Last month, Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian,” a piece of conceptual art that consists of a banana duct taped to a wall, sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $6.2 million. WSJ’s Kelly Crow traces the banana’s origins from Art Basel Miami in 2019 to the top of the art market this year. Further Listening: - A Russian Billionaire, an Art Dealer and an Epic Feud - The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands Further Reading: - A $6.2 Million Banana and the Unexpected Return of the Art Market...
Dec 06, 2024•22 min
Target used to be a cheap and chic place to shop, but now the retailer is in a sales funk, losing market share to competitors like Walmart, Costco, and Amazon. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer explores what happened to the beloved box store’s numbers and the strategies executives may be discussing to get back on target. Further Reading: -Target’s Slide From Cheap Chic to Dull Chore Further Listening: -What Went Wrong at Bed Bath & Beyond? -Old Navy Tried to Make Sizes for All. It Backfired. Learn more about...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed radically downsizing the federal government, and two of his allies are going to be in charge: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. WSJ’s John McCormick walks us through the plans for DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Further Reading: - Musk, Ramaswamy Want Federal Workers in the Office Full Time. There’s a Hitch. - Vivek Ramaswamy’s Marching Orders: Cut Trillions for Trump Further Listening: - Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations -...
Dec 04, 2024•18 min
As President-elect Donald Trump lays out his plan for increasing tariffs on goods made in China and Mexico, some U.S. businesses are stockpiling. Small business owner Jason Junod explains what he thinks the impacts of the proposed tariffs will be, and why he hasn’t been able to go fully “Made in America.” Further Reading: -American Companies Are Stocking Up to Get Ahead of Trump’s China Tariffs -Trump Fires Salvo on North American Trade Pact Further Listening: -China, an Alabama Business and a 2...
Dec 03, 2024•20 min
To ease flight delays and staffing shortages in the New York City area, the FAA shifted oversight of Newark Airport’s airspace to Philadelphia earlier this year. But WSJ’s Andrew Tangel reports that problems remain and new risks have surfaced. Further Listening: -How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy -How Southwest Airlines Melted Down Further Reading: -Why Fixing New York Air Traffic Has Been a Bumpy Ride -To Ease Newark Flight Delays, the FAA Turned to Philly. Here’s Why. Learn more about y...
Dec 02, 2024•20 min
Happy Thanksgiving! This episode was originally published in November 2023. Ocean Spray’s farmers are responsible for 65% of the world’s cranberries. It’s not a publicly traded company. It’s not a traditional private company, either. It’s a cooperative founded nearly a century ago and owned by roughly 700 families. WSJ’s Ben Cohen tells the story of how the cranberry got into the can and how the company is planning for a future beyond your Thanksgiving table. Further Reading: -These People Are R...
Nov 28, 2024•20 min
Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement that ends more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, Hezbollah. WSJ’s Jared Malsin takes us inside the deal and explores what it could mean for the region. Further Reading: -Israel Says Cease-Fire Takes Effect in Lebanon -Israel Approves Cease-Fire With Lebanon Aimed at Ending Hezbollah Conflict Further Listening: -The Risk of an All-Out War in the Middle East -Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading ...
Nov 27, 2024•19 min
After two weeks of uncertainty, Donald Trump nominated Scott Bessent, a longtime Wall Street investor, as his next Treasury secretary. The pick capped a behind-the-scenes battle one advisor called a “knife fight.” WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia takes us inside the decision, explores why Bessent triumphed and unpacks what his tenure could mean for the U.S. economy. Further Reading: -How Scott Bessent Won the ‘Knife Fight’ to Be Trump’s Treasury Secretary -Scott Bessent Sees a Coming ‘Global Economic Reor...
Nov 26, 2024•20 min
The movie musical “Wicked” collected a blockbuster $114 million in its opening weekend. Over the past year, Universal and its parent company Comcast have launched an all-out marketing blitz to blanket the world in “Wicked.” WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel reports on how it is the new Hollywood playbook. Further Listening:- The Curtain Closes on Phantom of the Opera - The Rise of the Minions - Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows Further Reading: - Inside Hollywood’s Big ‘Wicked’ Gamble -...
Nov 25, 2024•22 min
After recognizing his nomination was facing an uphill battle, former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for U.S. Attorney General. WSJ's Sadie Gurman describes how president-elect Donald Trump's first pick unraveled and why he chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role instead. Further Reading: -Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdraws -Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration as Trump's Attorney General -Matt Gaetz Had Sex With...
Nov 22, 2024•17 min
When TNT lost the rights to broadcast NBA games this year, fans worried that the network’s long-running popular show “Inside the NBA” would also end. But, as WSJ’s Joe Flint explains, a complicated trade has allowed the show to live on. Further Listening: - The NBA’s Media Rights Are Up For Grabs. Billions Are At Stake. - The Media Mogul Taking an Ax To Hollywood Further Reading: - Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA Settle Legal Battle Over TV Rights - Warner’s TNT Sues NBA, Alleging Breach of Media-Ri...
Nov 21, 2024•20 min
For years, Spirit Airlines soared with a low-cost, no-frills business model. This week, it came in for a bumpy landing. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how the big airlines learned to compete with Spirit––and helped put the carrier in bankruptcy. Further Listening: -The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines -Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines Further Reading: -How Spirit Airlines Went From Industry Maverick to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy -Discount Airline Spirit Files for Bankruptcy Learn m...
Nov 20, 2024•20 min
Earlier this year, Canadian convenience store company Alimentation Couche-Tard put in a bid to acquire 7-Eleven. Then, management from inside 7-Eleven’s parent company, Seven & i, proposed a record-breaking buyout to counter. WSJ’s Jinjoo Lee on the drama around who will own the world’s largest convenience store chain. Further Listening: -The Fight Over U.S. Steel and the Community Caught in the Middle -Why the FTC is Challenging a $25 Billion Supermarket Merger Further Reading: -The Fight for 7...
Nov 19, 2024•18 min
Grocery bills are going up for a lot of reasons. One has to do with how food gets on grocery store shelves. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explains a hidden layer of fees that are getting passed down to the consumer. Further Reading: - The Mysterious Fees Inflating Your Grocery Bill - After Years of Raising Prices, Food Companies Hit Consumers’ Limits Further Listening: - The Twinkie: From Bankruptcy to Billions - Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Nov 18, 2024•20 min
The Onion, the satirical news outlet, wants to buy Infowars, the platform conspiracy theorist Alex Jones used to defame families of the Sandy Hook massacre. Onion CEO Ben Collins shares why and John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, explains what it means to Sandy Hook families and the fight against disinformation. Further Reading: -The Onion Is Buying Alex Jones’s Infowars Site -Alex Jones Files for Bankruptcy Following Sandy Hook Trial Losses Further Listening: -How Much Will A...
Nov 15, 2024•23 min
Leaders from around the world are meeting in Azerbaijan for the U.N.’s COP29 climate conference. With Donald Trump’s recent election victory looming over the event, the U.S.’s role will be diminished. WSJ’s Matthew Dalton explains why this moment might be China’s chance to shine. Further Listening: -The Oil Giant Hosting This Year’s U.N. Climate Summit -The Fight Over Climate Change's Price Tag Further Reading: -Trump Victory Leaves China Calling the Shots at COP29 Climate Negotiations -Welcome ...
Nov 14, 2024•20 min
The famous investor and muti-billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is doing something unusual: selling stocks and hoarding cash. WSJ’s Spencer Jakab breaks down possible reasons why and what everyday investors can learn from his choices. Further Reading: - Does Warren Buffett Know Something That We Don’t? - A $150 Billion Question: What Will Warren Buffett Do With All That Cash? Further Listening: - Charlie Munger: Curmudgeon, Sage and Investing Legend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
Nov 13, 2024•17 min
After abortion access wins in 2022, Democrats made a bet that voters backing abortion on states’ ballot measures would also back Democratic candidates. WSJ’s Laura Kusisto explains why that bet turned out to be wrong. Further Listening: The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump’s Cabinet What a Republican Congress Could Mean for Trump Further Reading: Voters Continued to Back Abortion Rights. It Didn’t Help Democrats. A State-by-State Guide to Abortion Access in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices....
Nov 12, 2024•20 min
The incoming Trump administration has just named its White House chief of staff and more appointments will be coming soon. WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia on who is in the running and how this transition could be different from 2016. Further Reading: -The Scramble Is On to Fill Out Trump’s Cabinet -Lutnick Consults With Musk, Kushner, Wall Street in Rush to Staff Trump White House -Meet the Wall Street Bigwig Who Has Become Trump’s Headhunter in Chief Further Listening: -Red, White and Who? Why Trump Won...
Nov 08, 2024•21 min
The race is over! Molly Ball and Ryan Knutson dive into the election results to understand what the electorate is feeling. Plus, where did it all go wrong for Democrats and what will day one of a Trump presidency look like? Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? It’s Trump. - Red, White and Who? An Electoral College Blowout? Further Reading: - How Trump Won the Economy-Is-Everything Election - Trump Win Marks a Blow to Biden’s Legacy Learn more about your ad choi...
Nov 08, 2024•30 min
Former president Donald Trump is now president-elect. But that wasn’t the only win this week for the GOP. Republicans have also secured a majority in the Senate, and they’re poised to win the House of Representatives. WSJ’s Siobhan Hughes breaks down what this Republican trifecta could look like. Further Reading: -Republicans Poised to Keep Control of House After Winning Senate -How Republicans Regained Control of the Senate Further Listening: -Red, White and Who? It's Trump. -How Donald Trump P...
Nov 07, 2024•18 min
Republican former president Donald Trump defeats Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, reclaiming the White House. WSJ’s Alex Leary reports on Trump’s winning strategy and the campaign that fueled it. Further Listening: -Red, White and Who? Playlist Further Reading: -Trump Defeats Harris, Marking Historic Comeback -How Donald Trump Won—by Being Donald Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 06, 2024•19 min
After flipping Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States. In the early hours of the morning, Molly Ball and Ryan Knutson discuss election night and Trump's victory. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? An Electoral College Blowout? - Red, White and Who? The Undecided Voters Who Could Decide The Election Further Reading: - Live Coverage from WSJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Nov 06, 2024•20 min
Election night is here, and the U.S.–and the world–is watching as the votes come in. WSJ's Politics Editor Ben Pershing walks us through what he's keeping a close eye on, and how long it might take before a winner is called. Further Reading: -Election Day 2024 Live: It's Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump as America Votes -A (Don’t Hold Us to It) Hour-by-Hour Guide to Election Night Further Listening: -Harris, Trump and the Inflation Election -Red, White and Who? An Electoral College Blowout? Learn ...
Nov 05, 2024•19 min
Tomorrow is Election Day, and both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have campaigned on bringing down inflation. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos breaks down how both candidates’ plans will impact everyday costs. Further Listening: -Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About the $1.8 Trillion Deficit -Red, White and Who? Playlist Further Reading: -Economists Warn of New Inflation Hazards After Election -Inflation Continues Its Bumpy Decline With Mixed September Reading Learn more ...
Nov 04, 2024•22 min
For decades, activists and lawmakers have tried to change the way child care works in the U.S. But they haven’t had much success. More recently, a fight has been brewing at the local level. This Tuesday, several places around the country will vote on whether to subsidize childcare. WSJ’s Harriet Torry explains what that could mean for one county in Texas. Further Reading: -Are American Taxpayers Ready to Foot the Bill for Child Care? -Child Care, Rent, Insurance: Where Inflation Hits Hardest Now...
Nov 01, 2024•20 min
Rachel Humphreys and Molly Ball share dispatches from two major campaign events with Ryan Knutson. Molly analyzes the closing arguments and outlines what to expect on election day. Plus, we finally answer listeners’ most asked question: What’s up with the electoral college? Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? The Undecided Voters Who Could Decide The Election - Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage Further Reading: - America Is Having a Panic Attack Over t...
Nov 01, 2024•26 min
After a rocky start, self-driving car company Waymo seems to have won over riders in San Francisco. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky talks about the company’s push to convince the public its robotaxis are safe and the challenges of replicating that progress elsewhere. Further Reading: -How San Francisco Learned to Love Self-Driving Cars -America’s Most Tech-Forward City Has Doubts About Self-Driving Cars Further Listening: -The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
Oct 31, 2024•21 min
For four generations, the Merwin family has worked in Boeing’s factories in Washington state. But for the last six weeks, Tony Merwin and his son Patrick have been on strike, along with 33,000 machinists. They explain why they’re demanding higher wages and pension benefits. Further Reading: -For This Boeing Family, the Job Is the Same. The Payoff Isn’t -Boeing Strike Extended After Union Machinists Reject Contract -Boeing’s CEO Is Shrinking the Jet Maker to Stop Its Crisis From Spiraling Further...
Oct 30, 2024•22 min
During the Trump administration, Chris Krebs was the top cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security. He spoke with WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler at WSJ Tech Live about the upcoming U.S. election and growing cyber threats from foreign governments. Further Listening: -The Chinese Hackers Spying on U.S. Internet Traffic -Red, White and Who? Playlist Further Reading: -China-Linked Hackers Breach U.S. Internet Providers in New ‘Salt Typhoon’ Cyberattack -U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in Chin...
Oct 29, 2024•23 min
