The Journal.

Holding students back in school once came with a negative connotation. But with college athletes now able to earn endorsement deals, they are preparing younger and younger to be recruited and potentially get paid. WSJ's Harriet Ryan reports on the rise of special middle schools where students hold themselves back on purpose so they can grow, develop and mature before high school. Ryan Knutson hosts.   Further Listening: - Inside the Black Market for High School Football Players- NCAA President on a New Era for College Sports - How Gamblers Are Rigging College Basketball Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stock markets are hitting record highs, the job market is doing fine and productivity is up. Yet many Americans are feeling strapped despite the positive data. WSJ's Harriet Torry explains the contradictory signals. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Energy Shock Is Here - Germany's Economy Is Spiraling. Can War Fix It? Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The initial public offering for SpaceX crowned Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. WSJ's Theo Francis takes us inside the staggering finances of the world's richest man, and explores what the impact of his new status might be. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is SpaceX Worth the Hype? - The Great IPO Frenzy of 2026 - Musk vs. Altman Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2026 is set to be a monster year for tech IPOs. SpaceX hit the market with a blockbuster $1.77 trillion valuation while Anthropic and OpenAI are set to go public later this year. WSJ's investing columnist Spencer Jakab takes us inside the IPO bonanza and explores the risks potentially hiding behind all the hype. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is SpaceX Worth the Hype? - Musk vs. Altman Sign up for the Markets A.M. newsletter, The Wall Street Journal's daily investing outlook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the World Cup begins, we bring you a two-part Sunday special charting how FIFA built the World Cup into a global phenomenon. In Part 2, WSJ sports journalists Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson explore FIFA under its current president Gianni Infantino and how he has maximized revenue for FIFA by exploiting new markets for soccer in the Arab world and the U.S. at the expense of the sport's longstanding fanbase. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The World Cup Story, Part 1: Soccer and Scandal Sign up for WSJ's free Sports newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two scrappy horror films are taking Hollywood by surprise. “Backrooms” and “Obsession” have wildly exceeded expectations at the box office. Both spring from internet culture and have brought an unprecedented numbers of Gen Z-ers into theaters. WSJ's Ben Fritz explains what this new wave means for the movie business. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Hollywood Can't Find Good Scripts - Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SpaceX is preparing the largest public offering ever on Friday. Elon Musk's space-satellite-AI-social-media company plans to sell $75 billion worth of shares at a “take-it-or-leave-it” price of $135 a share. WSJ's Corrie Driebusch takes us inside the SpaceX books and details what investors are thinking about the massive IPO. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Musk vs. Altman - Elon Musk's $1.25 Trillion Megamerger - The Woman Behind SpaceX Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the era of the $100 steak, WSJ reporter Patrick Thomas traveled from a steakhouse in Omaha to a manure-splattered cattle auction in the Nebraska sandhills. What he found was a story about drought, debt and a stunning reversal of fortune that has left America's ranchers holding more power than they've had in decades. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Beef Between Cattle Ranchers and Meatpackers  - How Scotts Miracle-Gro's Weed Business Went Up in Smoke Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, Bill Gates was best known for his charitable work. The Gates Foundation spends billions on humanitarian efforts around the world. At one point, Gates was ranked as the world's most admired man. But as details surface about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, that carefully crafted image is eroding. WSJ's Emily Glazer reveals the lengths that Gates's team has taken in order to burnish his reputation, and how it's slowly cracking. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Jeffrey Epstein Made Millions From His Connections - The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sweden, once considered by many as the standard bearer of high-tax and high-spend government, has embraced capitalism. WSJ's Tom Fairless reports on how the Nordic country privatized large swaths of its healthcare and school systems, promoted business and shrank the state. Ryan Knutson hosts.   