The Journal.

After the passage of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” renewable energy companies are bracing for more challenging times. The law is set to end Biden-era subsidies for clean energy, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that the industry could lose half a trillion dollars in tax incentives over the next decade. WSJ’s David Uberti reports on the renewable energy pullback. And Annie Minofftalks to a co-owner of a North Carolina-based solar-panel-installation company about what the winding down of subsidies means for his business.  Further Listening: - The Healthcare Costs of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’  - How Trump’s Megabill Squeaked Through the Senate  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Grok went rogue. The AI chatbot – which users can interact with on X – posted antisemitic comments and graphic descriptions of violence before being deactivated, leaving users with a question: Where were Grok’s guardrails? WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy breaks down what happened and what it means for Musk’s company’s plans for an AI future. Annie Minoff hosts.    Further Listening: - How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink  - The Musk-Twitter Saga  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The man of steel is back in a new $225 million reboot. Riding on this weekend’s release is the hope that DC Studios will finally begin to match the past successes of its archrival Marvel. Its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery views DC Studios as critical to its success or failure. WSJ’s Ben Fritz talks to Jessica Mendoza about whether or not Superman can be the savior that DC and Warner are hoping for. Further Listening: - With Great Power: The Rise of Superhero Cinema  - Ron Howard and Brian Grazer on Longevity in Hollywood  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, President Trump has feuded with the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates. And now, two Republicans named Kevin (Kevin Hassett, one of Trump’s closest economic advisers and Kevin Warsh—a former Fed governor) are vying to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos takes us inside the contest for the next Fed Chair and what the President might be looking for with his choice. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline  - Is the Economy…OK?  - Trump 2.0: Where Is the Economy Headed?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s megabill cuts over $1 trillion in healthcare spending over the next decade, mainly from Medicaid. Experts project nearly 8.7 million fewer people covered by Medicaid, and hospitals face reduced payments and higher costs. WSJ’s Dominique Mosbergen reports on the bill’s historic cuts. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - How Trump’s Megabill Squeaked Through the Senate  - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Trump paused most of his “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days last spring, the administration had hoped to cut dozens of trade deals. As trade advisor Peter Navarro put it, there could be "90 deals in 90 days." But as Trump’s deal deadline approached, it became clear that the administration’s deal-making push has hit some snags, resulting in only a handful of agreements with the UK, China, and Vietnam. This week, Trump extended his deadline to August 1st and sent public letters to many U.S. trading partners. WSJ’s Gavin Bade explains the sticking points that have gotten in the way of “90 deals in 90 days.” Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - Trump's Plan B After Trade Court Setback  - Inside the Surprise U.S.-China Trade Deal  - Taking Stock of the 'Sell America' Trade  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is shaking up business in a big way, and recent college graduates are feeling the pinch. WSJ’s Chip Cutter explores the new corporate philosophy emerging around hiring and explains how the promise of artificial intelligence is putting entry-level jobs on the chopping block and less experienced applicants may be forced to pivot. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Company Behind ChatGPT  - The Hidden Workforce That Helped Filter Violence and Abuse Out of ChatGPT  - OpenAI’s Weekend of Absolute Chaos  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the battle for AI supremacy, Meta’s models have lagged. Now CEO Mark Zuckerberg is racing to hire new AI talent to close the gap with rivals. He’s dangling huge pay packages to lure experts away from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky explains how Meta’s AI efforts fell short, and who will be joining the company’s new “Superintelligence Labs” to turn things around. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety  -Why the New Pope Is Taking on AI  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a marathon 27-hour session, Senate Republicans passed their version of President Trump's “big, beautiful bill.” Getting enough senators on board meant last-minute wrangling over key issues, including Medicaid, clean energy and the deficit. WSJ's Richard Rubin explains how Senate Republicans got to a “yes” vote, and what needs to happen before Trump can sign the bill into law. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JPMorgan Chase recently announced that it was raising the annual fee on its popular Sapphire Reserve credit card by 45%. The company believes enough customers will stick around because of the status and exclusivity the card conveys. WSJ’s Imani Moise reports on how credit card companies have increasingly attracted customers by offering perks. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Unusual Economics of the Bilt Credit Card  - The Fight Over Your Credit Card Swipe  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SCOTUS wrapped up a busy session, giving states room to restrict transgender medical care for minors, allowing the federal government to strip legal status for Venezuelan migrants and, in one of its final acts on Friday, clipping the power of federal judges to block President Trump’s policies nationwide. Jessica Mendoza speaks to WSJ’s Jess Bravin about the emergency cases filling the Supreme Court schedule and what that signals for the future. Further Listening: -Is There an Ethics Problem at the Supreme Court?  -Trump 2.0: A Showdown With the Judiciary  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To renowned travel guru Rick Steves, “fear is for people who don’t get out very much.” The travel mogul has built an empire on a philosophy of travel that builds bridges. Recently, he sat down with Ryan Knutson at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle for a conversation about his business, his politics and how the two intersect. Further Listening: The Love Triangle Over Spirit  An Air Traffic Controller Speaks Out About Newark Airport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has won over legions of rent-strapped young voters with a platform focused on making housing more affordable — including by freezing rents. This week he cleared an important hurdle, winning the Democratic primary in an upset of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. But his success has panicked the New York real estate industry, which is now in a mad scramble to assess its options. WSJ’s Rebecca Picciotto explains how the city’s housing crisis is driving the election. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -How Eric Adams Became New York City’s First Indicted Mayor  -The Rise of the Yimbys  -The Downfall of a Real Estate Empire  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Rohwer owns Glenn Valley Foods and lends his name to the company’s signature product: Gary’s QuickSteaks. He says he built his business with the help of mostly immigrant workers, whose legal status he says his company vetted using the government’s E-Verify System. This month, his plant was raided by ICE. He speaks with Annie Minoff about what happened, his industry and what’s next for his company.  Further Listening: - Why Latino Consumers Are Spending Less  - Inside ICE’s Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants  - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, is making artificial intelligence a signature issue. Last week, the Vatican hosted tech leaders at a two-day international AI conference in Rome. WSJ’s Margherita Stancati reports on why Silicon Valley is watching to see if Leo will use the Church’s moral authority to push for stronger AI rules. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - The Financial Mess Facing the Vatican  - Pope Francis Has Died. What’s Next for the Catholic Church?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica Mendoza speaks to NCAA president Charlie Baker about the landmark settlement that is ushering in a new professional era for college sports. The deal will create a new system for college athletes to get paid directly by schools. They discuss how payments will be regulated, what impact Title IX could have and how the deal could change college sports. Further Listening: - The TikTok That Changed College Hoops  - California Takes On the NCAA  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. Officials said Iran also fired on Iraq. The attacks were in retaliation for a strike over the weekend that hit three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, authorized by President Trump. WSJ’s Shayndi Raice reports on how Iran got backed into a corner and has been forced to decide whether or not to escalate into a broader war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -Iran May Be Running Out of Options  -Iran and the U.S. Were Set to Negotiate. Then Israel Attacked  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most well-known cryptocurrency thefts involve online hacks or phishing attempts via text messages. But WSJ's Sam Schechner has been reporting on a new wave of violent crypto thefts: wrench attacks. Brutal physical attacks against the crypto elite are on the rise. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: -Pig-Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist  -How North Korea’s Hacker Army Stole $3 Billion in Crypto   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deportation fears and economic uncertainty is driving changes in shopping behavior in Latino communities. Job losses in industries like construction have also left Hispanics with less money to spend. WSJ’s Laura Cooper travels to Texas and reports that some Hispanic shoppers are forgoing their regular shopping trips and restaurant meals. Companies are now saying they’re seeing the pullback in their sales. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Inside ICE’s Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants  - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After five days of escalating conflict with Israel, Iran’s government may be running out of moves. Today, President Trump called on Iran to surrender without conditions. WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explores how Iran built itself into a regional power and why its government now finds itself imperiled. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: -Iran and the U.S. Were Set to Negotiate. Then Israel Attacked  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, Washington D.C. has faced thousands of federal jobs cuts due to President Trump’s DOGE work. Also, the city has a $1 billion budget shortfall after Congress passed a funding bill forcing the District to revert to its 2024 budget. Jessica Mendoza sat down with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to discuss the city’s challenges, the weekend’s military parade, and her relationship with Trump.  Further Listening: - Inside DOGE’s Campaign of Secrecy  - Can the GOP Unite Around Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. officials planned to meet with an Iranian delegation this weekend to discuss curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. In a twist, those talks ended up as cover for a surprise Israeli attack that killed top Iranian officials and struck key nuclear sites. Now, Iran is retaliating. WSJ’s Michael R. Gordon lays out the U.S.’s diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and explains what to expect next. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Why Israel and Hamas Could Be Headed Into a Forever War  - A Deadly Drone Attack and Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leonard Leo is a conservative lawyer and co-chairman of the Federalist Society who played a significant role in shifting the U.S. Supreme Court rightward. Now he is focusing his efforts on reshaping American culture through entertainment. He’s channeling funds towards high production value Christian and conservative television shows and films, including Amazon Prime’s hit "House of David.” WSJ’s Maggie Severns reports on how Leo is using a fund of more than $1 billion to back Hollywood blockbusters that push a more right-wing agenda. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: -The Return of Religious Films to Hollywood  -Ron Howard and Brian Grazer on Longevity in Hollywood  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UnitedHealth is the largest healthcare company in the U.S. But over the last 18 months, a string of challenges, including several Justice Department probes, have tested the company. WSJ’s Anna Wilde Mathews and Christopher Weaver report on how the company rose to prominence, why its CEO is out, and how it has weathered the setbacks. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening:  -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare  -Medicare, Inc. Part 2: Taxpayers Paid for Care Denied by Insurers  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To fulfill a key campaign promise, the Trump administration has been pushing ICE to arrest more migrants. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains how that’s led to more aggressive tactics and raids like the ones that unfolded in Los Angeles on Friday, sparking major protests. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory  - How Frog Embryos Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention  - A New Phase in Trump’s Immigration Fight  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The storybook bromance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seems to have come to an end. WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus unpacks what happened and what the stakes are for the two powerful men. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk  - Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin  - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped it Apart  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the sickest Medicare Advantage patients ran into problems getting end-of-life care. Ultimately many patients switched to traditional Medicare, costing taxpayers billions, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal. This is one of many Medicare Advantage practices that is now under government scrutiny. Both Congress and Medicare agency head Dr. Mehmet Oz are pushing for reforms to curb tactics that can boost federal payments to private insurers. The Department of Justice is also investigating major private insurance companies UnitedHealth, Aetna, Elevance Health and Humana. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigations with WSJ’s Anna Wilde Mathews. Further Listening: -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare  -A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Medicare Advantage was designed to save the government money. But a Wall Street Journal investigation found that private insurers used the program to generate extra payments through questionable diagnoses. The investigation uncovered instances of potentially deadly illnesses like AIDS, where patients received no follow-up care, as well as diagnoses that were medically impossible. This happened in part when insurers sent nurse practitioners into Medicare Advantage recipients’ homes. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigation with WSJ’s Christopher Weaver as well as a nurse who participated in the program.  Further Listening: -A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial  -Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special immigration status helped Mills Manufacturing, which makes parachutes for the U.S. military, keep its workforce fully staffed. But last week, an order from the Supreme Court allowed the Trump Administration to revoke temporary protections for about 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua. WSJ’s Ruth Simon explains why companies like Mills are scrambling. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - A New Phase in Trump’s Immigration Fight  - How Frog Embryos Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Israeli-backed system meant to deliver aid and food into Gaza launched last week to scenes of chaos and violence. WSJ's Anat Peled breaks down the new system, and explains why getting aid to the region is difficult and dangerous. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - A Fragile Cease-Fire Deal in Gaza  - The UN Agency Accused of Links to Hamas  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Chapman presented herself as just another influencer on TikTok. In reality, she operated a “laptop farm” that allowed North Koreans to take jobs as U.S. tech workers and scam more than 300 U.S. companies out of millions of dollars. WSJ’s Robert McMillan breaks down the scam and Chapman’s crucial role in it. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: - North Korea's Propaganda Mastermind  - Your New Hire May Be a North Korean Spy  - Hack Me If You Can  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minting one penny costs the United States nearly four cents. After 233 years, the Treasury Department has decided to phase out the coin. This will mean that businesses will have to round cash transactions up or down, and some fear it could lead to inflation. We reminisce about the cultural significance of the one-cent coin with WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin and discuss the pro-penny stance with an advocate. WSJ’s Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - The Fight Over Your Credit Card Swipe  - The Coronavirus Cash Crisis  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are the Oscar winning director and producer behind some of Hollywood's most memorable movies like A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and The Da Vinci Code. The duo, who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1985, sat down with WSJ's Ben Fritz at the Future of Everything Festival to talk about longevity in Hollywood, AI in movie production and the future of movies. Further Listening:  - Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on ‘Wicked’ - With Great Power, Part 1: Origin Story Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, an obscure trade court dropped a bombshell ruling: President Trump did not have the authority to issue sweeping tariffs under a 1977 law. The government has appealed the court’s decision. WSJ’s James Fanelli and Gavin Bade dig into the ruling and what it could mean for the future of Trump’s trade agenda. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices  A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May, President Trump signed an executive order cutting off federal funding for public broadcasters, including NPR and PBS. In his order, Trump said “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.” WSJ’s Joe Flint breaks down the decades-long fight over public media, and NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher explains why her network is challenging the Trump administration in court. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: -For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers, It's Time to Pay  -Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration is starting to put millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers into collections and threatening to confiscate their wages, tax refunds and federal benefits. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin digs into what the restart could mean for borrowers and the economy. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: -Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt  -Breaking Down Student Debt Relief  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta has gone all in on chatbots. The bots are capable of giving advice, answering questions and playing games with users. Some feature the licensed voices of some celebrities. But after months of testing, the Wall Street Journal found Meta's chatbots were also capable of engaging in graphic romantic roleplay, even with young users. Some people inside the company are concerned. Jeff Horwitz reports and Kate Linebaugh hosts for the last time. Further Listening: - Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly?  - The Facebook Files  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're off for Memorial Day but with summer reading season just beginning, we wanted to share this episode.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. Jessica Mendoza hosts.This episode was first published in December 2024. Further Listening: -The Rise of the Tween Shopper  -Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans  -Scholastic's Succession Drama  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Economists have long analyzed data to predict the next recession. They’ve also turned to more offbeat economic gauges like underwear sales and skirt lengths. But now, the TikTok generation is seeing recession indicators everywhere. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang explains what Gen Z’s fascination with harbingers of economic doom might actually mean for the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Is the Economy… OK?  - Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed?  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some consumers and lawmakers upset over high egg prices believe they’ve found a villain: Cal-Maine. The little-known company produces one out of every five eggs sold in the U.S. And in the midst of a national egg shortage and a bird flu epidemic, Cal-Maine has been raking in the profits. But are the accusations against Cal-Maine fair? WSJ’s Patrick Thomas investigates. Annie Minoff hosts.   Further Listening: -An Eggspensive Dilemma  -Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blockbuster drugs. Rising profits. Strong sales. And yet, Novo Nordisk, the Danish company behind the GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, made a surprising move last week: It pushed out its CEO. WSJ's Peter Loftus charts the rise of Ozempic and the fall of CEO Lars Jorgensen. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: Trillion Dollar Shot  Why WeightWatchers Wants in on Drugs Like Ozempic   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill today to urge passage of his multitrillion dollar tax and spending agenda. The bill is a complex piece of legislation that includes tax cuts, spending increases, spending reductions and some tax hikes. In total, it would increase budget deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on the testy debate inside the GOP over the bill. Jessica Mendoza hosts.     Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: The First 100 Days  -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was supposed to be the highlight of New York’s spring auction week: Sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s masterpiece “Large Thin Head” was this year’s most hotly anticipated piece up for sale. But when the bidding opened, collectors went silent. WSJ’s Kelly Crow explains what this unexpected auction week bust reveals about today’s art market. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - The $6 Million Banana's Appeal  - Is This Painting a Masterpiece? AI Is On the Case  - The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A global team of betting whizzes hatched a scheme to take down the Texas Lottery. The plan was led by a London banker-turned-bookmaker and a mysterious professional gambler nicknamed ‘The Joker.’ The duo partnered with a Texas company and local retailers to print more than 99% of all the lottery tickets sold. And the jackpot was worth almost $100 million. The WSJ’s Brad Reagan explains how they pulled off the heist. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist  - Inside an iPhone Heist  - How Investigators Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heist  - Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport have recently experienced several frightening incidents. Their radars and radios have gone dark, potentially risking the lives of hundreds of passengers. The resulting chaos and delays are forcing government officials to address staffing shortages and outdated tech at the Newark facility, and nationwide. WSJ’s aviation reporter Andrew Tangel talks with one air traffic controller about the difficulties of the job. Annie Minoff hosts.     Further Listening: -Your Flight Delay Is Probably New York’s Fault  -The Life and Death of a Boeing Whistleblower  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billions of health insurance claims are processed every year, and around 19% of them are denied. Very few people appeal, but those that do have a chance at a different outcome. Jessica Mendoza speaks to one family about the insurance denial that threw them into a life-or-death crisis, and WSJ’s Julie Wernau on the system they navigated. Further Listening: - Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance  - The Cyberattack That's Roiling Healthcare  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, to the surprise of global investors, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day trade deal. The deal slashed tariffs between the two countries and sent stocks surging.  Leading the negotiations on the U.S. side was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. WSJ’s Brian Schwartz, who covered the talks in Geneva, explains how Bessent became President Trump’s man on trade policy and got China to ‘yes’ on a temporary truce. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: -Made In America? Shoe Companies Already Tried That.  -Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade  -China Unleashes A Trade War Arsenal  -Tariff Trade-Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means to be surgeon general. Means is a wellness influencer and, along with her brother, a prominent advocate for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. WSJ’s Kristina Peterson reports on how Means’s nomination makes her the latest figure from the lightly regulated wellness industry who has been elevated by Kennedy. Jessica Mendoza hosts.     Further Listening:  - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps  - The Fight Over Fluoride  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI innovator and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees a big problem on the horizon: As AI becomes more and more intelligent, how can anyone tell the humans from the bots? Altman’s World project thinks it has a solution. WSJ’s Angus Berwick unpacks the plan and explores some of the problems that have cropped up during the rollout. Annie Minoff hosts.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump sees tariffs as a way to bring more manufacturing to the United States. But Nike and other sneaker companies have tried to move production out of Asia before. WSJ’s Jon Emont describes the cautionary tale of Nike’s attempt to make tens of millions of sneakers using high-tech manufacturing in Guadalajara, Mexico. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: -A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping.  -China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just days before his death, Pope Francis wrestled with an enormous problem: the Vatican’s dire finances. The world’s smallest country is now facing a budget deficit of millions, and a looming crisis in its pension fund. As the Papal conclave meets this week to vote for a new leader, WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw pieces through how centuries of financial mismanagement have culminated into a mess that the next pope will inherit. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Pope Francis Has Died. What’s Next for the Catholic Church?  - The Mormon Church’s $100 Billion Secret Fund  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For months, questions have been swirling about the economy. And last week, we finally got some answers when all kinds of economic data was released. Some of those numbers seemed to say that the economy is headed toward a downward slump, but WSJ’s Jeanne Whalen explains that the picture may not be as dark as it seems at first glance. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed?  -A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 60 years in charge, Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway later this year. Jessica Mendoza talks to WSJ’s Jason Zweig and Karen Langley about Buffet’s prolific career and Greg Abel, the man he chose to succeed him as CEO.  Further Listening: - Does Warren Buffett Know Something We Don't?  - The Life of One of Wall Street's Greatest Investors  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little-known trade provision is ending, and it will likely upend business for e-commerce companies and raise prices for consumers. De minimis has allowed companies to avoid duties on shipments to the U.S. that are worth $800 or less. It’s a program that many companies, especially e-commerce giants, Shein and Temu, have taken advantage of to keep prices low. WSJ’s Shen Lu explains how President Donald Trump has now ended that program for products from China and Hong Kong. We also speak with the CFO of shoe company Kuru about how the new rules could change their business. Jessica Mendoza hosts.    Further Listening: -Shein: Fast Fashion, Slow IPO  -The Billionaire Caught Between Trump and China  -China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our capstone episode, Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball break down Trump's first 100 days in office with WSJ’s Aaron Zitner, digging into the highs and lows, where things stand with voters and what’s next for the administration and the country.   Further Listening: -Canada’s New Leader Is Ready to Take On Trump  -Trump 2.0: Where is the Economy Headed  -Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before committing suicide live on X, Arnold Haro had a request: "If I die, I hope you guys turn this into a meme coin." His dying wish came true. Haro’s followers created a meme coin that skyrocketed in value to $2 million. WSJ's Kevin Dugan digs into a seedy online world where anything can be turned into crypto. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: - Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Davos conference brings together the world’s elites to try to make the world a better place. But according to some current and former employees, the leader of the organizing body behind Davos fosters a toxic workplace. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran discusses her investigation into the World Economic Forum and the impact of a recent anonymous whistleblower letter. Annie Minoff hosts.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Carney, a former banker, won Canada’s national election on Monday. Carney ran on an anti-Trump platform, and he's promised to try to decouple his country’s economy from its biggest trading partner and, lately, its biggest threat. WSJ’s Vipal Monga explains how Trump’s trade war and threats to annex Canada have upended the election. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - Why Justin Trudeau Stepped Down  - Guns and Death Threats in Canada's Baby-Eel Fisheries  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suleiman al-Youssef’s son, Shadi, has been missing since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. After the Assad regime was overthrown, Suleiman found new hope when he discovered a video of a man who looked like his son outside the country’s most notorious prison. WSJ’s Ben C. Solomon on Suleiman’s search for his son and Syria’s thousands of other missing loved ones like him. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Assad’s Regime Falls. What’s Next For Syria?  - Ten Days That Shifted Power in Syria  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Wirth and Tony Harris moved halfway across the world to help build Neom: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s futuristic new city in the Saudi desert. But what they found wasn’t the desert utopia of Neom’s marketing. Instead, they found a project bleeding cash, led by a screaming CEO, where very little was actually being built.  WSJ’s Rory Jones and Eliot Brown explain how Neom fell years behind schedule – and went billions of dollars over-budget – thanks to a culture of runaway spending and never telling the boss “no.” Hosted by Ryan Knutson.  Further Listening: - Neom, Pt 1: Skiing in the Desert  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2017, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious, young leader, Mohammed bin Salman, unveiled Neom: a futuristic new city Saudi Arabia would build in the desert. Neom would be a hotspot for tourism like the French Riviera, a center of innovation like Silicon Valley, and a global melting pot like Dubai. It would help transform the Saudi economy. But over the years, that already bold plan grew even more ambitious.   In the first of two episodes about Neom, WSJ’s Rory Jones and Eliot Brown explain how an effort to pivot the Saudi economy away from oil grew to encompass plans for a desert ski resort and skyscrapers the length of Connecticut. Plus we hear from two people who uprooted their lives and moved to Neom to help make MBS’s dream a reality. Hosted by Ryan Knutson.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s deportations, tariffs, federal layoffs and funding suspensions have generated nonstop headlines and frayed confidence, yet left surprisingly little trace on the economy. Hiring, spending and inflation look a lot like they did under Joe Biden. As Trump’s first 100 days draw to a close, Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball explore the state of the U.S. economy with Chief Economics Commentator Greg Ip and try to understand what might be coming next.  Further Listening: - Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade  - Inside the Harvard vs. Trump Battle  - How Frog Embyros Landed a Scientist in ICE Detention  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something strange happened in the US financial system earlier this week: the stock market, the bond market, and the value of the dollar all slumped. This volatility andrecent threats to fire Fed chief Jerome Powell are unnerving foreign investors, who are flocking to a new phenomenon called the Sell America trade. WSJ’s Chelsey Dulaney explains what Sell America means for decades of American finance primacy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade  -Trump Allies Draft Plans to Rein in the Fed   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump has been on an escalating campaign to reorder elite higher education. The administration’s Anti-Semitism Task Force has frozen billions of dollars in federal funding after Harvard refused to comply with their demands. WSJ’s Douglas Belkin on the showdown between America’s most prominent university and the U.S. president. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - Trump's College Crackdown  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova landed at Boston Logan Airport with samples of frog embryos in her luggage. Those samples cost Petrova her visa and kickstarted an asylum claim that landed her in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains that Petrova’s case represents an aggressive shift in the Trump administration’s stance towards immigrants with visas. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles   -A New Phase in Trump’s Immigration Fight  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter .  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday morning, Pope Francis died at 88. The first South American to hold the office, he was known for his commitment to social and economic justice. WSJ’s Margherita Stancati discusses Francis’ legacy and explains what happens next for the Catholic Church. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:  - The Return of Religious Films to Hollywood  - The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Colorado became one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, a community called Pueblo stepped forward hoping to become the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis'. WSJ’s Julie Wernau visited the town to explore the cannabis boom that promised new jobs and tax revenue, and found an industry that had gone bust, with local residents struggling to find a way forward. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Zuckerberg is in court defending Meta against a Federal Trade Commission case that alleges the company wields an illegal monopoly in social media. It's a trial that could force the tech giant to potentially break itself up by selling Instagram and WhatsApp. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli explains how Zuckerberg’s efforts to get close to President Donald Trump hasn’t kept the company safe, while Jan Wolfe is in D.C. court watching the play-by-play. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - FTC Chair Lina Khan on Microsoft Merger, ChatGPT and Her Court Losses  - 'The Facebook Files' from The Journal.  - Why the FTC is Challenging a $25 Billion Supermarket Merger  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of trying to revive his flailing social media company, Elon Musk has pulled off a turnaround at X. It comes after Musk decided to merge X with his artificial intelligence company xAI. The deal values the combined business at over $100 billion. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains how Musk has pulled the app formerly known as Twitter back from the brink of bankruptcy, thanks in part to his proximity to President Donald Trump. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Musk-Twitter Saga -- from The Journal.  - Trump 2.0: The Musk-Trump Bromance   Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hong Kong-based company CK Hutchinson, led by billionaire Li Ka-shing, recently announced a deal to sell majority stakes in two ports on the Panama Canal. The deal with a consortium of investors led by BlackRock pleased President Donald Trump, after he had expressed interest in regaining control over the canal. But, as WSJ’s Rebecca Feng reports, the $22.8 billion deal also angered Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who saw the ports as a bargaining chip with the United States. Allison Pohle hosts.   Further Listening: - China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal  - The Trade War With China Is On  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Telehealth companies make hair loss drugs easy to get. They also don’t have to disclose side effects in ads. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler reports that some young men say they are suffering serious health consequences, and that they didn’t understand the risks. Kate Linebaugh hosts.  Further Listening:  - Testosterone Clinics Sell Virility. Side Effects Sometimes Included.  - ‘Uncontrolled Substances’ from The Journal.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After decades of fighting Coca-Cola to be the nation’s favorite soda, Pepsi dropped to third place, after Dr Pepper. Now PepsiCo needs to win back soda drinkers . WSJ’s Laura Cooper reports that after years of focusing on potato chips and energy drinks, the company’s new beverage head Ram Krishnan is trying to refocus PepsiCo on drinks, in part with an agreement to purchase prebiotic soda brand Poppi. Allison Pohle hosts.   Further Listening: - ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper  - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps  - PepsiCo’s New Healthy Diet: More Potato Chips and Soda  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Linebaugh and Molly Ball go behind the scenes of the administration’s tariff pause. We dive deep with WSJ’s Josh Dawsey, exploring the tension in the days after the announcement and what really changed the president’s mind. Plus, your questions! Further Listening: - China Unleashes a Trade War Arsenal  - The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices  - Wall Street Speaks Out Against Tariffs  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early days of President Trump’s second term, China was ready to negotiate on trade. Then came Liberation Day. Now China is ready with a trade war arsenal taking aim at U.S. companies. WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains how China is gearing up for an extraordinary conflict with no immediate exits. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade   - The Trade War With China Is On  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has a new vision for the Environmental Protection Agency that significantly rolls back environmental regulations. Kate Linebaugh speaks to the man overseeing that vision— Administrator Lee Zeldin, about his plans and new approach to environmental governance.  Further Listening: - The Fight Over Fluoride  - Hot, Dry and Booming: A Texas Climate Case Study  - Why Microsoft Wants Three Mile Island's Nuclear Power  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump is ramping up his long-planned tariff war, promising to restore “Boomtown USA.” Before the start of the president’s first term, one small town made a bid to revive its manufacturing glory days. After a foreign company came to town, it made some headway. WSJ’s Chao Deng explores the story of Newberry, South Carolina. Further Listening: - Wall Street Speaks Out Against Tariffs  - Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles  - Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, U.S. stocks lost $6.6 trillion in value during a two-day washout after President Trump announced large tariffs on countries around the world. As markets continue to swing, Wall Street leaders are speaking out, including billionaire investor Bill Ackman and JPMorgan Chase executive Jamie Dimon. Host Kate Linebaugh talks with Gregory Zuckerman about the market chaos and how investors are responding.  Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade  -Trump 2.0: Trade Wars and Deportation Battles  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the majority of Americans have been drinking tap water with added fluoride to improve oral health. But WSJ’s Kris Maher says that backlash to fluoride is spreading. Nearly 20 communities have halted the practice since October and Utah has now banned adding fluoride to water across the state. This comes after a landmark ruling by a federal judge that the mineral poses an “unreasonable” risk, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken out against it. Ryan Knutson hosts.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Further Listening: -The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball unpack the administration’s onslaught of new tariffs and break down what election results in Florida and Wisconsin mean for each party. Plus, they speak with WSJ’s Michelle Hackman about Trump’s aggressive immigration efforts including student deportations. Further Listening: -Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade  -Trump 2.0: Group Chat Fallout  -Three Federal Workers Hit by DOGE  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday, in the Rose Garden, President Trump sent out a clear message: the era of globalization is over. Trump announced sweeping tariffs on trillions of dollars of imports. The new duties immediately shook Wall Street and sent stocks plummeting. WSJ’s White House economic policy reporter Brian Schwartz explains how President Trump has wanted this day to happen for decades. And we talk to an American business owner who is deeply worried about what these tariffs mean for his company’s survival. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Further Listening: - The Trade War With China Is On  - Trump’s Tariff Whiplash   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Javice sold her financial aid startup Frank to JPMorgan Chase for $175 million. But soon after the ink on the deal was dry, the bank discovered that their new acquisition was not at all what it seemed. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains how a trial about fraud committed against JPMorgan resulted in the bank feeling the heat. Kate Linebaugh hosts.  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Further Listening:  - A $175 Million ‘Huge Mistake’  - JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on What’s Next for the Economy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gap Inc. was once the king of mall-brand fashion. In recent years though, its Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta chains have been outmaneuvered by discount stores like Target and fast-fashion brands like Zara and Shein. Ryan Knutson speaks with the new CEO Richard Dickson who is translating his previous experience resurrecting the Barbie brand into a new era for the iconic clothing seller.    Further Listening: Rent the Runway’s CEO on How it Survived the Pandemic Shein: Fast Fashion, Slow IPO How Target Got Off Target Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, a popular Utah influencer with six children went to prison for child abuse. Now the state has put a new law into place to protect the children in these videos. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson on the Ruby Franke scandal and her daughter’s efforts to keep it from happening again. Further Reading: - A Former Child Star Is Taking On the Dark Side of Utah’s Mommy Bloggers  Further Listening: - The Rise of the Tween Shopper  - Readers Can’t Get Enough of BookTok. Publishers Are Cashing In.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A family of deep-cover Russian spies hiding in the heart of Europe. A Slovenian spycatcher with a daunting mission. After months of reporting, WSJ's Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson unspool the story of the global hunt for Vladimir Putin's sleeper agents, and how it culminated in the biggest game of hostage diplomacy since the Cold War. Further Reading: -The Global Hunt for Putin’s ‘Sleeper Agents’  -Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich  Further Listening: -The Historic U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap  -Inside Russia’s Spy Unit Targeting Americans  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A journalist was added to a text thread with high-level Trump administration officials revealing plans for the timing and weapons to be used in a military strike against Houthi militants. Administration officials disputed that any classified information about the military operation had been shared. WSJ’s Nancy Youssef joins the chat with Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss the fallout of the group chat pinged ‘round the world.  Further Reading: -An Annotated Analysis of Signal Group Chat With Top Trump Officials  -Hegseth Comes Under Scrutiny for Texting Strike Details as Fallout Grows  -Democrats Are Taking Their Anger Out on Chuck Schumer  Further Listening: -Trump’s Attack on Big Law  -Trump’s College Crackdown  -Trump 2.0: A Showdown with the Judiciary  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s unprecedented effort to shrink the federal labor force is impeding work at government sites across the country. Three laid-off federal employees tell their story and WSJ’s Lindsay Ellis reports on the wider impact of the layoffs. Further Listening: - Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy  - Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart  Further Reading: - The Collateral Damage of Trump’s Firing Spree  - The Federal Workers Who Are Not Quite Fired, Not Quite Working  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House is waging a pressure campaign against some of the country’s most prominent law firms. WSJ’s Erin Mulvaney on how the firm Paul, Weiss came to the decision to make a deal with President Trump. Further Reading: -Trump Signs Order Targeting Law Firm Jenner & Block  -Law Firms Scramble to Avoid Being Trump’s Next Target  -Why Law Firm Paul Weiss Pleaded Its Case With Trump, and Not With a Court  Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: A Showdown With the Judiciary  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly three decades as creative director, Donatella Versace is stepping down from her role at her family’s fashion house. The announcement comes after years of clashes between the designer and the American businessman who acquired her family’s brand. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner unpacks the drama and discusses what it means for the fashion house.  Further Reading: -Inside the Versace Clash Between Donatella and the ‘American Cowboy’ CEO  -Donatella Versace to Step Down as Chief Creative Officer of Versace  -The Plan to Revive Michael Kors and Versace Tanked Their Sales Instead Further Listening: -The Resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch  -Old Navy Tried to Make Sizes for All. It Backfired.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Columbia University gave in to President Trump’s demands after he revoked roughly $400 million in federal funding. WSJ’s Douglas Belkin explains how the university made its decision, and the impact that may have on campuses across the country. Further Reading:  - Universities Sprint from ‘We Will Not Cower’ to Appeasing Trump  - Columbia Yields to Trump in Battle Over Federal Funding  Further Listening:  - Pro-Palestinian Protests and Arrests at U.S. Colleges   - The 2024 College Financial Aid Mess  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After it was approved in 2019, Spravato, a depression treatment derived from the club drug ketamine, was looking like a dud. But recently it has taken off, and it surpassed $1 billion in annual sales last year for its maker, Johnson and Johnson. Further Listening: -A Lawyer Says He Doesn't Need Help for Psychosis. His Family Disagrees.  -America's Maternal Mental Health Crisis  Further Reading: -J&J’s Ketamine-Derived Drug Is Taking Off  -Big Pharma Walked Away From Mental Health. Why Some Are Coming Back.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A battle has been brewing between President Trump and the judicial system as courts delay some of the administration's rapid fire executive orders. WSJ’s Jess Bravin joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss the recent clashes between Trump and the courts.  Further Reading: - Chief Justice Roberts Criticizes Trump’s Call to Impeach Judges  - Trump Escalates Push Against Legal Norms  - A Presidency of Upheaval Emboldens Trump  Further Listening: - A New Phase in Trump’s Immigration Fight  - Trump 2.0: The Uncertainty Economy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greenland could satisfy the world’s hunger for minerals, if miners could just start digging. WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen explains why Greenland’s minerals remain mostly untapped, and what bringing these rare earths to the surface could mean to the global supply chain. Further Reading: - Greenland Has the Makings of a Mining Boom. So Where Is Everyone?  - Greenlanders Reject Trump’s Overtures at the Ballot Box  Further Listening: - Why Trump Wants Ukrainian Minerals  - Why an Arctic Treasure Is Spurring Hope and Dread  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigrants who took advantage of a Biden-era program to enter the U.S. are now being targeted by the Trump administration, including people who fled the Russia-Ukraine war. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains how the program came to be and how Trump cancelled it. Further Reading: - They Thought They Came to the U.S. Legally. Now They’re at Risk for Deportation.  - What Green Card and Visa Holders Need to Know About Recent Deportations  Further Listening: - Trump's Immigration Overhaul  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walmart has been America’s largest retailer by revenue for over three decades. But that title might change hands this year, with Amazon hot on the supercenter’s heels. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer explains how Walmart has fought hard to keep its crown.  Further Reading: -How Walmart Built the Biggest Threat Amazon Has Faced  -Walmart’s Reign as America’s Biggest Retailer Is Under Threat  Further Listening: -The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager’s Six-Figure Salary  -What Walmart’s Aisles Say About the American Consumer  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Van Andel’s ordinary life unraveled when he accidentally downloaded a trojan horse that gave a hacker access to his entire computer. But the hacker didn’t just get Van Andel’s information. It also got his employer: Disney.  Further Reading: -A Disney Worker Downloaded an AI Tool. It Led to a Hack That Ruined His Life.  -How to Keep Hackers From Destroying Your Digital Life  Further Listening: -Six Days of Chaos at MGM's Casinos  -Hack Me If You Can  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gloria Allred’s lifelong crusade against men accused of sexual misconduct has made her a high profile feminist lawyer. But little is known about what happens between Allred and her clients, mostly women, behind the scenes. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar reports.  See the Journal live! Take our survey!  Further Reading: -The High-Pressure Tactics Attorney Gloria Allred Uses—On Her Own Clients  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Reserve has been focused on cooling inflation and achieving a so-called soft landing. President Trump’s trade policies have sent markets reeling and fears of a recession are on the rise. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss Trump’s economic vision. Plus, the Trump administration is moving to deport a permanent legal resident of the United States and the possibility of a government shutdown has Democrats in a pickle. Further Listening:  - What’s Going On With the Economy  - Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk  - The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps  Further Reading: - How Trump 2.0 Is Shifting Its Tone on Markets  - A Presidency of Upheaval Emboldens Trump  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2023, crypto exchange Binance and its CEO and founder, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to violating U.S. money laundering laws. Now, an investigation finds that representatives of President Trump’s family have been in talks to take a financial stake in the U.S. arm of Binance. At the same time, Zhao has pushed the Trump administration to grant him a pardon. WSJ’S Rebecca Ballhaus brings exclusive reporting.  Further Reading: - Trump Family Has Held Deal Talks With Binance Following Crypto Exchange’s Guilty Plea  - How the Trumps Turned an Election Victory Into a Cash Bonanza    Further Listening: - Love Trump? Now You Can Buy His Meme Coin  - Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said he wasn’t going to rule out a recession in the U.S.'s future. WSJ's Ashby Jones explains the cracks starting to appear in the economy and Brian Schwartz reports on how the White House is managing those cracks. See The Journal live! Take our survey ! Further Reading: -Trump’s Economic Messaging Is Spooking Some of His Own Advisers  -Inflation Cooled to 2.8% in February, Lower Than Expected  -CEOs Don’t Plan to Openly Question Trump. Ask Again If the Market Crashes 20%.  Further Listening: -The Trade War With China Is On  -Trump’s Tariffs Cause Chaos in Auto Industry  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices