The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Fentanyl Is Bad. ‘Tranq’ Might Be Worse. Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

The animal tranquilizer xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is finding its way into opioid supplies and wreaking havoc all over the country. It’s rotting people’s flesh, leading to amputations and complicating drug treatment. WSJ’s Julie Wernau takes us to Robeson County, N.C., the new “ground zero” for xylazine addiction.

Further Reading:

- Flesh-Rotting ‘Tranq’ Undermines Fight Against Fentanyl

- Recovering From Drug Addiction Was Hard. Tranq Made It Worse.

- Nurses Make House Calls to Treat ‘Tranq’ Wounds for Users at Society’s Edge

Further Listening:

- Why Some Opioid Victims Are Challenging Purdue’s Settlement

- How a Drug Maker Plans to Cut Off Money for Opioid Victims

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‘It Felt Surreal’: A Cancer Diagnosis at 26 Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Meilin Keen was diagnosed with stomach cancer at 26. She’s part of a growing demographic of people who are getting cancer diagnoses before the age of 50. And doctors don’t know why. WSJ’s Brianna Abbott explains what we know so far.

Further Reading:

-Cancer Is Striking More Young People, and Doctors Are Alarmed and Baffled.

-Many Cancers Are on the Rise in the U.S., Even as Overall Deaths Fall.

-Uterine Cancer Was Easy to Treat. Now It’s Killing More Women Than Ever.

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Alexei Navalny, Putin’s Loudest Critic, Dies in a Russian Prison Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

For years, anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny has been an outspoken critic and political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Today, Russian prison authorities reported Navalny died at the age of 47. WSJ’s Ann Simmons delves into Navalny’s life, death and what this moment means for Russia.

Further Reading:

- Alexei Navalny Spent His Final Years Hounded—but Undeterred—by the Kremlin

- Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s Most Ardent Critic, Dies in Prison

Further Listening:

- Russia's Media Crackdown: 'The Future is Pretty Dark'

- The Plane Crash That Killed Yevgeny Prigozhin

- Inside Russia’s Spy Unit Targeting Americans

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The Deal to Hide Bad Actors in the Funeral Industry Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Unethical funeral homes have exploited grieving customers for decades. What consumers may not know is that many of the industry’s bad actors have been hidden from the public thanks to a sweetheart deal struck between the Federal Trade Commission and the funeral industry more than 25 years ago. WSJ’s Dominique Mosbergen unpacks her multi-year investigation.

Further Reading:

- How the Funeral Industry Got the FTC to Hide Bad Actors

Further Listening:

- FTC Chair Lina Khan on Microsoft Merger, ChatGPT and Her Court Losses

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Sam Altman’s $7 Trillion ‘Moonshot’ Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman kicked off an AI revolution with the viral ChatGPT. Now, Altman has set his sights on another ambitious goal: Raise up to $7 trillion to overhaul the world’s semiconductor chip industry. WSJ’s Keach Hagey explains what the plan entails, and why skeptics think it will be an uphill battle.

Further Listening:

- Artificial: The OpenAI Story

Further Reading:

- Sam Altman Seeks Trillions of Dollars to Reshape Business of Chips and AI

- Raising Trillions of Dollars Might Be the Easy Part of Altman’s Chip Plan

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The Spectacular Fall of 23andMe Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Five years ago, 23andMe was one of the buzziest startups in the world. Now, 23andMe’s stock is worth less than $1. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler unpacks the startup’s meteoric rise and fall.

Further Reading and Watching:

- 23andMe’s Fall From $6 Billion to Nearly $0

- How 23AndMe Went From a $6 Billion Valuation to a Penny Stock

- 23andMe Mulls Possible Split, Shares Fall After Disappointing Results

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Why Three Media Giants Are Betting on Sports Streaming Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

While the National Football League was getting ready for yesterday’s Super Bowl, major news was announced that caught high-level NFL executives off guard: Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery said they are teaming up to create a new sports streaming service. WSJ’s Joe Flint explains what we know about the new venture and how it could change sports broadcasting.

Further Reading:

-ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform

-Why Three Media Giants Made a Hail Mary Bet on Sports Streaming

Further Listening:

-ESPN’s Big Bet on an F-Bomb-Throwing YouTube Star

-How Americans Watch Sports is Changing

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The Epic Battle Between the 49ers and Their Home City Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

As the 49ers contend for Super Bowl rings this Sunday, the team has another battle to fight. The 49ers are in a decadelong war with their home city of Santa Clara over whether the team's $1 billion stadium is providing the economic boost promised. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson unpacks the conflict, which has involved lawsuits and heated local elections.

Further Reading:

- Why the 49ers and Their Home City Are in a Decadelong Fight

Further Listening:

- The Long-Last Super Bowl

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Will the Supreme Court Kick Trump off the Ballot? Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump couldn’t appear on the presidential ballot because his actions on January 6 disqualified him. The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. WSJ’s Jan Wolfe listened to today’s arguments, and explains why it appears the decision will likely be overturned.

Further Listening:

- The Prosecutor Bringing a Racketeering Case Against Trump

- Meet Jack Smith, the Special Counsel Prosecuting Trump

- Pro-Trump Mob Storms the Capitol

Further Reading and Watching:

- Supreme Court Appears Skeptical of Challenge to Donald Trump’s Ballot Eligibility

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The Day the Music Died on TikTok Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Music from major artists like Taylor Swift and The Weeknd has been muted on TikTok after a licensing deal fell apart. WSJ’s Anne Steele breaks down what happened to billions of videos and why the two companies are at loggerheads over the terms of a new deal.

Further Reading and Watching:

- Bad Blood: Why TikTok Videos With Taylor Swift and Other Universal Artists Are Now Silent

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