A daily podcast about money, business and power.
May 18, 2022
The ‘Death Spiral’ of a Stablecoin
The Journal.
Cryptocurrencies are volatile, but so-called stablecoins were meant to be the exception. But after one major stablecoin, TerraUSD, crashed spectacularly, it caused ripple effects in cryptoland. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff explains why regulators are spooked, and what this could mean for the broader economy.
May 17, 2022
How Will We Know When the Pandemic's Over?
We speak with Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control about eroding trust in public health, vaccine approvals for children under 5 and the one million Americans who have now died from COVID-19.
May 16, 2022
The Political Cost of China's Faltering Economy
China’s sputtering economy is altering the balance of power among its top leaders. For years, President Xi Jinping sidelined his second in command, Premier Li Keqiang, a proponent of economic liberalization. WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains that Li is now gaining clout and pushing back on Xi's socialist policies.
May 13, 2022
Why An Online Telehealth Startup Is Limiting Adderall
The digital startup Cerebral began prescribing ADHD drugs like Adderall over the internet, after federal rules loosened. But recently, there have been concerns from inside and outside the company that Cerebral was not careful enough. Now the company has stopped prescribing Adderall to new patients. WSJ's Rolfe Winkler reports.
May 12, 2022
Fidelity’s Controversial Bet on Bitcoin
Fidelity Investments will be the first major retirement-plan provider to allow bitcoin in its 401(k) plans. WSJ's Anne Tergesen explains the move and the blowback that followed.
May 11, 2022
Can the Fed Lower Inflation Without Causing a Recession?
The Federal Reserve has never managed to significantly decrease inflation without causing job losses, but it's trying to now. Central Bank officials hope they can cool down an overheated economy by raising interest rates. But as WSJ’s Jon Hilsenrath explains, the Fed risks triggering a recession.
May 10, 2022
Are Stock-Market Games Turning Teens Into Risky Investors?
Every year, more than a million U.S. high-school students learn about investing through stock-picking games. But what do these games really teach? WSJ's Jason Zweig explains the shortfalls of traditional stock-market games, and teacher Mike Scanlan describes the different approach his school is taking.
May 9, 2022
Australia Wanted Facebook to Pay for News. Facebook Played Hardball.
Last year, Facebook blocked news pages to pre-empt Australian legislation that would force it to pay publishers for content. But it also took down the Facebook pages of non-news organizations like hospitals, emergency services and charities. Was the move inadvertent or a negotiating tactic? We talk to WSJ's Keach Hagey about what she learned.
May 6, 2022
The Battle Over Reparations at Georgetown
In 1838, the Jesuits who founded Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved people to pay off the school's debts and keep the college afloat. Nearly 200 years later, the Jesuits want to make amends. But as Lee Hawkins explains, the path to racial healing can be a messy one.
May 5, 2022
The Fight Over a Menthol Cigarette Ban
After decades of debate, the Food and Drug Administration is proposing a ban on menthol cigarettes. A researcher of the tobacco industry explains the benefits of a potential ban, and WSJ’s Jennifer Maloney explains why some want menthols to stay on the market.
May 4, 2022
Germany’s Difficult Breakup with Russian Energy
The European Union announced a proposal to ban purchases of Russian oil exports, after Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, dropped its opposition. WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski explains why Germany was such a holdout.
May 3, 2022
The Potential End of Roe v. Wade
A leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court indicates the court may be preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 precedent that established a constitutional right to an abortion. WSJ’s Brent Kendall explains what this could mean for women in America and why this is a significant moment in the history of the court.
May 2, 2022
How Inflation is Causing Americans to 'Unretire'
Economic data from March revealed a new trend: hundreds of thousands of Americans are "unretiring" and returning to the workforce. WSJ's Harriet Torry reports that rising inflation is making retirement unsustainable for many. We also hear from two retirees who have started looking for work.
April 29, 2022
Why Airbnb Is Letting Employees Work Anywhere
As many companies evaluate how to return to the office, Airbnb announced a new ‘work-from-anywhere’ policy that will let its employees work remotely from 170 countries. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky explains how he arrived at the idea, and how the policy could serve as a blueprint for others companies.
April 28, 2022
The Rise of the Yimbys
With rising housing prices and concerns about affordability, a new approach to solving the problem has emerged. Its answer is to build more housing of all types. Meet the Yimbys. WSJ’s Christine Mai-Duc explains the origins of the movement and how it's gaining traction around the country.
April 27, 2022
Why Florida is Fighting with Walt Disney World
Governor Ron DeSantis revoked the theme park's self-governing privileges after Disney opposed Florida's "Don’t Say Gay" bill. WSJ's Robbie Whelan explains the fight that led to this decision and what it might mean for one of the state’s largest employers.
April 26, 2022
Afghanistan’s Desperation Economy
Afghanistan is dealing with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which has accelerated since the Taliban took power. Jobs are scarce, the nation’s suffering a devastating drought and Afghans are going hungry. As WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explains, Afghans are resorting to increasingly desperate measures to survive, such as selling kidneys.
April 25, 2022
Elon Musk is Actually Buying Twitter
Twitter announced today that it plans to sell itself to Elon Musk for $44 billion. WSJ’s Liz Hoffman explains the unusual nature of how the deal came together and what it could mean for Twitter.
April 22, 2022
The Quick End to CNN+
In late March, CNN launched its new streaming service, CNN+. But less than a month later, it’s shutting down. WSJ’s Joe Flint explains how this expensive project became the collateral damage of a corporate takeover.
April 21, 2022
How Biden Plans to Tackle Student Debt
The Biden administration announced plans this week to reduce the student loan burden for millions of people in the U.S. WSJ’s Gabriel T. Rubin explains how the plan involves retooling an existing program that has enrolled millions of people but provided few with relief.
April 20, 2022
Will France Elect a Far-Right President?
France votes for its next president on Sunday and polls show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen closing in on incumbent centrist, Emmanuel Macron. WSJ's Noemie Bisserbe explains why a Le Pen victory could upend French and European politics.
April 19, 2022
Starbucks CEO Faces Brewing Union Efforts
After a Starbucks store in New York state successfully unionized last year, a movement has begun at the coffee giant's stores across the country — one that CEO Howard Schultz is hoping to tamp down. WSJ’s Heather Haddon unpacks what the company is doing to fight back, and a Starbucks worker explains their interest in unionization.
April 18, 2022
Amazon Takes On SpaceX in Battle for Space Internet
Amazon's Project Kuiper is planning dozens of launches to send satellites into space in order to sell internet to consumers on Earth. But it's up against a big competitor: Elon Musk’s Starlink. WSJ’s Micah Maidenberg explains the promise of the technology and why it might be hard to succeed.
April 15, 2022
Red-Flag Laws, Their Application and One Mother’s Experience
A year ago, Brandon Hole killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. His mother, Sheila, had tried to get law enforcement to take away his firearms. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson explains the red-flag laws that could have helped stop this mass shooting.
April 14, 2022
Elon Musk’s $43 Billion Offer to Buy Twitter
After buying a sizable amount of Twitter’s shares, Elon Musk is now gunning for the entire company. Today, he announced a bid to buy Twitter for about $43 billion. As WSJ’s Tim Higgins explains, Musk is framing the move less as an investment, and more as a fight for free speech.
April 13, 2022
Russia's Central Banker Dismantles What She Built
Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Russian Central Bank, has spent decades working to integrate Russia into the global economy. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the sanctions it triggered, have pushed Russia's economy into crisis. WSJ's Alexander Osipovich explains how Nabiullina's strategies to stabilize Russia's economy undermine many policies she once championed.
April 12, 2022
Why Workers Can’t Get Enough Hours, Even in a Jobs Boom
American workers quit a record 47 million jobs in 2021. Despite conventional wisdom, they’re not always leaving to pursue their dreams. Instead, many employees aren’t getting enough hours. WSJ’s Te-Ping Chen explains why.
April 11, 2022
Why So Many Russians Are Going to Turkey
Since the invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have flown to Turkey, many arriving with cash in their suitcases. WSJ’s Jared Malsin explains why Turkey — a member of NATO — has been so welcoming to Russians while the rest of Europe closes its doors.
April 8, 2022
The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands
Jean-Michel Basquiat's art has sold for over $100 million and his name and work has been licensed for all kinds of merchandise, from Gap to Coach. WSJ’s Kelly Crow talks with Basquiat's two sisters, who are now managing his estate, about how they’re running the business of Basquiat and a new show that will reveal unseen art.
April 7, 2022
One Ukrainian Factory Owner Joins the War Effort
Shamil Malachiyev helps run his family's business: one of the largest grain mills in southern Ukraine. He explains how his business has been forced to adapt to war and how he's pitching in on the fight against the Russians.
April 6, 2022
Elon Musk's Twitter Surprise
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, announced this week that he is now Twitter's largest shareholder and has a seat on the board. WSJ's Rob Copeland and Dave Michaels explain what that means for the social media platform, and what it might mean for Elon Musk.
April 5, 2022
Carl Icahn, Activist Investor, Takes on Pork
Activist investor Carl Icahn has made billions of dollars taking stakes in companies and pressuring them to make changes. Now, Icahn is doing that again, but this time it’s not about making money. It’s about the treatment of pregnant pigs in pork supply chains. WSJ’s Cara Lombardo explains why he’s doing it — and whether it’ll work.
April 4, 2022
‘We Just Took Down Amazon:’ Activist on Amazon’s First U.S. Union
On Friday, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York voted to unionize. Chris Smalls, the man who’s led the unionization effort, reflects on how the Amazon Labor Union got here, what’s next and how his grassroots efforts could serve as a blueprint for other workers.
April 1, 2022
An Undercover Operation to Reveal an Alleged Ponzi Scheme
Over the last few weeks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been investigating an alleged Ponzi scheme that attracted hundreds of investors. The alleged fraud was uncovered by a group of whistleblowers and an undercover businessman looking for a shot at redemption. One of the whistleblowers, the undercover businessman himself and WSJ's Ben Foldy recount the events.
March 31, 2022
Bribes, Cartels, and Extradition: How a Honduran President Became a U.S. Target
Former President Juan Orlando Hernández promised to combat corruption, violence and drug cartels. But U.S. prosecutors allege he took bribes from drug cartels and "allowed brutal violence to be committed without consequence." WSJ's José de Córdoba explains why the U.S. wants to bring Hernández to trial in an American court.
March 30, 2022
The TikTok That Changed College Hoops
University of Oregon forward Sedona Prince’s viral TikTok from the 2021 NCAA women’s tournament led to a gender-equity investigation in college basketball. WSJ reporter Rachel Bachman details how it also resulted in big changes in this year's women's championships.
March 29, 2022
The Beef Between Cattle Ranchers and Meatpackers
While beef prices are up at the meat counter, cattle ranchers aren't cashing in. Some blame America’s meat-processing giants, which they say underpay for livestock. We talk to Trey Wasserburger about how he and fellow Nebraska ranchers are fighting back by building their own meat packing plant.
March 28, 2022
The Supply Chain Saga at One Port
Last year, Covid led to enormous slowdowns along the supply chain, especially at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. WSJ's Paul Berger explains how one terminal overcame its backlog, and how a union negotiation on the horizon could back everything up once again.
March 25, 2022
Why Uber Is Hailing New York City Cabs
When Uber first started over a decade ago, the company had one huge competitor: The taxi industry. But after both businesses began to stall, the two former enemies began making nice. WSJ's Preetika Rana explains what caused Uber to team up with New York City's yellow cabs, and the company's bigger taxi ambitions.
March 24, 2022
Iran’s Secret System to Avoid Sanctions
The U.S. and other Western nations have imposed harsh sanctions on Iran. But the country has built a clandestine financial system in order to endure them. WSJ’s Ian Talley explains how Iran did it, and what it means for Western influence.
March 23, 2022
War in Ukraine Hits Global Food Supplies
As Russian forces rampage through Ukraine, farmers are facing a growing list of barriers to planting and tending to their crops. That’s bad news for countries around the world that rely on Ukrainian imports. WSJ’s Alistair Macdonald explains the repercussions on global food supplies and a farmer talks about how his operations are faring during the war.
March 22, 2022
The Online Sleuths Fighting Russian Disinformation
The investigative group Bellingcat has won awards and international recognition for its work exposing misdeeds of authoritarian governments. We talk with Bellingcat’s executive director, Christo Grozev, about the group’s focus on Russian disinformation and alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
March 21, 2022
How Disney's CEO Got Caught in Florida's Fight Over Gay Rights
Since taking over Disney in early 2020, Bob Chapek has presided over a difficult period for the company. Now, a bill in Florida has become another stumbling block for the embattled CEO. WSJ's Robbie Whelan looks at Chapek's tenure — and why he was reluctant to speak out against a bill critics are calling "Don't Say Gay."
March 18, 2022
Inside Chernobyl’s Hostage Crisis
When Russia invaded Ukraine, it took control of the abandoned Chernobyl power plant, the site of worst nuclear disaster in history. Now, around 200 workers are being held hostage at the site by Russian forces. The WSJ’s Joe Parkinson breaks down the situation, and we speak with an off-duty employee of the power plant.
March 17, 2022
As Saudi Arabia Cools on the U.S., It Warms to China
President Joe Biden wants Saudi Arabia to pump more oil, to alleviate global supply concerns amid sanctions on Russia. But the U.S.-Saudi relationship has grown so strained that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is refusing to take Biden’s call. Now, the kingdom has turned its attention toward another buyer: China. WSJ’s Stephen Kalin explains why Saudi Arabia is growing cold on the U.S.
March 16, 2022
Inflation at the Only Grocer in Town
Inflation is forcing Frank Timberlake, owner of Rich Square Market in rural North Carolina, to raise prices on many of his products. The store is the only grocery around for miles, and many customers are on fixed incomes. Timberlake and WSJ's Valerie Bauerlein explain how inflation is squeezing the store's customers and the business.
March 15, 2022
Can Poland’s Economy Absorb Millions of Ukrainians?
Nearly two million Ukrainians have flooded into Poland in the last few weeks. While Polish people have welcomed the refugees with open arms, politicians are warning that the country’s systems are getting overwhelmed. WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw describes the scene on the ground in Poland’s capital and the effect of this mass migration on Poland’s economy.
March 14, 2022
Oatly Pioneered Oat Milk. Now it’s Struggling to Keep Up.
With its cheeky advertising, Oatly helped invent the oat milk market. But now it’s having a hard time keeping up with all the demand it helped create. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar and Jesse Newman tell the story of the company’s rise and recent troubles.
March 11, 2022
A Russian Car Maker Falls Back Into Soviet-Era Isolation
This week, production of Lada cars, the icons of Russia’s auto industry, ground to a halt as Western sanctions cut off auto parts and supplies. WSJ's Nick Kostov tells the story of the famous car maker and explains why it offers a glimpse into the evolution of the Russian economy.
March 10, 2022
How Crypto Became Part of the War
Since the invasion, cryptocurrency use has increased in both Russia and Ukraine. Michael Chobanian, the founder of the largest crypto exchange fund in Ukraine, explains how his company is soliciting donations for the Ukrainian war effort. And WSJ's Paul Vigna reports on Russians' renewed interest in cryptocurrency as the ruble tumbles.
March 9, 2022
An Unexpected Strategy to Bring Gas Prices Down
The United States banned Russian oil yesterday, its latest retribution against the invasion of Ukraine. The move is designed to hurt Russia's Vladimir Putin but is also likely to push America's soaring gas prices even higher. Journalist Patricia Garip says the U.S. is now looking for ways to replace the Russian oil and is turning to an unlikely source: Venezuela.
March 8, 2022
Russia's Media Crackdown: 'The Future is Pretty Dark'
Russia's only independent TV news channel, TV Rain, shut down last week amid a media crackdown in the country. A new law outlaws publishing what Russian authorities consider false information about the Ukraine invasion. TV Rain's editor-in-chief, Tikhon Dzyadko, who has fled the country, talks to The Journal about independent journalism in Russia.
March 7, 2022
Facebook's $10 Billion Advertising Exodus
Last month, Facebook's parent, Meta Platforms, forecasted the company would lose $10 billion in advertising revenue this year. Small business owner Martha Krueger explains why she stopped using the platforms, and WSJ reporter Salvador Rodriguez talks about how the company plans to address the exodus.
March 4, 2022
The War in Ukraine Hits American Gas Prices
President Biden had hoped to insulate Americans from the economic fallout of sanctioning Russia, one of the world's biggest oil producers. But oil prices have jumped more than 25 percent this week alone. WSJ's Tim Puko explains why prices keep rising and what, if anything, Biden can do about it.
March 3, 2022
Yachts, Soccer and Sanctioning Russian Oligarchs
This week, governments around the world have slapped sanctions on prominent Russian billionaires in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. WSJ's Max Colchester explains the push to scrutinize these Russia billionaires and looks at the debate around sanctioning one oligarch: Chelsea soccer team owner, Roman Abramovich.
March 2, 2022
Russians, and Putin, Face the Fallout of War
As repercussions mount for the invasion of Ukraine, ordinary Russians are starting to feel the impact. WSJ's Ann M. Simmons details what it's like on the ground in Moscow and explains whether economic sanctions are having any effect on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
March 1, 2022
A Ukrainian Tech CEO Reckons With War
Since the Russian invasion, Ukrainian tech CEO Vitaly Sedler has been organizing efforts to move employees from conflict zones to safety. His company, Intellias, is one of Ukraine's biggest tech companies and is part of a burgeoning tech sector in the country. Sedler talks to The Journal about what it's like to run a business in a country at war.
February 28, 2022
The Financial Punishment of Russia
Over the weekend, countries around the world ratcheted up their punishment of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Newly announced sanctions could severely cripple the Russian economy in what's being called the biggest economic attack in history. WSJ's Laurence Norman breaks down the new measures.
February 25, 2022
The Man Leading Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was remaining in his nation's capital, Kyiv, even as Russian troops closed in. He urged Ukrainians to fight against the invasion. WSJ's James Marson explains how the embattled Ukrainian leader, a one-time TV star, is now standing up to Russia.
February 24, 2022
As Russia Invades, Ukrainians Weigh Fight or Flight
Russia launched a full-scale invasion across Ukraine on Thursday. Now, Ukrainians are deciding between fleeing west or fighting back. We hear from one man who's leaving and one who's heading to the front lines. Plus, WSJ's Brett Forrest and James Marson detail what's happening on the ground in Ukraine and what to expect next.
February 23, 2022
How Putin Has Planned For Sanctions
Western leaders have threatened sweeping sanctions if Russia continues advancing into Ukraine. But can even the toughest sanctions avert full-scale war? WSJ's Ann M. Simmons and Georgi Kantchev describe the sanctions that could be coming and how Russia has prepared for this moment.
February 22, 2022
The Labor Dispute That Has Baseball on Hold
Spring training for the baseball season was supposed to be underway this week. Instead, players and owners are locked in a labor dispute over their contract. WSJ's Jared Diamond explains why players' demands for more pay could be costly for baseball.
February 21, 2022
How an Art World Outsider Landed a $69 Million Sale
After selling an NFT for $69 million, the digital artist known as Beeple says he's not trying to "blow up" the contemporary art world. And WSJ's Kelly Crow explains how a new technology led to a historic sale. This episode originally published in March 2021.
February 18, 2022
Why NATO Is at the Center of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Russia continues to amass troops on the Ukrainian border, threatening an invasion. One of Russia's demands is that Ukraine never join NATO, the longstanding Western alliance. WSJ's Yaroslav Trofimov explains NATO's history with Russia, and why President Vladimir Putin considers its expansion a threat.
February 17, 2022
NBC's Olympic Bet on Peacock
When NBCUniversal launched its streaming service, Peacock, in 2020, it had a rocky start. Now it's trying to regain its footing by live-streaming the Winter Olympics, along with new shows and movies. As WSJ's Lillian Rizzo explains, the stakes are high for NBC and its parent company, Comcast, to get it right.
February 16, 2022
Remington's Surprising Sandy Hook Settlement
Families of nine victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting announced yesterday that they would receive a $73 million settlement from Remington, the parent company of the manufacturer of the gun used in the shooting. WSJ's Zusha Elinson explains the families' novel legal strategy and why it paid off.
February 15, 2022
How The Government Tied One Couple to Billions in Stolen Bitcoin
A couple was charged last week with conspiring to launder bitcoins stolen in one of the biggest hacks in crypto history. WSJ's Paul Vigna explains how the feds followed the crypto money trail to the two thirty-something New Yorkers.
February 14, 2022
Canada's Trucker Protests
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers to end demonstrations against Covid-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates, a day after police cleared protesters from a bridge between the U.S. and Canada. WSJ's Paul Vieira explains the roots of the trucker-led demonstrations and why they've been going on for so long.
February 11, 2022
If Russia Invades Ukraine, Can the U.S. Deliver on Sanctions?
On Friday, a top White House official warned that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time. President Biden has promised tough sanctions if Russia does invade, but Russia's economic ties with Germany could limit the bite of those measures. WSJ's Bojan Pancevski explains Germany's growing reliance on Russian gas and how it could complicate the West's response.
February 10, 2022
The Coach Accusing the NFL of Discrimination
As the Super Bowl approaches, the National Football League is tackling some big issues off the field. In a lawsuit against the league and three specific teams, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores alleges racial discrimination in hiring. As WSJ's Andrew Beaton explains, the suit highlights a diversity issue the NFL has been trying to fix for years.
February 9, 2022
Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines
This week, Frontier announced its plan to buy Spirit Airlines. If approved, the merger would create the fifth-largest commercial airline in the US. WSJ's Alison Sider looks at the story behind the deal and the man who has worked for years to make it happen.
February 8, 2022
A Fight for the Fed's Future
Lawmakers last week questioned President Biden's picks for the Federal Reserve. Biden and the Democrats say the diverse slate of nominees will bring a new perspective to the central bank, but Republicans worry some nominees will politicize the Fed. WSJ's Amara Omeokwe outlines the philosophical debate over the Fed's role in the economy.
February 7, 2022
The Business of Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is one of the biggest pop stars of the past two years. WSJ Magazine contributor Alan Light - and Dua Lipa herself - explain how a pivotal decision in 2020 helped fuel her success, and why she's decided to launch a newsletter and a podcast.
February 4, 2022
The Shock Exit of CNN's President
CNN president Jeff Zucker suddenly resigned on Wednesday after announcing he had failed to disclose his romantic relationship with another senior executive. WSJ's Ben Mullin traces Zucker's long career and impact on CNN, and explores where the network goes from here.
