Yellow, a nearly century-old trucking company and a major player in the American logistics industry, hit the brakes on operations and told its workers it plans to file for bankruptcy. WSJ’s Paul Page says Yellow’s financial woes have been decades in the making. FURTHER READING: - Trucking Giant Yellow Shuts Down Operations - Why Trucking Giant Yellow’s Shutdown Could Cost Taxpayers Money FURTHER LISTENING: - How the White House Blocked a Rail Strike - The Supply Chain Saga at One Port Learn more...
Aug 04, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Allbirds shot to fame with eco-friendly wool sneakers, leaning on its popularity to pursue a hyperfast growth model. But after a series of missteps, the startup that was once a cultural symbol of cool is now a standout example of a hot company that lost its way. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner documents the rise and fall of the brand. Further Reading: - How Allbirds Lost its Way Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 03, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former President Donald Trump will appear in court tomorrow on charges related to his efforts to reverse his 2020 election defeat, which prompted his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman discusses the indictment and WSJ’s Alex Leary explains what Trump's legal challenges could mean for his campaign war chest and his presidential campaign.Further Reading: -Trump Is Indicted in Federal Probe of His Efforts to Reverse 2020 Election -Indict, Rally, Repeat: Reacti...
Aug 02, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s tough to find existing homes for sale these days. High mortgage rates are dissuading potential sellers. WSJ’s Nicole Friedman on a rare bright spot for house hunters: brand-new construction. Further Reading: -Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell, So the Market for Brand-New Homes Is Booming -The Home Buyer’s Quandary: Nobody’s Selling Further Listening: -The Zombie Mortgages Stalking American Homeowners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 01, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallinckrodt, one of the country's largest opioid makers, is considering a plan to get out of paying more than $1 billion in settlement money to opioid victims. WSJ's Alexander Saeedy explains. Further Reading: - Hedge Funds Seek to Cut Off $1 Billion Meant for Opioid Victims Further Listening: - Purdue’s $4.5 Billion Opioid Settlement Got Thrown Out. Now What? - Two Days of Reckoning For Opioid Makers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Amid Hollywood’s biggest strike in 60 years, WSJ’s Amol Sharma dons his investigator’s hat to find out who’s to blame for the standstill. Further Reading: - Streaming Brought Hollywood to a Standstill. Now Comes the Pain. - TV’s Golden Era Proved Costly to Streamers Further Listening: - One Hollywood Writer on the Industry’s ‘Dire’ Situation - Why ‘Yellowstone’ Is One of TV’s Most Expensive Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk says he’s turning X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, into an “everything app,” an all in one place for messaging, entertainment and banking. WSJ’s Tim Higgins unpacks the vision and the hurdles ahead for Musk and his company. Further Reading: - Why Elon Musk’s Plan for a Super App Won’t Be Easy in America - Elon Musk’s X Rebrand Cues Complications—and Porn Jokes Further Listening: - Elon Musk is Actually Buying Twitter - Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Is Losing Advertiser...
Jul 27, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Justice Department announced a plea deal with Hunter Biden over two tax charges last month. But a hearing today didn't go as expected. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman on the latest twist in the legal case and what it means for President Biden ahead of next year's election. Further Reading: - Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Tax Charges - Where Are Republicans’ Biden Probes Headed, and Is Impeachment Possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates again on Wednesday. The question is: Will this be enough to finally tame inflation? WSJ’s Nick Timiraos tells us about the fight between two camps of economists who are at odds about what will help – or hurt – the economy. Further Reading: -Why the Fed Isn’t Ready to Declare Victory on Inflation -The Real Fed Debate This Month: What Would Prompt a Rate Hike This Fall -Last Mile of the Inflation Fight Will Be the Hardest Further listening: -...
Jul 25, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast For two years, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has inundated the U.S.-Mexico border with thousands of state troopers and National Guardsmen and started work on a state-controlled border wall. He also built a new skeleton justice system with its own courts, judges and jails to lodge misdemeanor state trespassing charges against migrants. WSJ’s Elizabeth Findell discusses Operatio n Lone Star and whether or not it’s been successful. Further Reading: - Texas Spent Billions on Border Security. It’...
Jul 24, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast "Barbie," the highly anticipated movie based on the iconic doll, hits theaters this weekend. But making the movie didn't come without challenges. We spoke with the head of Mattel Films, Robbie Brenner, about the creative push and pull to make the movie, whether it can be called a "feminist film," and Mattel's plans to open up its toy chest for more movies. Further Reading: - ‘Barbie’ Review: Beyond Her Ken - World’s Strangest Double Feature: ‘Barbie,’ Then ‘Oppenheimer’ Further Listening: - With...
Jul 21, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Lina Khan took over as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, she vowed to stiffen antitrust enforcement. Two years in, her attempts to rein in big mergers through the court system have been mostly unsuccessful. We speak to Khan about her big tech losses and why the FTC is concerned about ChatGPT. Further Reading: - ChatGPT Comes Under Investigation by Federal Trade Commission - Lina Khan Is Taking on the World’s Biggest Tech Companies—and Losing Further Listening: - Microsoft’s Big Win Aga...
Jul 20, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Eight months after returning as Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger is straining to put out fire after fire, including streaming losses, an activist investor and TV woes. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan explains why Disney’s troubles run deeper than Iger had expected. Further Reading: - Bob Iger Isn’t Having Much Fun - Disney’s Iger Hints at Strategic Partner for ESPN - Disney Extends CEO Robert Iger’s Contract Through 2026 Further Listening: - Disney Wars: Attack of the Activist Investor - The Disney Boss Who Wouldn't ...
Jul 19, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week, a federal judge ruled that crypto company Ripple Labs did not violate securities laws by selling its token to retail investors. The ruling is seen as a setback for the Securities and Exchange Commission's strategy to regulate cryptocurrencies and as a victory for the crypto community as a whole. WSJ’s Vicky Huang explains. Further Listening: -SEC Chair Gary Gensler On His Crypto Crackdown -A Crypto Exchange Crackdown Further Reading: -Ripple Ruling Deals a Blow to SEC’s Effort to Regu...
Jul 18, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Slashed tires, moved bookcases, a dead dog. For years, U.S. diplomats posted to Russia have experienced some strange things. WSJ’s Joe Parkinson and Drew Hinshaw report on the little-known spy unit, which U.S. officials believe is responsible for the surveillance and harassment of Americans in Russia, including WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich. Further Reading: - Inside the Secretive Russian Security Force That Targets Americans - Putin, Isolated and Distrustful, Leans on Handful of Hard-Line Advis...
Jul 17, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast For decades, telecom companies have known that lead in their networks posed risks to workers, and did little about it. Lead can cause a variety of ailments in adults, affecting the kidney, heart and reproductive systems, and it is classified as a probable human carcinogen. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran explains the danger of lead cables -- and what telephone companies knew. Further Reading: - America Is Wrapped in Miles of Toxic Lead Cables - What AT&T and Verizon Knew About Toxic Lead Cables - W...
Jul 14, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast In an 18-month investigation, The Wall Street Journal found thousands of lead covered cables across America, some leaching the toxic metal into places where people live, work and play. We travel with the team across the country to test the soil and water around these cables and speak to families living near them. WSJ’s Susan Pulliam and Shalini Ramachandran explain what these high levels of lead in The Journal's sampling could mean for people across the country. Further Reading: - America Is Wra...
Jul 13, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft has cleared a big hurdle to purchase Activision Blizzard, the publisher of popular videogame franchises like “Call of Duty, “World of Warcraft” and “Candy Crush.” The Federal Trade Commission had tried to block the roughly $75 billion acquisition, but a federal judge has allowed the deal to move forward. WSJ’s Jan Wolfe explains what the ruling means for Microsoft and for the FTC. Further Reading: -Microsoft Can Close Its $75 Billion Buy of Activision Blizzard, Judge Rules -Lina Khan I...
Jul 12, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast ChatGPT is one of the most successful tech products ever launched. And crucial to that success is a group of largely unknown data workers in Kenya. By reviewing disturbing, grotesque content, often for wages of just two to three dollars an hour, they helped make the viral chatbot safe. WSJ’s Karen Hao traveled to Kenya to meet those workers and hear about what the job cost them. Further Reading: - What Is ChatGPT? What to Know About the AI Chatbot - The Contradictions of Sam Altman, AI Crusader ...
