The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Introducing: Camp Swamp Road Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

On September 9, 2023, in rural South Carolina, a man was killed in a shootout on Camp Swamp Road. Police said that it was a clear case of self defense, but secret recordings tell a different story. In a new true crime podcast series from The Journal, WSJ reporter Valerie Bauerlein unspools a shooting that might have gone unnoticed, if not for a grieving sister’s quest to find the truth.

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The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary discusses the recent decision to approve updated Covid-19 vaccines for a smaller population. In an interview with host Ryan Knutson, Makary also discusses his thoughts on restoring confidence in public health policy and explains the agency's new crackdown on pharmaceutical ads and an upcoming report that says that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could be linked to autism, among others.

Further Listening:

- The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover

- Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA

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The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

At a Hyundai electric vehicle factory complex in Georgia, agents from the Department of Homeland Security detained about 475 people, including hundreds of South Korean nationals. It was the biggest single site raid in the history of the department. WSJ’s Sharon Terlep went to the factory complex and explains how two of Trump’s key policies—cracking down on illegal immigration and rebuilding U.S. manufacturing—have unexpectedly collided. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz

- "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company.

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A Troubled Man and His Chatbot Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets are on sale now.! Tickets are on sale now.

Stein-Erik Soelberg became increasingly paranoid this spring and he shared suspicions with ChatGPT about a surveillance campaign being carried out against him. At almost every turn, his chatbot agreed with him. WSJ’s Julie Jargon details how ChatGPT fueled a troubled man’s paranoia and why AI can be dangerous for people experiencing mental health crises. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- What’s the Worst AI Can Do? This Team Is Finding Out.
- A Lawyer Says He Doesn't Need Help for Psychosis. His Family Disagrees.
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Private Equity Took Over a Hospital. Then It Shuttered. Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5 at 10am ET.

A hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania was acquired by a private equity firm that leveraged it to make shareholders millions. Now the facility has had to close its doors, leaving the community reeling. WSJ's Soma Biswas takes us inside the hospital’s bankruptcy and Jessica Mendoza speaks to a local emergency services executive about the impact on the local community in Chester.

Further Listening:

- Why Private Equity Is Buying Up Car Washes

- The Private Equity Lobby Wins Again

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Kraft Heinz's Big Breakup Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5, 10am ET!

Kraft Heinz, the huge company behind Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, Heinz Ketchup and Kraft Mac and Cheese, is splitting in two. Behind this split is a private equity company, the MAHA movement, and the "historically bad deal” that merged Kraft and Heinz in the first place. WSJ's Jesse Newman tells Jessica Mendoza about what’s changing in America’s pantry.

Further Listening:

Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA

The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps

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Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is trying to triple its ranks of deportation officers. Flush with cash from President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” the agency is attempting to recruit and train an additional 10,000 officers. The push comes as the White House has set a goal of a million deportations by the end of Trump’s first year in office. It’s a pace that is roughly double what ICE is currently on track to achieve. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman tells Jessica Mendoza about her visit to an ICE training center in Georgia.
Further Listening:
- "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company.
- Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory
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The Corporate Grudge Fueling Cracker Barrel's Logo Fiasco Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

Just a week after it unveiled a streamlined new design, Cracker Barrel has reversed its controversial decision to change its logo. WSJ's Heather Haddon unveils a behind the scenes corporate grudge from an activist investor who fueled the outrage.

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Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda has shaken big food companies already reeling from shifting consumer preferences. Cereal giant WK Kellogg, already struggling as Americans move away from cereal, is at the center of many MAHA attacks. WSJ’s Jesse Newman reports on Kellogg's journey from American icon to MAHA target. Allison Pohle hosts.

Further Listening:

The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover

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

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Inside Intel's Deal With the U.S. Government Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

The U.S. government is taking a 10% stake in Intel, a deal that caps a two-week frenzy for the troubled chip maker and marks the latest in a series of extraordinary private-sector interventions by President Trump. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan peels back the curtain on the unprecedented deal and shares details from the Oval Office meeting between Intel and the Trump administration. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- How Intel’s CEO Became a Political Liability
- Is American Capitalism in Retreat?
- The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips to China
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