WSJ What’s News

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Home Builders Are Facing a Torrent of Lawsuits Over Shoddy Construction May 19, 2026

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P.M. Edition for May 19. The legal liabilities of some of the biggest home builders in the U.S. have surged in recent years as buyers increasingly sue for what they allege to be shoddier, error-ridden homes. WSJ reporter Nicholas Miller discusses why this is happening more frequently and the impact this is having on the companies’ operations. Plus, a document posted by the Justice Department today says the federal government will end all pending tax audits of President Trump and his businesses. And Carvana, the used-car titan, is expanding into selling new cars. We hear from Journal autos reporter Chris Otts about what this means for traditional auto dealers. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Primaries to Test Whether GOP Has Room for Politicians Who Cross Trump May 19, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 19. The outcome of a handful of primaries across the country could signal whether Republicans are willing to adopt a form of MAGA politics that embraces leaders who break with President Trump, including Thomas Massie in Kentucky, WSJ’s Washington coverage chief Damian Paletta says. Plus, oil prices slide on the prospect of a potential peace deal between Iran and the U.S. And with blocked data centers, plummeting poll numbers and booed commencement speeches, the American rebellion against artificial intelligence is gaining steam. Daniel Bach hosts.

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Blockbuster AI Trial Ends With Elon Musk Loss Against OpenAI May 18, 2026

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P.M. Edition for May 18. A California jury sides against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. The decision clears the path for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to go public. Plus, the Trump administration has created an unusual settlement fund for people who claim they have been victimized by the Justice Department. We hear from Journal reporter Ryan Barber on what we know about the fund and why it’s already getting pushback. And NextEra Energy has agreed to buy Dominion Energy in a $67 billion deal. Jennifer Hiller, who covers the power industry, says it would create the largest U.S. utility–but it’ll have to pass regulatory scrutiny first. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Global Oil Reserves Are Shrinking Fast May 18, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 18. Commuters in New York face a day of chaos as the strike shutting the Long Island Rail Road goes into its third day. Plus the U.S. and China agree to launch boards of trade and investment. And while you may think fuel is expensive now, it could get a lot worse. Because global oil inventories are falling at a record pace and as WSJ correspondent Georgi Kantchev explains, that could send prices to all new highs. Daniel Bach hosts.

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Inflation Is the GOP’s Problem Now. Will Voters Look Past It? May 17, 2026

Show notes

Inflation may have sunk the Democratic Party at the ballot box in 2024. But high prices at the grocery store and the gas station are now a problem for the GOP. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices in April saw their biggest year-over-year jump in three years and gasoline prices were up 28% from a year earlier. For our special What’s News series The Cost-of-Living Election, WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui met with voters and congressional candidates in and around Allentown, Pa., to uncover what stubborn inflation could mean for the area’s primary election this Tuesday. She then speaks with the sitting congressman for Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district, Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, about what he’s doing to address the rising cost of living.

Relevant links:

Tariffs’ Messy Reality: The Cost-of-Living Election | Part 1: Ohio

Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices

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What’s News in Markets: Clarity Act, Chips’ Dip, Klarna’s Pivot May 16, 2026

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What drove an up-and-down week for chips stocks like Intel, Nvidia, Micron and Qualcomm? And what kind of clarity did crypto traders get from the Clarity Act advancing in the Senate? Plus, how are investors liking Klarna’s pivot away from “buy now, pay later”? Host Jack Pitcher discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.

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How Honda Is Trying to Recover From an EV Bust May 15, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for May 15. After making a big bet on EVs for the U.S., Japanese carmaker Honda is now confronting some of its biggest challenges ever. WSJ autos reporter Sean McLain discusses the company’s options. Plus, U.K. bond markets were spooked today after left-wing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham opened a path to take on sitting Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Journal’s Chelsey Dulaney joins us from London to break down why borrowing costs hit their highest level since 2008. And Anthropic raises another $30 billion ahead of its expected IPO, while SpaceX sets a date for its highly-anticipated stock-market debut next month. Alex Ossola hosts.

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What Trump’s China Visit Actually Achieved May 15, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 15. With President Trump wheels up after a two-day summit in China, WSJ White House reporter Annie Linskey discusses the significance of a visit light on concrete new announcements. Plus, the Supreme Court preserves widespread access to abortion pills. And the head of the CIA visits Havana, as Cuba’s Communist regime grapples with a U.S. energy blockade. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Why Crypto Die-Hards Are Flocking to a More Secret Version of Bitcoin May 14, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for May 14. A privacy-focused alternative to bitcoin called Zcash is winning over crypto evangelists. WSJ special writer Greg Zuckerman explains what’s got the crypto community so excited, along with the risks of the coin. Plus, Pentagon leaders say the war in Iran is costing so much that they’re running out of money for other operations. And New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to merge with the Neue Galerie, cosmetics billionaire Ronald Lauder’s esteemed museum for German and Austrian modern art. We hear from Journal reporter Kelly Crow about why that’s an important move for the Met. Alex Ossola hosts.

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U.S. Scales Up Hantavirus Response May 14, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for May 14. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has warned President Trump that any mishandling of the Taiwan issue could lead to ‘an extremely dangerous situation’ – a message China bureau chief Jon Cheng and national security reporter Alex Ward tell us is casting a cloud over a closely-watched summit. Plus, the CDC assigns more staff to respond to the hantavirus outbreak as it tries to strike a balance between a swift response and sparking panic. And columnist Callum Borchers shares career advice for new grads, including that no one cares about your GPA. Luke Vargas hosts.

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