The Journal.

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has won over legions of rent-strapped young voters with a platform focused on making housing more affordable — including by freezing rents. This week he cleared an important hurdle, winning the Democratic primary in an upset of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. But his success has panicked the New York real estate industry, which is now in a mad scramble to assess its options. WSJ's Rebecca Picciotto explains how the city's housing crisis is driving the election. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -How Eric Adams Became New York City's First Indicted Mayor  -The Rise of the Yimbys  -The Downfall of a Real Estate Empire  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Rohwer owns Glenn Valley Foods and lends his name to the company's signature product: Gary's QuickSteaks. He says he built his business with the help of mostly immigrant workers, whose legal status he says his company vetted using the government's E-Verify System. This month, his plant was raided by ICE. He speaks with Annie Minoff about what happened, his industry and what's next for his company.  Further Listening: - Why Latino Consumers Are Spending Less  - Inside ICE's Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants  - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, is making artificial intelligence a signature issue. Last week, the Vatican hosted tech leaders at a two-day international AI conference in Rome. WSJ's Margherita Stancati reports on why Silicon Valley is watching to see if Leo will use the Church's moral authority to push for stronger AI rules. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Financial Mess Facing the Vatican  - Pope Francis Has Died. What's Next for the Catholic Church?  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica Mendoza speaks to NCAA president Charlie Baker about the landmark settlement that is ushering in a new professional era for college sports. The deal will create a new system for college athletes to get paid directly by schools. They discuss how payments will be regulated, what impact Title IX could have and how the deal could change college sports. Further Listening: - The TikTok That Changed College Hoops  - California Takes On the NCAA  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. Officials said Iran also fired on Iraq. The attacks were in retaliation for a strike over the weekend that hit three of Iran's nuclear facilities, authorized by President Trump. WSJ's Shayndi Raice reports on how Iran got backed into a corner and has been forced to decide whether or not to escalate into a broader war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -Iran May Be Running Out of Options  -Iran and the U.S. Were Set to Negotiate. Then Israel Attacked  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most well-known cryptocurrency thefts involve online hacks or phishing attempts via text messages. But WSJ's Sam Schechner has been reporting on a new wave of violent crypto thefts: wrench attacks. Brutal physical attacks against the crypto elite are on the rise. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: -Pig-Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist  -How North Korea's Hacker Army Stole $3 Billion in Crypto   Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deportation fears and economic uncertainty is driving changes in shopping behavior in Latino communities. Job losses in industries like construction have also left Hispanics with less money to spend. WSJ's Laura Cooper travels to Texas and reports that some Hispanic shoppers are forgoing their regular shopping trips and restaurant meals. Companies are now saying they're seeing the pullback in their sales. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Inside ICE's Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants  - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After five days of escalating conflict with Israel, Iran's government may be running out of moves. Today, President Trump called on Iran to surrender without conditions. WSJ's Sune Engel Rasmussen explores how Iran built itself into a regional power and why its government now finds itself imperiled. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: -Iran and the U.S. Were Set to Negotiate. Then Israel Attacked  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, Washington D.C. has faced thousands of federal jobs cuts due to President Trump's DOGE work. Also, the city has a $1 billion budget shortfall after Congress passed a funding bill forcing the District to revert to its 2024 budget. Jessica Mendoza sat down with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to discuss the city's challenges, the weekend's military parade, and her relationship with Trump.  Further Listening: - Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy  - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill'? Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. officials planned to meet with an Iranian delegation this weekend to discuss curbs on Iran's nuclear program. In a twist, those talks ended up as cover for a surprise Israeli attack that killed top Iranian officials and struck key nuclear sites. Now, Iran is retaliating. WSJ's Michael R. Gordon lays out the U.S.'s diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and explains what to expect next. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Why Israel and Hamas Could Be Headed Into a Forever War  - A Deadly Drone Attack and Iran's ‘Axis of Resistance'  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leonard Leo is a conservative lawyer and co-chairman of the Federalist Society who played a significant role in shifting the U.S. Supreme Court rightward. Now he is focusing his efforts on reshaping American culture through entertainment. He's channeling funds towards high production value Christian and conservative television shows and films, including Amazon Prime's hit "House of David.” WSJ's Maggie Severns reports on how Leo is using a fund of more than $1 billion to back Hollywood blockbusters that push a more right-wing agenda. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: -The Return of Religious Films to Hollywood  -Ron Howard and Brian Grazer on Longevity in Hollywood  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UnitedHealth is the largest healthcare company in the U.S. But over the last 18 months, a string of challenges, including several Justice Department probes, have tested the company. WSJ's Anna Wilde Mathews and Christopher Weaver report on how the company rose to prominence, why its CEO is out, and how it has weathered the setbacks. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening:  -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare  -Medicare, Inc. Part 2: Taxpayers Paid for Care Denied by Insurers  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To fulfil a key campaign promise, the Trump administration has been pushing ICE to arrest more migrants. WSJ's Michelle Hackman explains how that's led to more aggressive tactics and raids like the ones that unfolded in Los Angeles on Friday, sparking major protests. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  - How Frog Embryos Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention  - 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

