The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Introducing Bad Bets Season 2: The Unraveling of Trevor Milton Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

Bad Bets is WSJ’s podcast series that unravels big-business dramas that have had a big impact on our world. In season two, reporter Ben Foldy delves into the story of Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who promised a future of zero-emission trucks that could revolutionize the industry. At its peak, Nikola’s publicly traded stock was worth more than Ford Motor Co.’s—until a ragtag group of whistleblowers and short sellers revealed that Nikola and its truck weren’t all that they seemed.

Find the entire series here: https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/bad-bets

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How Crypto Giant FTX Suddenly Imploded Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

Once a leader in the world of cryptocurrency, Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX is scrambling for funds. It’s now facing a shortfall of $8 billion after Binance walked away from a rescue attempt. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff on what this means for the crypto ecosystem.

Further Reading:

-Tensions Between Crypto Giants FTX, Binance Spill Into Public View

-Binance’s Deal for Rival FTX Marks Power Shift Amid Crypto Turmoil

-The 30-Year-Old Spending $1 Billion to Save Crypto

Further Listening:

-The Rise of Binance - And The Effort to Reel it In

-The ‘Death Spiral’ of a Stablecoin

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Why the Red Wave Didn’t Happen Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

Republicans were expecting to come away with sizable wins in the midterm elections on Tuesday. But as the results come in, it's clear that those hopes have been dashed. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains where the election stands — and what it means for the GOP.

Further Reading:

-Control of Congress Remains at Stake as Democrats Fend Off an Anticipated ‘Red Wave’

Further Listening:

-The Republican Push to Flip Latino Voters

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Banks’ Alliance to Fight Climate Change is on the Rocks Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

A year ago, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the biggest players in the financial world joined together to incorporate carbon emissions into their most fundamental decisions. As the summit reconvenes in Egypt, the group is on the rocks. WSJ’s David Benoit explains why.

Further Reading:

-Financial System Makes Big Promises on Climate Change at COP26 Summit

-Big Banks and U.N. Green Finance Group Clash in Alliance

-Mark Carney, Ex-Banker, Wants Banks to Pay for Climate Change
Further Listening:
-The Fight Over Climate Change's Price Tag

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Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Is Losing Advertisers Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

Elon Musk is now in charge of Twitter, and his shake-up of the company is making advertisers nervous. All kinds of brands have started pausing their ad spending. WSJ’s Suzanne Vranica explains what Musk is doing to rein in the losses.

Further Reading:

-General Mills, Audi and Pfizer Join Growing List of Companies Pausing Twitter Ads

-First Week of Elon Musk’s Twitter Was Chaos and Confusion for Employees

Further Listening:

-The Musk-Twitter Saga – From The Journal.

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How TikTok Became The World’s Favorite App Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

In only five years, TikTok has gained millions of fans around the world and become a source of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and China. We spoke to people who witnessed the app’s meteoric rise firsthand: influencers, former workers, and a government official who is concerned about TikTok’s data practices.

Further Listening

-Why TikTok’s Under Investigation

-Why Everyone is Mad At Instagram

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Show Me the Money: More Job Listings Have Salary Details Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

Companies trying to hire in New York City had to revamp their job postings this week. A new law requires salary ranges on all job postings, the latest in a wave around the U.S. WSJ's Chip Cutter and Ben Cohen explain how the law can affect the power dynamics between workers and employers and how companies might try to find workarounds.

Further Reading:

-Is Your Colleague Earning More Than $200,000 a Year? Now You Can Find Out

-JPMorgan, Macy’s and Other Companies Reveal What They Pay Workers

-California Employers May Soon Need to Disclose Pay on Job Listings

-Success at Work Is Warped by Your Co-Workers’ Salaries

Further Listening:

-U.S. Soccer’s Equal Pay Deal and One Player Who Helped Negotiate It

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Pig Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

A texting scam that originated in China is on the rise in the United States. It’s more sophisticated than scams of the past and it has already cost American victims more than $400 million in total. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how pig butchering works and one victim shares how it’s impacted her.

Further Reading:

-A Text Scam Called ‘Pig Butchering’ Cost Her More Than $1.6 Million

-Online Scams Cost Americans Billions. Here’s How to Avoid the Worst of Them.

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Meta’s Metaverse Mess Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

About a year after Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook as Meta Platforms Inc., internal documents show the company's transition to the metaverse is not going smoothly. WSJ’s Salvador Rodriguez explains how glitchy technology and declining monthly users are complicating Meta’s big metaverse push.

Further Reading:

-Company Documents Show Meta’s Flagship Metaverse Falling Short

-Facebook Parent Meta’s Earnings Fall Short as Revenue Decline Accelerates
Further Listening:
-How to Build a Metaverse

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How High Will Interest Rates Go? Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

For months the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates at a fast and furious pace to combat inflation. Now some Fed officials are advocating for a slower, steadier approach. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains the debate within the Fed over just how high interest rates should go.

Further Reading:

-Two Fed Officials Make Case for Caution With Future Interest Rate Raises

-Fed Set to Raise Rates by 0.75 Point and Debate Size of Future Hikes

Further Listening:

-The Fed’s Plan to Curb Inflation

-Can the Fed Lower Inflation Without Causing a Recession?

-The Fed’s Shifting Inflation Message

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