Author: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

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A hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania was acquired by a private equity firm that leveraged it to make shareholders millions. Now the facility has had to close its doors, leaving the community reeling. WSJ's Soma Biswas takes us inside the hospital’s bankruptcy and Jessica Mendoza speaks to a local emergency services executive about the impact on the local community in Chester. 

Further Listening: 

- Why Private Equity Is Buying Up Car Washes

- The Private Equity Lobby Wins Again

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Get more information about our first-ever live show here! Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5, 10am ET. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5, 10am ET.

Kraft Heinz, the huge company behind Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, Heinz Ketchup and Kraft Mac and Cheese, is splitting in two. Behind this split is a private equity company, the MAHA movement, and the "historically bad deal” that merged Kraft and Heinz in the first place. WSJ's Jesse Newman tells Jessica Mendoza about what’s changing in America’s pantry.

Further Listening: 

Breakfast Battle: The Cereal Industry vs MAHA

The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps 

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement is trying to triple its ranks of deportation officers. Flush with cash from President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” the agency is attempting to recruit and train an additional 10,000 officers. The push comes as the White House has set a goal of a million deportations by the end of Trump’s first year in office. It’s a pace that is roughly double what ICE is currently on track to achieve. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman tells Jessica Mendoza about her visit to an ICE training center in Georgia.

Further Listening:
- "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company.
- Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory

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Just a week after it unveiled a streamlined new design, Cracker Barrel has reversed its controversial decision to change its logo. WSJ's Heather Haddon unveils a behind the scenes corporate grudge from an activist investor who fueled the outrage.

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The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda has shaken big food companies already reeling from shifting consumer preferences. Cereal giant WK Kellogg, already struggling as Americans move away from cereal, is at the center of many MAHA attacks. WSJ’s Jesse Newman reports on Kellogg's journey from American icon to MAHA target. Allison Pohle hosts. 

Further Listening:

The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover

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

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The U.S. government is taking a 10% stake in Intel, a deal that caps a two-week frenzy for the troubled chip maker and marks the latest in a series of extraordinary private-sector interventions by President Trump. WSJ’s Robbie Whelan peels back the curtain on the unprecedented deal and shares details from the Oval Office meeting between Intel and the Trump administration. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

 

Further Listening:
- How Intel’s CEO Became a Political Liability
- Is American Capitalism in Retreat?
- The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips to China

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After months of demands for lower interest rates, President Donald Trump is attempting to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook in the most dramatic step yet in his efforts to take control of the independent central bank. As WSJ’s Matt Grossman explains, the move could allow Trump to alter the makeup of the board enough to potentially outvote Fed Chair Jerome Powell and recast the Fed in his image. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin
- Why Trump Pushed His Tariff Deadline

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Over a decade ago, home gardening giant Scotts Miracle-Gro made a bold push for growth in a nascent and controversial industry: cannabis. What was once the company’s lucrative bet is now a struggling business. WSJ’s Dean Seal explains how Scotts Miracle-Gro ventured into marijuana and why their early bet has shriveled up. Oyin Adedoyin hosts.

Further Listening: 

How the 'Napa Valley of Cannabis' Dried Up

The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry

The Drug You’ve Never Heard of Wreaking Havoc Across Europe

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When a pro-growth mayor in rural Tennessee dies unexpectedly, his vision for development is suddenly challenged. What began as a land dispute quickly escalates into a clash of values, dividing the deep-red county over the very definition of 'conservative.' WSJ's Cameron McWhirter reports on a fight between tradition and transformation, featuring two farmers on opposing sides. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:
- A Fight over Buc-ee’s and the Soul of the American West

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President Trump recently signed an executive order that could make it easier for everyday Americans to invest their retirement savings in assets that lie outside public markets, such as private equity, cryptocurrency and private real estate. WSJ’s Anne Targesen explains how 401ks have evolved, and the risks and rewards of adding these alternative assets to people’s retirement accounts. Oyin Adedoyin hosts.

Further Listening:
- The Wall Street Craze Jamie Dimon Can’t Resist. Even If It Blows Up.
- Private Equity Finally Can Get a Piece of the NFL

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