Author: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

At WSJ’s Tech Live, Jessica Mendoza sits down with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to discuss the pivotal moment in the U.S.-China AI race, how he thinks AI should be regulated, and whether or not the AI boom might be a bubble. 

Further Listening:

- Is the AI Boom… a Bubble?

- How a $1.5 Billion Settlement Could Alter the Course of AI 

- The Nvidia CEO’s Quest to Sell Chips in China

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The debate over healthcare subsidies has shut down the federal government for a historic length of time. With open enrollment underway, many Americans who pay for plans under the Affordable Care Act are experiencing sticker shock. Some costs have doubled, tripled, or even quintupled. WSJ’s Anna Wilde Matthews takes us inside the hefty premium hikes and explains why the high price tag could have an impact on the system as a whole. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

-The Healthcare Costs of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill

-Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare

-Medicare Inc. Part 2: Taxpayers Paid for care Denied by Insurers

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The historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel has reopened after an eight year saga that went $1 billion over budget. WSJ’s Craig Karmin takes us inside the deal to buy the hotel, the arrest of its new owner and the Chinese government’s takeover. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:
- Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos
- The Missing Minister

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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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