Author: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. It capped off a boisterous, speaker-packed week in Chicago as the Harris campaign tries to reach a broad swath of American voters. Molly Ball reports from Chicago. 

Further Listening:

- Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track?  

- Takeaways from the RNC: Trump Is in Control 

Further Reading:

- Kamala Harris Defines the Democrats’ New Normal 

- Democrats’ Upbeat Convention Has Nancy Pelosi to Thank 

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In May, an associate at Bank of America died unexpectedly after working long hours on a big acquisition. The death sparked an outcry about the all-nighters and 100-hour weeks that grind down young investment bankers. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy spoke to over three dozen current and former employees about a pervasive culture of overwork at the bank.

Further Reading:

-How Bank of America Ignores Its Own Rules Meant to Prevent Dangerous Workloads 

-Bank of America Urges Bankers to Sound Alarm on Overwork After WSJ Investigation 

Further Listening:

-Lewd Photos, Booze and Bullying: Inside the FDIC’s Toxic Culture 

-JPMorgan's $75 Million Jeffrey Epstein Settlement 

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Last week, Starbucks ousted its CEO Laxman Narasimhan and replaced him with Brian Niccol, the current leader of Chipotle. Lauren Thomas reports on the dramatic leadership change, as Starbucks struggles to turn around its business and contend with activist investors.  

Further Listening:

- Can Chinese Customers Rescue Starbucks?  

- The Underdog Coffee Bean That’s Making a Comeback 

Further Reading:

- Inside Starbucks’s Surprising CEO Firing and Hiring 

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The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago, where the party aims to unite behind its new nominee for president, Kamala Harris. But the war in Gaza, and American military aid for Israel, is dividing the party. WSJ’s Sabrina Siddiqui explains why that fracture could impact the Harris campaign.

Further Reading:

-DNC 2024 Live Updates 

-DNC Protesters Have a Message for Kamala Harris: ‘Talk Is Cheap’ 

-Pro-Gaza Activists Size Up Kamala Harris 

Further Listening:

-The Economy: Trump vs. Harris 

-Trump Courts the Union Vote 

-Pro-Palestinian Protests and Arrests at U.S. Colleges 

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Last week, the two presidential candidates put forward some specific policy proposals about the economy. WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia breaks down what each candidate is proposing.

Further Reading:

- Harris Calls for Expanded Child Tax Credit, 3 Million New Housing Units 

- Harris, Trump Propose Divergent, Costly Solutions for Inflation 

Further Listening:

- Is the Trump Campaign Going Off Track? 

- 'Phony' and 'Weird.' Trump and Harris Size Each Other Up 

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WSJ’s Molly Ball breaks down the past week for the Trump campaign as the former president continues to try and counter a surge of support for Harris. Plus, do undecided voters truly exist? Molly answers your questions.

Further Reading:

- Race Is On To Reach the Rapidly Shrinking Pool of Undecided Voters 

- Inside Elon Musk’s Hands-On Push to Win 800,000 Voters for Trump 

Further Listening:

- The Week that Changed the Presidential Race 

- Kamala Harris, In Context  

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Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki died last week at the age of 56. WSJ’s Miles Kruppa shares how Wojcicki developed a reputation as perhaps the most important Google employee that few people have heard of outside of the company’s walls.

Further Reading:

-Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Dies at Age 56 

-YouTube’s Susan Wojcicki on Transforming the Video Service 

Further Listening:

-Why the DOJ Is Suing Google Again 

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In the past three months, Robby Starbuck has fueled social-media attacks that have led to two companies rolling back their diversity initiatives. He is part of a larger movement that is pushing back against diversity, equity and inclusion policies at companies. WSJ’s Chip Cutter reports. 

Further Listening:

-Conservatives Come for ESG 

Further Reading:

-The Activist Pushing Companies to Ditch Their Diversity Policies 

-Diversity Goals Are Disappearing From Companies’ Annual Reports 

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After years of pressure from the U.S., China is imposing new restrictions on chemicals used in the production of fentanyl. WSJ’s Brian Spegele says the move marks a small step forward after nearly a decade of sometimes-tense negotiations.

Further Reading:

-China Restricts Fentanyl Chemicals After Years of U.S. Pressure 

Further Listening:

-The Push to Test Drugs for Fentanyl 

-How a Balloon Burst U.S.-China Relations 

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In June, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station. But issues with its propulsion system have called into question its safety. Now, NASA is weighing alternatives to bring the astronauts home. WSJ’s Micah Maidenberg shares how the Starliner program has faced a bevy of problems and what it means for Boeing.

Further Reading:

- Boeing Sent Two Astronauts Into Space. Now It Needs to Get Them Home. 

- NASA Says Starliner Astronauts Could Return With SpaceX—Next Year 

- Two Astronauts Are Stuck in Space. Here’s How They’re Passing the Time. 

Further Listening:

- Elon Musk’s Unusual Relationships With Women at SpaceX 

- The New Race to the Moon 

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