Author: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The Etsy witch trend has taken witchcraft into the mainstream. These online witches are making their magical services available to anyone willing to pay for them. Want a job? Or a boyfriend? There’s a spell for that. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber explains why it pays to be a witch. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

-Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community?

-Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession

 

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On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced a highly anticipated quarter-point cut to interest rates. But the road to future rate cuts is pretty murky. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains how missing government data is obscuring the Fed’s view of the economy, and why Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a December rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion.” Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening: 

- The Government Shutdown: Who Will Blink First?

- The Drama at the Fed as It Debates Cutting Rates 

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In 2021, GM and its CEO Mary Barra announced a bold plan to go all electric by 2035. But falling consumer demand and shriveling government support has undermined GM’s electric plans. Now, as Sharon Terlep reports, GM has gone from one of the industry’s loudest EV champions to a leading opponent of government emissions rules and fuel-economy standards. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

-What Happened to GM’s All-Electric Bet?

-Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk

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J.M. Smucker is suing Trader Joe's over trademark infringement, accusing the company of copying its pre-made Uncrustables peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explores the battle over PB&Js is part of a broader anxiety for Big Food over the rise of private-label products. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour
- Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup

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Auto-parts maker First Brands Group, the company behind products like Autolite spark plugs and Fram oil filters, declared bankruptcy last month. Court filings have revealed a trove of irregularities and a $2 billion dollar hole. WSJ’s Alexander Gladstone says the bankruptcy is having an impact on the company’s lenders and on Wall Street. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening: 

- Trump’s Tariffs Cause Chaos in Auto Industry 

- How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy 

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Argentinians go to the polls this Sunday in the first major test of their leader, Javier Milei. Voters appear to be losing faith in his bold economic vision to resuscitate the country’s ailing economy. But Milei has a secret weapon: a close relationship with President Trump. WSJ’s Ryan Dubé explains why the U.S. government is bailing out Argentina. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

-Argentina’s New President Takes A Chainsaw to the Country’s Government

-The Bean at the Center of the Trade War

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In a conversation taped at The Journal live event, entrepreneurs and influencers Vivian Tu, Haley Sacks, and Brian Kelly sat down with Jessica Mendoza to explore personal finance in the social media era; exploring everything from generational wealth to how much crypto people should have in their portfolios.

Further Listening: 

• Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong

We had so much fun in NYC, keep an eye out for more live events across the U.S. soon!

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Chinese criminals have made more than $1 billion from scam text messages sent out across the U.S. and the world. The texts warn of unpaid fines and lure unsuspecting victims to fork over their credit-card details. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how the scheme works and why it’s been so hard to stop. Jessica Mendoza hosts.
 

Further Listening:

Pig-Butchering: A Texting Scam With a Crypto Twist

The Slaves Sending You Scam Texts

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Once among the world's fastest-growing religions, Mormonism is facing a 21st-century reckoning, driven by social media. Across Tiktok and Instagram an army of #exmo creators take on controversial aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ history. WSJ’s Georgia Wells reports on the growing online #exmo community and how the church is pushing back. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

- Why Utah Is Regulating Mom Influencers

- The Mormon Church's $100 Billion Secret Fund

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Steve Happ was packing to leave Tennessee for an evangelical mission to Uganda in 2023 when Bank of America told him it was canceling his church’s bank account and his credit cards. Happ soon became the symbol of a conservative complaint: Financial institutions are allegedly ’debanking’ people because of their religious or political views. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy on President Trump’s fight with the banks over debanking. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

-How a New 'Anti-Woke' Bank Stumbled

-Outcry at Bank of America Over Dangerous Workloads

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