Further Listening: - Germany's Economy Is Spiraling. Can War Fix It? - China's Cheap Goods Are Europe's Problem Now Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the World Cup begins this week, we bring you a two-part Sunday special charting how FIFA built the World Cup into a global phenomenon and how it became marred in scandal and corruption. In Part 1, WSJ soccer experts Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson go back to the World Cup's origins — how it grew from a small tournament in Uruguay into a massive empire. And how an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice prompted a moment for reckoning for FIFA. Ryan Knutson hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The collective credit card debt of Americans has reached an all-time high of $1.25 trillion. Soaring interest rates and stubborn inflation have also led more people to be late making their credit card payments or not paying at all. WSJ's Dan Frosch reports on why that debt is growing and where people can turn for help. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: Swipe, Spend, Repeat: The Perks Arms Race in Your Wallet Student-Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen XSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new gig economy that involves training AI to do white collar jobs. And one company, Mercor, is leading the charge. The training startup hired 30,000 contractors just last year to help AI companies get their models trained up on sophisticated roles. Ryan Knutson spoke to one former Mercor contractor about the job and WSJ's Katie Bindley lays out the tactics that have landed the startup in hot water. Further Listening: The ‘Class of AI' Enters the Workforce AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China's carmakers like BYD, Geely and Great Wall Motor have seen immense growth in recent years. But their cars are not for sale in the U.S. due to high tariffs and tight regulations. WSJ's Ryan Felton reports on America's rising interest in Chinese cars, particularly because they're so affordable. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Move Over, Humans. China's Robots Are Taking Over - How China's BYD Overtook Tesla - 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

For the first time since the 1930s, more people are moving out of the U.S. than moving in. It's a trend driven largely by the Trump Administration's deportation agenda, but WSJ's Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson also report that U.S. citizens are moving away in numbers not previously seen. The high costs of healthcare and housing, coupled with the ability to work remotely, are contributing to an exodus of young families and middle-class workers. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: Americans Are Now a Target in Trump's Immigration Crackdown A $100,000 Work Visa Could Rock the Tech Industry Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to get discovered in Hollywood has been a decades-old struggle. For screenwriters, that game started to change when Franklin Leonard launched the Black List, an annual ranking of the “most liked” but not-yet-produced screenplays. Since 2005, more than 500 of those scripts have become feature films, including several Best Picture Oscar-winners. Ryan Knutson interviewed Leonard about how to fix some of Hollywood's other challenges at our live show in Los Angeles.   Further Listening:  - Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing   - Inside the Nasty Fight to Take Over Hollywood - The Journal. - For Riz Ahmed, Life is a Spy Thriller  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The class of 2026 is the most AI-native group of graduates to come out of college, with ChatGPT debuting their freshman year. WSJ's Allison Pohle reports on how this cohort used AI in school and what future employers expect from them. And we hear from various college students and recent graduates about their hopes and fears when it comes to AI and their careers. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs - Is the AI Boom… a Bubble? Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's finally another way to buy a new car, as companies like Carvana and Volkswagen's new brand Scout are challenging the traditional dealership model. WSJ's Christopher Otts explains how a decades-old system is starting to show some wear. Jessica Mendoza hosts.Further Listening: - Why People Aren't Lining Up for This $120,000 Job - The Repo Man Is Busier Than Ever Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida, once an affordable haven, is rapidly transforming into a state for the wealthy. As a result, living costs are rising and population growth is slowing overall. WSJ's Arian Campo-Flores reports on the affordability crisis and speaks with Republican Senator Rick Scott about what the state can do to create better-paying jobs and housing. Ryan Knutson hosts.Further Listening: - The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE Agents - California Billionaires Are Freaking Out Over a New Tax ProposalSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Maziar Mike Doustdar took over as CEO of Novo Nordisk last year, the company had lost ground in the anti-obesity drug market. Doustdar spoke with Jessica Mendoza about his plans to turn the company around, the recent success of their Wegovy pill and what keeps him up at night. Further Listening: - Ozempic Is a Hit. So Why Is the Drugmaker's CEO Out? - Trillion Dollar Shot Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American classrooms are awash with YouTube. One survey showed that 94% of teachers have used YouTube in their roles. A WSJ investigation reveals the business strategy behind Google's push to bring the technology to schools and looks at how YouTube is affecting children. WSJ's Shalini Ramachandran lays out her reporting, and Jessica