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Trump Says U.S. Strikes in Nigeria Were to Protect Christians Dec 26, 2025

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P.M. Edition for Dec. 26. President Trump says the U.S. launched strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria to protect Christians–but Nigeria disagrees, saying the strikes weren’t aimed at protecting any particular religious group. We hear from WSJ reporter Alexandra Wexler about how Nigeria is approaching the issue. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he’ll meet with President Trump in Florida over the weekend for talks on the plan to end the war with Russia. And WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui discusses changes to health policy under the Trump administration and how the “Make America Healthy Again” movement could affect next year’s midterms. Alex Ossola hosts.

Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2.
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What This Year’s Dealmaking Boom Means for 2026 Dec 24, 2025

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Edition for Dec. 24. This year has been a big one for deals, with some blockbuster mergers and big-name breakups. WSJ lead deals reporter Lauren Thomas discusses what drove all that activity in 2025, and what she’ll be keeping her eye on in the year to come. Plus, the heirs to Texas billionaire Robert Brockman will pay $750 million in the biggest U.S. tax fraud case ever. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposes a demilitarized zone in the eastern region of Donetsk as part of a potential peace deal. Alex Ossola hosts. Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2.

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The Tyson Plant That Shaped This Nebraska Town Is Closing. What Comes Next? Dec 23, 2025

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P.M. Edition for Dec. 23. When Tyson Foods announced that it was closing its meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, it sent the city into a crisis. We hear from WSJ reporter Patrick Thomas about what locals are planning to do as the city is losing its largest employer. Plus, the U.S. economy was unexpectedly strong in the third quarter. Chao Deng, who covers the U.S. economy for the Journal, breaks down how consumer spending drove that growth. And if you’re planning to fly economy this holiday season–or anytime really–we’ve got some tips on how to make the trip a little more enjoyable. Alex Ossola hosts.

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The U.S. Oil Blockade of Venezuela Is Pushing Cuba Toward Collapse Dec 23, 2025

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A.M. Edition for Dec. 23. Cuba was already suffering from food shortages and blackouts. Now the U.S. oil blockade of Venezuela means the Communist island also faces the loss of cheap oil from Nicolás Maduro. The Journal’s South America bureau chief Juan Forero explains. Plus, the U.S. bans new China-made drones from DJI and Autel Robotics, sparking outrage among pilots. And think you know business etiquette? Take our quiz and find out. Daniel Bach hosts.

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Why Toxic Fumes on Planes Are Being Blamed for Illnesses and Deaths Dec 22, 2025

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P.M. Edition for Dec. 22. Reports of toxic gases that leak into a plane’s cabin or cockpit have surged in recent years. Now, as WSJ’s Ben Katz reports, doctors and researchers increasingly see a link between exposure to those fumes and fatal illnesses. Look for his next piece with more advice for travelers on wsj.com. Plus, the Trump administration stops offshore wind projects currently under construction, the most significant of the actions the administration has taken against the industry. And Paramount sweetens its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery with a personal guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison. WSJ media reporter Joe Flint weighs in on the latest in the fight for the entertainment company. Alex Ossola hosts.

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What’s Next in the Fight Over Healthcare Subsidies Dec 22, 2025

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A.M. Edition for Dec. 22. Congress breaks for the holidays without renewing enhanced ACA subsidies. The WSJ’s Sabrina Sidiqui explains what could break the impasse, as millions face higher healthcare premiums and lingering uncertainty. Plus, after seizing a second tanker over the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard hunts another ship involved in moving Venezuelan oil. And a former Tesla staffer who clashed with Elon Musk shakes up the race to run General Motors. Daniel Bach hosts.

Listen to the full interview with Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack on WSJ’s Take On the Week.

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The Struggle to Keep America’s Workers Safe Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

For over 100 years, keeping Americans safe on the job has challenged the country's free-market economy. Businesses often preferred to regulate their workplaces without government oversight. But that track record is mixed. And federal efforts at safeguarding job sites at times have fallen short. Host Katherine Sullivan explores how far we've come since Frances Perkins helped put employee safety in the spotlight and what American workers still face now when they go to work.

This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved.

Additional reading and listening:

A Timeline of Key Moments in the History of Work in America

Coal Miners’ Trade Off: Trump Boosts Production but Slashes Safety Programs

An Economy Built on Speculation—for Better and for Worse

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What’s News in Markets: Memory Chips, Corporate Drama, Mega IPO Dec 20, 2025

Show notes

What did Micron’s earnings tell us about the AI boom? And what’s behind the corporate drama at Warner Bros. Discovery and Lululemon? Plus, does Medline's IPO splash bode well for future offerings? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.

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DOJ Releases First Batch of Jeffrey Epstein Files Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

P.M. Edition for Dec. 19. The Justice Department releases the first batch of files tied to its investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. home sales rise to their highest level since February. And WSJ’s Kelly Crow explains how the art market is adapting younger buyers. Sabrina Siddiqui hosts.

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EU Backs $105 Billion Ukraine Loan Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

A.M. Edition for Dec. 19. Europe throws Kyiv a fiscal lifeline in a move officials say could give Kyiv more leverage in negotiations over ending the war, but fail to agree on a plan to tap frozen Russian assets. Plus, OpenAI aims to raise as much as $100 billion to pay for its ambitious growth plans in a market that has started to cool on the artificial-intelligence boom. And WSJ Tokyo bureau chief Jason Douglas explains how interest-rate rises in Japan could push up borrowing costs in the U.S. Luke Vargas hosts.

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