In 2022, crypto markets were in turmoil, but Sam Bankman-Fried's empire seemed to weather it all. That is until one week in November, when he went from crypto's savior to its biggest villain. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff tracks the unprecedented collapse of Bankman Fried’s empire, and the big secret that would prove to be its downfall.

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Twinkies have been around for almost a hundred years. During the course of the cake’s history, the company that makes Twinkies went into bankruptcy twice. WSJ’s Jesse Newman explains the strategic changes and snacking trends that led J.M. Smucker to announce it is buying Hostess for $4.6 billion.

Further Listening:

-The Agony and the Ecstasy of Tab 

-Oatly Pioneered Oat Milk. Now it’s Struggling to Keep Up. 

-PepsiCo’s New Healthy Diet: More Potato Chips and Soda 

Further Reading:

-Why the Twinkie Is Now Worth Billions 

-Smucker Sets Sights on Snacks With $4.6 Billion Twinkies Deal 

-America Is Binging on Snacks, and Food Companies Are Eating It Up 

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TikTok had hardly any friends in the U.S. government when, earlier this year, the Biden administration and Congress threatened to ban the Chinese-owned video giant. WSJ’s Stu Woo profiles financier Jeff Yass, who made a big bet on the app and is a top donor to lawmakers opposing a ban.  

Further Listening:

- What’s Up With All the TikTok Bans? 

- Exclusive: TikTok’s CEO on the App’s Future in the U.S. 

- How TikTok Became the World’s Favorite App 

Further Reading:

- The Billionaire Keeping TikTok on Your Phone 

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JPMorgan is paying $75 Million to settle a lawsuit accusing the bank of aiding Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking. WSJ’s Dave Benoit delves into the twists and turns revealed during the legal proceedings and discusses what the settlement means for the bank’s reputation. 

Further Reading:

- JPMorgan Paying $75 Million to Settle Suit Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties 

- Jamie Dimon Says He Never Discussed Jeffrey Epstein’s Accounts at JPMorgan; Jes Staley Says Dimon Did 

- JPMorgan’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Were Deeper Than the Bank Has Acknowledged 

Further Listening:

- A $175 Million ‘Huge Mistake’ 

- How Jeffrey Epstein Made His Money 

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WSJ’s Nidhi Subbaraman on the scientists who moonlight as data detectives and whose discoveries have upended careers. 

Further Reading:

-The Band of Debunkers Busting Bad Scientists 

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After Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last month, he left behind a vast network of political connections, companies and mines throughout Africa. WSJ’s Benoit Faucon chronicles the rise of Wagner’s Dmitry Sytii, the current frontman of Wagner’s African operations. 

Further Reading:

- The Elusive Figure Running Wagner’s Embattled Empire of Gold and Diamonds 

Further Listening:

- The Plane Crash That Killed Yevgeny Prigozhin 

- The Mutiny That Shook Putin's Grip on Power 

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Before his downfall, Sam Bankman-Fried drew comparisons to Warren Buffett, J.P. Morgan and other titans of finance. As his trial approaches, WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff charts the meteoric rise of crypto’s golden boy, exploring how he sold customers and powerful people on his ideas, while hiding secrets under the hood of his flashy crypto empire. 

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Ties between Canada and India have sunk to a low. This week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India was potentially involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in a suburb of Vancouver, a charge India denies. WSJ’s Tripti Lahiri explains why the crisis is now ensnaring other big democracies.

Further Reading:

- India Suspends Visas for Canadians as Rift Over Killing Deepens 

- India Blasts Canada Over Trudeau’s Allegation That It Played Role in Killing 

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Rupert Murdoch, 92, announced he's stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, the two companies that have made him a force in global media. WSJ's Amol Sharma discusses how Murdoch became a media tycoon and what comes next for his empire.

Further Reading:

-Rupert Murdoch to Step Down as Chair of Fox and News Corp After Seven-Decade Career 

Further Listening:

-Behind the Breakup of Fox and Tucker Carlson 

-Dominion Voting Systems vs. Fox News 

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Federal Reserve officials voted to hold interest rates steady at a 22-year high but signaled they were prepared to raise rates once more this year to combat inflation. WSJ's Nick Timiraos explains the Fed’s “soft landing” goal of lowering inflation without crashing the economy.

Further Reading:

- Fed Holds Rates Steady but Pencils in One More Hike This Year 

- Why a Soft Landing Could Prove Elusive 

Further Listening:

- Will the Fed Stop Raising Interest Rates 

- Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell. So Builders Are Cashing In. 

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