For decades, Germany has relied on manufacturing and exports – a model that made it the world’s third largest economy. But that model is breaking down, and the country’s leaders are offering few alternatives in the upcoming election. WSJ’s Tom Fairless and Bertrand Benoit discuss Germany’s downturn and what can be done about it.

Further Reading: 

- Germany’s Economic Model Is Broken, and No One Has a Plan B 

- Why Germany’s Confidence Is Shattered and Its Economy Is Kaput 

Further Listening: 

- Trump 2.0: Shaking Up Europe 

- Germany’s Difficult Breakup with Russian Energy 

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The Trump Administration turns its focus to Europe as President Trump signals a willingness to cooperate with Russia. WSJ’s Alex Ward joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what that means for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Further Reading:

-Trump’s Turn to Russia Spooks U.S. Allies Who Fear a Weakened NATO 

-Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Signals New World Order Taking Shape 

Further Listening:

-Trump 2.0: The Musk-Trump Bromance 

-R.I.P. CFPB? 

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A controversy among YouTube influencers has led to a series of lawsuits accusing browser extensions like PayPal Honey of swiping their commissions. PayPal said it disagrees with the claims in these lawsuits and look forward to defending itself. The litigation shines a light on the sometimes murky world of affiliate marketing, a $12 billion business. 

Further Reading:

-Creators Insist Coupon Browser Extensions Are Stealing Their Money. Will the Courts Agree? 

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In recent years, most home insurers were fleeing areas of California with high risk for wildfires. But State Farm was there, dominating the market. Then, just months before the devastating L.A. fires, the company dropped 30,000 homeowners from their books. WSJ’s Jean Eaglesham explains how the risk that State Farm unloaded is now a problem for the rest of California. 

Further Reading:

-State Farm Was All In on California – Until it Pulled the Plug Before the Fires 

-Insurers’ Rule Change Puts California Homeowners on the Hook for L.A. Fire 

Further Listening:

-Their L.A. Neighborhood Burned. Two Residents Find What’s Left.  

-Insuring a Home in California Is Getting Harder 

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John Barnett worked at Boeing for nearly 30 years. Before he left the company, he filed a whistleblower complaint, alleging he was retaliated against for raising safety concerns. Last March, after two days of testimony, he was found dead in his truck. Police ruled his death a suicide. We tell the story of Barnett’s life, and death, as a Boeing whistleblower. 

Further Reading:

- Boeing CEO Apologizes to MAX Crash Families, Calls Culture ‘Far From Perfect’

- The Disarray Inside Boeing’s 737 Factory Before the Door Plug Blowout 

- Can Boeing Be Fixed? Aerospace Leaders Offer a Repair Manual 

Further Listening:

- The Failures Inside Boeing's 737 Factory 

- A Hole in a Plane and a Headache for Boeing 

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We’re off for Presidents Day, but we wanted to reshare this episode.

Walmart is offering higher pay, bonuses and more stock options this year to retain and attract managers. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer spent a day with one manager, Nichole Hart, to understand why the job is commanding such a high salary these days, and why Hart logs about 20,000 steps a day.

This episode was originally published in May 2024.

Further Reading:

-A Day in the Life of a Walmart Manager Who Makes $240,000 a Year 

-Walmart Takes On Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods With New Premium Brand 

Further Listening:

-What Walmart’s Aisles Say About the American Consumer 

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At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump suspended most U.S. foreign aid, causing vast confusion and concern around the world. One affected program was PEPFAR, the bipartisan initiative that works to fight HIV/AIDS globally. WSJ’s Nicholas Bariyo from Uganda and Michael M. Phillips from Kenya report. And we hear from Karl Hoffman, the CEO of the public health organization HealthX Partners. 

Further Listening:

-Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart 

Further Reading:

-Trump Aid Whiplash Hits Refugees, AIDS Patients Worldwide 

-Trump Order Freezing Foreign Aid Halts Programs Worldwide, Prompts Confusion and Rush for Waivers 

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It’s been a busy month in D.C. for Elon Musk. WSJ’s Tim Higgins joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss what Musk’s strategies as a CEO can tell us about his plans for DOGE and the federal government. Plus, we get into Trump’s relationship with the judiciary and take a question from a listener about American expansionism. 

Further Reading:

-Musk Brings His Business Playbook to Washington: Move Fast and Claim Victory 

-DOGE, Musk and Trump—Our Reporters Answered Your Questions 

Further Listening:

-R.I.P. CFPB? 

-Trump 2.0: Less Foreign Aid, More Tariffs 

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Dating app companies are seeing a decline in demand, so they’re looking to recruit a new matchmaker: AI. WSJ’s Belle Lin reports on Grindr’s big bet that its new AI “wingman” will help its users find love. And we talk to someone who tried it. 

Further Reading:

- Grindr Aims to Build the Dating World’s First AI ‘Wingman’ 

Further Listening:

- The Price of Dating Apps  

- ‘Love Is Blind’ Is Back. Not All the Drama Is On-Screen 

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Netflix’s hit reality show “Love is Blind” returns this Friday with its eighth season. But behind the scenes, there is a legal battle brewing over the treatment of cast members looking for love. We spoke to a former participant and others in the industry about how this could change reality TV. 

Further Reading:

-How ‘Love Is Blind’ Helped Netflix Crack the Reality-TV Code 

Further Listening:

-James Bond Is Missing. He's Trapped in a Fight With Amazon. 

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

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The Trump administration's newly installed acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Russell Vought is closing the agency and has ordered staff to halt all work. WSJ’s Brian Schwartz explores what the agency does and why it’s become the next target for Trump allies like Vought and Elon Musk.

Further Listening:

- Trump 2.0: Less Foreign Aid, More Tariffs 

- Inside USAID as Elon Musk and DOGE Ripped It Apart 

- Trump’s Tariff Whiplash 

Further Reading:

- CFPB to Close Office After Vought Tells Staff to Halt All Supervision 

- Russell Vought Taking Over as New Acting Head of CFPB 

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