 billion deal in hand, but rival Paramount isn't going down without a fight. At the helm of the streaming giant is co-CEO Ted Sarandos, whose strategies have helped transform the entertainment industry. WSJ’s Joe Flint says that Hollywood’s creatives were once enamored with Netflix’s approaches but have grown more wary of what new changes could come with consolidation. WSJ’s Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Netflix’s Fight for Warner Just Got Harder - Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid an intense trade dispute with the US, China has started looking to other markets to sell its low value items. In recent months, Chinese e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu have started homing in on Europe. But the pivot has been met with resistance by many in Europe. WSJ's Chelsey Dulaney reports on the evolving China-Europe trade dynamic. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy - Is Trump Winning His Trade War? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​​Since World War II, U.S. geopolitical strategy prioritized global trade and building alliances, especially with democracies. Now, after his action in Venezuela, President Trump is ushering in a new era of American foreign policy that is focused primarily on territory and resources. WSJ’s chief economics commentator Greg Ip breaks down the moment, its historical context, and what’s next. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Was Maduro's Capture About Oil? - Greenland Has Tons of Minerals. So Where Are All the Miners? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For months, the U.S. sold its pressure campaign against Venezuela as a way to curtail drug trafficking. Now, after a surprise military operation on Saturday that led to the capture of President Nicolàs Maduro, U.S. oil companies have a path to regaining access to one of the world’s largest oil reserves. But WSJ’s Collin Eaton explains why getting companies to flock back to Venezuela will be a massive challenge. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Make Money Not War: Trump’s Plan for Peace in Ukraine - Why Is the U.S. Giving Billions to Argentina? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stories that defined 2025, the themes to watch in 2026. Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza hear from top editors across the paper. Plus, Ryan's bold proposal to switch Christmas and Valentine's Day.Thanks for listening to the show in 2025. We’ll see you in 2026! Listen to Ryan and Jess’s playlist of their Greatest Hits of 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to a WSJ analysis, the epicenter for Stand Your Ground killings is in the state where the laws were first enacted: Florida. From 2021 through 2024, the Jacksonville area had a larger share of its homicides classified as justifiable killings by civilians than any U.S. city or county with a population greater than 500,000. WSJ’s Hannah Critchfield reports on the law’s unintended consequences and one case labelled as a self-defense killing, where no killer came forward at all. Valerie Bauerlein hosts and reveals a major update on the Scott Spivey case. Read the Reporting: - The Self-Defense Cases That Made Jacksonville No. 1 in Legal Homicides - 29 Shots in 24 Seconds: How a Killing Was Cast as Self-Defense Follow the Story: - Camp Swamp Road Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal officials say Chinese money launderers moved more than $300 billion in illicit transactions through U.S. banks and other financial institutions in recent years. WSJ’s Dylan Tokar explores the rise of these highly lucrative schemes and former federal prosecutor Julie Shemitz takes us inside the federal investigation to bring them down. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Money Laundering Behind TD Bank's $3 Billion Fine - Mexico's New Cocaine Kingpin is Cashing In Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the U.S. economy do in 2025? With unemployment ticking up, tariffs shaking up global trade and the stock market booming, it has been hard to make sense of it all. Ryan Knutson talks with three WSJ economics reporters–Justin Lahart, Rachel Wolfe and Jeanne Whalen– about the state of the economy as we wrap up the year, and about what to expect in 2026.  Further Listening: - The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun - Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse? The Fed Says It's Hard to Tell Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a historic church in the heart of Nashville was taken over by a businessman, the family of the church’s original founder, including Christian pop star Amy Grant, says the building was “steeple-jacked.” The businessman leading the church denies the allegations. WSJ’s Cameron McWhirter explains to Ryan Knutson why many American churches are vulnerable to a hostile takeover. Further Listening: - ‘Exmo’ Influencers Are Taking On Mormonism - The Financial Mess Facing the Vatican - Why the New Pope Is Taking on AI Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cloud seeding is a decades-old rain-making technology, and it’s making a comeback in drought-stricken western states. Utah is partnering with a startup called Rainmaker as they try to stabilize the Great Salt Lake, assisted by drones and AI. But those efforts are colliding with weather conspiracy theories that have only gotten more persistent after some blamed Rainmaker for deadly floods in Texas last year. Jessica Mendoza spoke to the company’s CEO Agustus Doricko about their projects, and WSJ’s Kris Maher explains the growing movement for states to ban weather modification despite scientific consensus. Further Listening: - Hot, Dry and Booming: A Texas Climate Case Study - Is Asheville No Longer a 'Climate Haven?' Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Risky investing strategies are on the rise, and Robinhood’s CEO Vlad Tenev is leading the charge. He’s built the company’s trading app not just to buy and sell ordinary stocks, but to make it easier to invest in more exotic financial products. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang profiles Tenev and explores the extraordinary success his company has had over the past year. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Free Trading Isn't Free: How Robinhood Makes Money - ‘To The Moon’ From the Journal Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Compass CEO Robert Reffkin wants to change the way Americans buy and sell homes by encouraging sellers to list their homes privately when they first hit the market. That strategy is challenging companies like Zillow, which have made information about home listings accessible to buyers. WSJ’s Nicole Friedman explains why Compass wants to overhaul the real estate market, and why Zillow is putting up a fight. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - A Case of Conspiracy in Real Estate - Think It's Expensive to Buy a Home? Try Owning One. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While some viewers complain that AI-generated ads look uncanny, brands like Coca-Cola are making them anyway. WSJ’s Katie Deighton explains how Coke remade their iconic “Holidays Are Coming” ad with artificial intelligence, and what that signals for the ad industry’s future. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun - How a $1.5 Billion Settlement Could Alter the Course of AISign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OpenAI kickstarted the AI race, but is it now at risk of falling behind Google? As the company behind ChatGPT releases its latest update to fend off Google's Gemini, WSJ’S Berber Jin explains OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's urgent "code red" memo to all employees and why the strategy will come at a cost. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs - The Journal. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting next year, babies born from 2025 to 2028 can receive $1,000 to start investment accounts. The initiative has gotten corporate America excited, with financial institutions vying for a role in the program, and philanthropists like Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell pledging billions of dollars in donations. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy unpacks how the accounts work and why Wall Street is buzzing about them. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Closing the Wealth Gap With a Trust Fund for Babies - The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips in China - Inside Intel's Deal With the U.S. Government Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, OpenAI and chip-designer Advanced Micro Devices, or AMD, announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to collaborate on AI data centers that will run on AMD processors, one of the most direct challenges yet to industry leader Nvidia. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan spoke to the CEO of AMD Lisa Su about the deal, her company and the prospect of an AI bubble. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening: - CoreWeave, the Company Riding the AI Boom - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - The Unraveling of OpenAI and Microsoft's Bromance Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning, Paramount Skydance launched a $77.9 billion hostile takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery. It occurred just days after Warner had agreed to a $72 billion deal with Netflix. WSJ’s Joe Flint reports on the twists and turns of the battle to control Warner and, if Netflix succeeds, how it would change Hollywood. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Will Paramount Settle With Trump? - She Swore Off Legacy Media. Now She's Running CBS News. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace in Ukraine through business deals. To Europe’s dismay, President Trump and his envoy are on board. WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson take us inside the Trump administration's new approach to diplomacy with Russia and how it could shake up the U.S.'s longstanding alliances. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Trump Is Ready to Send Missiles to Ukraine - Inside the Hunt for Putin's Sleeper Agents - The Suspected Russian Plot to Set Airplanes on Fire Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. wine industry hasn’t had it this bad since Prohibition. WSJ’s Laura Cooper reports from Sonoma County, California, a major region for American wine production, on why growers are drowning in unsold grapes, shrinking demand and trade-war fallout. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Who Wants Non-Alcoholic Beer? Everyone, Apparently. - Why Coke Isn't Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of a year-long investigation, WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran and Betsy McKay have been reporting on two of the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications in America: benzodiazepines and antidepressants. These drugs weren’t intended for long-term use, but some Americans end up on them for years. Betsy and Shalini spoke to many patients who experienced the downsides. So a basic question popped up: Is America overmedicated? Further Listening: - A Quick Fix for Hair Loss Is Making Some Men Sick - Uncontrolled Substances, Part 1: Subscribe and Prescribe Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An escalating artificial intelligence race between China and the U.S. is drawing comparisons to the Cold War, and is likely to be just as consequential. As the technology barrels ahead from ChatGPT to DeepSeek and beyond, the competition is now primarily focused on advanced computer chips, but some worry that the race to innovate will lead to loosening safety regulations. WSJ’s Josh Chin explains China’s strategy to Ryan Knutson. Further Listening: - CoreWeave, the Company Riding the AI Boom - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - What's the Worst AI Can Do? This Team Is Finding Out. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quince is seemingly everywhere. Since launching in 2018, the brand has built an e-commerce empire that brings in $1.1 billion annually, and has catapulted to the top of the "dupe" economy. But the company’s strategy of making its own versions of best-selling products has run into some pushback from competitors. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber takes us inside Quince’s strategy and ensuing legal battles. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Smucker, Trader Joe's and a Battle Over PB&Js - Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Labubus? - How Target Got Off Target Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Hermès heir Nicolas Puech announced his $15 billion fortune was missing, accusations started flying. Who had taken the money? Was it his handyman? His financial advisor? Puech himself? In this second episode, WSJ’s Nick Kostov reveals the answer in what could be the fraud of the century. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: The Case of the Missing $15 Billion Fortune: Part 1 The World's Richest Person Is Planning for Succession Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hermès is one of Europe’s most storied luxury brands, known for its Birkin bags and expensive silk scarves. One of the company’s biggest shareholders had been fifth-generation Hermès heir Nicolas Puech. But a few years ago, Puech made a shocking admission: he was out of money. And Puech’s Hermès shares, worth some $15 billion, were missing. In this first episode, WSJ’s Nick Kostov digs into one of the most baffling and epic financial sagas of this century. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: The World's Richest Person Is Planning for Succession Are Diamonds Even a Luxury Anymore? How a Miami Couple Used Empty Mansions to Pocket Millions Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pokémon cards are beating the benchmark S&P 500 and tech stocks like Meta. WSJ’s Krystal Hur has been talking with a few collectors that have hit it big thanks to some prized sparkly cardboard from their childhoods. But are there signs of a bubble and that we’re reaching peak Pikachu? Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The $55 Billion Deal to Take EA Private - GameStop and the Rise of the Reddit Investor Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kentucky Fried Chicken was once one of the biggest fast-food chain in America. Now, it’s battling declining U.S. sales as rivals attract customers with chicken sandwiches and tenders over KFC’s classic bucket of bone-in chicken. WSJ’s Heather Haddon reports on how the iconic chain is trying to turn things around. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening: - Can Pepsi Make a Comeback? - McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both?   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporate layoffs have been rolling across American companies: Amazon, General Motors, Verizon, Target and Microsoft have all cut jobs. WSJ’s Chip Cutter takes us inside his conversations with CEOs about how hiring is changing, and what the AI era means for jobs. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing - Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse? The fed Says it’s Hard to Tell Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once one of President Trump’s most strident allies, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is now arguing the president is out of touch with his political base. Trump, in turn, has called her a “traitor” and unendorsed her. As WSJ’s Olivia Beavers reports, Greene was one of a few Republicans who broke with Trump this year over the release of the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Now, with those files set to be released, Greene is redefining her political identity. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein - The Healthcare Fight at the Heart of the Longest Ever Shutdown Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After five quarters of lagging sales and a sluggish stock price, Nike CEO Elliott Hill is trying to turn things around. WSJ’s Inti Pacheco spoke with Hill to discuss Nike's return to its roots and plans for future innovation. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Missteps That Led Nike Off Course - Made in America? Shoe Companies Already Tried That. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The daylight heist at the Louvre Museum in October, during which thieves made off with more than $100 million in crown jewels, captured the world's attention. But the theft was just one in a series that have taken place at museums all across France this year. WSJ’s Noemie Bisserbe explains how the wave of heists reveals deep-rooted security vulnerabilities in the country’s hundreds of museums— and raises questions about what it takes to protect national treasures. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist - Six Days of Chaos at MGM's Casinos - How Investigators Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The repossession business is booming. More Americans are falling behind on their car payments, a sign that lower-income consumers are struggling. WSJ’s Scott Calvert recently joined a night shift with two repo men and learned that despite a record number of cars now marked for repossession, finding them is easier said than done. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It’s Time to Pay - The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager’s Six-Figure Salary Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans could soon lose access to Italian-made pasta due to a 107% tariff plan on pasta imports. WSJ's Margherita Stancati unravels how a fight over paperwork spiraled into a full-blown pasta war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - How One Business Owner Is Getting Ahead of Trump's Tariffs  - The Bean at the Center of the Trade War Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSJ’s Dan Gallagher takes us inside the little-known company playing a pivotal role in the AI spending boom. And Jessica Mendoza speaks to CoreWeave CEO Mike Intrator at WSJ Tech Live conference about whether the boom could be a bubble. Further Listening: - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - The Unraveling of OpenAI and Microsoft's Bromance - Artificial: The OpenAI Story Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Work in Los Angeles’s entertainment industry is evaporating. A desire to cut production costs, changing viewer habits, and competition from other filming locations are all contributing to a dramatic reduction in Hollywood jobs. WSJ’s Ben Fritz explains how the city’s creative middle class is bearing the burden. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Ron Howard and Brian Grazer on Longevity in Hollywood - The Case of the Hollywood Shutdown Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shareholders at Tesla approved the most valuable pay package ever for Elon Musk in an effort to bring his attention back to the company. The CEO will have to hit a number of milestones to get the full value of the package, including shifting Tesla’s focus to developing robotaxis and humanoid robots. WSJ’s Becky Peterson breaks down the complicated plan with Jessica Mendoza. Further Listening:  Why GM Is Slamming the Brakes on EV Ambitions Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could reverse President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and potentially upend the central piece of his economic policy. WSJ’s James Romoser breaks down the case on both sides and explains why some conservative justices are skeptical of Trump administration’s argument for the tariffs. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: The Supreme Court’s Season Finale, Explained Trump 2.0: A Showdown With the Judiciary Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At WSJ’s Tech Live, Jessica Mendoza sits down with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to discuss the pivotal moment in the U.S.-China AI race, how he thinks AI should be regulated, and whether or not the AI boom might be a bubble.  Further Listening: - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? - How a $1.5 Billion Settlement Could Alter the Course of AI  - The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips in China Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over healthcare subsidies has shut down the federal government for a historic length of time. With open enrollment underway, many Americans who pay for plans under the Affordable Care Act are experiencing sticker shock. Some costs have doubled, tripled, or even quintupled. WSJ’s Anna Wilde Matthews takes us inside the hefty premium hikes and explains why the high price tag could have an impact on the system as a whole. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: -The Healthcare Costs of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare -Medicare Inc. Part 2: Taxpayers Paid for care Denied by Insurers Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel has reopened after an eight year saga that went $1 billion over budget. WSJ’s Craig Karmin takes us inside the deal to buy the hotel, the arrest of its new owner and the Chinese government’s takeover. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:- Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos- The Missing Minister Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Etsy witch trend has taken witchcraft into the mainstream. These online witches are making their magical services available to anyone willing to pay for them. Want a job? Or a boyfriend? There’s a spell for that. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber explains why it pays to be a witch. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community? -Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced a highly anticipated quarter-point cut to interest rates. But the road to future rate cuts is pretty murky. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains how missing government data is obscuring the Fed’s view of the economy, and why Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a December rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion.” Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - The Government Shutdown: Who Will Blink First? - The Drama at the Fed as It Debates Cutting Rates  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2021, GM and its CEO Mary Barra announced a bold plan to go all electric by 2035. But falling consumer demand and shriveling government support has undermined GM’s electric plans. Now, as Sharon Terlep reports, GM has gone from one of the industry’s loudest EV champions to a leading opponent of government emissions rules and fuel-economy standards. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: -What Happened to GM’s All-Electric Bet? -Tesla Has a Problem: Elon MuskSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J.M. Smucker is suing Trader Joe's over trademark infringement, accusing the company of copying its pre-made Uncrustables peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explores the battle over PB&Js is part of a broader anxiety for Big Food over the rise of private-label products. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:- Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour- Kraft Heinz’s Big BreakupSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Auto-parts maker First Brands Group, the company behind products like Autolite spark plugs and Fram oil filters, declared bankruptcy last month. Court filings have revealed a trove of irregularities and a $2 billion dollar hole. WSJ’s Alexander Gladstone says the bankruptcy is having an impact on the company’s lenders and on Wall Street. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - Trump’s Tariffs Cause Chaos in Auto Industry  - How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Argentinians go to the polls this Sunday in the first major test of their leader, Javier Milei. Voters appear to be losing faith in his bold economic vision to resuscitate the country’s ailing economy. But Milei has a secret weapon: a close relationship with President Trump. WSJ’s Ryan Dubé explains why the U.S. government is bailing out Argentina. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Argentina’s New President Takes A Chainsaw to the Country’s Government -The Bean at the Center of the Trade War Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a conversation taped at The Journal live event, entrepreneurs and influencers Vivian Tu, Haley Sacks, and Brian Kelly sat down with Jessica Mendoza to explore personal finance in the social media era; exploring everything from generational wealth to how much crypto people should have in their portfolios. Further Listening:  Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong We had so much fun in NYC, keep an eye out for more live events across the U.S. soon! Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese criminals have made more than $1 billion from scam text messages sent out across the U.S. and the world. The texts warn of unpaid fines and lure unsuspecting victims to fork over their credit-card details. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how the scheme works and why it’s been so hard to stop. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: Pig-Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist The Slaves Sending You Scam Texts Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once among the world's fastest-growing religions, Mormonism is facing a 21st-century reckoning, driven by social media. Across Tiktok and Instagram an army of #exmo creators take on controversial aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ history. WSJ’s Georgia Wells reports on the growing online #exmo community and how the church is pushing back. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Why Utah Is Regulating Mom Influencers - The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Happ was packing to leave Tennessee for an evangelical mission to Uganda in 2023 when Bank of America told him it was canceling his church’s bank account and his credit cards. Happ soon became the symbol of a conservative complaint: Financial institutions are allegedly ’debanking’ people because of their religious or political views. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy on President Trump’s fight with the banks over debanking. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: -How a New 'Anti-Woke' Bank Stumbled -Outcry at Bank of America Over Dangerous Workloads Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, one of the biggest questions fueling conspiracy theories has been: is the U.S. government hiding secret knowledge of extraterrestrial life? But when the Pentagon started investigating, it uncovered a different kind of coverup. WSJ's Joel Schectman reports on what's in that investigation, and what the government ultimately decided to leave out of it. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How a Balloon Burst U.S.-China Relations Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 days into the government shutdown, services are unavailable and federal workers are facing instability. Both sides have dug in, with Democrats and Republicans pointing fingers at each other. WSJ’s Siobhan Hughes explains what it would take to end the shutdown. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: -Why This Government Shutdown Is Different -Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep in a heavily guarded mountain hideout in the heart of the Sierra Madre mountains, a new drug king is reigning. He is 59-year-old Nemesio “Mencho” Oseguera and his cartel has achieved dominance capitalizing on America’s resurgent love of cocaine and the Trump administration’s escalating war on fentanyl. WSJ’s José de Córdoba recounts the rise. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Drug You’ve Never Heard of Wreaking Havoc Across Europe- A Cocaine Kingpin and the Rise of Drug Violence in Europe Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tech giants are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on an AI building boom, constructing massive data centers like a sprawling new complex in Texas. Is this a necessary investment for the future, or are we witnessing the next tech bubble? WSJ’s Berber Jin and Eliot Brown follow the money and consider whether or not it adds up. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Artificial: The OpenAI Story  -The Hidden Workforce That Helped Filter Violence and Abuse Out of ChatGPT  -The Unraveling of OpenAI and Microsoft's Bromance  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re off today for the holiday, but wanted to share this episode. Sonos, the high-end speaker company, is still reeling from its disastrous app update over a year ago. WSJ’s Ben Cohen explains how the company lost revenue and approximately $600 million in market capitalization. Then came the layoffs and a CEO exit. Jessica Mendoza hosts. This episode was first published in March 2025. Further Listening:  The Glitch That Crashed Millions of Computers The Snowballing Problems at Vail Resorts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has a lot to juggle, from a federal government shutdown to immigration enforcement to the state’s affordability crisis. In a conversation taped at The Journal live event, Hochul joins host Ryan Knutson to talk about how she’s managing those challenges, what her private conversations are like with President Donald Trump, and her take on New York City’s next potential mayor, Zohran Mamdani.  Further Listening:  - Why This Government Shutdown Is Different - Is NYC’s Mayoral Race All About Rent? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to end the war in Gaza. The deal would free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Trump administration hopes it is the first step towards a longer term peace. WSJ’s Shayndi Raice explains how all the parties got to the table and what big hurdles remain. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -The Struggle to Get Aid Into Gaza -A Fragile Cease-Fire Deal in Gaza Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paramount has acquired news and opinion website the Free Press for $150 million. The company's co-founder, Bari Weiss, has a new job as editor in chief of CBS News. She's a polarizing figure, known for her outspoken support of Israel and strong views on topics like gun rights and DEI. WSJ’s Joe Flint on why Paramount thinks CBS News needs a shakeup. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension and Trump’s FCC -What Killed 'The Late Show'? -Will Paramount Settle With Trump? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2021, Tamar Veatch won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes competition run by Publishers Clearing House, the company best known for delivering oversized checks to winners. But then last April, Publishers Clearing House went bankrupt. WSJ’s Akiko Matsuda explains why the company went under, and what it means for winners like Tamar. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery- How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in Sports Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quit the brand after 47 years, accusing parent company Unilever of not allowing the company to speak out on social issues. Host Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben Cohen, the co-founder who stayed, about why he’s not leaving, what he wants next for the company, and why political messaging is important for his ice cream brand.  Further Listening:  - Why Ben & Jerry’s Is Suing its Parent Company Over Israel - Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than two years, Jennifer Foley has been an advocate for her brother Scott Spivey. But to get the criminal investigation into his death reopened, Jennifer has to convince some of the most powerful leaders in South Carolina that this was not a Stand Your Ground case. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports. Read the Reporting: Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story. ‘You’re Taken Care of’: Did Police Promise to Shield a Killer?  Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In Follow the Story: Camp Swamp Road Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A group of investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm are acquiring videogame maker Electronic Arts. The $55 billion deal is the largest leveraged buyout of all time. WSJ’s Lauren Thomas takes us inside the historic buyout, exploring the company's fandom and legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  Camp Swamp Road Series Why Microsoft Is Paying $75 Billion for Activision Blizzard Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X with such a big burden. And one Gen Xer talks about the impact student debt has had on his life. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening:  - For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay - Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Government funding lapsed early Wednesday morning after the White House and lawmakers failed to reach a spending deal, triggering a shutdown that is expected to halt some federal services and put hundreds of thousands of federal workers on furlough.​​ WSJ’s Natalie Andrews takes us inside the contentious dispute and explains why the gulf between Democrats and Republicans is wider than ever. Ryan Knutson hosts.Further Listening: - Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the GovernmentSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, President Donald Trump warned that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a potential cause of autism. Many medical professionals say the relationship between acetaminophen and autism is inconclusive, and Trump's comments went beyond what his own administration officials recommend. Still, the press conference caused a crisis at the company that makes Tylenol, Kenvue. WSJ’s Peter Loftus on Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry’s attempts to manage the Trump Administration and the new corporate crisis. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust - Why Coke Isn’t Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After former FBI director James Comey was indicted last week, Trump said that there may be more indictments coming. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman takes us inside the President’s push to prosecute the people he views as enemies and what this may mean for the future of the Justice Department. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - The Federal Reserve Under Siege - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein - Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Super Bowl Sunday, Jennifer Foley opened a police file and discovered 90 recorded phone calls from her brother’s killer. To Jennifer, what she heard completely undermined Weldon Boyd’s self-defense claims. But the calls also revealed that Boyd had a powerful friend. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports. Read the Reporting: Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In Follow the Story: Camp Swamp Road Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the forests of Tanzania to the halls of power, Jane Goodall has spent her life fighting to protect wildlife. But as the planet warms and some governments retreat from environmentalism, is her mission slipping out of reach? Ryan Knutson interviews the renowned conservationist. Further Listening The Head of the EPA on the Future of the Agency How the U.S. Fell Behind China on Climate Diplomacy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's officially harvest season in the American heartland. But sixth-generation Iowa farmer Scott Dierickx says he won’t be making a profit on soybeans this year. WSJ’s Patrick Thomas explains how China is using soybeans as a weapon in the trade war with the United States. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  Can a Farming Community Resist a Development Boom? Why Farmers Are Breaking Eggs and Dumping Milk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump Administration recently announced a new $100,000 annual fee for the coveted H-1B visa. Then the White House walked that back, saying that the charge would only apply to new visa applicants, one-time only. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar reports on how the changes set off a wave of anxiety and confusion, especially in Silicon Valley where many H-1B visa holders work. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities- Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fumes are often described as smelling like “dirty socks ” – and they’re seeping into airplane air, sickening some passengers and crew. So-called “fume events” have been a known problem in the airline industry for decades. But a new WSJ analysis shows they’re becoming more common, and their health effects can be severe. WSJ’s Benjamin Katz details his team’s investigation into fume events, which have led to emergency landings and affected pilots’ vision midflight. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - Southwest Changed Flying. Can It Change Itself? - The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Florida Highway Patrol has taken up the Trump administration’s call for state and local law enforcement to play a bigger role in its immigration crackdown. Virtually all its officers have been trained to participate in a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that deputizes police to perform some of the duties of federal immigration officers. WSJ’s Arian Campo-Flores takes us along for a ride with some officers in the program. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz- The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities- "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Scott Spivey was killed in a shootout on Camp Swamp Road, his sister Jennifer Foley wanted to know what happened. But the police didn’t provide the family with answers. So, Jennifer began her own investigation. WSJ reporter Valerie Bauerlein goes to South Carolina to see what Jennifer uncovered. Read the Reporting: ‘You’re Taken Care of’: Did Police Promise to Shield a Killer? Further Listening: Camp Swamp Road Ep. 1: Mess Around, Find Out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week, ABC’s late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was suspended indefinitely by parent company Disney after Kimmel made remarks about Charlie Kirk's death. The announcement came after the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, suggested the FCC could pull the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations, and the owners of some of these stations said they were dropping Kimmel's show. President Donald Trump has said that broadcast networks that are “against” him might have their licenses taken away. WSJ's Maggie Severns reports on Carr's approach to the FCC and how it has led to Kimmel's suspension. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - What Killed 'The Late Show'? - Will Paramount Settle With Trump?Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oracle co-founder is almost as wealthy as Elon Musk, and he’s in the middle of the AI revolution, the future of entertainment, and maybe even a deal for TikTok. WSJ’s Sebastian Herrera explains why, at 81 years old, Larry Ellison is more powerful than ever. Ryan Knuston hosts. Further Listening: Will Paramount Settle With Trump? Is the TikTok Saga Finally Over? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a series of extended deadlines, the U.S. and China say they have a framework for a deal for the future of TikTok. Alex Leary discusses who comes out ahead.  Further Listening:  - Wait… Was That the TikTok Ban? - The Day the Music Died on TikTok Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Reserve faces a pivotal choice this week: cut interest rates to boost a cooling labor market, or hold firm to keep inflation in check. WSJ's Nick Timiraos breaks down the Fed's debate and high-stakes maneuvering as President Trump pushes to expand his influence over the central bank. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:- The Federal Reserve Under Siege- Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe KevinSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A man in rural South Carolina calls 911 about a reckless driver. A reckless driver with a gun. Minutes later, a man is killed on Camp Swamp Road. Police say this was a clear-cut case of self defense. WSJ reporter Valerie Bauerlein reconstructs that night using 911 calls, police dash-camera and body-camera recordings. Read the Reporting: Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The musician Bad Bunny opted to hold 30 concerts in his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico instead of touring the mainland United States. WSJ’s Elias Leight explains how the move has given a nearly $200 million boost to the island’s economy during a slow season for tourism. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - Puerto Rico's Long Struggle to Keep the Lights On  - The Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Kirk, the provocative conservative influencer and confidant of President Trump, was shot and killed yesterday. He was 31. WSJ’s Aaron Zitner reports on how Kirk quickly rose to become a prominent figure in conservative politics and where things stand with the investigation into his death. He also discusses the alarming recent rise of political violence in American life. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Limited tickets left. Artificial intelligence company Anthropic agreed to pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit over the company's use of pirated books to train large-language models. WSJ’s Melissa Korn unpacks the proposed settlement and explores what the precedent could mean for the AI industry. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening:  Why Elon Musk's AI Chatbot Went Rogue The Company Behind ChatGPT Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 9, 2023, in rural South Carolina, a man was killed in a shootout on Camp Swamp Road. Police said that it was a clear case of self defense, but secret recordings tell a different story. In a new true crime podcast series from The Journal, WSJ reporter Valerie Bauerlein unspools a shooting that might have gone unnoticed, if not for a grieving sister’s quest to find the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary discusses the recent decision to approve updated Covid-19 vaccines for a smaller population. In an interview with host Ryan Knutson, Makary also discusses his thoughts on restoring confidence in public health policy and explains the agency's new crackdown on pharmaceutical ads and an upcoming report that says that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could be linked to autism, among others. Further Listening:  - The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover - Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a Hyundai electric vehicle factory complex in Georgia, agents from the Department of Homeland Security detained about 475 people, including hundreds of South Korean nationals. It was the biggest single site raid in the history of the department. WSJ’s Sharon Terlep went to the factory complex and explains how two of Trump’s key policies—cracking down on illegal immigration and rebuilding U.S. manufacturing—have unexpectedly collided. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:  - Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz - "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets are on sale now.! Tickets are on sale now. Stein-Erik Soelberg became increasingly paranoid this spring and he shared suspicions with ChatGPT about a surveillance campaign being carried out against him. At almost every turn, his chatbot agreed with him. WSJ’s Julie Jargon details how ChatGPT fueled a troubled man’s paranoia and why AI can be dangerous for people experiencing mental health crises. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- What’s the Worst AI Can Do? This Team Is Finding Out. - A Lawyer Says He Doesn't Need Help for Psychosis. His Family Disagrees.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5 at 10am ET. A hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania was acquired by a private equity firm that leveraged it to make shareholders millions. Now the facility has had to close its doors, leaving the community reeling. WSJ's Soma Biswas takes us inside the hospital’s bankruptcy and Jessica Mendoza speaks to a local emergency services executive about the impact on the local community in Chester.  Further Listening:  - Why Private Equity Is Buying Up Car Washes - The Private Equity Lobby Wins Again Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5, 10am ET!  Kraft Heinz, the huge company behind Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, Heinz Ketchup and Kraft Mac and Cheese, is splitting in two. Behind this split is a private equity company, the MAHA movement, and the "historically bad deal” that merged Kraft and Heinz in the first place. WSJ's Jesse Newman tells Jessica Mendoza about what’s changing in America’s pantry. Further Listening:  Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is trying to triple its ranks of deportation officers. Flush with cash from President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” the agency is attempting to recruit and train an additional 10,000 officers. The push comes as the White House has set a goal of a million deportations by the end of Trump’s first year in office. It’s a pace that is roughly double what ICE is currently on track to achieve. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman tells Jessica Mendoza about her visit to an ICE training center in Georgia. Further Listening: - "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company. - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute FactorySign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just a week after it unveiled a streamlined new design, Cracker Barrel has reversed its controversial decision to change its logo. WSJ's Heather Haddon unveils a behind the scenes corporate grudge from an activist investor who fueled the outrage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda has shaken big food companies already reeling from shifting consumer preferences. Cereal giant WK Kellogg, already struggling as Americans move away from cereal, is at the center of many MAHA attacks. WSJ’s Jesse Newman reports on Kellogg's journey from American icon to MAHA target. Allison Pohle hosts.  Further Listening: The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover Why Coke Isn’t Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. government is taking a 10% stake in Intel, a deal that caps a two-week frenzy for the troubled chip maker and marks the latest in a series of extraordinary private-sector interventions by President Trump. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan peels back the curtain on the unprecedented deal and shares details from the Oval Office meeting between Intel and the Trump administration. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - How Intel’s CEO Became a Political Liability- Is American Capitalism in Retreat?- The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips to ChinaSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of demands for lower interest rates, President Donald Trump is attempting to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook in the most dramatic step yet in his efforts to take control of the independent central bank. As WSJ’s Matt Grossman explains, the move could allow Trump to alter the makeup of the board enough to potentially outvote Fed Chair Jerome Powell and recast the Fed in his image. Jessica Mendoza hosts.Further Listening: - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin- Why Trump Pushed His Tariff DeadlineSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over a decade ago, home gardening giant Scotts Miracle-Gro made a bold push for growth in a nascent and controversial industry: cannabis. What was once the company’s lucrative bet is now a struggling business. WSJ’s Dean Seal explains how Scotts Miracle-Gro ventured into marijuana and why their early bet has shriveled up. Oyin Adedoyin hosts. Further Listening:  How the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis' Dried Up The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry The Drug You’ve Never Heard of Wreaking Havoc Across Europe Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a pro-growth mayor in rural Tennessee dies unexpectedly, his vision for development is suddenly challenged. What began as a land dispute quickly escalates into a clash of values, dividing the deep-red county over the very definition of 'conservative.' WSJ's Cameron McWhirter reports on a fight between tradition and transformation, featuring two farmers on opposing sides. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- A Fight over Buc-ee’s and the Soul of the American WestSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump recently signed an executive order that could make it easier for everyday Americans to invest their retirement savings in assets that lie outside public markets, such as private equity, cryptocurrency and private real estate. WSJ’s Anne Targesen explains how 401ks have evolved, and the risks and rewards of adding these alternative assets to people’s retirement accounts. Oyin Adedoyin hosts. Further Listening:- The Wall Street Craze Jamie Dimon Can’t Resist. Even If It Blows Up.- Private Equity Finally Can Get a Piece of the NFLSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When New Rochelle, NY was faced with a declining population and economy, it set out on a building spree. A decade into the effort, the city – which sits just north of New York City – actually managed to keep rents down, bucking a nationwide trend. WSJ’s Rebecca Picciotto shares how New Rochelle navigated red tape and some community opposition to build thousands of new housing units. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- Is NYC’s Mayoral Race All About Rent? - The Rise of the YimbysSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has made big moves to intervene in critical industries – from computer chips to rare earth minerals to steel. WSJ’s chief economics commentator, Grep Ip, says that these efforts could suggest the U.S. might be moving away from free market capitalism and towards what he calls state capitalism, American-style. Now, Greg is wondering if the U.S. economic system is starting to look more like China’s, and if President Trump is imitating the Chinese Communist Party by extending political control ever deeper into the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts.Further Listening: - The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips in China- How Intel’s CEO Became a Political LiabilitySign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of quiet behind the scenes’ lobbying in both Washington and Beijing, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has secured a deal to protect tens of billions of dollars in future sales from the heated U.S.-China trade rivalry. WSJ’s Lingling Wei profiles the CEO’s transformation from co-founder to corporate lobbyist. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- How Intel’s CEO Became a Political Liability- The U.S. Wants American-Made Chips. Can Intel Deliver? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A couple in Los Angeles say they wanted a big family. Surrogates who carried their children say they were deceived. WSJ’s Katherine Long explains why an investigation into a family who say they have 22 children is raising alarm among the commercial surrogacy industry, a fast-growing and multibillion-dollar market. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:  - America's Maternal Mental Health Crisis - How Employer-Funded Child Care Can Work Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek Mobley spent years applying for jobs online after he got laid off. After more than 100 rejections, he started to wonder whether Workday – the popular online recruiting platform – was to blame. Now, Mobley is suing Workday, alleging that the company’s hiring algorithm discriminated against him. Derek shares his experience, and WSJ’s Lauren Weber explains how his lawsuit got this far. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs What's the Worst AI Can Do? This Team Is Finding Out. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has called for the resignation of Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. Tan played a key role in building up China’s chip industry, earning him the nickname “Mr. Chip.” Now his ties to China have opened him up to criticism, just as he’s struggling to turn Intel’s business around. WSJ’s Stu Woo explains how Tan attracted the President’s attention, and what it says about the ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry. Annie Minoff hosts.Further Listening: - The Chip Business Is Booming. Why Isn't Intel?- Why Washington Went to Wall Street to Revive the Chips Industry - The U.S. Wants American-Made Chips. Can Intel Deliver?Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Europe has mostly been spared from the synthetic opioid crisis that has ravaged the U.S. over the past two decades. But now, a deadly new drug could be changing that: nitazenes. Up to 15 times stronger than fentanyl, nitazenes have been behind hundreds of overdose deaths in European countries over the past few years. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen on where the drug comes from and why it's doing so much damage. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: Fentanyl Is Bad. ‘Tranq’ Might Be Worse. The Push to Test Drugs for Fentanyl Why Some Opioid Victims Are Challenging Purdue’s Settlement Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Silicon Valley company Palantir spent years treading water as a tech outsider in the S&P 500. The company's recent success, as WSJ’s Heather Somerville reports, is due in large part to CEO Alex Karp’s ability to find opportunities in crises, as well as to the Trump administration. Michelle Hackman hosts.   Further Listening: - Inside ICE’s Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants- Why Trump Is Ready to Send Missiles to Ukraine - Iran May Be Running Out of Options Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a new game selling out stadiums around the country: banana ball. The game’s founder, Jesse Cole, describes how he got started. And WSJ’s Jason Gay watched a game to see what Major League Baseball – and other pro sports – can learn from banana ball’s fan-first approach. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further listening: - NCAA President on New Era for College Sports - How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in Sports - The Biggest Trade in Sports Wasn’t an Athlete –– It Was a TV Show Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An ugly-cute monster has become a global sensation. PopMart, the company behind Labubus, has leveraged blind-box packaging, scarcity and artist collaborations to turn these collectible plushies into a booming business. WSJ's Kaitlyn Wang explains the rise of the Labubu and a "Labubu influencer" describes the appeal. Michelle Hackman hosts. Further Listening: - How the Stanley Cup Became the Internet’s Favorite Water Bottle - Mattel Bets Big on Barbie - Is Supreme Still the King of Streetwear? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney is grappling with how to push forward into a new AI era without losing control of its valuable intellectual property. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel takes us inside the company's complicated relationship with AI and its race to figure out how to leverage the new technology for maximum gain – without putting too much at risk. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Download That Led to a Massive Hack at Disney - Disney Gets Into Gambling - Why Florida is Fighting with Walt Disney World Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Marty Makary has criticized the Food and Drug Administration for being "captured" by Big Food and Big Pharma. Now, the surgeon and former professor is in charge. In an interview with host Jessica Mendoza, the new FDA head talks about food dyes, AI, vaccines and the big changes he has in store for an agency that regulates one-fifth of consumer spending. Further Listening:  Why Coke Isn't Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup MAHA Influencers Go to Washington Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday, President Trump fired the top Bureau of Labor Statistics official after the government published new data showing that U.S. hiring slowed sharply this summer. The jobs report was the weakest in President Trump’s second term. WSJ’s Matt Grossman reports on the economist at the heart of the controversy, Erika McEntarfer, and on bigger concerns around data from the bureau. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin ​​- Is Trump Winning His Trade War? - Is the Economy… OK? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last few months, President Donald Trump has struck numerous trade deals with countries and continues to negotiate with others. The European Union, Japan and South Korea all agreed to a tariff rate of 15%. WSJ’s Greg Ip says Trump has succeeded on his own terms and created a new trade world order, albeit a fragile one. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- A Pharmaceutical Executive on Trump’s Tariff Strategy- Why Trump Pushed His Tariff DeadlineSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Donald Trump posted that he'd been in talks with Coca-Cola, and that the sodamaker would soon be making Coke with cane sugar, it sent the soda world into a fizz. WSJ's Laura Cooper explains why Coca-Cola and other sodamakers originally made the switch from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup and why it would be hard to go back. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening:- ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper - Can Pepsi Make a Comeback?- The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A delicious corporate rivalry is brewing! After an accounting fraud scandal nearly derailed its rise, Luckin Coffee has become the top-selling coffee chain in China. Now it’s expanding stateside, with two new locations in New York City. WSJ’s Hannah Miao  explains why Luckin’s tech-forward business model made it a winner in China, and whether Starbucks can fend off the competition by returning to its coffee house roots. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: Fraud Rocks China's Hottest Coffee Startup The Inside Story of Starbucks's CEO Drama The Underdog Coffee Bean That's Making a Comeback Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After decades, Volkswagen brought its iconic VW bus back to the U.S., this time as a fully electric vehicle. But after years of buzz, the new model is falling flat. WSJ’s Sean McLain explores the hype around the ID.Buzz and why it struggled to capture American hearts and dollars. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Kia and Hyundai’s ‘Kia Boyz’ Problem -Will Honda Be Nissan's Ride or Die? -Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would impose up to a 200% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, though he would give them up to a year and a half before fully implementing the tariffs. Trump’s goal is to bring more manufacturing to the United States, but one pharmaceutical CEO, Richard Saynor of Sandoz, says there is little incentive to build in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline - Inside the Surprise U.S.-China Trade Deal  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, CBS cancelled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The network said that ending the show was “purely a financial decision.” Over the years, late-night audiences and profits have dwindled. But some fans have suggested the move was partly political: CBS pulled the plug just days after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS’s parent company, for agreeing to settle a lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million. WSJ’s Joe Flint delves into the controversy and the economics of late-night TV. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -Will Paramount Settle With Trump? -Why Buying Paramount Global Won't Be Easy  -’Love Is Blind' Is Back. Not All the Drama Is On-Screen. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global diamond company De Beers spent decades convincing couples that true love required a diamond. But now, lab-grown diamonds that are identical to naturally-mined ones are flooding the market with cheaper options and reshaping the diamond business completely. WSJ’s Jenny Strasburg takes us inside the showdown in the diamond market, and we speak to a ring shopper weighing her options. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:-One American Company Taking on China's Rare-Earth Dominance-Can Pepsi Make a Comeback?-How Target Got Off TargetSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Dimon, the cautious head of JPMorgan Chase, has consistently warned that private credit, the hottest trend on Wall Street, could trigger a financial blowup. So why is America’s biggest bank pouring money into it? WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains JPMorgan’s strategy and why you should care. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on What’s Next for the Economy - Is the Economy… OK?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buc-ee's — the chain of road stops with a beaver mascot and a die-hard fanbase — is looking to expand westward. Its next stop is Palmer Lake, Colorado: a small, rural town known for its lush greenery and outdoor recreation. But some local residents are looking to “heave the beave.” And they have a powerful billionaire backing them: ‘cable cowboy' John Malone. WSJ’s Jim Carlton reports on this standoff over development and the future of the American West. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: - The Fight Over Water in the West - The Rise of the Yimbys Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiny rare-earth magnets are used for building phones, electric cars, and submarines, but nearly all of them are mined and made in China. One U.S. company is trying to change that. WSJ’s Jon Emont spoke with MP Materials’ CEO about his goals for the mine, which has now made deals with the Pentagon, General Motors, and Apple. Can this industry come back the U.S.? Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -Why Trump Wants Ukrainian Minerals  -Greenland Has Tons of Minerals. So Where Are All the Miners?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2003, Jeffrey Epstein got a gift for his 50th birthday, a leather-bound album containing letters, poems, photos and greetings from friends. One of the letters was from Donald Trump. The president says the letter "is a fake thing." WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar reveals what’s in the letter and Sadie Gurman explores what it means for Trump and the Department of Justice. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon warehouses are more automated than ever. The company, a key bellwether for the U.S. labor market, now has over a million robots packing and shipping goods in its fulfillment centers. While some employees are finding ways to transition into higher-paying technical roles that manage the robots, the company’s CEO Andy Jassy has said it plans to cut the size of its overall workforce. Sebastian Herrera explains Amazon’s vision for the warehouse of the future. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs.  - The Battle to Be the King of Retail: Walmart vs. Amazon   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After talks with NATO allies, President Donald Trump gave Russia 50 days to broker peace with Ukraine. If they can’t make it happen, he says he’ll impose tariffs on Russian goods to ratchet up economic pressure. The move underscores Trump’s growing anger with Russian President Vladimir Putin. WSJ’s Lara Seligman unpacks the latest and explores the evolving relationship between Trump and Putin. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -Inside the Hunt for Putin’s Sleeper Agents  -How Ukraine Built a Weapon to Control the Black Sea  -Ukraine Makes a Deal With Wall Street  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the passage of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” renewable energy companies are bracing for more challenging times. The law is set to end Biden-era subsidies for clean energy, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that the industry could lose half a trillion dollars in tax incentives over the next decade. WSJ’s David Uberti reports on the renewable energy pullback. And Annie Minofftalks to a co-owner of a North Carolina-based solar-panel-installation company about what the winding down of subsidies means for his business.  Further Listening: - The Healthcare Costs of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’  - How Trump’s Megabill Squeaked Through the Senate  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Grok went rogue. The AI chatbot – which users can interact with on X – posted antisemitic comments and graphic descriptions of violence before being deactivated, leaving users with a question: Where were Grok’s guardrails? WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy breaks down what happened and what it means for Musk’s company’s plans for an AI future. Annie Minoff hosts.    Further Listening: - How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink  - The Musk-Twitter Saga  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The man of steel is back in a new $225 million reboot. Riding on this weekend’s release is the hope that DC Studios will finally begin to match the past successes of its archrival Marvel. Its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery views DC Studios as critical to its success or failure. WSJ’s Ben Fritz talks to Jessica Mendoza about whether or not Superman can be the savior that DC and Warner are hoping for. Further Listening: - With Great Power: The Rise of Superhero Cinema  - Ron Howard and Brian Grazer on Longevity in Hollywood  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, President Trump has feuded with the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates. And now, two Republicans named Kevin (Kevin Hassett, one of Trump’s closest economic advisers and Kevin Warsh—a former Fed governor) are vying to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos takes us inside the contest for the next Fed Chair and what the President might be looking for with his choice. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline  - Is the Economy…OK?  - Trump 2.0: Where Is the Economy Headed?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s megabill cuts over $1 trillion in healthcare spending over the next decade, mainly from Medicaid. Experts project nearly 8.7 million fewer people covered by Medicaid, and hospitals face reduced payments and higher costs. WSJ’s Dominique Mosbergen reports on the bill’s historic cuts. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - How Trump’s Megabill Squeaked Through the Senate  - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Trump paused most of his “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days last spring, the administration had hoped to cut dozens of trade deals. As trade advisor Peter Navarro put it, there could be "90 deals in 90 days." But as Trump’s deal deadline approached, it became clear that the administration’s deal-making push has hit some snags, resulting in only a handful of agreements with the UK, China, and Vietnam. This week, Trump extended his deadline to August 1st and sent public letters to many U.S. trading partners. WSJ’s Gavin Bade explains the sticking points that have gotten in the way of “90 deals in 90 days.” Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - Trump's Plan B After Trade Court Setback  - Inside the Surprise U.S.-China Trade Deal  - Taking Stock of the 'Sell America' Trade  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is shaking up business in a big way, and recent college graduates are feeling the pinch. WSJ’s Chip Cutter explores the new corporate philosophy emerging around hiring and explains how the promise of artificial intelligence is putting entry-level jobs on the chopping block and less experienced applicants may be forced to pivot. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Company Behind ChatGPT  - The Hidden Workforce That Helped Filter Violence and Abuse Out of ChatGPT  - OpenAI’s Weekend of Absolute Chaos  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the battle for AI supremacy, Meta’s models have lagged. Now CEO Mark Zuckerberg is racing to hire new AI talent to close the gap with rivals. He’s dangling huge pay packages to lure experts away from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky explains how Meta’s AI efforts fell short, and who will be joining the company’s new “Superintelligence Labs” to turn things around. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety  -Why the New Pope Is Taking on AI  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a marathon 27-hour session, Senate Republicans passed their version of President Trump's “big, beautiful bill.” Getting enough senators on board meant last-minute wrangling over key issues, including Medicaid, clean energy and the deficit. WSJ's Richard Rubin explains how Senate Republicans got to a “yes” vote, and what needs to happen before Trump can sign the bill into law. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JPMorgan Chase recently announced that it was raising the annual fee on its popular Sapphire Reserve credit card by 45%. The company believes enough customers will stick around because of the status and exclusivity the card conveys. WSJ’s Imani Moise reports on how credit card companies have increasingly attracted customers by offering perks. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Unusual Economics of the Bilt Credit Card  - The Fight Over Your Credit Card Swipe  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices