WSJ What’s News - The Wall Street Journal

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Surging Fuel Prices Aren’t Curbing Holiday Plans Yet May 11, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for May 11. Around 150 passengers from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship are finally returning home, with authorities around the world coordinating flights for quarantine and isolation. Plus, fading hopes of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran are reigniting a climb in oil prices. According to the AAA, Americans on average are paying $4.52 for a gallon of gasoline, with drivers in California hardest hit. And while consumers may be anxious about higher fuel costs, Expedia’s CEO tells us that they’re still booking trips. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Nuclear Power’s Reboot May 10, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. pioneered early nuclear technologies—not only for war, but also for peacetime, in the form of abundant nuclear energy. After a surge in new reactor construction, the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island precipitated the end of nuclear energy’s expansion in America. But recent calls for reliable, clean energy to fuel AI data centers have shifted attitudes and increased investment and innovation in the industry. Will the AI race be enough to reboot nuclear energy in the U.S.?

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.

Listen to previous installments of our USA250 podcast:

The Struggle To Keep America’s Workers Safe

An Economy Built on Speculation

America’s Road to a DIY Retirement

Further Reading:

Why Fusion Is Considered Energy’s Elusive Holy Grail

America’s First Commercial Nuclear-Power Projects in a Decade Just Broke Ground

‘Three New York Cities’ Worth of Power: AI Is Stressing the Grid

Inside the Audacious Plan to Reopen Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Plant

Five Things to Know About AI’s Thirst for Energy

‘It’s Time for Nuclear’ to Meet Growing U.S. Power Needs, Trump Declares

Nuclear Power Is Making a Comeback

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What’s News in Markets: Bubble Fears, AI Slop, Toilet Stocks May 09, 2026

Show notes

How is the AI trade different from the dot-com bubble? And why wasn’t Wall Street impressed by Palantir’s blowout quarter? Plus, what does a glass company and a luxury toilet maker have to do with AI? Host Imani Moise discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.

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Is the Labor Market Gaining Strength? May 08, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for May 8. The U.S. economy added 115,00 jobs in April, beating analyst expectations for the second month in a row. WSJ economics reporter Chao Deng explains how this could be a turning point for the labor market–and what that means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, the Virginia Supreme Court threw out Democrats’ efforts at redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. We hear from Journal national political reporter Ken Thomas about how this could affect Democrats’ chances at retaking the House. And we’re exclusively reporting that Intel will supply some chips for Apple devices—a deal that could be huge for the chipmaker’s attempt to turn around its business. Alex Ossola hosts.

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What’s News in Earnings: How Big Pharma Is Expanding the GLP-1 Market May 08, 2026

Show notes

Bonus Episode for May 8. Financial results from pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and AbbVie show strong demand continuing for weight-loss drugs and autoimmune treatments. Wall Street Journal pharma reporter Peter Loftus discusses which drugmakers have the upper hand in the race to dominate those markets.

WSJ Heard on the Street columnist David Wainer hosts this special bonus episode of What's News in Earnings, where we dig into companies’ earnings reports and analyst calls to find out what’s going on under the hood of the American economy.

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What the U.K. Populist Surge Says About Politics Everywhere May 08, 2026

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A.M. Edition for May 8. Early U.K. election results point to a surge in populism and deep voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent Labour party. WSJ U.K. correspondent Max Colchester explains how voters are becoming increasingly polarised and what that means for governments around the world. Plus, President Trump’s tariffs face another legal setback. And WSJ’s Te-Ping Chen details the extremes writers go to, in order to prove that they are not AI. Luke Vargas hosts.

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What the U.S. Government Is Doing With Its Stakes in Companies May 07, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for May 7. During Trump’s second term, his administration has announced direct investment stakes in at least 10 companies such as Intel and U.S. Steel. We hear from WSJ reporter Maggie Severns about why this is an unorthodox approach by the government and how American executives are responding. Plus, Secretary of State Marco is in Rome in an effort to repair the relationship with Pope Leo and Italian leaders. National security reporter Robbie Gramer gives us an update from the Italian capital. And Elon Musk is being summoned to France to face criminal charges in a sprawling investigation of his social media platform, X. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Should You Trust ChatGPT With Your Money? May 07, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for May 7. U.S. airlines are warning that already-high airfares will surge if the war in Iran doesn’t end soon. And the Trump administration is taking heed, as new polling shows most Americans blame the President for rising fuel costs. Plus, we look at the risks posed by the lowly power bank. And WSJ markets reporter Gunjan Banerji explains the pros and cons of asking AI for investment advice. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Health Officials Trying to Trace and Contain Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak May 06, 2026

Show notes

P.M. Edition for May 6. A patient in Switzerland has been hospitalized with a strain of hantavirus after returning from a cruise to South America. Three people who traveled on that cruise ship have died. Journal reporter Xavier Martinez discusses what’s concerning about the virus and what health officials are doing about it. Plus, media titan Ted Turner, who created CNN and shaped the cable-TV industry, has died at 87. And as some companies lay off workers because of AI, others are keeping their headcount, but they expect workers to do more. We hear from WSJ workplace reporter Chip Cutter about what that means for their workers. Alex Ossola hosts.

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Samsung Hits $1 Trillion Milestone as AI Demand Soars May 06, 2026

Show notes

A.M. Edition for May 6. A Journal investigation finds China is supplying Russia and Iran with drone factories. WSJ senior correspondent Josh Chin explains how Chinese companies are managing to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Plus, Samsung joins the trillion dollar club amid relentless demand for AI memory chips. And weight-loss drug giant Novo Nordisk surprises with strong sales even as competition with Eli Lilly continues to weigh on growth. Daniel Bach hosts.

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