The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom May 22, 2026

Show notes

American classrooms are awash with YouTube. One survey showed that 94% of teachers have used YouTube in their roles. A WSJ investigation reveals the business strategy behind Google’s push to bring the technology to schools and looks at how YouTube is affecting children. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran lays out her reporting, and Jessica Mendoza talks with a math teacher who has been wrestling with YouTube in his classroom.

Further Listening:

- The New Legal Strategy That Beat Social Media

- Judge Rules ‘Google Is a Monopolist’

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Barney Frank’s Legacy of Financial Reform May 21, 2026

Show notes

Barney Frank, the former Democratic congressman, died this week at the age of 86. Frank was best known as the architect of the Dodd-Frank law that reshaped the U.S. financial system in the wake of the 2008 crisis. WSJ’s Damian Paletta talks about Frank’s legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Man Who Waged War on Inflation

- Two Executives on What It's Like to Stop a Bank Run
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Why Chinese Customers Are Running From Nike May 20, 2026

Show notes

Nike co-founder Phil Knight visited China nearly 50 years ago and dreamed of selling sneakers. He laid out an ambitious vision—“One billion people, two billion feet”— it was an ambitious strategy. By 2010, China was among Nike’s most lucrative markets, offering a blueprint for U.S. companies seeking to cash in on China’s rise. Today, Nike’s China business is bleeding. WSJ’s Jon Emont explores the cautionary tale of Nike’s rise and fall in China. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Can Nike Make Its Shoes Cool Again?.

- The Missteps That Led Nike Off Course

- The Chinese Coffee Giant Taking on Starbucks

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Trapped in the Strait of Hormuz May 19, 2026

Show notes

Approximately 20,000 seafarers have been stranded, many since late February, because they can’t get through the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw spoke with sailors trapped in the strait and reports on their worsening conditions. And WSJ’s Jared Malsin explains why it is so hard to get the cargo ships moving again. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Iran's Regime Changed...for the Worse

- The Energy Shock Is Here

- How China Keeps Iran’s Oil Industry Afloat

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For Riz Ahmed, Life is a Spy Thriller May 18, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes, actor Riz Ahmed says, his life feels like a spy thriller. He made his new show, “Bait,” about that feeling, and sat down with Jessica Mendoza at our Journal Live show in Los Angeles to talk about it. The actor, known for blockbusters like “Star Wars: Rogue One” and his Oscar-nominated performance in “Sound of Metal,” also spoke about his career, what it takes to succeed in Hollywood and getting the rights to a famous spy for his show.

Further Listening:

- Financial Influencers on Wealth and Work

- Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong

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Musk vs. Altman May 15, 2026

Show notes

The blockbuster lawsuit between OpenAI co-founders Elon Musk and Sam Altman has wrapped up. The three-week trial has exposed some of the inner workings and personal feuds behind Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom. WSJ’s Angel Au-Yeung explains what happened during the trial and what the verdict could mean for the future of AI. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza.

Further Listening:

- The Unraveling of OpenAI and Microsoft’s Bromance

- A Data Center Revolt in Missouri
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Jerome Powell’s Last Stand at the Fed May 14, 2026

Show notes

A new chairman is taking over from Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve. But Powell isn't leaving. He plans to stay on as a voting member on the Fed’s board of governors. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos reflects on Powell’s tenure and unpacks his controversial decision to remain at the central bank. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Who Is the New Fed Chair?

- Why is the Fed Chair Facing a Criminal Investigation?

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Trump and Xi to Meet at High-Stakes Summit May 13, 2026

Show notes

President Trump has arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. WSJ's Annie Linskey and Lingling Wei lay out what each side is hoping to get out of the talks, which will range from trade to Taiwan to the war in Iran. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- China's Cheap Goods Are Europe's Problem Now

- Move Over, Humans. China's Robots Are Taking Over

- The Missing Minister

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The Vape Cloud Hanging Over the FDA May 12, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Marty Makary has resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Makary faced criticism over the FDA’s rejections of rare-disease drugs, the agency’s handling of abortion pills and high-profile departures of key FDA staff. But WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte reports that it was a battle over flavored vapes that sealed Makary’s fate. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Flu Shot Drama at the FDA

- The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover

- How Puff Bar Became the Most Popular Vape for Kids
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She Let AI Take Over Her Life For a Year May 11, 2026

Show notes

Personal tech journalist Joanna Stern let AI be her doctor, driver, colleague, housekeeper, therapist and lover as research for her new book "I Am Not a Robot." In this live taping of The Journal, Stern discusses how artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how we think and work. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

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