The most important stories, explained through the lens of business. A podcast about money, business and power. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson. The Journal is a co-production from Gimlet Media and The Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet
TikTok had hardly any friends in the U.S. government when, earlier this year, the Biden administration and Congress threatened to ban the Chinese-owned video giant. WSJ's Stu Woo profiles financier Jeff Yass, who made a big bet on the app and is a top donor to lawmakers opposing a ban. Further Listening: - What's Up With All the TikTok Bans? - Exclusive: TikTok's CEO on the App's Future in the U.S. - How TikTok Became the World's Favorite App Further Reading: - The Billionaire Keeping TikTok on Your Phone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
JPMorgan is paying $75 Million to settle a lawsuit accusing the bank of aiding Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex trafficking. WSJ's Dave Benoit delves into the twists and turns revealed during the legal proceedings and discusses what the settlement means for the bank's reputation. Further Reading: - JPMorgan Paying $75 Million to Settle Suit Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties - Jamie Dimon Says He Never Discussed Jeffrey Epstein's Accounts at JPMorgan; Jes Staley Says Dimon Did - JPMorgan's Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Were Deeper Than the Bank Has Acknowledged Further Listening: - A $175 Million ‘Huge Mistake' - How Jeffrey Epstein Made His Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
WSJ's Nidhi Subbaraman on the scientists who moonlight as data detectives and whose discoveries have upended careers. Further Reading: -The Band of Debunkers Busting Bad Scientists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last month, he left behind a vast network of political connections, companies and mines throughout Africa. WSJ's Benoit Faucon chronicles the rise of Wagner's Dmitry Sytii, the current frontman of Wagner's African operations. Further Reading: - The Elusive Figure Running Wagner's Embattled Empire of Gold and Diamonds Further Listening: - The Plane Crash That Killed Yevgeny Prigozhin - The Mutiny That Shook Putin's Grip on Power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before his downfall, Sam Bankman-Fried drew comparisons to Warren Buffett, J.P. Morgan and other titans of finance. As his trial approaches, WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff charts the meteoric rise of crypto's golden boy, exploring how he sold customers and powerful people on his ideas, while hiding secrets under the hood of his flashy crypto empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ties between Canada and India have sunk to a low. This week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India was potentially involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in a suburb of Vancouver, a charge India denies. WSJ's Tripti Lahiri explains why the crisis is now ensnaring other big democracies. Further Reading: - India Suspends Visas for Canadians as Rift Over Killing Deepens - India Blasts Canada Over Trudeau's Allegation That It Played Role in Killing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rupert Murdoch, 92, announced he's stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, the two companies that have made him a force in global media. WSJ's Amol Sharma discusses how Murdoch became a media tycoon and what comes next for his empire. Further Reading: -Rupert Murdoch to Step Down as Chair of Fox and News Corp After Seven-Decade Career Further Listening: -Behind the Breakup of Fox and Tucker Carlson -Dominion Voting Systems vs. Fox News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Federal Reserve officials voted to hold interest rates steady at a 22-year high but signaled they were prepared to raise rates once more this year to combat inflation. WSJ's Nick Timiraos explains the Fed's “soft landing” goal of lowering inflation without crashing the economy. Further Reading: - Fed Holds Rates Steady but Pencils in One More Hike This Year - Why a Soft Landing Could Prove Elusive Further Listening: - Will the Fed Stop Raising Interest Rates - Homeowners Don't Want to Sell. So Builders Are Cashing In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sam Bankman-Fried built a crypto empire. Then the exchange he founded collapsed, revealing that billions of dollars of customer money was missing. Bankman-Fried was charged with fraud, and his trial begins Oct. 3. In a new series from The Journal, WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff explores Bankman-Fried meteoric rise, devastating fall and the trail that will determine his future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A former Wells Fargo executive was recently sentenced for her role in the bank's 2016 fake account scandal. WSJ's Ben Eisen explains why that sentencing isn't the end of this story for Wells Fargo as the bank has struggled to overhaul the way it manages risks, even seven years later. Further Reading: -Former Wells Fargo Executive Avoids Prison Time in Fake-Accounts Scandal -Wells Fargo Is Still in Fix-It Mode Further Listening: -Wells Fargo and the Fake-Account Fallout -The War Inside Goldman Sachs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2006, after years of denial, ExxonMobil publicly acknowledged climate change for the first time. But internal documents show that behind the scenes, Exxon officials pushed to diminish concerns about climate change. WSJ's Christopher M. Matthews breaks down the new findings. Further Reading: - Inside Exxon's Strategy to Downplay Climate Change - Exxon Predicts World Will Miss Climate-Change Targets Further Listening: - An Activist Investor and the Showdown Over Exxon's Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the first time, the United Auto Workers is striking all three Detroit car companies at once, targeting factories in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. WSJ's Nora Eckert explains the union's unprecedented strategy and how much bigger the walkout could get. Further Reading: - UAW Goes on Strike Against GM, Ford and Stellantis - UAW's Strike Strategy: Start Small and Keep 'Em Guessing Further Listening: - Meet the Man Who Has Detroit on Edge - Scandal Engulfs One of America's Biggest Unions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For years, West Virginia University, a state flagship, poured money into gleaming new research facilities and dormitories to attract new students. It had to borrow money to do so. The university now faces a huge deficit and major cuts. It's a problem facing many major public universities, as WSJ's Melissa Korn explains. Further Reading: -West Virginia University Banked on Growth. It Backfired. -Colleges Urged to Produce Better Information on How They Spend Money -Colleges Spend Like There's No Tomorrow. ‘These Places Are Just Devouring Money.' Further Listening: -Wesleyan's President on Admissions Post-Affirmative Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yesterday, Apple announced a new iPhone 15 with a USB-C charger, the same cable its competitors use. As WSJ's Kim Mackrael and Sam Schechner explain, at least some credit for the change can go to the European Union bureaucrats who have been increasingly battling Big Tech. Further Reading: - America's Tech Giants Rush to Comply With New Curbs in Europe - He Took On the World's Most Valuable Company—and Won Further Listening: - FTC Chair Lina Khan on Microsoft Merger, ChatGPT and Her Court Losses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Elon Musk's wild mood swings are legendary. His “demon mode" gets a lot of attention from biographer Walter Isaacson in a new book about Musk. WSJ's Tim Higgins talks with Isaacson about what fuels Musk's "demon mode" and how it plays out in his business ventures. Further Reading and Watching: -Elon Musk's Lessons From Hell: Five Commandments for Business -Elon Musk Is Running Twitter on His Impulses -The Real Story of Musk's Twitter Takeover Further Listening: -Elon Musk Wants to Build an Everything App Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As ESPN tries to transition to streaming and attract younger viewers, the sports-media giant is venturing outside its comfort zone with its newest star: Pat McAfee. WSJ's Isabella Simonetti explains why the F-bomb-throwing former NFL punter is a big bet for the network. Further Reading: - ESPN Bets Big on Pat McAfee, an F-Bomb-Throwing YouTube Star Further Listening: - How Americans Watch Sports Is Changing - The Troubled Second Act of Disney CEO Bob Iger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the U.S., one in five mothers suffers from mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy or after birth. But many of them struggle to find help. Last year, the CDC reported that the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country are suicide or drug overdose. We spoke with two mothers about their experience postpartum and to reporter Anna Mutoh about the FDA's approval of a new drug to fight postpartum depression. Further Reading: - The Tragedy of Being a New Mom in America - First Pill for Postpartum Depression Is Approved by FDA - U.S. Maternal Mortality Hits Highest Level Since 1965 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spotify spent more than $1 billion to build up its podcasting empire. After years of costly acquisitions and celebrity partnerships, most of its shows are still not profitable. WSJ's Anne Steele unpacks why Spotify's big bet hasn't paid off yet. Further Reading: - Spotify's $1 Billion Podcast Bet Turns Into a Serial Drama - Harry and Meghan Produce a Hollywood Flop: Themselves Further Listening: - Neil Young, Joe Rogan and Spotify's Balancing Act - Harry and Meghan, Hollywood Royalty? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain is throwing out the traditional union playbook for contract negotiations. WSJ's Nora Eckert reports that Fain is preparing for a strike, possibly against three automakers at once. Further Listening: -Why 46,000 Auto Workers Are on Strike Further Reading: -Meet the Man Who Has Detroit on Edge -UAW Accuses GM, Stellantis of Unfair Labor Practices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Airbnb listings in New York City are disappearing as the city cracks down on short-term rentals as a way to address its housing shortage. As of today, it will now enforce some of the toughest laws in the nation around short-term rentals. WSJ's Allison Pohle unpacks what's happening and why other big cities are taking note. Further Reading: -Airbnb Hosts and Guests Scramble as New York Begins Crackdown -Airbnb Fights New NYC Short-Term Rental Requirements Further Listening: -Why Airbnb is Letting Employees Work Anywhere -How Airbnb Deals With Crime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy Labor Day! We're bringing you an episode that was originally published in June 2022. Peshtigo, Wisconsin, is grappling with a crisis: Chemicals known as PFAS have leached from a nearby industrial site into the town's groundwater. WSJ's Kris Maher traveled to the town to report on what the community is doing and how the contamination has affected people's health and lives. Further Reading: - A Wisconsin Town With Contaminated Drinking Water Must Decide Its Future - Startups Race to Kill ‘Forever Chemicals' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's health is raising concerns. On Wednesday, McConnell froze and fell silent during a press conference. He had a similar incident earlier this summer. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes reports on the veteran Republican's health scare and the speculation about who might succeed him. Further Reading: - Mitch McConnell Freezes a Second Time During Kentucky Press Conference - Mitch McConnell's Health Scares Shine Spotlight on Senate's ‘Three Johns' Further Listening: - How Biden and McConnell Do Business - The Fight Over the Speaker of the House Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, the U.S. government named 10 drugs that will be subject to the first ever price negotiations by Medicare. WSJ's Jared S. Hopkins talks about how this major change came about and pharmaceutical companies' efforts to stop it. Further Listening: -How Big Pharma Lost Its Swagger Further Reading: -Expensive Drugs From Pfizer, Other Companies Targeted for First U.S. Price Negotiations -U.S. Chamber of Commerce Challenges Federal Government's New Drug-Price Powers -Merck Challenges U.S. Government's New Powers to Negotiate Drug Prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Another Chinese real estate developer could be on the brink of collapse. Country Garden, the nation's largest property developer, announced it lost $6.7 billion in the first six months of the year. WSJ's Rebecca Feng explains how China's real estate market — a key part of the country's economy — ended up on such shaky ground. Further Reading: -Country Garden, China's Largest Surviving Developer, Sinks Into Debt Crisis -China's Deepening Housing Problems Spook Investors Further Listening: -China's Evergrande Crisis -Why Millions of Chinese Young People Are Unemployed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup this month was quickly overshadowed when Luis Rubiales, a top Spanish soccer official, abruptly kissed a player on the lips while on stage. As WSJ's Rachel Bachman explains, the incident has been met with condemnation and calls for bigger changes in the sport. Further Listening: -U.S. Soccer's Equal Pay Deal and One Player Who Helped Negotiate It -How Soccer Fans Killed the Super League Further Reading: -Spain Soccer in Turmoil as Federation Chief Refuses to Quit Over World Cup Kiss -A Year After a Players' Mutiny Against the Coach, Spain Is in the Women's World Cup Final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
San Francisco has been the testing ground for self-driving car companies Cruise and Waymo. Now the companies want to expand statewide and to other cities across the U.S. But as WSJ's Meghan Bobrowsky reports, the companies have faced opposition from some residents in their bid to compete with Lyft and Uber. Further Reading: - America's Most Tech-Forward City Has Doubts About Self-Driving Cars - Cruise, Waymo Get Approval to Expand Driverless Vehicles in San Francisco Further Listening: - The Promise and Peril of One Self-Driving Truck Company - Kia and Hyundai's ‘Kia Boyz' Problem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two countries— Russia and India— raced to the moon this week. But only one landed there successfully. WSJ's Micah Maidenberg lays out the latest in the global space race, and explains the significance of this week's moon landing. Further Reading and Watching: -The New Race to Reach the Moon—and Find Water -‘India Is on the Moon': Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft Lands on Lunar South Pole -Watch: India Becomes First Country to Land on Moon's South Pole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two months after leading a failed uprising in Russia, Wagner paramilitary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead. A plane that Prigozhin was traveling in crashed outside Moscow on Wednesday. The cause of the crash is still unknown. WSJ's Yaroslav Trofimov reports on the demise of the mercenary boss who challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin. Further Reading: - Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Who Clashed With Russian Military, Dies - The Last Days of Wagner's Prigozhin Further Listening: - The Mutiny That Shook Putin's Grip on Power - ‘Putin's Chef' New Serving Up Gains for Russia in Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“The Blind Side” is an Oscar-winning movie about a wealthy family that adopts an underprivileged kid and helps him achieve his dreams. But now that narrative is being questioned. Michael Oher, the retired NFL player whose life the movie is based on, has filed a petition with a Tennessee court that alleges he was never adopted by the Tuohy family and that they made millions off his story. WSJ's Andrew Beaton on the two sides of ‘The Blind Side'. Further Reading: -‘Blind Side' Subject Says Family Lied About His Adoption and Made Millions Off Him -‘Blind Side' Family Calls Former NFL Player's Claims a ‘Shakedown' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2019, Hawaiian Electric concluded that it needed to do more to prevent equipment failures that could spark wildfires. In the wake of the Maui fires, the deadliest in the United States in more than a century, WSJ's Katherine Blunt reports on why the company completed little such work. Further Listening: - ‘Everything Is Gone' — One Resident on the Maui Wildfires Further Reading: - Hawaiian Electric Knew of Wildfire Threat, but Waited Years to Act - Hawaii Officials Were Warned Years Ago That Maui's Lahaina Faced High Wildfire Risk - Officials Search for Remains of Maui Victims—and Answers for How the Wildfire Turned So Deadly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Since the Chips Act passed last summer, the Commerce Department has been building a small team of elite Wall Street financiers to help allocate $39 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies to hundreds of companies. We speak to WSJ'S Yuka Hayashi about the Chips Program Office team and to Todd Fisher, the man who leads it. Further Listening: - The U.S. Wants American-Made Chips. Can Intel Deliver? - The $1 Trillion Company That Started at Denny's Further Reading: - Why Washington Went to Wall Street to Revive the U.S. Chips Industry - Chips Are the New Oil and America Is Spending Billions to Safeguard Its Supply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As part of the U.S. nuclear tests after World War II, a total of 23 nuclear weapons were detonated on and around Bikini Atoll. Eventually, the U.S. set aside funding to help the people of Bikini and their descendants. But, as WSJ's Dan Frosch reports, those compensation funds have been drained. Further Reading: -Nuclear Tests Ravaged Their Home. Their Leaders Drained a Compensation Fund Dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nike's supply chain is under attack. WSJ's Inti Pacheco explains how crime rings are swiping valuable, limited-edition sneakers as the shoes make their way from factories to store shelves, often staying steps ahead of police. Further Reading: - How Nike Sneakers Get Stolen at Every Turn Further Listening: - The Downfall of a $300 Million Sneaker King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The wildfires that swept through Maui are America's deadliest in over a century, with at least 106 people killed. We speak to Javier Barberi, a local businessman who lost a house, restaurant and shaved ice shop in the fires. Further Reading: - Maui Wildfire Death Toll Climbs to 99 as Lahaina Residents Brace for More Victims - Why Are the Maui Wildfires So Devastating? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yesterday, former President Donald Trump was indicted for the fourth time. This case, in Georgia, is the most ambitious and sweeping one against him yet. WSJ's Cameron McWhirter reports on Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the prosecutor leading the case. Further Listening: -Meet Jack Smith, the Special Counsel Prosecuting Trump -What Will Trump's Third Indictment Cost Him? -United States of America v. Donald J. Trump Further Reading: -Donald Trump Indicted in Georgia Over Effort to Overturn Election Results -Fani Willis: The No-Nonsense Georgia Prosecutor on a Collision Course With Donald Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Friday, a federal judge revoked FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's bail. The judge said SBF had pushed the limits of his bail conditions repeatedly and will await his expected October trial in jail. WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff reports on what she witnessed in the courthouse. Further Reading: - Judge Sends FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried to Jail Ahead of Fraud Trial - At FTX, Multimillion-Dollar Expenses Were Approved by Emoji Further Listening: - The FTX Insiders Turning Against Sam Bankman-Fried - ‘Do You Expect to Go to Prison?': An Interview With SBF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Earlier this week, President Biden issued an executive order banning American firms from investing in some Chinese technology companies, citing national security concerns. WSJ's Andrew Duehren explains how the move fits into the complicated relationship between the two countries. Further Reading: - Biden Restricts U.S. Investment in China - Sequoia Made a Fortune Investing in the U.S. and China. Then It Had to Pick One. Further Listening: - The U.S. Wants American-Made Chips. Can Intel Deliver? - China's Crackdown on Foreign Consulting Firms - Are Apple and China Breaking Up? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two indictments against former President Donald Trump, has developed a reputation as an aggressive prosecutor known for trying high-stakes, politically explosive cases. But WSJ's Sadie Gurman says Smith has a mixed record on convictions. Further Reading: - Jack Smith Is Known to Take On Tough Cases. But He Doesn't Always Win - Trump's Lawyers Argue Protective Order Would Violate His Free-Speech Rights - New Definition of ‘Fraud' Wipes Out High-Profile Prosecutions Further Listening: - What Will Trump's Third Indictment Cost Him? - Donald Trump Is Charged on 34 Felony Counts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Pac-12, the so-called “Conference of Champions,” is melting down. Its revenue had been lagging behind the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences, which now dominate college sports. But just as the Pac-12 was trying to revive itself and its revenue prospects, a rapid series of defections by member schools have left it hobbled. WSJ's Laine Higgins unpacks what happened. Further Reading: - The Pac-12 Melts Down, as Five More Schools Depart for Other Conferences - He Inherited ‘Multiple Dumpster Fires' at the Pac-12. Then It Went Up in Smoke. Further Listening: - A Tipping Point for Paying College Athletes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More than one in five young people in China are jobless. The government blames college graduates, insisting that their expectations have gotten too high. WSJ's Brian Spegele unpacks why new grads are holding out and what it could mean for China's economy. Further Reading: -How Bad Is China's Economy? Millions of Young People Are Unemployed and Disillusioned -China's Economic Recovery Weakens Further Listening -Xi Jinping Is Rewriting the Rules of China's Economy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After the Supreme Court struck down race-based affirmative action earlier this summer, Wesleyan University dropped its admissions preference for children of alumni. But it will still consider whether applicants can afford tuition as part of the admissions process. Wesleyan President Michael Roth on why the elite institution is making those decisions. Further Reading and Watching: - Wesleyan University Ends Legacy Preferences in Admissions - How Colleges Plan to Factor In Race Without Asking About Race Further Listening: - The Supreme Court Rules Against Affirmative Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yellow, a nearly century-old trucking company and a major player in the American logistics industry, hit the brakes on operations and told its workers it plans to file for bankruptcy. WSJ's Paul Page says Yellow's financial woes have been decades in the making. FURTHER READING: - Trucking Giant Yellow Shuts Down Operations - Why Trucking Giant Yellow's Shutdown Could Cost Taxpayers Money FURTHER LISTENING: - How the White House Blocked a Rail Strike - The Supply Chain Saga at One Port Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Allbirds shot to fame with eco-friendly wool sneakers, leaning on its popularity