The Journal.
News
The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet
The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, with Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
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What We're Watching for Tonight
Election night is here, and the U.S.–and the world–is watching as the votes come in. WSJ's Politics Editor Ben Pershing walks us through what he's keeping a close eye on, and how long it might take before a winner is called.
Further Reading:
-Election Day 2024 Live: It's Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump as America Votes
-A (Don’t Hold Us to It) Hour-by-Hour Guide to Election Night
Further Listening:
-Harris, Trump and the Inflation Election
-Red, White and Who? An Electoral College Blowout?
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19:2605/11/2024
Harris, Trump and the Inflation Election
Tomorrow is Election Day, and both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have campaigned on bringing down inflation. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos breaks down how both candidates’ plans will impact everyday costs.
Further Listening:
-Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About the $1.8 Trillion Deficit
-Red, White and Who? Playlist
Further Reading:
-Economists Warn of New Inflation Hazards After Election
-Inflation Continues Its Bumpy Decline With Mixed September Reading
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22:1504/11/2024
Child Care Is on the Ballot in One Texas County
For decades, activists and lawmakers have tried to change the way child care works in the U.S. But they haven’t had much success. More recently, a fight has been brewing at the local level. This Tuesday, several places around the country will vote on whether to subsidize childcare. WSJ’s Harriet Torry explains what that could mean for one county in Texas.
Further Reading:
-Are American Taxpayers Ready to Foot the Bill for Child Care?
-Child Care, Rent, Insurance: Where Inflation Hits Hardest Now
Further Listening:
-How Employer-Funded Child Care Can Work
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19:4601/11/2024
Red, White and Who? An Electoral College Blowout?
Rachel Humphreys and Molly Ball share dispatches from two major campaign events with Ryan Knutson. Molly analyzes the closing arguments and outlines what to expect on election day. Plus, we finally answer listeners’ most asked question: What’s up with the electoral college?
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? The Undecided Voters Who Could Decide The Election
- Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage
Further Reading:
- America Is Having a Panic Attack Over the Election
- Pennsylvania Has Already Become Ground Zero for Election-Fraud Claims
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26:0601/11/2024
How Waymo Won Over San Francisco
After a rocky start, self-driving car company Waymo seems to have won over riders in San Francisco. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky talks about the company’s push to convince the public its robotaxis are safe and the challenges of replicating that progress elsewhere.
Further Reading:
-How San Francisco Learned to Love Self-Driving Cars
-America’s Most Tech-Forward City Has Doubts About Self-Driving Cars
Further Listening:
-The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is Here
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21:0431/10/2024
Why One Family Rejected Boeing's Latest Offer
For four generations, the Merwin family has worked in Boeing’s factories in Washington state. But for the last six weeks, Tony Merwin and his son Patrick have been on strike, along with 33,000 machinists. They explain why they’re demanding higher wages and pension benefits.
Further Reading:
-For This Boeing Family, the Job Is the Same. The Payoff Isn’t
-Boeing Strike Extended After Union Machinists Reject Contract
-Boeing’s CEO Is Shrinking the Jet Maker to Stop Its Crisis From Spiraling
Further Listening:
-Why 33,000 Boeing Workers Walked Off the Job
-Boeing's Long Flight Delay – in Space
-Boeing Agrees to Felony Plea. Now Its Future Is Up in the Air.
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21:5930/10/2024
Former Election Security Head on America’s Biggest Threats
During the Trump administration, Chris Krebs was the top cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security. He spoke with WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler at WSJ Tech Live about the upcoming U.S. election and growing cyber threats from foreign governments.
Further Listening:
-The Chinese Hackers Spying on U.S. Internet Traffic
-Red, White and Who? Playlist
Further Reading:
-China-Linked Hackers Breach U.S. Internet Providers in New ‘Salt Typhoon’ Cyberattack
-U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack
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22:5329/10/2024
Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations with Vladimir Putin
For the past two years, tech billionaire Elon Musk has been having regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin. WSJ’s Thomas Grove reports on what we know about the nature of their conversations and why that contact raises potential national security concerns for some in the current administration.
Further Reading:
- Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin
- Musk Says He Thwarted Attack on Russian Fleet in Ukraine’s Crimea
Further Listening:
- Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations
- The Russian Military is Using Elon Musk’s Starlink
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18:1128/10/2024
Hans Zimmer Isn’t Scared of AI
Hans Zimmer, Academy Award-winning composer, and Golnar Khosrowshahi, CEO of Reservoir Media, discuss AI in the music industry, why human creation is still unique and whether or not Zimmer approves of “The Journal” theme music.
Further Listening:
-Artificial: The OpenAI Story
-When AI Comes for Your Art
Further Reading:
-Hans Zimmer, Movie Maestro
-Music Labels Take On AI Startups With New Lawsuits
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24:4025/10/2024
Red, White and Who? The Undecided Voters Who Could Decide the Election
Five undecided voters in swing states speak to Rachel Humphreys about how they're feeling as election day looms. Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack the stakes. Plus, will betting markets predict the winner?
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage
- How Betting on U.S. Politics Is Getting Big
Further Reading:
- Trump Takes Narrow Lead Over Harris in Closing Weeks of Race
- Meet the Traders Making Money Off the Trump Shooting and Biden’s Stumbles
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28:4025/10/2024
Sex-Trafficking Charges for Former Abercrombie CEO
Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, was arrested and charged with running an international sex-trafficking ring. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar describes the alleged crimes and the potential fallout for the company.
Further Reading:
-Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Is Arrested, Charged in Sex-Trafficking Case
Further Listening:
-The Resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch
-JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement
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18:2224/10/2024
Stop the Steal 2.0
Across the country, elections officials are bracing for a potentially contentious election day. At the same time, a network of conservative election integrity groups are preparing to challenge the result. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus reports on the billionaire-funded effort to contest the election, and WSJ's Jim Carlton reports how Maricopa County, Arizona is preparing for the worst.
Further Reading:
-The Secretive Billionaire Network Funding ‘Stop the Steal’ 2.0
-‘It Feels Very Dystopian.’ Republican County Officials Brace for Election Deniers—Again
Further Listening:
-Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage
-Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations
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20:5423/10/2024
The Mysterious Drones Flying Over U.S. Military Bases
For 17 days last year, unidentified drones swarmed an area in Virginia that is home to a military base and other sensitive intelligence sites. WSJ’s Gordon Lubold looked into why it was so difficult for U.S. officials to stop them.
Further Reading:
-Mystery Drones Swarmed a U.S. Military Base for 17 Days. The Pentagon Is Stumped.
Further Listening:
-How Ukraine Built a Weapon to Control the Black Sea
-Cheap Drones Are Transforming the Battlefield
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18:0922/10/2024
Why People Are Thinking Twice About Living in Florida
Clouds are gathering over the Sunshine State’s housing market. Especially along the state’s Gulf Coast, housing inventory is up and buyer interest is slowing. WSJ’s Deborah Acosta talks through the cooling-off of one of America’s biggest housing booms and what it says about what it means to live in Florida now.
Further Listening:
- Is Asheville No Longer a 'Climate Haven?
- Years After Surfside Collapse, Florida Condos Are In Crisis
Further Reading:
- The Great Florida Migration Is Coming Undone
- Why the Tampa Area Is So Vulnerable to a Hurricane
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19:0621/10/2024
The Missing Minister, Episode 1: The Vanishing of Qin Gang
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.
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31:1618/10/2024
The Missing Minister, Episode 2: The Affair
In the second episode of our investigation, we examine the life and career of Fu Xiaotian: the prominent Chinese TV host who had an affair with Qin Gang. Like Qin, Fu was sharp and ambitious, but her high-flying career would come to an abrupt halt. And like Qin, she would also mysteriously disappear.
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27:3418/10/2024
The Missing Minister, Episode 3: The Downfall
In our final episode, we get a break in the case of the missing minister: According to our sources, Chinese officials were told that Qin disappeared due to an explosive allegation. We dig into that story and its consequences for Fu and for Qin – Xi Jinping’s trusted aide.
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27:1618/10/2024
Red, White and Who? The Desperation Stage
With millions of votes already cast, the race is on for each campaign to get their supporters to the polls. Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball about the different strategies Trump and Harris are taking, and why election denial is such a big issue in Arizona. Plus, Rachel Humphreys speaks to a Gen Z Voter.
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? Foreign Policy and the Rise of Donald Trump Jr.
- Red, White and Who? Veep Veep! All Eyes on Vance and Walz
Further Reading:
- Republicans Rush to Bolster Trump’s Ground Game
- Kari Lake’s 2022 Fraud Claims Are Costing Her in 2024
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25:4618/10/2024
Lilly Ledbetter: The Woman Who Fought the Pay Gap
Lilly Ledbetter, equal pay trailblazer, died on Saturday. WSJ’s Joseph De Avila reports on how Ledbetter faced pay discrimination at her job and sued her employer, taking her case all the way to the Supreme Court. And WSJ’s Lauren Weber discusses the persistence of the gender pay gap.
Further Reading:
-Fair-Wage Advocate Lilly Ledbetter Dies at 86
-Data Show Gender Pay Gap Opens Early
Further Listening:
-The TikTok That Changed College Hoops
-What Corporate America Can Learn From Coke’s Reckoning With Race
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21:4317/10/2024
How One Teenager Became a Legendary Hacker
Investigators say that Arion Kurtaj’s life in cybercrime began at age 11, and ultimately led to his participation in the hacks of major companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how Kurtaj’s case has brought worries about a new breed of fearless young hackers.
Further Reading:
-This Teenage Hacker Became a Legend Attacking Companies. Then His Rivals Attacked Him.
-Hackers Leaked ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Footage, Rockstar Games Says
Further Listening:
-Hack Me If You Can, Part 1: The Making of a Russian Hacker
-How North Korea’s Hacker Army Stole $3 Billion in Crypto
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20:1416/10/2024
Listeria, Liverwurst and the Family Feud at Boar's Head
Over the summer, an outbreak of listeria in Boar’s Head products killed 10 people and sickened dozens more. In the months after the crisis, the family that runs the company has said little. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer dug through court documents to piece together a decades-long story of a family fighting over ownership of a deli meat empire.
Further Reading:
- Inside the Half-Century Feud Dividing the Boar’s Head Family
- Boar’s Head Closing Virginia Factory Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
Further Listening:
- Farm-to-Table Pioneer on Why We Still Need Better Food
- Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour
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22:1515/10/2024
The Money Laundering Behind TD Bank’s $3 Billion Fine
TD Bank’s U.S. entity pleaded guilty and agreed to pay more than $3 billion in penalties, acknowledging it failed to properly monitor money laundering by drug cartels and other criminal groups. WSJ’s Dylan Tokar unpacks the investigation that led to such a historic deal.
Further Listening:
-The Suitcases Full of Cash Flowing Through Airports
Further Reading:
-TD Bank Agrees to $3 Billion in Penalties and Growth Restrictions in U.S. Settlement
-TD Pays Hefty Penalties as Prosecutors Detail Nearly a Decade of Lax Controls
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21:2511/10/2024
Red, White and Who? Foreign Policy and the Rise of Donald Trump Jr.
Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball explore what we know about both candidates’ approach to foreign policy. Plus, Molly shares what she learned about the future of MAGA from an interview with Donald Trump Jr. and JD Vance.
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? Veep Veep! All Eyes on Vance and Walz
- Red, White and Who? It's Always the Economy!
Further Reading:
- How Donald Trump Jr. Became the Crown Prince of MAGA World
- JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real Thing
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25:1211/10/2024
Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About the $1.8 Trillion Deficit
The U.S. budget deficit topped $1.8 trillion in the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, both candidates for president are proposing plans that would increase the deficit for years to come. WSJ’s Richard Rubin explains how the deficit got so large and why the candidates don’t talk about it.
Further Listening:
-The Economy: Trump vs. Harris
-The Clock Is Ticking on the Debt Ceiling
Further Reading:
-Federal Deficit Hit $1.8 Trillion for 2024, CBO Says
-Federal Debt Is Soaring. Here’s Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About It.
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19:3410/10/2024
Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations
Elon Musk's financial support for Republican causes has been much more extensive and started earlier than previously known. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports on Musk’s rightward political shift and explains how he hid his donations.
Further Listening:
- Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Turn Towards Trump
Further Reading:
- Elon Musk Gave Tens of Millions to Republican Causes Far Earlier Than Previously Known
- Inside Elon Musk’s Hands-On Push to Win 800,000 Voters for Trump
- How Elon Musk Broke With Biden and the Democrats
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20:5409/10/2024
The Chinese Hackers Spying on U.S. Internet Traffic
WSJ reporting has revealed a major cyberattack from a group tied to the Chinese government. Hackers penetrated the networks of several broadband providers and gained access to the U.S. domestic wiretapping system. Dustin Volz unpacks what the attack could mean for national security.
Further Listening:
- ‘Hack Me If You Can’
- Hacking the Hackers
Further Reading:
- U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack
- Chinese-Linked Hackers Breach U.S. Internet Providers in New ‘Salt Typhoon’ Cyberattack
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18:2008/10/2024
Is Asheville No Longer a ‘Climate Haven?’
Asheville, North Carolina, was thriving until floodwaters and heavy wind from Hurricane Helene ripped through the region and destroyed large parts of the city's commercial districts. We talk to two business owners who are trying to figure out what comes next.
Further Reading:
-The Hurricane That Threatens to Sink Asheville’s Feel-Good Success
-North Carolina in Crisis Mode as Helene Rescues Continue
Further Listening:
-Hot, Dry and Booming: A Texas Climate Case Study
-‘Everything Is Gone’ — One Resident on the Maui Wildfires
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21:3507/10/2024
Why Microsoft Wants Three Mile Island's Nuclear Power
Last month, Microsoft and Constellation Energy announced a deal to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, the site of the country’s worst nuclear power accident. WSJ’s Jennifer Hiller reports that the goal is to power the tech giant’s growing artificial intelligence ambitions.
Further Listening:
- Artificial: The OpenAI Story
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's Big Bet on AI
Further Reading:
- Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Plant to Reopen, Help Power Microsoft’s AI Centers
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21:5004/10/2024
Red, White and Who? Veep! Veep! All Eyes On Vance and Walz
The vice-presidential candidates took center stage at a debate this week. Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball about the important takeaways, and Rachel Humphreys speaks to a listener about why she’s thinking about climate change this election.
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? It's Always the Economy!
- Red, White and Who? Why Ohio Could Decide the Senate
Further Reading:
- JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real Thing
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24:4804/10/2024
The Missteps That Led Nike Off Course
Under CEO John Donahoe, Nike pulled away from retailers and ramped up production of its classic sneaker lines. Now sales have plummeted, the company has lost market share to competitors and Donahoe is stepping down. WSJ's Inti Pacheco discusses what went wrong.
Further Reading:
-Nike CEO John Donahoe Stepping Down After Rocky Tenure
-How Nike Missed the Boom in Running Culture
-Nike Reverses Course as Innovation Stalls and Rivals Gain Ground
Further Listening:
-Nike’s Sneaky Sneaker Thieves
-How Allbirds Lost Its Footing
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20:5003/10/2024
The Risk of an All-Out War in the Middle East
Israel is now fighting on multiple fronts, after clashing with Hezbollah in Lebanon and sustaining Iranian strikes yesterday. WSJ’s Michael Amon explains the growing risk of an all-out regional war.
Further Reading:
- Israel Clashes With Hezbollah in Lebanon
- Israeli Response to Iran’s Attack to Set Course of Widening War
- Israeli Review Shows Minor Damage From Iran’s Missile Barrage
Further Listening:
- Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading War
- The Brutal Calculation of Hamas’s Leader
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20:3402/10/2024
The Big Changes Tearing OpenAI Apart
In less than two years, OpenAI—the company behind ChatGPT—has gone from a little-known nonprofit lab to a world-famous organization at the forefront of an artificial intelligence revolution. But the company has faced a series of challenges, culminating last week in another high-profile departure and the decision to become a for-profit corporation. WSJ’s Deepa Seetharaman discusses the permanent change to OpenAI's ethos and what it could mean for the AI industry.
Further Listening:
- Artificial: The OpenAI Story
- Artificial: Episode 1, The Dream
Further Reading:
- Turning OpenAI Into a Real Business Is Tearing It Apart
- OpenAI’s Complex Path to Becoming a For-Profit Company
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23:5301/10/2024
The Justice Department Takes On Visa
The Department of Justice is taking Visa, the largest card network in the U.S., to court, accusing the company of illegally monopolizing the debit card market. WSJ's Angel Au-Yeung breaks down the Justice Department's allegations.
Further Listening:
- The Unusual Economics of the Bilt Credit Card
- The Deal That Could Change Credit Cards
- The Trustbuster Taking on Ticketmaster
Further Reading:
- Justice Department Sues Visa, Alleges Illegal Monopoly in Debit-Card Payments
- Google Faces Blockbuster Antitrust Case—Again
- Getting Oasis Tickets Was a Nightmare. Ticketmaster Is Again Being Asked for Answers.
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19:4930/09/2024
How Eric Adams Became New York City’s First Indicted Mayor
The mayor of America’s largest city likes to say he’s been “rejected, arrested and then elected.” Now, he’s been indicted. WSJ’s Jimmy Vielkind unpacks the unprecedented federal foreign bribery case against Eric Adams.
Further Listening:
-Gold Bars, Cash and a Mercedes: A U.S. Senator's Corruption Trial
Further Reading:
-Inside the Eric Adams Indictment
-After the Eric Adams Indictment, What’s Next?
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23:3227/09/2024
Red, White and Who? It’s Always the Economy!
After two big economic speeches this week, Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball discuss the candidates’ different economic strategies. Plus, voting has begun! We explore mail in voting and its impact on this election!
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? Why Ohio Could Decide the Senate
- Red, White and Who? A Swing-State Debate
Further Reading:
- Harris Puts Government Intervention at Heart of Economic Policy
- Trump Says Plan Will Convince Foreign Companies to Shift Jobs to U.S.
- Voters Love the Policies That Economists Love to Hate
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26:0627/09/2024
China, an Alabama Business and a 20-Year Battle
Milton Magnus, an Alabama businessman who runs one of the last makers of wire hangers in the U.S., has waged a decades-long tariff battle against Chinese manufacturers to try to stay afloat. We hear from Magnus and we talk to Chao Deng about th e effectiveness of tariffs as the trade tool becomes more popular with politicians.
Further Listening:
-Why China Is Risking a Trade War
-The Fight Over U.S. Steel and the Community Caught in the Middle
Further Reading:
-The Family Business in Alabama That Fights China for Survival
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20:4126/09/2024
Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance
Former president Donald Trump wants to be the crypto president. With stops at a bitcoin conference and a bitcoin-themed bar, Trump is tapping into an industry that’s eager to support a crypto-friendly candidate. WSJ’s Vicky Huang explains how Trump and the crypto industry have cozied up ahead of the 2024 election.
Further Reading:
- Trump Hitches His Campaign to the Crypto Crowd
- That Time Donald Trump Walked Into a Bar and Bought a Round Using Bitcoin
- The Crypto Industry Is Trying to Elect Political Allies. The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher.
Further Listening:
- Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Turn Towards Trump
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21:1225/09/2024
Red Lobster's New CEO Plots Its Comeback
This month, Red Lobster emerged from bankruptcy. At the helm of the restaurant chain is its new CEO, 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun. Ryan Knutson talks to Adamolekun about what brought about Red Lobster’s decline and his plan to revitalize the company.
Further Listening:
- McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both?
Further Reading:
- The 35-Year-Old CEO Plotting Red Lobster’s Comeback
- Red Lobster Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy With New Owners, CEO
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21:5624/09/2024
The Return of Religious Films to Hollywood
Christian filmmakers have surprised Hollywood with a series of box office hits and now investors are pouring in millions. WSJ’s John Jurgensen explains how their successes could change the entertainment industry.
Further Reading:
- Religious Movies Are Sweeping Hollywood. Rich Investors Are Pouring In Millions.
- Fans Pour Funding - and Faith - Into a Hit Drama About Jesus
- A Child-Trafficking Thriller Is Taking on Hollywood. Who’s behind it?
Further Listening:
- With Great Power, Part 1: Origin Story
- Mattel Bets Big on Barbie
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22:4223/09/2024
The Fed Finally Cut Rates. What Does That Mean?
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates this week, after a two year battle with inflation. David Uberti explains how that will impact the economy and we hear from two couples about what they hope this means for their finances.
Further Listening:
- A Fed Insider on the Looming Rate Cut
- What the Stock Market Panic Says About the Economy
- Trump Allies Draft Plans to Rein in the Fed
Further Reading:
- Americans Are Desperate for Relief. The Rate Cut Is a Glimmer of Hope.
- The Fed Aims to Repeat Greenspan’s 1990s Masterpiece
- Fed Cuts Rates by Half Percentage Point
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21:5520/09/2024
Red, White and Who? Why Ohio Could Decide the Senate
Ryan Knutson talks with Molly Ball and Rachel Humphreys about their recent trip to Ohio, where they talked to voters about a tight Senate race and why it might matter so much for both parties. Plus, look at another important Senate race in Montana.
Further Listening:
- Red, White and Who? Playlist
- Red, White and Who? A Swing-State Debate
- Red, White, and Who? How Abortion Plays for Trump and Harris
Further Reading:
- A Populist Democrat Fights to Survive the Trump-Fueled Populist Wave
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24:5320/09/2024
Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading War
On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of pagers issued to Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon exploded at the same time, killing 12 people and injuring more than 2,800. The next day, walkie-talkies detonated in a similar way. Michael Amon reports on one of Israel’s most ambitious covert operations and what the attacks could mean for a broader war.
Further Listening:
-The Brutal Calculation of Hamas’s Leader
-Why Israel and Hamas Could Be Headed Into a Forever War
Further Reading:
-How a Covert Attack Against Hezbollah Unfolded Across Lebanon’s Streets and Malls
-Israel Scored a Stunning Blow Against Hezbollah. Its Path to Victory Is Less Clear.
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19:2019/09/2024
A Cocaine Kingpin and the Rise of Drug Violence in Europe
Organized crime used to be considered a remote threat in much of Western Europe, but ruthless violence by criminal gangs is now rattling the peace in some of the world’s safest societies. WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen explores the rise of one drug kingpin and how his brutal tactics have spread around the continent.
Further Reading:
- Violent Drug Gangs Bring Mayhem to Western Europe
Further Listening:
- The Push to Test Drugs for Fentanyl
- Afghanistan's Desperation Economy
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22:2918/09/2024
Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama Goes to Court
This week, a trial got under way to determine whether Rupert Murdoch can change a trust holding the family’s assets for his children. Murdoch wants to ensure that when he dies control of the trust passes to his oldest son, Lachlan. Three of his other children, James, Elisabeth and Prudence, oppose the change because they would stand to lose voting power. Amol Sharma reports.
Further Listening:
- Media Giant Rupert Murdoch Is Stepping Down
- Behind the Breakup of Fox and Tucker Carlson
Further Reading:
- The Family Rift Driving Rupert Murdoch to Redo His ‘Irrevocable’ Trust
- Murdochs Face Off in a Reno Courthouse Over Family Trust
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18:5317/09/2024
Why 33,000 Boeing Workers Walked Off the Job
Tens of thousands of Boeing’s unionized workers are on strike after they rejected a new contract last week. WSJ’s Sharon Terlep reports on the rising tensions that have led to this breaking point and what it could mean for the only American manufacturer of both commercial and military aircraft.
Further Reading:
- Boeing Freezes Hiring, Delays Pay Raises as Strike Worsens Finances
- Boeing Union Goes on Strike, Halting 737 Production
Further Listening:
- Boeing's Long Flight Delay – in Space
- Boeing Agrees to Felony Plea. Now Its Future Is Up in the Air.
- The Failures Inside Boeing's 737 Factory
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18:2916/09/2024
Fraudulent Online Returns Cost Retailers Billions
Scammers are exploiting retailers’ online return programs like never before, fueled by websites and messaging apps. WSJ’s Liz Young reports on the bind retailers now find themselves in, stuck between helping their customers and stopping the fraud.
Further Reading:
- Online Returns Fraud Finds a Home on Telegram, Costing Retailers Billions
- Brick-Filled Boxes. Bogus Receipts. Retailers Battle Fraudulent Returns.
Further Listening:
- How Cyber Thieves Are Disrupting U.S. Goods
- The Slaves Sending You Scam Texts
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18:3013/09/2024
Red, White and Who? A Swing-State Debate
After a tense debate, Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack a busy election week and examine what’s next for both campaigns in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania. Plus, could a state like Nebraska decide the election?
Further Listening:
- Red, White, and Who? How Abortion Plays for Trump and Harris
- For Kamala Harris, a Big Interview and a Narrow Lead
- Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track?
Further Reading:
- We Asked Undecided Voters Who Won the Trump-Harris Debate
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23:4913/09/2024
The Fight Over U.S. Steel and the Community Caught in the Middle
President Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Trump have all signaled their opposition to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel. But, as Kris Maher reports, views on the deal are more complex in the place it could matter most: Pittsburgh.
Further Listening:
-Why China Is Risking a Trade War
Further Reading:
-Biden Prepares to Block $14 Billion Steel Deal
-Japan Bid for U.S. Steel Runs Up Against U.S. Politics
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23:0012/09/2024
Testosterone Clinics Sell Virility. Side Effects Sometimes Included.
Testosterone therapy is booming, touting a boost at the gym and in the bedroom, but the potential side effects (like infertility) are less well known. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler on the clinics making millions on this growing industry.
Further Reading:
- Testosterone Clinics Sell Virility. Some Men End Up With Infertility.
Further Listening:
- Trillion Dollar Shot, Episode 1: Birth of a Blockbuster
- The Rise of Botox and the Wrinkle in Its Future
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20:2411/09/2024
Your New Hire May Be a North Korean Spy
North Korean cybercriminals have developed a new way to access networks in corporate America: getting IT jobs. According to U.S. officials, hundreds of U.S. companies have unknowingly hired North Korean operatives in information-technology roles. Dustin Volz explores how these spies get hired, and one CEO describes how his company fell for the scheme.
Further Listening:
- How North Korea’s Hacker Army Stole $3 Billion in Crypto
- North Korea’s Propaganda Mastermind
- The Cyberattack That’s Roiling Healthcare
Further Reading:
- North Korean Spies Are Infiltrating U.S. Companies Through IT Jobs
- Kim Jong Un Wants to Block All North Koreans From Escaping. It Isn’t Working.
- A North Korean Diplomat Managed a Rare Defection: A Flight Out of Cuba
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22:2010/09/2024