Recently, a slew of states and even the federal government have banned the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from government-issued devices, citing national security concerns. WSJ's Stu Woo explains what's going on. Further Reading: - TikTok Wins a Vote in South Dakota - TikTok Ban Debate Moves From Washington to Main Street - TikTok Security Dilemma Revives Push for U.S. Control Further Listening: - How TikTok Became the World’s Favorite App - Teens Are Developing Tics. Doctors Say TikTok M...
Jan 06, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast For days, the House of Representatives has been at a standstill. A group of conservative lawmakers continues to block Rep. Kevin McCarthy's path to become Speaker of the House. WSJ’s Natalie Andrews explains why some Republicans opposed McCarthy, and what it could take for them to be swayed. Further Reading: -Full Coverage of the Speaker Vote Further Listening: -Why the Red Wave Didn’t Happen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 05, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Severe winter weather impacted a lot of airlines this holiday season. But only one canceled more than 70% of its flights: Southwest. WSJ’s Alison Sider explains how the airline found itself at the center of one of the worst travel breakdowns in years. Further Reading: -How Southwest Airlines Melted Down -Southwest Says It Maintains Normal Schedule as Airline Processes Bags, Refunds -Southwest Airlines Cancellations Continue Further Listening: -While Airlines Shrink, Southwest Goes Big -How One A...
Jan 04, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last year, inflation hit a 40-year high, dealing a big blow to many consumers. On the other hand, unemployment was low and many workers saw wage gains. WSJ reporters Gwynn Guilford and Rachel Wolfe unpack the confusing currents in the 2022 economy and what to expect this year. Further Reading: - Inflation Takes Biggest Bite From Middle-Income Households - Baking Supplies Cost a Lot More This Year. But That Flat-Screen TV Got Cheaper. - Big Banks Predict Recession, Fed Pivot in 2023 Further Liste...
Jan 03, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re taking a break until 2023. Ryan and Kate and the rest of the team wish you happy holidays as we bring back this Christmas classic. In 1994, Mariah Carey released “All I Want for Christmas is You” to moderate success. Today, the song is a megahit. What happened? WSJ’s John Jurgensen called up the “Queen of Christmas” to find out. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2020. The Journal will return Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Dec 26, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two years after launching, Cerebral had become a star in the telemedicine business space. The company had attracted tens of thousands of patients and was valued at close to $5 billion. CEO Kyle Robertson had big plans for the startup, but this spring, those plans started to crumble. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler and Khadeeja Safdar started reporting on Cerebral. Their reporting would lead to federal investigations and major changes for the company. Further Reading: - The Failed Promise of Online Mental-He...
Dec 22, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Anthony Kroll was 17 years old. Too young to have been a Cerebral patient, according to company policy. Too young to get mental-health treatment without his parents’ consent in his home state of Missouri. So how did a minor end up getting a prescription for an antidepressant that required an explicit warning for young adults? What was Cerebral treating him for? And why weren’t Anthony’s parents informed? In Part 3 of Uncontrolled Substances, WSJ reporter Khadeeja Safdar investigates what happene...
Dec 21, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, the state wanted to create a more diverse cannabis industry. But three years on, only a handful of Black and minority entrepreneurs have been able to open businesses. WSJ reporter Vipal Monga explains why and we hear from one entrepreneur who is hoping to open his dispensary in Chicago after years of setbacks. Further Reading: - Efforts to Make Legal Cannabis Industry Equitable Are Falling Flat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Dec 20, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Bob Iger stepped down as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, he continued to wield influence as executive chairman. His successor in the corner office, Bob Chapek, begrudged Iger’s active role. WSJ’s Joe Flint explains how tensions mounted between the two men and led to a corporate coup that shook Hollywood. Further Reading: -Bob Iger vs. Bob Chapek: Inside the Disney Coup Further Listening: -How Disney’s CEO Got Caught in Florida’s Fight Over Gay Rights -Why Florida is Fighting with Walt Disne...
Dec 19, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast After some early struggles, Cerebral hit on a lucrative new avenue for growth: prescribing controlled substances. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler investigates how one tightly regulated medicine – Adderall – became crucial to Cerebral’s business. Some former employees take us inside the move into controlled substances and describe feeling pressured by the company to prescribe regulated medications. Cerebral denies pressuring employees and says it has helped many people get access to much-needed care. Further...
