Wsj What's News

P.M. Edition for Nov. 18. A federal judge has dismissed the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Meta Platforms, which alleged that the company has a social-media monopoly. We hear from WSJ tech reporter Meghan Bobrowsky about what that means for Meta. Plus, President Trump said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ”knew nothing about” the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, rejecting a CIA assessment at the time. Plus, the House has passed a bill to release government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 18. As the market rout hits everything from stocks to crypto, WSJ’s Hannah Miao explains how concerns over missing government data and lofty AI valuations are fueling the downturn. Plus, a House vote on releasing the Epstein files is expected later today, as President Trump’s grip on the GOP seems to be slipping. And companies begin pushing out employees who aren’t using AI in their day to day work. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 17. As companies are laying off thousands of workers, they’re using new tactics like texting and emails and listen-only video calls to communicate to workers that they’ve lost their jobs. Chip Cutter, who covers workplace issues for the Journal, discusses what’s driving these new strategies and how workers are responding. Plus, the head of FEMA has resigned after about seven months on the job. And “Baby Shark Dance”—every toddler’s favorite jam—is YouTube’s most watched video ever. But that mind-blowing popularity hasn’t translated to major sales for the South Korean company behind it. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is U.S. manufacturing driving off a cliff or into the sunset—and taking the economy with it? Look no further than sales of heavy trucks. Trucking companies buy more of these big rigs when they expect they will have more stuff to ship, so declines in heavy truck sales often match up to economic contractions dating back to the 1960s. Now the data show that sales have been going downhill since 2023, falling off more dramatically since June of this year. Host Alex Ossola talks with Bob Tita, who covers manufacturing for The Wall Street Journal, and Avery Vise, vice president of trucking for data analysis and forecasting firm FTR Transportation Intelligence, about what that says about this moment in the economy, and what might be clouding the picture. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.Further Listening Alternative Indicators: Can Nevada Employment Predict Where the Economy is Headed? Alternative Indicators: What’s Dr. Copper’s Prognosis for the U.S. Economy? Learn more about your ad choices.

A.M. Edition for Nov. 17. The White House throws its weight behind the House vote to release DOJ files related to Jeffrey Epstein. WSJ’s Scott Patterson explains what’s behind President Trump’s surprising reversal. Plus, good news for travelers: the FAA is set to lift flight restrictions today. And WSJ Paris bureau chief, Stacy Meichtry on why France is seeing a disturbing wave of museum heists and details the frightening fate of priceless crown jewels. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen Z and Millennials are tightening their purse strings, and the first businesses on the chopping block are fast-casual dining spots. The usual fan favorites like Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava are suddenly falling out of favor with young American consumers. WSJ reporters Heather Haddon and Matt Grossman discuss how these companies are responding, and what this shift says about the broader economy. Caitlin McCabe hosts.  Further Reading Chipotle’s Big Bet on Younger Consumers Is Unraveling Are the Economy’s Salad Days Over? Chipotle Says Gloomy Consumers Are Buying Fewer Burritos Fast-Casual Chains Struggle as Diners Ditch Pricey Bowls for Cheaper Eats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What beefy problems were Tyson and vegan alternative Beyond Meat dealing with this week? And what sent tech stocks sliding this week? Plus, how did two media giants fare while a potential deal for some or all of Warner Bros. Discovery continues to unfold? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 14. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is stepping down after more than a decade at the helm, and longtime executive John Furner will take his place. WSJ reporter Chip Cutter discusses how McMillon reshaped the U.S.’s biggest private employer, and what it means for its strategy with Furner in the top spot. Plus, how does online retailer Quince seem to always have what you’re looking for? Chavie Lieber, who covers fashion and culture for the Journal, goes inside the company’s strategy and how it’s able to sell high fashion “dupes” at a fraction of the price. And the U.S. has struck a trade deal with Switzerland after a charm offensive from the country’s business executives that lowers the tariffs on Swiss goods from 39% to 15%. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 14. Traders are dumping tech shares and riskier assets amid fears that delayed government data could shift expectations for a Fed rate cut in December. Plus, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents set their sights on North Carolina as the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues. And, WSJ economics editor Alex Frangos explains why next year’s graduates face the worst job market in five years. Kate Bullivant hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 13. AI startup Anthropic said China’s state-sponsored hackers used its tools to automate cyberattacks against corporations and governments. WSJ’s Sam Schechner reports on the inflection point for hackers’ use of AI. Disney’s shares fell after a quarterly earnings report that fell short of Wall Street’s expectations. And California is eyeing a first-of-its-kind tax on billionaires. WSJ’s Paul Kiernan unpacks the ballot initiative for a wealth tax that’s already run into steep opposition. Sabrina Siddiqui hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 13. The U.S. government is back in business, but as WSJ’s Ken Thomas explains, don’t expect things to run at full tilt just yet. Plus, Democrats release a tranche of new emails from Jeffrey Epstein, in which the late financier discussed Donald Trump. And, WSJ’s Stu Woo details how a Chinese AI company worked around U.S. rules to access Nvidia’s highly coveted chips. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 12. The House of Representatives is set to vote this evening on a spending bill that would end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. WSJ reporter Anvee Bhutani walks us through what’s in the bill. Plus, Federal Reserve officials are divided as to whether it’s inflation or the labor market that is the bigger threat to the U.S. economy, stoking division ahead of the Fed’s December meeting. Journal chief economics correspondent Nick Timiraos explains what the disagreements mean for a possible rate cut. And the U.S. has minted its last pennies. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Economists and investors have long turned to copper as a reliable economic indicator: High prices meant the economy was humming, and low prices meant it wasn’t. That’s in part because copper is useful for so many economic activities. In fact, copper was considered such a good signal that investors gave it a nickname—Dr. Copper. But now, as high demand and tariffs affect copper prices, is the commodity’s relationship with the economy becoming blurry? Host Alex Ossola discusses this with Dec Mullarkey, head of investment strategy and asset allocation at SLC Management. This is part two of our four-part series on alternative economic indicators. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Further Listening Alternative Indicators: Can Nevada Employment Predict Where the Economy is Headed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 12. The Supreme Court is holding up food aid for millions in a bid not to derail a House vote to end the government shutdown. Plus, an exclusive look at the White House push to upend how shareholders can vote on and influence the future of America's biggest companies. And President Trump moves to drill baby drill, off the coast of California. WSJ’s Giulia Petroni explains how the administration's campaign against renewable energies has already changed the outlook for oil and gas demand in years to come. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 11. Big companies that usually staff up for the holiday rush are adding fewer seasonal workers this year. WSJ economics reporter Justin Lahart digs into what’s behind uncertainty in the holiday jobs market and the complicated task of gauging the economic effect of government shutdown. Plus, large companies looking to take advantage of tax breaks passed by Republicans this year are finding they’re on the hook for taxes because of a 2022 law. We hear from WSJ tax policy reporter Richard Rubin about what companies are doing about it. And wealthy travelers continue to splurge on luxury hotels, where the average room cost is at a record high. Alex Ossola hosts. Send a voice memo to w-n-p-o-d at wsj.com with your experiences flying during the shutdown or leave a voicemail with your name and location at 332-214-8472.  Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 11. Anthropic's business-first strategy means the AI start-up is likely to turn a profit years before its consumer-focused rival, OpenAI. WSJ tech reporter Sam Schechner explains what this says about the path to success in the AI race. Plus, Congress has voted to end the longest government shutdown in history, with Democrats descending into infighting. And WSJ editor Bertrand Benoit details how Europe is facing a frightening new reality of hybrid attacks, putting the continent somewhere between war and peace. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Nov. 10. A settlement between merchants and Visa and Mastercard over interchange fees would let stores reject popular credit cards. WSJ reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis, who covers banking for the Journal, discusses why that’s a big change in the industry that could change how often you use premium credit cards. Plus, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has an end in sight–and Democrats fuming at members of their own party. And while Hollywood box office has been in the doldrums after the pandemic, IMAX is an increasingly hot ticket. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the early 2000s, a fall in employment in the state of Nevada has preceded a broader U.S. recession. It makes sense why—the economic fortunes of Las Vegas, which make up a big part of the state’s overall economy, are intimately tied to consumers’ comfort with spending. Host Alex Ossola speaks with Andrew Woods, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, about what the state data shows now, and what it says about the health of the U.S. economy. This is part one of our four-part series on alternative economic indicators. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Nov. 10. The Senate last night moved toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke rank and joined Republicans in voting to advance a spending measure. WSJ’s Siobhan Hughes explains what helped break the stalemate. Plus, an update on air travel as the FAA restricts private jets and total flight cancellations continue to climb. And WSJ’s Margarita Stancati explains why your favourite pasta might be disappearing from the store. Caitlin McCabe hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re bringing you an episode of our sister podcast WSJ’s Take On the Week, a weekly show focused on the news that’ll move markets in the week to come. In this week's episode, guest host Miriam Gottfried is joined by Michael Nathanson and Robert Fishman, senior media analysts at MoffettNathanson, to break down the potential Paramount Skydance and Warner Discovery merger. Plus, co-host Telis Demos and Miriam discuss the Supreme Court case challenging President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, how the affordability message is winning elections, and the recent drama in the private credit market.  Further Reading Warner Discovery Moving Fast on Split or Sale, CEO Says Supreme Court Appears Skeptical of Trump’s Tariffs Wall Street Couldn’t Stop Mayor Mamdani. Now It Has to Work With Him. Private-Credit Earnings Ease Investor Concern Over Asset Class’s Health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices