Gunmen of the Gulf Clan, a drug-trafficking militia in Colombia, are seizing tunnels inside one of the largest gold motherlodes in Latin America. The mine belongs to Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese company, which says it has surrendered nearly two-thirds of its tunnels and lost an estimated $200 million worth of gold in 2023. WSJ's Juan Forero reports. This episode has been updated to include comment from the Gulf Clan. Further Reading: -A Drug Gang Stole 3 Tons of Gold in a Scam So Perfect It’s S...
Jan 02, 2025•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. This series was originally published in October. Further Listening:- Episode 2: The Affair - Apple | Spotify - Episode 3: The Downfall - Apple | Spotify We'll be back with something new on January 2. Lear...
Dec 30, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994 to moderate success. Today, the song is a megahit and Christmas playlist staple. What happened? WSJ's John Jurgensen called up the "Queen of Christmas" to find out. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2020.We'll return with something new on January 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast James Bond is one of Hollywood's most famous characters. So when Amazon bought the rights to distribute Bond, executives had big plans for the brand’s intellectual property. But so far, Amazon hasn't made a single Bond movie. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel takes us inside the feud that’s tying up the franchise. Further Reading: -Where Is James Bond? Trapped in an Ugly Stalemate With Amazon Further Listening: -Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on 'Wicked' -Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows...
Dec 20, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The killing of a top health insurance executive outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel this month triggered an outpouring of public anger at private health insurance companies. WSJ’s Julie Wernau reports that many doctors are among the aggrieved. And two doctors explain how dealing with health insurers is getting worse. Further Listening: - The Suspect in the UnitedHealth Killing Further Reading: - Doctors Say Dealing With Health Insurers Is Only Getting Worse - Clues Left by a Killer Echo Widespread...
Dec 19, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry. Further Listening: -The Rise of the Tween Shopper -Inside One Pu...
Dec 18, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast After nearly a decade and $10 billion in development, General Motors is ending its robotaxi program. WSJ’s Christopher Otts explains why Cruise wasn’t working for the legacy car company. Further Reading: -General Motors Scraps Cruise Robotaxi Program -GM’s Self-Driving Car Unit Skids Off Course Further Listening: -How Waymo Won Over San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Intel—the company whose chips were “inside” your ‘90s desktops—has fallen behind in recent years. Now, the CEO hired to turn things around is suddenly out. WSJ’s Asa Fitch explains how the once-dominant chip brand lost its edge. Further Reading: - He Was Going to Save Intel. He Destroyed $150 Billion of Value Instead. - Intel Co-CEOs Outline Strategy Following Pat Gelsinger’s Ouster Further Listening: - America’s Answer to the Chip Shortage - Why Washington Went to Wall Street to Revive the Chip...
Dec 16, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since the war in Ukraine began, strange attacks have been happening across Europe, including a plot to set DHL packages on fire. WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski on Russia’s escalating shadow war in Europe. Further Reading: -Chinese Ship’s Crew Suspected of Deliberately Dragging Anchor for 100 Miles to Cut Baltic Cables -Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes -The Misfits Russia Is Recruiting to Spy on the West Further Listening: -Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations with ...
Dec 13, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, a federal judge blocked a proposed $20-billion merger between the U.S.’s two largest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons. WSJ’s Patrick Thomas reports on what happened in the trial, why the two chains turned on one another and what’s next for the grocery business. Further Listening: - The Fight for 7-Eleven - Why the FTC is Challenging a $25 Billion Supermarket Merger Further Reading: - Albertsons Sues Kroger, Terminates Merger After Judge Blocks Supermarket Megadeal - Kroger-Al...
Dec 12, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week, the price of Bitcoin reached $100,000 per coin, an all-time-high as President-elect Donald Trump promises his administration will be crypto-friendly. WSJ’s Alexander Osipovich breaks down the outlook for cryptocurrency. Further Reading: -Bitcoin Hits $100,000, Lifted by Hopes of a Crypto-Friendly Washington -Crypto Players Celebrate SEC Pick, Bitcoin Touches $100,000 Further Listening: -Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance -Coinbase’s CEO on the Future of Crypto Learn more about your ad c...
Dec 11, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a manhunt lasting nearly a week, authorities have arrested and charged a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson. WSJ’s Joshua Chaffin unpacks what we know about the alleged killer, his possible motivations, and the public rage that has bubbled up as the search continued. Further Reading: - Suspect in UnitedHealth Killing Was Ivy Leaguer With Anticapitalist Leanings - Manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer Meets Unexpected Obstacle: Sympathy for the Gunman - Murder...
Dec 10, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast After decades of brutal dictatorship in Syria, the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell in a matter of days. WSJ’s Yaroslav Trofimov reports on the rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani and how regional players are responding to political change in Syria. Further Listening: - What the Ceasefire in Lebanon Means for the Middle East - Ten Days That Shifted Power in Syria Further Reading: - The 11-Day Blitz by Syrian Rebels That Ended 50 Years of Assad Rule - Assad’s Downfall Marks a New Realignment in th...
Dec 09, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 
