The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing
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The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing
Copyright: Copyright © Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley suspended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination.That sets the stage for another matchup between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in November. WSJ’s Eliza Collins looks at the new shape of this old rivalry.
Further Reading:
- Biden vs. Trump: A Familiar Matchup in an Unprecedented Election
- Nikki Haley Exits Republican Presidential Race
Further Listening:
- Does Nikki Haley Have a Chance At Beating Trump?
- A Messy Start to the 2024 Presidential Election
- The Deepfake Election Has Arrived
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In 2017 Bill Shufelt was desperate. He’d quit his job at a hedge fund to start a business that sounded absolutely nuts: a non-alcoholic beer that people would actually want to drink. WSJ’s Ben Cohen uncovers how Shufelt’s idea has led to one of the fastest-growing movements in the beer industry.
Further Listening:
-Canned or Homemade? America’s Biggest Cranberry Company Wins Either Way
Further Reading:
-The Hottest Beer in America Doesn’t Have Alcohol
-Bud Light Missed Out on the Super Bowl Party
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When Russian troops invaded his hometown in 2022, Ukrainian teenager Denys Kostev filmed TikTok videos cursing Vladimir Putin and praising Ukrainian courage. But a few months later, Kostev suddenly began appearing in Russian propaganda videos. WSJ’s Matthew Luxmoore spoke to the Ukrainian teenager about how he became part of the Kremlin's propaganda machine.
Further Reading:
-A Ukrainian Teen’s Dark Transformation Into Russian Propaganda Star
Further Listening:
-The Grim Story of a Russian Prisoner Turned Recruit
-Actors Recorded Videos for ‘Vladimir.’ It Turned Into Russian Propaganda.
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Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has come under fire in recent years for comments she’s made about gender and sex that some say are transphobic. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel reports on how Warner Brothers Discovery, the company that owns the rights to Harry Potter, is calling upon the controversial author to make more magic.
Further Listening:
– The Media Mogul Taking an Ax to Hollywood
Further Reading:
– Can Warner Bros. Uncancel J.K. Rowling?
– How the Minions Became Hollywood’s Mightiest Franchise
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The Federal Trade Commission is suing to block a $25 billion merger between two supermarket giants: Albertsons and Kroger.WSJ’s Patrick Thomas unpacks the deal and what it would mean for the companies, workers and shoppers.
Further Reading:
-FTC Sues to Block $25 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Merger
-It’s Been 30 Years Since Food Ate Up This Much of Your Income
Further Listening:
-Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour
-Are Rotisserie Chickens ‘Inflation-Proof’?
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Vice Media was a digital-media pioneer, built on provocative journalism and the promise of reaching younger audiences, a boon for advertisers. In its heyday, the company was valued at $5.7 billion. But last week, Vice Media said it would stop publishing content on its website and plans to cut hundreds of jobs. WSJ’s Keach Hagey and Alexandra Bruell on the rise and fall of Vice.
Further Reading:
- Vice Media to Stop Publishing on Vice.com, Plans to Cut Hundreds of Jobs
- Vice Media to Be Acquired Out of Bankruptcy by Fortress, Soros Fund
- Essence in Talks to Buy Refinery29 From Embattled Publisher Vice Media
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School districts and state legislatures have been ramping up efforts to ban certain books from school libraries and curricula. Last year, Penguin Random House decided to do something to stop them. We speak to WSJ’s Jeffrey Trachtenberg and to the man leading Penguin Random House's efforts, Skip Dye.
Further Reading:
- A Publishing Giant’s Risky Fight Against Book Bans
- Penguin Random House, Authors Sue Iowa Officials Over Book Ban
- Scholastic Planned to Segregate Diverse Titles at School Book Fairs. Then Came the Backlash.
Further Listening:
- Scholastic’s Succession Drama
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Days before the presidential primary in New Hampshire, thousands of people received a call from someone who sounded like President Joe Biden, telling them not to vote. The call was a deepfake, and as WSJ's Bob McMillian reports, the rapid advancement of AI technology will likely have profound implications for elections around the world.
Further Reading:
- New Era of AI Deepfakes Complicates 2024 Elections
Further Listening:
- The Hidden Workforce That Helped Filter Violence and Abuse Out of ChatGPT
- OpenAI’s Weekend of Absolute Chaos
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Arielle Charnas is a fashion blogger turned influencer with over 1 million Instagram followers. In 2020, she launched her clothing brand Something Navy with about $10 million from investors. She hoped to turn it into a $100 million venture. That’s not what happened. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber and Sara O’Brien report on a cautionary tale for influencer brands.
Further Reading:
- Investors Poured Millions Into Her Fashion Brand. Then It All Fell Apart.
- Her Brand Had $100 Million Ambitions. Now It’s Being Sold in a Fire Sale.
Further Listening:
- Shein Took Over Fast Fashion. Then Came the Backlash.
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Capital One announced plans to buy Discover Financial Services in a $35 billion deal that marries two of the largest credit-card companies in the U.S. and has the potential to shake up the credit card industry in a major way. WSJ’s AnnaMaria Andriotis explores what makes this deal such a game changer.
Further Reading:
- Capital One Is Buying Discover Financial for $35 Billion
Further Listening:
- The Fight Over Your Credit Card Swipe
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