to pursue a hyperfast growth model. But after a series of missteps, the startup that was once a cultural symbol of cool is now a standout example of a hot company that lost its way. WSJ's Suzanne Kapner documents the rise and fall of the brand. Further Reading: - How Allbirds Lost its Way Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former President Donald Trump will appear in court tomorrow on charges related to his efforts to reverse his 2020 election defeat, which prompted his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. WSJ's Sadie Gurman discusses the indictment and WSJ's Alex Leary explains what Trump's legal challenges could mean for his campaign war chest and his presidential campaign.Further Reading: -Trump Is Indicted in Federal Probe of His Efforts to Reverse 2020 Election -Indict, Rally, Repeat: Reactions to Latest Trump Charges Follow Familiar Script -As Trump Crowds Out GOP Rivals, Legal Bills Threaten His Campaign Coffers Further Listening: -United States of America v. Donald J. Trump -Donald Trump Is Charged on 34 Felony Counts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's tough to find existing homes for sale these days. High mortgage rates are dissuading potential sellers. WSJ's Nicole Friedman on a rare bright spot for house hunters: brand-new construction. Further Reading: -Homeowners Don't Want to Sell, So the Market for Brand-New Homes Is Booming -The Home Buyer's Quandary: Nobody's Selling Further Listening: -The Zombie Mortgages Stalking American Homeowners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mallinckrodt, one of the country's largest opioid makers, is considering a plan to get out of paying more than $1 billion in settlement money to opioid victims. WSJ's Alexander Saeedy explains. Further Reading: - Hedge Funds Seek to Cut Off $1 Billion Meant for Opioid Victims Further Listening: - Purdue's $4.5 Billion Opioid Settlement Got Thrown Out. Now What? - Two Days of Reckoning For Opioid Makers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Amid Hollywood's biggest strike in 60 years, WSJ's Amol Sharma dons his investigator's hat to find out who's to blame for the standstill. Further Reading: - Streaming Brought Hollywood to a Standstill. Now Comes the Pain. - TV's Golden Era Proved Costly to Streamers Further Listening: - One Hollywood Writer on the Industry's ‘Dire' Situation - Why ‘Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Elon Musk says he's turning X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, into an “everything app,” an all in one place for messaging, entertainment and banking. WSJ's Tim Higgins unpacks the vision and the hurdles ahead for Musk and his company. Further Reading: - Why Elon Musk's Plan for a Super App Won't Be Easy in America - Elon Musk's X Rebrand Cues Complications—and Porn Jokes Further Listening: - Elon Musk is Actually Buying Twitter - Why Elon Musk's Twitter Is Losing Advertisers - Twitter's New CEO: The Velvet Hammer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Justice Department announced a plea deal with Hunter Biden over two tax charges last month. But a hearing today didn't go as expected. WSJ's Sadie Gurman on the latest twist in the legal case and what it means for President Biden ahead of next year's election. Further Reading: - Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Tax Charges - Where Are Republicans' Biden Probes Headed, and Is Impeachment Possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates again on Wednesday. The question is: Will this be enough to finally tame inflation? WSJ's Nick Timiraos tells us about the fight between two camps of economists who are at odds about what will help – or hurt – the economy. Further Reading: -Why the Fed Isn't Ready to Declare Victory on Inflation -The Real Fed Debate This Month: What Would Prompt a Rate Hike This Fall -Last Mile of the Inflation Fight Will Be the Hardest Further listening: -Why Some Companies Keep Getting Away With Higher Prices -Why the Fed Raised Interest Rates Amidst a Banking Crisis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For two years, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has inundated the U.S.-Mexico border with thousands of state troopers and National Guardsmen and started work on a state-controlled border wall. He also built a new skeleton justice system with its own courts, judges and jails to lodge misdemeanor state trespassing charges against migrants. WSJ's Elizabeth Findell discusses Operatio n Lone Star and whether or not it's been successful. Further Reading: - Texas Spent Billions on Border Security. It's Not Working. - Texas Trooper's Email Describes Migrant Injuries at Southern Border Further Listening: - What the End of Title 42 Means for U.S. Immigration Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices