The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Elon Musk on 2024 Politics, Succession Plans and Whether AI Will Annihilate Humanity May 24, 2023

Show notes

In an interview at WSJ's CEO Council Summit with editor Thorold Barker, Elon Musk talked about whether he regrets buying Twitter, who might eventually take the helm of the three companies he runs and how AI will change our future.

Further Reading:

- Ron DeSantis to Launch 2024 Presidential Run in Twitter Talk With Elon Musk

- Elon Musk Wants to Challenge Google and Microsoft in AI

- The Elon Musk Doctrine: How the Billionaire Navigates the World Stage

Further Listening:

- Twitter’s New CEO: The Velvet Hammer

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Kia and Hyundai’s ‘Kia Boyz’ Problem May 23, 2023

Show notes

After car theft videos went viral on social media, Hyundai and Kia have been reckoning with a surge in stolen vehicles. WSJ’s Sean McLain unpacks how the thefts started and how the companies are trying to address them.

Further Reading:

- Kia, Hyundai Thefts Continue Three Months After Carmakers Deployed Fix
- Cities Sue Hyundai, Kia After Wave of Car Thefts

- States Urge Recall of Millions of Kia, Hyundai Cars After Sharp Rise in Thefts

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The Clock Is Ticking on the Debt Ceiling May 22, 2023

Show notes

The federal government uses debt to pay about a quarter of its bills and the federal borrowing limit is maxed out. WSJ’s Andrew Duehren explains the June 1st X-date (when the U.S. runs out of funds) and some catastrophic potential outcomes if Congress doesn’t raise or suspend the federal borrowing limit.

Further Reading:

- When Is the Debt Ceiling Deadline and What Happens if the Limit Isn’t Raised?

- Yellen Says Treasury Still Expects U.S. Could Default as Soon as June 1

- World Leaders Warily Watch U.S. Debt-Limit Standoff

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Why Some Companies Keep Getting Away With Higher Prices May 19, 2023

Show notes

Companies continue to raise prices on everything from streaming services to handbags, sometimes at a rate that exceeds the pace of inflation. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner and Greg Ip unpack why this is happening.

Further Reading:

- Pricing Power: This Is Kate Spade’s Hottest Bag…and It Costs $500

- We May Be Getting Used to High Inflation, and That’s Bad News

Further Listening:

- Why the Fed Raised Interest Rates Amidst a Banking Crisis

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IRS Might Make Tax Season a Whole Lot Easier May 18, 2023

Show notes

The IRS will begin a pilot program next year to help some taxpayers fill out and file their income tax returns for free online. WSJ’s Richard Rubin on the government’s first steps towards building a competitor to TurboTax and H&R Block.

Further Reading:

- IRS Will Offer Free Online Tax Prep for Some Taxpayers in 2024

- TurboTax Settlement: How to Know If You Qualify for Part of the $141 Million Payout

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Closing the Wealth Gap With a Trust Fund for Babies May 17, 2023

Show notes

Starting in July, Connecticut will put $3200 into a trust account for each baby born to parents below a designated income level. As adults, the beneficiaries can use the money—plus investment returns—to help pay for education or a home. WSJ’s Brenda León discusses Baby Bonds and why they are gaining traction in other states too.

Further Reading:

- Could $3,200 ‘Baby Bonds’ Help End Poverty in America?

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The Story Behind the Stabbing of a San Francisco Tech Exec May 16, 2023

Show notes

After Cash App founder Bob Lee died in a stabbing, some were quick to blame San Francisco’s rising crime rates. But prosecutors say Lee knew his alleged killer. WSJ’s Kirsten Grind reports on an underground world of sex and drugs that was the backdrop to the killing that shocked the tech community.

Further Reading:

- Before His Killing, Tech Executive Bob Lee Led an Underground Life of Sex and Drugs

- Cash App Founder Bob Lee Fatally Stabbed in San Francisco

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Twitter's New CEO: The Velvet Hammer May 15, 2023

Show notes

Linda Yaccarino established herself as an advertising sales machine at NBCUniversal. On Friday, Elon Musk announced she’d be Twitter’s new CEO. WSJ’s Amol Sharma discusses some of the challenges Yaccarino will face at the revenue- starved social media platform.

Further Reading:

- Meet Linda Yaccarino, Elon Musk’s New Twitter CEO and the Ad World’s ‘Velvet Hammer’

Further Listening:

- Why Elon Musk's Twitter Is Losing Advertisers

- Elon Musk's 'Extremely Hardcore' Twitter

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Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows May 12, 2023

Show notes

The blockbuster Western drama about a ranching dynasty in Montana is one of the most popular shows on TV. But it’s also one of the most expensive. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel explains how the man behind it — Taylor Sheridan — became one of the priciest bets in Hollywood.

Further Reading and Watching:

- Paramount Can’t Say No to the Man Behind ‘Yellowstone’: $50,000 a Week for His Ranch, $25 Per Cow

- Paramount Shares Drop 28% as Streaming Costs Mount

- The Race to Build the ‘Yellowstone’ Universe

Further Listening:

- Netflix Turns to Ads

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The Charges Against George Santos May 11, 2023

Show notes

Rep. George Santos has been accused of fabricating much of his life’s story to secure public office. On Wednesday he was indicted on 13 federal charges including fraud and money laundering. The New York Republican denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty. WSJ’s Jimmy Vielkind explains what the charges will mean for him.

Further Reading:

-George Santos Faces 13 Felony Charges, Including Fraud and Money Laundering

-George Santos Follows Others in Congress Who Have Confronted Legal Troubles

Further Listening:

-Why the Red Wave Didn’t Happen

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