Author: The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are the Oscar winning director and producer behind some of Hollywood's most memorable movies like A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and The Da Vinci Code. The duo, who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1985, sat down with WSJ's Ben Fritz at the Future of Everything Festival to talk about longevity in Hollywood, AI in movie production and the future of movies.

Further Listening: 

- Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on ‘Wicked’

- With Great Power, Part 1: Origin Story

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This week, an obscure trade court dropped a bombshell ruling: President Trump did not have the authority to issue sweeping tariffs under a 1977 law. The government has appealed the court’s decision. WSJ’s James Fanelli and Gavin Bade dig into the ruling and what it could mean for the future of Trump’s trade agenda. Annie Minoff hosts.

Further Listening:

The Tariff Trade Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices 

A Tariff Loophole Just Closed. What That Means for Online Shopping 

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In May, President Trump signed an executive order cutting off federal funding for public broadcasters, including NPR and PBS. In his order, Trump said “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.” WSJ’s Joe Flint breaks down the decades-long fight over public media, and NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher explains why her network is challenging the Trump administration in court. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

-For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers, It's Time to Pay 

-Can the GOP Unite Around Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'? 

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The Trump administration is starting to put millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers into collections and threatening to confiscate their wages, tax refunds and federal benefits.

WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin digs into what the restart could mean for borrowers and the economy. Annie Minoff hosts. 

Further Listening:

-Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt 

-Breaking Down Student Debt Relief 

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Meta has gone all in on chatbots. The bots are capable of giving advice, answering questions and playing games with users. Some feature the licensed voices of some celebrities. But after months of testing, the Wall Street Journal found Meta's chatbots were also capable of engaging in graphic romantic roleplay, even with young users. Some people inside the company are concerned. Jeff Horwitz reports and Kate Linebaugh hosts for the last time.

Further Listening:

- Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly? 

- The Facebook Files 

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We're off for Memorial Day but with summer reading season just beginning, we wanted to share this episode.

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. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

This episode was first published in December 2024.

Further Listening:

-The Rise of the Tween Shopper 

-Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans 

-Scholastic's Succession Drama 

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Economists have long analyzed data to predict the next recession. They’ve also turned to more offbeat economic gauges like underwear sales and skirt lengths. But now, the TikTok generation is seeing recession indicators everywhere. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang explains what Gen Z’s fascination with harbingers of economic doom might actually mean for the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

- Is the Economy… OK? 

- Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed? 

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Some consumers and lawmakers upset over high egg prices believe they’ve found a villain: Cal-Maine. The little-known company produces one out of every five eggs sold in the U.S. And in the midst of a national egg shortage and a bird flu epidemic, Cal-Maine has been raking in the profits. But are the accusations against Cal-Maine fair? WSJ’s Patrick Thomas investigates. Annie Minoff hosts.

 

Further Listening:

-An Eggspensive Dilemma 

-Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs

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Blockbuster drugs. Rising profits. Strong sales. And yet, Novo Nordisk, the Danish company behind the GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, made a surprising move last week: It pushed out its CEO. WSJ's Peter Loftus charts the rise of Ozempic and the fall of CEO Lars Jorgensen. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

Trillion Dollar Shot 

Why WeightWatchers Wants in on Drugs Like Ozempic  

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President Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill today to urge passage of his multitrillion dollar tax and spending agenda. The bill is a complex piece of legislation that includes tax cuts, spending increases, spending reductions and some tax hikes. In total, it would increase budget deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on the testy debate inside the GOP over the bill. Jessica Mendoza hosts.    

Further Listening:

-Trump 2.0: The First 100 Days 

-Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade 

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