The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
When Jimmy Buffett died in 2023 he had set up a $275 million trust, naming his widow Jane as the sole beneficiary. Now, as WSJ’s Katherine Sayre reports, the family and Buffett’s former business manager are locked in a legal dispute over that Margaritaville fortune. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Case of the Missing $15 Billion Fortune: Part 1- The Case of the Missing $15 Billion Fortune: Part 2 Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16/10/2026 • 23:18
Americans are more upset than ever about the economy as inflation continues to rise. But even so, consumers keep spending. WSJ’s Jeanne Whalen explains why U.S. shoppers are so unstoppable. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election - Inflation Forces the Fed’s Hand Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15/10/2026 • 18:41
After the White House asked her to step down, Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned from her position as the U.S. Ambassador to Greece. A Wall Street Journal investigation laid out a series of text messages in which Guilfoyle asked a conservative supporter for a payment of $100,000 to her American Express account. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports on the messages that led to Guilfoyle’s fall. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: Jared Kushner’s Albania Headache: Flamingos, Contested Land and Cocaine Kristi Noem’s $200 Million Mistake Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14/10/2026 • 20:19
“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday for the next five weeks, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters. This week: President Trump's focus on the economy helped clear his way to the White House in 2024. But two years later, Trump initiatives like the war in Iran and global tariffs, have made life more expensive for voters. WSJ's Eliza Collins and producer Pierce Singgih visited a suburb in Arizona, home to one of the most competitive House races in the country, to see how voters feel about the economy and Republican party in 2026. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters Sign up for WSJ’s Politics newsletter. Illustration: James Walton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14/10/2026 • 23:27
The smart ring company Oura has grown quickly. Its wearable tech seems to be everywhere: in slick ad campaigns, on celebrities’ social media, and on the fingers of regular people hoping to improve their health. Yet when Oura tried to go public late last month, it couldn’t find enough buyers. So the company stalled its listing. WSJ’s David Wainer explains what this delay reveals about investors’ appetites. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - The Great IPO Frenzy of 2026 - $25 Billion to Zero: Bill Ackman’s Bungled IPO Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13/10/2026 • 19:34
Composer Ludwig Göransson has scored films like “Black Panther” and “Oppenheimer,” and his latest is Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” In My Monday Morning, a new Journal video series inspired by the longstanding column of the same name, Lane Florsheim sits down with Ludwig to talk about his Christmassy oatmeal, writing music with 40 bronze gongs during the LA fires and the bottom shelf where he keeps his Oscars. Photo: Austin Hargrave Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11/10/2026 • 22:48
For years Xbox was the console of choice for serious gamers. But after a failed bet that it could revolutionize gaming through its streaming platform GamePass, the brand has been languishing. Now, a new CEO is overseeing a major turnaround effort. WSJ’s Ben Fritz lays out the new strategy. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: Is the Hottest Investment Pokémon Cards? Microsoft’s CEO Has a Message: Don’t Let AI Eat the Economy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
09/10/2026 • 23:34
U.S. aviation officials and industry insiders have long whispered about a deadly problem with air travel: rogue pilots with severe mental health issues intentionally crashing planes. WSJ’s Andrew Tangel reports on why this issue is a struggle for the airline industry, why pilots are afraid to ask for help and how engineers are trying to solve the problem. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: An Air Traffic Controller Speaks Out About Newark Airport The Life and Death of a Boeing Whistleblower Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
08/10/2026 • 19:37
The world’s biggest chemical industry is in China. For years, Chinese factories have also been a major producer of ingredients used to make fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that has contributed to thousands of deaths in the U.S. After a recent crackdown in China, WSJ’s Patricia Kowsmann reports that some of those same factories are now entering a new booming U.S. market: bootleg peptides. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - Peptides Are Everywhere. Businesses Are Cashing In. - How Cocaine is Flooding in Europe Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07/10/2026 • 17:41
“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday for the next five weeks, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters. This week: in Ohio, a backlash against AI data centers is scrambling old political loyalties. WSJ’s Cameron McWhirter and producer Matt Kwong travel across the state, where some Republicans say the issue is changing how they view the Senate race between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted. Further Listening:- A Data Center Offered $26 Million for Her Land. She Said No. - A Data Center Revolt in Missouri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07/10/2026 • 24:07
Come see The Journal Live! Tickets for our show in Dallas are on sale now. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to Washington, some subtle signs and unusual requests sparked questions about his health. WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains why there’s so much secrecy surrounding Xi’s well-being and why the world’s second largest economy doesn’t have a clear succession plan. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - Trump and Xi to Meet at High-Stakes Summit - China's Disappearing Generals Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06/10/2026 • 17:53
As Google’s tools become more and more common in American classrooms, students are increasingly relying on AI tools to bypass the hard work of learning. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran explores how this trend is impacting students and sparking a backlash from parents and educators. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom - The High Schools Going All-In on AI Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05/10/2026 • 20:57
Astronaut Randy Bresnik is leading NASA’s Artemis III mission into space next year. In My Monday Morning, a new Journal video series inspired by the long standing column of the same name, Lane Floresheim sits down with Randy to talk about his leadership style, how he sleeps while afloat, and what it’s like starting the week in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
04/10/2026 • 18:18
Come see The Journal Live! Tickets for our show in Dallas are on sale now. High-powered speedboats fitted with radar systems are sneaking tons of cocaine past authorities in Spain, flooding Europe with the illicit drug. WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen traveled to Spain’s southern coast to learn more about the boats and why authorities are unable to stop them. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Inside Mexico's Decision to Take Down a Drug Lord - Drug Cartels' New Weapon: Chinese Money Launderers Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
02/10/2026 • 19:30
For job seekers, fraud has become a massive problem. Enter: The Profiler. He’s a self-proclaimed crimefighter with a mission to root out online scams and fake job ads. WSJ’s Lindsay Ellis reports on The Profiler’s origin story and explains why the current labor market is ripe for scammers. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - How AI Is Being Trained to Do Your Job - An Influencer’s False Promise to Make His Followers Rich Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
01/10/2026 • 20:30
Come see The Journal Live! Tickets for our show in Dallas are on sale now. Muse is Meta’s new AI agent, and it’s a hit. With more and more people using this type of technology to help manage their time and tasks, WSJ’s personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen decided to try Muse for herself. She reports on the tradeoffs between convenience and privacy. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Will Meta's $18 Billion Settlement Change Social Media? - She Let AI Take Over Her Life For a Year Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30/09/2026 • 20:41
About 15 years ago, executives from U.S. fruit grower Driscoll’s went to China with a plan to turn blueberries into that country's next big food trend. But along the way, Driscoll's has found itself embroiled in the intense world of Chinese competition. WSJ’s Jon Emont recounts the story of how the Chinese blueberry economy blew up. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Why Chinese Customers Are Running From Nike - The Chinese Coffee Giant Taking on Starbucks - Can the U.S. Keep Chinese Cars Out? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
29/09/2026 • 19:37
Americans are spending more time in the kitchen than any point in the last 20 years. But the question “what’s for dinner?” is more fraught than ever. People are dealing with increasingly hectic schedules but a rise in prices is also piling on the pressure. Food prices jumped about 26% in the last five years. WSJ's Jesse Newman explains why putting a meal on the table has gotten so hard and how families are adapting. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - Inflation Forces the Fed’s Hand - The Bankruptcy That’s Ruining Dinner Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28/09/2026 • 17:50
During a Journal Live Event in New York earlier this month, Ryan Knutson spoke with two experts about the city’s forthcoming rent freeze. Emily Eisner, the executive director and chief economist at the Fiscal Policy Institute, and Kenny Burgos, the CEO of the New York Apartment Association, discuss the housing affordability crisis and the pros and cons of the rent freeze. Further Listening: - Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong - Is NYC’s Mayoral Race All About Rent? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27/09/2026 • 22:52
Email us at thejournal@wsj.com with your thoughts on the economy as we head into the midterms. Lululemon helped pioneer the athleisure market. Now, it’s fallen on hard times. Sales have slowed, and the company was engaged in a multi-year battle with its founder. A new CEO took over this month hoping to right the ship, but investors reacted poorly. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner spills the tea on all the drama inside the popular brand. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Listeria, Liverwurst and the Family Feud at Boar’s Head - The Battle Over Disney’s Board Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25/09/2026 • 20:40
A 2024 survey found that 90% of high-schoolers in Estonia were already using generative AI for learning. So, the northern European country decided to lean in. In an experiment called AI Leap, the country has partnered with OpenAI and Google to give tens of thousands of high-schoolers access to free chatbots. WSJ’s Sam Schechner flew to Estonia and talked to teachers and students about whether there is a way to keep learning with AI in the classroom. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom - The College Student Who Defeated the World’s Biggest Cyberweapon Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24/09/2026 • 23:17
This week, during the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a “winter package” of military equipment. After the meeting, Zelensky sat down with WSJ’s editor in chief Emma Tucker to discuss the future of the almost 5-year conflict. Watch the full interview here. Further Listening: - The Man Leading Ukraine - Ukrainian President Zelensky's Fight Against Corruption Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23/09/2026 • 25:46
In the midst of a damaging trade war with the U.S., Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has proposed making his country an “Associate Member of the European Union.” WSJ’s Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson report on private conversations between Carney and many European leaders and explain how a pivot to Europe would work. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Why Canada Won't Back Down to Trump - Canada’s New Leader Is Ready To Take on Trump Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22/09/2026 • 25:15
After the war in Iran began, several measures went into effect to keep oil prices under control. Governments and companies tapped their reserves and illicit oil became more available. But as the war continues, those buffers have now been depleted and the pain is starting to worsen. WSJ's Benoît Morenne breaks down how we got here and Owen Tucker-Smith explains what it means for some businesses. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Inside the U.S. Deal to Get Venezuela’s Oil - Can an ‘Economic D-Day’ End the Iran War? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21/09/2026 • 20:40
Emma Grede has spent decades in the fashion industry’s backstage, helping found brands like Skims and Good Americans with celebrity partners Kim and Khloe Kardashian respectively. Recently, Grede has stepped into the limelight to share the story of her rise and her strategies for managing motherhood, a fashion empire and making millions. Jessica Mendoza interviewed Grede onstage at The Journal Live earlier this month. Further Listening: - Confessions of a Recovering Work Addict - For Riz Ahmed, Life is a Spy Thriller - Financial Influencers on Wealth and Work Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20/09/2026 • 24:19
The prenup is getting a modern makeover. Once seen mainly as a way for the ultrawealthy to protect their assets in the event of a divorce, they’ve now become a financial planning tool for many middle-class newlyweds. WSJ’s Erin Mulvaney talks about what’s driving the change in prenup culture, and one New York couple dives into the money conversations they had before tying the knot! Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Booming Industry Keeping Taylor Swift's Wedding a Secret - Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18/09/2026 • 21:05
Red, White and Who is back! Email us at thejournal@wsj.com with your thoughts on the economy as we head into the midterms. For the first time in three years, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates. Chairman Kevin Warsh was appointed by President Trump, who explicitly hoped he’d keep rates low. But the economy doesn’t appear to be heading in the right direction and inflation has proven to be far stickier than anticipated. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos reports on why Warsh took a hawkish turn and explains why the Fed might not be done yet. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: -How the Bond Market Will Affect Your Wallet - Who Is the New Fed Chair? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17/09/2026 • 21:03
President Trump has pushed back against calls for an AI slowdown, citing competition from China as a threat. But in China, reports WSJ’s Stu Woo, the main concern is keeping up with the United States. And WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar explains why AI deescalation between the two countries remains unlikely. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Great AI Freakout Has Begun - Cybersecurity Braces for ‘AI Bugmaggedon’ Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16/09/2026 • 20:15
Frontier was one of many budget airlines that rose to prominence during the low-cost airfare craze. But economic and market shifts have changed the game. WSJ’s Alison Sider explores how Frontier is trying to find a balance between the cheap flights that originally made budget airlines popular and the premium amenities consumers increasingly want. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - R.I.P. Spirit Airlines - How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy - The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines - Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15/09/2026 • 18:29
A frenzy erupted after Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei published a blog post warning that AI is advancing too quickly. Other major AI executives, like Sam Altman and Elon Musk, have echoed those concerns. These sudden calls for a slow down are raising widespread alarms about AI's potential for harm. WSJ's Robert McMillan breaks down the question on everyone's mind: is AI going to end humanity? Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The College Student Who Defeated the World’s Biggest Cyberweapon - Cybersecurity Braces for AI ‘Bugmaggedon’ Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14/09/2026 • 21:53
