The Journal.

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...

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 Adedoy...

When New Rochelle, NY was faced with a declining population and economy, it set out on a building spree. A decade into the effort, the city – which sits just north of New York City – actually managed to keep rents down, bucking a nationwide trend. WSJ’s Rebecca Picciotto shares how New Rochelle navigated red tape and some community opposition to build thousands of new housing units. Jessica Mendoz...

The Trump administration has made big moves to intervene in critical industries – from computer chips to rare earth minerals to steel. WSJ’s chief economics commentator, Grep Ip, says that these efforts could suggest the U.S. might be moving away from free market capitalism and towards what he calls state capitalism, American-style. Now, Greg is wondering if the U.S. economic system is starting to...

After months of quiet behind the scenes’ lobbying in both Washington and Beijing, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has secured a deal to protect tens of billions of dollars in future sales from the heated U.S.-China trade rivalry. WSJ’s Lingling Wei profiles the CEO’s transformation from co-founder to corporate lobbyist. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- How Intel’s CEO Became a Political Liabilit...

A couple in Los Angeles say they wanted a big family. Surrogates who carried their children say they were deceived. WSJ’s Katherine Long explains why an investigation into a family who say they have 22 children is raising alarm among the commercial surrogacy industry, a fast-growing and multibillion-dollar market. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:  - America's Maternal Mental Health Crisis...

Derek Mobley spent years applying for jobs online after he got laid off. After more than 100 rejections, he started to wonder whether Workday – the popular online recruiting platform – was to blame. Now, Mobley is suing Workday, alleging that the company’s hiring algorithm discriminated against him. Derek shares his experience, and WSJ’s Lauren Weber explains how his lawsuit got this far. Annie Mi...

President Trump has called for the resignation of Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. Tan played a key role in building up China’s chip industry, earning him the nickname “Mr. Chip.” Now his ties to China have opened him up to criticism, just as he’s struggling to turn Intel’s business around. WSJ’s Stu Woo explains how Tan attracted the President’s attention, and what it says about the ongoing U.S.-China te...

Europe has mostly been spared from the synthetic opioid crisis that has ravaged the U.S. over the past two decades. But now, a deadly new drug could be changing that: nitazenes. Up to 15 times stronger than fentanyl, nitazenes have been behind hundreds of overdose deaths in European countries over the past few years. WSJ's Sune Rasmussen on where the drug comes from and why it's doing so much dama...

The Silicon Valley company Palantir spent years treading water as a tech outsider in the S&P 500. The company's recent success, as WSJ’s Heather Somerville reports, is due in large part to CEO Alex Karp’s ability to find opportunities in crises, as well as to the Trump administration. Michelle Hackman hosts.   Further Listening: - Inside ICE’s Aggressive Approach to Arresting Migrants- Why Trump I...

There’s a new game selling out stadiums around the country: banana ball. The game’s founder, Jesse Cole, describes how he got started. And WSJ’s Jason Gay watched a game to see what Major League Baseball – and other pro sports – can learn from banana ball’s fan-first approach. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further listening: - NCAA President on New Era for College Sports - How Parlays Became the Biggest...

An ugly-cute monster has become a global sensation. PopMart, the company behind Labubus, has leveraged blind-box packaging, scarcity and artist collaborations to turn these collectible plushies into a booming business. WSJ's Kaitlyn Wang explains the rise of the Labubu and a "Labubu influencer" describes the appeal. Michelle Hackman hosts. Further Listening: - How the Stanley Cup Became the Intern...

Disney is grappling with how to push forward into a new AI era without losing control of its valuable intellectual property. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel takes us inside the company's complicated relationship with AI and its race to figure out how to leverage the new technology for maximum gain – without putting too much at risk. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Download That Led to a Mass...

Dr. Marty Makary has criticized the Food and Drug Administration for being "captured" by Big Food and Big Pharma. Now, the surgeon and former professor is in charge. In an interview with host Jessica Mendoza, the new FDA head talks about food dyes, AI, vaccines and the big changes he has in store for an agency that regulates one-fifth of consumer spending. Further Listening:  Why Coke Isn't Gettin...

On Friday, President Trump fired the top Bureau of Labor Statistics official after the government published new data showing that U.S. hiring slowed sharply this summer. The jobs report was the weakest in President Trump’s second term. WSJ’s Matt Grossman reports on the economist at the heart of the controversy, Erika McEntarfer, and on bigger concerns around data from the bureau. Jessica Mendoza...

Over the last few months, President Donald Trump has struck numerous trade deals with countries and continues to negotiate with others. The European Union, Japan and South Korea all agreed to a tariff rate of 15%. WSJ’s Greg Ip says Trump has succeeded on his own terms and created a new trade world order, albeit a fragile one. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- A Pharmaceutical Executive o...

When President Donald Trump posted that he'd been in talks with Coca-Cola, and that the sodamaker would soon be making Coke with cane sugar, it sent the soda world into a fizz. WSJ's Laura Cooper explains why Coca-Cola and other sodamakers originally made the switch from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup and why it would be hard to go back. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening:- ‘It Came out of N...

A delicious corporate rivalry is brewing! After an accounting fraud scandal nearly derailed its rise, Luckin Coffee has become the top-selling coffee chain in China. Now it’s expanding stateside, with two new locations in New York City. WSJ’s Hannah Miao  explains why Luckin’s tech-forward business model made it a winner in China, and whether Starbucks can fend off the competition by returning to...

After decades, Volkswagen brought its iconic VW bus back to the U.S., this time as a fully electric vehicle. But after years of buzz, the new model is falling flat. WSJ’s Sean McLain explores the hype around the ID.Buzz and why it struggled to capture American hearts and dollars. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: -Kia and Hyundai’s ‘Kia Boyz’ Problem -Will Honda Be Nissan's Ride or Die? -T...

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would impose up to a 200% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, though he would give them up to a year and a half before fully implementing the tariffs. Trump’s goal is to bring more manufacturing to the United States, but one pharmaceutical CEO, Richard Saynor of Sandoz, says there is little incentive to build in the U.S. Jessica Mendoza...

Last week, CBS cancelled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The network said that ending the show was “purely a financial decision.” Over the years, late-night audiences and profits have dwindled. But some fans have suggested the move was partly political: CBS pulled the plug just days after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS’s parent company, for agreeing to settle a lawsuit with President Trum...

Global diamond company De Beers spent decades convincing couples that true love required a diamond. But now, lab-grown diamonds that are identical to naturally-mined ones are flooding the market with cheaper options and reshaping the diamond business completely. WSJ’s Jenny Strasburg takes us inside the showdown in the diamond market, and we speak to a ring shopper weighing her options. Jessica Me...

Jamie Dimon, the cautious head of JPMorgan Chase, has consistently warned that private credit, the hottest trend on Wall Street, could trigger a financial blowup. So why is America’s biggest bank pouring money into it? WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy explains JPMorgan’s strategy and why you should care. Annie Minoff hosts.  Further Listening: - JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon on What’s Next for the Economy - Is...

Buc-ee's — the chain of road stops with a beaver mascot and a die-hard fanbase — is looking to expand westward. Its next stop is Palmer Lake, Colorado: a small, rural town known for its lush greenery and outdoor recreation. But some local residents are looking to “heave the beave.” And they have a powerful billionaire backing them: ‘cable cowboy' John Malone. WSJ’s Jim Carlton reports on this stan...

Tiny rare-earth magnets are used for building phones, electric cars, and submarines, but nearly all of them are mined and made in China. One U.S. company is trying to change that. WSJ’s Jon Emont spoke with MP Materials’ CEO about his goals for the mine, which has now made deals with the Pentagon, General Motors, and Apple. Can this industry come back the U.S.? Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further List...