The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
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Over a decade ago, home gardening giant Scotts Miracle-Gro made a bold push for growth in a nascent and controversial industry: cannabis. What was once the company’s lucrative bet is now a struggling business. WSJ’s Dean Seal explains how Scotts Miracle-Gro ventured into marijuana and why their early bet has shriveled up. Oyin Adedoyin hosts. Further Listening: How the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis' Dried Up The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry The Drug You’ve Never Heard of Wreak...
When a pro-growth mayor in rural Tennessee dies unexpectedly, his vision for development is suddenly challenged. What began as a land dispute quickly escalates into a clash of values, dividing the deep-red county over the very definition of 'conservative.' WSJ's Cameron McWhirter reports on a fight between tradition and transformation, featuring two farmers on opposing sides. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - A Fight over Buc-ee’s and the Soul of the American West Sign up for WSJ’s fre...
President Trump recently signed an executive order that could make it easier for everyday Americans to invest their retirement savings in assets that lie outside public markets, such as private equity , cryptocurrency and private real estate. WSJ’s Anne Targesen explains how 401ks have evolved, and the risks and rewards of adding these alternative assets to people’s retirement accounts. Oyin Adedoyin hosts. Further Listening: - The Wall Street Craze Jamie Dimon Can’t Resist. Even If It Blows Up....
When New Rochelle, NY was faced with a declining population and economy, it set out on a building spree . A decade into the effort, the city – which sits just north of New York City – actually managed to keep rents down, bucking a nationwide trend. WSJ’s Rebecca Picciotto shares how New Rochelle navigated red tape and some community opposition to build thousands of new housing units. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is NYC’s Mayoral Race All About Rent? - The Rise of the Yimbys Sign u...
The Trump administration has made big moves to intervene in critical industries – from computer chips to rare earth minerals to steel . WSJ’s chief economics commentator, Grep Ip , says that these efforts could suggest the U.S. might be moving away from free market capitalism and towards what he calls state capitalism, American-style . Now, Greg is wondering if the U.S. economic system is starting to look more like China’s, and if President Trump is imitating the Chinese Communist Party by exten...
This episode chronicles Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's unprecedented efforts to secure chip sales in China amidst escalating US-China trade tensions. It details his extensive lobbying in Washington, which resulted in a controversial deal involving a 15% sales cut to the U.S. government, and his delicate balancing act with Beijing officials. The episode concludes by examining how this deal makes export controls negotiable, transforming tech CEOs into diplomatic figures navigating a treacherous new geopolitical business landscape.
A couple in Los Angeles say they wanted a big family. Surrogates who carried their children say they were deceived. WSJ’s Katherine Long explains why an investigation into a family who say they have 22 children is raising alarm among the commercial surrogacy industry, a fast-growing and multibillion-dollar market. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - America's Maternal Mental Health Crisis - How Employer-Funded Child Care Can Work Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more...
Derek Mobley spent years applying for jobs online after he got laid off. After more than 100 rejections, he started to wonder whether Workday – the popular online recruiting platform – was to blame. Now, Mobley is suing Workday , alleging that the company’s hiring algorithm discriminated against him. Derek shares his experience, and WSJ’s Lauren Weber explains how his lawsuit got this far. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs What's the Worst AI Can Do? This T...
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has become a political target for President Trump, who called for his resignation citing 'highly conflicted' ties to Chinese firms. This unprecedented presidential intervention comes as Intel, a vital U.S. chip manufacturer, struggles financially but is deemed crucial for national security. The controversy stems from Tan's past as 'Mr. Chip,' building China's semiconductor industry, and a company he led settling charges for illegal tech sales to a Chinese military university. This highlights the escalating U.S.-China tech rivalry.
Europe has mostly been spared from the synthetic opioid crisis that has ravaged the U.S . over the past two decades. But now, a deadly new drug could be changing that: nitazenes. Up to 15 times stronger than fentanyl, nitazenes have been behind hundreds of overdose deaths in European countries over the past few years. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen on where the drug comes from and why it's doing so much damage. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: Fentanyl Is Bad. ‘Tranq’ Might Be Worse. The Push to ...
The Silicon Valley company Palantir spent years treading water as a tech outsider in the S&P 500. The company's recent success, as WSJ’s Heather Somerville reports, is due in large part to CEO Alex Karp’s ability to find opportunities in crises, as well as to the Trump administration. Michelle Hackman hosts. Further Listening: - Inside ICE’s Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants - Why Trump Is Ready to Send Missiles to Ukraine - Iran May Be Running Out of Options Sign up for WSJ’s free W...
There’s a new game selling out stadiums around the country : banana ball. The game’s founder, Jesse Cole, describes how he got started. And WSJ’s Jason Gay watched a game to see what Major League Baseball – and other pro sports – can learn from banana ball’s fan-first approach. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further listening: - NCAA President on New Era for College Sports - How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in Sports - The Biggest Trade in Sports Wasn’t an Athlete –– It Was a TV Show Sign up for WSJ’s...
An ugly-cute monster has become a global sensation . PopMart , the company behind Labubus, has leveraged blind-box packaging, scarcity and artist collaborations to turn these collectible plushies into a booming business. WSJ's Kaitlyn Wang explains the rise of the Labubu and a "Labubu influencer" describes the appeal. Michelle Hackman hosts. Further Listening: - How the Stanley Cup Became the Internet’s Favorite Water Bottle - Mattel Bets Big on Barbie - Is Supreme Still the King of Streetwear? ...
Disney is grappling with how to push forward into a new AI era without losing control of its valuable intellectual property. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel takes us inside the company's complicated relationship with AI and its race to figure out how to leverage the new technology for maximum gain – without putting too much at risk. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Download That Led to a Massive Hack at Disney - Disney Gets Into Gambling - Why Florida is Fighting with Walt Disney World Sign...
Dr. Marty Makary has criticized the Food and Drug Administration for being "captured" by Big Food and Big Pharma. Now, the surgeon and former professor is in charge. In an interview with host Jessica Mendoza , the new FDA head talks about food dyes , AI, vaccines and the big changes he has in store for an agency that regulates one-fifth of consumer spending. Further Listening: Why Coke Isn't Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup MAHA Influencers Go to Washington Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s N...
On Friday, President Trump fired the top Bureau of Labor Statistics official after the government published new data showing that U.S. hiring slowed sharply this summer. The jobs report was the weakest in President Trump’s second term. WSJ’s Matt Grossman reports on the economist at the heart of the controversy , Erika McEntarfer, and on bigger concerns around data from the bureau. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin - Is Trump Winning His Tr...
Over the last few months, President Donald Trump has struck numerous trade deals with countries and continues to negotiate with others. The European Union , Japan and South Korea all agreed to a tariff rate of 15% . WSJ’s Greg Ip says Trump has succeeded on his own terms and created a new trade world order, albeit a fragile one . Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - A Pharmaceutical Executive on Trump’s Tariff Strategy - Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s N...
When President Donald Trump posted that he'd been in talks with Coca-Cola, and that the sodamaker would soon be making Coke with cane sugar , it sent the soda world into a fizz. WSJ's Laura Cooper explains why Coca-Cola and other sodamakers originally made the switch from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup and why it would be hard to go back. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper - Can Pepsi Make a Comeback? - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food S...
A delicious corporate rivalry is brewing! After an accounting fraud scandal nearly derailed its rise, Luckin Coffee has become the top-selling coffee chain in China. Now it’s expanding stateside, with two new locations in New York City. WSJ’s Hannah Miao explains why Luckin’s tech-forward business model made it a winner in China, and whether Starbucks can fend off the competition by returning to its coffee house roots. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: Fraud Rocks China's Hottest Coffee Sta...
After decades, Volkswagen brought its iconic VW bus back to the U.S. , this time as a fully electric vehicle. But after years of buzz , the new model is falling flat. WSJ’s Sean McLain explores the hype around the ID.Buzz and why it struggled to capture American hearts and dollars. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Kia and Hyundai’s ‘Kia Boyz’ Problem - Will Honda Be Nissan's Ride or Die? - Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about ...
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would impose up to a 200% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals , though he would give them up to a year and a half before fully implementing the tariffs . Trump’s goal is to bring more manufacturing to the United States, but one pharmaceutical CEO, Richard Saynor of Sandoz, says there is little incentive to build in the U.S . Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline - Inside the Surprise U.S.-Chin...
Last week, CBS cancelled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The network said that ending the show was “purely a financial decision.” Over the years, late-night audiences and profits have dwindled. But some fans have suggested the move was partly political: CBS pulled the plug just days after Colbert criticized Paramount , CBS’s parent company, for agreeing to settle a lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million. WSJ’s Joe Flint delves into the controversy and the economics of late-night TV. ...
Global diamond company De Beers spent decades convincing couples that true love required a diamond. But now, lab-grown diamonds that are identical to naturally-mined ones are flooding the market with cheaper options and reshaping the diamond business completely. WSJ’s Jenny Strasburg takes us inside the showdown in the diamond market, and we speak to a ring shopper weighing her options. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - One American Company Taking on China's Rare-Earth Dominance - Can ...
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, despite consistently warning about the dangers of unregulated private credit, is now leading the bank's significant investment into this booming market. This episode explores the paradox of Dimon's stance, detailing what private credit is, how it emerged post-2008 to fill a lending void, and JPMorgan's strategic move to engage with it. It also explains why this financial trend, now touching pension funds and 401ks, holds increasing relevance and potential risk for everyday individuals.
Buc-ee's — the chain of road stops with a beaver mascot and a die-hard fanbase — is looking to expand westward. Its next stop is Palmer Lake, Colorado : a small, rural town known for its lush greenery and outdoor recreation. But some local residents are looking to “heave the beave.” And they have a powerful billionaire backing them: ‘cable cowboy' John Malone. WSJ’s Jim Carlton reports on this standoff over development and the future of the American West. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -...
Tiny rare-earth magnets are used for building phones, electric cars, and submarines, but nearly all of them are mined and made in China . One U.S. company is trying to change that . WSJ’s Jon Emont spoke with MP Materials’ CEO about his goals for the mine, which has now made deals with the Pentagon , General Motors, and Apple . Can this industry come back the U.S.? Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Trump Wants Ukrainian Minerals - Greenland Has Tons of Minerals. So Where Are All th...
In 2003, Jeffrey Epstein got a gift for his 50th birthday , a leather-bound album containing letters, poems, photos and greetings from friends. One of the letters was from Donald Trump. The president says the letter "is a fake thing." WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar reveals what’s in the letter and Sadie Gurman explores what it means for Trump and the Department of Justice . Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News new...
Amazon warehouses are more automated than ever . The company, a key bellwether for the U.S. labor market , now has over a million robots packing and shipping goods in its fulfillment centers . While some employees are finding ways to transition into higher-paying technical roles that manage the robots, the company’s CEO Andy Jassy has said it plans to cut the size of its overall workforce . Sebastian Herrera explains Amazon’s vision for the warehouse of the future. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further...
This episode explores President Trump's evolving approach to the war in Ukraine, from his campaign promise of a quick peace deal through personal negotiation with Vladimir Putin, to his growing frustration with Russian intransigence. After failed diplomatic attempts and clashes with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump shifts tactics, halting U.S. weapon donations and demanding European allies shoulder more of the financial burden for Ukraine's defense. The podcast details Trump's new strategy, including a 50-day tariff ultimatum to Russia, and assesses the long-term implications for the conflict and his strained relationship with Putin.
After the passage of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” renewable energy companies are bracing for more challenging times . The law is set to end Biden-era subsidies for clean energy, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that the industry could lose half a trillion dollars in tax incentives over the next decade. WSJ’s David Uberti reports on the renewable energy pullback. And Annie Minoff talks to a co-owner of a North Carolina-based solar-panel-installation company about what th...
