Lawmakers in the House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget resolution this week that serves as a first draft of the “big, beautiful bill” President Trump has been seeking. WSJ’s Siobhan Hughes joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss how Congress is working with Trump. Plus, we take a look at what impact recent rulings from the judicial branch might mean for Trump's agenda. Further Reading: - The Weight of Trump’s Agenda Sits on Mike Johnson’s Shoulders Further Listening: - Why Trump...
Feb 28, 2025•28 min
Paramount Global is wrestling with whether to settle President Trump’s lawsuit against its CBS unit. At the same time, the company is waiting for regulatory approval from the Trump administration for its merger with Skydance Media. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel explains. Further Reading: -CBS Owner Discusses Settling Trump Suit, With Merger Review on Tap -FCC Requests ‘60 Minutes’ Harris Interview Material as It Reviews Paramount-Skydance Merger -Paramount Executives Ask: Could They Be Sued for Settling...
Feb 27, 2025•20 min
If you landed on a flight from Europe to New York recently, you might have been an unwitting participant in a high-stakes, high-altitude gold trade. WSJ’s Joe Wallace explains what's going on with the gold market, and why gold bars have been flying commercial. Further Reading: -Why Dealers Are Flying Gold Bars by Plane From London to New York Further Listening: -Trump's Tariff Whiplash -The Underground Battle for Colombia's Richest Gold Mine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Feb 26, 2025•19 min
As the U.S. fights a persistent bird flu outbreak, the cost of eggs has skyrocketed. The owner of a brunch cafe tells us about the impact of high-priced eggs on his business and WSJ’s Patrick Thomas unpacks one possible fix that the egg industry wouldn't consider – until now. Further Reading: - Soaring Egg Prices Reignite Debate Over Bird Flu Vaccinations - At the ‘Wall Street of Eggs,’ Demand Is Surging - First Cows, Now Cats. Is Bird Flu Coming for Humans Next? Further Listening: - Bird Flu an...
Feb 25, 2025•18 min
The Trump administration is pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hand over mineral rights worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. Zelensky said a deal is possible but he wants better terms. WSJ's James Marson explains why these minerals are so valuable and what this potential deal could mean for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. Further Listening: - Trump 2.0: Shaking Up Europe - Ukraine's $30 Billion Problem Further Reading: - A Guide to U.S.-Russia Talks on Endi...
Feb 24, 2025•20 min
For decades, Germany has relied on manufacturing and exports – a model that made it the world’s third largest economy. But that model is breaking down, and the country’s leaders are offering few alternatives in the upcoming election. WSJ’s Tom Fairless and Bertrand Benoit discuss Germany’s downturn and what can be done about it. Further Reading: - Germany’s Economic Model Is Broken, and No One Has a Plan B - Why Germany’s Confidence Is Shattered and Its Economy Is Kaput Further Listening: - Trum...
Feb 21, 2025•21 min
The Trump Administration turns its focus to Europe as President Trump signals a willingness to cooperate with Russia. WSJ’s Alex Ward joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what that means for an end to the war in Ukraine. Further Reading: -Trump’s Turn to Russia Spooks U.S. Allies Who Fear a Weakened NATO -Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Signals New World Order Taking Shape Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: The Musk-Trump Bromance -R.I.P. CFPB? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
Feb 21, 2025•25 min
A controversy among YouTube influencers has led to a series of lawsuits accusing browser extensions like PayPal Honey of swiping their commissions. PayPal said it disagrees with the claims in these lawsuits and look forward to defending itself. The litigation shines a light on the sometimes murky world of affiliate marketing, a $12 billion business. Further Reading: -Creators Insist Coupon Browser Extensions Are Stealing Their Money. Will the Courts Agree? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Feb 20, 2025•24 min
In recent years, most home insurers were fleeing areas of California with high risk for wildfires. But State Farm was there, dominating the market. Then, just months before the devastating L.A. fires, the company dropped 30,000 homeowners from their books. WSJ’s Jean Eaglesham explains how the risk that State Farm unloaded is now a problem for the rest of California. Further Reading: -State Farm Was All In on California – Until it Pulled the Plug Before the Fires -Insurers’ Rule Change Puts Cali...
Feb 19, 2025•21 min
John Barnett worked at Boeing for nearly 30 years. Before he left the company, he filed a whistleblower complaint, alleging he was retaliated against for raising safety concerns. Last March, after two days of testimony, he was found dead in his truck. Police ruled his death a suicide. We tell the story of Barnett’s life, and death, as a Boeing whistleblower. Further Reading: - Boeing CEO Apologizes to MAX Crash Families, Calls Culture ‘Far From Perfect’ - The Disarray Inside Boeing’s 737 Factory...
