While the National Football League was getting ready for yesterday’s Super Bowl, major news was announced that caught high-level NFL executives off guard: Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery said they are teaming up to create a new sports streaming service. WSJ’s Joe Flint explains what we know about the new venture and how it could change sports broadcasting. Further Reading: -ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform -Why Three Media Giants Made a Hail Mary Bet on Spo...
Feb 12, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the 49ers contend for Super Bowl rings this Sunday, the team has another battle to fight. The 49ers are in a decadelong war with their home city of Santa Clara over whether the team's $1 billion stadium is providing the economic boost promised. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson unpacks the conflict, which has involved lawsuits and heated local elections. Further Reading: - Why the 49ers and Their Home City Are in a Decadelong Fight Further Listening: - The Long-Last Super Bowl Learn more about your ad choi...
Feb 09, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump couldn’t appear on the presidential ballot because his actions on January 6 disqualified him. The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. WSJ’s Jan Wolfe listened to today’s arguments, and explains why it appears the decision will likely be overturned. Further Listening: - The Prosecutor Bringing a Racketeering Case Against Trump - Meet Jack Smith, the Special Counsel Prosecuting Trump - Pro-Trump Mob Storms the Capitol Further...
Feb 08, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Music from major artists like Taylor Swift and The Weeknd has been muted on TikTok after a licensing deal fell apart. WSJ’s Anne Steele breaks down what happened to billions of videos and why the two companies are at loggerheads over the terms of a new deal. Further Reading and Watching: - Bad Blood: Why TikTok Videos With Taylor Swift and Other Universal Artists Are Now Silent - Universal Music Group Poised to Stop Licensing Music to TikTok Further Listening: - How TikTok Became the World's Fav...
Feb 07, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Cuban is best known as a panelist on the reality TV show “Shark Tank” and for his ownership of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Now, the billionaire investor is switching gears. This will be his last season on “Shark Tank,'' and he recently sold a majority stake in the Mavericks. Instead, he’s focusing more on an industry he wants to disrupt: healthcare. Further Reading: -Mark Cuban Enters Elon Musk’s Echoverse of Madness -Mark Cuban Is Set to Sell Majority Stake in Dallas Mavericks to Adelson F...
Feb 06, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk and some members of Tesla's board of directors have deep personal and financial ties. The connections are an extreme blurring of friendship and fortune and raise questions among some shareholders about the independence of the board members charged with overseeing Musk. WSJ's Rebecca Elliott reports. Further Reading: - The Money and Drugs That Tie Elon Musk to Some Tesla Directors - Elon Musk’s $55.8 Billion Tesla Pay Package Struck Down by Judge - Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worr...
Feb 05, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, no aid group has the reach of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the organization that for decades has provided schooling, healthcare and other assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza. But an Israeli intelligence report alleges that 12 UNRWA staff members were directly linked to the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. As WSJ’s David Luhnow explains, the fallout could put millions of lives on the line in Gaza. Further Listening: The Hospital at the ...
Feb 02, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Paramount Global is a media titan and lately potential buyers have been circling, hoping to get some of its parts. But as WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel explains, there’s a problem. The company’s owner is only interested in selling the whole thing. Further Reading: -Allen Media Group Makes $14.3 Billion Offer for Paramount Global -Skydance Backers Explore All-Cash Deal To Gain Control of Paramount -Warner and Paramount CEOs Discussed Possible Merger of Companies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
Feb 01, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. and the European Union have promised Ukraine billions of dollars in new financial aid to keep the country running as the war with Russia drags on. But both pledges have been delayed by political infighting in Washington and Brussels. WSJ’s Chelsey Dulaney reports that without this foreign money, the Ukrainian government could be forced to take painful economic measures to stay afloat. Further Reading: - Ukraine’s $30 Billion Problem: How to Keep Fighting Without Foreign Aid Further List...
Jan 31, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Argentine President Javier Milei took office in December promising a free-market revolution to fix the country’s ailing economy. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Milei explained his agenda, which includes privatizing state companies and slashing government spending. WSJ’s Ryan Dubé unpacks Milei's goals and the challenges he faces. Further Reading and Watching: - Argentina’s President Promised a Free-Market Revolution, and Says He’s Delivering - Argentina’s Libertarian President Urg...
Jan 30, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 injured in a drone strike in Jordan on Sunday. It’s the latest in a series of attacks in the Middle East by armed militia groups linked to Iran. WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explains how Iran uses these groups to fight proxy wars and to extend its influence in the region. Further Reading: - Three U.S. Troops Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan - U.S. Failed to Stop Attack in Jordan After Mixup Over Drone Identity Further Listening: - ‘We Were Att...
Jan 29, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev owned art by da Vinci, Picasso and Magritte. But over more than a decade, he says his trusted art dealer defrauded him by as much as $1 billion. WSJ’s Kelly Crow tells us about the case that Rybolovlev alleges is the biggest art fraud in history. Further Listening: - The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands - How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist Further Reading: - Fraud, or Just a Bad Deal? Oligarch and Sotheby’s to Bat...
Jan 26, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast A few years ago, the founder of Chinese automaker BYD was worried the company might not survive. But last year, BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world’s top seller of electric vehicles. WSJ’s Selina Cheng chronicles BYD’s ascent, as well as the challenges it faces holding onto the top spot. Further Reading: - How China’s BYD Became Tesla’s Biggest Threat - Surpassing Tesla, China’s BYD Will Take On the World in 2024 - A Lamborghini-Style EV: BYD Goes Upmarket to Outmaneuver Tesla Further Listen...
Jan 25, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you own an Apple Watch, you may have noticed the device’s pulse oximeter feature. Masimo, a medical technology company, claims that the oximeter technology is theirs and it is suing Apple. Masimo CEO Joe Kiani and WSJ’s Aaron Tilley on the story of how Masimo decided to take on a tech giant. Further Listening: -One Company’s Quest to Burst Apple’s Blue Bubble Texts Further Reading: -The Entrepreneur Who Bet His Company on a Fight With Apple -Apple to Remove Blood-Oxygen Sensor From Watch to A...
Jan 24, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Between 1999 and 2015, some 983 people were convicted for stealing from post offices in the U.K. Some people ended up in jail. At least four died by suicide. Turns out, it was a computer glitch. WSJ’s Max Colchester explains how one TV series helped bring their stories to light— and to justice. Further Reading: - Nearly a Thousand People Were Convicted of Stealing Over Decades. It Was a Computer Glitch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hundreds of thousands of migrants try to get from South America to the United States each year. But first, they have to get past the treacherous Darien Gap, a 70-mile stretch of dense jungle. WSJ’s Juan Forero explains the booming business that has cropped up to help smuggle migrants through — or around — it. Further Reading: - Smuggling Migrants Toward the U.S. Is a Booming Business - To Avoid the Jungles of Central America, Migrants Are Taking a Treacherous Sea Route - Masses of Migrants Overw...
Jan 22, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Stanley Quencher, an insulated water bottle, is everywhere these days. And the popularity has been good for the company. Stanley generated $750 million in revenue last year. WSJ's Callum Borchers explains how a brand traditionally loved by outdoorsmen has become the new favorite of moms and teen girls. Further Reading: The New Office Status Symbol Holds a Lot of Water—and Has a Wait List Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The AI industry is controlled by only a few powerful companies. Is that concentration of power dangerous? WSJ's Sam Schechner interviews Meredith Whittaker, president of encrypted messaging app Signal, at a live event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Further Reading and Watching: -The Importance of Privacy in the Age of AI -Altman and Nadella Talk AI at Davos Further Listening: -Artificial: The Open AI Story -Why an AI Pioneer Is Worried Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Jan 18, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Carrefour, one of the world’s biggest grocery chains, said it’s dropping PepsiCo products from roughly 10,000 stores across five European countries. Carrefour says it’s taking a stand against high prices. But as WSJ’s Jennifer Maloney explains, PepsiCo has a different take on the story. Further Reading: - Supermarket Giant Drops Pepsi and Lay’s Over Price Increases - PepsiCo, Grocery Giant Bicker Over Who Dumped Whom Further Listening: - Are Rotisserie Chickens ‘Inflation-Proof’? Learn more abou...
Jan 17, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the creation of Bitcoin ETFs, exchange-traded funds that buy the cryptocurrency, allowing retail investors to buy and sell Bitcoin as easily as stocks. WSJ’s Vicky Ge Huang breaks down the 10-year battle to bring Bitcoin to Wall Street investors. Further Reading: -SEC Approves Bitcoin ETFs for Everyday Investors Further Listening: -The Trial of Crypto’s Golden Boy -Fidelity's Controversial Bet on Bitcoin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Jan 16, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast When the OpenAI board ousted CEO Sam Altman last November, very few people knew exactly what was behind it. In the final episode of our series, we reveal what led to Altman’s firing and explain why he was able to get his job back just days later. Plus, an exclusive interview with one of the people who fired him. Further Reading: - Sam Altman’s Knack for Dodging Bullets—With a Little Help From Bigshot Friends - Behind the Scenes of Sam Altman’s Showdown at OpenAI Further Listening: - Artificial: ...
Jan 14, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast A student's financial aid package is one of the most important factors in students’ college decisions. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin tells us that this year, the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, is causing grief for some families. Further Reading: -A Financial-Aid Form Is Upending College Decisions -Families May Have to Make College Decisions Before Knowing Full Cost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Florida recently became the first state to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration to import prescription drugs from Canada. As WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte explains, i t's a milestone in efforts to reduce the cost of medications, but the plan faces opposition from pharmaceutical groups and Canadian officials. Further Reading: -Florida Is First State Allowed to Import Drugs From Canada in Bid to Reduce Costs -Expensive Drugs Targeted for First U.S. Price Negotiations Further Listening: -Phi...
Jan 11, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months. Now the U.S. and its allies have given the Yemeni militant group a final warning to stop the attacks. WSJ's Nancy A. Youssef explains what's motivating the Houthis and what the attacks mean for a region already on edge. Further Reading: -U.S., U.K. Warships Shoot Down Houthi Barrage in Red Sea -Importers Face Surging Shipping Costs, Delays as Red Sea Diversions Pile Up -U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Fa...
Jan 10, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast The last thing Boeing needed was more trouble with its 737 MAX jet. That is exactly what it got at the start of the new year. The company had just started to regain its footing after years of tumult around the popular but troubled line of narrow-body jets when a Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines had a structural failure Friday night. WSJ’s Alison Sider unpacks what happened. Further Reading: -Alaska Airlines Boeing Probe: What We Know -Boeing Is Back in the Spotlight—This Time Over a MAX 9 -Unit...
Jan 09, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Primaries that don’t count. An incumbent President’s write-in campaign. The 2024 election is off to a weird start. WSJ’s Eliza Collins explains why. Further Reading: -The Way Nevada Will Pick the GOP Presidential Nominee Is a Mess -These Voters Will Decide the 2024 Election. They Don’t Like What They See. Further Listening: -Does Nikki Haley Have a Chance at Beating Trump? -The Prosecutor Bringing a Racketeering Case Against Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 08, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast OpenAI launched ChatGPT with low expectations and little fanfare. But the chatbot was an instant hit and went on to become one of the fastest growing consumer apps in tech history. ChatGPT’s surprise success gave OpenAI its first shot to make big money, and the company moved quickly to cash in — even as critics called out some very real problems with the company’s hit product. Further Reading: Outcry Against AI Companies Grows Over Who Controls Internet’s Content The Awkward Partnership Leading ...
Jan 07, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Chinese government is concerned about the country's birth rate. The population in China is now approximately 1.4 billion and could drop to roughly half a billion by 2100. Beijing is demanding that women have more children, but many Chinese women are saying no. WSJ's Liyan Qi reports. Further Reading: - China Is Pressing Women to Have More Babies. Many Are Saying No. - China’s Economic Slump Bodes Ill for Birth Numbers Further Listening: - The Unintended Consequences of China’s One-Child Poli...
Jan 05, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday, after being dogged for weeks by allegations of plagiarism and accusations that she didn't respond with enough urgency to concerns about antisemitism on campus. WSJ's Melissa Korn unpacks Gay's brief, tumultuous tenure. Further Reading: - Behind the Campaign to Take Down Harvard’s Claudine Gay - Claudine Gay Is Out as President. Where Does Harvard Go From Here? - Harvard President Resigns After Plagiarism Allegations, Campus Antisemitism...
Jan 04, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you text on a smartphone, chances are you’ve seen the problem: blue text bubbles versus green texts. It's a visual symbol of the problems that Android and iPhone users have when trying to text each other. WSJ’s Nicole Nguyen on the blue-green texting divide and one company’s fight to pop Apple’s iMessage exclusivity. Further Reading: - The Fight Over Apple’s iMessage and Those Green Bubbles - Why Apple’s iMessage Is Winning: Teens Dread the Green Text Bubble Further Listening: - How Apple Los...
Jan 03, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