Mendoza talks with a math teacher who has been wrestling with YouTube in his classroom. Further Listening: - The New Legal Strategy That Beat Social Media - Judge Rules ‘Google Is a Monopolist' Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barney Frank, the former Democratic congressman, died this week at the age of 86. Frank was best known as the architect of the Dodd-Frank law that reshaped the U.S. financial system in the wake of the 2008 crisis. WSJ's Damian Paletta talks about Frank's legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Man Who Waged War on Inflation - Two Executives on What It's Like to Stop a Bank RunSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nike co-founder Phil Knight visited China nearly 50 years ago and dreamed of selling sneakers. He laid out an ambitious vision—“One billion people, two billion feet”— it was an ambitious strategy. By 2010, China was among Nike's most lucrative markets, offering a blueprint for U.S. companies seeking to cash in on China's rise. Today, Nike's China business is bleeding. WSJ's Jon Emont explores the cautionary tale of Nike's rise and fall in China. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Can Nike Make Its Shoes Cool Again?. - The Missteps That Led Nike Off Course - The Chinese Coffee Giant Taking on Starbucks Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Approximately 20,000 ​seafarers have been stranded, many since late February, because they can't get through the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ's Drew Hinshaw spoke with sailors trapped in the strait and reports on their worsening conditions. And WSJ's Jared Malsin explains why it is so hard to get the cargo ships moving again. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - How Iran's Regime Changed...for the Worse - The Energy Shock Is Here - How China Keeps Iran's Oil Industry Afloat Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes, actor Riz Ahmed says, his life feels like a spy thriller. He made his new show, “Bait,” about that feeling, and sat down with Jessica Mendoza at our Journal Live show in Los Angeles to talk about it. The actor, known for blockbusters like “Star Wars: Rogue One” and his Oscar-nominated performance in “Sound of Metal,” also spoke about his career, what it takes to succeed in Hollywood and getting the rights to a famous spy for his show. Further Listening: - Financial Influencers on Wealth and Work - 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

The blockbuster lawsuit between OpenAI co-founders Elon Musk and Sam Altman has wrapped up. The three-week trial has exposed some of the inner workings and personal feuds behind Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence boom. WSJ's Angel Au-Yeung explains what happened during the trial and what the verdict could mean for the future of AI. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza. Further Listening: - The Unraveling of OpenAI and Microsoft's Bromance - A Data Center Revolt in MissouriSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new chairman is taking over from Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve. But Powell isn't leaving. He plans to stay on as a voting member on the Fed's board of governors. WSJ's Nick Timiraos reflects on Powell's tenure and unpacks his controversial decision to remain at the central bank. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Who Is the New Fed Chair? - 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

President Trump has arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. WSJ's Annie Linskey and Lingling Wei lay out what each side is hoping to get out of the talks, which will range from trade to Taiwan to the war in Iran. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - China's Cheap Goods Are Europe's Problem Now - Move Over, Humans. China's Robots Are Taking Over - The Missing Minister Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Marty Makary has resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Makary faced criticism over the FDA's rejections of rare-disease drugs, the agency's handling of abortion pills and high-profile departures of key FDA staff. But WSJ's Liz Essley Whyte reports that it was a battle over flavored vapes that sealed Makary's fate. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Flu Shot Drama at the FDA - The FDA Boss on the Agency's MAHA Makeover - How Puff Bar Became the Most Popular Vape for KidsSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Personal tech journalist Joanna Stern let AI be her doctor, driver, colleague, housekeeper, therapist and lover as research for her new book "I Am Not a Robot." In this live taping of The Journal, Stern discusses how artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how we think and work. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  Move Over, Humans. China's Robots Are Taking Over Inside Meta's Big AI Pivot Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameStop has made an unsolicited offer to buy eBay for about $56 billion. The proposed deal, which eBay says it is reviewing, is the brainchild of GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen. In an interview with WSJ's Lauren Thomas, Cohen said that putting his videogame retailer and eBay under one roof could create opportunities to cut costs and improve earnings. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - To the Moon: How did a bunch of amateurs take Wall Street by surprise? Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Around the country, there's been a construction boom in AI data centers, but opposition is surging too. In the small town of Festus, Missouri, a $6 billion project angered residents, leading to the removal of local council members and a campaign to recall the mayor. WSJ's Will Parker explains how intense local pushback is changing where data centers are built. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - More Coding, Less Slop? Why OpenAI Ditched Sora - The AI Economic Doomsday Report That Shook Wall StreetSign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private credit was the hottest craze on Wall Street. Throughout the boom, one firm became its poster child, Blue Owl. But a recent panic posed a troubling question. What happens if investors suddenly want out at the same time? WSJ's Matt Wirz reports on the turmoil and explains why private credit is something American workers need to pay attention to. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening: - The Wall Street Craze Jamie Dimon Can't Resist. Even If It Blows Up. - Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Coming for Your 401K Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of industrial decline, the Germany economy is stagnant. Government officials now hope an audacious plan, to pivot from consumer goods to weapons, will kickstart growth again. WSJ's Bojan Pancevski explains how the same factories built to make German car parts are now gearing up to supply the defense industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles - Germany's Economy Is Broken. There's No Plan B. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday after a possible government bailout plan fell apart. WSJ's Alison Sider reports on the company's challenging last few years and what the end of Spirit means for travelers. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Air Travel Costs Will Continue to Rise - 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

Last year, a massive cyberweapon terrorized the internet. It launched thousands of DDoS attacks, threatening tens of millions of people around the world. The weapon came to be known as Kimwolf. WSJ's Robert McMillan reports that cybersecurity experts were stumped. Kimwolf's attacks seemed to be launched from millions of internet-connected devices like TV boxes, cameras and picture frames. Eventually, the experts got help from an unlikely ally: a 22-year-old college senior named Benjamin Brundage. Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben about how he might have saved the internet. To check if your network is secretly connected to a residential proxy network, here are a few tips. Further Listening: - Cybersecurity Braces for AI ‘Bugmaggedon' - ‘Hack Me If You Can' from The Journal Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tariffs, inflation and an energy crisis have driven up the cost of nearly every consumer good. Despite those economic headwinds, IKEA has tried to keep its furniture affordable. Juvencio Maeztu is the CEO of the Ingka Group, IKEA's largest franchise, and he explains how the company is making the numbers work. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Further Listening: Can Burger King Regain Its Crown? The Battle to Be the King of Retail: Walmart vs. Amazon Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community? Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In China, humanoid robots are on the rise. Robots with heads and torsos have been spotted staffing the front desk at hotels, working factory floors, and serving lattes. It's all thanks to an investment boom and subsidies from the Chinese government, which is betting on "embodied AI" as the next frontier in a global arms race. WSJ's Yoko Kubota explains how China's robots got so good, and what the US is doing to catch up. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy - The Man Leading Trump's AI Charge Against China Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta is kicking its AI transformation into high gear. The Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram parent is getting aggressive about AI talent, integrating AI technology into employees' workflows and even developing an AI agent to help its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Last week, the company announced a 10% cut in its global workforce. WSJ's Meghan Bobrowsky unpacks what the pivot means for the AI race and the company's employees. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: Why Meta Is Offering $100 Million for AI Geniuses 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

The war in Iran has sparked a global jet fuel crunch, sending prices soaring. Now, airlines are passing costs onto travelers, with higher ticket prices and additional fees. WSJ's Matthew Dalton and Alison Sider explain how jet fuel has been caught up in the crisis and why airlines aren't planning to lower prices anytime soon. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How China Keeps Iran's Oil Industry Afloat - The Airline Industry Has a Toxic Fume Problem Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four days before Donald Trump's second inauguration, an Emirati royal known as the “spy sheikh” secretly purchased a stake in Trump's cryptocurrency venture World Liberty Financial for half a billion dollars. In the second of two episodes about World Liberty Financial, WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus details what the Sheikh received from the Trump Administration following his deal with the Trump family's crypto company. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza. Further Listening: - The Crypto President: Part 1 - Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Coming for Your 401k Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the height of Donald Trump's presidential campaign for re-election in 2024, Trump gathered with his sons and longtime friend Steve Witkoff to launch a new money machine: a crypto company called World Liberty Financial. Since its launch less than two years ago, the company has earned the Trump family at least $1.2 billion dollars. It turns out much of that has come from secret business dealings with foreign-owned companies.  In the first of two episodes diving into World Liberty Financial, WSJ's Angus Berwick explains how a billionaire felon boosted Trump's crypto company en route to a presidential pardon. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza. Further Listening: - Big Banks vs. Big Crypto - Severed Fingers and Wrench Attacks: A New Era in Crypto Crime Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 15 years as the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook announced this week that he will be stepping down. During his tenure, Cook quadrupled Apple's revenue and transformed the company's supply chain, building a complex global network that churns out hundreds of millions of devices each year. WSJ's Rolfe Winkler reports on Cook's legacy, and the new guy that's set to replace him. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy - The Company Taking on Apple's Watch Technology 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!In the first Trump administration, the U.S. launched a “maximum pressure” campaign to cut Iranian oil from the global market and eliminate Tehran's biggest source of revenue. Today, Iran sells billions of dollars' worth of oil every month via a shadow fleet of ships that have been passing through the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ's Rory Jones takes us inside Iran's underground network for shipping, processing and selling oil in China. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - How Iran's Regime Changed... for the Worse - The Strait of Hormuz Showdown - In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI models like Anthropic's Mythos are finding software bugs at an unprecedented rate, kicking off a cybersecurity scramble to prevent what experts are calling “bugmageddon.” Thanks to these new models, hackers will be able to exploit those bugs more quickly than ever before. WSJ's Robert McMillan explains why major corporations and the White House are scrambling to patch their systems. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Battle Over AI in Warfare - AI Is Coming for Entry-Level JobsSign 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!At the outset of the U.S.-Iran War, the U.S. and Israel assassinated key figures in the Iranian regime, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But the killings of high-ranking officials have failed to spark the popular uprising President Trump initially called for. WSJ's Margherita Stancati explores the current regime and reports that Iran's theocratic dictatorship not only remains in control, but is more conservative, more radical, and more entrenched than ever before. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Strait of Hormuz Showdown - The Energy Shock Is Here - In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire 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! In 2019, influencer Tai Lopez made a pitch to his social media followers: by buying up distressed retail brands like Radio Shack and Pier 1 out of bankruptcy, they could all get rich. But as WSJ's Suzanne Kapner reports, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Lopez of running a “Ponzi-like scheme” through his company, Retail Ecommerce Ventures. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening/Viewing: - Influencer Arielle Charnas's Fashion Fail - 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

The automotive industry is facing a shortage of mechanics. Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley has said his company's dealerships have 5,000 open jobs – positions he says can pay up to $120,000 a year. WSJ's Christopher Otts explains why more people aren't taking him up on it. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager's Six-Figure Salary - The Repo Man Is Busier Than Ever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here! The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz means millions of barrels of oil are still trapped in the Persian Gulf. As countries around the world begin to feel the impact of that energy shock, new inflation numbers are signalling that the U.S. economy is being impacted too. WSJ's David Uberti explains how the stock market and consumers are processing what could be the worst oil crisis ever. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Strait of Hormuz Showdown - In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire - Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold? 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 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