The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

The $55 Billion Deal to Take EA Private Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

A group of investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm are acquiring videogame maker Electronic Arts. The $55 billion deal is the largest leveraged buyout of all time. WSJ’s Lauren Thomas takes us inside the historic buyout, exploring the company's fandom and legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

Camp Swamp Road Series

Why Microsoft Is Paying $75 Billion for Activision Blizzard

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Student-Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen X Oct 02, 2025

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Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X with such a big burden. And one Gen Xer talks about the impact student debt has had on his life. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay

- Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt

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Why This Government Shutdown Is Different Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Government funding lapsed early Wednesday morning after the White House and lawmakers failed to reach a spending deal, triggering a shutdown that is expected to halt some federal services and put hundreds of thousands of federal workers on furlough. WSJ’s Natalie Andrews takes us inside the contentious dispute and explains why the gulf between Democrats and Republicans is wider than ever. Ryan Knutson hosts.
Further Listening:
- Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy
- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the Government
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Inside the Crisis at Tylenol Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Last week, President Donald Trump warned that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a potential cause of autism. Many medical professionals say the relationship between acetaminophen and autism is inconclusive, and Trump's comments went beyond what his own administration officials recommend. Still, the press conference caused a crisis at the company that makes Tylenol, Kenvue. WSJ’s Peter Loftus on Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry’s attempts to manage the Trump Administration and the new corporate crisis. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust

- Why Coke Isn’t Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup

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Trump's Case Against James Comey Sep 29, 2025

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After former FBI director James Comey was indicted last week, Trump said that there may be more indictments coming. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman takes us inside the President’s push to prosecute the people he views as enemies and what this may mean for the future of the Justice Department. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Federal Reserve Under Siege

- Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

- Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term

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Camp Swamp Road Ep. 3: A Friend in the Shadows Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

On Super Bowl Sunday, Jennifer Foley opened a police file and discovered 90 recorded phone calls from her brother’s killer. To Jennifer, what she heard completely undermined Weldon Boyd’s self-defense claims. But the calls also revealed that Boyd had a powerful friend. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports.

Read the Reporting:

Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In

Follow the Story:

Camp Swamp Road Playlist

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Is Jane Goodall Fighting a Losing Battle? Sep 26, 2025

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From the forests of Tanzania to the halls of power, Jane Goodall has spent her life fighting to protect wildlife. But as the planet warms and some governments retreat from environmentalism, is her mission slipping out of reach? Ryan Knutson interviews the renowned conservationist.

Further Listening

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The Bean at the Center of the Trade War Sep 25, 2025

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It's officially harvest season in the American heartland. But sixth-generation Iowa farmer Scott Dierickx says he won’t be making a profit on soybeans this year. WSJ’s Patrick Thomas explains how China is using soybeans as a weapon in the trade war with the United States. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

Can a Farming Community Resist a Development Boom?

Why Farmers Are Breaking Eggs and Dumping Milk

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A $100,000 Work Visa Could Rock the Tech Industry Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

The Trump Administration recently announced a new $100,000 annual fee for the coveted H-1B visa. Then the White House walked that back, saying that the charge would only apply to new visa applicants, one-time only. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar reports on how the changes set off a wave of anxiety and confusion, especially in Silicon Valley where many H-1B visa holders work. Jessica Mendoza hosts.
Further Listening:
- The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities
- Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz

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The Airline Industry Has a Toxic Fume Problem Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

The fumes are often described as smelling like “dirty socks ” – and they’re seeping into airplane air, sickening some passengers and crew. So-called “fume events” have been a known problem in the airline industry for decades. But a new WSJ analysis shows they’re becoming more common, and their health effects can be severe. WSJ’s Benjamin Katz details his team’s investigation into fume events, which have led to emergency landings and affected pilots’ vision midflight. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Southwest Changed Flying. Can It Change Itself?

- The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines

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