February 3, 2022
The Real Cost of 15 Minute Grocery Delivery
A battle among fast grocery delivery companies is raging in New York and other U.S. cities. With millions of dollars of venture capital funding, startups are flocking to get products out to customers in under 20 minutes, but at what cost? WSJ's Eliot Brown breaks down the numbers and explains why this trend could have a short shelf life.
February 2, 2022
Why U.S. Sponsors Are Keeping a Low Profile This Olympics
In the leadup to the 2018 Winter Games, U.S. Olympic sponsors unveiled high-profile ad campaigns. But this year, they're keeping mum. WSJ's Stu Woo explains how tensions between the US and China over human rights have put U.S. Olympic sponsors in a bind.
February 1, 2022
Is This the End of the SAT?
The pandemic forced many colleges to make standardized entrance exams like the SAT optional. Now, a lot of them are choosing to make the tests optional longer term. WSJ's Douglas Belkin explains the forces motivating them, and an admissions officer in South Carolina describes how the trends affect his school.
January 31, 2022
Google's Plan to Change Online Ads Isn't Going Well
Last week, Google announced it is overhauling its plans for targeted online advertising after pushback from privacy advocates. The company's new plan is called Google Topics and aims to give marketers less granular information about web users than under the tech giant's earlier proposal. WSJ's Sam Schechner talks about what the new proposal means for Google, advertisers and regulators around the wo...
January 28, 2022
Neil Young, Joe Rogan and Spotify's Balancing Act
Earlier this week, rock star Neil Young asked Spotify to remove his music from its streaming service. He said it was in protest of covid misinformation on The Joe Rogan Experience, Spotify's most popular podcast. WSJ's Anne Steele explains how Spotify's big bet on the controversial podcaster complicates the company's plans to dominate the audio space.
January 27, 2022
Investors are Buying Up Homes. Cincinnati is Pushing Back
Since the 2008 financial crisis, institutional investors have bought up thousands of homes around the country to rent out, crimping the supply of available homes for average buyers. But a new gambit by an economic development agency in Cincinnati aims to put a dent in that dynamic. We speak to its CEO and WSJ's Konrad Putzier about the stakes.
January 26, 2022
Why Russia Fears Ukrainian National Pride
With Russian troops amassing at Ukraine's border, many Ukrainians say they're willing to take up arms against Russia. WSJ's James Marson visited Kyiv, spoke to some prominent leaders and explains how a new sense of Ukrainian identity is playing into the current tensions.
January 25, 2022
Peloton's Wild Ride
Fitness company Peloton was once a pandemic favorite with booming sales and a surging stock price. But recently, it's suffered a reversal of fortune. WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Laura Forman explains what happened and why she saw the fall coming.
January 24, 2022
The Fight Over the U.S. 5G Rollout
Communications giants AT&T and Verizon have been investing billions of dollars into their 5G networks. But aviation regulators have warned for several years that certain 5G signals may interfere with some equipment on aircraft. WSJ's Drew FitzGerald unpacks how the U.S. government failed to avert a pitched battle over the 5G rollout.
January 21, 2022
Is Now the Moment for the Four-Day Workweek?
Earlier this month, Bolt, a startup in Silicon Valley, announced that employees can permanently work a four-day workweek. The company's founder and CEO tells The Journal why, and WSJ's Patrick Thomas explains how the four-day workweek went from an abstract idea to something employers across the country are now offering their staff.
January 20, 2022
Grammys CEO on How He's Tackling One Challenge After Another
The Grammys has come under fire in recent years for a lack of diversity among its members and its nominees. We speak with Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. about how he's trying to rebuild trust among artists while at the same time respond to the pandemic's disruption of the awards ceremony.
January 19, 2022
Why Microsoft Is Paying $75 Billion for Activision Blizzard
On Tuesday, Microsoft announced its biggest acquisition ever: It'll buy the video gaming juggernaut Activision Blizzard for $75 billion. Microsoft's betting the deal will help it build a new way to sell games to consumers, which it calls the "Netflix of games." WSJ's Aaron Tilley explains Microsoft's strategy and the risks it contains.
January 18, 2022
Canada's Historic Settlement with Indigenous Peoples
Earlier this month, Canada reached a landmark preliminary settlement with members of its indigenous community, capping a 15-year legal battle over child welfare resources. Cindy Blackstock, an advocate who vaulted the case onto the national stage, explains what drove the initial complaint, and WSJ's Kim Mackrael unpacks the importance of the $32 billion settlement, the largest in Canada's history.
January 14, 2022
The Stock Trading Scandals at the Federal Reserve
Three top officials have recently retired early from the Federal Reserve amid controversy surrounding personal stock trading activity. WSJ's Nick Timiraos explains what's led to the worst reputational crisis at the Fed in decades.
January 13, 2022
Why This Week's Child-Tax-Credit Checks Aren't Coming
Democrats gambled that their expanded child tax credit would be so popular, Congress wouldn't let it lapse. It just lapsed. WSJ's Richard Rubin explains why the monthly checks for parents are ending, and dad Jamie Herrington discusses what it means for his family.
January 12, 2022
The Obscure Players Keeping the NBA in Business
More than half of the NBA's players have tested positive for Covid-19 this season as the highly contagious Omicron variant sweeps the country. WSJ's Ben Cohen explains how the NBA has had to tap into its developmental league to keep the games going, and what it means for the players getting their first big break.
January 11, 2022
Workers Are Burnt Out. Can Companies Fix It?
Workplace burnout is on the rise, with resignations at an all-time high. WSJ's Ray A. Smith reports that employers are scrambling to find ways to combat it. And we hear from a woman who says professional burnout sent her to the hospital. Plus, the president of Bumble, the dating app, explains why his company gave employees a week off last year.
January 10, 2022
Pfizer's CEO on Omicron, a Fourth Shot and 2022
Pfizer has sold and distributed billions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, generating an estimated $36 billion in sales last year. CEO Albert Bourla talks to The Journal about Omicron and how Pfizer is approaching the virus as we enter the third year of the pandemic.
January 7, 2022
What's Russia Doing in Kazakhstan?
After a steep rise in gas prices, violent protests broke out in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. Dozens have been killed, most of the country's government has resigned and, now, Russian-led forces are entering the country to intervene. WSJ's James Marson traces the roots of these protests.
January 6, 2022
Why At-Home Covid-19 Tests Are So Hard to Find
Months after they first came on the market, at-home Covid-19 tests are still scarce in some parts of the country. But it didn't have to be this way. WSJ's Brianna Abbott unpacks the decisions and circumstances that led to the at-home testing shortage. And healthcare CEO Zachariah Reitano explains how he found tests for his customers.
January 5, 2022
How College Professors Got Caught Up in U.S.-China Tensions
The Department of Justice has charged about two dozen academic researchers in the U.S. over suspicions they may be secretly helping China. But WSJ's Aruna Viswanatha explains universities see the government's actions as intimidation and an attack on open research.
January 4, 2022
Elizabeth Holmes Found Guilty
Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes promised investors that her company could revolutionize blood tests. But after 11 wire-fraud charges and 15 weeks of a court trial, yesterday a jury found Holmes guilty on four counts. WSJ's Sara Randazzo, who has been in the courtroom, explains what this means for Holmes and why this trial was a referendum on how Silicon Valley startups raise cash.
December 24, 2021
Mariah Carey on the Rise of Her Christmas Anthem
Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994 to moderate success. Today, the song is a megahit and Christmas playlist staple. What happened? WSJ's John Jurgensen called up the "Queen of Christmas" to find out. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2020.
December 23, 2021
How The 'Apes' Took Over AMC
AMC, the world's largest movie-theater chain, is now over 80% owned by everyday investors. Which means CEO Adam Aron has a new boss: The 'apes.' WSJ's Alexander Gladstone and Erich Schwartzel introduce the online movement that saved AMC. And self-declared 'ape' investor David Dumas explains why he jumped in.
December 22, 2021
Purdue's $4.5 Billion Opioid Settlement Got Thrown Out. Now What?
Last week, a federal judge overturned a roughly $4.5 billion settlement between OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family, who own the company. WSJ's Jonathan Randles explains why the ruling was surprising and what it means for people who sued Purdue, like Ryan Hampton.
December 21, 2021
The Man in the Middle of the Fight Over Jan. 6
Lawmakers investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol believe former chief of staff Mark Meadows holds critical knowledge about how the Trump administration responded that day. But Meadows, like several other former Trump allies, refuses to testify. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains why lawmakers want to talk to him.
December 20, 2021
A Toy Maker Battles the Global Supply Chain
Toymaker John Hansen III needs his products in stock by the holidays. This year, manufacturing delays, port backups, and a trucking shortage made getting goods from China to the U.S. harder than ever. Hansen describes how cascading supply-chain failures delayed an order of chess sets by a year, and explains what the backups mean for his business.
December 17, 2021
The Shadow Crisis Unfolding in One Doctor's Clinic
Dr. Christine Hancock is a primary care doctor in Washington state. Early in the pandemic, Dr. Hancock thought her patients would be hit hard by Covid-19. But she has seen a different crisis play out where isolation and health care delays have led to complications and deaths. WSJ's Anna Wilde Mathews has spoken with Dr. Hancock throughout the pandemic and reflects on the doctor's story.
December 16, 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Omicron and the Covid-19 Stalemate
Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease official, says we are at a stalemate in the war against Covid-19. New coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom just hit a record high as the Omicron variant spreads. And U.S. deaths from the virus have surpassed 800,000, even as vaccines become more widely available. We speak with Dr. Fauci about the war against coronavirus and whether we can ever ...
December 15, 2021
Can 'Immersive' Van Gogh Beat the Real Thing?
The painter Vincent Van Gogh is having a moment. Right now, multiple companies are battling to sell tickets to dozens of immersive shows of his work, which involve virtual-reality headsets and large-scale projections. WSJ's Kelly Crow tells the story behind this new way of viewing art and why it is creating a challenge for museums.
December 14, 2021
The Fed's Shifting Inflation Message
For months, the Federal Reserve has predicted that inflation was "transitory" - that it would go away on its own. But recently, Fed officials have backed away from that buzzword. WSJ's Nick Timiraos explains what that tiny word choice reveals about the Fed's changing thinking on the future of the U.S. economy.
December 13, 2021
Will Omicron Require New Covid Vaccines?
Since the identification of the Omicron variant, vaccine makers - like Pfizer and Moderna - have been racing to figure out if the existing Covid-19 vaccines are effective against it or whether they should develop new, Omicron-targeted vaccines. WSJ's Denise Roland explains what scientists have to consider.
December 10, 2021
Back Stage at a Metaverse Concert
Pop star Tai Verdes is the latest among a slew of stars performing concerts in the metaverse, a virtual world growing in popularity. Verdes and WSJ's Anne Steele explain why the music industry is diving in.
December 9, 2021
New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern on Her Change in Covid Strategy
New Zealand ended its Covid-19 elimination strategy after an outbreak triggered a months-long lockdown in the country's largest city. Now, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has put in place a phased reopening plan. We talk with Ardern about the economic cost of the country's elimination strategy and what new variants mean for its plans.
December 8, 2021
Inside the Trial of Elizabeth Holmes
Today the defense rested in the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos. WSJ's Sara Randazzo takes us inside the trial, from the prosecution's arguments to the moment Holmes took the stand herself.
December 7, 2021
Elon Musk on Why He Wants More Robots and Less Government
What does the world's richest person think about the role of government and the future of robots and space travel? Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared his views in a wide-ranging interview with WSJ's Joanna Stern.
December 6, 2021
How the Pandemic Helped Fix Retail
Some in the retail industry thought the pandemic could end in-store shopping as we know it. But brick-and-mortar retailers weren't destroyed, and many managed to emerge from the pandemic stronger. WSJ's Suzanne Kapner explains why.
December 3, 2021
The Designer Who Made Streetwear Luxury
Designer Virgil Abloh became the first Black American to hold a top creative job at a major luxury label. Abloh, who was artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, was able to turn ordinary streetwear like hoodies and sneakers into high fashion, commanding big price tags and drawing celebrity customers. WSJ's Jacob Gallagher unpacks the legacy of Virgil Abloh, who died earlier this week at age...
December 2, 2021
The Fallout From Turkey's Economic Experiment
Turkish President Erdogan is pushing ahead with an unusual economic plan for his country that is based on slashing the value of the currency. As the Turkish lira has plunged, inflation has spiked and Turkish citizens have taken to the streets. WSJ's Jared Maslin reports on the situation from Istanbul.
December 1, 2021
How Gas Prices Are Weighing on Biden's Climate Agenda
Gasoline prices are on the rise. To avoid a political backlash, President Biden is pushing to increase the global oil supply in hopes that will eventually help consumers at the pump. But as WSJ's Timothy Puko explains, the move has risks, given Biden's climate agenda.
November 30, 2021
The Rise of Binance - And The Effort to Reel It In
Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency trading platform, surged by operating from nowhere in particular - without offices, licenses, or headquarters. Now, WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff explains, global regulators are taking a closer look.
November 29, 2021
Why South Africa Sounded the Alarm Over Omicron
On Friday, the World Health Organization labeled a new variant of the coronavirus, called Omicron, as a variant of concern. WSJ's Gabriele Steinhauser explains how scientists in South Africa noticed it so quickly, and what's known about Omicron so far.
November 24, 2021
The Biotech Startup that Became an FBI Target
We are bringing you the complete story of uBiome. It was a biotech company with promise: charismatic leaders, an exciting product and lots of venture-capital funding. So why did the FBI end up raiding its office? And why is the government calling its leaders fugitives? WSJ's Amy Dockser Marcus tells the story of uBiome's spectacular downfall.
November 23, 2021
A Player Goes Missing, and Women's Tennis Takes on China
A post on tennis player Peng Shuai's social-media account made a startling accusation: that a former top official of the Chinese Communist Party had sexually assaulted her. Then, she disappeared from public view for more than two weeks. WSJ's Joshua Robinson explains how the head of the Women's Tennis Association is speaking out against China and putting the organization's business on the line.
November 22, 2021
Why Older Americans Are Fleeing the Workforce
Compared with pre-pandemic estimates, hundreds of thousands more Americans have retired in the last 18 months. We hear from two recent retirees, and we talk to WSJ's Amara Omeokwe about what the wave of retirement could mean for the economy.
November 19, 2021
A Videogame Giant Confronts a Culture Crisis
Activision Blizzard, one of the world's biggest videogame makers, is facing multiple investigations over sexual harassment and workplace misconduct. WSJ's Kirsten Grind looks at the CEO helming the company, Bobby Kotick, and his knowledge of the allegations.
November 18, 2021
How Puff Bar Became the Most Popular Vape for Kids
Last year, the FDA cracked down on flavored vapes in hopes of combatting a rise in teen vaping. But thanks to a loophole in the FDA's rule, sweet, fruity flavors are still around. WSJ's Jennifer Maloney details how a product called Puff Bar has become the top-selling vape among kids.
November 17, 2021
Ford and GM's Battle for the Hottest Electric Vehicle Startup
Rivian, the Amazon-backed electric vehicle company, went public earlier this month in the biggest IPO since 2014. But before that, Detroit giants General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. fought over partnering with Rivian, earning one of the legacy carmakers a multi-billion dollar payout. WSJ's Mike Colias tells the story of the high-stakes battle.
November 16, 2021
Taylor Swift's Push to Change Music Ownership
In 2019, Taylor Swift announced she would re-record her first six albums after they fell into the hands of talent agent Scooter Braun. Last week she debuted her version of her album Red. It broke streaming records. WSJ's Anne Steele says this decision is not only making Taylor money but also inspiring other artists to do the same -- and that record labels are pushing back.
November 15, 2021
The End of the GE Era
With a reputation as the company whose leaders knew how to run any kind of business, General Electric once made everything from lightbulbs to jet engines. Then, last week, the storied American company announced it was breaking up. WSJ's Thomas Gryta tells the story of how GE's management philosophy fell back down to earth.
November 12, 2021
What Went Wrong at uBiome, Part 2
uBiome raised millions of dollars in venture funding with the promise that insurance companies would pay for its customers' microbiome tests. But that pursuit ultimately led to an FBI raid and a federal indictment alleging a fraud scheme. WSJ's Amy Dockser Marcus tells the story of uBiome's spectacular downfall. Plus, we try to track down uBiome's leaders, Jessica Richman and Zac Apte, who the gove...
November 10, 2021
The Labor Shortage That's Causing More Labor Shortages
One reason people can't go back to work is because they can't find childcare, and they can't find childcare because there's a shortage of childcare workers. WSJ's Kris Maher explains why the economics of the industry make it so difficult to raise wages, and the CEO of a childcare program in Philadelphia explains how hard she's tried to hire teachers.
November 9, 2021
How Zillow Failed at Flipping Homes
Zillow started buying and selling homes directly a few years ago, hoping to make money on each transaction. But last week, the company said it was exiting the business and laying off 25% of its staff. WSJ's Will Parker explains why the company failed at home buying, a line of business Zillow once predicted could generate $20 billion a year.
November 8, 2021
Teens Are Developing Tics. Doctors Say TikTok May Be A Factor.
Over the last year, there's been a sharp increase in teen girls seeking medical help for involuntary tics. Kayla Johnsen is one of them. She shares her story, and a neurologist explains why doctors think the social media app TikTok may be behind the medical phenomenon. Plus, WSJ's Julie Jargon traces the origin of the Tourette influencers whose videos may have sparked the surge.
November 5, 2021
What Went Wrong at uBiome, Part 1
uBiome was a biotech company with promise: charismatic leaders, an exciting product and lots of venture-capital funding. So why did the FBI end up raiding its office? And how did its leaders end up labeled as fugitives by the government? WSJ's Amy Dockser Marcus tells us the story.
November 4, 2021
The Fight Over Climate Change's Price Tag
A key part of the 2015 Paris climate accord was a pledge by wealthy countries to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries fight climate change. WSJ's Matthew Dalton explains how the failure to keep that promise is challenging the COP26 climate summit this week in Glasgow.
November 3, 2021
Why the Feds Want to Stop a Major Publishing Merger
The Department of Justice yesterday sued to block Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, from buying rival Simon & Schuster for more than $2 billion. WSJ's Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg explains how the industry has consolidated in recent years and why the government says it wants to block the deal for the sake of authors.
November 2, 2021
Facebook Rebrands to Meta
Facebook announced last week that it was changing its name to Meta Platforms Inc., a name inspired by a futuristic technology that doesn't fully exist yet: the metaverse. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman explains what the metaverse is and why Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is betting big on it.
November 1, 2021
The Covid Treatment That Comes in a Pill Bottle
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has developed a drug against Covid, the first treatment that wouldn't require hospitalization. But WSJ's Jared S. Hopkins tells us distributing it equitably around the world will be a challenge.
October 29, 2021
Formula One Gets Fuel From Netflix
After years of struggling to attract new fans, Formula One is suddenly finding tons of them. The reason? A reality TV show on Netflix, called "Drive to Survive." WSJ's Joshua Robinson explains how a show he likens to "The Real Housewives of Monte Carlo" made F1 a model for modern sports marketing.
October 28, 2021
Why a Ransomware Group Is Pretending to Be a Real Company
A major hacking group has been recruiting tech talent by setting up a fake cybersecurity company, according to researchers. WSJ's Robert McMillan details how the ransomware group is recruiting workers and what it says about the state of ransomware attacks.
October 27, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 8: A New Enforcement Strategy
Facebook has professed a commitment to neutrality and upholding free speech on its platform for years. But internal documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal show the company is increasingly targeting specific groups it deems dangerous. WSJ's Jeff Horwitz explains how Facebook's actions toward the Patriot Party movement stopped it from going viral.
October 26, 2021
The Man Behind the Latest Push to Unionize Amazon
An Amazon employee group formed by warehouse workers in Staten Island filed Monday to hold a vote on unionization. We speak with Chris Smalls, the president of the group, about why he's trying to establish the first union in the U.S. for Amazon employees.
October 25, 2021
Biden's Climate Ambitions Die in the Senate
Democrats in Congress have been trying to pass a multitrillion-dollar spending bill, which includes a major piece of President Joe Biden's climate agenda. But in the face of opposition from a single senator, the climate provision is dead. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains where this leaves the U.S. in its fight against climate change.
October 22, 2021
To Solve Labor Shortage, Companies Turn to Automation
Despite wage growth, the labor force participation rate remains near its lowest level since the 1970s. In the face of this shortage, companies are turning to a possible solution: automation. We talk to the CEO of a hospital system in Nevada that is hoping new technology can help the nursing shortage, and WSJ's Josh Mitchell explains what increased investment in tech will mean for the economy and wo...
October 21, 2021
The Chappelle Controversy Tests Netflix
After Netflix released its latest Dave Chappelle special earlier this month, the company faced strong criticism from the transgender community and its own employees. WSJ's Joe Flint explains how the controversy has challenged Netflix's culture of 'radical candor' and we go on the ground at the Netflix employee walkout.
October 20, 2021
Sen. Klobuchar Says Congress Is Losing Patience With Tech Giants
After a whistleblower shared internal Facebook documents, lawmakers renewed calls to regulate social media companies. But concerns over the influence tech giants exert on society extend far beyond Facebook. We spoke with Senator Amy Klobuchar about how she hopes to rein in tech companies.
October 19, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 7: The AI Challenge
Facebook's top executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have touted the company's progress at using artificial intelligence to police harmful content on its platform. But internally, documents show there were deep concerns about what Facebook's AI could do. In the seventh episode of The Facebook Files, WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman discusses what Facebook's AI can really do and ways in which it still f...
October 18, 2021
Google's CEO on the Future of Work
As CEO of Alphabet, Google's parent company, Sundar Pichai is responsible for a massive, 144,000-person workforce. Right now, he's grappling with big issues, like how tech should be regulated, how to rein in cybercrime and how (or whether) workers return to the office. WSJ's Editor in Chief, Matt Murray, asks him about these issues and more.
October 15, 2021
The Vaccine That Took 40 Years to Make
The World Health Organization last week recommended the first-ever vaccine for wide use against malaria, one of the world's deadliest diseases. Paul Kofi Awuffor, a public health worker in Ghana, shares how the vaccine can change lives, and WSJ's Denise Roland explains this historic landmark in public health.
October 14, 2021
The Global Supply Chain Is Broken
Since the pandemic started last year, the disruptions to the global supply chain have only gotten worse. Delays at America's busiest commercial port, Los Angeles, are wreaking havoc on manufacturing and retail, leading the White House to get involved. WSJ's Sarah Nassauer and Costas Paris explain what the logjam means and how it can be fixed.
