The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Why China Is Risking a Trade War Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Faced with stagnating economic growth, Chinese leader Xi Jinping decided to go all in on manufacturing and exporting. But, as Lingling Wei reports, the increase in low-cost Chinese goods is squeezing businesses around the world and raising the specter of a new trade war.

Further Listening:

- How Xi Jinping's Dream Slowed China's Economy

- The Political Cost of China's Faltering Economy

Further Reading:

- Why China Is Starting a New Trade War

- China Revives Socialist Ideas to Fix Its Real-Estate Crisis

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

Lending Elon Musk Money Was A Very Bad Bet Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

When Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he borrowed $13 billion dollars from several banks to complete the deal. Now, it looks like the banks may not get all their money back. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy on what the banks didn’t take into account when they made those loans.

Further Reading:

-Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Is Now the Worst Buyout for Banks Since the Financial Crisis

-Elon Musk’s Hard Turn to Politics, in 300,000 of His Own Words

Further Listening:

-Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Turn Towards Trump
-Tesla’s Multibillion-Dollar Pay Package for Elon Musk
-Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Is Losing Advertisers

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

Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community? Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

For almost 20 years, Etsy has been a popular website for handmade and specialized goods on the internet. But as the company grew, many current and former sellers say the platform has changed and is now full of mass-produced goods. They’ve also complained about increased seller fees. The CEO, Josh Silverman, responds, saying Etsy is still true to its original mission to keep commerce ‘human.’

Further Listening:

- What’s Behind Amazon’s Review Problem

- The Resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch

Further Reading:

- Temu’s U.S. Entry Is an Orange Flag for Etsy

- Etsy to Cut 11% of Marketplace Workforce in Restructuring

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

Hope, Unity (and Some Nerves) at the DNC Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. It capped off a boisterous, speaker-packed week in Chicago as the Harris campaign tries to reach a broad swath of American voters. Molly Ball reports from Chicago.

Further Listening:

- Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track?

- Takeaways from the RNC: Trump Is in Control