What’s News
RECENT EPISODES
States Fight Private-Equity Healthcare Takeovers
P.M. Edition for April 18. More than a dozen U.S. states are fighting healthcare acquisitions backed by private equity. WSJ Pro private-equity reporter Chris Cumming explains. And banking reporter Charley Grant explains why pension funds are pulling hundreds of billions of dollars out of stocks. Plus, U.S. mortgage rates rise and home sales fall. Annmarie Fertoli hosts.
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Read transcriptInside Iran's Gamble on Open Confrontation
A.M. Edition for April 18. After long relying on militias in its deadly fight with Israel, Iran’s direct attack on Israel last weekend marked a major shift in strategy. WSJ correspondent Jared Malsin explains what prompted Tehran to emerge from the shadows. Plus, House Republicans prepare to fast-track a bill that could ban or force the sale of video-sharing app TikTok. And how slumping car demand and efforts to unionize factories are adding to pressure on the automobile sector. Luke Vargas hosts.
Amplification: This podcast was updated to remove certain language about Big River Services' and Amazon’s practices under its Project Curiosity.
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Read transcriptEconomists’ Expectations for the U.S. Economy
P.M. Edition for April 17. Economists raised their expectations for U.S. growth, inflation and the level of future interest rates in the latest WSJ quarterly survey. Markets and economics reporter Sam Goldfarb has more. Plus, Boeing’s quality issues take center stage at a congressional hearing. WSJ aerospace reporter Sharon Terlep has the details. And U.S. House speaker Mike Johnson pushes ahead with a high-stakes vote on a foreign aid package. Annmarie Fertoli hosts.
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Read transcriptBiden Looks to Triple Tariffs on Chinese Steel
A.M. Edition for April 17. President Joe Biden is calling for a steep rise in tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum. The WSJ’s Jason Douglas says the tariffs could be the first step in a range of protectionist measures against a surge in Chinese exports that has alarmed the White House. Plus, the jury begins to take shape in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial. And Tesla delays deliveries of its much-hyped Cybertruck. Luke Vargas hosts.
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Read transcriptFed Chair Jerome Powell Tempers Expectations on Rate Cuts
P.M. Edition for April 16. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said firmer-than-expected inflation and hiring have weakened the case for pre-emptive interest-rate cuts. And the International Monetary Fund says the global economy is picking up steam this year, but the poorest countries are falling behind. Economics reporter Paul Kiernan has more on the revised expectations. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that could affect hundreds of January 6th, 2021 prosecutions. Legal affairs correspondent Jan Wolfe has more. Annmarie Fertoli hosts.
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Read transcriptChina’s Economy Picks Up, Even as Foreign Firms Look Elsewhere
A.M. Edition for April 16. China is reporting 5.3% GDP growth for the first quarter as efforts to boost the country’s factories begin to show results. However, ifo Institute economist Andreas Baur and WSJ reporter Jason Douglas explain that foreign businesses’ moves to diversify their supply chains could complicate Beijing’s plans. Plus, the Justice Department prepares to sue concert promoter Live Nation. And as conflict scrambles energy markets, traders bet producers will step in before oil hits $100 a barrel. Luke Vargas hosts.
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Read transcriptWhat Would Keeping Rates Higher for Longer Mean for Stocks?
P.M. Edition for April 15. Interest-rate cuts could be further down the line than many investors had hoped. Markets reporter Hardika Singh explains what keeping rates higher for longer could mean for the stock market. And Tesla plans to cut more than 10% of its workforce. Autos reporter Ryan Felton has more. Plus, investment banking and trading power earnings at Goldman Sachs. Annmarie Fertoli hosts.
Read transcriptIsrael Weighs Iran Response, Amid U.S. Fears of Regional War
A.M. Edition for April 15. After the U.S. helped Israel repel the first direct attack by Iran, WSJ correspondent Dov Lieber says President Joe Biden is now tasked with trying to prevent the wider war in the Middle East he’s sought to avoid. Plus, Samsung moves past Apple to become the top global smartphone provider. And Donald Trump’s day in court arrives in his hush money criminal trial. Luke Vargas hosts.
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Read transcriptMixed Messages in a Strong U.S. Jobs Market: Your Questions Answered
According to the numbers, the U.S. jobs market is doing well. The Labor Department says employers added 303,000 jobs in March, 100,000 more than most economists expected, and the unemployment rate remains close to lows not seen since the 1960s. So why do so many Americans feel frustrated by their employment prospects? Wall Street Journal reporter Harriet Torry and columnist Calum Borchers answer your questions on the labor market. Luke Vargas hosts.
Further Reading
Brisk Hiring Bolsters Fed’s Cautious Stance on Rate Cuts
These College Seniors Locked In Job Offers. Here’s How They Did It.
How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation
Americans Don’t Care as Much About Work. And It Isn’t Just Gen Z.
Read transcriptWhat’s News in Markets: Banks’ Inflation, Amazon AI, Boeing Again
How is inflation becoming a thorn in the side of U.S. banks, despite many reporting big earnings? And will AI turn into Amazon’s “fourth pillar” along with its Marketplace, Prime and Web Services businesses? Plus, is there an end in sight for Boeing’s troubles? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.
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HOSTED BY
Host, Senior Producer, WSJ Podcasts, The Wall Street Journal
Annmarie Fertoli hosts the PM edition of the What's News podcast. She joined The Wall Street Journal in 2017 after more than a decade in public radio: first with WFUV at her alma mater, Fordham University, then at WNYC, where she worked as a news host, reporter and producer for All Things Considered. Annmarie has also worked as a reporter and arts and entertainment editor for weekly newspapers on Long Island and in Queens. Her first print story for the WSJ focused on how the popular video game “Animal Crossing” became a form of therapy during the coronavirus pandemic—for her and many others.
Host, WSJ Podcasts, The Wall Street Journal
Luke Vargas is the AM host of the What’s News podcast. He joined the WSJ in 2021 from the Skimm, where he was the senior producer of Skimm This. He previously spent seven years as a U.N.-based correspondent, hosting The World in 2:00 radio newscast and reporting from more than 35 countries for a consortium of local and regional AM/FM radio stations. Luke is a published poet and an avid permaculture landscaper, and designs detailed video game maps in his spare time.