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The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios · Business

The Journal.

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. Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing

Episodes

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Inside Trump and Netanyahu’s Complicated Relationship

23 Jun 2026
20m
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The relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted from a collaborative military partnership to a point of significant friction. Initially, the two leaders maintained daily contact, coordinating strikes against Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure, wit...

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Why iPhones Will Probably Get Even More Expensive

22 Jun 2026
17m
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Apple is set to increase prices across its product lineup as surging demand for memory and storage chips from AI developers creates a global supply bottleneck. Historically, Apple leveraged its massive purchasing power to dictate terms to chip manufacturers, but the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure by companies lik...

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The Big Business of Holding Back Eighth-Graders

18 Jun 2026
23m
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Private schools like The Togethership are capitalizing on a growing trend of "reclassifying" middle school students, where children repeat a grade specifically to gain a competitive edge in athletics. Fueled by the potential for lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in college, parents increasingly view an ex...

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The Economy is Booming. Why Does it Feel Like a Bust?

17 Jun 2026
18m
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The U.S. economy currently presents a "split screen" reality, where strong macroeconomic indicators like low unemployment and steady GDP growth clash with pervasive negative consumer sentiment. While the stock market rallies and job creation remains robust, inflation—spiked to 4.2% by energy supply shocks stemming from...

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How Elon Musk Made a Trillion Dollars

16 Jun 2026
19m
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Elon Musk’s ascent to the world’s first trillionaire following the SpaceX IPO marks an unprecedented shift in individual wealth. This valuation, driven by massive stakes in companies like Tesla and SpaceX, transcends traditional economic metrics, making comparisons to historical figures like John D. Rockefeller difficu...

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The Great IPO Frenzy of 2026

15 Jun 2026
18m
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The 2026 market is witnessing a historic IPO frenzy, headlined by massive valuations for SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI. This surge reflects peak excitement surrounding artificial intelligence, with companies seeking to capitalize on high investor demand despite lacking consistent profitability. The concentration of the...

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The World Cup Story, Part 2: Too Big To Fail

14 Jun 2026
35m
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Gianni Infantino’s decade-long tenure as FIFA president has transformed the organization into a profit-driven entity that prioritizes commercial expansion over fan experience. Since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, Infantino has shifted the World Cup from a traditional summer tournament to a global, high-revenue vehicl...

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‘Backrooms’ Turns an Online Obsession Into Box-Office Gold

12 Jun 2026
20m
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The film industry is experiencing a significant shift as low-budget, internet-born horror films like Backrooms and Obsession achieve unprecedented box office success. These movies, created by Gen Z talent, leverage established online mythologies and aesthetics to attract younger audiences who have historically avoided ...

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Is SpaceX Worth the Hype?

11 Jun 2026
23m
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SpaceX is set to launch the largest initial public offering in history, aiming to raise $75 billion at a $1.77 trillion valuation. While the company remains unprofitable, its financial future hinges on the growth of its Starlink satellite internet service and an ambitious expansion into artificial intelligence. Project...

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How Beef Got So Expensive

10 Jun 2026
20m
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Record-high beef prices are transforming the American steakhouse experience, signaling an era where beef is increasingly treated as a luxury protein. The current shortage stems from a 75-year low in the U.S. cattle herd, driven by pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and severe droughts that forced many ranchers to li...

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Bill Gates’s Carefully Crafted Image Is Cracking

09 Jun 2026
23m
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Bill Gates’ meticulously crafted reputation as a benevolent philanthropist is currently unraveling as new details regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein emerge. For years, Gates’ team maintained a carefully managed image, utilizing strategic branding and media projects to solidify his influence. However, the r...

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Why Sweden Embraced Capitalism

08 Jun 2026
19m
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Sweden has transformed from a high-tax, cradle-to-the-grave welfare state into a dynamic, free-market economy that currently outpaces much of Europe in growth. Following a major economic crisis in the 1990s, the country implemented significant structural reforms, including privatizing sectors like healthcare, introduci...

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The World Cup Story, Part 1: Soccer and Scandal

07 Jun 2026
38m
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The World Cup evolved from a small, boat-reliant tournament in 1930 into a global entertainment juggernaut, largely driven by the advent of television and the commercial strategies of FIFA. Under Sepp Blatter, FIFA transformed into a powerful organization that prioritized broadcasting rights and political influence ove...

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Americans Have More Credit Card Debt Than Ever

05 Jun 2026
21m
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American credit card debt has reached a record $1.25 trillion, fueled by inflation outpacing wage growth and rising interest rates. Households across all income levels are increasingly relying on credit cards to cover basic necessities like groceries and utilities, leading to a surge in delinquencies. Melissa Megison, ...

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How AI Is Being Trained to Do Your Job

04 Jun 2026
22m
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The rapid growth of AI-training gig work, exemplified by the startup Mercor, highlights a new labor category where human experts teach large language models to perform specialized white-collar tasks. Companies like Mercor act as intermediaries, hiring professionals—ranging from linguists to creative writers—to refine A...

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Can the U.S. Keep Chinese Cars Out?

03 Jun 2026
16m
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Chinese automakers, led by companies like BYD and Geely, are rapidly expanding their global market share with high-performance, affordable electric vehicles that feature advanced technology and luxurious amenities. While these vehicles are gaining significant traction in Mexico, Europe, and Southeast Asia, they remain ...

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Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers

02 Jun 2026
24m
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Americans are increasingly moving abroad, reversing the country's long-standing historical narrative as a primary destination for immigrants. While official U.S. statistics on departing citizens remain scarce, reporting indicates a rapid rise in Americans relocating to countries like Portugal, Spain, and Mexico. This s...

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Why Hollywood Can't Find Good Scripts

01 Jun 2026
22m
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The Black List serves as a critical mechanism for identifying high-quality, unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, effectively bridging the gap between unknown writers and industry decision-makers. Founded in 2005 by Franklin Leonard, the platform aggregates peer recommendations to highlight scripts that frequently achie...

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The ‘Class of AI’ Enters the Workforce

29 May 2026
22m
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The "Class of AI"—students graduating during the rapid rise of generative technology—confronts significant career anxiety as they enter a volatile job market. While universities initially treated AI as a threat to academic integrity, many have pivoted to teaching students how to leverage these tools for professional re...

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The Shake-Up Coming for Car Dealerships

28 May 2026
22m
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The traditional car dealership model faces significant disruption as digital-first companies like Carvana challenge the long-standing, franchise-based system. Historically protected by state laws designed to support small businesses, the industry is now experiencing an incursion from e-commerce models that prioritize c...

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