PLAY PODCASTS
The Journal.

The Journal.

330 episodes — Page 6 of 7

Readers Can’t Get Enough of BookTok. Publishers Are Cashing In.

We're off for Memorial Day but with summer reading season just beginning, we wanted to share this episode.BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.This episode was first published in December 2024. Further Listening: -The Rise of the Tween Shopper -Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans -Scholastic's Succession Drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 202529 min

Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession

Economists have long analyzed data to predict the next recession. They’ve also turned to more offbeat economic gauges like underwear sales and skirt lengths. But now, the TikTok generation is seeing recession indicators everywhere. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang explains what Gen Z’s fascination with harbingers of economic doom might actually mean for the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - 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

May 23, 202519 min

Eggs Are Still Expensive. Is This Company to Blame?

Some consumers and lawmakers upset over high egg prices believe they’ve found a villain: Cal-Maine. The little-known company produces one out of every five eggs sold in the U.S. And in the midst of a national egg shortage and a bird flu epidemic, Cal-Maine has been raking in the profits. But are the accusations against Cal-Maine fair? WSJ’s Patrick Thomas investigates. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -An Eggspensive Dilemma -Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 202518 min

Ozempic Is a Hit. So Why Is the Drugmaker’s CEO Out?

Blockbuster drugs. Rising profits. Strong sales. And yet, Novo Nordisk, the Danish company behind the GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, made a surprising move last week: It pushed out its CEO. WSJ's Peter Loftus charts the rise of Ozempic and the fall of CEO Lars Jorgensen. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: Trillion Dollar Shot Why WeightWatchers Wants in on Drugs Like Ozempic Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 202519 min

Can the GOP Unite Around Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’?

President Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill today to urge passage of his multitrillion dollar tax and spending agenda. The bill is a complex piece of legislation that includes tax cuts, spending increases, spending reductions and some tax hikes. In total, it would increase budget deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on the testy debate inside the GOP over the bill. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: The First 100 Days -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 202518 min

The Giant Bust Rocking the Art Market

It was supposed to be the highlight of New York’s spring auction week: Sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s masterpiece “Large Thin Head” was this year’s most hotly anticipated piece up for sale. But when the bidding opened, collectors went silent. WSJ’s Kelly Crow explains what this unexpected auction week bust reveals about today’s art market. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - The $6 Million Banana's Appeal - Is This Painting a Masterpiece? AI Is On the Case - The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 202518 min

How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery

A global team of betting whizzes hatched a scheme to take down the Texas Lottery. The plan was led by a London banker-turned-bookmaker and a mysterious professional gambler nicknamed ‘The Joker.’ The duo partnered with a Texas company and local retailers to print more than 99% of all the lottery tickets sold. And the jackpot was worth almost $100 million. The WSJ’s Brad Reagan explains how they pulled off the heist. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist - Inside an iPhone Heist - How Investigators Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heist - Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 202522 min

An Air Traffic Controller Speaks Out About Newark Airport

Air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport have recently experienced several frightening incidents. Their radars and radios have gone dark, potentially risking the lives of hundreds of passengers. The resulting chaos and delays are forcing government officials to address staffing shortages and outdated tech at the Newark facility, and nationwide. WSJ’s aviation reporter Andrew Tangel talks with one air traffic controller about the difficulties of the job. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -Your Flight Delay Is Probably New York’s Fault -The Life and Death of a Boeing Whistleblower Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 202520 min

A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial

Billions of health insurance claims are processed every year, and around 19% of them are denied. Very few people appeal, but those that do have a chance at a different outcome. Jessica Mendoza speaks to one family about the insurance denial that threw them into a life-or-death crisis, and WSJ’s Julie Wernau on the system they navigated. Further Listening: - Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance - The Cyberattack That's Roiling Healthcare Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 14, 202521 min

Inside the Surprise U.S.-China Trade Deal

On Monday, to the surprise of global investors, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day trade deal. The deal slashed tariffs between the two countries and sent stocks surging. Leading the negotiations on the U.S. side was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. WSJ’s Brian Schwartz, who covered the talks in Geneva, explains how Bessent became President Trump’s man on trade policy and got China to ‘yes’ on a temporary truce. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Made In America? Shoe Companies Already Tried That. -Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade -China Unleashes A Trade War Arsenal -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

May 13, 202517 min

MAHA Influencers Go to Washington

Last week, President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means to be surgeon general. Means is a wellness influencer and, along with her brother, a prominent advocate for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. WSJ’s Kristina Peterson reports on how Means’s nomination makes her the latest figure from the lightly regulated wellness industry who has been elevated by Kennedy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps - The Fight Over Fluoride Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 202521 min

Why Sam Altman Wants to Scan Your Eyeball

AI innovator and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees a big problem on the horizon: As AI becomes more and more intelligent, how can anyone tell the humans from the bots? Altman’s World project thinks it has a solution. WSJ’s Angus Berwick unpacks the plan and explores some of the problems that have cropped up during the rollout. Annie Minoff hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 202519 min

Made in America? Shoe Companies Already Tried That.

President Donald Trump sees tariffs as a way to bring more manufacturing to the United States. But Nike and other sneaker companies have tried to move production out of Asia before. WSJ’s Jon Emont describes the cautionary tale of Nike’s attempt to make tens of millions of sneakers using high-tech manufacturing in Guadalajara, Mexico. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping. -China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8, 202517 min

The Financial Mess Facing the Vatican

Just days before his death, Pope Francis wrestled with an enormous problem: the Vatican’s dire finances. The world’s smallest country is now facing a budget deficit of millions, and a looming crisis in its pension fund. As the Papal conclave meets this week to vote for a new leader, WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw pieces through how centuries of financial mismanagement have culminated into a mess that the next pope will inherit. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Pope Francis Has Died. What’s Next for the Catholic Church? - 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

May 7, 202520 min

Is the Economy… OK?

For months, questions have been swirling about the economy. And last week, we finally got some answers when all kinds of economic data was released. Some of those numbers seemed to say that the economy is headed toward a downward slump, but WSJ’s Jeanne Whalen explains that the picture may not be as dark as it seems at first glance. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed? -A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 202516 min

There Will Never Be Another Warren Buffett

After 60 years in charge, Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway later this year. Jessica Mendoza talks to WSJ’s Jason Zweig and Karen Langley about Buffet’s prolific career and Greg Abel, the man he chose to succeed him as CEO. Further Listening: - Does Warren Buffett Know Something We Don't? - The Life of One of Wall Street's Greatest Investors Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 5, 202519 min

A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping.

A little-known trade provision is ending, and it will likely upend business for e-commerce companies and raise prices for consumers. De minimis has allowed companies to avoid duties on shipments to the U.S. that are worth $800 or less. It’s a program that many companies, especially e-commerce giants, Shein and Temu, have taken advantage of to keep prices low. WSJ’s Shen Lu explains how President Donald Trump has now ended that program for products from China and Hong Kong. We also speak with the CFO of shoe company Kuru about how the new rules could change their business. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Shein: Fast Fashion, Slow IPO -The Billionaire Caught Between Trump and China -China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 202518 min

Trump 2.0: The First 100 Days

In our capstone episode, Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball break down Trump's first 100 days in office with WSJ’s Aaron Zitner, digging into the highs and lows, where things stand with voters and what’s next for the administration and the country. Further Listening: -Canada’s New Leader Is Ready to Take On Trump -Trump 2.0: Where is the Economy Headed -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

May 2, 202531 min

In Crypto’s Darkest Corner, A Suicide Became a Meme Coin

Before committing suicide live on X, Arnold Haro had a request: "If I die, I hope you guys turn this into a meme coin." His dying wish came true. Haro’s followers created a meme coin that skyrocketed in value to $2 million. WSJ's Kevin Dugan digs into a seedy online world where anything can be turned into crypto. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - 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

May 1, 202521 min

Behind the Scenes at Davos, Claims of a Toxic Boss

The Davos conference brings together the world’s elites to try to make the world a better place. But according to some current and former employees, the leader of the organizing body behind Davos fosters a toxic workplace. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran discusses her investigation into the World Economic Forum and the impact of a recent anonymous whistleblower letter. Annie Minoff hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 202518 min

Canada’s New Leader Is Ready To Take on Trump

Mark Carney, a former banker, won Canada’s national election on Monday. Carney ran on an anti-Trump platform, and he's promised to try to decouple his country’s economy from its biggest trading partner and, lately, its biggest threat. WSJ’s Vipal Monga explains how Trump’s trade war and threats to annex Canada have upended the election. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Why Justin Trudeau Stepped Down - Guns and Death Threats in Canada's Baby-Eel Fisheries Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 202516 min

A Syrian Father’s Journey to Find His Son

Suleiman al-Youssef’s son, Shadi, has been missing since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. After the Assad regime was overthrown, Suleiman found new hope when he discovered a video of a man who looked like his son outside the country’s most notorious prison. WSJ’s Ben C. Solomon on Suleiman’s search for his son and Syria’s thousands of other missing loved ones like him. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Assad’s Regime Falls. What’s Next For Syria? - Ten Days That Shifted Power in Syria Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 28, 202520 min

Neom, Pt 2: The Emperor’s New Clothes

Andy Wirth and Tony Harris moved halfway across the world to help build Neom: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s futuristic new city in the Saudi desert. But what they found wasn’t the desert utopia of Neom’s marketing. Instead, they found a project bleeding cash, led by a screaming CEO, where very little was actually being built. WSJ’s Rory Jones and Eliot Brown explain how Neom fell years behind schedule – and went billions of dollars over-budget – thanks to a culture of runaway spending and never telling the boss “no.” Hosted by Ryan Knutson. Further Listening: - Neom, Pt 1: Skiing in the Desert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 26, 202542 min

Neom, Pt 1: Skiing in the Desert

In 2017, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious, young leader, Mohammed bin Salman, unveiled Neom: a futuristic new city Saudi Arabia would build in the desert. Neom would be a hotspot for tourism like the French Riviera, a center of innovation like Silicon Valley, and a global melting pot like Dubai. It would help transform the Saudi economy. But over the years, that already bold plan grew even more ambitious. In the first of two episodes about Neom, WSJ’s Rory Jones and Eliot Brown explain how an effort to pivot the Saudi economy away from oil grew to encompass plans for a desert ski resort and skyscrapers the length of Connecticut. Plus we hear from two people who uprooted their lives and moved to Neom to help make MBS’s dream a reality. Hosted by Ryan Knutson. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 202534 min

Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed?

President Trump’s deportations, tariffs, federal layoffs and funding suspensions have generated nonstop headlines and frayed confidence, yet left surprisingly little trace on the economy. Hiring, spending and inflation look a lot like they did under Joe Biden. As Trump’s first 100 days draw to a close, Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball explore the state of the U.S. economy with Chief Economics Commentator Greg Ip and try to understand what might be coming next. Further Listening: - Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade - Inside the Harvard vs. Trump Battle - How Frog Embyros Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 202525 min

Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade

Something strange happened in the US financial system earlier this week: the stock market, the bond market, and the value of the dollar all slumped. This volatility andrecent threats to fire Fed chief Jerome Powell are unnerving foreign investors, who are flocking to a new phenomenon called the Sell America trade. WSJ’s Chelsey Dulaney explains what Sell America means for decades of American finance primacy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade -Trump Allies Draft Plans to Rein in the Fed Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 24, 202520 min

Inside the Harvard vs. Trump Battle

President Donald Trump has been on an escalating campaign to reorder elite higher education. The administration’s Anti-Semitism Task Force has frozen billions of dollars in federal funding after Harvard refused to comply with their demands. WSJ’s Douglas Belkin on the showdown between America’s most prominent university and the U.S. president. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Trump's College Crackdown Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 202518 min

How Frog Embryos Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention

Earlier this year, Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova landed at Boston Logan Airport with samples of frog embryos in her luggage. Those samples cost Petrova her visa and kickstarted an asylum claim that landed her in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains that Petrova’s case represents an aggressive shift in the Trump administration’s stance towards immigrants with visas. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles -A New Phase in Trump’s Immigration Fight Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 202521 min

Pope Francis Has Died. What’s Next for the Catholic Church?

On Monday morning, Pope Francis died at 88. The first South American to hold the office, he was known for his commitment to social and economic justice. WSJ’s Margherita Stancati discusses Francis’ legacy and explains what happens next for the Catholic Church. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Return of Religious Films to Hollywood - 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

Apr 21, 202517 min

How the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis' Dried Up

When Colorado became one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, a community called Pueblo stepped forward hoping to become the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis'. WSJ’s Julie Wernau visited the town to explore the cannabis boom that promised new jobs and tax revenue, and found an industry that had gone bust, with local residents struggling to find a way forward. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 202521 min

Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly?

Mark Zuckerberg is in court defending Meta against a Federal Trade Commission case that alleges the company wields an illegal monopoly in social media. It's a trial that could force the tech giant to potentially break itself up by selling Instagram and WhatsApp. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli explains how Zuckerberg’s efforts to get close to President Donald Trump hasn’t kept the company safe, while Jan Wolfe is in D.C. court watching the play-by-play. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - FTC Chair Lina Khan on Microsoft Merger, ChatGPT and Her Court Losses - 'The Facebook Files' from The Journal. - Why the FTC is Challenging a $25 Billion Supermarket Merger Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 202520 min

How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink

After years of trying to revive his flailing social media company, Elon Musk has pulled off a turnaround at X. It comes after Musk decided to merge X with his artificial intelligence company xAI. The deal values the combined business at over $100 billion. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains how Musk has pulled the app formerly known as Twitter back from the brink of bankruptcy, thanks in part to his proximity to President Donald Trump. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Musk-Twitter Saga -- from The Journal. - Trump 2.0: The Musk-Trump Bromance Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 202517 min

The Billionaire Caught Between Trump and China

The Hong Kong-based company CK Hutchinson, led by billionaire Li Ka-shing, recently announced a deal to sell majority stakes in two ports on the Panama Canal. The deal with a consortium of investors led by BlackRock pleased President Donald Trump, after he had expressed interest in regaining control over the canal. But, as WSJ’s Rebecca Feng reports, the $22.8 billion deal also angered Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who saw the ports as a bargaining chip with the United States. Allison Pohle hosts. Further Listening: - China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal - The Trade War With China Is On Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 202519 min

A Quick Fix for Hair Loss Is Making Some Men Sick

Telehealth companies make hair loss drugs easy to get. They also don’t have to disclose side effects in ads. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler reports that some young men say they are suffering serious health consequences, and that they didn’t understand the risks. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Testosterone Clinics Sell Virility. Side Effects Sometimes Included. - ‘Uncontrolled Substances’ from The Journal. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 202521 min

Can Pepsi Make a Comeback?

After decades of fighting Coca-Cola to be the nation’s favorite soda, Pepsi dropped to third place, after Dr Pepper. Now PepsiCo needs to win back soda drinkers . WSJ’s Laura Cooper reports that after years of focusing on potato chips and energy drinks, the company’s new beverage head Ram Krishnan is trying to refocus PepsiCo on drinks, in part with an agreement to purchase prebiotic soda brand Poppi. Allison Pohle hosts. Further Listening: - ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps - PepsiCo’s New Healthy Diet: More Potato Chips and Soda Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 202517 min

Trump 2.0: Tariff Turnaround

Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball go behind the scenes of the administration’s tariff pause. We dive deep with WSJ’s Josh Dawsey, exploring the tension in the days after the announcement and what really changed the president’s mind. Plus, your questions! Further Listening: - China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal - The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices - Wall Street Speaks Out Against Tariffs Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 202524 min

China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal

In the early days of President Trump’s second term, China was ready to negotiate on trade. Then came Liberation Day. Now China is ready with a trade war arsenal taking aim at U.S. companies. WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains how China is gearing up for an extraordinary conflict with no immediate exits. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade - The Trade War With China Is On Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 202520 min

The Head of the EPA on the Future of the Agency

President Trump has a new vision for the Environmental Protection Agency that significantly rolls back environmental regulations. Kate Linebaugh speaks to the man overseeing that vision— Administrator Lee Zeldin, about his plans and new approach to environmental governance. Further Listening: - The Fight Over Fluoride - Hot, Dry and Booming: A Texas Climate Case Study - Why Microsoft Wants Three Mile Island's Nuclear Power Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 9, 202521 min

The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices

President Trump is ramping up his long-planned tariff war, promising to restore “Boomtown USA.” Before the start of the president’s first term, one small town made a bid to revive its manufacturing glory days. After a foreign company came to town, it made some headway. WSJ’s Chao Deng explores the story of Newberry, South Carolina. Further Listening: - Wall Street Speaks Out Against Tariffs - Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles - Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 8, 202519 min

Wall Street Speaks Out Against Tariffs

Last week, U.S. stocks lost $6.6 trillion in value during a two-day washout after President Trump announced large tariffs on countries around the world. As markets continue to swing, Wall Street leaders are speaking out, including billionaire investor Bill Ackman and JPMorgan Chase executive Jamie Dimon. Host Kate Linebaugh talks with Gregory Zuckerman about the market chaos and how investors are responding. Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade -Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 202518 min

The Fight Over Fluoride

For decades, the majority of Americans have been drinking tap water with added fluoride to improve oral health. But WSJ’s Kris Maher says that backlash to fluoride is spreading. Nearly 20 communities have halted the practice since October and Utah has now banned adding fluoride to water across the state. This comes after a landmark ruling by a federal judge that the mineral poses an “unreasonable” risk, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken out against it. Ryan Knutson hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Further Listening: -The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 202519 min

Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles

Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack the administration’s onslaught of new tariffs and break down what election results in Florida and Wisconsin mean for each party. Plus, they speak with WSJ’s Michelle Hackman about Trump’s aggressive immigration efforts including student deportations. Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade -Trump 2.0: Group Chat Fallout -Three Federal Workers Hit by DOGE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 202525 min

Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade

Yesterday, in the Rose Garden, President Trump sent out a clear message: the era of globalization is over. Trump announced sweeping tariffs on trillions of dollars of imports. The new duties immediately shook Wall Street and sent stocks plummeting. WSJ’s White House economic policy reporter Brian Schwartz explains how President Trump has wanted this day to happen for decades. And we talk to an American business owner who is deeply worried about what these tariffs mean for his company’s survival. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Further Listening: - The Trade War With China Is On - Trump’s Tariff Whiplash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 202523 min

The Fraud Trial That Became JPMorgan's Headache

Charlie Javice sold her financial aid startup Frank to JPMorgan Chase for $175 million. But soon after the ink on the deal was dry, the bank discovered that their new acquisition was not at all what it seemed. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains how a trial about fraud committed against JPMorgan resulted in the bank feeling the heat. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Further Listening: - A $175 Million ‘Huge Mistake’ - JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on What’s Next for the Economy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 2, 202520 min

He Revived Barbie. Now He’s Turning Around Gap

Gap Inc. was once the king of mall-brand fashion. ⁠In recent years though⁠, its Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta chains have been outmaneuvered by discount stores like Target and fast-fashion brands like Zara and ⁠Shein⁠. ⁠Ryan Knutson⁠ speaks with ⁠the new CEO⁠ Richard Dickson who is translating his previous experience resurrecting the Barbie brand into a new era for the iconic clothing seller. Further Listening: - ⁠Rent the Runway’s CEO on How it Survived the Pandemic⁠ - ⁠Shein: Fast Fashion, Slow IPO⁠ - ⁠How Target Got Off Target Photo: Uncredited Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 202525 min

Why Utah Is Regulating Mom Influencers

Last year, a popular Utah influencer with six children went to prison for child abuse. Now the state has put a new law into place to protect the children in these videos. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson on the Ruby Franke scandal and her daughter’s efforts to keep it from happening again. Further Reading: - A Former Child Star Is Taking On the Dark Side of Utah’s Mommy Bloggers Further Listening: - The Rise of the Tween Shopper - Readers Can’t Get Enough of BookTok. Publishers Are Cashing In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 202520 min

Inside the Hunt for Putin’s Sleeper Agents

A family of deep-cover Russian spies hiding in the heart of Europe. A Slovenian spycatcher with a daunting mission. After months of reporting, WSJ's Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson unspool the story of the global hunt for Vladimir Putin's sleeper agents, and how it culminated in the biggest game of hostage diplomacy since the Cold War. Further Reading: -The Global Hunt for Putin’s ‘Sleeper Agents’ -Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich Further Listening: -The Historic U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap -Inside Russia’s Spy Unit Targeting Americans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 202539 min

Trump 2.0: Group Chat Fallout

A journalist was added to a text thread with high-level Trump administration officials revealing plans for the timing and weapons to be used in a military strike against Houthi militants. Administration officials disputed that any classified information about the military operation had been shared. WSJ’s Nancy Youssef joins the chat with Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss the fallout of the group chat pinged ‘round the world. Further Reading: -An Annotated Analysis of Signal Group Chat With Top Trump Officials -Hegseth Comes Under Scrutiny for Texting Strike Details as Fallout Grows -Democrats Are Taking Their Anger Out on Chuck Schumer Further Listening: -Trump’s Attack on Big Law -Trump’s College Crackdown -Trump 2.0: A Showdown with the Judiciary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 202526 min

Three Federal Workers Hit by DOGE

President Trump’s unprecedented effort to shrink the federal labor force is impeding work at government sites across the country. Three laid-off federal employees tell their story and WSJ’s Lindsay Ellis reports on the wider impact of the layoffs. Further Listening: - Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart Further Reading: - The Collateral Damage of Trump’s Firing Spree - The Federal Workers Who Are Not Quite Fired, Not Quite Working Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 202521 min

Trump's Attack on Big Law

The White House is waging a pressure campaign against some of the country’s most prominent law firms. WSJ’s Erin Mulvaney on how the firm Paul, Weiss came to the decision to make a deal with President Trump. Further Reading: -Trump Signs Order Targeting Law Firm Jenner & Block -Law Firms Scramble to Avoid Being Trump’s Next Target -Why Law Firm Paul Weiss Pleaded Its Case With Trump, and Not With a Court Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: A Showdown With the Judiciary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 26, 202518 min