WSJ What’s News

Latest Episodes:

Zuckerberg to Testify in First Major Social Media Addiction Case Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for Feb. 18. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to take the stand today in a bellwether California trial testing claims that social media harms teens. Plus, WSJ tech reporter Sam Schechner details how Europe’s push to regulate big tech is gaining steam. And strain in the U.S. commercial real-estate market nears a breaking point, as lenders call in tens of billions of dollars of troubled loans. Luke Vargas hosts.

Check out the latest episode of WSJ's Take On the Week to hear why the “K-Shaped economy” is making it harder to forecast growth.

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Why Millions of People in Eastern Congo Face Starvation Feb 17, 2026

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P.M. Edition for Feb. 17. In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 10 million people are facing hunger as the M23 rebel group is getting in the way of people accessing food. Journal reporter Nicholas Bariyo explains what’s caused the shortages. Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount head back to the bargaining table. And New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he could raise property taxes by almost 10%. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Chip Crisis Sends Consumer Tech Prices Soaring Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for Feb. 17. A growing shortage of memory chips is squeezing the makers of phones, laptops and games consoles, sending prices skyrocketing. WSJ’s Tim Martin explains how non-AI buyers are having to choose between raising prices, trimming margins or reducing device memory. Plus, the U.S. government is emerging from the holiday weekend partially shut down. And we look at why this winter is worse and weirder than usual. Luke Vargas hosts.

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What’s Actually Happening in the U.S. Jobs Market? Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. job market is a study in contradictions. While a new report shows January saw the highest level of layoffs since 2009—driven by corporate downsizing and AI integration—the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a surprising gain of 130,000 jobs. Meanwhile, recent data revisions suggest that hiring over the past two years was significantly weaker than previously thought, with workers and employers starting to question the reliability of official figures. WSJ reporters Justin Lahart and Lindsay Ellis discuss listener questions on the state of hiring, and whether the labor market is better or worse than the official data suggests.

Further Reading:

What Sweeping Revisions and a Blowout Month Tell Us About the U.S. Job Market

Job Growth Last Year Was Far Worse Than We Thought. Here’s Why.

This Is Why It’s So Hard to Find a Job Right Now

America’s Job Market Has Entered the Slow Lane

Job Hunters Are So Desperate That They’re Paying to Get Recruited

CEOs Say AI Is Making Work More Efficient. Employees Tell a Different Story.

Five Older Job Seekers Tell Us How They Broke Through a Bruising Job Market

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What’s News in Markets: AI Jitters, Robinhood’s Slide and the Rotation Trade Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

What do software companies, wealth-management firms and the trucking business all have in common? And why are blue-chip stocks like Walmart outperforming the market? Plus, how did a former karaoke company sink transportation stocks? Host Hannah Erin Lang discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.

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Inflation Slowdown Is a Good Sign for the Economy Feb 13, 2026

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P.M. Edition for Feb. 13. Annual inflation slowed to 2.4% in January, more than economists expected. WSJ chief economics commentator Greg Ip discusses how this is affecting consumers, and what it means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, it’s rare to get a granular look at a billionaire’s finances. Journal economics reporter Rachel Ensign tells us what she learned about Leon Black’s financial life from documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files. And, barring an unlikely last-minute deal, the Department of Homeland Security is expected to shut down overnight. If it lasts, it might mean longer security lines at airports. Alex Ossola hosts.

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The U.S. Military Buildup Near Iran Intensifies Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for Feb. 13. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, as the Pentagon steps up plans for a potential attack on Iran. Plus, the bill comes due for Detroit after Washington’s EV u-turn. And WSJ Brussels Bureau Chief Daniel Michaels raises the curtain on the Munich Security Conference, where recent estrangement between the U.S. and its European allies is likely to be on display. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Trump Administration Ends Its Immigration Surge in Minnesota Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for Feb. 12. Border czar Tom Homan says “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota is ending. WSJ immigration policy reporter Michelle Hackman discusses how the administration is wrapping up an operation that sparked outrage after the deaths of two U.S. citizens. Plus, U.S. stocks dropped today as AI worries resurfaced. And home sales fell more than 8% in January, their biggest decline in nearly four years. Alex Ossola hosts.

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How Retailers Are Coping With Cautious Consumers Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for Feb. 12. The GOP-led House rejects President Trump's Canada tariffs, but backs him up on his voter-ID push. Plus, Elon Musk announces a shakeup at xAI as it merges with SpaceX. And WSJ’s Aimee Look and CI&T’s Melissa Minkow discuss how years of rising prices have left consumers increasingly cost-conscious – a trend clearly on display in recent retail earnings. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Surprisingly Strong Jobs Report Hints at an Improving Labor Market Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for Feb. 11. The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January, its strongest growth in over a year. The number surpassed economists’ expectations. WSJ economics reporter Justin Lahart joins to discuss what the numbers mean for the economy. Plus, immigration enforcement in South Texas is leaving half-built homes sitting empty. We hear from Journal reporter Elizabeth Findell about the impact that’s having on the local economy. And the committee organizing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics said that Casey Wasserman will remain its chair after his name appeared in the most recent batch of Jeffrey Epstein files. Alex Ossola hosts.

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