Feb 18, 2025•44 min
We’re off for Presidents Day, but we wanted to reshare this episode.Walmart is offering higher pay, bonuses and more stock options this year to retain and attract managers. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer spent a day with one manager, Nichole Hart, to understand why the job is commanding such a high salary these days, and why Hart logs about 20,000 steps a day.This episode was originally published in May 2024. Further Reading: -A Day in the Life of a Walmart Manager Who Makes $240,000 a Year -Walmart Takes...
Feb 17, 2025•20 min
At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump suspended most U.S. foreign aid, causing vast confusion and concern around the world. One affected program was PEPFAR, the bipartisan initiative that works to fight HIV/AIDS globally. WSJ’s Nicholas Bariyo from Uganda and Michael M. Phillips from Kenya report. And we hear from Karl Hoffman, the CEO of the public health organization HealthX Partners. Further Listening: -Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart Further Reading: -Trump Aid ...
Feb 14, 2025•22 min
It’s been a busy month in D.C. for Elon Musk. WSJ’s Tim Higgins joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what Musk’s strategies as a CEO can tell us about his plans for DOGE and the federal government. Plus, we get into Trump’s relationship with the judiciary and take a question from a listener about American expansionism. Further Reading: -Musk Brings His Business Playbook to Washington: Move Fast and Claim Victory -DOGE, Musk and Trump—Our Reporters Answered Your Questions Further Listenin...
Feb 14, 2025•28 min
Dating app companies are seeing a decline in demand, so they’re looking to recruit a new matchmaker: AI. WSJ’s Belle Lin reports on Grindr’s big bet that its new AI “wingman” will help its users find love. And we talk to someone who tried it. Further Reading: - Grindr Aims to Build the Dating World’s First AI ‘Wingman’ Further Listening: - The Price of Dating Apps - ‘Love Is Blind’ Is Back. Not All the Drama Is On-Screen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 13, 2025•21 min
Netflix’s hit reality show “Love is Blind” returns this Friday with its eighth season. But behind the scenes, there is a legal battle brewing over the treatment of cast members looking for love. We spoke to a former participant and others in the industry about how this could change reality TV. Further Reading: -How ‘Love Is Blind’ Helped Netflix Crack the Reality-TV Code Further Listening: -James Bond Is Missing. He's Trapped in a Fight With Amazon. -Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensi...
Feb 12, 2025•23 min
The Trump administration's newly installed acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Russell Vought is closing the agency and has ordered staff to halt all work. WSJ’s Brian Schwartz explores what the agency does and why it’s become the next target for Trump allies like Vought and Elon Musk. Further Listening: - Trump 2.0: Less Foreign Aid, More Tariffs - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart - Trump’s Tariff Whiplash Further Reading: - CFPB to Close Office After Vought Tell...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min
Denver was named the winner of a new women’s pro soccer franchise last month, in part because it plans to build one of the first stadiums exclusively for the league. WSJ’s Rachel Bachman explains the seismic shift in women’s sports - and the big money that is coming with it. Further Reading: -The Force in Women’s Sports That’s Even More Powerful Than Caitlin Clark -No One Wanted to Finance Their Stadium. Now Every Game Is a Sellout. Further Listening: -Can the WNBA Cash in on the Caitlin Clark E...
Feb 10, 2025•20 min
If you’ve watched any professional sports this year, chances are you’ve seen ad after ad pushing parlay bets. WSJ’s Katherine Sayre explains how parlays became big business for sports betting companies. Further Listening: - How a Psychiatrist Lost $400,000 on Gambling Apps - Disney Gets Into Gambling Further Reading: - America Has Fallen in Love With Long-Shot Sports Bets - This Year’s Big NFL Winners: Fans, Not Sportsbooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 07, 2025•22 min
WSJ’s Joel Schectman joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to explore the dismantling of USAID and what it means for America’s future as a global leader. Plus, Trump's tariffs, a Gaza proposal and remaking the CIA. Further Listening: - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart - Trump’s Tariff Whiplash Further Reading: - How Trump Gutted America’s $40 Billion Aid Agency in Two Weeks - CIA Offers Buyout to Entire Workforce as Part of Trump Makeover - Democrats Have a New Leader but Haven’t C...
Feb 07, 2025•24 min
President Donald Trump wants the world's richest man, Elon Musk, to shrink the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency. And one of DOGE's first targets? USAID, the agency that focuses on foreign assistance. We talk to a USAID worker who is out of work this week and to WSJ’s Brian Schwartz about how powerful Musk and DOGE have become. Further Reading: -How Trump Gutted America’s $40 Billion Aid Agency in Two Weeks -Trump Hints at Curbs on Musk’s Powers After Billionaire...
Feb 06, 2025•26 min
Vail Resorts is the king of the mountain. But recently, the ski company has been facing issues with overcrowding and labor disputes. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle on how Vail Resorts might be a victim of its own success. Further Reading: - Vail Resorts Has an Epic Problem - Vail Resorts Shareholder Calls for Overhaul, Ouster of Executives Including CEO Further Listening: - How Target Got Off Target - A Surprise Turkey and 200 Lemons: Everyday Stories From the Pandemic Learn more about your a...
Feb 05, 2025•21 min
Today, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a major hurdle to becoming the nation's chief health officer. WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte on Kennedy’s history and the heated lead-up to a full Senate vote. Further Reading: -RFK Jr. Clears Committee Vote, Putting Him on Track to Become Health Secretary -RFK Jr. Backs Vaccines and Trump’s Agenda in Senate Testimony -How RFK Jr. Transformed From Green Hero to Vaccine Skeptic Further Listening: -Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance -PepsiCo’s New Health...
Feb 04, 2025•20 min
The White House announced wide-ranging tariffs against the U.S.'s biggest trading partners: Mexico, Canada and China. At the last minute, both Canada and Mexico negotiated a pause. WSJ’s Gavin Bade unpacks the significance of the tariffs and the latest updates. Further Reading: -Trump Slaps Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in Opening Salvo of Trade War -Trump Aides Hunt for 11th-Hour Deal to Dial Back Canada-Mexico Tariffs Further Listening: -Trump 2.0 A Whiplash on Federal Spending -Trump 2....
Feb 03, 2025•21 min
The collision of American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army helicopter is the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in 23 years. But there were warning signs. WSJ's Benjamin Katz reports on recent safety concerns about D.C.'s increasingly busy airspace and explains where the investigation goes next. Further Listening: -Your Flight Delay Is Probably New York's Fault Further Reading: -How a Plane and a Helicopter Collided in a Crowded Airspace Around Reagan Airport -Washington’s Jam-Packed Airspa...
Jan 31, 2025•21 min
Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball round up the week’s news including nomination hearings, inspectors general firings and the airplane crash in D.C. Plus, they speak to WSJ’s Washington coverage chief Damian Paletta about the administration's freeze on potentially trillions of dollars in government financial assistance. Further Listening: - Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term - Trump’s Immigration Overhaul Further Reading: - White House Budget Freeze Tried to Flip Script on Busted Budget Process -...
Jan 31, 2025•26 min
In 2021, President Donald Trump sued Meta after his accounts were suspended in the wake of the January 6 riot. WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus explains why Mark Zuckerberg agreed to settle for $25 million yesterday. Further Reading: - Meta to Pay $25 Million to Settle 2021 Trump Lawsuit - Meta Ends Fact-Checking on Facebook, Instagram in Free-Speech Pitch - ABC News to Pay $15 Million to Settle Donald Trump Defamation Lawsuit Further Listening: - Corporate America's Embrace of Trump 2.0 - The End of Face...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min
Last week, the Chinese company DeepSeek debuted a new AI model -- and overturned years of conventional wisdom about what it takes to build great AI. The shock unleashed a $1 trillion bloodbath on Wall Street. WSJ’s Stu Woo and WSJ’s Gunjan Banerji unpack DeepSeek's achievement and the market chaos it unleashed. Further Reading: -How China’s DeepSeek Outsmarted America -The Day DeepSeek Turned Tech and Wall Street Upside Down Further Listening: -The Company Behind Chat GPT -The Hidden Workforce T...
Jan 29, 2025•22 min
Some of the world’s most prominent names in technology are pledging billions to build artificial-intelligence infrastructure in the U.S. in a joint venture called Stargate. Notably missing? Microsoft. WSJ’s Tom Dotan explains how the partnership that launched the AI boom has deteriorated. Further Reading: - Tech Leaders Pledge up to $500 Billion in AI Investment in U.S. - OpenAI’s Stargate Deal Heralds Shift Away From Microsoft - Musk Pours Cold Water on Trump-Backed Stargate AI Project Further ...
Jan 28, 2025•22 min
President Donald Trump has wasted no time in dismantling DEI programs in the federal government and pressuring private companies to do the same. As WSJ's Chip Cutter reports, Trump’s actions could reshape corporate America. Further Listening: - Corporate America's Embrace of Trump 2.0 - One Man’s Campaign Against DEI Further Reading: - How Trump’s Assault on DEI Will Ripple Across Corporate America - Why Costco Isn’t Joining the Backlash Against DEI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
Jan 27, 2025•20 min
An iconic chain that became known for its fun cocktails and family dining, TGI Fridays has seen a sharp decline in recent years, leading to a bankruptcy filing in November. WSJ’s Heather Haddon explains the company’s unraveling and a former CEO talks about his plans to keep the chain alive. Further Listening: - Red Lobster's New CEO Plots Its Comeback - McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both? Further Reading: - The Epic Mess at TGI Fridays - TGI Fridays Ex-CEO Blanchette to ...
Jan 24, 2025•22 min
