For the past two years, tech billionaire Elon Musk has been having regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin. WSJ’s Thomas Grove reports on what we know about the nature of their conversations and why that contact raises potential national security concerns for some in the current administration. Further Reading: - Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin - Musk Says He Thwarted Attack on Russian Fleet in Ukraine’s Crimea Further Listening: - Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret...
Oct 28, 2024•18 min
Hans Zimmer, Academy Award-winning composer, and Golnar Khosrowshahi, CEO of Reservoir Media, discuss AI in the music industry, why human creation is still unique and whether or not Zimmer approves of “The Journal” theme music. Further Listening: -Artificial: The OpenAI Story -When AI Comes for Your Art Further Reading: -Hans Zimmer, Movie Maestro -Music Labels Take On AI Startups With New Lawsuits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2024•25 min
Five undecided voters in swing states speak to Rachel Humphreys about how they're feeling as election day looms. Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack the stakes. Plus, will betting markets predict the winner? Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage - How Betting on U.S. Politics Is Getting Big Further Reading: - Trump Takes Narrow Lead Over Harris in Closing Weeks of Race - Meet the Traders Making Money Off the Trump Shooting and Biden’s Stumbl...
Oct 25, 2024•29 min
Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, was arrested and charged with running an international sex-trafficking ring. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar describes the alleged crimes and the potential fallout for the company. Further Reading: -Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Is Arrested, Charged in Sex-Trafficking Case Further Listening: -The Resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch -JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Oct 24, 2024•18 min
Across the country, elections officials are bracing for a potentially contentious election day. At the same time, a network of conservative election integrity groups are preparing to challenge the result. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus reports on the billionaire-funded effort to contest the election, and WSJ's Jim Carlton reports how Maricopa County, Arizona is preparing for the worst. Further Reading: -The Secretive Billionaire Network Funding ‘Stop the Steal’ 2.0 -‘It Feels Very Dystopian.’ Republican...
Oct 23, 2024•21 min
For 17 days last year, unidentified drones swarmed an area in Virginia that is home to a military base and other sensitive intelligence sites. WSJ’s Gordon Lubold looked into why it was so difficult for U.S. officials to stop them. Further Reading: -Mystery Drones Swarmed a U.S. Military Base for 17 Days. The Pentagon Is Stumped. Further Listening: -How Ukraine Built a Weapon to Control the Black Sea -Cheap Drones Are Transforming the Battlefield Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Oct 22, 2024•18 min
Clouds are gathering over the Sunshine State’s housing market. Especially along the state’s Gulf Coast, housing inventory is up and buyer interest is slowing. WSJ’s Deborah Acosta talks through the cooling-off of one of America’s biggest housing booms and what it says about what it means to live in Florida now. Further Listening: - Is Asheville No Longer a 'Climate Haven? - Years After Surfside Collapse, Florida Condos Are In Crisis Further Reading: - The Great Florida Migration Is Coming Undone...
Oct 21, 2024•19 min
Last year, China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, suddenly disappeared. Qin was a rising star in Chinese politics and a protegé of China’s strongman leader, Xi Jinping. In the first episode of our three-part investigation, we chart Qin’s rise and begin to untangle the mystery of his disappearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2024•31 min
In the second episode of our investigation, we examine the life and career of Fu Xiaotian: the prominent Chinese TV host who had an affair with Qin Gang. Like Qin, Fu was sharp and ambitious, but her high-flying career would come to an abrupt halt. And like Qin, she would also mysteriously disappear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2024•28 min
In our final episode, we get a break in the case of the missing minister: According to our sources, Chinese officials were told that Qin disappeared due to an explosive allegation. We dig into that story and its consequences for Fu and for Qin – Xi Jinping’s trusted aide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2024•27 min
With millions of votes already cast, the race is on for each campaign to get their supporters to the polls. Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball about the different strategies Trump and Harris are taking, and why election denial is such a big issue in Arizona. Plus, Rachel Humphreys speaks to a Gen Z Voter. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? Foreign Policy and the Rise of Donald Trump Jr. - Red, White and Who? Veep Veep! All Eyes on Vance and Walz Further Readi...
Oct 18, 2024•26 min
Lilly Ledbetter, equal pay trailblazer, died on Saturday. WSJ’s Joseph De Avila reports on how Ledbetter faced pay discrimination at her job and sued her employer, taking her case all the way to the Supreme Court. And WSJ’s Lauren Weber discusses the persistence of the gender pay gap. Further Reading: -Fair-Wage Advocate Lilly Ledbetter Dies at 86 -Data Show Gender Pay Gap Opens Early Further Listening: -The TikTok That Changed College Hoops -What Corporate America Can Learn From Coke’s Reckonin...
