Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement that ends more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, Hezbollah. WSJ’s Jared Malsin takes us inside the deal and explores what it could mean for the region.

Further Reading:

-Israel Says Cease-Fire Takes Effect in Lebanon 

-Israel Approves Cease-Fire With Lebanon Aimed at Ending Hezbollah Conflict 

Further Listening:

-The Risk of an All-Out War in the Middle East 

-Exploding Pagers and the Risk of a Spreading War 

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After two weeks of uncertainty, Donald Trump nominated Scott Bessent, a longtime Wall Street investor, as his next Treasury secretary. The pick capped a behind-the-scenes battle one advisor called a “knife fight.” WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia takes us inside the decision, explores why Bessent triumphed and unpacks what his tenure could mean for the U.S. economy.

Further Reading:

-How Scott Bessent Won the ‘Knife Fight’ to Be Trump’s Treasury Secretary 

-Scott Bessent Sees a Coming ‘Global Economic Reordering.’ He Wants to Be Part of It. 

Further Listening:

-Gaetz, Bondi and Trump's Department of Justice 

-The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump's Cabinet 

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The movie musical “Wicked” collected a blockbuster $114 million in its opening weekend. Over the past year, Universal and its parent company Comcast have launched an all-out marketing blitz to blanket the world in “Wicked.” WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel reports on how it is the new Hollywood playbook.

Further Listening:
- The Curtain Closes on Phantom of the Opera 

- The Rise of the Minions 

- Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows 

Further Reading:

- Inside Hollywood’s Big ‘Wicked’ Gamble 

- ‘Wicked’ Flies High on Big Screen, With $114 Million Opening Weekend 

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After recognizing his nomination was facing an uphill battle, former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for U.S. Attorney General. WSJ's Sadie Gurman describes how president-elect Donald Trump's first pick unraveled and why he chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role instead.

Further Reading:

-Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdraws 

-Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration as Trump's Attorney General 

-Matt Gaetz Had Sex With 17-Year-Old, Witness Told House Ethics Committee 

Further Listening:

-The Scramble Is on to Fill Trump’s Cabinet

-What a Republican Congress Could Mean for Trump 

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When TNT lost the rights to broadcast NBA games this year, fans worried that the network’s long-running popular show “Inside the NBA” would also end. But, as WSJ’s Joe Flint explains, a complicated trade has allowed the show to live on. 

Further Listening:

- The NBA’s Media Rights Are Up For Grabs. Billions Are At Stake. 

- The Media Mogul Taking an Ax To Hollywood 

Further Reading:

- Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA Settle Legal Battle Over TV Rights 

- Warner’s TNT Sues NBA, Alleging Breach of Media-Rights Contract 

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For years, Spirit Airlines soared with a low-cost, no-frills business model. This week, it came in for a bumpy landing. WSJ's Alison Sider explains how the big airlines learned to compete with Spirit––and helped put the carrier in bankruptcy.

Further Listening:

-The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines 

-Frontier, Spirit and the Future of Low-Cost Airlines 

Further Reading:

-How Spirit Airlines Went From Industry Maverick to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy 

-Discount Airline Spirit Files for Bankruptcy 

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Earlier this year, Canadian convenience store company Alimentation Couche-Tard put in a bid to acquire 7-Eleven. Then, management from inside 7-Eleven’s parent company, Seven & i, proposed a record-breaking buyout to counter. WSJ’s Jinjoo Lee on the drama around who will own the world’s largest convenience store chain. 

Further Listening:

-The Fight Over U.S. Steel and the Community Caught in the Middle 

-Why the FTC is Challenging a $25 Billion Supermarket Merger 

Further Reading:

-The Fight for 7-Eleven Isn’t Just About Money 

-Talk of a 7-Eleven Takeover Has Japan Worried About the Rice Balls 

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Grocery bills are going up for a lot of reasons. One has to do with how food gets on grocery store shelves. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explains a hidden layer of fees that are getting passed down to the consumer. 

Further Reading:

- The Mysterious Fees Inflating Your Grocery Bill 

- After Years of Raising Prices, Food Companies Hit Consumers’ Limits 

Further Listening:

- The Twinkie: From Bankruptcy to Billions 

- Food Fight: PepsiCo vs. Carrefour 

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The Onion, the satirical news outlet, wants to buy Infowars, the platform conspiracy theorist Alex Jones used to defame families of the Sandy Hook massacre. Onion CEO Ben Collins shares why and John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, explains what it means to Sandy Hook families and the fight against disinformation.

Further Reading:

-The Onion Is Buying Alex Jones’s Infowars Site 

-Alex Jones Files for Bankruptcy Following Sandy Hook Trial Losses 

Further Listening:

-How Much Will Alex Jones Pay for his Sandy Hook Lie? 

-What One School District Is Doing About Rising Gun Violence 

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Leaders from around the world are meeting in Azerbaijan for the U.N.’s COP29 climate conference. With Donald Trump’s recent election victory looming over the event, the U.S.’s role will be diminished. WSJ’s Matthew Dalton explains why this moment might be China’s chance to shine.

Further Listening:

-The Oil Giant Hosting This Year’s U.N. Climate Summit 

-The Fight Over Climate Change's Price Tag 

Further Reading:

-Trump Victory Leaves China Calling the Shots at COP29 Climate Negotiations 

-Welcome to Baku, a City Built on Oil Hosting the World’s Climate Conference 

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