Wsj What's News

P.M. Edition for Aug. 21. “Ghost jobs”—posted roles that companies have no real intention of filling—are a big source of frustration for job seekers. Now, as Journal reporter Lauren Weber discusses, lawmakers in a few states are proposing bills to reel companies in. Plus, bitcoin just had its best week in two years. Vicky Ge Huang, who covers cryptocurrencies, explains what’s behind the surge. And President Trump is boosting U.S. beef imports in an effort to lower prices–but the cattle industry is pushing back. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 21. WSJ’s Alex Frangos explains the combination of factors that fueled a multi-day bond selloff and what to watch for in the weeks to come. Plus, the Trump administration targets the Bar Association’s ability to accredit law schools. And James Rundle from the Dow Jones Risk Journal podcast looks at a White House initiative that could see private companies join the fight against foreign criminal groups. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 20. Colleges are facing a demographic cliff—lower birth rates means fewer 18-year-olds. WSJ higher education reporter Doug Belkin explains what impact that’s likely to have on colleges–and why it might not make it any easier to get into top-tier schools. Plus, Walmart was the biggest decliner in the Dow after it reported weaker sales growth in its second quarter. We hear from Journal retail reporter Sarah Nassauer about how Walmart’s earnings stack up to its rival Target. And employers are expected to pay even more for health insurance next year, which means their workers costs’ are probably going up too. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bonus Episode for Aug. 20. Home-improvement retailers are feeling it as homeowners put off big renovation projects. WSJ reporter Sarah Nassauer discusses how the housing market influenced results this past quarter at Home Depot and Lowe’s, and how the companies are trying to grab market share in their pro divisions for professional contractors. WSJ reporter Veronica Dagher hosts this special bonus episode of What's News in Earnings, where we dig into companies’ earnings 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 20. Nearly six months into the war, President Trump is pledging a ‘crushing economic operation’ to isolate Iran. WSJ’s Georgi Kantchev explains why a push to get just one country, the United Arab Emirates, to go along with that won’t be easy. Plus, packaged-food giants head to the lab as users of weight-loss drugs say no to once-beloved foods. And we’ll look at why more AI developers are likely to follow Google’s lead in buying up a defunct airline’s old emails and payroll files. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 19. Today the total U.S. debt passed $40 trillion. WSJ economics reporter Matt Grossman discusses what that means for how the government functions. Plus, a successful trial of a mRNA vaccine for melanoma could mean potential new treatments for a deadly cancer–and news of the trial results more than doubled Moderna’s stock price. And the Federal Trade Commission says retailers have to let shoppers know when they’re using their personal data to raise prices. Dave Michaels, who covers corporate law enforcement for the Journal, explains how personalized pricing works, and how the FTC is looking to rein it in. Alex Ossola hosts. How Governments in the U.S. and Europe Are Stalling the AI Buildout Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 19. President Trump hits pause on 50% tariffs that had been set to hit a range of Canadian products – buying more time for trade negotiators to reach a deal with Ottawa. Plus, OpenAI’s second quarter sales disappoint as rival Anthropic sees its revenue double. And a Chinese cargo ship sets sail for the Arctic in a move that WSJ foreign correspondent Sune Rasmussen says could upend global trade. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 18. Government bonds are getting hammered in the U.S. and overseas. WSJ markets reporter Sam Goldfarb discusses how the AI boom is playing a part in driving yields of the 30-year Treasury and other long-term bonds to their highest levels in decades. Plus, Disney steps up a fight with the FCC over a challenge to ABC’s broadcast licenses. We hear from media reporter Joe Flint about why Disney sued the government agency, the latest front in the battle between the two that started last year. And there’s a secret word game that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan plays with Wall Street analysts. Is your vocabulary as good as his? Try our quiz. Alex Ossola hosts. The AI Therapist: A WSJ Podcast Series Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 18. Opening arguments are set to begin today in a hugely consequential trial accusing Meta of contributing to a crisis in youth mental health and which could cost the social media giant more than $1 trillion. WSJ reporters Meghan Bobrowsky and Erin Mulvaney preview what to expect as proceedings get underway. Plus, retail giant Costco prepares to enter the Medicare market. And minerals companies lean into red, white and blue branding in a bid to score U.S. federal funding. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 17. Wall Street Journal reporter Peter Rudegeair discusses why the top technology companies have huge AI spending commitments that aren’t reflected on their balance sheets. WSJ’s Jared Malsin explains how renewed Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping are threatening another critical chokepoint for global energy as the Iran war spills into neighboring countries. And U.K. correspondent Max Colchester unpacks how the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday is reigniting Britain’s culture wars. Sabrina Siddiqui hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newslette Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 17. For the second time in three days, NATO warplanes on Sunday were forced to shoot down a drone in alliance airspace. WSJ Brussels bureau chief Daniel Michaels says that while electronic jamming could make the drone incursions an accident, some countries fear Russia is deliberately probing European air defenses. Plus, the Colorado River’s water crisis worsens as Lake Powell joins Lake Mead at record lows. And we’ll look at the race among job seekers to write AI experience into their résumés. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The promise for AI mental-health tools is clear: bringing support to people who need it, when they need it. But these chatbots can come with risks. How do they respond when someone is in crisis, or thinking about harming themselves? In Part Two of our special series “The AI Therapist,” WSJ What’s News host Alex Ossola digs into the guardrails that companies are installing in their AI tools—and the questions as to whether they’re enough.  Episode 1 of The AI Therapist: When People Turn to Chatbots for Mental Health Further Reading: Chatbots Are Replacing Therapists With Little Scientific Evidence Behind Them Teens Seek Mental-Health Help From Chatbots. That’s Dangerous, Says New Study. How AI Advice Is Undermining Eating-Disorder Therapy When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s the latest on inflation? And what’s pushing shares of old-school energy companies higher? Plus, why is Reddit joining the S&P 500? Host Shradha Dinesh 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 14. Money managers have a problem: Clients are holding near-record amounts in cash—by one estimate more than $3 trillion. Miriam Gottfried, a reporter and co-host of WSJ’s Take On the Week podcast, explains why this is happening and what financial planners are pushing their clients to do instead. Plus, two pieces of data—July retail sales and the preliminary August reading of the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey—came in lower than expected. WSJ economics reporter Matt Grossman says that is painting a picture of a weaker U.S. economy. And AI slop is everywhere, making it hard to know what’s real online. We hear from WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen about the inspiration for her recent special Tech News Briefing podcast series, “AI and the Blurring of Reality.” Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advert

A.M. Edition for Aug. 14. Meatpacking giant Tyson Foods is planning to close a major beef processing plant, its latest bid to cut costs as the industry tries to cope with a yearslong cattle shortage. Plus, President Trump turns to tariffs to try and reshore drone production. And WSJ South Asia bureau chief Tripti Lahiri takes us inside the frantic scramble for work in India, where thousands of young people are competing for each new job. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 13. The U.S. is sending a fresh aircraft carrier to the Middle East amid growing concerns over living conditions aboard the carrier currently stationed there, the USS Abraham Lincoln. Plus, seven months into the U.S. energy blockade against Cuba, everyday people are struggling to sleep in the heat and to afford food as blackouts persist. We hear from Journal reporter José de Córdoba about what he is hearing from people across the country. And the proliferation of restaurant reservation apps have made it a nightmare for diners to get a table at a buzzy restaurant. Reporter Heather Haddon explains why restaurants keep doing business with the apps. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 13. A Journal investigation finds that thousands of North Korean operatives have landed jobs at American companies and are funneling millions of dollars back to the regime. Plus, big businesses like Apple and FedEx start reeling in hundreds of millions in tariff refunds. And the WSJ’s Stu Woo details how American chatbots are towing Beijing’s party line. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 12. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion—the highest-ever valuation for any sports team. WSJ sports reporter Andrew Beaton discusses the sale, which he calls a “stunning twist.” Plus, inflation cooled slightly last month to 3.4%. Journal economics reporter Matt Grossman joins to talk about what it could mean for the Federal Reserve. And ticket reseller StubHub reported record revenue, thanks in part to this summer’s World Cup. But as retail reporter Hanna Krueger details, both during and well before the World Cup, some fans were disappointed when the tickets they bought on StubHub didn’t work and they faced lengthy fights to get their money back. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for Aug. 12. Centrist David Crowley scores an electoral upset in Wisconsin, narrowly defeating Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a race to secure the Democratic nomination for governor. WSJ’s Damian Paletta says Crowley’s victory could mark a turning point for progressives. Plus, New York City launches a sweeping investigation into four prediction markets – probing Polymarket, Kalshi, Coinbase and Gemini Titan for alleged deceptive marketing practices and the targeting of minors. And could one of Hollywood's oldest studios be relocating from Tinseltown to Music City? Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 11. President Trump didn’t fly out of Turkey in his new Air Force One last month, instead using an elaborate decoy operation. WSJ chief political correspondent Josh Dawsey runs through the new details about how and why that happened. Plus, the University of Michigan says it will drop first-semester grades for freshmen next school year. Doug Belkin, who covers higher education for the Journal, discusses how it will work and why the university made this decision. And some of the top officials in global soccer are calling for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign. We hear from WSJ sports editor Joshua Robinson about what the drama could mean for future competitions. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.