Author: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

In 2021, Tamar Veatch won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes competition run by Publishers Clearing House, the company best known for delivering oversized checks to winners. But then last April, Publishers Clearing House went bankrupt. WSJ’s Akiko Matsuda explains why the company went under, and what it means for winners like Tamar. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery
- How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in Sports

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Last month, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quit the brand after 47 years, accusing parent company Unilever of not allowing the company to speak out on social issues. Host Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben Cohen, the co-founder who stayed, about why he’s not leaving, what he wants next for the company, and why political messaging is important for his ice cream brand. 

Further Listening: 

- Why Ben & Jerry’s Is Suing its Parent Company Over Israel

- Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup

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For more than two years, Jennifer Foley has been an advocate for her brother Scott Spivey. But to get the criminal investigation into his death reopened, Jennifer has to convince some of the most powerful leaders in South Carolina that this was not a Stand Your Ground case. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports.

Read the Reporting:

Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story.

‘You’re Taken Care of’: Did Police Promise to Shield a Killer? 

Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In

Follow the Story:

Camp Swamp Road Playlist

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A group of investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm are acquiring videogame maker Electronic Arts. The $55 billion deal is the largest leveraged buyout of all time. WSJ’s Lauren Thomas takes us inside the historic buyout, exploring the company's fandom and legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening: 

Camp Swamp Road Series

Why Microsoft Is Paying $75 Billion for Activision Blizzard

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Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X with such a big burden. And one Gen Xer talks about the impact student debt has had on his life. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening: 

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

- Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt 

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Government funding lapsed early Wednesday morning after the White House and lawmakers failed to reach a spending deal, triggering a shutdown that is expected to halt some federal services and put hundreds of thousands of federal workers on furlough.​​ WSJ’s Natalie Andrews takes us inside the contentious dispute and explains why the gulf between Democrats and Republicans is wider than ever. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy
- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the Government

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Last week, President Donald Trump warned that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a potential cause of autism. Many medical professionals say the relationship between acetaminophen and autism is inconclusive, and Trump's comments went beyond what his own administration officials recommend. Still, the press conference caused a crisis at the company that makes Tylenol, Kenvue. WSJ’s Peter Loftus on Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry’s attempts to manage the Trump Administration and the new corporate crisis. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust

- Why Coke Isn’t Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup

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After former FBI director James Comey was indicted last week, Trump said that there may be more indictments coming. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman takes us inside the President’s push to prosecute the people he views as enemies and what this may mean for the future of the Justice Department. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening: 

- The Federal Reserve Under Siege

- Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

- Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term

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On Super Bowl Sunday, Jennifer Foley opened a police file and discovered 90 recorded phone calls from her brother’s killer. To Jennifer, what she heard completely undermined Weldon Boyd’s self-defense claims. But the calls also revealed that Boyd had a powerful friend. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports.

Read the Reporting:

Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In

Follow the Story:

Camp Swamp Road Playlist

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From the forests of Tanzania to the halls of power, Jane Goodall has spent her life fighting to protect wildlife. But as the planet warms and some governments retreat from environmentalism, is her mission slipping out of reach? Ryan Knutson interviews the renowned conservationist.

Further Listening

• The Head of the EPA on the Future of the Agency
• How the U.S. Fell Behind China on Climate Diplomacy

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