Cheap drones, once the domain of hobbyists, are now in high demand on battlefields. Following Hamas's attack on October 7, Israel has been flooding suppliers with requests for drones: it wants as many as possible, as soon as possible. WSJ’s Heather Somerville unpacks the benefits and perils of the use of off-the-shelf drones in modern warfare.

Further Reading:

-Israel Wants Inexpensive Drones. Chinese, American—It Doesn’t Matter. 

-How the Technological Revolution in Ukraine Is Reshaping Modern Warfare 

-U.S. Drone Startups See an Opening in Ukraine 

Further Listening:

-The Surprising Origins of Russia’s Drones 

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OpenAI unexpectedly fired its CEO and co-founder Sam Altman on Friday. The move kicked off a series of twists and turns that left the company and its staff in upheaval. WSJ’s Deepa Seetharaman wades through the chaos and explains what might be next for the company.

Further Listening:

- A Conversation with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Mira Murati 

- The Company Behind ChatGPT 

Further Reading:

- OpenAI Employees Threaten to Quit Unless Board Resigns 

- Sam Altman Is Out at OpenAI After Board Skirmish 

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A Wall Street Journal investigation found that only 14% of emergency departments nationwide have been certified to treat kids. WSJ’s Melanie Evans explains why this is a problem across the country, and one family recounts their son’s experience in an ER.

Further Reading:

-Find Hospitals Deemed Ready to Treat Children in Your Area 

-Children Are Dying in Ill-Prepared Emergency Rooms Across America 

-Emergency Rooms Are Failing Kids. This Hospital Stepped Up. 

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Inflation has been a big problem in the U.S. economy over the past couple of years. The Federal Reserve has been trying to tamp it down without crashing the economy. WSJ’s Amara Omeokwe explains why a so-called soft landing is coming into view.

Further Reading:

- Cooling Inflation Likely Ends Fed Rate Hikes 

- The Elusive Soft Landing Is Coming Into View 

- The Global Fight Against Inflation Has Turned a Corner 

Further Listening:

- Why a Soft Landing for the Economy Could Be Hard 

- Will the Fed Stop Raising Interest Rates? 

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The longest actors strike in Hollywood history finally came to an end last week. WSJ’s Joe Flint explains why it took so long, and how the industry might change as a result.

Further Listening:

-The Case of the Hollywood Shutdown 

-2023: The Year of the Strike 

-One Hollywood Writer on the Industry’s ‘Dire’ Situation 

Further Reading:

-The Actors Strike Is Over. Now Comes the Wait for New Films and Shows. 

-The Sticking Point That’s Keeping Actors on Strike 

-Hollywood Actors Reach Agreement With Studios, Streamers to End Strike 

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On Monday, Israeli troops reached Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa where Israel says Hamas conceals a major command center. WSJ’s Chao Deng and Margherita Stancati discuss what's happening at the hospital, where thousands of people, including patients and doctors, are trapped because of the fighting. 

Further Listening:

- For Palestinians Trapped in Gaza, There’s No Way Out 

- The War Between Israel and Hamas 

Further Reading:

- Israeli Forces Reach Gate of Gaza’s Largest Hospital 

- Israel Pushing for Hamas to Surrender Stricken Al-Shifa Hospital 

- Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital Goes Dark at Center of Israel-Hamas Battle Zone 

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An economic downturn in China has resulted in historically high youth unemployment. At the same time, China’s leader Xi Jinping thinks the countryside is in need of rejuvenation. WSJ’s Brian Spegele explains how the Chinese leader is trying to tackle both issues in one fell swoop.

Further Reading:

-China Has an Idea for Its Legions of Unemployed Youth: Send Them Away 

-How Bad is China’s Economy? Millions of Young People Are Unemployed and Disillusioned 

Further Listening:

-Why Millions of Chinese Young People Are Unemployed 

-China’s Property Market Crisis 

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The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is over. Rachel Humphreys and Caitlin Ostroff reflect on their month at court and answer outstanding questions about what happened at FTX, the trial and what comes next. Plus they reveal the final court cafeteria coffee tally.

Further Reading:

- Smoked Fish, Shaggy Hair and Tears: 8 Unforgettable Moments From Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial 

Further Listening:

- The Trial of Crypto’s Golden Boy 

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Former Meta engineer Arturo Bejar thought he could help make Instagram safer after his daughter experienced harassment on the platform. But Bejar said that his concerns were not sufficiently addressed by senior leadership at the company and that teens are still at risk for harassment and bullying on Meta's platforms.

Further Listening:

-The Facebook Files 

Further Reading:

-His Job Was to Make Instagram Safe for Teens. His 14-Year-Old Showed Him What the App Was Really Like. 

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Oregon became the first state to decriminalize all drugs in 2020. The goal was to steer people to treatment who otherwise might have faced jail time. WSJ’s Zusha Elinson explains why many in Oregon have since turned against the decriminalization initiative.

Further Reading:

- Oregon Votes to Decriminalize All Drugs, Allow Psilocybin for Mental-Health Treatment 

Further Listening:

- The Highs and Lows of Diversifying the Cannabis Industry 

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