The storybook bromance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seems to have come to an end. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus unpacks what happened and what the stakes are for the two powerful men. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk  - Elon Musk's Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin  - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped it Apart  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the sickest Medicare Advantage patients ran into problems getting end-of-life care. Ultimately many patients switched to traditional Medicare, costing taxpayers billions, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal. This is one of many Medicare Advantage practices that is now under government scrutiny. Both Congress and Medicare agency head Dr. Mehmet Oz are pushing for reforms to curb tactics that can boost federal payments to private insurers. The Department of Justice is also investigating major private insurance companies UnitedHealth, Aetna, Elevance Health and Humana. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigations with WSJ's Anna Wilde Mathews. Further Listening: -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare  -A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Medicare Advantage was designed to save the government money. But a Wall Street Journal investigation found that private insurers used the program to generate extra payments through questionable diagnoses. The investigation uncovered instances of potentially deadly illnesses like AIDS, where patients received no follow-up care, as well as diagnoses that were medically impossible. This happened in part when insurers sent nurse practitioners into Medicare Advantage recipients' homes. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigation with WSJ's Christopher Weaver as well as a nurse who participated in the program.  Further Listening: -A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial  -Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special immigration status helped Mills Manufacturing, which makes parachutes for the U.S. military, keep its workforce fully staffed. But last week, an order from the Supreme Court allowed the Trump Administration to revoke temporary protections for about 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua. WSJ's Ruth Simon explains why companies like Mills are scrambling. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight  - How Frog Embryos 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

An Israeli-backed system meant to deliver aid and food into Gaza launched last week to scenes of chaos and violence. WSJ's Anat Peled breaks down the new system, and explains why getting aid to the region is difficult and dangerous. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - A Fragile Cease-Fire Deal in Gaza  - The UN Agency Accused of Links to Hamas  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Chapman presented herself as just another influencer on TikTok. In reality, she operated a “laptop farm” that allowed North Koreans to take jobs as U.S. tech workers and scam more than 300 U.S. companies out of millions of dollars. WSJ's Robert McMillan breaks down the scam and Chapman's crucial role in it. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: - North Korea's Propaganda Mastermind  - Your New Hire May Be a North Korean Spy  - Hack Me If You Can  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minting one penny costs the United States nearly four cents. After 233 years, the Treasury Department has decided to phase out the coin. This will mean that businesses will have to round cash transactions up or down, and some fear it could lead to inflation. We reminisce about the cultural significance of the one-cent coin with WSJ's Oyin Adedoyin and discuss the pro-penny stance with an advocate. WSJ's Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - The Fight Over Your Credit Card Swipe  - The Coronavirus Cash Crisis  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are the Oscar winning director and producer behind some of Hollywood's most memorable movies like A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and The Da Vinci Code. The duo, who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1985, sat down with WSJ's Ben Fritz at the Future of Everything Festival to talk about longevity in Hollywood, AI in movie production and the future of movies. Further Listening:  - Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on ‘Wicked' - With Great Power, Part 1: Origin Story Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, an obscure trade court dropped a bombshell ruling: President Trump did not have the authority to issue sweeping tariffs under a 1977 law. The government has appealed the court's decision. WSJ's James Fanelli and Gavin Bade dig into the ruling and what it could mean for the future of Trump's trade agenda. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices  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

In May, President Trump signed an executive order cutting off federal funding for public broadcasters, including NPR and PBS. In his order, Trump said “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.” WSJ's Joe Flint breaks down the decades-long fight over public media, and NPR's CEO Katherine Maher explains why her network is challenging the Trump administration in court. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers, It's Time to Pay  -Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'?  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration is starting to put millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers into collections and threatening to confiscate their wages, tax refunds and federal benefits. WSJ's Oyin Adedoyin digs into what the restart could mean for borrowers and the economy. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: -Biden's New Plan to Cancel Student Debt  -Breaking Down Student Debt Relief  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta has gone all in on chatbots. The bots are capable of giving advice, answering questions and playing games with users. Some feature the licensed voices of some celebrities. But after months of testing, the Wall Street Journal found Meta's chatbots were also capable of engaging in graphic romantic roleplay, even with young users. Some people inside the company are concerned. Jeff Horwitz reports and Kate Linebaugh hosts for the last time. Further Listening: - Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly?  - The Facebook Files  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After 65 years at the helm, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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