Author: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

As the U.S. fights a persistent bird flu outbreak, the cost of eggs has skyrocketed. The owner of a brunch cafe tells us about the impact of high-priced eggs on his business and WSJ’s Patrick Thomas unpacks one possible fix that the egg industry wouldn't consider – until now.

Further Reading:

- Soaring Egg Prices Reignite Debate Over Bird Flu Vaccinations 

- At the ‘Wall Street of Eggs,’ Demand Is Surging 

- First Cows, Now Cats. Is Bird Flu Coming for Humans Next?

Further Listening:

- Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs 

- Farm-to-Table Pioneer on Why We Still Need Better Food 

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The Trump administration is pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hand over mineral rights worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. Zelensky said a deal is possible but he wants better terms. WSJ's James Marson explains why these minerals are so valuable and what this potential deal could mean for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Further Listening:

- Trump 2.0: Shaking Up Europe 

- Ukraine's $30 Billion Problem 

Further Reading:

- A Guide to U.S.-Russia Talks on Ending the War in Ukraine 

- Ukraine’s Zelensky Wants Better Terms on Minerals Deal Demanded by Trump 

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For decades, Germany has relied on manufacturing and exports – a model that made it the world’s third largest economy. But that model is breaking down, and the country’s leaders are offering few alternatives in the upcoming election. WSJ’s Tom Fairless and Bertrand Benoit discuss Germany’s downturn and what can be done about it.

Further Reading: 

- Germany’s Economic Model Is Broken, and No One Has a Plan B 

- Why Germany’s Confidence Is Shattered and Its Economy Is Kaput 

Further Listening: 

- Trump 2.0: Shaking Up Europe 

- Germany’s Difficult Breakup with Russian Energy 

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The Trump Administration turns its focus to Europe as President Trump signals a willingness to cooperate with Russia. WSJ’s Alex Ward joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what that means for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Further Reading:

-Trump’s Turn to Russia Spooks U.S. Allies Who Fear a Weakened NATO 

-Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Signals New World Order Taking Shape 

Further Listening:

-Trump 2.0: The Musk-Trump Bromance 

-R.I.P. CFPB? 

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A controversy among YouTube influencers has led to a series of lawsuits accusing browser extensions like PayPal Honey of swiping their commissions. PayPal said it disagrees with the claims in these lawsuits and look forward to defending itself. The litigation shines a light on the sometimes murky world of affiliate marketing, a $12 billion business. 

Further Reading:

-Creators Insist Coupon Browser Extensions Are Stealing Their Money. Will the Courts Agree? 

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In recent years, most home insurers were fleeing areas of California with high risk for wildfires. But State Farm was there, dominating the market. Then, just months before the devastating L.A. fires, the company dropped 30,000 homeowners from their books. WSJ’s Jean Eaglesham explains how the risk that State Farm unloaded is now a problem for the rest of California. 

Further Reading:

-State Farm Was All In on California – Until it Pulled the Plug Before the Fires 

-Insurers’ Rule Change Puts California Homeowners on the Hook for L.A. Fire 

Further Listening:

-Their L.A. Neighborhood Burned. Two Residents Find What’s Left.  

-Insuring a Home in California Is Getting Harder 

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John Barnett worked at Boeing for nearly 30 years. Before he left the company, he filed a whistleblower complaint, alleging he was retaliated against for raising safety concerns. Last March, after two days of testimony, he was found dead in his truck. Police ruled his death a suicide. We tell the story of Barnett’s life, and death, as a Boeing whistleblower. 

Further Reading:

- Boeing CEO Apologizes to MAX Crash Families, Calls Culture ‘Far From Perfect’

- The Disarray Inside Boeing’s 737 Factory Before the Door Plug Blowout 

- Can Boeing Be Fixed? Aerospace Leaders Offer a Repair Manual 

Further Listening:

- The Failures Inside Boeing's 737 Factory 

- A Hole in a Plane and a Headache for Boeing 

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We’re off for Presidents Day, but we wanted to reshare this episode.

Walmart is offering higher pay, bonuses and more stock options this year to retain and attract managers. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer spent a day with one manager, Nichole Hart, to understand why the job is commanding such a high salary these days, and why Hart logs about 20,000 steps a day.

This episode was originally published in May 2024.

Further Reading:

-A Day in the Life of a Walmart Manager Who Makes $240,000 a Year 

-Walmart Takes On Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods With New Premium Brand 

Further Listening:

-What Walmart’s Aisles Say About the American Consumer 

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At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump suspended most U.S. foreign aid, causing vast confusion and concern around the world. One affected program was PEPFAR, the bipartisan initiative that works to fight HIV/AIDS globally. WSJ’s Nicholas Bariyo from Uganda and Michael M. Phillips from Kenya report. And we hear from Karl Hoffman, the CEO of the public health organization HealthX Partners. 

Further Listening:

-Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart 

Further Reading:

-Trump Aid Whiplash Hits Refugees, AIDS Patients Worldwide 

-Trump Order Freezing Foreign Aid Halts Programs Worldwide, Prompts Confusion and Rush for Waivers 

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It’s been a busy month in D.C. for Elon Musk. WSJ’s Tim Higgins joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what Musk’s strategies as a CEO can tell us about his plans for DOGE and the federal government. Plus, we get into Trump’s relationship with the judiciary and take a question from a listener about American expansionism. 

Further Reading:

-Musk Brings His Business Playbook to Washington: Move Fast and Claim Victory 

-DOGE, Musk and Trump—Our Reporters Answered Your Questions 

Further Listening:

-R.I.P. CFPB? 

-Trump 2.0: Less Foreign Aid, More Tariffs 

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