This month, Red Lobster emerged from bankruptcy. At the helm of the restaurant chain is its new CEO, 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun. Ryan Knutson talks to Adamolekun about what brought about Red Lobster’s decline and his plan to revitalize the company. Further Listening: - McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both? Further Reading: - The 35-Year-Old CEO Plotting Red Lobster’s Comeback - Red Lobster Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy With New Owners, CEO Learn more about your ad choices...
Sep 24, 2024•22 min
Christian filmmakers have surprised Hollywood with a series of box office hits and now investors are pouring in millions. WSJ’s John Jurgensen explains how their successes could change the entertainment industry. Further Reading: - Religious Movies Are Sweeping Hollywood. Rich Investors Are Pouring In Millions. - Fans Pour Funding - and Faith - Into a Hit Drama About Jesus - A Child-Trafficking Thriller Is Taking on Hollywood. Who’s behind it? Further Listening: - With Great Power, Part 1: Origi...
Sep 23, 2024•23 min
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates this week, after a two year battle with inflation. David Uberti explains how that will impact the economy and we hear from two couples about what they hope this means for their finances. Further Listening: - A Fed Insider on the Looming Rate Cut - What the Stock Market Panic Says About the Economy - Trump Allies Draft Plans to Rein in the Fed Further Reading: - Americans Are Desperate for Relief. The Rate Cut Is a Glimmer of Hope. - The Fed Aims to Repeat G...
Sep 20, 2024•22 min
Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball and Rachel Humphreys about their recent trip to Ohio, where they talked to voters about a tight Senate race and why it might matter so much for both parties. Plus, look at another important Senate race in Montana. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? A Swing-State Debate - Red, White, and Who? How Abortion Plays for Trump and Harris Further Reading: - A Populist Democrat Fights to Survive the Trump-Fueled Populist Wave Learn m...
Sep 20, 2024•25 min
On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of pagers issued to Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon exploded at the same time, killing 12 people and injuring more than 2,800. The next day, walkie-talkies detonated in a similar way. Michael Amon reports on one of Israel’s most ambitious covert operations and what the attacks could mean for a broader war. Further Listening: -The Brutal Calculation of Hamas’s Leader -Why Israel and Hamas Could Be Headed Into a Forever War Further Reading: -How a Covert Attack Agai...
Sep 19, 2024•19 min
Organized crime used to be considered a remote threat in much of Western Europe, but ruthless violence by criminal gangs is now rattling the peace in some of the world’s safest societies. WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen explores the rise of one drug kingpin and how his brutal tactics have spread around the continent. Further Reading: - Violent Drug Gangs Bring Mayhem to Western Europe Further Listening: - The Push to Test Drugs for Fentanyl - Afghanistan's Desperation Economy Learn more about your ad choic...
Sep 18, 2024•22 min
This week, a trial got under way to determine whether Rupert Murdoch can change a trust holding the family’s assets for his children. Murdoch wants to ensure that when he dies control of the trust passes to his oldest son, Lachlan. Three of his other children, James, Elisabeth and Prudence, oppose the change because they would stand to lose voting power. Amol Sharma reports. Further Listening: - Media Giant Rupert Murdoch Is Stepping Down - Behind the Breakup of Fox and Tucker Carlson Further Re...
Sep 17, 2024•19 min
Tens of thousands of Boeing’s unionized workers are on strike after they rejected a new contract last week. WSJ’s Sharon Terlep reports on the rising tensions that have led to this breaking point and what it could mean for the only American manufacturer of both commercial and military aircraft. Further Reading: - Boeing Freezes Hiring, Delays Pay Raises as Strike Worsens Finances - Boeing Union Goes on Strike, Halting 737 Production Further Listening: - Boeing's Long Flight Delay – in Space - Bo...
Sep 16, 2024•18 min
Scammers are exploiting retailers’ online return programs like never before, fueled by websites and messaging apps. WSJ’s Liz Young reports on the bind retailers now find themselves in, stuck between helping their customers and stopping the fraud. Further Reading: - Online Returns Fraud Finds a Home on Telegram, Costing Retailers Billions - Brick-Filled Boxes. Bogus Receipts. Retailers Battle Fraudulent Returns. Further Listening: - How Cyber Thieves Are Disrupting U.S. Goods - The Slaves Sendin...
Sep 13, 2024•19 min
After a tense debate, Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack a busy election week and examine what’s next for both campaigns in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania. Plus, could a state like Nebraska decide the election? Further Listening: - Red, White, and Who? How Abortion Plays for Trump and Harris - For Kamala Harris, a Big Interview and a Narrow Lead - Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track? Further Reading: - We Asked Undecided Voters Who Won the Trump-Harris Debate Learn more about your ad c...
Sep 13, 2024•24 min
President Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Trump have all signaled their opposition to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel. But, as Kris Maher reports, views on the deal are more complex in the place it could matter most: Pittsburgh. Further Listening: -Why China Is Risking a Trade War Further Reading: -Biden Prepares to Block $14 Billion Steel Deal -Japan Bid for U.S. Steel Runs Up Against U.S. Politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Sep 12, 2024•23 min
Testosterone therapy is booming, touting a boost at the gym and in the bedroom, but the potential side effects (like infertility) are less well known. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler on the clinics making millions on this growing industry. Further Reading: - Testosterone Clinics Sell Virility. Some Men End Up With Infertility. Further Listening: - Trillion Dollar Shot, Episode 1: Birth of a Blockbuster - The Rise of Botox and the Wrinkle in Its Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Sep 11, 2024•20 min
North Korean cybercriminals have developed a new way to access networks in corporate America: getting IT jobs. According to U.S. officials, hundreds of U.S. companies have unknowingly hired North Korean operatives in information-technology roles. Dustin Volz explores how these spies get hired, and one CEO describes how his company fell for the scheme. Further Listening: - How North Korea’s Hacker Army Stole $3 Billion in Crypto - North Korea’s Propaganda Mastermind - The Cyberattack That’s Roili...
Sep 10, 2024•22 min
WSJ’s Alexander Osipovich explores the world of political betting. We meet a trader making big money making predictions on the upcoming U.S. elections over a platform called Polymarket and examine the fight that is brewing with regulators over the practice. Further Reading: - Meet the Traders Making Money Off the Trump Shooting and Biden’s Stumbles - Judge Holds Off on Allowing Election Bets–For Now - The Hot New Trade That Everyone Is Watching: Will Biden Drop Out? Further Listening: - How Gamb...
Sep 09, 2024•20 min
Kyle, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It is also facing heat and drought that has been exacerbated by climate change and is expected to get worse. Matt Wirz reports on the tensions in Kyle as the city continues to build, even as it runs low on water. Further Listening: - A Plan to Hack the Planet Further Reading: - This Texas City Is Too Hot, Short on Water—and Booming - Welcome to Y’all Street, Texas’ Burgeoning Financial Hub Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Sep 06, 2024•21 min
Who will win the race to the White House? A new series from The Journal podcast explores the issues that are shaping this election. This week, Ryan Knutson and WSJ’s Molly Ball delve into reproductive rights, examining how the issue is playing out for both Democrats and Republicans. Plus..what makes a state a swing state? Further Listening: - For Kamala Harris, a Big Interview and a Narrow Lead - Hope, Unity (and Some Nerves at the DNC) - Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track? Learn more about y...
Sep 06, 2024•25 min
This month, for the first time in over two years, the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates. Mary Daly, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, is one of 12 people who will decide how aggressive that cut should be. She talks to Kate about inflation, unemployment, the economy and Taylor Swift. Further Listening: - What the Stock Market Panic Says About the Economy - Why the Fed Is Steering Away From Rate Cuts Further Reading: - The Make-or-Break Moment ...
Sep 05, 2024•22 min
Tweens, or kids aged 8 to 12, have learned to shop online. Brands are taking note. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber spoke to TikTok-er Demetra Dias and explains the impact of influencers like her on young shoppers and the brands that court them. Further Reading: - Teen Girls Are Spending Big. She Tells Them What to Buy. - Why Tweens Are Obsessed With This $110 Sweatsuit Further Listening: - How the Stanley Cup Became the Internet's Favorite Water Bottle - Teens Are Falling Victim to AI Fake Nudes Learn more ...
Sep 04, 2024•18 min
Pavel Durov, the CEO of the messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France last month. He was charged with a host of crimes, including complicity in distributing child pornography, illegal drugs and hacking software on the app. Matthew Dalton reports on how the charges represent a major escalation by the French government in holding tech executives accountable for the content that appears on their platforms. Further Reading: - Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Charged by French Authorities - Exclusive | ...
Sep 03, 2024•22 min
Kamala Harris is trying to step out of President Biden’s shadow without distancing herself from their administration’s policies. Molly Ball breaks down a new WSJ poll that shows Harris has a narrow lead in the presidential election and unpacks the VP’s first big interview. She also takes your questions. Further Reading: - Harris Has Taken Narrow Lead Over Trump, WSJ Poll Finds - Race Is On To Reach the Rapidly Shrinking Pool of Undecided Voters Further Listening: - Is the Trump Campaign Going Of...
Aug 30, 2024•23 min
The world’s most lucrative sports league is allowing private equity to buy into teams. WSJ’s Andrew Beaton and Miriam Gottfried unpack why the NFL is opening up, and what it could mean for owners and fans. Further Reading: -Private Equity Ownership Is Coming to the NFL -College Sports Is About to Turn Pro. Private Equity Wants In. Further Listening: -Why Three Media Giants Are Betting on Sports Streaming -ESPN’s Big Bet on an F-Bomb-Throwing YouTube Star Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Aug 29, 2024•19 min
Faced with stagnating economic growth, Chinese leader Xi Jinping decided to go all in on manufacturing and exporting. But, as Lingling Wei reports, the increase in low-cost Chinese goods is squeezing businesses around the world and raising the specter of a new trade war. Further Listening: - How Xi Jinping's Dream Slowed China's Economy - The Political Cost of China's Faltering Economy Further Reading: - Why China Is Starting a New Trade War - China Revives Socialist Ideas to Fix Its Real-Estate...
Aug 28, 2024•20 min
When Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he borrowed $13 billion dollars from several banks to complete the deal. Now, it looks like the banks may not get all their money back. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy on what the banks didn’t take into account when they made those loans. Further Reading: -Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Is Now the Worst Buyout for Banks Since the Financial Crisis -Elon Musk’s Hard Turn to Politics, in 300,000 of His Own Words Further Listening: -Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Turn Towar...
Aug 27, 2024•18 min
For almost 20 years, Etsy has been a popular website for handmade and specialized goods on the internet. But as the company grew, many current and former sellers say the platform has changed and is now full of mass-produced goods. They’ve also complained about increased seller fees. The CEO, Josh Silverman, responds, saying Etsy is still true to its original mission to keep commerce ‘human.’ Further Listening: - What’s Behind Amazon’s Review Problem - The Resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch Furt...
Aug 26, 2024•27 min
Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. It capped off a boisterous, speaker-packed week in Chicago as the Harris campaign tries to reach a broad swath of American voters. Molly Ball reports from Chicago. Further Listening: - Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track? - Takeaways from the RNC: Trump Is in Control Further Reading: - Kamala Harris Defines the Democrats’ New Normal - Democrats’ Upbeat Convention Has Nancy Pelosi to Thank Learn m...
Aug 23, 2024•23 min
In May, an associate at Bank of America died unexpectedly after working long hours on a big acquisition. The death sparked an outcry about the all-nighters and 100-hour weeks that grind down young investment bankers. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy spoke to over three dozen current and former employees about a pervasive culture of overwork at the bank. Further Reading: -How Bank of America Ignores Its Own Rules Meant to Prevent Dangerous Workloads -Bank of America Urges Bankers to Sound Alarm on Overwork...
Aug 22, 2024•21 min
Last week, Starbucks ousted its CEO Laxman Narasimhan and replaced him with Brian Niccol, the current leader of Chipotle. Lauren Thomas reports on the dramatic leadership change, as Starbucks struggles to turn around its business and contend with activist investors. Further Listening: - Can Chinese Customers Rescue Starbucks? - The Underdog Coffee Bean That’s Making a Comeback Further Reading: - Inside Starbucks’s Surprising CEO Firing and Hiring Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Aug 21, 2024•22 min
The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago, where the party aims to unite behind its new nominee for president, Kamala Harris. But the war in Gaza, and American military aid for Israel, is dividing the party. WSJ’s Sabrina Siddiqui explains why that fracture could impact the Harris campaign. Further Reading: -DNC 2024 Live Updates -DNC Protesters Have a Message for Kamala Harris: ‘Talk Is Cheap’ -Pro-Gaza Activists Size Up Kamala Harris Further Listening: -The Economy: Trump vs. H...
Aug 20, 2024•19 min
Last week, the two presidential candidates put forward some specific policy proposals about the economy. WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia breaks down what each candidate is proposing. Further Reading: - Harris Calls for Expanded Child Tax Credit, 3 Million New Housing Units - Harris, Trump Propose Divergent, Costly Solutions for Inflation Further Listening: - Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track? - 'Phony' and 'Weird.' Trump and Harris Size Each Other Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Aug 19, 2024•20 min
WSJ’s Molly Ball breaks down the past week for the Trump campaign as the former president continues to try and counter a surge of support for Harris. Plus, do undecided voters truly exist? Molly answers your questions. Further Reading: - Race Is On To Reach the Rapidly Shrinking Pool of Undecided Voters - Inside Elon Musk’s Hands-On Push to Win 800,000 Voters for Trump Further Listening: - The Week that Changed the Presidential Race - Kamala Harris, In Context Learn more about your ad choices. V...
Aug 16, 2024•23 min
