The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Biden’s Plan to Bring Down Inflation Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

Inflation is the worst it’s been in 40 years. President Joe Biden says he has a plan to bring it down. WSJ’s Amara Omeokwe talks about whether it will work.

Further Reading:

- Joe Biden: My Plan for Fighting Inflation

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Sheryl Sandberg's Complicated Career at Facebook Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

After 14 years at Facebook, COO Sheryl Sandberg announced this week that she's leaving the company. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman describes how Sandberg helped build Facebook's business and faced the fallout of recent scandals.

Further Reading:

- Why Sheryl Sandberg Quit Facebook’s Meta

Further Listening:

- 'The Facebook Files' from The Journal.

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Why Snap's Stock Fell 43% in a Day Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Things were already tough for Snap, Snapchat's parent company, thanks to big changes in the ad market. Then last week the company made a surprise announcement: It's worse than we thought. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky explains the reasons behind Snap’s stock tumble, and why it’s raising concerns about other tech companies too.

Further Reading:

- Tech Stocks Continue to Fall After Snap’s Profit Warning

- Snap Plunges, And There Goes Social Media’s Online Ad Biz

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A Tale of Two Top Guns Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

This past weekend's release of Top Gun: Maverick -- the sequel to Tom Cruise’s 1986 movie -- was record-breaking at the box office. But it also exposed the increasing power that China and its vast market has in Hollywood. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains how Top Gun: Maverick attracted Chinese financing -- and then lost it.

Further Reading:

- ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Loses Chinese Investor Due to Pro-U.S. Messaging

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Can My Stock Portfolio Save the Planet? May 31, 2022

Show notes

What is ESG? Some proponents see it as a way for investors to grow their wealth while fighting climate change and racism. But critics, like Elon Musk, call it an “outrageous scam.” WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar explains how “environmental, social and governance” became three of the hottest words on Wall Street.

Further Reading:

- Elon Musk Calls ESG ‘An Outrageous Scam’ After Tesla Was Removed From Index

- SEC Fines BNY Mellon Over ESG Claims

- SEC Proposes More Disclosure Requirements for ESG Funds

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The Quest to Find a Lost Purple Heart May 30, 2022

Show notes

A Marine died in Fallujah at the height of the Iraq War. Years later, his family found out his Purple Heart was listed on an auction site. WSJ's Ben Kesling, who once served in the same company as the Marine, tells the story of how he helped track it down. This episode was originally published in July 2021.

Further Reading:

- I Thought I Was Done With Iraq. Then a Fellow Marine’s Purple Heart Turned Up at Auction.

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Old Navy Tried to Make Sizes for All. It Backfired. May 27, 2022

Show notes

Last year, Old Navy overhauled its women’s clothes to make sizing more inclusive. But then its sales started falling. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner unpacks why the company’s plan to reach more customers didn’t work.

Further Reading:

- Old Navy Made Clothing Sizes for Everyone. It Backfired.

- Old Navy to Scale Back Its Inclusive Sizing Strategy

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The Fight Over Banning the AR-15 May 26, 2022

Show notes

Many of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. have involved an assault-style rifle like the AR-15. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson reports on how Washington regulations have failed to stop the gun's rise to prominence.

Further Reading:

America’s Failed Attempt to Ban Assault Weapons

Further Listening:

Red-Flag Laws, Their Application and One Mother’s Experience

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As the Stock Market Tumbles, so Does a YouTuber's Influence May 25, 2022

Show notes

Kevin Paffrath is a social media influencer who dishes out financial advice on multiple platforms. He cashed in on young people’s hunger for investment tips from non-traditional sources. But as WSJ’s Robbie Whelan explains, Paffrath's followers became fickle when his advice turned cautious.
Further Reading:

-The Social-Media Stars Who Move Markets

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Beware the Big Bad Bear Market May 24, 2022

Show notes

Recent stock slides are approaching dangerous territory: a bear market. WSJ’s James Mackintosh explains why a recent dramatic plunge in stock indexes is spooking investors, what it could mean for the wider economy, and the likelihood of the markets dipping into a bear market in the coming days.

Further Reading:

-Conditions Are Ripe for a Deep Bear Market

Further Listening:

-Can the Fed Lower Inflation Without Causing a Recession?

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