The Journal.

Private credit was the hottest craze on Wall Street. Throughout the boom, one firm became its poster child, Blue Owl. But a recent panic posed a troubling question. What happens if investors suddenly want out at the same time? WSJ's Matt Wirz reports on the turmoil and explains why private credit is something American workers need to pay attention to. Ryan Knutson hosts. 

Further Listening:

- The Wall Street Craze Jamie Dimon Can’t Resist. Even If It Blows Up.

- Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Coming for Your 401K

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After years of industrial decline, the Germany economy is stagnant. Government officials now hope an audacious plan, to pivot from consumer goods to weapons, will kickstart growth again. WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski explains how the same factories built to make German car parts are now gearing up to supply the defense industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Global Scramble for Patriot Missiles

- Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B.

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Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday after a possible government bailout plan fell apart. WSJ’s Alison Sider reports on the company’s challenging last few years and what the end of Spirit means for travelers. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Why Air Travel Costs Will Continue to Rise

- How Spirit Airlines Landed in Bankruptcy

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Last year, a massive cyberweapon terrorized the internet. It launched thousands of DDoS attacks, threatening tens of millions of people around the world. The weapon came to be known as Kimwolf. WSJ’s Robert McMillan reports that cybersecurity experts were stumped. Kimwolf’s attacks seemed to be launched from millions of internet-connected devices like TV boxes, cameras and picture frames. Eventually, the experts got help from an unlikely ally: a 22-year-old college senior named Benjamin Brundage. Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben about how he might have saved the internet.

To check if your network is secretly connected to a residential proxy network, here are a few tips.

Further Listening:

- Cybersecurity Braces for AI ‘Bugmaggedon’

- ‘Hack Me If You Can’ from The Journal

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Tariffs, inflation and an energy crisis have driven up the cost of nearly every consumer good. Despite those economic headwinds, IKEA has tried to keep its furniture affordable. Juvencio Maeztu is the CEO of the Ingka Group, IKEA’s largest franchise, and he explains how the company is making the numbers work. Ryan Knutson hosts. 

Further Listening:

Can Burger King Regain Its Crown?

The Battle to Be the King of Retail: Walmart vs. Amazon

Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community?

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In China, humanoid robots are on the rise. Robots with heads and torsos have been spotted staffing the front desk at hotels, working factory floors, and serving lattes. It's all thanks to an investment boom and subsidies from the Chinese government, which is betting on "embodied AI" as the next frontier in a global arms race. WSJ's Yoko Kubota explains how China's robots got so good, and what the US is doing to catch up. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy

- The Man Leading Trump’s AI Charge Against China

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Meta is kicking its AI transformation into high gear. The Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram parent is getting aggressive about AI talent, integrating AI technology into employees’ workflows and even developing an AI agent to help its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Last week, the company announced a 10% cut in its global workforce. WSJ’s Meghan Bobrowsky unpacks what the pivot means for the AI race and the company’s employees. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

Why Meta Is Offering $100 Million for AI Geniuses

The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety

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The war in Iran has sparked a global jet fuel crunch, sending prices soaring. Now, airlines are passing costs onto travelers, with higher ticket prices and additional fees. WSJ’s Matthew Dalton and Alison Sider explain how jet fuel has been caught up in the crisis and why airlines aren't planning to lower prices anytime soon. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How China Keeps Iran's Oil Industry Afloat

- The Airline Industry Has a Toxic Fume Problem

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Four days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an Emirati royal known as the “spy sheikh” secretly purchased a stake in Trump's cryptocurrency venture World Liberty Financial for half a billion dollars.

In the second of two episodes about World Liberty Financial, WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus details what the Sheikh received from the Trump Administration following his deal with the Trump family’s crypto company. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza.

Further Listening:

- The Crypto President: Part 1

- Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Coming for Your 401k

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At the height of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for re-election in 2024, Trump gathered with his sons and longtime friend Steve Witkoff to launch a new money machine: a crypto company called World Liberty Financial. Since its launch less than two years ago, the company has earned the Trump family at least $1.2 billion dollars. It turns out much of that has come from secret business dealings with foreign-owned companies. 

In the first of two episodes diving into World Liberty Financial, WSJ’s Angus Berwick explains how a billionaire felon boosted Trump’s crypto company en route to a presidential pardon. Hosted by Jessica Mendoza.

Further Listening:

- Big Banks vs. Big Crypto

- Severed Fingers and Wrench Attacks: A New Era in Crypto Crime

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