The Journal.

Four days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an Emirati royal known as the “spy sheikh” secretly purchased a stake in Trump's cryptocurrency venture World Liberty Financial for half a billion dollars.

In the second of two episodes about World Liberty Financial, WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus details what the Sheikh received from the Trump Administration following his deal with the Trump family’s crypto company. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza.

Further Listening:

- The Crypto President: Part 1

- Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Coming for Your 401k

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At the height of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for re-election in 2024, Trump gathered with his sons and longtime friend Steve Witkoff to launch a new money machine: a crypto company called World Liberty Financial. Since its launch less than two years ago, the company has earned the Trump family at least $1.2 billion dollars. It turns out much of that has come from secret business dealings with foreign-owned companies. 

In the first of two episodes diving into World Liberty Financial, WSJ’s Angus Berwick explains how a billionaire felon boosted Trump’s crypto company en route to a presidential pardon. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza.

Further Listening:

- Big Banks vs. Big Crypto

- Severed Fingers and Wrench Attacks: A New Era in Crypto Crime

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After 15 years as the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook announced this week that he will be stepping down. During his tenure, Cook quadrupled Apple’s revenue and transformed the company’s supply chain, building a complex global network that churns out hundreds of millions of devices each year. WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler reports on Cook’s legacy, and the new guy that’s set to replace him. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy

- The Company Taking on Apple’s Watch Technology

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In the first Trump administration, the U.S. launched a “maximum pressure” campaign to cut Iranian oil from the global market and eliminate Tehran’s biggest source of revenue. Today, Iran sells billions of dollars’ worth of oil every month via a shadow fleet of ships that have been passing through the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ’s Rory Jones takes us inside Iran’s underground network for shipping, processing and selling oil in China. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Iran's Regime Changed... for the Worse

- The Strait of Hormuz Showdown

- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

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AI models like Anthropic's Mythos are finding software bugs at an unprecedented rate, kicking off a cybersecurity scramble to prevent what experts are calling “bugmageddon.” Thanks to these new models, hackers will be able to exploit those bugs more quickly than ever before. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains why major corporations and the White House are scrambling to patch their systems. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Battle Over AI in Warfare - AI Is Coming for Entry-Level JobsSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

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At the outset of the U.S.-Iran War, the U.S. and Israel assassinated key figures in the Iranian regime, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But the killings of high-ranking officials have failed to spark the popular uprising President Trump initially called for. WSJ’s Margherita Stancati explores the current regime and reports that Iran’s theocratic dictatorship not only remains in control, but is more conservative, more radical, and more entrenched than ever before. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Strait of Hormuz Showdown

- The Energy Shock Is Here

- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

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In 2019, influencer Tai Lopez made a pitch to his social media followers: by buying up distressed retail brands like Radio Shack and Pier 1 out of bankruptcy, they could all get rich. But as WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner reports, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Lopez of running a “Ponzi-like scheme” through his company, Retail Ecommerce Ventures. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening/Viewing:

- Influencer Arielle Charnas’s Fashion Fail

- How a Miami Couple Used Empty Mansions to Pocket Millions

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The automotive industry is facing a shortage of mechanics. Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley has said his company’s dealerships have 5,000 open jobs – positions he says can pay up to $120,000 a year. WSJ’s Christopher Otts explains why more people aren’t taking him up on it. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager’s Six-Figure Salary

- The Repo Man Is Busier Than Ever

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The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz means millions of barrels of oil are still trapped in the Persian Gulf. As countries around the world begin to feel the impact of that energy shock, new inflation numbers are signalling that the U.S. economy is being impacted too. WSJ’s David Uberti explains how the stock market and consumers are processing what could be the worst oil crisis ever. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Strait of Hormuz Showdown

- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

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The Trump administration has shrunk the IRS. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on how the federal government has scaled back tax enforcement, leaving fewer federal employees to audit returns and collect unpaid tax debts. The cutbacks could lead to more Americans skirting the tax law. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Do You Refund $166 Billion?

- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the GovernmentSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

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President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. military would blockade the Strait of Hormuz sets up a risky showdown to control the strategic chokepoint. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains what the blockade could look like, explores the global economic damage caused by the conflict and discusses what could come next in the war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

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When Tom Curtis took over as president of Burger King in 2021, the company was struggling. After joining, Curtis worked to update restaurants and streamline the menu. Jessica Mendoza talks with Curtis about the fast food chain’s recent struggles, the rising price of beef and his turn as a social media influencer. 

Further Listening:

- KFC Got Fried in the Chicken Wars. Can It Come Back?

- The Epic Mess at TGI Fridays

- Red Lobster's New CEO Plots Its Comeback 

- McDonald’s Wants To Offer Quality And Value. Can It Do Both?

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After nearly six weeks of war in Iran, a fragile cease-fire is holding for now. But for people on the ground, the uncertainty is far from over. Jessica Mendoza speaks with a Tehran resident living through the strangeness of war and WSJ’s Jared Malsin unpacks the sticking points for achieving long-term peace.

Further Listening:

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

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The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire. President Trump said the truce was conditional on Iran opening up the Strait of Hormuz. WSJ’s Damian Paletta explains how the fragile cease-fire came together, why there are still many unanswered questions and what comes next. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

- Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War

- The Escalating Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz

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After the smash success of ChatGPT, OpenAI positioned its video generation model Sora as AI’s next consumer-friendly frontier. Disney signed on to the vision, promising a huge investment and allowing the studio’s characters to appear in Sora videos. Then OpenAI abruptly shut Sora down. WSJ’s Berber Jin takes us inside the pivot and explores what it means for the AI industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- OpenAI's 'Code Red' Problem

- Is the AI Boom… a Bubble?

- Artificial: The OpenAI Story

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A new billion-dollar industry of hemp-derived THC drinks exploded onto the market last year by exploiting an apparent legal loophole. Now, a federal ban is set to wipe the popular alcohol alternatives off shelves by November. WSJ's Laura Cooper and Cann CEO Jake Bullock detail the last-ditch effort to lobby Washington. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Scotts Miracle-Gro's Weed Business Went Up in Smoke

- California's Wine Industry Is in Crisis

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After Jeffrey Epstein’s death, Svetlana Pozhidaeva said she finally felt free. The former Russian model, who became one of Epstein’s “assistants” and a victim of his abuse, changed her name and moved to another city. Then the Epstein files dropped. WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar unspools Pozhidaeva’s story and what it reveals about who Epstein allegedly ensared and how he did it. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Jeffrey Epstein Made Millions From His Connections

- The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files

- Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

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After the Supreme Court ruled that many of President Trump’s tariffs were illegal, thousands of companies have sued the government in the hopes of getting their money back. WSJ’s Lydia Wheeler reports on the obscure court at the center of the refund battle and explains why the process will be slow and messy. Ryan Knutson hosts.  

Further Listening:

- How One Company Is Navigating a New Era of Tariff Uncertainty

- Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

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When the war with Iran started, Israel had three goals: reduce the threat from Iranian missiles, eliminate its nuclear capabilities and, most importantly, create the conditions for regime change. WSJ’s Dov Lieber reports that about four weeks in, achieving those goals against Israel’s biggest enemy is proving elusive. With President Trump stating that he wants the war to end within weeks, Israel is now racing to cripple Iranian industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- Iran Thinks It’s Winning the War

- The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles

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OpenAI planned to launch an “adult mode” for ChatGPT, opening the door to AI-generated, sexually explicit conversations. The decision created an internal uproar as some company experts warned of potential risks to minors and unhealthy emotional attachments. WSJ’s Sam Schechner discusses the complicated future of sex and artificial intelligence. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame.

- Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue

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In a landmark case, a 20-year-old woman just beat Meta and YouTube in court. WSJ’s Erin Mulvaney explains how a new legal strategy got around a decades-old legal shield for social media companies, and how Big Tech could end up like Big Tobacco. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

- In a Landmark Trial, Zuckerberg Takes the Stand

- The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety

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Genetically engineered babies are banned in the U.S. But that isn’t stopping Silicon Valley tech titans from trying to make one. In this final installment from The Journal’s investigation into the fringes of the fertility industry, WSJ’s Emily Glazer reports on the controversial new companies pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Fertility Inc.: One Dad, One Hundred Babies

- Fertility Inc.: ‘Our Money Was Gone’

- Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill

- Fertility Inc. from The Journal

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The most recent batch of the Epstein files show how easily Jeffrey Epstein collected confidential information from his well-connected associates. WSJ’s Emily Glazer reports on how Epstein sometimes used the tips to invest for himself. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files

- Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

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If you’ve taken a flight lately, you might have noticed hourslong lines to get through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports like New York, Atlanta and Houston. This week, President Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports to try to ease bottlenecks as Congress works to try to make a deal to end the partial government shutdown. WSJ's Michelle Hackman dives into the situation at airports and what’s being done in Washington to get lines moving again. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Americans Are Now a Target in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
- The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE Agents

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Just weeks after the war started, Iran believes it is winning, but not because it has more firepower than the US and Israel. The regime wants its control over the Strait of Hormuz to become a permanent economic weapon. WSJ's Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov reports on the steep price Iran wants to end the war. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Escalating Crisis at the Strait of Hormuz

- Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War?

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Click here to see the Wall Street Journal’s full visual investigation.

American citizens are being targeted in the government's immigration enforcement operations. That's according to a Wall Street Journal visual investigation that reviewed thousands of videos, social media posts, and court documents. WSJ's Hannah Critchfield breaks down the Journal's findings, and explains how the government's actions are impacting free speech in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Kristi Noem’s $200 Million Mistake

- The Florida Cops Who Act as ICE Agents

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In the third episode from the fringes of the fertility industry, The Journal examines the rise of the surrogacy superuser. In the absence of meaningful regulation, the industry has enabled a new phenomenon of wealthy foreign men having dozens of children via surrogacy in the U.S. Ryan Knutson speaks with WSJ’s Katherine Long, who reports on the strange case of Xu Bo, a Chinese tech entrepreneur on a mission to have a mega-family. 

Further Listening:

- Fertility Inc.: ‘Our Money Was Gone’

- Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill

- Listen to all the Fertility Inc. episodes

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President Trump’s oil blockade is grinding Cuba’s economy to a standstill, spreading unrest and intensifying pressure on the Communist regime. On Monday, the island nation’s obsolete power grid collapsed, causing blackouts across the country and exposing the magnitude of its economic implosion. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains the U.S. pressure campaign and its impact. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy

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Earlier this year, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment alleging a widespread cheating scandal in D1 college basketball. WSJ's Jared Diamond reports on how this scandal unfolded, where endorsement deals come in, and how it might affect this year's March Madness tournament. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Gambling Scandals Are Rocking Sports Leagues

- How a Psychiatrist Lost $400,000 on Gambling Apps

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Congress is moving to increase regulation over the crypto industry with the CLARITY Act. But the potential legislation has provoked a big clash between crypto companies like Coinbase and traditional banks over rewards that function a lot like interest. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar explores the tension and the impact the new bill could have on both industries. Ryan Knutson hosts. 

Further Listening:

- Coinbase’s CEO on the Future of Crypto

- Inside the Trump Crypto Bromance

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Just one week into the blockbuster antitrust trial between the Justice Department and Live Nation, the two parties reached a tentative agreement. WSJ’s Dave Michaels explores a deal that would allow the dominant concert promoter to keep ownership of Ticketmaster, a potential monopoly the DOJ had been concerned about for years. But for a coalition of state attorneys general who were also part of the original lawsuit, the deal wasn't good enough. Jessica Mendoza speaks to North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson about why he didn’t sign onto the agreement and what he’s looking for as the case continues.

Further Listening:

- The Trustbuster Taking on Ticketmaster

- The Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle

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The Journal’s investigation into the wild west of the fertility industry continues, this time from an intended parent’s perspective. Ryan Knutson speaks with AnnaMaria Gallozzi, who wanted to have a child through surrogacy after a cancer diagnosis. Gallozzi and her husband set aside a large sum of money, but they lost it all when the escrow company entrusted with that cash defrauded them. WSJ’s Ben Foldy walks us through the complicated legal battle, and reveals how a lack of oversight has exposed hopeful parents to fraud. 

Further Listening:

- Fertility Inc.: When the Surrogate Gets Left With the Bill

- The Mystery of the Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children

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The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global economic disruption and created a major military and political challenge for the Trump Administration. WSJ's Jared Malsin explores the militarization of the strait, the options for its reopening and the risks of a prolonged closure of the world’s most important energy-transport route. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War?

- The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles

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Since the start of the war in Iran, the U.S. and regional allies have relied on American-made Patriot missile systems to counteract Iran’s airstrikes. But WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski reports that production shortfalls are draining reserves. This urgent math problem is not only straining U.S defenses around the world, it’s also creating an existential crisis for another country seeking to defend itself: Ukraine. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Will Gas Prices Go Up Because of the Iran War?

- Trump’s Shifting Reasons for War With Iran

- What’s Next for Iran?

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Anthropic is taking the Trump administration to court, after the Trump administration designated the AI company a security threat and tried to cancel its federal contracts. The move brings the ongoing battle between the two sides to new heights. WSJ’s Keach Hagey explains Anthropic’s ‘red lines’ at the heart of the saga, how rival OpenAI stepped in to make its own deal with the Pentagon, and what all of this could mean for the future of Anthropic’s business. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Anthropic’s Pentagon Problems

- The AI Economic Doomsday Report That Shook Wall Street

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Kristi Noem brought a camera-ready leadership style to the Department of Homeland Security. Now, after a turbulent year leading the agency, Trump has fired her. WSJ's Michelle Hackman takes us behind the scenes of her controversial tenure and what led to her downfall. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz

- Inside ICE's Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants

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Reproductive technology is a modern miracle. It's made it possible for millions of people to become parents who might otherwise not have been able to. But growing demand has spawned a multibillion-dollar industry that’s largely unregulated in the U.S. 

In our first episode looking at the wild west of the fertility industry, Ryan Knutson speaks with a three-time surrogate who ended up in a big legal battle. Nia Trent-Wilson was left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt after a family didn’t pay up after delivery. WSJ’s Katherine Long reports on how the industry fosters a dramatic power imbalance between surrogates and intended parents.

Further Listening:

- The Mystery of the Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children

- America’s Maternal Health Crisis

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After a months-long bidding war, Paramount Skydance has secured a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, snatching the media giant away from Netflix. WSJ’s Joe Flint breaks down how Paramount CEO David Ellison pulled off the $81 billion takeover and what this debt-heavy merger means for the future of entertainment and news. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Man Who Wants Netflix to Save Hollywood 

- She Swore Off Legacy Media. Now She's Running CBS News.

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The conflict with Iran has raised energy prices and sent shock waves through markets. WSJ’s Rebecca Feng explains what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iran-controlled waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically travels. And WSJ’s Harriet Torry breaks down what this could mean for consumers and inflation in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Trump’s Shifting Reasons for War With Iran

- Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy

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The U.S.’s war with Iran has entered its fourth day. The Trump administration has given several reasons for initiating attacks on Iran. All of them are coming under scrutiny. WSJ's Alex Ward discusses the intelligence President Trump is using for his case for war and explores the challenges ahead. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- What’s Next for Iran?

