Synopsis
Top stories. Timely insights. Mirrored after the popular WSJ column, get updates twice daily for your commute as our journalists cover world events, business, politics, markets and the economy.
Episodes
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Trump Rejects Calls for AI Regulation Amid Industry Fears Over Safety
14/09/2026 Duration: 12minP.M. Edition for Sept. 14. Industry leaders’ calls for a slowdown in AI development are rippling through tech, government and financial markets. As some look at what more guardrails could look like in practice, some—including President Trump—say they’re unnecessary since they could give China a competitive leg up. WSJ chief China correspondent Lingling Wei discusses how the debate is going over there. Plus, chip stocks fell over the prospect of a pullback in spending on the AI buildout… and the 10-year yield briefly touched over 5% as instability in the Middle East pushed up oil prices. We hear from markets reporter Hannah Erin Lang about what drove market moves today. And Democrats have momentum as they eye control of Congress. But as WSJ national political reporter Eliza Collins explains, there are also risks that could trip them up. 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 us
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Fearing a Loss of Control, AI Bosses Call for Tech Slowdown
14/09/2026 Duration: 14minA.M. Edition for Sept. 14. After a week of panic over an AI doomsday, top industry CEOs are backing a call from Anthropic’s Dario Amodei to slow down development to allow safeguards to be designed. WSJ tech reporter Amrith Ramkumar says the industry’s quest for money and moral dilemma over safety has created a monumental crisis for AI. Plus, oil prices rise as Iran-backed Houthis seize more key territory and drone attacks shutter a lifeline for Saudi Arabian exports. And, could a trade war with the U.S. lead to Canada joining the European Union? 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.
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Inside Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon Shake-Up
13/09/2026 Duration: 15minIn his first year atop the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth rebranded himself as a secretary of war, not defense. And the changes didn’t stop there. Under his leadership, the department has announced that all “warfighters” 30 and older will be tested for testosterone deficiency, and that they would be judged on their appearance and grooming. But possibly the most profound change has been a shake-up in the highest ranks of the armed forces. Top officers—especially in the Army—have been stymied, pushed out or fired. Michael Gordon and Lara Seligman join host Alex Ossola to discuss Hegseth’s approach, as well as the possible consequences of fast turnover in the highest echelons of the world’s most powerful military. Further Reading: Trump Fires Top Pentagon Officers in Sweeping Overhaul Hegseth Cuts Army Commander’s Storied Career Short as Part of Broader Shake-Up Hegseth Blocks Eight Navy Senior Officer Promotions Pete Hegseth Army Chief Pick in Jeopardy Over Republican Objections Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns Aft
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What’s News in Markets: Amgen’s Prognosis, Quantum Boost, iPhone Makeover
12/09/2026 Duration: 05minWhy did a failed Novartis drug trial tank Amgen’s shares? And how is taxpayer money funding quantum-computing companies? Plus, will people pay $2,000 for a foldable iPhone? 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Inflation Held Steady in August, Pushing the Fed Towards a Rate Hike
11/09/2026 Duration: 12minP.M. Edition for Sept. 11. New data from the Labor Department show that inflation held steady at 3.4% last month. As Journal economics reporter Justin Lahart explains, that puts pressure on the Fed to raise interest rates at its meeting next week. Plus, Anthropic found that Iran used the company’s AI tools to target U.S. forces in the Middle East. And on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, we look at how travel security measures have changed with reporter Alison Sider. 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.
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Did J.D. Vance Just Make His 2028 Pitch?
11/09/2026 Duration: 12minA.M. Edition for Sept. 11. The vice president is increasingly looking like a presidential candidate, but some Republicans want Marco Rubio. We wrap up the GOP’s midterm convention with a look at Vance’s prime-time speech. Plus, investors hold their breath before today’s pivotal U.S. inflation report. And we’ll look back on 25 years of the global war on terror with WSJ national security correspondents Michael R. Gordon and David S. Cloud. 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.
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Why Everyone’s Suddenly Worried About an AI Apocalypse
10/09/2026 Duration: 12minP.M. Edition for Sept. 10. An Anthropic researcher who quit over concerns that AI is getting out of control has sparked a debate over whether the technology “could kill us all by the end of the decade.” WSJ tech writer and editor Sam Schechner discusses what people are afraid of when they talk about an AI doomsday. Plus, conflict in the Middle East heats up as Iran starts making ballistic missiles again. We hear from WSJ national security reporter Alex Ward about how Trump’s advisers are raising the possibility that the war with Iran could continue for the rest of his term. And the bond selloff continues, with yields again hitting multiyear highs. We hear from Journal investing columnist Spencer Jakab about what’s driving it–and how it’s affecting stock markets. 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.
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Trump Tells Midterm Voters: ‘Pretend That I’m On the Ballot’
10/09/2026 Duration: 11minA.M. Edition for Sept. 10. President Trump used his keynote speech at a GOP midterm convention last night to promise $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate. Our Washington coverage chief Damian Paletta explains why the move marks Trump’s biggest election gambit yet. Plus, Iran shows a new appetite for escalation as it takes direct aim at U.S. forces. And data-center developers consider whether embracing nuclear power can quiet growing public backlash against them. 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.
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Apple Debuts $2,000 Foldable iPhone
09/09/2026 Duration: 10minP.M. Edition for Sept. 9. Apple held its most consequential event in years today: Its new CEO showed off its new foldable iPhone… and unveiled new, higher prices. Plus, the Justice Department’s criminal trial against Chinese tech giant Huawei began in New York City. Dave Michaels, who covers corporate law enforcement, explains the government’s trade-theft case and why the trial might create a headache for a diplomatic meeting between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping later this month. And some states that for years have offered tax breaks to data centers are ripping up the deals. WSJ tech policy reporter Amrith Ramkumar discusses where it’s happening and why. 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.
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Duffy Slams Ford’s ‘Unacceptable’ Use of Chinese Tech
09/09/2026 Duration: 13minA.M. Edition for Sept. 9. The Trump Administration calls out Ford for doing business with Chinese companies, saying its “reliance on technologies of foreign adversaries” isn’t sustainable for America. Plus, Apple’s new CEO prepares to raise the curtain on a slate of much pricier iPhones, including the company’s first foldable. And WSJ sports columnist Jason Gay previews the new NFL season and the league’s pursuit of global domination. 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.
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OpenAI Just Solved One of the Hardest Problems in Math
08/09/2026 Duration: 09minP.M. Edition for Sept. 8. OpenAI says it’s cracked the Navier-Stokes problem, one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems that are the deepest and most difficult unresolved questions in mathematics. WSJ Science of Success columnist Ben Cohen explains why labs like OpenAI are competing—and spending millions—for such breakthroughs. Plus, a dozen nations are imposing new trade restrictions on Israel over the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. And Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the first African-American and the first historian to lead the institution, is stepping down after more than a year of tension with President Trump. 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.
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Record Fuel Prices Threaten Higher Food and Freight Costs
08/09/2026 Duration: 11minA.M. Edition for Sept. 8. Energy-price anxiety mounts, sending U.S. gasoline and diesel prices to fresh Labor Day records. Plus, Canada ups the ante in its trade spat with the U.S. as reciprocal tariffs kick in. And WSJ Germany bureau chief Bertrand Benoit explains how a regional election win by the far-right AfD party could shake up German politics in ways not seen since the end of World War II. 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.
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What’s News in Markets: Bond Selloff, Big Nvidia Deals, Apple’s New CEO
05/09/2026 Duration: 04minWhat caused bond yields to surge this week? And why is Nvidia expanding its presence in the AI boom? Plus, how did markets react to Apple's new CEO in his first week? 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.