Oct 17, 2024•22 min
Investigators say that Arion Kurtaj’s life in cybercrime began at age 11, and ultimately led to his participation in the hacks of major companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how Kurtaj’s case has brought worries about a new breed of fearless young hackers. Further Reading: -This Teenage Hacker Became a Legend Attacking Companies. Then His Rivals Attacked Him. -Hackers Leaked ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Footage, Rockstar Games Says Further Listening: -Hack Me If You Ca...
Oct 16, 2024•20 min
Over the summer, an outbreak of listeria in Boar’s Head products killed 10 people and sickened dozens more. In the months after the crisis, the family that runs the company has said little. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer dug through court documents to piece together a decades-long story of a family fighting over ownership of a deli meat empire. Further Reading: - Inside the Half-Century Feud Dividing the Boar’s Head Family - Boar’s Head Closing Virginia Factory Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak Further Lis...
Oct 15, 2024•22 min
TD Bank’s U.S. entity pleaded guilty and agreed to pay more than $3 billion in penalties, acknowledging it failed to properly monitor money laundering by drug cartels and other criminal groups. WSJ’s Dylan Tokar unpacks the investigation that led to such a historic deal. Further Listening: -The Suitcases Full of Cash Flowing Through Airports Further Reading: -TD Bank Agrees to $3 Billion in Penalties and Growth Restrictions in U.S. Settlement -TD Pays Hefty Penalties as Prosecutors Detail Nearly...
Oct 11, 2024•21 min
Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball explore what we know about both candidates’ approach to foreign policy. Plus, Molly shares what she learned about the future of MAGA from an interview with Donald Trump Jr. and JD Vance. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? Veep Veep! All Eyes on Vance and Walz - Red, White and Who? It's Always the Economy! Further Reading: - How Donald Trump Jr. Became the Crown Prince of MAGA World - JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the R...
Oct 11, 2024•25 min
The U.S. budget deficit topped $1.8 trillion in the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, both candidates for president are proposing plans that would increase the deficit for years to come. WSJ’s Richard Rubin explains how the deficit got so large and why the candidates don’t talk about it. Further Listening: -The Economy: Trump vs. Harris -The Clock Is Ticking on the Debt Ceiling Further Reading: -Federal Deficit Hit $1.8 Trillion for 2024, CBO Says -Federal Debt Is Soaring. Here’s Why Trump and Harris...
Oct 10, 2024•20 min
Elon Musk's financial support for Republican causes has been much more extensive and started earlier than previously known. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports on Musk’s rightward political shift and explains how he hid his donations. Further Listening: - Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Turn Towards Trump Further Reading: - Elon Musk Gave Tens of Millions to Republican Causes Far Earlier Than Previously Known - Inside Elon Musk’s Hands-On Push to Win 800,000 Voters for Trump - How Elon Musk Broke With Bide...
Oct 09, 2024•21 min
WSJ reporting has revealed a major cyberattack from a group tied to the Chinese government. Hackers penetrated the networks of several broadband providers and gained access to the U.S. domestic wiretapping system. Dustin Volz unpacks what the attack could mean for national security. Further Listening: - ‘Hack Me If You Can’ - Hacking the Hackers Further Reading: - U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack - Chinese-Linked Hackers Breach U.S. Internet Providers in New ‘Salt Typhoon’ Cybe...
Oct 08, 2024•18 min
Asheville, North Carolina, was thriving until floodwaters and heavy wind from Hurricane Helene ripped through the region and destroyed large parts of the city's commercial districts. We talk to two business owners who are trying to figure out what comes next. Further Reading: -The Hurricane That Threatens to Sink Asheville’s Feel-Good Success -North Carolina in Crisis Mode as Helene Rescues Continue Further Listening: -Hot, Dry and Booming: A Texas Climate Case Study -‘Everything Is Gone’ — One ...
Oct 07, 2024•22 min
Last month, Microsoft and Constellation Energy announced a deal to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, the site of the country’s worst nuclear power accident. WSJ’s Jennifer Hiller reports that the goal is to power the tech giant’s growing artificial intelligence ambitions. Further Listening: - Artificial: The OpenAI Story - Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's Big Bet on AI Further Reading: - Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Plant to Reopen, Help Power Microsoft’s AI Centers Learn more about your ad ...
Oct 04, 2024•22 min
The vice-presidential candidates took center stage at a debate this week. Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball about the important takeaways, and Rachel Humphreys speaks to a listener about why she’s thinking about climate change this election. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? It's Always the Economy! - Red, White and Who? Why Ohio Could Decide the Senate Further Reading: - JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real Thing Learn more about your ad cho...
Oct 04, 2024•25 min
Under CEO John Donahoe, Nike pulled away from retailers and ramped up production of its classic sneaker lines. Now sales have plummeted, the company has lost market share to competitors and Donahoe is stepping down. WSJ's Inti Pacheco discusses what went wrong. Further Reading: -Nike CEO John Donahoe Stepping Down After Rocky Tenure -How Nike Missed the Boom in Running Culture -Nike Reverses Course as Innovation Stalls and Rivals Gain Ground Further Listening: -Nike’s Sneaky Sneaker Thieves -How...
Oct 03, 2024•21 min
Israel is now fighting on multiple fronts, after clashing with Hezbollah in Lebanon and sustaining Iranian strikes yesterday. WSJ’s Michael Amon explains the growing risk of an all-out regional war. Further Reading: - Israel Clashes With Hezbollah in Lebanon - Israeli Response to Iran’s Attack to Set Course of Widening War - Israeli Review Shows Minor Damage From Iran’s Missile Barrage Further Listening: - Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading War - The Brutal Calculation of Hamas’s Leade...
Oct 02, 2024•21 min
In less than two years, OpenAI—the company behind ChatGPT—has gone from a little-known nonprofit lab to a world-famous organization at the forefront of an artificial intelligence revolution. But the company has faced a series of challenges, culminating last week in another high-profile departure and the decision to become a for-profit corporation. WSJ’s Deepa Seetharaman discusses the permanent change to OpenAI's ethos and what it could mean for the AI industry. Further Listening: - Artificial: ...
Oct 01, 2024•24 min
The Department of Justice is taking Visa, the largest card network in the U.S., to court, accusing the company of illegally monopolizing the debit card market. WSJ's Angel Au-Yeung breaks down the Justice Department's allegations. Further Listening: - The Unusual Economics of the Bilt Credit Card - The Deal That Could Change Credit Cards - The Trustbuster Taking on Ticketmaster Further Reading: - Justice Department Sues Visa, Alleges Illegal Monopoly in Debit-Card Payments - Google Faces Blockbu...
Sep 30, 2024•20 min
The mayor of America’s largest city likes to say he’s been “rejected, arrested and then elected.” Now, he’s been indicted. WSJ’s Jimmy Vielkind unpacks the unprecedented federal foreign bribery case against Eric Adams. Further Listening: -Gold Bars, Cash and a Mercedes: A U.S. Senator's Corruption Trial Further Reading: -Inside the Eric Adams Indictment -After the Eric Adams Indictment, What’s Next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2024•24 min
After two big economic speeches this week, Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball discuss the candidates’ different economic strategies. Plus, voting has begun! We explore mail in voting and its impact on this election! Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? Playlist - Red, White and Who? Why Ohio Could Decide the Senate - Red, White and Who? A Swing-State Debate Further Reading: - Harris Puts Government Intervention at Heart of Economic Policy - Trump Says Plan Will Convince Foreign Companies to Shift J...
Sep 27, 2024•26 min
Milton Magnus, an Alabama businessman who runs one of the last makers of wire hangers in the U.S., has waged a decades-long tariff battle against Chinese manufacturers to try to stay afloat. We hear from Magnus and we talk to Chao Deng about th e effectiveness of tariffs as the trade tool becomes more popular with politicians. Further Listening: -Why China Is Risking a Trade War -The Fight Over U.S. Steel and the Community Caught in the Middle Further Reading: -The Family Business in Alabama Tha...
Sep 26, 2024•21 min
Former president Donald Trump wants to be the crypto president. With stops at a bitcoin conference and a bitcoin-themed bar, Trump is tapping into an industry that’s eager to support a crypto-friendly candidate. WSJ’s Vicky Huang explains how Trump and the crypto industry have cozied up ahead of the 2024 election. Further Reading: - Trump Hitches His Campaign to the Crypto Crowd - That Time Donald Trump Walked Into a Bar and Bought a Round Using Bitcoin - The Crypto Industry Is Trying to Elect P...
Sep 25, 2024•21 min