Dec 16, 2022•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk has been changing Twitter’s rules about speech and safety since he took over the company. WSJ’s Alexa Corse explains how Twitter's content moderation has evolved since the acquisition. Further Reading: -Elon Musk’s Twitter Barbs Have New Magnitude -Twitter’s New Head of Trust and Safety Says Platform Wants to Move Quickly -Twitter Suspends Accounts Sharing Live Locations, Including the Tracker of Elon Musk’s Private Jet Further Listening: -Elon Musk's 'Extremely Hardcore' Twitter -Why ...
Dec 15, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast For more than 20 years, Apple has relied on China to produce a majority of its products, especially its iPhones. But there have also been issues. As WSJ’s Aaron Tilley reports, recent turmoil at Chinese manufacturing facilities is disrupting Apple’s business and forcing the company to look elsewhere. Further Reading: -Apple Makes Plans to Move Production Out of China -Foxconn Letter Prodded China to Ease Zero-Covid Rules Further Listening: -China’s Biggest Protests in Decades -How Jiang Zemin Ma...
Dec 14, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast About a month after his crypto exchange firm FTX collapsed, Sam Bankman-Fried has been arrested. Federal prosecutors have charged the self-appointed crypto savior with eight counts of fraud and conspiracy, and two regulatory agencies are suing him. WSJ’s Alexander Osipovich unpacks the charges. Further Reading: - FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried Charged With Criminal Fraud, Conspiracy - Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Arrested in Bahamas Further Listening: - ‘Do You Expect to Go to Prison?’: An Intervie...
Dec 13, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the last two months, Russian airstrikes on Ukraine’s power grid have caused prolonged blackouts across the country. Now, millions of people are living without reliable electricity, water and heat. WSJ’s Ian Lovett and a cafe owner in Kyiv on life without power. Further Reading: -Russia Unleashes Its Biggest Barrage of Strikes on Ukraine Since Invasion -Kyiv Power Cuts Bring Cold Food, Scheduled Vacuuming, Struggling Businesses -Russia Says Strikes on Ukraine’s Infrastructure Aimed at Slowing...
Dec 12, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cerebral is a startup that set out to provide access to mental-health services and wound up under federal investigation. WSJ's Rolfe Winkler and Khadeeja Safdar take us back to the origins of the company, exploring the ideas that laid the foundation for explosive growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 09, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk’s Boring Company hasn’t done much to alleviate “soul-destroying traffic” despite its initial promises to several cities. We talk with WSJ’s Ted Mann about what's behind Boring's poor track record and with a transportation official in California about what Musk promised her county. Further Reading: -Elon Musk’s Boring Company Ghosts Cities Across America Further Listening: -Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Is Losing Advertisers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 08, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In September, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the morality police, who arrested her for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code. Afterwards, protests erupted across the country. WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen explains how the death of one woman has led to calls to overthrow the government. Further Reading and Watching: -Iran Protesters Seek End of an Islamic Republic Pillar—the Morality Police -Iran Disbands Morality Police, Considers Changing Hijab Laws, Official Says -Iran’s Shopkeepers Str...
Dec 07, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam Bankman-Fried is the founder and ex-CEO of FTX, the crypto exchange that recently filed for bankruptcy. WSJ reporter Alexander Osipovich sat down with him to talk about what happened and how $8 billion of customer money went missing. Further Reading: -FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Says He Can’t Account for Billions Sent to Alameda Further Listening: -The Fall of Crypto’s Golden Boy -How Crypto Giant FTX Suddenly Imploded Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 06, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cerebral was a buzzy Silicon Valley startup that set out to transform mental-health services in the U.S. In just a couple of years, the company attracted thousands of patients, raised hundreds of millions of dollars and partnered with star Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. But some people who worked at Cerebral say that, along the way, the company's focus on growth interfered with patient care. And now, Cerebral is under federal investigation. Cerebral says it provided high-quality care to thousands...
Dec 06, 2022•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Major freight railroads and unions have been locked in a labor dispute for years. But last Friday, President Biden signed a bill passed by Congress forcing a deal onto both parties. We talk to WSJ’s Esther Fung about why a rail strike would have been devastating, and a railroad signalman lays out what the deal means for him. Further Reading: -A Potential Rail Strike Looms. Here’s What to Know. -Biden Signs Legislation Preventing Railroad Strike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Dec 05, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin died this week at 96. As WSJ’s Charles Hutzler explains, Jiang was known for policies that guided China towards a market-oriented economy, but also for being uncompromising on challenges to the Communist Party. Further Reading: -Jiang Zemin, Who Steered China Into New Era, Dies at 96 Further Listening: -China’s Biggest Protests in Decades -How Xi Jinping’s Dream Slowed China’s Economy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 02, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Anthony Fauci - the U.S. Chief Medical Advisor - is retiring after more than 50 years of government service. We speak to him about the biggest challenges in his career and if he believes Covid is behind us. Further Reading -Anthony Fauci to Step Down After More Than 50 Years of Government Service Further Listening -Dr. Anthony Fauci on Omicron and the Covid-19 Stalemate -Anthony Fauci: Delta Variant Has 'Exposed Our Vulnerability' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Dec 01, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Beyond Meat, the maker of plant-based meat alternatives, has been a darling of the food startup world. In 2019, it had one of the most successful initial public offerings by a major company in more than two decades. But now sales are down, its stock is slumping and its workforce is shrinking, WSJ's Jesse Newman unpacks Beyond's problems. Further Reading: -Beyond Meat’s Very Real Problems: Slumping Sausages, Mounting Losses -Beyond Meat Reports Weak Sales and Mounting Losses Further Listening: -O...
Nov 30, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast After years of strict Covid restrictions, people are taking to the streets in cities across China. But they’re not just protesting zero-Covid, they’re voicing displeasure with Xi Jinping himself. WSJ’s Brian Spegele gives us an inside view of the protests rocking China. Further Reading: -China’s Surveillance State Pushes Deeper Into Citizens’ Lives -Much of China Locks Down With No End to Zero Covid in Sight -Chinese Protests Spread Over Government’s Covid Restrictions Further Listening: -How Xi...
Nov 29, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In recent months, Russia has ramped up its use of drones in its war on Ukraine. As Ukrainian analysts have begun dissecting some of the unmanned aircraft, they’ve uncovered a complex web of suppliers. WSJ’s Ian Talley explains. Further Reading: -Ukrainian Analysis Identifies Western Supply Chain Behind Iran’s Drones -Iran Acknowledges Supplying Drones to Russia Further Listening: -Iran’s Secret System to Avoid Sanctions -Ukraine Makes a Deal with Wall Street Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Nov 28, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since Elon Musk bought Twitter four weeks ago, thousands of employees have been laid off, fired or decided to leave the company. WSJ's Alexa Corse explains what the company's leaner staff could mean for the platform. Further Reading: -Elon Musk Tells Twitter Staff to Work ‘Long Hours at High Intensity’ or Leave -Twitter’s Mass Resignations Test Elon Musk’s Management Playbook -Twitter Lays Off Some Sales Employees After They Committed to Twitter 2.0 Further Listening: -Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Is...
Nov 23, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Inflation is driving American consumers to pinch pennies, and Walmart is taking note. The retailing giant says its customers are increasingly price-conscious. WSJ's Sarah Nassauer says to keep prices low, Walmart is flexing its muscles with suppliers. Further Reading: -Walmart Sales Rise as Retail Giant Gains Shoppers -Walmart Is Flexing Its Muscle Again -Holiday Sales Growth Expected to Slow This Year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast One of the biggest sports events of the year began yesterday in Qatar, but there have been a lot of bumps along the way. From the abuse of stadium construction workers to a ban on beer – WSJ's Joshua Robinson on the controversies surrounding Qatar’s World Cup. Further Reading: -World Cup Brings Two Million Visitors and an Epic Culture Clash to Qatar -Qatar Wanted to Host the World Cup. First It Needed a Soccer Team. Further Listening: -We Came To Win: The Escape Learn more about your ad choices....
Nov 21, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Millions of Taylor Swift fans tried unsuccessfully to buy advance tickets for her Eras Tour, Swift’s first in five years. And after overwhelming demand throttled Ticketmaster’s website, a public sale of tickets has been called off. WSJ's Anne Steele explains what happened and why Ticketmaster is getting heat. Further Reading: -Taylor Swift Says It Was ‘Excruciating’ to Watch Ticketmaster Debacle -Taylor Swift Cancels Ticket Sale After Earlier Glitches -Taylor Swift’s Concert Ticket Sales Plagued...
Nov 18, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast For decades, investing in a mix of stocks and bonds was one of the safest ways to save for retirement. But this year, that strategy has stopped working. WSJ’s Akane Otani breaks down the unique market conditions of today’s economy that are causing so much pain for retirees. Further Reading: -The Classic 60-40 Investment Strategy Falls Apart. ‘There’s No Place to Hide.’ Further Listening: -How High Will Interest Rates Go? -Will There Be a Recession? America’s Top Bankers Weigh In Learn more about...
Nov 17, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