October 13, 2021
136 Countries Agree to a Global Minimum Tax
More than 100 countries agreed last week to a 15% global minimum corporate tax. WSJ's Richard Rubin details how the deal came together, and WSJ's Paul Hannon explains why Ireland - which has long had some of the lowest tax rates in Europe - finally got on board.
October 12, 2021
How 'Squid Game' Became a Megahit
"Squid Game" is on track to become Netflix's biggest show ever. WSJ's Timothy Martin explains the show's origins and why Netflix has invested so heavily in Korean content.
October 8, 2021
The Unraveling of the Murdaugh Dynasty
Over Labor Day weekend, an attempted murder was reported to police in Hampton County, S.C. involving the scion of a powerful local family. The victim, Alex Murdaugh, later said he attempted to stage his own murder to try to collect insurance money. WSJ's Valerie Bauerlien looks at this case and other events that threaten to undermine the Murdaugh dynasty.
October 7, 2021
The Day Facebook Logged Off
On Monday, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp went offline for billions of people around the world. To fix it, Facebook's employees had to physically drive to data centers to address the problem. WSJ's Robert McMillan explains the cascade of failures that caused it to happen.
October 6, 2021
A Huawei Exec, Two Canadians And The Deal That Got Them Home
In 2018, Canadian authorities arrested Huawei finance chief Meng Wanzhou on behalf of the United States. Days later, the Chinese government arrested two Canadians in retaliation. WSJ's Jacquie McNish has been covering the ordeal and the high stakes detainee exchange that took place in September.
October 5, 2021
What Secret Tapes Reveal About the College Admissions Scandal
College counselor Rick Singer pled guilty to helping wealthy parents like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman cheat their kids' way into elite colleges. In 2018, the federal government began wiretapping his cellphone. WSJ's Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz dissect the tapes.
October 3, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 6: The Whistleblower
At the heart of the Facebook Files series is a cache of internal company documents. And behind the release of those documents is a person: Frances Haugen. In Part 6, we sit down for an extended conversation with Frances. She tells us about her time at Facebook, what led her to speak out and what she hopes to achieve by disclosing internal Facebook documents.
October 1, 2021
The Federal Law That 138 Judges Have Broken
For the last year, a team at the Wall Street Journal has been investigating the financial holdings of federal judges across the country. This week, the team reported that more than 130 judges violated U.S. law by overseeing court cases that involved companies in which they or their family had a financial interest. WSJ's James Grimaldi explains the investigation and introduces us to the judge with t...
September 30, 2021
One Restaurant Owner's Answer to the Labor Shortage
The restaurant industry around the country is having a hard time finding enough workers. So, Amanda Cohen, who runs a restaurant called Dirt Candy in Manhattan, decided to dramatically overhaul her business in order to raise wages. Since then, not only has she been able to retain staff, she's also managed to increase profits.
September 29, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 5: The Push To Attract Younger Users
In the fifth part of our series looking deep inside Facebook, we examine the company's efforts to win over young children. Reporter Georgia Wells discusses what Facebook's internal documents reveal about the company's years-long efforts to study and design products for kids. And we look ahead to tomorrow's Senate hearing, where lawmakers are expected to question a Facebook executive about the compa...
September 28, 2021
China's Evergrande Crisis
Evergrande built homes for China's growing middle class for more than two decades. Now, the property developer is running out of money. WSJ's Quentin Webb explains how years of piling on debt brought Evergrande to a crisis point, and what its potential collapse could mean for China.
September 27, 2021
The Long Journey to Del Rio
Last week, roughly 16,000 migrants showed up in Del Rio, Texas. Most of them were Haitian, but they didn't come directly from Haiti. They've been on a long journey. WSJ's Alicia Caldwell and Juan Montes explain how these Haitians reached Texas and what they're encountering at the border.
September 24, 2021
Harry and Meghan, Hollywood Royalty?
Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the royal family, the couple have been building a Hollywood production company and signed deals with Netflix and Spotify. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains how this royal career shift has been going.
September 23, 2021
Xi Jinping Is Rewriting the Rules of China's Economy
The Chinese government is cracking down on big private corporations and reining in their power. WSJ's Lingling Wei shares her analysis which suggests this recent development is coming from China's President Xi Jinping's personal ideological shift from capitalism towards a Mao-style socialism.
September 22, 2021
The Snub That Made France Furious
Last week, the U.S. announced a new multibillion-dollar deal to supply nuclear submarines to Australia. There was just one problem: Australia had already inked a submarine deal with France. WSJ's Matthew Dalton explains the sub snub and what it means for U.S.-France relations.
September 21, 2021
Why 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Is Popping Up Everywhere
A growing number of retailers are offering customers the ability to buy a product and pay for it later in installments. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis explains why the approach has become so popular and whether it's likely to stick around.
September 20, 2021
The Dogfight Over Dogecoin
Dogecoin began as a joke cryptocurrency in 2013, but this year its price has soared, and now its market cap stands at about $30 billion. WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff says two competing organizations that both call themselves the Dogecoin Foundation are vying for the coin's trademark and its future. Representatives from both groups make their case about who should be dogecoin's steward going forward.
September 18, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 4: The Outrage Algorithm
In the fourth episode of our investigative series based on an extensive array of internal Facebook documents, we explore the fallout of a major algorithm change the company made in 2018. The documents outline how an emphasis on engagement incentivized the spread of divisive, sensational content and misinformation. WSJ's Keach Hagey and Jeff Horwitz explain how attempts from within the company to un...
The Facebook Files, Part 3: 'This Shouldn't Happen on Facebook'
In the third episode of our investigative series based on an extensive array of internal Facebook documents, we look at a persistent problem on the platform: human trafficking. WSJ's Justin Scheck describes documents showing that Facebook has closely studied how human traffickers use the platform to ensnare victims and advertise illegal sex services. The documents also show Facebook's response to t...
September 17, 2021
'Moneyball' Meets Firefighting
To combat increasingly extreme wildfires, firefighters are taking cues from the world of sports analytics. WSJ's Dan Frosch explains how the "Moneyball" sports data revolution is making its way into firefighting and why increasingly unpredictable fires are putting new computer models to the test.
September 16, 2021
Will the Vaccine Mandate Affect the Labor Shortage?
Jack Schron has been encouraging his employees to get vaccinated. He also worries a vaccine mandate might cause them to quit. The manufacturing company president explains what the Biden administration's vaccine mandate could mean for him, and WSJ's Eric Morath discusses its impact on the labor market.
September 15, 2021
How to Stop a $45 Billion Crime Spree
A brazen kind of shoplifting is plaguing America's retail stores, where people fill up garbage bags with items and simply walk out the door. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus explains how organized crime rings orchestrate the shoplifting. And Ben Dugan, the head of CVS' investigative unit, describes what he does to fight crime at his stores.
September 14, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 2: 'We Make Body Image Issues Worse'
In the second episode in our investigative series, we turn to research that Facebook has kept private: its internal studies on the effects of Instagram, one of its core products, on teen mental health. WSJ's Georgia Wells details the company's findings, which show that Instagram can be harmful for young users, particularly teen girls. Plus, Instagram head Adam Mosseri explains why he thinks there's...
September 13, 2021
The Facebook Files, Part 1: The Whitelist
The Facebook Files, an investigative series from The Wall Street Journal, dives into an extensive array of internal Facebook documents, giving an unparalleled look inside the social media giant. In our first episode, WSJ's Jeff Horwitz explains how high-profile users from celebrities to politicians are shielded from the site's rules and protected from enforcement measures. The company does this in ...
September 10, 2021
How the Afghan Women's Soccer Team Escaped the Taliban
As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, members of the country's women's soccer team - once symbols of a new Afghanistan - knew they needed to escape. WSJ's Drew Hinshaw tells the story of how the team's former captain, Khalida Popal, hatched a daring plan for their evacuation.
September 9, 2021
The Dashed Hopes of a Swift Economic Rebound
Economists, CEOs and many others predicted earlier this summer that the economy would recover around Labor Day. But the Delta variant has changed all of that. WSJ's Eric Morath explains how the highly contagious strain is affecting business and job growth.
September 8, 2021
The Business of Forecasting Fashion
The pandemic has disrupted a lot of things - including how people dress. We talk with WGSN fashion forecaster Francesca Muston about how the uncertain times have made predicting fashion trends more difficult and how other forces like climate change may shape fashion choices in the long term.
September 7, 2021
Scholastic's Succession Drama
Scholastic, which is famous for children's books like Harry Potter and Clifford the Big Red Dog, has been controlled by the same family for more than a century. Then, the CEO unexpectedly died in June and his will had a controversial decision on succession. WSJ's Shalini Ramachandran on the drama that unfolded.
September 3, 2021
The Man Who Chose to Get Covid
Jake Hopkins, a university student in the U.K., decided earlier this year to do something most people in the world have been trying to avoid: he volunteered to get Covid-19. Jake signed up for a human challenge trial that intentionally infects participants with the virus. He shares recordings from his experience in the controversial study, and WSJ's Jenny Strasburg explains the researchers' goals.
September 2, 2021
The First Country to Adopt Bitcoin
In June, the President of El Salvador made an announcement that shocked the nation: It would become the first country to adopt Bitcoin as a national currency. As "B-day" approaches, WSJ's Santiago Perez headed to El Salvador to hear how Salvadorans are feeling about the change.
September 1, 2021
Sexual Assault Allegations Surface at ABC News
A lawsuit filed last week alleges that a former top producer at Good Morning America, Michael Corn, assaulted at least two women at ABC News, and that the company did not take disciplinary action against him. Corn and ABC dispute the claims. WSJ's Joe Flint breaks down the allegations and explains how they come at a pivotal moment for ABC News.
August 31, 2021
Why the Biggest SPAC Ever Is Faltering
Famed activist investor Bill Ackman raised $4 billion for a blank-check company last year, enough to merge with a big, proven start-up. But he still hasn't found a company to buy, and is now suggesting he might return all of his investors' money. WSJ's Cara Lombardo tells us why Ackman is falling short.
August 30, 2021
United States v. Elizabeth Holmes
Six years ago, a WSJ investigation raised serious questions about the blood-testing startup Theranos. This week, the company's founder Elizabeth Holmes will go on trial for fraud. WSJ editor Michael Siconolfi remembers what it was like to help break the Theranos story, and legal reporter Sara Randazzo explains what to expect from the much-anticipated trial.
August 27, 2021
Taliban Takeover Throws Afghan Economy Into Chaos
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, foreign aid has stopped flowing, the business community is fleeing, and banks have limited how much money people can withdraw. WSJ's Yaroslav Trofimov explains why the Afghan economy is in turmoil and what the Taliban might do to restore it.
August 26, 2021
How Amtrak's CEO Plans to Spend $66 Billion
Congress is nearing passage of the largest investment in public transit ever. About $66 billion of that money is slated to go to Amtrak, America's passenger rail company. Amtrak's CEO sat down with Ryan to talk about where he intends to spend that money.
August 25, 2021
Afghan Women Brace for Taliban Rule
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, many women around the country have been living in fear, despite the Taliban's assurances they'll respect women's rights. WSJ's Margherita Stancati talks about the threats women face, and Afghan photographer Fatimah Hossaini explains her decision to flee the country.
August 24, 2021
Why OnlyFans Banned Sexual Content
OnlyFans, an adult social-media platform, built a thriving business selling sexually explicit content. So why did it just ban sex? WSJ's Georgia Wells explains the financial backstory to the company's surprising move, and an OnlyFans creator weighs in on what it could mean for her.
August 23, 2021
The Growing Market of Not Cutting Down Trees
The main way to make money from trees used to be chopping them down and selling them to sawmills. But now, people are getting paid to do the opposite. WSJ's Ryan Dezember explains the economics of the carbon offset market and why it's finally taking root.
August 20, 2021
The Fight Over BuzzFeed's Move to Go Public
BuzzFeed has been trying to go public for years. When it finally struck a deal to do so earlier this year, the media company left its biggest shareholder -- NBCUniversal -- facing a huge loss. WSJ's Ben Mullin explains how changes in digital media fortunes brought BuzzFeed to this moment.
August 19, 2021
The Investigation Into Tesla's Crashes
The nation's top auto safety regulator announced this week that it was investigating Tesla's assisted driving technologies after a series of crashes. WSJ's Rebecca Elliott explains what prompted the probe of Autopilot, as it's called, and what it could mean for the auto industry.
August 18, 2021
Why a Texas School District Is Defying the Governor
Schools across the country are reopening just as the Delta variant is causing a surge of Covid-19 cases. But some states, including Texas, have blocked school districts from taking certain safety precautions. We spoke to Dallas superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa about how he's navigating Covid-19 and the politics around it.
August 17, 2021
Apple Exec Defends iPhone's Latest Update
When Apple announced new iPhone software to combat child pornography, it set off a firestorm over privacy. WSJ's Joanna Stern talked to Apple software chief Craig Federighi about why it sparked controversy and what it actually does.
August 16, 2021
Taliban Seize Power in Afghanistan
After almost 20 years of war, the U.S. withdrew its remaining troops from Afghanistan. In a matter of weeks, the Taliban have taken control of the country. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen explains how the Taliban was able to move so quickly and describes the chaos and fear gripping Afghanistan today.
August 13, 2021
What's Behind Amazon's Review Problem
On Amazon's massive online marketplace, third-party sellers live and die by customer reviews. WSJ's Nicole Nguyen explains how and why sellers risk getting kicked off Amazon to improve their reviews, and we hear from one customer who found out just how far some companies are willing to go.
August 12, 2021
CDC Director Explains the Agency's Reversal on Masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has come under fire this summer for reversing its masking recommendations as the Delta variant threatens COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. Now, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky speaks out in an exclusive interview with WSJ reporters Sarah Toy and Sabrina Siddiqui.
August 11, 2021
How Lebanon's Economy Imploded
In the span of a year and a half, Lebanon went from a middle-income economy to a country in financial free fall. WSJ's Nazih Osseiran explains the cycle of monetary policy, inflation, and government mismanagement that set off one of the worst economic collapses in 150 years.
August 10, 2021
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned today, following the release of a report that alleged he sexually harassed several women. Cuomo will depart office in 14 days and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take his place for the remainder of his term. WSJ's James Fanelli details the allegations against Cuomo and describes the woman who will be replacing him.
August 9, 2021
The Clash Between Facebook and Independent Researchers
Last week, Facebook suspended the personal accounts of an NYU Ph.D. candidate and some members of her research team. They were studying how well the social media platform was identifying political ads. WSJ's Jeff Horwitz explains what the dispute means for the broader community of outside researchers.
August 6, 2021
How Kidnapping Became Big Business in Nigeria
In 2014, the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria. It gave rise to a viral Twitter movement #BringBackOurGirls and would eventually inspire hundreds of similar kidnappings in the years that followed. The WSJ's Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson explain how criminal groups are building a kidnapping for ransom industry in Nigeria.
August 5, 2021
Anthony Fauci: Delta Variant Has 'Exposed Our Vulnerability'
At a critical moment in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, leading White House infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci sat down to talk with The Journal about the increased risks of the Delta variant, whether children should go back to school and how to bring the vaccine-hesitant on board.
August 4, 2021
Why Scarlett Johansson Is Suing Disney Over 'Black Widow'
Disney released the latest Marvel movie, "Black Widow," in theaters and on its streaming service, Disney+. The movie's star, Scarlett Johansson, sued Disney, alleging the decision cost her millions. WSJ's Joe Flint explains how the showdown could affect the industry.
August 3, 2021
The Tricky Calculus Behind Vaccine Mandates
As the Delta variant spreads, more companies are requiring their employees to get vaccinated. WSJ's Chip Cutter discusses the legal precedents behind these policies, and an HR executive explains how her company handled the issue.
August 2, 2021
Used Car Prices Are Defying Gravity
Used cars are more expensive now than they've ever been, and car dealerships are having to go to great lengths to find inventory. WSJ's Nora Naughton explains the shortages that are driving up prices and what it means for dealers and consumers.
July 30, 2021
Biden's New FTC Chair Squares Off With Big Tech
Even before her appointment, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan had made a name for herself by criticizing Amazon's market dominance. Her stance has already provoked backlash from the tech industry and congressional Republicans. WSJ's Ryan Tracy explains.
July 29, 2021
Simone Biles and the Power of Saying No
Earlier this week, star gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of two Olympic competitions after she experienced a dangerous case of the "twisties." WSJ's Louise Radnofsky explains how one of the Olympics's biggest stars is helping change attitudes towards mental health and physical safety.
July 28, 2021
Robinhood's Unconventional IPO
Robinhood built its business around the idea of making it easier than ever for everyday people to invest. Now the company's betting it can "democratize" initial public offerings, too - including its own. WSJ's Peter Rudegeair explains the thinking behind Robinhood's unconventional IPO this week.
July 27, 2021
The Fed Chair Helped Save the Economy. Will He Keep His Job?
Jerome Powell has led the U.S. economy through its pandemic-induced crash and turbulent recovery. But with his first term ending soon, WSJ's Nick Timiraos says some in Washington are questioning whether Powell should be reappointed.
July 26, 2021
Unrest, Covid and Economic Despair in South Africa
Covid has taken a toll on South Africa. Successive lockdowns have led to deep economic suffering across the country. And when political protests broke out recently, the economic hardship took a violent turn leading to riots and looting. WSJ's Gabriele Steinhauser explains how South Africa could be a warning to other countries.
July 23, 2021
Simone Biles Is USA Gymnastics' Biggest Star - And Critic
Superstar gymnast Simone Biles could become the first woman since 1968 to repeat as the gold medalist in the individual all-around competition. But WSJ's Louise Radnofsky says that, for Biles, continuing to compete at the sport's highest level is also about keeping a spotlight on the crimes committed by former team doctor Larry Nassar. As the last self-identified survivor on the team, Biles is stil...
July 22, 2021
An Ad Executive's New Challenge: Selling the Vaccine
Last year, PJ Pereira got a big assignment: to help market new Covid-19 vaccines to the public. Pereira explains what he learned trying to convince vaccine-hesitant Americans to get the shot.
July 21, 2021
Wall Street CEOs Say Working From Home Isn't Working
Major banks performed well while employees worked remotely. But executives at some banks are bringing their workers back to the office full time. WSJ's David Benoit explains what it could mean for the industry and the rest of corporate America.
July 20, 2021
Who's in Charge of Fixing Miami's Aging Condos?
Many of Miami's condo buildings are vulnerable to the same kind of structural issues as Champlain Towers South, which collapsed last month. WSJ's Laura Kusisto explains why it's often untrained volunteer condo boards that are in charge of repairs.
July 19, 2021
Bezos' Blue Origin Takes Off
Blue Origin is set to launch founder Jeff Bezos into space tomorrow, about a week after Virgin Galactic sent its own founder to the stars. WSJ's Micah Maidenberg explains how Blue Origin stacks up in the commercial space race.
July 16, 2021
The Man Behind Biden's Push for More Competition
Legal scholar Tim Wu has spent years pushing for greater regulation of big American companies. To get his ideas into the mainstream, Wu has done everything from run for office to ride on a roller coaster with Stephen Colbert. WSJ's Ryan Tracy details how Wu's ideas made their way into President Biden's executive order to increase business competition.
July 15, 2021
Is Graduate School Worth the Price?
New federal data show that many graduate students don't make nearly enough money to pay back their student loans. WSJ's Melissa Korn explains why some graduates of elite schools, like Columbia University, seem to have the worst outcomes.
July 14, 2021
Cuba's Protests Have an Anthem
For the first time in 60 years, mass demonstrations are sweeping Cuba. Protesters are chanting one slogan: 'patria y vida,' or, 'homeland and life.' The phrase - a counterpoint to the revolutionary slogan 'homeland or death' - comes from a song written by Cuban dissidents. WSJ's Santiago Perez dives into the origins of the artist dissident movement and the song that defines this moment.
July 13, 2021
Didi's IPO Gets Caught In China's Tech Crackdown
After Didi launched a successful IPO in New York last month, Beijing took punitive action against the ride hailing giant. It also established new rules for Chinese companies that want to list overseas. WSJ's Patrick Barta explains what that means for future economic cooperation between the U.S. and China.
July 12, 2021
When an Online Conspiracy Theory Turns Deadly
Christopher Hallett built a business providing online legal advice in custody cases. His main offering was built on a conspiracy theory. But this conspiracy theory ended in murder. WSJ's Georgia Wells and Justin Scheck tell the tale.
July 2, 2021
The Quest to Find a Lost Purple Heart
A Marine died in Fallujah at the height of the Iraq War. Years later, his family found out his Purple Heart was listed on an auction site. WSJ's Ben Kesling, who once served in the same company as the Marine, tells the story of how he helped track it down.
July 1, 2021
Hollywood's Fast and Furious Reopening
F9, the latest Fast and Furious movie, is a major test of the movie industry's ability to rebound after the pandemic. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains how the franchise grew so large, and why it became so important to Hollywood.
June 30, 2021
The Mixed Signals from the Collapsed Condo's Past
Last week's building collapse near Miami was an event without modern precedent. Its cause remains a mystery. But building records, eyewitness accounts, and expert assessments are offering possible clues. WSJ's Jon Kamp details the potential warning signs from the history of Champlain Towers South.
June 29, 2021
Environmental Investing Frenzy Stretches Meaning of 'Green'
Investors are pouring money into "green" companies, but what actually makes a company green? WSJ's Justin Scheck tells the story of The Metals Company, a deep sea mining startup that's set to go public at $2.9 billion.
June 28, 2021
Oath Keepers and the Business of Extremism
The Oath Keepers, a right-wing militia group, had a large presence at the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Now, a WSJ investigation has revealed the group's funding sources and financial struggles. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus explains.
June 25, 2021
The Company That Said: We Failed
At an antitrust trial, executives from tobacco giant Altria have been speaking in unusually frank terms about the company's closed e-cigarette business. They've testified that the company failed to innovate. WSJ's Jennifer Maloney explains why Altria is making this unusual defense.
June 24, 2021
Britney Spears Wants Her Life (And Money) Back
For the past 13 years, pop star Britney Spears has lived under a legal arrangement that's given her father control over her finances and her life. Yesterday, Spears spoke out publicly against the conservatorship for the first time. WSJ's Neil Shah details Spears's fight to break free.
June 23, 2021
Travel Is Back. So Why Is American Airlines Canceling Flights?
As the country resumes flying in droves, the air travel industry is struggling to keep up. American Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights in recent days due to labor shortages. WSJ's Alison Sider explains why carriers are cancelling flights and calling back retired staff.
June 22, 2021
iPhones, iPads, and iClinics? Apple's Foray Into Healthcare
Apple has been trying for years to reinvent the healthcare system. In 2016, the company started operating its own health clinics for employees as a testing ground. But, WSJ's Rolfe Winkler explains, Apple's had a hard time accomplishing its ambitions.
June 21, 2021
Why Is Everyone Quitting?
Americans are quitting their jobs at record rates. But why? WSJ's Lauren Weber dives into the reasons that Americans have decided to walk away from their careers during a pandemic and breaks down what it means for the economy. Plus, two quitters open up about their decision.
June 20, 2021
To The Moon, Part 5: The Comedown
Stocks, it turns out, don't only go up. On the final episode of To The Moon, we follow the GameStop rocket ship as it returns to Earth, and we learn how the traders who poured their money into the stock fared-and why they don't want to quit trading.
June 17, 2021
Congress's Case to Break Up Amazon
Last week, Congress introduced legislation that, if passed, could force Amazon to break up. The bills come after a 15-month investigation into whether big tech has monopoly power in the economy. WSJ's Dana Mattioli speaks to Representatives David Cicilline (D., RI) and Ken Buck (R., Col.) about the investigation and why they believe these laws should be passed.
June 16, 2021
The Firm Tanking Some of Wall Street's Hottest Stocks
Hindenburg Research is a small investment firm that is having a big impact. Its critical reports about some of the hottest startups have pushed stock prices lower, allowing the firm to profit. WSJ's Amrith Ramkumar talks about the firm, its strategy and what happened to Lordstown Motors.
June 15, 2021
The Ruthless Group Behind Ransomware Attacks on Hospitals
A Wall Street Journal investigation has found that one hacking group - called Ryuk - is behind hundreds of attacks on U.S. health care facilities. WSJ's Kevin Poulsen details the rise of Ryuk, and one hospital administrator shares what it's like to be a victim of one of their attacks.
June 14, 2021
The Fundamental Flaw (and Alleged Deception) of MoviePass
In 2019, MoviePass declared bankruptcy. The company had offered unlimited movie tickets to customers for a low monthly fee but never found a successful business model. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission alleged that MoviePass executives deceived customers to try to save the business. WSJ's Ben Fritz unspools one of the most audacious stories in Hollywood.
June 13, 2021
To The Moon, Part 4: Diamond Hands
Individual investors banded together online to send GameStop soaring in January. Many of those investors were inspired by one man, Keith Gill, aka DeepF-ingValue, aka Roaring Kitty. On episode four of To The Moon, we hear how WSJ reporter Julia Verlaine tracked down Gill, and we trace how his arguments inspired legions of GameStop investors to buy... and hold.
June 11, 2021
A New Alzheimer's Drug Brings Hope and Controversy
The FDA this week approved the first new Alzheimer's treatment in nearly 20 years. But it almost didn't make it to market. WSJ's Joseph Walker untangles the complex story behind the drug Aduhelm and why its approval is raising questions.
June 10, 2021
The New Corporate Diversity Strategy: Tie it to Executive Pay
Companies are using a new approach to push their executives to prioritize diversity: Tying it to their pay. WSJ's Emily Glazer explains how this tactic came about, and former executive Steven Davis talks about the role boards can play in improving diversity.
June 9, 2021
Can Food Delivery Make Money?
Despite a surge in business during the pandemic, food delivery companies like Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub still aren't profitable. WSJ's Preetika Rana explains how these companies are pivoting away from delivering food to make money.
June 8, 2021
Why Crypto Is Key to Stopping Ransomware
Ransomware attacks have been hitting U.S. companies hard. But yesterday, law enforcement officials made a big announcement: they recovered more than $2 million from the group behind last month's Colonial Pipeline hack. WSJ's David Uberti details how the U.S. government is fighting back against hackers and explains why going after cryptocurrency is a key part of the strategy.
June 7, 2021
The Unintended Consequences of China's One-Child Policy
In 1980, China implemented its one-child policy to curb a swiftly growing population. After raising the cap to two in 2015, last week it was increased to three. WSJ's Jonathan Cheng on the purpose of the original policy and why the government is trying to reverse it now.
June 6, 2021
To The Moon, Part 3: A People's History of Investing
Decades ago, trading was the domain of the wealthy elite, but two innovators would change that. The first made investing accessible to the masses. The second made it fun. On episode three of To The Moon, we meet the disruptors who made the markets ready for the GameStop moment.
June 4, 2021
Why Suing Amazon Just Got Easier
Companies have been including arbitration agreements in their terms of service for years, preventing customers from filing lawsuits. Recently, Amazon removed the arbitration clause from its terms of service and told customers they can sue the company instead. WSJ's Sara Randazzo explains what led the company to make the change.
June 3, 2021
Will Americans Buy an Electric Truck?
For years, the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. has been Ford's F-150 pickup truck. Now, Ford's making an electric version. WSJ's Mike Colias and Dan Neil explain why Ford's making the move and why it's a big test for the future of electric vehicles.
June 2, 2021
Why a Grand Plan to Vaccinate the World Unraveled
Early last year, a few vaccine experts created a group that would help make sure all countries had access to covid vaccines. Called Covax, this initiative hit problem after problem. WSJ's Gabriele Steinhauser explains how this ambitious plan came undone.
June 1, 2021
Amazon Bags the MGM Lion
Amazon announced last week it is buying the Hollywood movie studio MGM for $8.4 billion, including debt. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains how Amazon hopes the studio will help it compete in the intensifying streaming wars.
May 30, 2021
To The Moon, Part 2: 'The Birth of the Yolo'
A man in a wolf mask. A wild gamble. A fortune passed on from a deceased uncle. Years before the world learned about WallStreetBets, WallStreetBets learned about the YOLO. On episode two of To The Moon, we meet the guy who started it all.
To The Moon, Part 1: 'How Much Do Islands Cost?'
When GameStop's stock surged this winter, Wall Street was shocked to learn that a bunch of amateur investors had all piled in. Who were these people and where had they come from? On episode one of To The Moon, we meet the force that shook Wall Street and hear what it's like to suddenly see $800,000 in your account.
May 28, 2021
Conspiracy Theory or Science? The Lab Leak Theory is Back
The origins of Covid-19 are still unknown, but the possibility that it could have escaped from a Chinese lab is back in the news. WSJ's Betsy McKay explains why this idea is getting renewed attention.
May 27, 2021
How Internet Buzz Drove a SPAC Even Higher
Early this year, a storm of intrigue brewed online around the electric vehicle company Lucid Motors and its potential merger with a SPAC. WSJ's Eliot Brown explains how the buzz helped drive the valuation sky high and ultimately left some investors burned.
May 26, 2021
Biden's Plan for Police Reform: The Consent Decree
A year after the murder of George Floyd, the Justice Department is stepping up its oversight of local police departments. Last month, the DOJ opened investigations into police conduct in Minneapolis and Louisville. WSJ's Sadie Gurman talks to Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta about why the federal government is doing this, and the head of Newark, N.J. police talks about what it's like when th...
May 25, 2021
An Activist Investor and the Showdown Over Exxon's Future
An activist investor is trying to take over four seats on Exxon's board of directors, arguing the company should cut its emissions by 2050. But Exxon is pushing back. WSJ's Christopher M. Matthews previews the shareholder meeting showdown, where the fight will be decided.
May 24, 2021
Inflation Is Happening. Should You Be Worried?
Inflation is the highest it's been in over a decade. WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath explains why the Federal Reserve says everything is under control, while some other economists fret.
Introducing: To The Moon
In January, a group of Redditors started pouring their savings into the stock of GameStop, a struggling video game retailer. Overnight, everything Wall Street thought it understood about how small-time traders invest changed. While the moment may have surprised Wall Street, it was years in the making. This is a trailer for our series, To The Moon. Out May 30th.
May 21, 2021
Four Years Trapped on a Cargo Ship
Sailor Mohammad Aisha was stuck on a cargo ship near the mouth of the Suez Canal for four years - alone for much of that time. WSJ's Joe Parkinson tells the story of how this could happen and how he survived.
May 20, 2021
Hertz Rewards Its True Believers
A strange thing happened last year after the rental car company Hertz filed for bankruptcy: its stock took off. Old hands on Wall Street thought that the people buying the stock - individual investors with no ties to institutions - were making a bad bet. But now, WSJ's Alexander Gladstone says, the little guys are getting the last laugh and seeing a big windfall.
May 19, 2021
What's Wrong With the Car Market?
Car sales have been skyrocketing, but dealers have a big worry: they're running low on cars to sell. The problem isn't expected to be resolved anytime soon. WSJ's Mike Colias explains how a tiny computer chip at the end of the auto industry's long and complex supply chain is causing big problems.
May 18, 2021
AT&T Abandons Its Hollywood Dreams
When AT&T bought Time Warner and DirecTV, it set out to build a media empire that could take on companies like Netflix and Disney. But after three years and a $100 billion price tag, AT&T is giving up on that dream. WSJ's Marcelo Prince says without media assets, AT&T is back to being the utility it once was.
May 17, 2021
No Credit Score, No Problem?
Banks could begin issuing credit cards to people without credit scores thanks to an effort by a banking regulator to make lending more racially equitable. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis tells the story of how Black Lives Matter protests sparked the effort and explains how the lending would work.
May 14, 2021
Instagram for Kids Isn't Getting Many Likes
Facebook has proposed making a version of Instagram for children under 13, and the idea has prompted an outcry from lawmakers and regulators on both sides of the aisle. WSJ's Brad Reagan on Facebook's plan and New Jersey's Attorney General on why he is against it.
May 13, 2021
Ransomware, a Pipeline and a Gas Shortage
Colonial Pipeline supplies fuel to more than a dozen states. Last Friday, a ransomware attack forced its shutdown, causing a massive shortage of gasoline. WSJ's Robert McMillan says the group behind the attack, Darkside, and others like it represent a broader threat to corporate America and the country's infrastructure.
May 12, 2021
The NFT Craze Explained
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have made a multi-billion dollar market out of digital items like pixelated cats, basketball highlight videos and even tweets. WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff explains the history of the technology and why NFTs could move beyond digital collectibles into the physical world.
May 11, 2021
WeWork's CEO on the Future of Work
WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani took charge of the office space company just as the pandemic hit. He's now on the brink of bringing WeWork public. We speak to Mathrani about his time at WeWork, his relationship with cofounder Adam Neumann, and the future of office work.
May 10, 2021
The Covid Vaccine Patent Problem
The U.S. government reversed course last week and said it would support waiving patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines, over the objections of the pharmaceutical industry. WSJ's Yuka Hayashi explains how we got to this point.
May 7, 2021
When Elon Musk Moves In Next Door
Elon Musk's SpaceX has been building out its operations in Boca Chica, Texas and pressuring residents to sell their homes. WSJ's Nancy Keates explains why some residents are pushing back, and a homeowner explains the challenges of living next to a launchpad.
May 6, 2021
Chevron and the Amazon: A 28-year Legal Battle
Oil giant Chevron has been locked in a decades-long legal battle with people living in the Ecuadorian Amazon, who claim they were harmed by oil drilling. After a $9.5 billion judgment in Ecuador in 2011, the company has fought back hard. WSJ's Sara Randazzo tells the story, and the plaintiff's lawyer, Steven Donziger, speaks about the case while under house arrest.
May 5, 2021
'It's on Fire': Why the Housing Market Is Booming
Housing prices around the country have been skyrocketing. WSJ's Nicole Friedman explains what makes the hot market so unusual. And a real estate agent and a prospective buyer from Boise, Idaho, share how the boom is changing their city.
May 4, 2021
India's Social Media Crackdown
As Covid-19 cases were spiking in India, the government said it had removed dozens of social media posts relating to the outbreak. WSJ's Newley Purnell traces the ongoing conflict between the government and global tech giants over freedom of speech in the world's largest democracy.
May 3, 2021
Three Women of Color on Their Pandemic Finances
Black and Latina women have been disproportionally affected by job losses during the pandemic. They're also one of the most financially fragile groups in this country. We talk with three women of color about what getting laid off in the pandemic has meant for them.
April 30, 2021
The 'Jeopardy!' Showrunner on the Search for a New Host
After longtime "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek died last November, the show has been running a public search for a replacement, with guest hosts like Aaron Rodgers and LeVar Burton. We talk with the show's executive producer, Mike Richards, about how the search is going.
April 29, 2021
The Strange Economics of the Lumber Market
There's a disconnect in the lumber market. The price of lumber is the highest it's ever been, but the price of the timber - the raw material - is at record lows. WSJ's Ryan Dezember on the paradox of the lumber market and tree farmer Joe Hopkins on how he's getting through this strange moment.
April 28, 2021
Inside the World's Worst Covid Outbreak Yet
WSJ's Shan Li covered the pandemic's start in Wuhan, China. Now, she is in the midst of the world's worst outbreak yet, in India. Shan told us about what it's like on the ground as numbers rise dramatically and resources are in short supply.
April 27, 2021
Energy Secretary Granholm on the Future of Oil
The Biden administration has made big promises to fight climate change. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm discusses the push for clean energy and what it means for the U.S. oil and gas industry. Plus, WSJ's Russell Gold explores what's next for oil companies.
April 26, 2021
From Political Donor to Alleged CIA Asset
Imaad Zuberi's jet-setting lifestyle afforded him high-profile connections all around the world and made him a heavyweight donor in DC. But at the same time, according to documents, Zuberi was also collecting information for the CIA. WSJ's Byron Tau tells the story of Zuberi's rise and fall.
April 23, 2021
How Soccer Fans Killed the Super League
Twelve of the biggest teams in European soccer announced Sunday they were forming a "Super League." 48 hours later, the plan was dead. WSJ's Joshua Robinson explains how a backlash from fans killed an audacious plan to remake the business of soccer.
April 22, 2021
How a Cryptocurrency Company Went Mainstream
Coinbase, a popular cryptocurrency exchange, went public last week. WSJ's Paul Vigna explains how its co-founder Brian Armstrong wants to make crypto as easy as email.
April 21, 2021
The Floyd Family Reacts: 'We All Took a Breath'
A day after a jury convicted Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd, two members of the Floyd family sat down with WSJ's Erin Ailworth to share their reactions to the trial and verdict.
April 20, 2021
Rural Healthcare Is Being Squeezed. One Community Is Fighting Back.
More than 130 rural hospitals across the U.S. have closed since 2010, while even more have cut back on services. WSJ's Brian Spegele shares the story of one Wyoming community where residents are fighting a decline in services at their local hospital by doing something drastic: creating a hospital of their own.
April 19, 2021
mRNA Vaccines Are Taking On Covid. What Else Can They Do?
Dr. Özlem Türeci is the chief medical officer of BioNTech, which created the first Covid-19 vaccine to be authorized in the U.S. We speak with Dr. Türeci about the technology behind the vaccine and the promise it holds for treating other diseases.
April 16, 2021
The Legacy of Ponzi Schemer Bernie Madoff
Bernie Madoff died this week in prison while serving a 150-year sentence for masterminding one of the biggest financial frauds. We speak with one of his victims, and WSJ's Jamie Heller explains how Madoff stole millions of dollars from his clients in his notorious Ponzi scheme.
April 15, 2021
The Rise of Ghost Guns
Ghost guns are homemade, untraceable guns. The Biden administration is proposing new gun control measures to regulate their sales. WSJ's Zusha Elinson explains how these guns have been on the rise and under the radar.
April 14, 2021
A Pause on the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Six cases of a rare blood clotting disorder have led U.S. health officials to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine. Though it's not known if the vaccine is behind the blood clotting, WSJ's Jonathan D. Rockoff says the pause could impact efforts to vaccinate the country.
April 13, 2021
From George Floyd to Daunte Wright, Minneapolis on the Brink
As the country watches the trial of the police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd, Minneapolis is reeling from the killing of another unarmed Black man by police in a nearby suburb. WSJ's Erin Ailworth describes the tension on the ground.
April 12, 2021
The Woman Behind The Market's Fastest Growing Fund
With the launch of her latest investment fund, Cathie Wood is betting big on outer space. But it's not the first time she's backed a nascent industry. WSJ's Michael Wursthorn says she's become a star investor by backing innovative companies, delighting investors and attracting critics along the way.
April 9, 2021
Why China Is Jumping Into Digital Currency
China has been testing a digital yuan for the past year. WSJ's James T. Areddy says digital currency is the future of money and that China's head start could threaten the U.S. dollar's dominance.
April 8, 2021
The U.S. and Iran Try for a New Nuclear Deal
President Biden made restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal a key piece of his foreign policy. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen reports from Vienna, where indirect talks began this week, about the tricky path to reviving the deal.
April 7, 2021
Biden Tries to Bring Back 'Big Government'
In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan ushered in an era of limited government that lasted for decades. President Biden's new plans and proposals set out to change that. WSJ's Jacob M. Schlesinger traces the history of how big government became taboo in Washington and explains why Biden wants to take a new approach.
April 6, 2021
What's Driving Migrants to the Southern Border Now
The number of migrants at the southern U.S. border reached a 15-year high last month, after rising for several months, leading to a humanitarian crisis for the Biden administration. WSJ's Juan Montes spoke to migrants about why they are coming now, and Alicia Caldwell explains the Biden administration's response.
April 5, 2021
The Business Backlash to Georgia's Voting Law
After a group of Black executives condemned a new voting law in Georgia, some of the state's biggest businesses, like Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines, voiced their own concerns. WSJ's Cameron McWhirter walks through the controversial law that's fraying the relationship between state Republicans and the business community.
April 2, 2021
Why China's Internet Froze Out H&M
H&M faced a firestorm on Chinese social media last week and then started disappearing from map searches and e-commerce sites. WSJ's Eva Xiao explores what led to the attack on the Swedish retailer.
April 1, 2021
A Tug of War Between a Billionaire and a Hedge Fund Over Local News
Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund known for its cost-cutting approach to local newspapers, had made a bid to buy Tribune Publishing, a conglomerate of local papers including the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun. Then, a billionaire put in an offer of his own. WSJ's Lukas Alpert details the face-off between the hedge fund and the billionaire, which could forever change the newspapers caught in...
March 31, 2021
The Secret Investor Who Triggered a Massive Market Selloff
Since Bill Hwang got in trouble with regulators for insider trading about a decade ago, the Wall Street veteran has built his investments back up. And last week, he was behind a more than $30 billion selloff that hit some blue-chip companies. WSJ's Juliet Chung charts Hwang's rise and untangles how he sent stocks into a tailspin.
March 30, 2021
The Suez Canal and a Hard Year at Sea
Even before the debacle at the Suez Canal, it had been a challenging year for the shipping industry. WSJ's Costas Paris explains why the timing of this incident was especially bad for the global supply chain. And one captain talks about his trying year.
March 29, 2021
Will Amazon Unionize in Alabama?
Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. are wrapping up voting today on a big decision: whether to unionize. We hear from a worker who's in favor of unionizing and one who's opposed. And, WSJ's Sebastian Herrera describes what's at stake for Amazon.
March 26, 2021
A Tipping Point for Paying College Athletes?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association faces mounting pressure to let its athletes get paid. WSJ's Rachel Bachman traces the changes in public opinion on the issue and outlines what's at stake in an upcoming Supreme Court case. Plus, a University of Iowa star Jordan Bohannon shares why he started the hashtag #notNCAAproperty ... and why his team purloined a rug.
March 25, 2021
AstraZeneca's Rocky Road to Releasing a Vaccine
Countries around the world had high hopes for AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, but it's run into problems. WSJ's Jenny Strasburg explains how manufacturing issues, a scare about side effects and questions about AstraZeneca's trial data have undermined faith in the shot.
March 24, 2021
An Asian-American Business Owner on a Challenging Year
As he prepared to reopen his chain of Chinese restaurants in New York City last year, Jason Wang worried about two different dangers facing his employees: coronavirus and racist attacks. Plus, WSJ's Akane Otani spends an evening with a volunteer safety patrol in a majority Asian-American neighborhood.
March 23, 2021
Pete Buttigieg on Getting an Infrastructure Deal
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is convinced there's bipartisan support for big infrastructure spending. But WSJ's Ted Mann explains why reaching a deal may be an uphill battle.
March 22, 2021
How China's Superstar Entrepreneur Ran Afoul of the Government
Alibaba founder Jack Ma was a rock star of China's business world. Now, he's an outcast. WSJ's Lingling Wei and Keith Zhai reveal how Ma fell out of favor with Beijing and what that means for other entrepreneurs in China.
March 19, 2021
A Surprise Turkey and 200 Lemons: Everyday Stories From the Pandemic
At the WSJ, a recurring feature known as the A-hed captures the bizarre twists and turns of everyday life. It took on a whole new meaning over the past year. Today, we share five A-hed stories - from trying to plant a garden to learning to ride a bike.
March 18, 2021
Greensill Wanted to 'Democratize Capital.' Now It's Bankrupt.
Lex Greensill went from farm boy to financier with a simple mission: to bring big bank financing to small business supply chains. But as WSJ reporter Duncan Mavin says, his ambition for growth and risky lending caused his namesake company to implode.
March 17, 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci: 'The Game Is Not Over'
An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci about how efforts to vaccinate the country are going, what it will take for work and school to return to normal and whether the pandemic is ending.
March 16, 2021
Fresh off his $69 million sale, the digital artist known as Beeple says he's not trying to "blow up" the contemporary art world. And WSJ's Kelly Crow explains how a new technology led to a historic sale.
March 15, 2021
Who is Getting Left Behind in the Vaccination Push
As Covid-19 vaccinations race along, elderly Black and Latino people are getting left behind. WSJ's Daniela Hernandez explains why. We also talk to a doctor trying to get his elderly father a vaccine and a community organizer in Miami.
March 12, 2021
One Year Later, Elmhurst Doctors Look Back
Elmhurst Hospital in Queens was at the epicenter of New York City's Covid-19 outbreak. WSJ's Katie Honan speaks to three doctors who were inside the hospital as that crisis was unfolding about what it was like and how they're coping now.
March 11, 2021
How One Company Rode the Electric Vehicle Boom to Success
In the last 10 years, China has cornered the market on a key ingredient needed for electric car batteries: lithium. Now, one company is trying to change that by mining the metal in America. WSJ's Scott Patterson tells the story of Piedmont Lithium and one of its founders, geologist Lamont Leatherman.
March 10, 2021
Why Fewer Ads Might Follow You Around the Web
Google says that by next year it will completely do away with third-party cookies, and it won't support any technology that tries to replace them. WSJ's Sam Schechner talks about what the move means for Google, and he bids goodbye to the rhino t-shirt that follows him everywhere.
March 9, 2021
One of Cuomo's Accusers in Her Own Words
Ana Liss describes what she says was inappropriate behavior from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo when she worked in his office from 2013 to 2015. WSJ's Jimmy Vielkind talks about the scandals swirling around the three-term governor that have led to calls for his resignation.
March 8, 2021
Is $1.9 Trillion Too Much?
After already spending more than $3 trillion on economic relief packages this past year, Congress is set to pass another $1.9 trillion bill. We speak with top White House economist Jared Bernstein about the benefits - and risks - of so much spending.
March 5, 2021
The New Reality for Oil in Washington
The oil industry's top lobbying group is poised to embrace a climate policy it had fought for years. WSJ's Timothy Puko explains what's behind that reversal, and what it says about the new political reality facing fossil fuels.
March 4, 2021
Where Jobs Are Booming
Even with high unemployment, certain industries are having a hard time finding enough workers. WSJ's Sarah Chaney Cambon explains why some companies are increasing wages and benefits as a result. We also talk to Aaron Jagdfeld, the CEO of a generator company, about the lengths he's taken to recruit workers.
March 3, 2021
WeWork Looks to Go Public, Again
For more than a year, WeWork has been dogged by its obligations to its co-founder Adam Neumann. WSJ's Maureen Farrell tells the story of how the company finally severed ties with Neumann and why going public may now be on the horizon.
March 2, 2021
How an Army of Retail Investors Helped Save AMC Movie Theaters
AMC, the world's largest movie theater chain, was facing possible bankruptcy after the pandemic dried up moviegoing. But early this year, retail investors rallied to #SaveAMC. WSJ's Alexander Gladstone spoke with AMC CEO Adam Aron about how he set the company up to benefit from an unexpected stroke of luck.
March 1, 2021
Novavax's Long Road to a Covid-19 Vaccine
Novavax is a vaccine company that for decades never brought a vaccine to market. Before the pandemic, they were on the verge of bankruptcy. WSJ's Gregory Zuckerman and Novavax's Dr. Gregory Glenn explain how the company's fortunes are now changing thanks to its Covid-19 vaccine, which is delivering promising results.
February 26, 2021
Hollywood Director Lee Daniels on a Changing Film Industry
Major film studios are starting to embrace a strategy never before seen in Hollywood: releasing films directly to streaming. Director Lee Daniels joins us to discuss what that change has meant for his new film, "The United States vs. Billie Holiday," and what it could mean for the future of filmmaking.
February 25, 2021
An Interview With a Member of the Facebook Oversight Board
Facebook's new oversight board is preparing to rule on whether Donald Trump should be banned from Facebook permanently. We talk with one of the board's co-chairs, former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, about how the board is weighing the decision and what it means for free speech on the platform.
February 24, 2021
Dogecoin Was a Joke. Now It's Worth $7 Billion.
Billy Markus created the cryptocurrency Dogecoin on a lark, based on a viral dog meme. Eight years later, his creation is worth billions of dollars. Markus and WSJ's Caitlin Ostroff explain how crypto's jokiest coin went to the moon.
February 23, 2021
A Voting Machine Company Fights Disinformation With Lawsuits
Dominion Voting Systems, the voting-machine maker, was swept up in a storm of allegations about its role in the 2020 election. We speak with Dominion's CEO, and WSJ's Alexa Corse describes how the company is fighting back.
February 22, 2021
Why the Texas Power Grid Failed
Texas's deregulated power sector was considered a model for delivering cheap electricity, but the power outages last week revealed shortcomings. WSJ's Russell Gold unpacks what went wrong.
February 19, 2021
Ban on Foreign Workers Left Jobs Open. Americans Didn't Take Them.
Last year, President Trump banned most new visas for foreign workers, arguing unemployed Americans would take those jobs instead. But as WSJ's Alicia Caldwell told us, even with high unemployment, many of those positions were left unfilled.
February 18, 2021
Free Trading Isn't Free: How Robinhood Makes Money
Robinhood is able to offer free trading on its app thanks to a practice known as payment for order flow. WSJ's Alexander Osipovich explains how it works and why Congress has questions about it.
February 17, 2021
This Judge Put Criminals Away. Now He's Trying to Set Them Free.
Judge John Gleeson spent his career putting high-profile and dangerous criminals behind bars, but now he is on a mission to reduce sentences for some inmates convicted under mandatory minimum sentences. We talk to the WSJ's Corinne Ramey, Judge John Gleeson and one man who's been freed by the Judge's strategy.
February 16, 2021
Why Google Might Leave Australia
Australia is poised to pass a law that would compel tech companies like Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for links. In response, Google threatened to turn off search, and Facebook said it wouldn't let users share articles. WSJ's Mike Cherney explains what's at stake.
February 12, 2021
Facebook's Showdown With Apple
Apple is launching a new privacy feature that Facebook says could severely hurt its business by making it harder to target consumers with ads. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman explains how the dispute has been years in the making.
February 11, 2021
An Oral History of WallStreetBets
Five WallStreetBets members tell the story of how they ended up on the Reddit forum and how they felt when it upended the stock market.
February 10, 2021
The Shell Companies Taking Over Wall Street
Companies with no business plan, no profit, and no revenue are flooding Wall Street. They're called SPACs, and investors are pouring money into them. WSJ's Maureen Farrell explains the forces behind the market's SPAC boom and what it could mean for investors.
February 9, 2021
GM's All-Electric Bet
General Motors has committed to making all its vehicles electric by 2035. WSJ's Mike Colias explains GM's history making electric vehicles and why it's now going all-in.
February 8, 2021
Trump's Second Impeachment Trial Begins
Donald Trump is the first president to be impeached twice. Now, the Senate will vote on whether or not to convict him. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes outlines what's different about this impeachment and what problems it could raise on both sides of the aisle.
February 5, 2021
Why It's Hard to Buy a House in Detroit, Especially if You're Black
When Vincent Orr decided to buy a house, he didn't get a mortgage. He paid cash, and he's not alone. WSJ's Ben Eisen explains why Black Detroiters still have a tough time getting mortgages decades after racist redlining policies officially ended.
February 4, 2021
Two Power Brokers in Biden's Washington
One of President Biden's closest advisors, Steve Ricchetti, has ties to lobbying that go back decades. WSJ's Julie Bykowicz tells the story of how Steve Ricchetti and his brother Jeff climbed the ranks of lobbying and government.
February 3, 2021
Amazon After Bezos
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced yesterday that he plans to step down as CEO. WSJ's Bradley Olson explains how Bezos's relentless drive grew Amazon into a goliath and what the next CEO will mean for America's biggest online retailer.
February 2, 2021
Do Stimulus Checks Work?
Congress is debating a third round of stimulus checks to Americans. WSJ's Richard Rubin talks through the upsides and downsides to stimulus checks, why they're neither "stimulus" nor a "check," and we hear how our listeners spent their money.
February 1, 2021
Why Robinhood Put the Brakes on GameStop
In the middle of the GameStop frenzy last week, Robinhood users woke up to find they couldn't buy many of the market's hottest stocks. The app had placed unprecedented restrictions on trading. WSJ's Peter Rudegeair explains why Robinhood did it and the backlash it's facing as a result.
January 29, 2021
Companies Try to Speed Up the Vaccine Rollout
As the vaccine rollout around the country hits obstacles, corporate America says there's a better way. WSJ's Sarah Krouse explains how companies are stepping in to address distribution woes, and one CEO details his company's effort.
January 28, 2021
Why Biden Killed the Keystone XL Pipeline
President Biden revoked the permit for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. But as a candidate early in the presidential race, the pipeline wasn't a priority. WSJ's Tim Puko explains how the pipeline became a symbol and day-one agenda item for the Biden White House.
January 27, 2021
GameStop and the Rise of the Reddit Investor
A group of investors on Reddit are driving up the stock price of GameStop, going against Wall Street consensus that the video game retailer's days are numbered. WSJ's Gunjan Banerji explains how they're working together to make the stock soar - and make a lot of money for themselves in the process.
January 26, 2021
What to Expect from the Jobs Market in 2021
The U.S. job market made a remarkable comeback in 2020, after the pandemic wiped out more than 20 million jobs. But it wasn't nearly enough for a full recovery. WSJ's Eric Morath explains why many economists think that 2021 could be a record-setting year for job growth - and how that optimistic outlook could fall apart.
January 25, 2021
Two Investors, One Company and a Billion-Dollar Short
For years, two billionaire investors battled over the fate of Herbalife, a nutritional shake company. This month, we saw the final chapter of the strange saga that WSJ's David Benoit likens to "Mean Girls meets Wall Street."
January 22, 2021
What It Takes to Open a Business in a Pandemic
Reporter Peter Grant has been walking one stretch of Brooklyn since the beginning of the pandemic, talking to struggling business owners. Recently, he's found a new phenomenon: people who've decided now is the right time to open a new business.
January 21, 2021
The Risks the U.K. Strain Poses for the U.S.
A new strain of coronavirus that arose in the U.K. could become dominant in the U.S. by March. WSJ's Daniela Hernandez explains the science behind the emerging threat.
January 20, 2021
On the Ground at Biden's Inauguration
Joe Biden was sworn in today as the 46th president of the United States. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes was at the ceremony, and Ted Mann was on the streets outside.
January 19, 2021
How Trump Tied His Businesses to His Presidency
As the end of Donald Trump's presidency approached, the Trump Organization believed there was money to be made after Trump left the White House. WSJ's Brian Spegele and Rebecca Ballhaus explain how the assault on the U.S. Capitol could upend those plans.
January 15, 2021
Three Afghans Prepare for the U.S. to Leave
The U.S. military completed one of the most significant drawdowns of the Afghan war today. There are now just 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, the lowest number since 2001. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen went to Kabul to hear from Afghans what the withdrawal means for them, and their country.
January 14, 2021
Sheldon Adelson and the Rise of the Megadonor
Casino magnate and billionaire Sheldon Adelson died this week at the age of 87. WSJ's Julie Bykowicz explains the mark Adelson left on politics as a Republican megadonor.
January 13, 2021
How Big Tech Kicked Parler Offline
Google, Apple and Amazon took steps over the weekend to effectively shut down the social media site Parler, which had been used to organize the attack on the Capitol. WSJ's Keach Hagey explains why they did it and what it means for the future of speech and tech.
January 12, 2021
Why This Impeachment Could Be Different
House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against President Trump this week, accusing him of "incitement of insurrection." WSJ's Siobhan Hughes, who covered Mr. Trump's first impeachment, explains how this impeachment could play out differently.
January 11, 2021
Why Google Workers Formed a Union
Silicon Valley has long been resistant to organized labor, but last week a group of Google employees announced the formation of a union. WSJ's Bodeya Tweh on the activism that led to this moment and union member Andrew Gainer-Dewar on why he joined.
January 8, 2021
How Wednesday's Attack Came Together: Out in the Open
In the weeks before Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Capitol, people were openly planning violence online. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman describes the patchwork of policies that have allowed extremists to organize on the internet.
January 7, 2021
How One State Got Its Vaccine Rollout Right
West Virginia has administered first doses of Covid-19 vaccines at one of the highest rates in the country. Covid Czar Dr. Clay Marsh tells us how the state did it by forgoing the federal government's plan.
January 6, 2021
Pro-Trump Mob Storms the Capitol
Mass chaos engulfed the U.S. Capitol today as a pro-Trump mob stormed the building in objection to the results of the election. WSJ's Gordon Lubold described what he saw on the ground at the Capitol.
January 5, 2021
What's Behind the Slow Vaccine Rollout
The federal government set a goal of vaccinating 20 million people by the end of 2020. But the rollout fell far short. WSJ's Jared Hopkins explains why vaccine distribution is going much more slowly than expected.
January 4, 2021
The Republican Party Civil War in Georgia
Ahead of Tuesday's high-stakes Senate runoffs in Georgia, WSJ's Cameron McWhirter talked to Republican voters to understand how Trump's barrage of attacks on their governor and secretary of state is affecting their vote and their loyalty to the party.
December 23, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci Looks Back at 2020
It's been nearly a year since the first coronavirus case was recorded in the U.S. Dr. Anthony Fauci looks back on the year we had and ahead at what's to come.
December 22, 2020
Inside the Largest Government Hack in Years
WSJ's Bob McMillan tells the story of how updates from a little-known software company, SolarWinds, allegedly let Russian hackers into U.S. government networks and explains what that means for the future of cyber espionage.
December 21, 2020
The $900 Billion Relief Package
Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a $900 billion stimulus package. We speak with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson about the package and what it could mean for states and the economy.
December 18, 2020
A Church Tries to Bridge Its Political Divides
This year, members of a small Michigan church tried to do something America has struggled to: find common ground. WSJ's Janet Adamy watched-and recorded-as the group tried to navigate its political divisions in just 11 conversations.
December 17, 2020
What Corporate America Can Learn From Coke's Reckoning With Race
Two decades ago, black employees sued Coca-Cola for racial discrimination. The company pledged to turn things around -- and it did. WSJ's Jennifer Maloney and Lauren Weber explain how Coke successfully transformed itself into a more equitable company...and how it failed to stay that way.
December 16, 2020
Chef José Andrés: How to Feed People in an Emergency
After the pandemic forced restaurants across the U.S. to close, award-winning chef José Andrés had an idea: He could mobilize those shuttered kitchens to help feed the hungry. Chef Andrés joins us to talk about an unprecedented year for his industry.
December 15, 2020
How One Hospital Is Rolling Out the Vaccine
Americans are now getting vaccinated, starting with health-care workers and people with conditions that make them vulnerable. We talk with Dr. Shereef Elnahal, president and CEO of University Hospital, the only public hospital in New Jersey, about how that process is playing out.
December 14, 2020
Sweden's Pandemic Experiment
Sweden attempted for months to combat Covid-19 through voluntary measures rather than lockdowns and other restrictions. WSJ's Bojan Pancevski looks at how the country fared.
December 11, 2020
Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 26 years ago to moderate success. Today, the song is a mega-hit and Christmas playlist staple. What happened? WSJ's John Jurgensen called up the "Queen of Christmas" to find out.
December 10, 2020
The Government's Case for Breaking Up Facebook
The Federal Trade Commission and 48 attorneys general sued Facebook Wednesday, accusing the company of being anticompetitive and seeking to break off Instagram and WhatsApp. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman lays out the government's case and Facebook's defense.
December 9, 2020
Airbnb's Rough Road to an IPO
Airbnb is set to go public at a valuation of more than $40 billion, just months after the pandemic threatened the company's survival. WSJ's Maureen Farrell explains how Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky brought the company back from the brink.
December 8, 2020
The Vaccine Is Coming to a CVS Near You
The U.S. is days away from approving its first Covid-19 vaccine. And the way most Americans will get a vaccine? Their pharmacy. We talk to CVS executive Chris Cox on the company's plan to immunize millions of Americans.
December 7, 2020
How Biden and McConnell Do Business
President-elect Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are leaders of opposing parties, but their similar backgrounds and political upbringings give them common ground at the negotiating table. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes tells us what their relationship means for Biden's policy agenda.
December 4, 2020
As Covid Climbs, One State Holds On for the Vaccine
An interview with Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama's top health official, about how his state is both struggling to fight the virus and preparing for a massive vaccine rollout.
December 3, 2020
The Daring Rescue Behind the Middle East Peace Talks
A peace treaty called the Abraham Accords has played a vital role in the Trump Administration's effort to reshape the balance of power in the Middle East. WSJ's Dion Nissenbaum tells the story of the general who orchestrated a daring mission that helped make the historic treaty possible.
December 2, 2020
The Life of Zappos's Pioneering CEO
Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos, died last week at the age of 46. WSJ's Bob Hagerty shares how Hsieh made his name as an off-the-wall tech entrepreneur who helped transform online shopping.
December 1, 2020
Why Schools Are Getting Hacked
Schools are facing a wave of increasingly aggressive ransomware attacks, with hackers seeking ransoms in the tens of thousands of dollars. WSJ's Tawnell Hobbs takes us inside the world of hackers, and we talk with a school technology director in Texas who got hacked this summer.
November 30, 2020
Janet Yellen's Biggest Challenge Yet
Janet Yellen is Joe Biden's pick for Treasury secretary. Despite having served in essentially all of the government's top economic jobs, this role may present her greatest challenge yet: partisan politics.
November 25, 2020
The Agony and Ecstasy of Tab
When Coca-Cola announced it was discontinuing Tab, its long-running diet soda brand, it left a small band of fiercely loyal soda fans in the lurch. WSJ's Jennifer Maloney talks about the rise and long decline of Tab, and Ryan goes in search of the elusive pink can.
November 24, 2020
One Nurse, Three Covid Hotspots
Trinity Goodman is a traveling crisis nurse. Since April, she has treated Covid patients in three different hotspots: New York, Texas and Indiana. She tells us about the last 8 months at the front lines of the pandemic.
November 23, 2020
Why Conservatives Are Turning to Parler
Conservatives upset by Twitter and Facebook's approach to content moderation are finding an alternative: Parler. WSJ's Keach Hagey explains why the buzzy social network's commitment to free speech is both an asset and a liability.
November 20, 2020
The Creator of the Record-Setting Covid Vaccine
Pfizer and BioNTech asked the Food and Drug Administration today to authorize their Covid-19 vaccine. We talk with the visionary scientist who developed the vaccine, Dr. Ugur Sahin, and the WSJ's Bojan Pancevski about what could be the fastest vaccine ever developed and approved.
November 19, 2020
While Airlines Shrink, Southwest Goes Big
While most airlines are parking planes and cutting costs, Southwest is starting flights to 10 new airports. WSJ's Alison Sider explains why Southwest is expanding and how the company has used this strategy before.
November 18, 2020
How Fraud and Waste Seeped Into a Covid Stimulus Program
The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to save small businesses after Covid-19 shut down the economy. Its legacy is more complicated. WSJ's Ryan Tracy walks us through the mounting cases of PPP fraud and whether the program ultimately proved effective.
November 17, 2020
Georgia's Secretary of State Defends the Election
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is managing Georgia's hand recount. We speak with him about how it's going and how he's countering the criticism from fellow Republicans about the election he ran earlier this month.
November 16, 2020
Why the Biggest IPO Ever Blew Up
Ant Group, a giant Chinese financial technology company, was days away from a $34 billion IPO when things came to a sudden stop. WSJ's Jing Yang explains why it all unraveled.
November 13, 2020
Would a Biden Administration Push for Covid Lockdowns?
As new U.S. coronavirus cases and hospitalizations reach record highs, we talk with Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of president-elect Joe Biden's Covid-19 advisory board. She explains how a Biden administration will handle the pandemic and what Americans need to do to get the virus under control.
November 12, 2020
The Agency Holding Up Biden's Transition
President-elect Joe Biden is setting up his administration, but he's still waiting on the sign off of a federal agency to get the resources he needs. WSJ's Andrew Restuccia explains the role of the General Services Administration in the presidential transfer of power.
November 10, 2020
The Next Challenge for Pfizer's Covid Vaccine
Pfizer announced that its Covid-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective in final stage trials. We talk to WSJ's Jared Hopkins about what still needs to happen before the FDA approves the vaccine and the biggest obstacles ahead for distributing a vaccine across the globe.
November 9, 2020
The Iowa Pollster Who Got It Right
Joe Biden's win was much closer than polls predicted, but not every pollster emerged from Election Day with a black eye. Iowa's Ann Selzer was right on the money. We talk to Iowa's queen of polling about how she got it right.
November 7, 2020
Joe Biden Wins the Presidency
Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States. WSJ's Sabrina Siddiqui explains how Biden built a coalition to unseat President Trump and what his history in public office tells us about how he might govern.
November 6, 2020
Inside Pennsylvania's Vote Count
As ballot counting stretched into a fourth day, WSJ's Kris Maher explains why the count is taking so long and describes his visit to a ballot counting facility in Erie, Pa. earlier this week.
November 5, 2020
Democrats Spent Big on the Senate. It Didn't Go Well.
Democrats poured record-setting sums into Senate races around the country but came up short. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains why Democrats thought they could win big and what happens with some races still uncalled.
November 4, 2020
A Close Election and the Legal Challenges Ahead
The presidential election is still too close to call in a few crucial swing states. WSJ's Michael Bender explains the state of play and Michael Amon looks ahead to possible legal challenges and recounts.
Special Election Episode: How the Night Unfolded
What happened last night? Our reporters took us on the ground with both campaigns as the results came in.
November 3, 2020
Election Day in Three Battleground States
It's Election Day, and all eyes are on the battleground states that will likely decide the next president. WSJ reporters on the ground in Texas, Georgia and Pennsylvania talk about what they're seeing and how voters are feeling.
November 2, 2020
California Votes on the Gig Economy
California is voting on how companies classify gig workers, a measure that has become the most expensive ballot proposition in the state's history. WSJ's Preetika Rana explains what's at stake for companies like Uber and Lyft and why the outcome could matter to drivers and customers everywhere.
October 30, 2020
What to Watch for on Election Day
Election Day is just days away. We talk with veteran WSJ political reporter Catherine Lucey about what to pay attention to as America goes to the polls.
October 29, 2020
Covid's Grip on a Rural Hospital
A small North Dakota hospital system that went months without a coronavirus case is now facing a serious outbreak. We speak with CEO Matt Shahan about how the virus is affecting his hospital and community.
October 28, 2020
Tech CEOs Defend Their Efforts to Police Online Content
Lawmakers questioned the CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter over how they shape discourse online. WSJ's Robert McMillan explains why a recent New York Post story about Hunter Biden put the CEOs in the hot seat.
October 27, 2020
Trump Versus Biden on the Economy
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are approaching a key issue - the economy - in different ways. WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath looks at President Trump's economic record and talks us through both candidates' economic plans.
October 26, 2020
Waiting Up Late for Wisconsin
With a historic number of mail-in ballots in Wisconsin this year, it may take a while before we know who's won the state and, perhaps, the presidency itself. We talk with Wisconsin's chief elections official about how she's preparing.
October 23, 2020
Quibi's Quick Collapse
The streaming platform Quibi broke onto the scene earlier this year with tons of cash and a Hollywood visionary at the helm. Six months later, the company is shutting down. WSJ's Benjamin Mullin talks through the high hopes for Quibi and the platform's dramatic fall from grace.
October 22, 2020
A Billionaire's Plan for Mass Covid Testing
Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Graham Weston caught Covid from an asymptomatic carrier. Now, he's embarking on a mission to control the virus through cheap, widespread testing - starting off in one Texas town. WSJ's Rob Copeland explains the experiment.
October 21, 2020
Inside One NBA Team's Decision to Turn Its Arena Into a Poll Site
The Atlanta Hawks decided to turn their basketball arena into a voting site in response to the George Floyd protests. CEO Steve Koonin talks about what went into that transformation and what it means for a private company to get involved in an election.
October 20, 2020
The Government Sues Google
The Department of Justice filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. WSJ's Brent Kendall explains what's at stake.
October 19, 2020
A String of Scandals, the Same Auditor
Several recent corporate financial scandals have had one thing in common: the main companies involved were all audited by Ernst & Young. WSJ's Ken Brown explains how problems at one of the world's largest accounting firms might signal issues for the wider world of auditing.
October 16, 2020
Melinda Gates on What Covid Has Exposed
Melinda Gates has been involved in distributing hundreds of millions of vaccine doses. Kate talks with her about how now, she's focused on the coronavirus and the inequities the virus has revealed.
October 15, 2020
Why an Atlanta Rap Mogul Is Starting a Bank
Atlanta rapper Killer Mike recently launched a digital bank to serve communities of color. He explains why he started the bank and why Black banks are so important in closing the racial wealth gap.
October 14, 2020
Why Some People Have to Repay Pandemic Aid
States rushed to distribute unemployment benefits to millions of people in the spring. In the process, thousands received more money than they should have. WSJ's Lauren Weber explains how some states overpaid pandemic assistance and why they're now asking for that money back.
October 13, 2020
The Trump Organization's Debts Are Coming Due
The Trump Organization has over $400 million worth of debt coming due over the next several years. WSJ's Brian Spegele explains the debts and the myriad challenges that will come with refinancing if President Trump wins a second term.
October 9, 2020
What Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Hearing Could Look Like
Next week, Judge Amy Coney Barrett will face senators during her Supreme Court confirmation hearing. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes looks back at Barrett's previous confirmation hearing in 2017 for clues about how she might handle next week's questioning.
October 8, 2020
What's a Movie Theater Without New Movies?
Regal Cinemas is shutting down across the U.S. today for the second time in the pandemic. We speak with the head of Regal, Mooky Greidinger, about what caused him to pull the plug and what's needed to reopen the theaters.
October 7, 2020
How Russia Today Keeps Reaching U.S. Readers
Headlines from RT, a Kremlin-backed outlet, have appeared on the websites of prominent U.S. publications. WSJ's Keach Hagey explains how a news aggregator dominated by conservative media sites has helped RT reach U.S. readers.
October 6, 2020
How Trump's Illness Is Shaking Up the Campaign
President Trump's illness is pushing Vice President Mike Pence into a larger role in the campaign. WSJ's Andrew Restuccia explains how the president's diagnosis is changing the race and previews the vice presidential debate Wednesday.
October 5, 2020
Could Ex-Felons Sway the Election in Florida?
After Florida granted the right to vote to felons who've completed their sentence, the state legislature passed a law requiring them to pay off all fees, fines and restitution first. WSJ's Jon Kamp and Coulter Jones describe the scramble to raise money and the ramifications for the election.
October 2, 2020
The Days Before Trump's Positive Test
President Trump has tested positive for Covid-19 and is displaying mild symptoms, according to the White House. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus takes us through Trump's packed schedule over the past few days and explains what his diagnosis may mean for his campaign.
October 1, 2020
Why Are There Still So Few Black CEOs?
There only four Black CEOs in the Fortune 500. What's stopping Black professionals from getting the top jobs? Dr. Adia Wingfield explains the concrete ceiling many Black workers face and Telisa Yancy, COO at American Family Insurance, tells her story of making it to the top.
September 30, 2020
A TikTok Star Wrestles With the App's Possible Ban
Michael Le is one of TikTok's biggest stars, and he's leveraged that fame to buy a house and support his entire family. Now, President Trump's potential ban of the Chinese social media app is putting all that at risk. Le talks about his rise to fame on TikTok and what his plan B looks like.
September 29, 2020
Louisville's New Police Chief on Breonna Taylor and Reform
The police shooting of Breonna Taylor has put a spotlight on Louisville, Ky. and its police department. We speak with Yvette Gentry, the city's incoming police chief, about how she hopes to change the department.
September 28, 2020
Why a Hot Electric-Truck Startup Fell Back to Earth
The electric-truck startup Nikola promised to transform trucking with clean technology. WSJ's Christina Rogers explains why Nikola is now scrambling to address serious questions about its business.
September 25, 2020
Voices From the Pandemic, Six Months In
Back in March, The Journal began talking to people around the country about how the coronavirus was reshaping their lives. Six months into the pandemic, we call them back to ask how they're coping now.
September 24, 2020
A State Prepares for Election Day
The pandemic is forcing election officials across the U.S. to prepare for unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots while also ensuring that in-person voting is safe. We speak with the chief elections official in North Carolina about whether the state is ready.
September 23, 2020
The Biggest IPO Boom in Years
When the stock market went plummeting in March, many companies shelved plans to go public. Just six months later, we're in the middle of a historic IPO boom. WSJ's Corrie Driebusch explains what is driving the rush to go public and some of the unique ways that people are cashing in.
September 22, 2020
Exxon's Stunning Decline
Just seven years ago, Exxon was the biggest company in the U.S. Since then, it's lost about 60% of its value. WSJ's Christopher Matthews tells the story of the oil giant's rapid fall.
September 21, 2020
The Fight Over Ginsburg's Supreme Court Seat
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death injected the prospect of a bitter nomination fight into the final weeks of the presidential campaign. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains the origins of that fight, and Viveca Novak looks at how it could affect the cases before the court this year.
September 18, 2020
Checking Out of Hotel 166
As coronavirus spread through homeless shelters this spring, many cities moved people to hotels to keep them safe. A group of doctors running one hotel in Chicago saw an opportunity: With new funding, they tried to find housing for the hotel residents in under four months. WSJ's Joe Barrett has been following their effort, and Dr. Tom Huggett talks about what it took to meet the deadline.
September 17, 2020
Fauci on the Timing and Limits of a Covid Vaccine
An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci about when he expects a Covid-19 vaccine will be ready and what life may be like once we have it.
September 16, 2020
Will Oracle Save TikTok?
Bidders piled in to buy TikTok after the Trump administration forced a sale. But the unlikely winner of the bidding war is a database management company. WSJ's Brad Reagan unpacks why even this outcome may not be enough to save TikTok.
September 15, 2020
How a Deal to Buy Tiffany Lost Its Sparkle
The conglomerate LVMH struck the largest acquisition deal in the history of the luxury goods industry last year, agreeing to purchase Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 billion. Last week, LVMH announced it was backing out of the deal. WSJ's Matthew Dalton walks us through how the historic deal has gone awry.
September 14, 2020
Oregon's Historic Wildfires
Oregon's wildfires have taken at least 10 lives, destroyed thousands of homes and burned more than a million acres. The state's director of Emergency Management shares how the state is responding to this fire and preparing for worse fires in the future.
September 11, 2020
The Big Bet That Fueled the Stock Market Rally
Tech stocks led the charge as the stock market climbed to record highs this year. Behind some of that rally was a single, massive trade. WSJ's Liz Hoffman reveals the trade and the unusual investor behind it.
September 10, 2020
The Uphill Battle to Bring Back Jobs
In the first months of the pandemic, 20 million jobs were lost. About half of those have come back. WSJ's Eric Morath tells us why the other half could be gone for much, much longer.
September 9, 2020
The Coronavirus Vaccine Pact
Nine drug companies issued an unusual pledge yesterday: They all agreed not to seek FDA authorization for a coronavirus vaccine until it is proven safe and effective. WSJ's Jared Hopkins explains what drove these vaccine rivals to unite behind the same message.
September 8, 2020
Does Robinhood Make It Too Easy to Trade?
The trading app Robinhood was founded with the goal of democratizing investing so that buying and selling stocks wasn't just for the wealthy. But does the app make it too easy? WSJ's Michael Wursthorn explains how the app has drawn scrutiny from financial and behavioral experts.
September 4, 2020
The Nation Grappled With George Floyd's Killing. They Lived It.
WSJ's Erin Ailworth reported from Minneapolis in the days after George Floyd was killed. Recently, she went back to talk to people who knew Floyd and whose lives were forever changed by his death. Here's what she found.
September 3, 2020
How Extremists Are Taking Advantage of the Protest Movement
Protests have taken a deadly turn in the last two weeks and authorities say extremists are responsible. WSJ's Dan Frosch outlines the recent rise of extremism in America, and explains why experts predicted that this kind of violence would happen.
September 2, 2020
Why NYC Delayed Reopening Schools
New York City had been moving ahead with plans to bring students back to the classroom next week, over the objections of teachers. But this week, things changed. WSJ's Leslie Brody explains how a clash between the mayor and the teachers union altered the city's back-to-school plans.
September 1, 2020
On a Campus With Over 1,000 Covid Cases
After months of preparation and planning, the fall college semester is here. But not all reopening plans are working. WSJ's Melissa Korn explains the disparate college plans to prevent Covid-19, and a student describes what it's like on a campus with an outbreak.
August 31, 2020
The Biggest Boycott in NBA History
In the middle of the NBA playoffs, one team staged an unprecedented boycott to protest police brutality. WSJ's Ben Cohen talks about the choice that shook not just the NBA but other sports and what it took to get the games going again.
August 28, 2020
Trump's Pitch and Two Visions for America
President Trump capped off the Republican convention with his acceptance speech last night. WSJ's Mike Bender dissects the case Republicans made for Trump's re-election and Emily Stephenson explains where the campaigns go from here.
August 27, 2020
A Vaccine Trial Recruiter Battles Mistrust
Dr. Angela Branche of the University of Rochester Medical Center is working to recruit Black participants for Covid-19 vaccine trials. She explains why the diversity of the trials may affect who trusts the vaccine once it comes out.
August 26, 2020
The Small-Business Covid Testing Problem
Many businesses are requiring employees to get tested for Covid-19 in order to return to work. We speak with one small-business owner who routinely tests her workers about whether it has helped keep employees safe and what testing expenses have meant for her bottom line.
August 25, 2020
A Police Shooting in Wisconsin Reignites Protests
Last night was the second night of fires and protests in Kenosha, Wis., following a police shooting of a Black man there. WSJ's Erin Ailworth describes what it's like on the ground and how the death of George Floyd factors into how these protests are playing out.
August 24, 2020
Netflix's $10 Million Deposit
After George Floyd was killed, corporations promised to put money toward fighting racial inequality. Netflix put $10 million into a credit union in Mississippi. We speak with Bill Bynum, HOPE Credit Union's CEO, about the why that deposit matters.
August 21, 2020
The Conventions Go Digital
The Democrats wrapped the first-ever virtual political convention this week and nominated Joe Biden for president. WSJ's Julie Bykowicz explains the main themes, and Mike Bender previews the Republicans' plans for next week.
August 20, 2020
Why Steve Bannon Got Arrested
Former Trump aide Steve Bannon was arrested and charged today in an alleged scheme to siphon money out of a nonprofit organization for personal expenses. WSJ's Ashby Jones and Elizabeth Findell explain the origins of the group and the case against Bannon.
August 19, 2020
Fortnite's Battle Royale With Big Tech
Fortnite, one the most popular video games in the world, kicked off a fight with Apple and Google over their app store fees. WSJ's Sarah Needleman explains what led the video game's maker to take on Big Tech.
August 18, 2020
When Back to Work Collides With Back to School
With many schools starting the new year virtually and some employers calling people back to the office, working parents are in a crunch. WSJ's Christina Rexrode explains how parents are scrambling to find and pay for childcare, and what it could mean for the economy.
August 17, 2020
What's Going On With the Post Office?
The United States Postal Service is facing serious budget problems. It's also at the center of a heated political fight over its readiness to handle mail-in ballots for the November election. WSJ's Natalie Andrews explains.
August 14, 2020
The Biden-Harris Ticket Takes the Stage
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have come together as the Democratic ticket and will take to the airwaves at the convention next week. WSJ's Sabrina Siddiqui explains Biden's message, how Harris fits into it and what to expect from the virtual convention.
August 13, 2020
One College Tries to Bring Everyone Back
Colleges across the country have been grappling with how - or whether - to reopen campus this year. We speak to Vassar College President Elizabeth Bradley about how she's planning on bringing all of her students back.
August 12, 2020
The Arrest of Jimmy Lai
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was a thorn in the Chinese government's side for decades. He was arrested this week under Hong Kong's sweeping new security law. WSJ's John Lyons explains what Lai's arrest signals about Hong Kong.
August 11, 2020
In a World Without Touring, Musicians Get Creative
Touring accounted for a huge portion of the music industry's revenue -- until covid put tours on pause. Pitbull, Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys and WSJ's Anne Steele talk about how the industry is trying to cope.
August 10, 2020
A 'Powder Keg' in Beirut
A massive explosion in Beirut last week has sparked protests, prompted the resignation of the government and pushed Lebanon to the brink. WSJ's Nazih Osseiran explains the nearly seven years of neglect that led to the blast.
August 7, 2020
The Suit to Dissolve the NRA
The attorney general of New York yesterday filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association. Her case alleges that four top executives used the organization for lavish personal expenses. WSJ's Mark Maremont and Jennifer Forsyth explain.
August 6, 2020
Kodak's Big Moment Draws Scrutiny
The Trump administration announced last week that it would be giving Kodak a $765 million loan to make pharmaceutical chemicals. WSJ's Geoffrey Rogow and Theo Francis explain how the deal came about and how it has set off an SEC investigation.
August 5, 2020
How Twitter's Massive Hack Went Down
The key moment in Twitter's hack last month came down to a teenager making a phone call, prosecutors say. WSJ's Robert McMillan explains how the hacker broke into some of Twitter's biggest accounts.
August 4, 2020
Inside the Race to Save TikTok
TikTok has faced mounting pressure from the White House over security concerns, leading to secret discussions to sell the Chinese-owned app's U.S. operations to Microsoft. WSJ's Brad Reagan explains how the deal nearly imploded over the weekend.
August 3, 2020
Who's Responsible if a Worker Gets Covid-19 on the Job?
Employers are getting sued by workers who got sick - and the families of workers who died - from Covid-19 after being on the job. They say the companies failed to protect them from the virus. WSJ's Janet Adamy explains what's behind the litigation and what it means for reopening businesses.
July 31, 2020
Why Evictions Are Starting Again
When the pandemic started, federal and local lawmakers moved to protect renters from eviction. Now, many of those eviction moratoria are expiring. WSJ's Will Parker explains.
July 30, 2020
The 'Emperors of the Online Economy' Testify
The CEOs of Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon appeared before Congress to face questions about anticompetitive behavior. WSJ's Ryan Tracy breaks down lawmakers' showdown with Big Tech.
July 29, 2020
How Portland Became a National Battleground
Oregon and the Trump administration today reached a deal for federal agents to begin withdrawing from the city of Portland. WSJ's Miriam Gottfried explains the bind in which Portland's mayor has found himself and how other liberal mayors may face the same challenges.
July 28, 2020
Life-and-Death Choices in a Rural Texas County
Starr County on Texas' southern border has been overwhelmed by coronavirus cases. Dr. Jose Vasquez, the county's health official, explains how doctors and health workers have been forced to make decisions about whom to treat.
July 27, 2020
School's Coming Back. What Will It Look Like?
Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones faces a major decision: whether to open his school to in-person learning or go remote. Dr. Jones explains how he's making the calculation.
July 24, 2020
The Inside Story of Europe's Historic Bailout
The European Union passed an unprecedented relief package this week to help member countries hit hard by the coronavirus. WSJ's Bojan Pancevski takes us inside the backstory to that decision and explains what it could mean for the future of the EU.
July 23, 2020
The Coming Wave of Small-Business Layoffs
The Paycheck Protection Program helped small businesses keep paying their workers during this economic crisis. Now, many of those businesses have spent those funds but are still struggling. WSJ's Amara Omeokwe explains why that's forcing many small businesses to lay off workers.
July 22, 2020
From Boom to Bust in America's Largest Oil Field
The U.S. oil industry is going through a deep downturn, and oil towns in West Texas are feeling the pain. WSJ's Christopher M. Matthews explains what it looks like when a town goes from boom to bust in record time, and what it could mean for the rest of the economy.
July 21, 2020
The End of $600 a Week for the Unemployed?
Congress is debating whether to renew a $600 supplement to unemployment benefits. WSJ's Eric Morath explains what the money has meant for the economy and what might happen if it goes away.
July 20, 2020
Municipal Debt: How the Coronavirus Created a City Budget Crisis
The pandemic has shredded city budgets across the U.S. WSJ's Heather Gillers explains the cuts municipal governments are considering and how years of accumulating debt have put many in an even tougher spot.
July 10, 2020
Pro Sports Are Coming Back. Can They Pull It Off?
Professional basketball and baseball players return to work this month under dramatically different conditions. WSJ's Ben Cohen and Jared Diamond explain why Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association ended up with such different plans for playing in the pandemic.
July 9, 2020
The Supreme Court Decides on Trump's Financial Records
The Supreme Court handed down decisions in two highly-anticipated cases today. At stake? Who can have access to the president's financial records. Brent Kendall and Richard Rubin walk us through the court's decisions.
July 8, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci: America Faces a 'Serious Situation'
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, speaks with The Journal about the U.S.'s surge in coronavirus cases and what could be done to get the spread of the virus under control.
July 7, 2020
Hong Kong's Tech Showdown
Facebook, Google and Twitter have stopped processing government requests for user data in Hong Kong after China imposed a new national security law. WSJ's Newley Purnell explains what led to the standoff and what it could mean for other companies there.
July 6, 2020
How to Get a Break on College Tuition: Just Ask
As college tuition has climbed at triple the rate of inflation, more families are realizing they have the power to negotiate. Now, the pandemic is giving them even more of an edge. WSJ's Josh Mitchell explains.
July 2, 2020
Businesses Tell Insurance Companies: Pay Up
Millions of U.S. businesses hit by the pandemic have insurance they hope will cover their losses, sparking one of the biggest legal fights in the history of the industry. WSJ's Leslie Scism tells the story of one lawyer's fight to make the industry pay.
July 1, 2020
Why Hundreds of Brands Are Boycotting Facebook
A growing number of companies are pulling their advertising from Facebook, including Unilever, Target and Ben & Jerry's. WSJ's Suzanne Vranica explains the ad boycott and the history of tensions between the tech giant and its biggest advertisers.
June 30, 2020
The Birthrate Was Already Low. Then the Pandemic Hit.
Millennials who graduated into the last recession face lower salaries, are less likely to own their homes and tend to marry later. And now, because of the pandemic, some may decide to delay having children. Allison Pohle, a reporter for WSJ Noted, explains.
June 29, 2020
Why This Coronavirus Surge Is Different
Coronavirus cases are spiking again in the U.S. WSJ's Brianna Abbott explains the dynamics of the outbreak, and Phoenix hospital administrator Dr. Michael White talks about how his hospital is taking lessons from New York's experience with the virus.
June 26, 2020
What Trump's Immigration Restrictions Could Mean for the Economy
The Trump administration this week suspended a wide range of employment visas through the end of the year. WSJ's Michelle Hackman explains how the immigration restrictions could impact the American economy - from Silicon Valley to the Jersey Shore
June 25, 2020
Wirecard's Missing $2 Billion
Wirecard, the German payments company, was one of Europe's rare tech success stories. WSJ's Paul Davies explains how the company imploded in a matter of days after it disclosed that $2 billion had gone unaccounted for.
June 24, 2020
Adidas Reckons With Race
Employees at Adidas are criticizing the company for its lack of diversity and pushing it to confront racism. WSJ's Khadeeja Safdar explains the backlash at the company, and two employees share what led them to speak out.
June 23, 2020
How New York's Coronavirus Response Made the Pandemic Worse
As several states face new outbreaks of coronavirus, WSJ's Shalini Ramachandran looks back at what went wrong with the response in one of the virus's first epicenters - New York City.
June 22, 2020
Exclusive Audio: President Trump on Protests and the Pandemic
President Trump resumed campaigning this weekend with a rally in Tulsa. WSJ's Michael Bender interviewed the president and explains how his messaging has changed since the coronavirus locked down the economy and protests swept the country.
June 18, 2020
How Black Lives Matter Prepared for This Moment
Activists united under the banner of Black Lives Matter have pushed for reforms at the local and state level since 2013. Now, their policy priorities are finding traction. WSJ's Arian Campo-Flores recounts the efforts that led to this moment.
June 17, 2020
The Stock Market Is Wild. Investors Are Piling In.
A dramatic rise in the stock market has an odd feature: Stocks in bankrupt companies and other risky bets are also climbing. WSJ's Gregory Zuckerman explains what has individual investors, many of them new to the market, jumping in.
June 16, 2020
Two States, Two Approaches to a Resurgence of Coronavirus
Coronavirus cases are on the rise - and in some cases spiking - in many states that are reopening. We talk to two top health officials from Oregon and Alabama about the different ways their states are handling new outbreaks and whether they could reinstate shutdowns.
June 15, 2020
The Neighborhood Where Police Were Banished
Seattle's mayor instructed police to leave a section of the city after violent clashes with protestors there. The neighborhood is now transformed into an "autonomous zone." WSJ's Jim Carlton reports on what it's like inside.
June 12, 2020
Fraud Rocks China's Hottest Coffee Startup
Luckin Coffee was supposed to disrupt China's coffee market. But a Wall Street Journal investigation has found that the company used fake coffee orders, fake supply orders and even a fake employee to fabricate nearly half its sales last year. WSJ's Jing Yang explains Luckin's scheme.
June 11, 2020
Black Employment Was at a Record High. Coronavirus Undid It.
Black employment had climbed to a record level before the pandemic undid that progress in a matter of weeks. WSJ's Amara Omeokwe explains the fragility in the economic situation of black Americans and what that could mean for their recovery.
June 10, 2020
Corporate Debt: How Hertz Went Bankrupt
The coronavirus has pushed a number of companies into bankruptcy and exposed the debt many had racked up before the crisis. WSJ's Matt Wirz explains why Hertz is a prime example.
June 9, 2020
The City That Disbanded Its Police
Activists are demanding a radical reshaping of police departments across the country. Years before this movement, one city scrapped its police department and started from scratch. Camden, N.J.'s former police chief Scott Thomson explains how they rebuilt, and what happened.
June 8, 2020
The Fight Inside Facebook Over Trump's Posts
Employees at Facebook have resigned, staged a virtual walkout and publicly expressed their outrage over the company's decision to preserve a post by President Trump on the platform that some employees say was a call for violence. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman explains the internal dissent at the company.
June 5, 2020
What the 1960s Riots Can Tell Us About Today
The protests and unrest that have swept the country after the killing of George Floyd have recalled the riots and demonstrations of the 1960s. Historian Rick Perlstein talks about the similarities and differences between that time and now.
June 4, 2020
His Business Got Looted. He's Still Protesting.
Around the country, small businesses suffered damage from looting and unrest this past week. WSJ's Scott Calvert went to one hard-hit neighborhood in Philadelphia to talk to small business owners like Shelby Jones. Mr. Jones reflects on the damage his business suffered and why he will continue protesting.
June 3, 2020
When Police Brutality Meets Office Politics
As big corporations make public statements of outrage over the death of George Floyd, black employees are dealing with complicated workplace dynamics around race and police brutality. Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts explains her research on how workplaces should confront race, and two employees describe what it's like at their workplaces right now.
June 2, 2020
What's Behind the Biggest Wave of Protests in Decades
The protests sparked by the death of George Floyd have spread widely across the U.S. for the last week. Today, a protestor shares why he decided to demonstrate, and a professor explains the pandemic's relationship to the protests.
June 1, 2020
Why Minneapolis's Police Reforms Failed George Floyd
When Medaria Arradondo became the police chief of Minneapolis, he moved quickly to reform the force's policing tactics. WSJ's Dan Frosch explains why it's easier to change the policies of a police force than its culture.
May 29, 2020
Trump and Twitter's Showdown
For the first time, Twitter took steps to fact check and shield from view certain tweets from President Trump. In response, the President signed an executive order targeting Section 230, which protects social media companies from legal liability for content posted on their sites. Deepa Seetharaman explains what's behind the fight.
May 28, 2020
Why the U.S. and China Are Sparring Over Hong Kong
After China announced plans to impose new national security laws on Hong Kong, the U.S. declared the city was no longer autonomous. WSJ's James Areddy explains the significance of the back and forth over Hong Kong's status.
May 27, 2020
Is Banning Certain Events the Key to Reopening?
A bar in the Swiss Alps. A megachurch in South Korea. Scientists are focusing on certain superspreading events that might be responsible for an outsized portion of coronavirus cases. Bojan Pancevski explains how this understanding could be key to reopening.
May 26, 2020
Therapist Esther Perel on Work and the Pandemic
The pandemic has forced almost everyone to change the way they work. Many of those changes have been emotionally challenging. Today, a listener shares her story about how her work has been affected, and therapist Esther Perel helps make sense of it all.
May 22, 2020
Why Trump Is Taking On the World Health Organization
President Trump threatened to cut off funding for the World Health Organization this week over its response to the coronavirus. Betsy McKay and Andrew Restuccia explain how the WHO drew the ire of the president.
May 21, 2020
Is the U.S. Ready to Vote in a Pandemic?
As states consider their options for holding an election in a pandemic, a political battle is brewing over proposals to expand mail-in balloting this November. WSJ's Alexa Corse explains what it would take for states to switch to mail-in balloting and why it's such a contentious idea.
May 20, 2020
Consumer Debt: What Happens When Millions Stop Paying Their Credit Cards
Consumer debt had climbed to record levels before the pandemic. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis explains what's happening now that millions of people are unable to make payments on credit cards and auto loans.
May 19, 2020
How One Airline Sees the Future of Flying
Airlines have strained to survive after travel dried up because of the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how airlines are adjusting, and the CEO of Southwest Airlines paints a picture of what the future of flying might look like.
May 18, 2020
Why Uber Might Eat Grubhub
Uber and Grubhub are in talks for a takeover. WSJ's Cara Lombardo explains why it took a pandemic to shake up the crowded food delivery business, and why there may be more deals-in more industries-before the crisis is over.
May 15, 2020
The FBI's Insider-Trading Investigation on Capitol Hill
The FBI seized Sen. Richard Burr's cellphone as part of its investigation into stock trades he made before the coronavirus pandemic hit markets. WSJ's Sadie Gurman explains the investigation into Burr and other senators, and the insider-trading rules for members of Congress.
May 14, 2020
Why 'Bridgegate' Wasn't a Federal Crime
The Supreme Court put an end to the nearly seven-year drama over Bridgegate, ruling that a scheme to overwhelm a town with traffic jams wasn't federal fraud. WSJ's Ted Mann takes us through the saga and explains what the Supreme Court's ruling means for federal corruption cases.
May 13, 2020
The Chaotic Market for Coronavirus Gear
New entrants have flocked to the market of selling masks, gloves and other medical gear for front-line workers. WSJ's Brody Mullins explains how that anarchic market is working and the struggles some new brokers have had fulfilling orders.
May 12, 2020
Federal Debt: The U.S. Is Racking Up Debt. Will It Be a Problem?
The federal government is spending big to combat the economic damage of the coronavirus crisis, and federal debt has climbed to record levels. WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath explains the debate over the impact of all that debt.
May 11, 2020
The Future of the Country's Largest Transit System
When businesses reopen, one of the biggest hurdles will be figuring out how to get millions of people to work. Without a vaccine, packed rush hours won't be safe, and so heads of transit systems, like New York's Pat Foye, are thinking about what an alternative future might look like.
May 8, 2020
Welcome Back to the Office. Your Every Move Will Be Watched.
As companies figure out how to reopen their offices while keeping workers safe, some employers are turning to invasive new surveillance measures -- at the office and in workers' personal lives. WSJ's Chip Cutter explains why heightened surveillance at work could outlast the pandemic.
May 7, 2020
Airbnb Hosts Built Mini-Empires. Now They're Crumbling.
For years, Airbnb's rental platform offered millions of people the chance to make money on their own terms. Now, with travel near a standstill, those hosts are scrambling to keep their rental properties afloat. WSJ's Tripp Mickle and Preetika Rana explain the rise and sudden collapse of hosting on Airbnb
May 6, 2020
Michigan's Governor on Protests, Lockdowns and the Economy
Michigan's stay-at-home orders are among the strictest in the country. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talks to The Journal about avoiding a second wave of cases, the economic damage to her state and the role of the federal government.
May 5, 2020
The Movie That Might Change Hollywood Forever Is...Trolls?
A movie featuring a bunch of neon-haired singing trolls might upend the relationship between movie studios and movie theaters. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains the drama set off by Universal Pictures's digital release of "Trolls World Tour."
May 4, 2020
No Prom. No Graduation. Now, No School.
After a weeks-long attempt at remote schooling, Superintendent Curtis Jones Jr. decided to end the school year early for his district of 21,000 students. We talk to Dr. Jones about that decision and what he thinks the next school year will look like.
May 1, 2020
Baseball's Bold Comeback Strategy
As Major League Baseball looks at how it might reopen, one thing has become clear: Fans won't be attending games anytime soon. WSJ's Jared Diamond explains the league's efforts to return, and MLB announcer Joe Buck talks about passing the time with no sports.
April 30, 2020
Is Your Burger a Matter of National Security?
Outbreaks of the coronavirus have shuttered meat plants across the country. This week, President Trump issued an executive order to keep them open. WSJ's Jacob Bunge explains the threat to workers and to the meat supply.
April 29, 2020
A Manhattan Project for Covid-19
A dozen of America's top scientists are working to come up with ideas for the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ's Rob Copeland explains how they're collaborating with wealthy investors to get those ideas straight to the White House.
April 28, 2020
How Amazon Employees Used Sellers' Data Against Them
Contrary to assertions that Amazon has made to Congress, employees often consulted sales information on third-party vendors when developing private-label products. WSJ's Dana Mattioli explains.
April 27, 2020
Georgia Tries to Reopen
Georgia took one of the most aggressive steps to reopen Friday, allowing some nonessential businesses like barbershops and tattoo parlors to accept customers. WSJ's Cameron McWhirter on what the reopening looked like in Atlanta.
April 24, 2020
The Only Grocer in Town
Hundreds of people in Rich Square, N.C. are relying on Frank Timberlake's grocery store for their food during the pandemic. WSJ's Valerie Bauerlein explains how this independent grocer has confronted the coronavirus and kept his doors open.
April 23, 2020
How Big Businesses Got Small Business Relief Money
The federal government's Paycheck Protection Program offered small businesses hundreds of billions of dollars so they could keep paying employees. WSJ's Bob Davis explains how big corporations ended up getting nearly $600 million of that money.
April 22, 2020
An Interview With Vice President Mike Pence
Vice President Mike Pence leads the White House's coronavirus task force. WSJ's Jerry Seib spoke with Pence about deficits in testing, the moves by some states to reopen businesses and a potential timeline for reopening the country.
April 21, 2020
Why the U.S. Still Doesn't Have Enough Tests
To reopen the economy safely, experts estimate the U.S. will need to administer millions of tests every month. WSJ's Christopher Weaver and Rebecca Ballhaus explain why we are so far from the number of tests needed.
April 20, 2020
Why Farmers Are Breaking Eggs and Dumping Milk
The sudden change in where and how Americans buy their food has left farmers reeling. WSJ's Jesse Newman explains why farmers like Nancy Mueller are destroying their goods.
April 17, 2020
Why You Still Can't Find Toilet Paper
Shoppers around the country are still struggling to find toilet paper. WSJ's Sharon Terlep explains what's going on with the toilet paper supply chain.
April 16, 2020
How Coronavirus Could Change the Vaccine Business
Vaccine development has historically been an expensive, yearslong endeavor, and often not a great business. WSJ's Denise Roland explains how the search for a coronavirus vaccine could change the dynamics of the industry.
April 15, 2020
The Other Way Coronavirus Is Hurting Hospitals
The coronavirus isn't just hitting hospitals by flooding them with patients, it's also squeezing their finances. WSJ's Melanie Evans explains why hospitals across the country are facing financial pain.
April 14, 2020
A Governor Explains Why States Are Teaming Up
Seven northeastern governors have formed a group to coordinate when their states will reopen. We spoke with New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy about the group and leading a state during the coronavirus.
April 13, 2020
Apple and Google Want Your Phone to Track Coronavirus
Apple and Google are working together to try to turn billions of smartphones into coronavirus trackers. WSJ's Sam Schechner explains how the project will work and what it shows about the trade-offs between privacy and public health.
April 10, 2020
The World Has Too Much Oil
Demand for oil has plummeted as the coronavirus has shut down much of the world, but most producers are still pumping. WSJ's Russell Gold explains the global game of chicken inside the oil industry.
April 9, 2020
What Happens When 10% of Workers File for Unemployment
Nearly 17 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits in the last three weeks. WSJ's Eric Morath explains how the flood of applicants is overwhelming state systems and leaving many people without payments.
April 8, 2020
The Navy's Coronavirus Crisis
After the coronavirus began spreading on a U.S. aircraft carrier, the ship's commander Brett Crozier sent a memo asking for help. WSJ's Ben Kesling explains how the saga that followed led to the acting Navy Secretary's resignation.
April 7, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci on How Life Returns to Normal
An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci about what it will take to open America back up after the coronavirus pandemic: "It isn't like a light switch, on and off."
April 6, 2020
Can Blood From Survivors Help Fight Coronavirus?
A key to fighting the coronavirus may be found in the blood of survivors. WSJ's Amy Dockser Marcus explains how scientists are ramping up plasma transfusions to try to help sick patients and to protect health-care workers from falling ill.
April 3, 2020
The Silicon Valley Face Mask Disruptors
Jake Medwell and Drew Oetting, two venture capitalists and roommates in San Francisco, have become the improbable middlemen for hundreds of millions of protective supplies across four continents. WSJ's Rob Copeland explains how their operation works.
April 2, 2020
Essential Work: Inside an Amazon Warehouse During Coronavirus
While millions of Americans are under lockdown, Amazon's warehouse and delivery workers are still hard at work. But some are starting to voice concerns over working conditions. One Amazon employee shares her experience, and WSJ's Sebastian Herrera explains how the pandemic may have given workers leverage to make their voices heard.
April 1, 2020
The Next Coronavirus Financial Crisis
Companies have taken on more and more of a particular type of risky debt over the last five years, amounting to $1.2 trillion in outstanding loans. WSJ's Matt Wirz explains why that debt could make things much worse for an economy already in turmoil.
March 31, 2020
Without Ventilators, Doctors Face Hard Choices
Facing shortages of critical equipment, medical workers must make life-or-death decisions about who receives care. WSJ's Joe Palazzolo reports from an emergency room that's running short on ventilators, and Chris Weaver explains the plans hospitals are putting in place to decide who gets them. Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at NYU's School of Medicine, talks about how hospitals think about these diff...
March 30, 2020
The Debate Over the Defense Production Act
A Cold War-era law gives the president powers to mobilize private companies to help in emergencies. WSJ's Andrew Restuccia and Stephanie Armour explain why President Trump has been reluctant to put the law to use in the fight against the coronavirus.
March 27, 2020
China Is Getting Past Coronavirus. Its Economy Isn't.
After taking extreme measures to fight the coronavirus, China is beginning to open back up for business. WSJ's Lingling Wei and Patrick Barta explain why the country still faces an uphill battle to get its economy moving again.
March 26, 2020
The Economic Trade-Offs of Social Distancing
President Trump has raised the possibility of relaxing social distancing guidelines faster than public health experts advise, saying it would help the economy. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus and Jon Hilsenrath explain the ongoing debate at the White House and how economists are evaluating the costs of combating the pandemic.
March 25, 2020
The $2 Trillion Plan to Help the Economy
Congress is close to passing an unprecedented $2 trillion aid package to offset the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains where all that money is going.
March 24, 2020
Why There's No Toilet Paper: Answers to Your Coronavirus Questions
Listeners sent in their questions about the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ's Sharon Terlep and Bourree Lam, and the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Greg Poland answer them.
March 23, 2020
The Coronavirus Cash Crisis
As many businesses grind to a halt, they face the prospect of not paying their bills and their workers. The American economy is hitting a serious cash crunch. WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath explains the problem and what the government is doing to try to fix it.
March 20, 2020
When Performers Work From Home
While the coronavirus pandemic brings much of the world to a halt, musicians, comedians and entertainers are trying to find ways to get their work out to the world. WSJ's Charles Passy talks about the effects on the industry, and performers Lenny Marcus, Jordan Klepper, Sumire Kudo and Nathan Vickery share their jokes - and their music.
March 19, 2020
The Looming Crisis for U.S. Hospitals
As coronavirus cases keep rising, U.S. hospitals are scrambling to prepare. They are trying to avoid the fate of some hospitals in Italy that have been overwhelmed. WSJ's Melanie Evans explains what American hospitals are doing to get ready, and Marcus Walker reports from the epicenter of Italy's outbreak.
March 18, 2020
Coronavirus Layoffs Have Begun
The new coronavirus crisis is leading to job cuts in the U.S. WSJ's Eric Morath explains which workers are most vulnerable and what mass layoffs would mean for the economy. We also talk with a contract worker at a convention center and a restaurant owner about how the pandemic is affecting their livelihoods.
March 17, 2020
The Economic Uncertainty of Coronavirus
The Wall Street Journal's editor in chief, Matt Murray, explains the economic risks and realities of the coronavirus pandemic.
March 16, 2020
The Race to Cure Coronavirus
Pharmaceutical companies are rushing to find drugs that can treat people infected with the coronavirus. WSJ's Joseph Walker explains which treatments are furthest along, and Dr. Andre Kalil, a researcher running one of the drug trials, talks about what's at stake.
March 13, 2020
The Oil Price War That Stoked the Market Freefall
As the coronavirus pandemic threatens the economy and sends stocks tumbling, Saudi Arabia's crown prince has added to the turmoil by launching an oil price war. WSJ's Ken Brown takes us inside that decision.
March 12, 2020
The Day Coronavirus Became a Pandemic
The World Health Organization has made it official: The new coronavirus is a global pandemic. WSJ's Brianna Abbott, Margherita Stancati, and Ben Cohen explain why the crisis is escalating and how it's rippling through the world.
March 11, 2020
Scandal Engulfs One of America's Biggest Unions
The federal government's corruption investigation into the United Auto Workers ensnared its highest-ranking union official last week: a former president. WSJ's Nora Naughton explains what this means for the labor union that represents 400,000 members.
March 10, 2020
Why the Markets Tanked on Monday
The stock market plummeted Monday, recording its biggest single-day decline since 2008. WSJ's Geoffrey Rogow on what happened, and Kate Davidson explains how the Trump administration is responding.
March 9, 2020
How the U.S. Is Trying to Contain Coronavirus
As the new coronavirus spreads throughout the United States, public health officials have only one tool at their disposal: containment. WSJ's Melanie Grayce West and Betsy McKay explain how these officials are working to keep the epidemic at bay.
March 6, 2020
Why So Few CEOs Are Women
Fewer than 6% of CEOs are women. A Wall Street Journal study offers a new explanation for why. WSJ's Vanessa Fuhrmans looks at what keeps women from the chief executive job.
March 5, 2020
Will Coronavirus Cause a Recession?
There are fears that the new coronavirus could pose a serious threat to the U.S. economy. WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath looks at whether the global epidemic could cause a recession and explains the signals to pay attention to.
March 4, 2020
The Moderates' Super Tuesday Gamble
In a matter of days, the race for the Democratic nomination has narrowed to a contest between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. WSJ's Sabrina Siddiqui explains why the field shifted so quickly.
March 3, 2020
How Washington State's Coronavirus Outbreak Unfolded
The death toll for the new coronavirus in the U.S. rose to nine today. All of the victims are in Washington state, and the majority are linked to one nursing home. WSJ's Melanie Evans tells the story of how the outbreak unfolded there, and Tom Burton explains the government's response.
March 2, 2020
The 'Mystery Man' Tells Us How He Helped Free Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich's release from federal prison last month culminated a nearly two-year campaign to put his case on President Donald Trump's radar. WSJ's Jess Bravin explains how Mark Vargas, a Republican political consultant, pulled it off.
February 28, 2020
What Bernie Sanders's Socialism Means
Bernie Sanders calls himself a democratic socialist, the first time a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination has done so. Eliza Collins, who covers Bernie Sanders, and Jon Hilsenrath, who covers economics, explain what that means for Sanders and his rivals.
February 27, 2020
Wells Fargo and the Fake-Account Fallout
In 2016, Wells Fargo was slapped with a fine for creating fake accounts for customers. It was only the start of the bank's problems. WSJ's Rachel Louise Ensign explains what happened and what led to a $3 billion settlement last week.
February 26, 2020
America Prepares for a Pandemic
The outbreak of new coronavirus cases around the world has led U.S. health officials to warn the disease may spread in the U.S. WSJ's Brianna Abbott explains what may complicate officials' efforts to prepare.
February 25, 2020
How Big Pharma Lost Its Swagger
The drug industry has long been one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, but in recent years it hasn't packed the punch it used to. WSJ's Brody Mullins explains why the pharmaceutical industry's influence has declined.
February 24, 2020
Baseball's Biggest Scandal in a Century
An unprecedented cheating scandal involving the Houston Astros has roiled Major League Baseball. WSJ's Jared Diamond explains how the Astros' sign-stealing scheme began and what it means for America's pastime.
February 21, 2020
Sold: Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret announced yesterday that a private equity firm was buying control of the retailer. The sale caps a long decline for the brand as well as the end of Les Wexner's 57-year run as CEO of its parent company. WSJ's Khadeeja Safdar explains.
February 20, 2020
The Boy Scouts' Survival Plan: Bankruptcy
The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy this week. WSJ's Valerie Bauerlein and Andrew Scurria explain how the organization reached this point, after decades of declining membership and intensifying legal pressure over sex abuse allegations.
February 19, 2020
An Economic Superpower on Lockdown
The coronavirus has forced China, the world's second-biggest economy, into lockdown. WSJ's Yoko Kubota explains how that has disrupted businesses around the world, including companies like Disney and Apple.
February 18, 2020
How a Kardashian Producer Became a Saudi Deal Maker
Carla DiBello used to be a reality TV producer in Los Angeles. Now, she's riding mega-yachts and attending business meetings with the world's richest people and is a direct conduit to one of the world's most influential investors: The Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund. WSJ's Justin Scheck details her rise to prominence.
February 14, 2020
Bloomberg's Big Money Strategy
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has hugely outspent all other Democratic presidential candidates. His campaign is focusing its resources on Super Tuesday on March 3. WSJ's Tarini Parti and Michael Howard Saul look at whether his high-spending tactics could work.
February 13, 2020
Nike's Vaporfly Is 'Magic.' But Is It Fair?
Runners wearing versions of Nike's Vaporfly shoe have smashed marathon records, leading to questions about whether the shoe offers an unfair advantage. WSJ's Rachel Bachman explains the controversy.
February 12, 2020
A Spying Scandal Takes Down a CEO
Credit Suisse's CEO Tidjane Thiam resigned last week in the fallout from revelations the bank was spying on employees. WSJ's Margot Patrick explains the story behind the scandal.
February 11, 2020
The Battle Over Your Bed
Casper was a pioneer in selling mattresses online. WSJ's Eliot Brown explains how the competition that Casper kicked off in the mattress-in-a-box space is now challenging the company.
February 10, 2020
The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has amassed one of the world's largest investment funds, but few people know it exists. WSJ's Ian Lovett on new details about the fund and the church's plans for it.
February 7, 2020
Inside China's Giant Quarantine
China has marshaled its surveillance apparatus to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. WSJ's Shan Li reports from a quarantined hotel in the province where the outbreak started, and Patrick Barta explains how the government has mobilized.
February 6, 2020
When Your American Dream Gets Too Crowded
As more and more Americans move south, Lake Wylie, a suburb of Charlotte, has tripled in size. Now, the town is saying no more. WSJ's Valerie Bauerlein explains.
February 5, 2020
A Bruising Price War. Three Rivals. One Big Investor.
Money from the same major investor, Softbank, is fueling a startup battle in Latin America between three of its own companies: Uber, Didi and Rappi. WSJ's Robbie Whelan explains.
February 4, 2020
The App That Crashed the Iowa Caucuses
The first results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses were released a day later than expected after a mobile app designed to report tallies had technical issues. WSJ's Eliza Collins and Deepa Seetharaman explain why the app was used in the first place and what went wrong.
February 3, 2020
Democrats and Facebook: It's Complicated
Democrats' relationship with Facebook is at an all-time low, just as the 2020 election kicks off in Iowa. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman explains Democrats' tightrope act of criticizing Facebook while also using it to reach voters.
January 31, 2020
The Long-Lost Super Bowl
There's only one tape of Super Bowl I believed to be in existence. Troy Haupt discovered it in his mother's attic. WSJ's Jared Diamond explains why virtually no one has gotten to see it.
January 30, 2020
Apple's Cost Cutter
Apple executive Tony Blevins has built a career staring down suppliers and slashing prices to the bone. WSJ's Tripp Mickle explains why, as Apple's iPhone sales slow, that's an increasingly important job.
January 29, 2020
Why Your Credit Score Could Drop
The FICO score, one of the most widely used credit scores in America, is about to go through some major revisions. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis explains what the changes are and why the current scores may be out of whack.
January 28, 2020
The Last Train Out of Wuhan
China has responded to the spread of a deadly new virus by locking down cities and quarantining tens of millions of people. WSJ's Shan Li reports from the epicenter, and science editor Stefanie Ilgenfritz analyzes China's response to the new coronavirus.
January 27, 2020
Who Hacked Jeff Bezos?
Investigators hired by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos claimed last week that his phone was hacked by Saudi Arabia. WSJ's Justin Scheck and Michael Siconolfi explain the history of leaks of Bezos's texts, and how Bezos and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became archenemies.
January 24, 2020
Vale Ignored Warnings. Then Its Dam Killed Hundreds.
270 people were killed when a dam owned by the mining giant Vale collapsed. After a year-long investigation, WSJ's Samantha Pearson and Luciana Magalhaes explain the negligence and coverup inside one of Brazil's biggest companies.
January 23, 2020
The Tug of War Over Tesla
Tesla's stock has been on a tear since late last year, and this week the company's valuation reached $100 billion. Investors who believe in the stock couldn't be happier. But others think the company is overvalued. WSJ's Gunjan Banerji explains the divide.
January 22, 2020
Wall Street's Climate Gambit
BlackRock, the biggest money manager in the world, announced that it plans to make sustainability a focus of its investment strategy. WSJ's Geoffrey Rogow explains what the change means.
January 21, 2020
The President's Defense
Opening arguments kick off this week in the Senate's impeachment trial. President Trump has assembled a legal team with a lot of star power to defend him. WSJ's Michael Bender introduces us to the team and explains their case.
January 17, 2020
How the Grounded Boeing Jet Shook the Airline Industry
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded for nearly a year after two deadly crashes. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how the plane's grounding has upended carriers like American Airlines and rippled through the aviation industry.
January 16, 2020
The Government's Quest to Crack Into iPhones
Attorney General William Barr criticized Apple on Monday for not helping the Department of Justice get into the iPhones of the Florida naval base shooter. WSJ's Bob McMillan explains Apple's philosophy on letting the government in.
January 15, 2020
How Airbnb Deals With Crime
After a deadly mass shooting, Airbnb faced questions about how much responsibility it has for safety at the properties listed on its site. WSJ's Kirsten Grind investigates Airbnb's efforts to fight crime on its platform.
January 14, 2020
Democrats' 2020 Fundraising Fights
The Democrats running for president this year have employed three different fundraising strategies to fuel their campaigns. WSJ's Julie Bykowicz breaks down the different tactics and explains how those strategies could shape the race.
January 13, 2020
The Broken Business of Antibiotics
The world desperately needs new antibiotics to tackle the rising threat of drug-resistant superbugs, but there is little reward for doing so. WSJ's Denise Roland explains problems facing antibiotics companies.
January 10, 2020
Why Google Is Pushing Into Health Data
Google has struck deals with health providers that give the company access to millions of personal medical records without notifying patients. WSJ's Rob Copeland explains Google's plans for the data.
January 9, 2020
After Dramatic Escape, Carlos Ghosn Makes His Case
Facing questions about his escape from Japan, former auto executive Carlos Ghosn defended himself against charges of financial crimes in a blistering and emotional press conference. WSJ's Nick Kostov explains Ghosn's defense.
January 8, 2020
The Calculus Behind Iran's Missile Strikes
Iranian missiles struck two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops last night, a response to the United States' killing of an Iranian general. WSJ's Sune Engel Rasmussen explains what went into Iran's decision.
January 7, 2020
Inside Carlos Ghosn's Escape From Japan
Carlos Ghosn went from a globe-trotting top executive to international fugitive in a year. WSJ's Nick Kostov explains what led Ghosn to flee Japan in a box made for audio gear and how he pulled off his escape.
January 6, 2020
Goldman Sachs and the 1MDB Scandal
Goldman Sachs helped Malaysia raise over $6 billion for its economic development fund, 1MDB. Prosecutors say much of the fund's money was then stolen. WSJ's Liz Hoffman explains the scandal and why the bank may soon face punishment for its alleged role.
January 3, 2020
The Killing of Iran's Most Powerful General
A U.S. strike in Baghdad killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani yesterday. WSJ's Michael Gordon explains Soleimani's significance, what's known about the killing and what it means for the region and the U.S.
January 2, 2020
How Google Shapes Your Search Results
Google has long held up its search results as objective and essentially autonomous, the product of computer algorithms. But WSJ's Kirsten Grind explains how Google has interfered with search more than the company has acknowledged.
December 23, 2019
WeWork: The Enablers
Adam Neumann, WeWork's former CEO, has been under intense scrutiny since the company's fall from grace. But there's also another group of people behind the dramatic unraveling: WeWork's investors. WSJ's Maureen Farrell and Eliot Brown take us into the thinking of WeWork's biggest backers.
December 20, 2019
A Year in the Middle of a Trade War
The U.S. announced a "phase one" trade deal with China last week, halting the trade war between the countries. WSJ's Jacob Schlesinger looks back on a year of escalating tariffs and explains what it was like for businesses caught in the middle.
December 19, 2019
New Gig Work Law Leaves California Scrambling
A new California law requires businesses to reclassify many workers as employees rather than independent contractors. As the deadline to implement the law nears, some companies are confused about whether they're included. Others are opting out. WSJ's Christine Mai-Duc explains.
December 18, 2019
The Senate Prepares for a Trial
The House is set to impeach President Trump. From there, the case would move to the Senate for a trial. WSJ's Lindsay Wise explains what that process looks like and the political maneuvering around it.
December 17, 2019
Disney Disturbs the Force
When Disney releases "The Rise of Skywalker" this week, the company will try to walk a fine line: Keep Star Wars superfans happy and attract new audiences to the franchise. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains Disney's balancing act.
December 16, 2019
Facebook's Latest Tangle with the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission is considering a move that could stop Facebook from further integrating with WhatsApp and Instagram. WSJ's Deepa Seetharaman explains what the decision would mean for Facebook as it faces antitrust investigations.
December 13, 2019
The Man Who Waged War on Inflation
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker died this week at 92. Volcker steered the American economy through runaway inflation in the 1980s. WSJ's Greg Ip knew Volcker and shares the stories that shaped the man's life.
December 12, 2019
The Fight to Rewrite the World's Biggest Trade Deal
President Trump campaigned on scrapping Nafta. But getting that done wasn't so easy. Now, Congress is close to making a deal. WSJ's Josh Zumbrun explains the new trade agreement, USMCA.
December 11, 2019
The Crown Prince and the IPO
It's the biggest IPO in history. Saudi Arabia's state-backed oil company, Aramco, started trading today. WSJ's Summer Said explains why the record-setting valuation was still a letdown for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and what it means for his leadership.
December 10, 2019
India Rewrites the Rules for Big Tech
Global tech companies have been eager to access India and its hundreds of millions of internet users. WSJ's Newley Purnell explains why the country is putting up roadblocks.
December 9, 2019
The Botched Bet to Buy Monsanto
Just 10 days after he became the CEO of Bayer, Werner Baumann made the move to buy Monsanto. He was betting that the acquisition would make the company into an agricultural powerhouse. Instead, it opened Bayer up to tens of thousands of lawsuits and became one of the worst corporate deals in recent memory. WSJ's Ruth Bender explains.
December 6, 2019
Why Tech Is Making Its Own Rules for Political Ads
Political advertising is flourishing online, but federal guidelines regulating those ads are virtually absent. WSJ's Emily Glazer explains why Facebook, Twitter and Google are making their own rules.
December 5, 2019
The Central Question of Impeachment
Constitutional experts testified this week on what makes for an impeachable offense, and Democrats and Republicans argued their sides of the case in dueling reports. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains.
December 4, 2019
A $1.5 Billion Bet Against the Stock Market
The world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater, has placed a massive bet that stock markets will fall by late March 2020. WSJ's Juliet Chung explains its possible motivations.
December 3, 2019
How PetSmart Solved Its Chewy Problem
Pet-supply stores had long withstood the threat posed by online shopping. That was until Chewy came along. WSJ's Miriam Gottfried tells the story of how PetSmart responded to the new competition.
December 2, 2019
Why TikTok's Under Investigation
TikTok is the first Chinese-owned social media app to take off in the U.S. But TikTok's growth has led to scrutiny from the U.S. government. WSJ's Patrick Barta explains.
November 27, 2019
The End of the Film Industry's Paramount Decrees
The Justice Department is moving to terminate rules that have governed the film industry since the 1940s. WSJ's Erich Schwartzel explains why the rules were established in the first place, and a theater owner talks about what the end of the rules means for him.
November 26, 2019
Rise and Revolt at Renaissance, Part 2
As Renaissance Technologies grew into the world's most successful hedge fund, co-CEO Robert Mercer made a fortune. Then, he started spending it. In his new book, "The Man Who Solved the Market," WSJ's Greg Zuckerman followed Mercer's foray into political spending, and the consequences for the firm that Mercer helped build. Part two of a two-part series.
November 25, 2019
Rise and Revolt at Renaissance, Part 1
In the 1970s, Jim Simons left academia to pursue a wild idea: That he could beat the market using math. It would lead him to build the most successful hedge fund of all time. WSJ's Greg Zuckerman charted the rise of Simons's firm and the turmoil that roiled it in his new book, "The Man Who Solved the Market." Part one of a two-part series.
November 22, 2019
The $340,000 Robocall Scam
It started with a phone call. In a week, a scammer would take Nina Belis's life savings. WSJ's Sarah Krouse explains why robocalls persist: Because sometimes they work.
November 21, 2019
Inside Hong Kong's Violent Protests
Protests in Hong Kong have spiraled into increasingly violent clashes with police. WSJ's John Lyons explains what's changed on the ground.
November 20, 2019
Has Fracking Fueled Its Own Undoing?
Fracking made the U.S. the top oil producer in the world. WSJ's Christopher Matthews explains what drove the fracking boom and what may cause its undoing.
November 19, 2019
Taylor Swift Versus Big Machine
Taylor Swift and her former record label, Big Machine, are in a dispute over Swift's rights to perform her old music. WSJ's Anne Steele on the implications of the fight.
November 18, 2019
The Great Beer Battle of 2019
A 2019 Super Bowl ad kicked off a showdown between the maker of Bud Light and the maker of Coors Light. WSJ's Jennifer Maloney explains how that standoff has led to accusations of corporate espionage, two lawsuits and questions about the future of the beer industry.
November 15, 2019
Nike and Amazon's Breakup
Nike said it would no longer sell its products on Amazon after two years on the platform. WSJ's Khadeeja Safdar explains why the two companies split.
November 14, 2019
A Controversial Fix for High Drug Prices
An obscure think tank in Boston is getting drug companies to lower their prices - using something called a QALY. WSJ's Denise Roland explains what a QALY is, and why it's controversial.
November 13, 2019
Google's Project to Collect Millions of People's Medical Records
Google is amassing detailed health information on millions of people without their knowledge. WSJ's Rob Copeland explains 'Project Nightingale' and why it sparked a federal inquiry.
November 12, 2019
What to Know About the First Public Impeachment Hearings
House Democrats this week hold the first in a series of open impeachment hearings. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains who will testify and what to expect in the questioning.
November 8, 2019
WhatsApp's Hack
WhatsApp announced in May that there had been a flaw in its app that allowed hackers in. Then, it did something pretty unusual. WSJ's Bob McMillan explains WhatsApp's new strategy to stop hacking.
November 7, 2019
For Sale: SAT-Takers' Names
The College Board, the nonprofit behind the SAT, sells students' information to colleges. WSJ's Doug Belkin explains how that data feeds the college application frenzy.
November 6, 2019
Under Armour Under Investigation
For years, Under Armour was one of the fastest growing apparel companies. But now, growth has sputtered and the company is under federal investigation. WSJ's Khadeeja Safdar explains.
November 5, 2019
Bitcoin Comes Untethered
Part of what sent Bitcoin climbing to nearly $20,000 two years ago was market manipulation by a single entity, a new study concludes. WSJ's Paul Vigna explains.
November 4, 2019
The Investor That Spent $1 Billion a Week
Cracks are showing at the most influential investment fund in the world. WSJ's Liz Hoffman explains the workings and strife inside SoftBank's Vision Fund.
November 1, 2019
When the Drug Cartel Takes Over
In the Mexican city of Culiacán, a drug cartel battled with soldiers... and won. WSJ's David Luhnow on what the fight says about the power of cartels in Mexico.
October 31, 2019
How Car Makers Got Caught Between Trump and California
The White House and California have been at odds over vehicle emissions standards. WSJ's Tim Puko explains the tug of war that's dividing auto makers.
October 30, 2019
Can Cities Fight Guns with Taxes?
In response to a recent uptick in gun violence, Tacoma, Wash., has proposed a tax on gun sales. WSJ's Zusha Elinson looks at the possible effects of the measure.
October 29, 2019
In the Dark and on Fire in California
To prevent wildfires, California's largest utility company, PG&E, is shutting off power to millions. WSJ's Ian Lovett and grocery store manager Melanie Bettenhausen share what life is like in California's blackouts.
October 28, 2019
Big Retailers Banned These Apparel Factories. Amazon Didn't.
A WSJ investigation shows that Amazon offers clothing from factories that most leading apparel companies have said are too dangerous to work with. Justin Scheck explains.
October 25, 2019
WeWork: Cashed Out
A few weeks ago, WeWork was at a low point. It had slashed its valuation, canceled its IPO and was a few weeks away from running out of money. Now, its co-founder Adam Neumann is walking away with a fortune. WSJ's Maureen Farrell talks about WeWork's rapid fall and what comes next.
October 24, 2019
States Got Hooked on Tobacco Money. Are Opioids Next?
States and municipalities around the country have been seeking compensation from companies for the opioid crisis. WSJ's Sara Randazzo and Gordon Fairclough talk about how the lessons learned from tobacco settlements 20 years ago are complicating the process.
October 23, 2019
What Taylor's Testimony Means for Impeachment
Diplomat Bill Taylor said Tuesday that President Trump made nearly $400 million in aid contingent on Ukraine investigating the president's political rivals. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus explains the significance of Taylor's impeachment testimony, and Siobhan Hughes talks about the reaction on Capitol Hill.
October 22, 2019
The Pressure Inside Boeing
Years before two 737 MAX planes crashed killing 346 people, employees inside Boeing expressed concerns over the automated system that regulators say is to blame. WSJ's Joanna Chung talks about new information in the probe of the 737 MAX.
October 21, 2019
Zuckerberg Goes on the Offensive
After two years of apologizing to critics, Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are changing their playbook. WSJ's Jeff Horwitz explains why Facebook is tying its identity to free speech.
October 18, 2019
Rick Perry's Side of the Ukraine Story
Energy Secretary Rick Perry gave an exclusive interview to WSJ's Tim Puko about his interest in Ukraine and how it led to a call with President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
October 17, 2019
Ten Days That Shifted Power in Syria
President Trump's decision to withdraw about 50 troops from northeastern Syria set off a chain of events that has reshuffled power in the region. WSJ's Dion Nissenbaum explains.
October 16, 2019
How Campaigns Are Tracking Your Location
Political campaigns have long collected personal information to try to reach voters. But increasingly they're looking at a new data point: your phone's location. WSJ's Emily Glazer explains how this could affect 2020 races.
October 15, 2019
The Airline CEO Trying to Change Amtrak
Amtrak has lost money for decades. Its CEO - a man who formerly ran Delta Airlines - thinks he can change that. WSJ's Ted Mann explains the changes Richard Anderson wants to make to America's passenger rail company.
October 11, 2019
The FBI Lost Our Son
FBI agents came to the Reilly family's door twice. The first time, they enlisted Billy Reilly in helping the agency. The second time, he'd just gone missing. WSJ's Brett Forrest spent years looking for Billy.
October 10, 2019
An Investigation Into Sex Abuse and Fraud at USA Swimming
Rebecca Davis O'Brien reports on a federal investigation into allegations of sex abuse and fraud at USA Swimming. She also explains a second, broader investigation into U.S. Olympic organizations.
October 9, 2019
The First Major Impeachment Clash
The White House blocked a witness from testifying in the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday and released a letter criticizing the process. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus explains the latest in the investigation.
October 8, 2019
The Tweet That Rocked the NBA in China
The general manager of the Houston Rockets sent a tweet that has thrown the NBA into a crisis. WSJ's Ben Cohen explains the tweet, the backlash and the challenges western companies face doing business in China.
October 7, 2019
Will the Supreme Court Redefine 'Sex'?
The Supreme Court will take up the question Tuesday of whether employees can be fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. WSJ's Jess Bravin explains the arguments.
October 4, 2019
Facebook's New Currency Hits a Snag
PayPal said Friday it was pulling out of Facebook's new cryptocurrency project called libra. Paul Vigna explains why Facebook started the project and what has regulators concerned.
October 3, 2019
Lunch With the Two M.B.A.s Who Are Changing Sports
Jeff Luhnow of the Astros and Daryl Morey of the Rockets are two Houston-based general managers that have upended the sports world with their commitment to data. They had lunch. We recorded it.
October 2, 2019
The Bold Investor Behind WeWork and Uber
The same major investor is behind both Uber and WeWork: SoftBank's Vision Fund. Phred Dvorak talks about the rise of SoftBank's unorthodox founder, Masayoshi Son, and how his aggressive investment strategy is being put to the test.
October 1, 2019
How Doctors Uncovered the Vaping Crisis
This summer, a cluster of sick teenagers with pneumonia-like symptoms sparked a Wisconsin hospital to solve a medical mystery. Brianna Abbott explains how the doctors sounded the alarm on a public health crisis that has been linked to more than 10 deaths and 800 illnesses.
September 30, 2019
Snapchat's Secret Dossier on Facebook
For years, Snap Inc. has been documenting all the ways it believes Facebook has tried to kill it, in a secret dossier called Project Voldemort. Deepa Seetharaman explains what's in Project Voldemort, and how it might factor into U.S. antitrust investigations of Facebook.
September 27, 2019
Rudy Giuliani's Ukrainian Connections
In the whistleblower complaint alleging abuse of power by Donald Trump, one man is mentioned more than 30 times: Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus explains how Giuliani's consulting work connects to this week's impeachment inquiry.
September 26, 2019
The Trump Whistleblower Complaint, Point by Point
A newly released whistleblower complaint sits at the center of Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Trump. WSJ's Jerry Seib goes through the complaint's timeline.
September 25, 2019
What Changed Pelosi's Mind on Impeachment
After a nearly yearlong debate among Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into President Trump. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains what led the speaker to change her mind.
September 24, 2019
The Strategy That Built AT&T Comes Back to Bite
AT&T grew into a conglomerate by buying media companies like DirecTV and Time Warner. Now, activist investor Elliott Management is challenging that bigger-is-better strategy. WSJ's Marcelo Prince explains what Elliott wants, and what it means for AT&T and other big companies like it.
September 23, 2019
Subprime Lending Is Back. But Is That Bad?
Banks are looking for ways to lend to riskier borrowers again. WSJ's AnnaMaria Andriotis explains how magazine subscriptions, utility bills and where you shop are part of the new approach to lending.
September 20, 2019
WeWork: Up in Smoke
WeWork recently delayed its IPO after investors raised concerns. WSJ's Eliot Brown explains why much of the skepticism centers on the bizarre leadership of CEO Adam Neumann.
September 19, 2019
Why 46,000 Auto Workers Are on Strike
The United Auto Works walked off the job and started striking this week. It's the first UAW strike against General Motors in over a decade. WSJ's Christina Rogers explains how both sides reached this deadlock.
September 18, 2019
California Takes On the NCAA
California just passed a bill to allow college athletes to earn endorsement money, which the NCAA prohibits. WSJ's Rachel Bachman explains what the change could mean for college sports.
September 17, 2019
Bombs Shake the World's Oil Supply
Major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were bombed over the weekend. WSJ's Rory Jones saw the aftermath of the attacks, and he explains what it means for the world's oil supply and tensions in the Middle East.
September 16, 2019
When the Power Company Can't Be Trusted
PG&E, California's biggest utility, has a long record of run-ins with regulators. WSJ's Rebecca Smith reports on over two decades of misconduct at the company.
September 13, 2019
Three Candidates, Three Ideas to Tax the Super Rich
Democrats have a new idea for how to tax the richest Americans: taxing wealth, not just income. Rich Rubin breaks down three plans, from Joe Biden, Julian Castro and Elizabeth Warren.
September 12, 2019
Google's Antitrust Problem
Attorneys general from 48 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico announced an antitrust investigation into Google's advertising business this week. Rob Copeland explains how Google's ad business works, how it grew so large and what has investigators concerned.
September 11, 2019
Why Trump and Bolton Split
John Bolton, President Trump's national security adviser, left the White House on Tuesday. WSJ's Michael Bender explains why Bolton and the president parted ways.
September 10, 2019
Netflix Versus the World
Netflix changed entertainment with binge watching and streaming. Now, competitors like Disney are trying to use Netflix's playbook against it.
September 9, 2019
A 2020 Test Case
Voters are heading to the polls in North Carolina on Tuesday for a closely watched special election. How certain people vote may offer clues for how next year's presidential election could go.
September 6, 2019
Money's Role in College Admissions
Emails disclosed this week at the University of Southern California show how the school weighed donations in considering whether to admit students. Plus, the story of the SAT's "adversity score."
September 5, 2019
A DNA Company Lets the FBI In
The inside story of how the founder of one of the first DNA-test companies, FamilyTreeDNA, wrestled with the choice to let the FBI use his company's database.
September 4, 2019
What WeWork's Worth