Episode's summary
This past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B. - Will France Elect a Far-Right President? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B. - Will France Elect a Far-Right President? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episodes
The Money Problem Fueling France’s Riots
ListenedThis past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B. - Will France Elect a Far-Right President? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did OpenAI Just Catch a Spy?
ListenedOn Tuesday, OpenAI employee Abdulrahman Alfozan was charged with planting a recording device behind a conference room TV at its San Francisco headquarters. Imani Moise talks to WSJ’s Maxwell Zeff about the case, the suspect and why tech leaders are concerned about corporate espionage. Further Listening: - Apple vs. OpenAI - Inside a Debate at OpenAI Over Mass Shootings Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Sneak Peek Into Anthropic’s Business
ListenedAnthropic is preparing for what could be one of the biggest IPOs in history. WSJ's Anissa Gardizy got a look at a draft of the company's S-1. It reveals soaring revenue, a business heavily reliant on a few customers and a long list of risk factors, including the possibility of a catastrophic AI incident. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - The Great AI Freakout Has Begun - A Data Center Offered $26 Million for Her Land. She Said No. Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas
Listened“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters. This week: In 2024, President Trump made historic gains with voters in South Texas, especially Latinos. Now, many of these same voters are souring on the president and his party and considering swinging to Democrats in this year’s midterms. WSJ’s Elizabeth Findell and producer Matt Kwong talk to voters there about Trump, the senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and the issues that matter to them. Further Listening: - Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election - Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters Sign up for WSJ’s Politics newsletter. Illustration: James Walton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trump Turns on Ukraine
ListenedPresident Trump’s stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is evolving. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has made a series of decisions that critics say favor Russia. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to publicly confront Trump over the shift. WSJ’s Marcus Walker reports on what’s behind the shift and how the midterms factor in. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - An Exclusive Interview With Ukraine’s President Zelensky - Inside the U.S. Deal to Get Venezuela’s Oil Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices