For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay
The Trump administration is starting to put millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers into collections and threatening to confiscate their wages, tax refunds and federal benefits.
WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin digs into what the restart could mean for borrowers and the economy. Annie Minoff hosts.Â
Further Listening:
-Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student DebtÂ
-Breaking Down Student Debt ReliefÂ
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16:57
The Battle Within Meta Over Chatbot Safety
Meta has gone all in on chatbots. The bots are capable of giving advice, answering questions and playing games with users. Some feature the licensed voices of some celebrities. But after months of testing, the Wall Street Journal found Meta's chatbots were also capable of engaging in graphic romantic roleplay, even with young users. Some people inside the company are concerned. Jeff Horwitz reports and Kate Linebaugh hosts for the last time.
Further Listening:
- Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly?Â
- The Facebook FilesÂ
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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20:20
Readers Can’t Get Enough of BookTok. Publishers Are Cashing In.
We're off for Memorial Day but with summer reading season just beginning, we wanted to share this episode.BookTok, the corner of TikTok that’s all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry. Jessica Mendoza hosts.This episode was first published in December 2024.
Further Listening:
-The Rise of the Tween ShopperÂ
-Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book BansÂ
-Scholastic's Succession DramaÂ
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29:43
Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession
Economists have long analyzed data to predict the next recession. They’ve also turned to more offbeat economic gauges like underwear sales and skirt lengths. But now, the TikTok generation is seeing recession indicators everywhere. WSJ’s Hannah Erin Lang explains what Gen Z’s fascination with harbingers of economic doom might actually mean for the economy. Jessica Mendoza hosts.Â
Further Listening:
- Is the Economy… OK?Â
- Trump 2.0: Where Is The Economy Headed?Â
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20:17
Eggs Are Still Expensive. Is This Company to Blame?
Some consumers and lawmakers upset over high egg prices believe they’ve found a villain: Cal-Maine. The little-known company produces one out of every five eggs sold in the U.S. And in the midst of a national egg shortage and a bird flu epidemic, Cal-Maine has been raking in the profits. But are the accusations against Cal-Maine fair? WSJ’s Patrick Thomas investigates. Annie Minoff hosts.
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Further Listening:
-An Eggspensive DilemmaÂ
-Bird Flu and the High Price of Eggs Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.Â
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The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.
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