The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Philip Morris Tried to Pivot to Pharmaceuticals. It Didn't Go Well. Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

In 2021, Philip Morris International acquired three pharmaceutical companies for more than $2 billion as part of a plan to pivot away from cigarette sales. The deals inserted the Marlboro maker into the market for inhalers and other treatments for respiratory diseases that are linked to cigarette smoking. We talked with WSJ’s Jennifer Maloney about how the company’s plan hasn’t gone so smoothly.

Further Listening:

- The ‘Existential Threat’ Facing Big Tobacco

- The Fight Over a Menthol Cigarette Ban

Further Reading:

- Marlboro Maker Hits Reset on $2 Billion Bet on Medicine

- Philip Morris Raises Offer for Swedish Match and Buys U.S. Rights for IQOS

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The Trial of Crypto’s Golden Boy: Jury Selection Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

On the first day of trial, Sam Bankman-Fried debuts a new haircut and the judge begins the process of selecting a jury. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff delves into the judge who will preside over this historic trial, and the jury who will determine Bankman Fried’s fate.

Further Reading:

- Sam Bankman-Fried’s Courtroom Look Spells a Personal Vibe Shift

- Crypto Could Be a Mystery to Jurors in Bankman-Fried Case

Further Listening:

- The Trial of Crypto’s Golden Boy

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Ford vs. GM: A Battle to Shape the Future of EVs in America Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Long-time rivals Ford and General Motors are battling over how a $7,500 tax credit for electric cars should be interpreted. WSJ’s Andrew Duehren explains how this bleeds into the Biden administration’s conflicting priorities of reducing American reliance on Chinese batteries while also achieving clean energy goals.

Further Reading:

-This Ford vs. GM Feud Could Shape the Future of EVs in America

Further Listening:

-‘We’ll Strike All Three’: The UAW’s Historic Walkout

-Biden’s New Move Against Chinese Tech

-Ford and GM's Battle for the Hottest Electric Vehicle Startup

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Why Black Lung Is Rising in Coal Country Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

Black lung, a devastating illness caused by prolonged exposure to dust, has made a comeback in the past two decades after hitting a low in the 1990s. One in five coal miners in Central Appalachia now have the disease. WSJ’s Kris Maher and former miner James Howerton on how black lung is gripping coal country and upending miners’ lives.

Further Reading:

- Black Lung Resurgence Prompts New Mining Rules

Further Listening:

- Europe is Turning to Coal. What Does That Mean for Climate Change?

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The Trial of Crypto’s Golden Boy, Episode 2: Imaginary Numbers Oct 01, 2023

Show notes

In 2022, crypto markets were in turmoil, but Sam Bankman-Fried's empire seemed to weather it all. That is until one week in November, when he went from crypto's savior to its biggest villain. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff tracks the unprecedented collapse of Bankman Fried’s empire, and the big secret that would prove to be its downfall.

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The Twinkie: From Bankruptcy to Billions Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Twinkies have been around for almost a hundred years. During the course of the cake’s history, the company that makes Twinkies went into bankruptcy twice. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explains the strategic changes and snacking trends that led J.M. Smucker to announce it is buying Hostess for $4.6 billion.

Further Listening:

-The Agony and the Ecstasy of Tab

-Oatly Pioneered Oat Milk. Now it’s Struggling to Keep Up.

-PepsiCo’s New Healthy Diet: More Potato Chips and Soda

Further Reading:

-Why the Twinkie Is Now Worth Billions

-Smucker Sets Sights on Snacks With $4.6 Billion Twinkies Deal

-America Is Binging on Snacks, and Food Companies Are Eating It Up

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The Billionaire Keeping TikTok on Your Phone Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

TikTok had hardly any friends in the U.S. government when, earlier this year, the Biden administration and Congress threatened to ban the Chinese-owned video giant. WSJ’s Stu Woo profiles financier Jeff Yass, who made a big bet on the app and is a top donor to lawmakers opposing a ban.

Further Listening:

- What’s Up With All the TikTok Bans?

- Exclusive: TikTok’s CEO on the App’s Future in the U.S.

- How TikTok Became the World’s Favorite App

Further Reading:

- The Billionaire Keeping TikTok on Your Phone

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JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

JPMorgan is paying $75 Million to settle a lawsuit accusing the bank of aiding Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking. WSJ’s Dave Benoit delves into the twists and turns revealed during the legal proceedings and discusses what the settlement means for the bank’s reputation.

Further Reading:

- JPMorgan Paying $75 Million to Settle Suit Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties

- Jamie Dimon Says He Never Discussed Jeffrey Epstein’s Accounts at JPMorgan; Jes Staley Says Dimon Did

- JPMorgan’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Were Deeper Than the Bank Has Acknowledged

Further Listening:

- A $175 Million ‘Huge Mistake’

- How Jeffrey Epstein Made His Money

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The Band of Debunkers Busting Bad Scientists Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

WSJ’s Nidhi Subbaraman on the scientists who moonlight as data detectives and whose discoveries have upended careers.

Further Reading:

-The Band of Debunkers Busting Bad Scientists

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Wagner Group’s New Frontman in Africa Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

After Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last month, he left behind a vast network of political connections, companies and mines throughout Africa. WSJ’s Benoit Faucon chronicles the rise of Wagner’s Dmitry Sytii, the current frontman of Wagner’s African operations.

Further Reading:

- The Elusive Figure Running Wagner’s Embattled Empire of Gold and Diamonds

Further Listening:

- The Plane Crash That Killed Yevgeny Prigozhin

- The Mutiny That Shook Putin's Grip on Power

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