- U.S. and Israel Attack Iran

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After a joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has launched its own strikes in return. Now, the Middle East is on a path to a broader regional war. WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explains the Iranian regime's existential fight and how its retaliation is drawing in countries around the region. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Bank Collapse Behind Iran's Protests

- Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' on Foreign Policy 

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If you want to start on episode one, or hear the full series up to this point, click on this playlist. 

Jennifer Spivey Foley has her day in court. After a long hearing with new evidence, a judge decides whether Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams should have immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law for the killing of her brother Scott. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports from the courtroom. 

Read the Reporting:

- What Happened on Camp Swamp Road?

Follow the Story:

- Camp Swamp Road Playlist

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A special episode from our sister podcast, What’s News.

The U.S. and Israel launched a wave of strikes against Iran, targeting its leadership and military assets in an attack that risked sparking a wider conflict in one of the most economically sensitive regions in the world.

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A viral blog post by a relatively unknown research firm sent the stock market on a wild ride this week. The post by Citrini Research tapped into a new strain of fears about artificial intelligence, painting a dark portrait of a future in which technological change leads to mass white collar unemployment. WSJ’s David Uberti explains why Wall Street is jumpy about the prospects for AI. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun
- AI Is Coming for Entry-Level Jobs

And listen to Camp Swamp Road, full playlist here.

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Newell Brands, the Atlanta-based maker of dozens of household brands including Rubbermaid, Coleman and Yankee Candle, paid more than $170 million in tariffs last year. Newell’s CEO Chris Peterson tells Jessica Mendoza that those tariffs hurt business and the company is considering requesting a refund. He also talks about plans to bring more manufacturing to America. One of its brands, Sharpie, is now almost completely made in the United States. But making that happen wasn’t easy. 

Further Listening: 

• Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

• How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S.

• How to Make a $12.98 T-Shirt... in the U.S.

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After Mexican authorities killed El Mencho, the country’s most powerful drug lord, his cartel responded with violence across the country. The operation came amid pressure from the U.S. government on Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum. WSJ’s José De Córdoba explains the power struggle that will ensue among the cartels and what it means for the global drug trade. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Mexico's New Cocaine Kingpin is Cashing In
- Drug Cartels' New Weapon: Chinese Money Launderers

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President Trump has spent much of the past year trying to pump up international investment in U.S. factories. He's promised to bring back jobs that have moved overseas. WSJ’s Gavin Bade investigates a Chinese automotive glass plant in the Ohio heartland and explores the risks when America’s biggest rival sets up shop. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

- How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S.

- The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices

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Anthropic is feuding with the U.S. military, despite their massive $200 million contract. The company says that its AI model, Claude, cannot be used for weapons development or surveillance. The Pentagon is pushing back against those limitations. WSJ's Amrith Ramkumar joins Jessica Mendoza to explain why the Department of Defense is now threatening to label Anthropic a supply chain risk.
 

Further Listening:

- AI Bots Have Social Media Now. It Got Weird Fast.

- Vibe Coding Could Change Everything

- Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame.

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In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s global tariffs are illegal. It is the first time the Supreme Court has definitively struck down one of Trump’s second-term policies, saying the president went too far in enacting his most sweeping tariffs without clear authorization from Congress. WSJ’s Gavin Bade unpacks the ruling and discusses Trump’s next steps. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Trump's Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade

- How Tariffs Could End Italian Pasta in the U.S.

- The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices

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Yesterday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a first-of-its-kind trial with one central question: Are social media platforms causing mental health disorders among young people? The plaintiff argues that platforms like Instagram are designed to keep children addicted, potentially bypassing long-standing legal shields that have protected tech companies in the past. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky takes us inside the courtroom for Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony and explains why this trial could impact thousands of other cases. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety 

- “The Facebook Files’ from The Journal.

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