Author: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed radically downsizing the federal government, and two of his allies are going to be in charge: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. WSJ’s John McCormick walks us through the plans for DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency.

Further Reading:

- Musk, Ramaswamy Want Federal Workers in the Office Full Time. There’s a Hitch. 

- Vivek Ramaswamy’s Marching Orders: Cut Trillions for Trump 

Further Listening:

- Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations 

- The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump’s Cabinet 

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As President-elect Donald Trump lays out his plan for increasing tariffs on goods made in China and Mexico, some U.S. businesses are stockpiling. Small business owner Jason Junod explains what he thinks the impacts of the proposed tariffs will be, and why he hasn’t been able to go fully “Made in America.”

Further Reading:

-American Companies Are Stocking Up to Get Ahead of Trump’s China Tariffs 

-Trump Fires Salvo on North American Trade Pact 

Further Listening:

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

-Why China Is Risking a Trade War 

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To ease flight delays and staffing shortages in the New York City area, the FAA shifted oversight of Newark Airport’s airspace to Philadelphia earlier this year. But WSJ’s Andrew Tangel reports that problems remain and new risks have surfaced. 

Further Listening:

-How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy 

-How Southwest Airlines Melted Down 

Further Reading:

-Why Fixing New York Air Traffic Has Been a Bumpy Ride 

-To Ease Newark Flight Delays, the FAA Turned to Philly. Here’s Why. 

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Happy Thanksgiving! This episode was originally published in November 2023. Ocean Spray’s farmers are responsible for 65% of the world’s cranberries. It’s not a publicly traded company. It’s not a traditional private company, either. It’s a cooperative founded nearly a century ago and owned by roughly 700 families. WSJ’s Ben Cohen tells the story of how the cranberry got into the can and how the company is planning for a future beyond your Thanksgiving table. 

Further Reading:

-These People Are Responsible for the Cranberry Sauce You Love to Hate 

Further Listening:

-Are Rotisserie Chickens 'Inflation-Proof'? 

-The Twinkie: From Bankruptcy to Billions 

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Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement that ends more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, Hezbollah. WSJ’s Jared Malsin takes us inside the deal and explores what it could mean for the region.

Further Reading:

-Israel Says Cease-Fire Takes Effect in Lebanon 

-Israel Approves Cease-Fire With Lebanon Aimed at Ending Hezbollah Conflict 

Further Listening:

-The Risk of an All-Out War in the Middle East 

-Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading War 

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After two weeks of uncertainty, Donald Trump nominated Scott Bessent, a longtime Wall Street investor, as his next Treasury secretary. The pick capped a behind-the-scenes battle one advisor called a “knife fight.” WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia takes us inside the decision, explores why Bessent triumphed and unpacks what his tenure could mean for the U.S. economy.

Further Reading:

-How Scott Bessent Won the ‘Knife Fight’ to Be Trump’s Treasury Secretary 

-Scott Bessent Sees a Coming ‘Global Economic Reordering.’ He Wants to Be Part of It. 

Further Listening:

-Gaetz, Bondi and Trump's Department of Justice 

-The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump's Cabinet 

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The movie musical “Wicked” collected a blockbuster $114 million in its opening weekend. Over the past year, Universal and its parent company Comcast have launched an all-out marketing blitz to blanket the world in “Wicked.” WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel reports on how it is the new Hollywood playbook.

Further Listening:
- The Curtain Closes on Phantom of the Opera 

- The Rise of the Minions 

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

Further Reading:

- Inside Hollywood’s Big ‘Wicked’ Gamble 

- ‘Wicked’ Flies High on Big Screen, With $114 Million Opening Weekend 

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After recognizing his nomination was facing an uphill battle, former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for U.S. Attorney General. WSJ's Sadie Gurman describes how president-elect Donald Trump's first pick unraveled and why he chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role instead.

Further Reading:

-Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdraws 

-Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration as Trump's Attorney General 

-Matt Gaetz Had Sex With 17-Year-Old, Witness Told House Ethics Committee 

Further Listening:

-The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump’s Cabinet

-What a Republican Congress Could Mean for Trump 

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When TNT lost the rights to broadcast NBA games this year, fans worried that the network’s long-running popular show “Inside the NBA” would also end. But, as WSJ’s Joe Flint explains, a complicated trade has allowed the show to live on. 

Further Listening:

- The NBA’s Media Rights Are Up For Grabs. Billions Are At Stake. 

- The Media Mogul Taking an Ax To Hollywood 

Further Reading:

- Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA Settle Legal Battle Over TV Rights 

- Warner’s TNT Sues NBA, Alleging Breach of Media-Rights Contract 

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For years, Spirit Airlines soared with a low-cost, no-frills business model. This week, it came in for a bumpy landing. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how the big airlines learned to compete with Spirit––and helped put the carrier in bankruptcy.

Further Listening:

-The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines 

-Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines 

Further Reading:

-How Spirit Airlines Went From Industry Maverick to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy 

-Discount Airline Spirit Files for Bankruptcy 

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