WSJ What’s News - The Wall Street Journal

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The Whiskey Glut Upending America’s Bourbon Heartland May 22, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 22. The U.S. puts arms sales to Taiwan on hold, saying the munitions and arms are needed for the war with Iran. Plus, weight-loss drugs like WeGovy and Mounjaro show a surprising ability to stall cancer. And WSJ’s Laura Cooper details how bourbon distillers are facing a hangover as more Americans pinch pennies and join the ranks of the sober-curious. Daniel Bach hosts.

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Senate Republicans Break With President Trump Over $1.8 Billion Fund May 21, 2026

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P.M. Edition for May 21. The Senate’s at an impasse after a majority of Senate Republicans collide with President Trump over plans for an “anti-weaponization fund.” WSJ national political reporter Ken Thomas discusses what that means for President Trump’s agenda ahead of the midterms. Plus, a day after officially kicking off its IPO process, tonight SpaceX plans to launch a new version of its Starship rocket. We hear from Journal space reporter Micah Maidenberg about why Starship is so critical to the future of SpaceX’s business. And dividend investors were making gains and many years even beat the wider S&P 500… until about three years ago, when things went south. WSJ senior markets columnist James Mackintosh dug into the data to understand why. (Hint: the AI boom.) Alex Ossola hosts.

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SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI’s Trillion Dollar IPO Plans May 21, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 21. Wall Street is bracing for a historic wave of tech listings as Elon Musk’s SpaceX unveils its blockbuster S-1 prospectus. WSJ reporter Becky Peterson parsed the filing and says its setting the stage for a landmark debut that could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire. Plus, an exclusive look at Anthropic’s mind-blowing growth as the AI-startup looks set for its first profit. And, new research shows MAHA-approved natural food colors may cause cancer and diabetes. Daniel Bach hosts.

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OpenAI Is Making Plans to File to Go Public Very Soon May 20, 2026

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P.M. Edition for May 20. We’re exclusively reporting that ChatGPT maker OpenAI has been working with bankers to prepare to file for an initial public offering in the coming days or weeks. Reporter Berber Jin joins to discuss the timing of the possible IPO and what that could mean for OpenAI’s business. Plus, stocks of chipmakers like Intel, Micron and AMD have hit a volatile stretch after weeks of massive gains. We hear from WSJ reporter Jared Mitovich about why they’re now looking to Nvidia’s earnings for the path forward. The chip company reported its latest record quarter. And the Trump administration has charged former Cuban president Raúl Castro with murder as the U.S. continues its pressure campaign against the island nation’s Communist government. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Massie Joins List of GOP Lawmakers Ousted by Trump May 20, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 20. Thomas Massie’s ouster in the Kentucky primary, highlights President Trump’s growing grip on the Republican party. We take a closer look at the evening’s other ballots and what it all means for the midterms. Plus, WSJ editor Jason Douglas explains why a global selloff in bonds is bad news for stock markets too. And the EU agrees to move forward with its U.S. trade deal, warding off new auto tariffs. Daniel Bach hosts.

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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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