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The Journal.

The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

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.

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77 episodes
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Tuesday · 20 min
How Nvidia CEO’s Affair Became a National Security Nightmare
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, acknowledged that he had an affair with a tech executive named Alice Huang. U.S. officials suspect that she’s a Chinese intelligence asset. They also suspect that the company she worked for was illegally diverting coveted Nvidia chips to China. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan reports on the revelation of the affair and the fallout for Huang’s reputation. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips in China - China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Monday · 18 min
The Biggest Loser of the Midterms? Data Centers
This year’s midterm election wasn’t just a big win for Democrats. It was also a win for data center opposition. Across the country, voters elected politicians who are critical of data centers and passed measures halting or restricting their development. WSJ’s Anissa Gardizy reports on what the election results mean for AI companies and what the industry plans to do next. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters - A Sneak Peek Into Anthropic’s Business Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Friday · 29 min
The Russian Officer Secretly Working for Ukraine
Come see The Journal Live in Dallas on Monday, November 9th. Due to popular demand, we’ve released more tickets. Buy them here. Lev Stupnikov was an officer in Russia when he decided to do the unthinkable: sabotage his own military and defect over the border to Ukraine. WSJ’s Matthew Luxmoore takes us inside Stupnikov’s harrowing journey from young Russian military cadet to high-profile asset for Ukraine and what it reveals about the state of the war. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Trump Turns on Ukraine - An Exclusive Interview With Ukraine’s President Zelensky Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 5 · 21 min
What Just Happened to Politics in the South?
America has a new political reality: Republicans’ decades-long grip on Southern politics has cracked. Democrats won major races this week, from Texas to South Carolina. WSJ’s Cameron McWhirter explains how the Republicans lost, how the democrats are expected to govern and whether or not the South’s purple status is here to stay. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? A Blue Tsunami - Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 4 · 17 min
Why Companies Are Paying You to Quit
Last week, Microsoft announced that the company is offering buyouts to 60,000 employees. Like much of corporate America, the tech giant is facing pressure to increase AI spending and shave costs. WSJ’s Chip Cutter reports that buyouts are becoming a trend. These kinds of programs offer a tempting solution for companies that want to avoid the disruption and backlash that comes from mass layoffs. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - The Era of AI Layoffs Has Begun - Corporate America’s Embrace of Trump 2.0 Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 4 · 23 min
Red, White and Who? A Blue Tsunami
The Democratic Party has taken control of the Senate and House in what WSJ's Christopher Matthews calls a “rebuke” of President Trump. Chris analyzes Democrats' key Senate wins in Republican strongholds like Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, and looks ahead to the new Congress's future relationship with the president. Ryan Knutson hosts. Listen to the rest of "Red, White and Who?" to understand the forces that shaped this election: - A Progressive Gamble in Michigan - The Swing Voters in South Texas - The Inflation Election - The Anti-AI Voters Sign up for WSJ’s Politics newsletter. Illustration: James Walton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 3 · 18 min
Binance and the Biggest Crypto Heist Ever
The world’s largest crypto exchange suffered the biggest crypto hack in history last week. In just 20 minutes, criminals made off with at least $6.3 billion from Binance. The speed and scale of the heist has left the crypto industry reeling. WSJ’s Patricia Kowsmann explains how the hack happened, who did it and the questions it raises about the safety of crypto. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - The Crypto President: Part 1 - Severed Fingers and Wrench Attacks: A New Era in Crypto Crime Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 2 · 22 min
California Democrats Can’t Agree On How To Tax Billionaires
In this year’s midterm election, voters in California will decide on a ballot initiative proposing a one-time, 5% tax on the net assets of California residents worth more than $1 billion. Most of California’s billionaires oppose the tax. But unexpectedly, many of the state’s Democrats and unions are also against it. WSJ’s Laura Nelson reports on why support for the wealth tax has been so fractured when so many Democrats say they’re in favor of higher taxes on the ultrarich. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Rise of the World’s First Trillionaire - Why Billionaires Are Giving Money to Kids Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 30 · 19 min
Is AI Running Out of Money to Borrow?
There’s been a big sell off in tech stocks this week, as investors question tech companies’ massive spending on AI. This comes days after Anthropic secured a record-breaking $63 billion deal with Broadcom to finance more chip purchases. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains the deal and why it's getting increasingly difficult for AI companies to raise money. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - A Sneak Peek Into Anthropic’s Business - Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 29 · 21 min
Why Billionaires Are Giving Money to Kids
A growing number of tech billionaires are pledging cash and stocks to American children through the federal government’s Trump Accounts. WSJ’s Konrad Putzier and Erich Schwartzel explain what’s driving this new trend in philanthropy. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: California Billionaires Are Freaking Out Over a New Tax Proposal The Rise of the World’s First Trillionaire Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 28 · 20 min
How A24 Keeps Making Hit Films
The studio behind the documentary “You Can See Everything” is A24. It’s an independent company with a reputation for critically acclaimed movies that fills theaters. Young audiences trust that an A24 release will be as relevant for them as a Disney movie is for families. WSJ’s Ben Fritz explains why. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - These Movies Finally Got Gen Z Into Theaters - Why Hollywood Can't Find Good Scripts Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 28 · 23 min
Red, White and Who? A Progressive Gamble in Michigan
“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters. This week: Progressive candidates have been winning political offices across the country, mostly in blue areas. Many think they’re the future of the Democratic Party. But in these midterms, they face one of their first big tests. Can Abdul El-Sayed win the Senate race in Michigan, a battleground state that went for Trump two years ago? WSJ’s John McCormick spoke to voters about El-Sayed, progressive politics and whether key democratic voters will turn out for him. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas - Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election - Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters Sign up for WSJ’s Politics newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 27 · 19 min
The Most Expensive Midterms Ever
The 2026 midterm cycle is the most expensive election in American history. At a time when huge sums of campaign money are flowing into races across the country, federal oversight has weakened. WSJ’s Maggie Severns explains where the influx of election cash is coming from and why the regulator charged with monitoring campaign funding is struggling to do its job. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas - Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 26 · 20 min
A Raging Battle Over How Homes Are Sold
The real estate brokerage Compass sells many homes through private listings. But that strategy has received a lot of criticism. After a major acquisition earlier this year, Compass is now a behemoth in the industry, and private listings are becoming more common. WSJ's Katherine Clarke explains how Compass’s strategy is causing drama in the real estate industry. Imani Moise hosts. Further Listening: - Compass vs. Zillow: The Real Estate Wars - A Case of Conspiracy in Real Estate Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 23 · 21 min
The Money Problem Fueling France’s Riots
This past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B. - Will France Elect a Far-Right President? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 22 · 22 min
Did OpenAI Just Catch a Spy?
On Tuesday, OpenAI employee Abdulrahman Alfozan was charged with planting a recording device behind a conference room TV at its San Francisco headquarters. Imani Moise talks to WSJ’s Maxwell Zeff about the case, the suspect and why tech leaders are concerned about corporate espionage. Further Listening: - Apple vs. OpenAI - Inside a Debate at OpenAI Over Mass Shootings Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 21 · 18 min
A Sneak Peek Into Anthropic’s Business
Anthropic is preparing for what could be one of the biggest IPOs in history. WSJ's Anissa Gardizy got a look at a draft of the company's S-1. It reveals soaring revenue, a business heavily reliant on a few customers and a long list of risk factors, including the possibility of a catastrophic AI incident. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Great AI Freakout Has Begun - A Data Center Offered $26 Million for Her Land. She Said No. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 21 · 27 min
Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas
“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters. This week: In 2024, President Trump made historic gains with voters in South Texas, especially Latinos. Now, many of these same voters are souring on the president and his party and considering swinging to Democrats in this year’s midterms. WSJ’s Elizabeth Findell and producer Matt Kwong talk to voters there about Trump, the senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and the issues that matter to them. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election - 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
October 20 · 21 min
Trump Turns on Ukraine
President Trump’s stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is evolving. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has made a series of decisions that critics say favor Russia. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to publicly confront Trump over the shift. WSJ’s Marcus Walker reports on what’s behind the shift and how the midterms factor in. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - An Exclusive Interview With Ukraine’s President Zelensky - Inside the U.S. Deal to Get Venezuela’s Oil Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 19 · 20 min
Tension and Tirades Inside the U.S. Treasury
President Donald Trump has put a lot on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plate, from handling trade talks with China to overseeing sanctions on Iran. Meanwhile, tensions inside the Treasury are high. After interviews with former and current officials in the Trump administration, WSJ’s Brian Schwartz reports on how Bessent's behavior and leadership approach is impacting the Treasury. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: -How the Bond Market Will Affect Your Wallet - Let’s Talk Bonds. Treasury Bonds. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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