Meta has gone all in on chatbots. The bots are capable of giving advice, answering questions and playing games with users. Some feature the licensed voices of some celebrities. But after months of testing, the Wall Street Journal found Meta's chatbots were also capable of engaging in graphic romantic roleplay, even with young users. Some people inside the company are concerned. Jeff Horwitz reports and Kate Linebaugh hosts for the last time.

Further Listening:

- Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly? 

- The Facebook Files 

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We're off for Memorial Day but with summer reading season just beginning, we wanted to share this episode.

BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

This episode was first published in December 2024.

Further Listening:

-The Rise of the Tween Shopper 

-Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans 

-Scholastic's Succession Drama 

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Economists have long analyzed data to predict the next recession. They’ve also turned to more offbeat economic gauges like underwear sales and skirt lengths. But now, the TikTok generation is seeing recession indicators everywhere. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang explains what Gen Z’s fascination with harbingers of economic doom might actually mean for the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

- Is the Economy… OK? 

- Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed? 

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Some consumers and lawmakers upset over high egg prices believe they’ve found a villain: Cal-Maine. The little-known company produces one out of every five eggs sold in the U.S. And in the midst of a national egg shortage and a bird flu epidemic, Cal-Maine has been raking in the profits. But are the accusations against Cal-Maine fair? WSJ’s Patrick Thomas investigates. Annie Minoff hosts.

Further Listening:

-An Eggspensive Dilemma 

-Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs

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Blockbuster drugs. Rising profits. Strong sales. And yet, Novo Nordisk, the Danish company behind the GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, made a surprising move last week: It pushed out its CEO. WSJ's Peter Loftus charts the rise of Ozempic and the fall of CEO Lars Jorgensen. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

Trillion Dollar Shot 

Why WeightWatchers Wants in on Drugs Like Ozempic  

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President Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill today to urge passage of his multitrillion dollar tax and spending agenda. The bill is a complex piece of legislation that includes tax cuts, spending increases, spending reductions and some tax hikes. In total, it would increase budget deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on the testy debate inside the GOP over the bill. Jessica Mendoza hosts.    

Further Listening:

-Trump 2.0: The First 100 Days 

-Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade 

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It was supposed to be the highlight of New York’s spring auction week: Sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s masterpiece “Large Thin Head” was this year’s most hotly anticipated piece up for sale. But when the bidding opened, collectors went silent. WSJ’s Kelly Crow explains what this unexpected auction week bust reveals about today’s art market. Annie Minoff hosts. 

Further Listening:

- The $6 Million Banana's Appeal 

- Is This Painting a Masterpiece? AI Is On the Case 

- The Basquiat Sisters on Managing One of Art's Hottest Brands 

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A global team of betting whizzes hatched a scheme to take down the Texas Lottery. The plan was led by a London banker-turned-bookmaker and a mysterious professional gambler nicknamed ‘The Joker.’ The duo partnered with a Texas company and local retailers to print more than 99% of all the lottery tickets sold. And the jackpot was worth almost $100 million. The WSJ’s Brad Reagan explains how they pulled off the heist. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

- How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist 

- Inside an iPhone Heist 

- How Investigators Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heist 

- Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos 

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Air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport have recently experienced several frightening incidents. Their radars and radios have gone dark, potentially risking the lives of hundreds of passengers. The resulting chaos and delays are forcing government officials to address staffing shortages and outdated tech at the Newark facility, and nationwide. WSJ’s aviation reporter Andrew Tangel talks with one air traffic controller about the difficulties of the job. Annie Minoff hosts.  

Further Listening:

-Your Flight Delay Is Probably New York’s Fault 

-The Life and Death of a Boeing Whistleblower 

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Billions of health insurance claims are processed every year, and around 19% of them are denied. Very few people appeal, but those that do have a chance at a different outcome. Jessica Mendoza speaks to one family about the insurance denial that threw them into a life-or-death crisis, and WSJ’s Julie Wernau on the system they navigated.

Further Listening:

- Even Doctors Are Frustrated With Health Insurance 

- The Cyberattack That's Roiling Healthcare 

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