Wsj What's News

Edition for Dec. 31. We recap a banner year for global markets, propelled in large part by the AI boom. Plus, OpenAI rewards its employees more than any major tech startup has in history. And Journal bureau chiefs preview the global flashpoints likely to dominate 2026. Luke Vargas hosts. Programming note: What’s News is off tomorrow and will publish one show on Friday. 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.

Edition for Dec. 30. Meta becomes one of the first major U.S. tech companies to buy a startup with Chinese roots, as it agrees to acquire Manus for more than $2 billion. Plus, tensions in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. square off over their support for rival factions in Yemen. And WSJ chief economics commentator Greg Ip and White House reporter Meridith McGraw explain why “affordability” is likely to be a major talking point in next year’s midterm election campaign, and what politicians can do to address it. Luke Vargas hosts. Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2. 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.

Edition for Dec. 29. The Department of Justice launches investigations into companies including Google and Verizon over workplace DEI programs, using an antifraud law to try to advance the president’s political agenda. Plus, Lululemon’s founder launches a proxy fight to shake up the struggling retailer’s board. And we’ll look at the evolving security threats likely to drive defense spending in 2026 with the help of WSJ reporter Alistair MacDonald and Dragonfly’s Matt Ince. Luke Vargas hosts. Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2. 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 Dec. 26. President Trump says the U.S. launched strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria to protect Christians–but Nigeria disagrees, saying the strikes weren’t aimed at protecting any particular religious group. We hear from WSJ reporter Alexandra Wexler about how Nigeria is approaching the issue. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he’ll meet with President Trump in Florida over the weekend for talks on the plan to end the war with Russia. And WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui discusses changes to health policy under the Trump administration and how the “Make America Healthy Again” movement could affect next year’s midterms. Alex Ossola hosts. Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2. 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.

Edition for Dec. 24. This year has been a big one for deals, with some blockbuster mergers and big-name breakups. WSJ lead deals reporter Lauren Thomas discusses what drove all that activity in 2025, and what she’ll be keeping her eye on in the year to come. Plus, the heirs to Texas billionaire Robert Brockman will pay $750 million in the biggest U.S. tax fraud case ever. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposes a demilitarized zone in the eastern region of Donetsk as part of a potential peace deal. Alex Ossola hosts. Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2. 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 Dec. 23. When Tyson Foods announced that it was closing its meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, it sent the city into a crisis. We hear from WSJ reporter Patrick Thomas about what locals are planning to do as the city is losing its largest employer. Plus, the U.S. economy was unexpectedly strong in the third quarter. Chao Deng, who covers the U.S. economy for the Journal, breaks down how consumer spending drove that growth. And if you’re planning to fly economy this holiday season–or anytime really–we’ve got some tips on how to make the trip a little more enjoyable. 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 Dec. 23. Cuba was already suffering from food shortages and blackouts. Now the U.S. oil blockade of Venezuela means the Communist island also faces the loss of cheap oil from Nicolás Maduro. The Journal’s South America bureau chief Juan Forero explains. Plus, the U.S. bans new China-made drones from DJI and Autel Robotics, sparking outrage among pilots. And think you know business etiquette? Take our quiz and find out. Daniel Bach 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 Dec. 22. Reports of toxic gases that leak into a plane’s cabin or cockpit have surged in recent years. Now, as WSJ’s Ben Katz reports, doctors and researchers increasingly see a link between exposure to those fumes and fatal illnesses. Look for his next piece with more advice for travelers on wsj.com. Plus, the Trump administration stops offshore wind projects currently under construction, the most significant of the actions the administration has taken against the industry. And Paramount sweetens its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery with a personal guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison. WSJ media reporter Joe Flint weighs in on the latest in the fight for the entertainment company. 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 Dec. 22. Congress breaks for the holidays without renewing enhanced ACA subsidies. The WSJ’s Sabrina Sidiqui explains what could break the impasse, as millions face higher healthcare premiums and lingering uncertainty. Plus, after seizing a second tanker over the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard hunts another ship involved in moving Venezuelan oil. And a former Tesla staffer who clashed with Elon Musk shakes up the race to run General Motors. Daniel Bach hosts. Listen to the full interview with Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack on WSJ’s Take On the Week.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For over 100 years, keeping Americans safe on the job has challenged the country's free-market economy. Businesses often preferred to regulate their workplaces without government oversight. But that track record is mixed. And federal efforts at safeguarding job sites at times have fallen short. Host Katherine Sullivan explores how far we've come since Frances Perkins helped put employee safety in the spotlight and what American workers still face now when they go to work.  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. Additional reading and listening: A Timeline of Key Moments in the History of Work in America  Coal Miners’ Trade Off: Trump Boosts Production but Slashes Safety Programs  An Economy Built on Speculation—for Better and for Worse  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection

What did Micron’s earnings tell us about the AI boom? And what’s behind the corporate drama at Warner Bros. Discovery and Lululemon? Plus, does Medline's IPO splash bode well for future offerings? 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.  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 Dec. 19. The Justice Department releases the first batch of files tied to its investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. home sales rise to their highest level since February. And WSJ’s Kelly Crow explains how the art market is adapting younger buyers. Sabrina Siddiqui 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 Dec. 19. Europe throws Kyiv a fiscal lifeline in a move officials say could give Kyiv more leverage in negotiations over ending the war, but fail to agree on a plan to tap frozen Russian assets. Plus, OpenAI aims to raise as much as $100 billion to pay for its ambitious growth plans in a market that has started to cool on the artificial-intelligence boom. And WSJ Tokyo bureau chief Jason Douglas explains how interest-rate rises in Japan could push up borrowing costs in the U.S. 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. 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 Dec. 18. Inflation eased to 2.7% in November, lower than economists expected. WSJ’s Chao Deng explains why they are taking the report with a grain of salt. President Trump’s media company and a fusion energy company announced a merger valued at $6 billion. Read more about the Trump family’s growing business empire. And WSJ security reporter Benoit Faucon discusses what the attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach reveals about the threat posed by ISIS. Sabrina Siddiqui 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 Dec. 18. WSJ reporter Chelsey Dulaney says the redirection of China’s export machine caused by a U.S. crackdown on low-value imports is one of the most dramatic examples of how President Trump’s trade war has rewired global trade. Plus, Trump uses a prime-time address to announce tariff-funded dividends for troops. And Warner Bros. Discovery demands a stronger personal guarantee from Larry Ellison in Paramount Skydance’s $77.9 billion takeover bid. 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 Dec. 17. Some frustrated Republicans have bucked leadership and sided with House Democrats to force a vote on extending expiring healthcare subsidies. WSJ Congressional reporter Siobhan Hughes explains how next year’s midterms are factoring into that decision. Plus, the Oscars are going digital and heading to a new home: YouTube. And WSJ entertainment reporter Joe Flint tells us what options Paramount has left in its pursuit of Warner after the media company rejects its hostile bid. Julie Chang 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 Dec. 17. President Trump orders a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Plus, WSJ deputy finance editor Quentin Webb discusses the appetite for IPOs in 2026, after Medical-supplies distributor Medline completes the biggest initial public offering of the year. And America’s white-collar workers are filled with anxiety. WSJ economics reporter Rachel Louise Ensign unpacks the latest jobs report, which is an ominous sign in an era of big corporate layoffs and CEOs warning that AI will replace workers. 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 Dec. 16. A long-awaited government report on jobs adds to questions about the economy’s strength. Watch the WSJ Q&A for more takeaways on the labor market. Plus, Heard on the Street columnist Jonathan Weil discusses how efforts to make it easier for small companies to go public in the U.S. have helped fuel a wave of scams. And in Europe, officials are reversing course on a ban on new sales of gasoline-powered cars. WSJ reporter Kim Mackrael tells us why the EU is watering down its rules as the transition to electric vehicles proves more difficult than policymakers anticipated. Sabrina Siddiqui 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 Dec. 16. Investors will get a closer look at the U.S. employment picture with the release of two months’ worth of data that was delayed by the government shutdown. Plus, Australia’s prime minister says the shooters who attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach appear to have been inspired by Islamic State. And WSJ advertising editor Suzanne Vrenica says concern about tariffs and consumer spending led to an earlier start to the holiday ads season, otherwise known as “Christmas creep.” 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 Dec. 15. Ford expects to take about $19.5 billion in charges as it retrenches from electric vehicles. WSJ’s Rebecca Picciotti unpacks how two starkly different approaches to housing costs played out in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. And Hollywood director Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner has been arrested on suspicion of murder in his parents’ deaths. Sabrina Siddiqui 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.