Jul 11, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Meta recently launched a new app that's a direct competitor to Twitter. It's called Threads, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg said it has garnered 50 million sign-ups in its first five days. WSJ's Salvador Rodriguez says the new app poses the biggest threat to Twitter, fanning the flames of a long rivalry between Twitter’s Elon Musk and Meta’s Zuckerberg. Further Reading: - Day After Threads Launches, Twitter Accuses Meta of Using Its Trade Secrets Further Listening: - Twitter’s New CEO: The Velvet Ha...
Jul 10, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most successful studio, Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter and Kevin Feige clash over budgets and creative control. Marvel lawyer John Turitzin and screenwriter Stephen McFeely share new details of a corporate civil war. Plus, a look at the future of superhero cinema, featuring interviews with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” actor Chukwudi Iwuji and with Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson from The Ringer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 09, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Meet Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios and the man who weaves all its films into one cinematic universe. The idea proves so popular that Feige becomes the most successful producer in modern Hollywood history. Meanwhile, rival DC Comics launches its own cinematic universe, led by director Zack Snyder. But can DC’s “Justice League” match Marvel’s “The Avengers”? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 07, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a meeting at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter is pitched an unusual idea: That a small comic book publisher should make its own movies. A ragtag crew working above a car dealership borrows $525 million, hires Jon Favreau and Robert Downey, Jr., and makes “Iron Man.” After its surprise success, Disney buys Marvel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 06, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Marvel Studios is the most dominant film studio on the planet today. But 25 years ago, it was bankrupt and selling furniture for cash. Its astonishing revival begins with two men: Ike Perlmutter and Avi Arad. Industry insiders like comics writer Brian Michael Bendis and film producer Amy Pascal recount how Marvel went from its lowest point to its first big-screen blockbuster, Sony’s “Spider-Man” in 2002. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 05, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re off today and tomorrow, but we still have a great episode for you. For decades, the Robusta coffee bean has been the ugly duckling of the coffee world. Now, a new generation of coffee geeks think the time could be ripe for a Robusta revolution. WSJ’s Jon Emont explains why the humble bean is gaining momentum in the coffee industry. This episode originally published in March 2023. Further Reading: -The Underdog Coffee Bean That Java Snobs Hate Is Finally Getting Some Respect Learn more abou...
Jul 03, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gun violence among young people is on the rise. In Denver, Colorado, one high school in particular has experienced a number of violent incidents in the past year, including two shootings in which two students died. We visited East High School to meet students, teachers and the superintendent who decided to bring armed police back to schools. Further Reading: -‘My Kid Can’t Sleep’: Gun Violence Drives Denver to Return Armed Police to Schools - Juvenile Crime Surges, Reversing Long Decline. ‘It’s ...
Jun 30, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Supreme Court has ruled that affirmative action is unconstitutional in college admissions. We talk with WSJ's Douglas Belkin about how the decision upends decades of admissions policies at the nation's most selective schools. And WSJ's Lauren Weber describes how this ruling could impact corporate America. Further Reading: - Supreme Court Rules Against Affirmative Action - The Man Behind the Case Seeking to End Affirmative Action - Companies Brace for Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Actio...
Jun 29, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Supreme Court is heading into the final stretch of its current session and there are a number of cases with major social implications yet to be decided. But as we wait for decisions on student loan forgiveness and affirmative action, another major issue is hanging over the court. WSJ’s Jess Bravin discusses ProPublica’s recent investigations into alleged ethical misconduct of Supreme Court justices and what they could mean for the institution. Further Reading: - OPINION: Justice Samuel Alito...
Jun 28, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Superheroes have conquered Hollywood. They generate billions of dollars at the box office and have pushed other movies to the margins. That revolution has been led by Marvel Studios. In a new four-part series, WSJ’s Ben Fritz goes behind the scenes and reports on how Marvel, a once-troubled comics publisher, soared to the top of the movie business. It’s a tale of rivalries, spite, little-known deals and incredible luck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2023•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast In May, Taco Bell filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claiming that ‘Taco Tuesday’ is a common phrase and that any restaurant should be able to use it. The trademark owners—Taco John’s and Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar— have both moved to fight back in court to protect their exclusive rights. WSJ’s Joseph De Avila breaks down the clash of the taco titans. Further Reading: - The Battle for Taco Tuesday Gets Heated - The Long Fight Over ‘Taco Tuesday’ Learn more about your ad ...
Jun 27, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