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Strong August Jobs Report Is a Bright Spot for the Economy
04/09/2026 Duration: 13minP.M. Edition for Sept. 4. The U.S. added a whopping 162,000 jobs last month, far better than economists expected. We hear from Journal markets reporter Jack Pitcher about what investors are betting that means for the Fed. Plus, we talk to Siobhan Hughes, who covers Congress, about the reaction to her reporting on how John Fetterman has shown little interest in the duties of a U.S. senator. And federal regulators say they have opened a probe into Tesla’s Cybercab, a day after it hit the streets of Austin. Reporters Ryan Felton and Becky Peterson weigh in on what the probe means for Elon Musk’s company. Alex Ossola hosts. Behind Closed Doors, John Fetterman Shows Little Interest in the Work of a Senator 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.
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The End of the Bond Hedge?
04/09/2026 Duration: 13minA.M. Edition for Sept. 4. The world’s biggest wealth fund calls time on government bonds citing recent volatility. Allianz chief investment officer Ludovic Subran gives us his take on what is driving yields higher, whether the U.S. can outgrow its debt problem and what the bond rout means for your investments. Plus, diesel prices hit an all-time high, teeing up more inflation from farm to table. And battered by foreign competition, Volkswagen banks on six-figure job cuts as part of a major turnaround plan. 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.
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Why Nvidia’s Buying AI Platform Hugging Face for $13 Billion
03/09/2026 Duration: 11minP.M. Edition for Sept. 3. WSJ reporter Robbie Whelan discusses how with its latest deal for AI platform Hugging Face, chip giant Nvidia is promoting open-weight AI models that compete with OpenAI and Anthropic. Plus, we’re still two years away from the next presidential election, but some Republican hopefuls are already testing the waters. We hear from Journal White House correspondent Natalie Andrews about who may have President Trump’s backing and how Senator Ted Cruz is going over with voters in Iowa. And feminist icon Gloria Steinem dies at age 92. 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.
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No End in Sight for Iran War
03/09/2026 Duration: 12minA.M. Edition for Sept. 3. The U.S. is extending its troop deployments to the Middle East well into 2027, putting the prospects of an end to the Iran war further away. WSJ’s Jared Malsin and Matt Dalton explain what that means for the troops, the U.S. war effort and energy price-driven inflation. Plus, Russia gains the upper hand in Ukraine, with a barrage of new drones. And Uber’s global robotaxi push faces a litmus test on the mean streets of London. 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.
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Google Scores a Win in Antitrust Decision
02/09/2026 Duration: 10minP.M. Edition for Sept. 2. A federal judge today decided that Google doesn’t have to break up its online advertising business, rejecting a request from the Justice Department. Journal reporter Dave Michaels discusses why the decision is such a big win for Google, and a loss for the antimonopoly movement.. Plus, Chevron is one of several energy companies to invest in Venezuela’s oil fields, a big win for the Trump administration. And if you’ve been weighing whether to sign up for one of those airport-security line-cutting programs like TSA PreCheck or Clear, travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson has got you covered with her favorite new option. 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.
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Why Global Investors Are Dumping Government Bonds
02/09/2026 Duration: 10minA.M. Edition for Sept. 2. Bonds are selling off again with investors left unimpressed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s seeming indifference to the recent rise in yields. Economics editor Paul Hannon and WSJ reporter Chelsey Dulaney explain how the bond rout is impacting markets, consumers and businesses and what it will take to calm investors. Plus, Open AI restricts its latest AI model, rating it a 'critical' cyber risk. And Google tries to challenge the frontrunners in agentic coding. 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.
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Bond Yields Around the World Soar
01/09/2026 Duration: 10minP.M. Edition for Sept. 1. An unruly bond market is sending borrowing costs to their highest levels in decades. Financial markets reporter Jack Pitcher discusses why there’s a global selloff in bonds. One reason? The escalation in fighting in the Middle East, as the U.S. launches a new wave of strikes against Iran. Plus, Hollywood reporter Ben Fritz goes into how the industry is skeptical of Paramount head David Ellison’s promise to release 30 movies in theaters every year after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery. And the House passes a measure funding the government past the midterms. Pierre Bienaimé 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.