Author: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

Once fierce rivals, Japanese car giants Honda and Nissan recently announced their plans to merge in 2026. The deal would create the world’s 3rd largest automaker. WSJ’s Sean McLain reports on why Nissan struggled in recent years and the challenges the merged company would face.

Further Listening:

-Inside Carlos Ghosn's Escape From Japan 

-The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is Here 

Further Reading:

-Nissan Needs a Honda Rescue. What Went So Wrong? 

-Honda, Nissan Plan to Create World’s No. 3 Automaker in 2026 Merger 

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would resign. He is the latest global progressive leader to fall from power. WSJ’s Vipal Monga reports on Trudeau’s legacy and downfall.

Further Listening:

-A Murder That Sparked a Diplomatic Crisis 

-Canada’s Trucker Protests 

Further Reading:

-Trudeau to Resign as Voters Sour on His Vision for Canada 

-The Populist Vying to Lead Canada and End a Decade of Liberalism 

-The Progressive Moment in Global Politics Is Over 

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Netflix was known for its “no rules” culture that executives say attracted the best talent. But as it’s grown, the company has pulled back on some of that freedom, including its generous parental leave. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel explains why Netflix is changing the culture that fueled its success, and what it means for employees.

Further Reading:

-Netflix’s Extraordinary Parental Leave Was Part of Its Culture. That’s Over. 

-Netflix Is Rethinking Employee Freedom, a Core Tenet of Its Vaunted Culture 

Further Listening:

-Netflix Turns to Ads 

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After decades of manufacturing in the United States moving overseas, there are calls to bring it back. But doing that is not straightforward. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner and the founder of American Giant explain how that company produced inexpensive T-shirts in the U.S.

Further Reading:

-How a $12.98 T-Shirt Is Made in America—at a Profit  

Further Listening:

-How One Business Owner Is Getting Ahead of Trump's Tariffs 

-China, an Alabama Business and a 20-Year Battle 

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Gunmen of the Gulf Clan, a drug-trafficking militia in Colombia, are seizing tunnels inside one of the largest gold motherlodes in Latin America. The mine belongs to Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese company, which says it has surrendered nearly two-thirds of its tunnels and lost an estimated $200 million worth of gold in 2023. WSJ's Juan Forero reports.

This episode has been updated to include comment from the Gulf Clan.

Further Reading:

-A Drug Gang Stole 3 Tons of Gold in a Scam So Perfect It’s Still Going 

Further Listening:

-Smuggling Migrants Toward the U.S. Is a Booming Business 

-Why Black Lung Is Rising in Coal Country 

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Last year, China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, suddenly disappeared. Qin was a rising star in Chinese politics and a protegé of China’s strongman leader, Xi Jinping. In the first episode of our three-part investigation, we chart Qin’s rise and begin to untangle the mystery of his disappearance. This series was originally published in October.

Further Listening:
- Episode 2: The Affair - Apple | Spotify
- Episode 3: The Downfall - Apple | Spotify

We'll be back with something new on January 2.

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Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994 to moderate success. Today, the song is a megahit and Christmas playlist staple. What happened? WSJ's John Jurgensen called up the "Queen of Christmas" to find out. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2020.

We'll return with something new on January 2.

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James Bond is one of Hollywood's most famous characters. So when Amazon bought the rights to distribute Bond, executives had big plans for the brand’s intellectual property. But so far, Amazon hasn't made a single Bond movie. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel takes us inside the feud that’s tying up the franchise. 

Further Reading:

-Where Is James Bond? Trapped in an Ugly Stalemate With Amazon 

Further Listening:

-Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on 'Wicked'

-Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows 

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The killing of a top health insurance executive outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel this month triggered an outpouring of public anger at private health insurance companies. WSJ’s Julie Wernau reports that many doctors are among the aggrieved. And two doctors explain how dealing with health insurers is getting worse.

Further Listening:

- The Suspect in the UnitedHealth Killing 

Further Reading:

- Doctors Say Dealing With Health Insurers Is Only Getting Worse 

- Clues Left by a Killer Echo Widespread Anger at Health Insurers

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BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry.

Further Listening:

-The Rise of the Tween Shopper 

-Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans 

-Scholastic's Succession Drama 

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