Wsj What's News

A.M. Edition for May 18. Commuters in New York face a day of chaos as the strike shutting the Long Island Rail Road goes into its third day. Plus the U.S. and China agree to launch boards of trade and investment. And while you may think fuel is expensive now, it could get a lot worse. Because global oil inventories are falling at a record pace and as WSJ correspondent Georgi Kantchev explains, that could send prices to all new highs. Daniel Bach hosts.  Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inflation may have sunk the Democratic Party at the ballot box in 2024. But high prices at the grocery store and the gas station are now a problem for the GOP. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices in April saw their biggest year-over-year jump in three years and gasoline prices were up 28% from a year earlier. For our special What’s News series The Cost-of-Living Election, WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui met with voters and congressional candidates in and around Allentown, Pa., to uncover what stubborn inflation could mean for the area’s primary election this Tuesday. She then speaks with the sitting congressman for Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district, Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, about what he’s doing to address the rising cost of living. Relevant links: Tariffs’ Messy Reality: The Cost-of-Living Election | Part 1: Ohio Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What drove an up-and-down week for chips stocks like Intel, Nvidia, Micron and Qualcomm? And what kind of clarity did crypto traders get from the Clarity Act advancing in the Senate? Plus, how are investors liking Klarna’s pivot away from “buy now, pay later”? Host Jack Pitcher 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 May 15. After making a big bet on EVs for the U.S., Japanese carmaker Honda is now confronting some of its biggest challenges ever. WSJ autos reporter Sean McLain discusses the company’s options. Plus, U.K. bond markets were spooked today after left-wing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham opened a path to take on sitting Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Journal’s Chelsey Dulaney joins us from London to break down why borrowing costs hit their highest level since 2008. And Anthropic raises another $30 billion ahead of its expected IPO, while SpaceX sets a date for its highly-anticipated stock-market debut next month. 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 May 15. With President Trump wheels up after a two-day summit in China, WSJ White House reporter Annie Linskey discusses the significance of a visit light on concrete new announcements. Plus, the Supreme Court preserves widespread access to abortion pills. And the head of the CIA visits Havana, as Cuba’s Communist regime grapples with a U.S. energy blockade. Luke Vargas 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 May 14. A privacy-focused alternative to bitcoin called Zcash is winning over crypto evangelists. WSJ special writer Greg Zuckerman explains what’s got the crypto community so excited, along with the risks of the coin. Plus, Pentagon leaders say the war in Iran is costing so much that they’re running out of money for other operations. And New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to merge with the Neue Galerie, cosmetics billionaire Ronald Lauder’s esteemed museum for German and Austrian modern art. We hear from Journal reporter Kelly Crow about why that’s an important move for the Met. 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 May 14. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has warned President Trump that any mishandling of the Taiwan issue could lead to ‘an extremely dangerous situation’ – a message China bureau chief Jon Cheng and national security reporter Alex Ward tell us is casting a cloud over a closely-watched summit. Plus, the CDC assigns more staff to respond to the hantavirus outbreak as it tries to strike a balance between a swift response and sparking panic. And columnist Callum Borchers shares career advice for new grads, including that no one cares about your GPA. Luke Vargas 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 May 13. OpenAI has for years been the major AI company, with ChatGPT dominating with users and in the discourse. But as WSJ reporter Kate Clark tells us, new data indicates that Anthropic has taken its crown—though keeping it is far from a sure thing. Plus, the Senate has voted to confirm Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve by the tightest margin since 1977, when a vote was first required. And new data from the CDC shows that the number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. fell for the third year in a row, a sign that the country might be emerging from the opioid epidemic. Journal reporter Jen Calfas discusses what’s driving the decline. 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 May 13. As Tim Cook, Elon Musk and Jensen Huang arrive in China alongside President Trump, WSJ Beijing bureau chief Jon Cheng considers whether the U.S. could be posed to expand Chinese access to advanced American tech. Plus, U.S. household debt closes in on $19 trillion as student loan delinquencies rise. And WSJ's Ed Ballard explains how continued disruption to the Strait of Hormuz is sending trade overland, potentially changing trade routes permanently. Luke Vargas 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 May 12. President Trump left today for his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. WSJ Washington bureau chief Damian Paletta lays out the stakes, with the two leaders expected to tackle trade, Iran and Taiwan. Plus, inflation hit its highest level in three years last month, outpacing wage growth. Journal economics reporter Chao Deng explains how the war in the Middle East is driving up prices. And there’s a fire sale on MBAs, with a number of business schools offering deep discounts on their tuition. We hear from reporter Ray Smith about why it has everything to do with AI. 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 May 12. With the U.S. and Iran still far apart on a peace deal, WSJ reporter Caitlin McCabe says investors are embracing a new Tex-Mex-inspired trade based on the assumption the Strait of Hormuz won’t be opening anytime soon. Plus, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights for his job as a rebellion against him spills into markets. And Democrats face another setback in the midterm redistricting fight. Luke Vargas 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 May 11. When Spirit Airlines stopped flying earlier this month, it left dozens of planes scattered around the country. We hear from WSJ’s Alison Sider about the plane repo men and what it takes to bring the jets back to the companies that own them. Plus, the Trump administration, worried about affordability ahead of November’s midterms, plans to temporarily ease beef tariffs to lower grocery costs. And the Journal has learned that the United Arab Emirates has secretly carried out military strikes on Iran. Our reporter Shelby Holliday explains what drove the U.A.E. to become an active combatant in the war in the Gulf. 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 May 11. Around 150 passengers from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship are finally returning home, with authorities around the world coordinating flights for quarantine and isolation. Plus, fading hopes of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran are reigniting a climb in oil prices. According to the AAA, Americans on average are paying $4.52 for a gallon of gasoline, with drivers in California hardest hit. And while consumers may be anxious about higher fuel costs, Expedia’s CEO tells us that they’re still booking trips. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. pioneered early nuclear technologies—not only for war, but also for peacetime, in the form of abundant nuclear energy. After a surge in new reactor construction, the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island precipitated the end of nuclear energy’s expansion in America. But recent calls for reliable, clean energy to fuel AI data centers have shifted attitudes and increased investment and innovation in the industry. Will the AI race be enough to reboot nuclear energy in the U.S.? This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved. Listen to previous installments of our USA250 podcast: The Struggle To Keep America’s Workers Safe An Economy Built on Speculation America’s Road to a DIY Retirement Further Reading: Why Fusion Is Considered Energy’s Elusive Holy Grail America’s First Commercial Nuclear-Power Projects in a D

How is the AI trade different from the dot-com bubble? And why wasn’t Wall Street impressed by Palantir’s blowout quarter? Plus, what does a glass company and a luxury toilet maker have to do with AI? Host Imani Moise discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. 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 May 8. The U.S. economy added 115,00 jobs in April, beating analyst expectations for the second month in a row. WSJ economics reporter Chao Deng explains how this could be a turning point for the labor market–and what that means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, the Virginia Supreme Court threw out Democrats’ efforts at redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. We hear from Journal national political reporter Ken Thomas about how this could affect Democrats’ chances at retaking the House. And we’re exclusively reporting that Intel will supply some chips for Apple devices—a deal that could be huge for the chipmaker’s attempt to turn around its business. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode for May 8. Financial results from pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and AbbVie show strong demand continuing for weight-loss drugs and autoimmune treatments. Wall Street Journal pharma reporter Peter Loftus discusses which drugmakers have the upper hand in the race to dominate those markets.  WSJ Heard on the Street columnist David Wainer hosts this special bonus episode of What's News in Earnings, where we dig into companies’ earnings reports and analyst calls to find out what’s going on under the hood of the American economy. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for May 8. Early U.K. election results point to a surge in populism and deep voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent Labour party. WSJ U.K. correspondent Max Colchester explains how voters are becoming increasingly polarised and what that means for governments around the world. Plus, President Trump’s tariffs face another legal setback. And WSJ’s Te-Ping Chen details the extremes writers go to, in order to prove that they are not AI. Luke Vargas hosts. 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 May 7. During Trump’s second term, his administration has announced direct investment stakes in at least 10 companies such as Intel and U.S. Steel. We hear from WSJ reporter Maggie Severns about why this is an unorthodox approach by the government and how American executives are responding. Plus, Secretary of State Marco is in Rome in an effort to repair the relationship with Pope Leo and Italian leaders. National security reporter Robbie Gramer gives us an update from the Italian capital. And Elon Musk is being summoned to France to face criminal charges in a sprawling investigation of his social media platform, X. Alex Ossola hosts. 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 May 7. U.S. airlines are warning that already-high airfares will surge if the war in Iran doesn’t end soon. And the Trump administration is taking heed, as new polling shows most Americans blame the President for rising fuel costs. Plus, we look at the risks posed by the lowly power bank. And WSJ markets reporter Gunjan Banerji explains the pros and cons of asking AI for investment advice. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices