WSJ What’s News

In great-power rivalries, it matters who's on your side. Twelve years since launching its Belt and Road infrastructure project, Beijing has funneled a trillion-plus dollars into projects in some 150 countries, literally planting its flag around the globe and acquiring a growing roster of economic and diplomatic partners in the process. In the first episode of our three-part series, “Building Influence,” the WSJ’s Gabriele Steinhauser and Lingling Wei, Boston University’s Kevin Gallagher and Stanford’s Eyck Freymann explain how the program has bolstered China’s economic security and given it a platform to cut deals that challenge Western-led norms and counterbalance U.S. influence. Luke Vargas hosts. Further Reading: China Shores Up Ties With Africa Despite Slowing Economy and Friction Over Debt How China Capitalized on U.S. Indifference in Latin America China’s Global Mega-Projects Are Falling Apart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What drove Intel shares higher? And why did Walmart shares tumble after its earnings report? Plus, how do investors see online-dating company Bumble’s turnaround efforts? Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 21. The Justice Department haslaunched a civil fraud investigation into UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage billing practices, sending its shares and broader U.S. stock indexes sliding. WSJ healthcare reporter Chistopher Weaver discusses what we know about the probe, its impact and where it could go next. Plus, the U.S. housing market logged another disappointing month in January. Reporter Nicole Friedman tells us what it would take to turn things around. And the Trump administration removes the acting director of ICE. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 21. WSJ finance editor Alex Frangos explains why expectations that President Trump’s policies would further strengthen the dollar haven’t panned out so far. Plus, Senate Democrats use a budget vote to make Republicans squirm. And WSJ housing reporter Rebecca Picciotto says we’re headed toward a landlord-friendly era… expect higher rents. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Listen: The Hardball Tactic Landlords Use to Tank Your Credit Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 20. Walmart reported bumper earnings from the fourth quarter, but offered a note of caution in its forecast of the year ahead, sending U.S. markets sliding. WSJ reporter Sarah Nassauer joins us to discuss what the company sees for the year ahead. Plus, the U.S. electrical grid is in need of an update, and President Trump’s tariffs could make that even more expensive. We hear from WSJ Heard on the Street columnist Jinjoo Lee about a potential chokepoint that could affect customers’ electric bills. And the Broccoli family resolves its dispute over the James Bond franchise and grants creative control to Amazon MGM Studios. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 20. President Trump’s feud with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make it difficult for Kyiv to salvage American support in its war against Russia, the WSJ’s James Marson says. Plus, Trump says he’s considering using part of the savings from Elon Musk’s cost-cutting drive to provide direct payments to Americans. And the WSJ’s Ben Katz explains how a new jet from Airbus is winning over customers in a segment Boeing used to dominate. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Further reading: DOGE Is Searching for Wasteful Spending. It Isn’t Hard to Find. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 19. Overseas automakers were counting on the U.S. market to keep their business humming; now, proposed tariffs could threaten it. WSJ European autos reporter Stephen Wilmot joins to talk about how car companies are preparing. Plus, startup data company Crunchbase is launching an AI-powered prediction tool. Belle Lin, who covers AI and enterprise technology for WSJ, talks about what could make that useful to investors. And President Trump trades barbs with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Alex Ossola hosts. Listen to “The Unraveling of Trevor Milton” on the Bad Bets podcast. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode for Feb. 19. President Trump wants to slash regulations to help big energy companies. But he also wants to see the price of crude oil fall, an unwelcome prospect for companies such as Exxon and Chevron. In their latest quarterly earnings reports oil giants watched their annual profits dip as a result of anemic natural-gas prices and slimmer margins in their refining operations. Now, many are trying to prepare for far less favorable market conditions and more strategy shifts ahead. Chip Cutter hosts this special bonus episode of What's News in Earnings, where we dig into companies’ earnings reports and analyst calls to find out what’s going on under the hood of the American economy. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 19. The president says levies could go even higher over time but suggests countries could negotiate for lower tariffs. Plus, Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro is charged with plotting a failed coup. And with the Trump administration turning up the pressure on Beijing, WSJ correspondent Brian Spegele details China’s race to become more self-sufficient. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 18. The Egg Clearinghouse connects large-volume buyers with sellers. WSJ agriculture reporter Patrick Thomas explains why it has a crucial role at a time when avian flu is limiting supplies. Plus, Coke and Pepsi are getting into the growing market for prebiotic sodas. WSJ beverage reporter Laura Cooper joins to discuss the companies’ plans. And the U.S. and Russia begin a formal process of negotiating the end of the war in Ukraine. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 18. The Trump administration tries to reset relations with Moscow and lay the groundwork for an agreement to end the Ukraine war. WSJ correspondent Michael R. Gordon dials in from Riyadh, where the talks are under way. Plus, a Delta Air Lines regional jet crashes and flips over while landing in Toronto, but all passengers and crew survive. And WSJ’s Take On the Week looks at what’s behind Walmart’s winning retail strategy. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has repeatedly said he wants to eliminate the federal Department of Education. Last week his nominee to lead the department, Linda McMahon, was grilled by senators about the plan at her confirmation hearing. WSJ education reporter Matt Barnum and national political reporter Ken Thomas discuss how Trump might follow through on his plan, the legal and political hurdles it could face, and what the impact would be on states and schools. Alex Ossola hosts. Further Reading: New Restraints at Education Department Jam Civil Rights Enforcement Trump Wants to End the Education Department. Here’s What That Means. Trump Advisers Weigh Plan to Dismantle Education Department Trump Says Musk’s DOGE Will Investigate Education Department, Pentagon American Kids Are Getting Even Worse at Reading, Test Scores Show Linda McMahon: Education Department Can’t Shut Down Without Congress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is Coca-Cola dealing with aluminum tariffs? And how are crypto’s gains benefiting Robinhood? Plus, why Unilever shares dropped. Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 14. The Department of Government Efficiency has taken on a number of government agencies recently, but none with a budget as vast and complex as the Defense Department. WSJ national security correspondent Nancy Youssef joins us to talk about how the Pentagon is preparing for a visit from DOGE. Plus, another star prosecutor steps down over the Justice Department’s directive to drop the case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. And WSJ travel reporter Jacob Passy tells us about a quaint state that’s surprisingly becoming one of the hottest aviation markets in the U.S. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 14. Vice President JD Vance tells the Journal that the U.S. could send troops to Ukraine if Moscow fails to negotiate to end the war there in good faith. But President Trump’s decision to hold direct talks with Russia is a win for President Vladimir Putin, and WSJ reporter Matthew Luxmoore says the Kremlin leader is in a position to play the long game. Plus, more than 200,000 federal workers become the focus of a new round of Trump administration layoffs. And TikTok returns to the Apple and Google mobile-app stores in the U.S. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 13. Senators voted to confirm vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary. WSJ reporter Liz Essley Whyte tells us how Kennedy overcame senators’ skepticism to win their votes. Plus, voters’ frustration with inflation helped Donald Trump win the White House; WSJ chief economics commentator Greg Ip joins us to talk about why getting rid of inflation might now be a challenge for the president. And President Trump signs a memo ordering federal agencies to study reciprocal tariffs. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 13. WSJ correspondent Summer Said says President Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and relocate Palestinians is prompting Arab states to set aside old political concerns and race to find an alternative–and putting pressure on an already fragile cease-fire. Plus, a judge lifts the freeze on a buyout offer for federal workers. And Elon Musk says he’ll withdraw his bid to control OpenAI if the board stops its conversion to a for-profit company. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 12. President Trump says he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have agreed to open immediate talks to end the war in Ukraine. WSJ national security correspondent Nancy Youssef discusses what we know about the shifting U.S. stance. Plus, inflation in January was higher than anticipated. We hear from Heard on the Street writer and WSJ’s Take On the Week co-host Telis Demos about what that could mean for the Federal Reserve. And House Republicans present their blueprint for a budget bill. Alex Ossola hosts. Follow the president’s activities with our Trump Tracker. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 12. WSJ columnist Spencer Jakab says a new twist on value investing is turning attention to companies returning gobs of cash to shareholders. But does that mean growth is dead? Plus, Elon Musk defends his government cost-cutting drive as President Trump hands DOGE more authority. And the WSJ’s Jason Douglas explains which countries are likely to bear the brunt of reciprocal tariffs promised by the president. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Feb. 11. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was in front of Congress today outlining a path for 2025, the day before the release of important inflation data. WSJ economics reporter Matt Grossman explains what the data could mean for the Fed. Plus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that Hamas must release hostages by noon Saturday, or face a return to war. And, experts want more people to know about the risk between alcohol and cancer. WSJ Your Health columnist Sumathi Reddy tells us what to know. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices