The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse? The Fed Says It's Hard to Tell Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced a highly anticipated quarter-point cut to interest rates. But the road to future rate cuts is pretty murky. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains how missing government data is obscuring the Fed’s view of the economy, and why Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a December rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion.” Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Government Shutdown: Who Will Blink First?

- The Drama at the Fed as It Debates Cutting Rates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why GM Is Slamming the Brakes on EV Ambitions Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

In 2021, GM and its CEO Mary Barra announced a bold plan to go all electric by 2035. But falling consumer demand and shriveling government support has undermined GM’s electric plans. Now, as Sharon Terlep reports, GM has gone from one of the industry’s loudest EV champions to a leading opponent of government emissions rules and fuel-economy standards. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

-What Happened to GM’s All-Electric Bet?

-Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk
Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smucker, Trader Joe's and a Battle Over PB&Js Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

J.M. Smucker is suing Trader Joe's over trademark infringement, accusing the company of copying its pre-made Uncrustables peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explores the battle over PB&Js is part of a broader anxiety for Big Food over the rise of private-label products. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour
- Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup
Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Missing Billions and a Secretive CEO: The First Brands Bankruptcy Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Auto-parts maker First Brands Group, the company behind products like Autolite spark plugs and Fram oil filters, declared bankruptcy last month. Court filings have revealed a trove of irregularities and a $2 billion dollar hole. WSJ’s Alexander Gladstone says the bankruptcy is having an impact on the company’s lenders and on Wall Street. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Trump’s Tariffs Cause Chaos in Auto Industry

- How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Is the U.S. Giving Billions to Argentina? Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Argentinians go to the polls this Sunday in the first major test of their leader, Javier Milei. Voters appear to be losing faith in his bold economic vision to resuscitate the country’s ailing economy. But Milei has a secret weapon: a close relationship with President Trump. WSJ’s Ryan Dubé explains why the U.S. government is bailing out Argentina. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

-Argentina’s New President Takes A Chainsaw to the Country’s Government

-The Bean at the Center of the Trade War

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial Influencers on Wealth and Work Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

In a conversation taped at The Journal live event, entrepreneurs and influencers Vivian Tu, Haley Sacks, and Brian Kelly sat down with Jessica Mendoza to explore personal finance in the social media era; exploring everything from generational wealth to how much crypto people should have in their portfolios.

Further Listening:

Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong

We had so much fun in NYC, keep an eye out for more live events across the U.S. soon!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, Your Toll Payment Is Not Overdue Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Chinese criminals have made more than $1 billion from scam text messages sent out across the U.S. and the world. The texts warn of unpaid fines and lure unsuspecting victims to fork over their credit-card details. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how the scheme works and why it’s been so hard to stop. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

Pig-Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist

The Slaves Sending You Scam Texts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Exmo’ Influencers Are Taking On Mormonism Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Once among the world's fastest-growing religions, Mormonism is facing a 21st-century reckoning, driven by social media. Across Tiktok and Instagram an army of #exmo creators take on controversial aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ history. WSJ’s Georgia Wells reports on the growing online #exmo community and how the church is pushing back. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Why Utah Is Regulating Mom Influencers

- The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are Conservatives Being 'Debanked'? Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Steve Happ was packing to leave Tennessee for an evangelical mission to Uganda in 2023 when Bank of America told him it was canceling his church’s bank account and his credit cards. Happ soon became the symbol of a conservative complaint: Financial institutions are allegedly ’debanking’ people because of their religious or political views. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy on President Trump’s fight with the banks over debanking. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

-How a New 'Anti-Woke' Bank Stumbled

-Outcry at Bank of America Over Dangerous Workloads

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pentagon's UFO Coverup Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

For decades, one of the biggest questions fueling conspiracy theories has been: is the U.S. government hiding secret knowledge of extraterrestrial life? But when the Pentagon started investigating, it uncovered a different kind of coverup. WSJ's Joel Schectman reports on what's in that investigation, and what the government ultimately decided to leave out of it. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- How a Balloon Burst U.S.-China Relations
Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices