The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

The Strait of Hormuz Showdown Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. military would blockade the Strait of Hormuz sets up a risky showdown to control the strategic chokepoint. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains what the blockade could look like, explores the global economic damage caused by the conflict and discusses what could come next in the war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

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Can Burger King Regain Its Crown? Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

When Tom Curtis took over as president of Burger King in 2021, the company was struggling. After joining, Curtis worked to update restaurants and streamline the menu. Jessica Mendoza talks with Curtis about the fast food chain’s recent struggles, the rising price of beef and his turn as a social media influencer.

Further Listening:

- KFC Got Fried in the Chicken Wars. Can It Come Back?

- The Epic Mess at TGI Fridays

- Red Lobster's New CEO Plots Its Comeback

- McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both?

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In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

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After nearly six weeks of war in Iran, a fragile cease-fire is holding for now. But for people on the ground, the uncertainty is far from over. Jessica Mendoza speaks with a Tehran resident living through the strangeness of war and WSJ’s Jared Malsin unpacks the sticking points for achieving long-term peace.

Further Listening:

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

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Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold? Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire. President Trump said the truce was conditional on Iran opening up the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ’s Damian Paletta explains how the fragile cease-fire came together, why there are still many unanswered questions and what comes next. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

- Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War

- The Escalating Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz

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More Coding, Less Slop? Why OpenAI Ditched Sora Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

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After the smash success of ChatGPT, OpenAI positioned its video generation model Sora as AI’s next consumer-friendly frontier. Disney signed on to the vision, promising a huge investment and allowing the studio’s characters to appear in Sora videos. Then OpenAI abruptly shut Sora down. WSJ’s Berber Jin takes us inside the pivot and explores what it means for the AI industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- OpenAI's 'Code Red' Problem

- Is the AI Boom… a Bubble?

- Artificial: The OpenAI Story

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Is the High Over for Hemp Drinks? Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

A new billion-dollar industry of hemp-derived THC drinks exploded onto the market last year by exploiting an apparent legal loophole. Now, a federal ban is set to wipe the popular alcohol alternatives off shelves by November. WSJ's Laura Cooper and Cann CEO Jake Bullock detail the last-ditch effort to lobby Washington. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Scotts Miracle-Gro's Weed Business Went Up in Smoke

- California's Wine Industry Is in Crisis

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The Adult Women Caught in Epstein’s Web of Abuse Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

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After Jeffrey Epstein’s death, Svetlana Pozhidaeva said she finally felt free. The former Russian model, who became one of Epstein’s “assistants” and a victim of his abuse, changed her name and moved to another city. Then the Epstein files dropped. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar unspools Pozhidaeva’s story and what it reveals about who Epstein allegedly ensared and how he did it. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Jeffrey Epstein Made Millions From His Connections

- The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files

- Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

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How Do You Refund $166 Billion? Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

After the Supreme Court ruled that many of President Trump’s tariffs were illegal, thousands of companies have sued the government in the hopes of getting their money back. WSJ’s Lydia Wheeler reports on the obscure court at the center of the refund battle and explains why the process will be slow and messy. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- How One Company Is Navigating a New Era of Tariff Uncertainty

- Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

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Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding? Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

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When the war with Iran started, Israel had three goals: reduce the threat from Iranian missiles, eliminate its nuclear capabilities and, most importantly, create the conditions for regime change. WSJ’s Dov Lieber reports that about four weeks in, achieving those goals against Israel’s biggest enemy is proving elusive. With President Trump stating that he wants the war to end within weeks, Israel is now racing to cripple Iranian industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War

- The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles
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Is ChatGPT Ready for Sex? Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

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OpenAI planned to launch an “adult mode” for ChatGPT, opening the door to AI-generated, sexually explicit conversations. The decision created an internal uproar as some company experts warned of potential risks to minors and unhealthy emotional attachments. WSJ’s Sam Schechner discusses the complicated future of sex and artificial intelligence. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame.

- Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue

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