In a special video edition of The Journal, WSJ's Ryan Knutson sits down with Ben Shapiro of The Ben Shapiro Show and Preet Bharara of Stay Tuned with Preet in the Spotify mobile studio in Washington DC. We discuss how new media has shaped politics and how politics has shaped a new era of media.  Further Listening:  Corporate America’s Embrace of Trump 2.0 The End of Facebook’s Content Moderation Era Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CEOs of major companies are preparing for a second Trump administration, taking trips to Mar-a-Lago and contributing millions to his inauguration fund. WSJ's Chip Cutter explains corporate America's new strategy for engaging with the incoming U.S. president. Further Reading: -The CEOs Who Are Tearing Up the Policies Trump Hates  -Corporate America Drew Back From DEI. The Upheaval Isn’t Over.  Further Listening: -DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the Government  -How One Business Owner Is Getting Ahead of Trump's Tariffs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, mediators announced a deal between Israel and Hamas to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip, opening up a pathway to end the 15-month war. But Israel has yet to finalize the deal. WSJ’s Anat Peled unpacks what we know about the deal and the sticking points to getting it done.  Further Listening: -The Risk of an All-Out War in the Middle East  -What the Ceasefire in Lebanon Means for the Middle East  -The Brutal Calculation of Hamas's Leader Further Reading: -Israel, Hamas Agree to Deal to Pause Fighting in Gaza  -Netanyahu Strikes Cautious Tone on Gaza Cease-Fire as He Tries to Hold Government Together-Israel Delays Cabinet Vote on Cease-Fire Deal, Blames Hamas for Reneging  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After harrowing probes in the 1990s, Swiss banks thought they’d come to terms with their WWII-era ties to Nazis. But WSJ’s Margot Patrick explains how documents newly unearthed from bank archives include shocking revelations.  Further Reading: -Nazi Ties to Credit Suisse Ran Deeper Than Was Known, Hidden Files Reveal  Further Listening: -What Just Happened at Credit Suisse?  -The Financial Legacy of the Nuclear Tests on Bikini Atoll  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How close is artificial intelligence to building a catastrophic bioweapon or causing other superhuman damage? WSJ's Sam Schechner reports on the team at Anthropic testing for AI dangers. And the team leader, Logan Graham, explains how the tests work.  Further Listening: -Artificial: The OpenAI Story  -The Big Changes Tearing OpenAI Apart  Further Reading: -Their Job Is to Push Computers Toward AI Doom  -AI Startup Anthropic Raising Funds Valuing It at $60 Billion  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles has been decimated by some of the worst fires in U.S. history. On Friday, WSJ’s Katherine Sayre accompanied two residents who went back to see what is left of their homes. Further Reading: -The Palisades Residents Who Took Long Journeys to See What’s Left of Their Lives  -Their Wealth Is in Their Homes. Their Homes Are Now Ash.  Further Listening: -The Race to Save an Iconic Train From Falling Into the Ocean  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the federal law that requires TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, to either shut down or find a new owner. WSJ’s Jess Bravin breaks down the arguments from each side. Further Listening: -How TikTok Became The World’s Favorite App  -A TikTok Star Wrestles With the App's Possible Ban  -What's Up With All the TikTok Bans?  -House Passes Bill to Ban TikTok  Further Reading: -Supreme Court Questions TikTok’s Arguments Against Ban  -How TikTok Was Blindsided by U.S. Bill That Could Ban It  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced this week that Facebook, Instagram and Threads would dramatically dial back content moderation and end fact checking. WSJ’s Jeff Horwitz explains what that means for the social media giant. Further Reading: -Social-Media Companies Decide Content Moderation Is Trending Down  -Meta Ends Fact-Checking on Facebook, Instagram in Free-Speech Pitch  Further listening: -Meta Is Struggling to Boot Pedophiles Off Facebook and Instagram  -Is Fighting Misinformation Censorship? The Supreme Court Will Decide.  -The Facebook Files  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once fierce rivals, Japanese car giants Honda and Nissan recently announced their plans to merge in 2026. The deal would create the world’s 3rd largest automaker. WSJ’s Sean McLain reports on why Nissan struggled in recent years and the challenges the merged company would face. Further Listening: -Inside Carlos Ghosn's Escape From Japan  -The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is Here  Further Reading: -Nissan Needs a Honda Rescue. What Went So Wrong?  -Honda, Nissan Plan to Create World’s No. 3 Automaker in 2026 Merger  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would resign. He is the latest global progressive leader to fall from power. WSJ’s Vipal Monga reports on Trudeau’s legacy and downfall. Further Listening: -A Murder That Sparked a Diplomatic Crisis  -Canada’s Trucker Protests  Further Reading: -Trudeau to Resign as Voters Sour on His Vision for Canada  -The Populist Vying to Lead Canada and End a Decade of Liberalism  -The Progressive Moment in Global Politics Is Over  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix was known for its “no rules” culture that executives say attracted the best talent. But as it’s grown, the company has pulled back on some of that freedom, including its generous parental leave. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel explains why Netflix is changing the culture that fueled its success, and what it means for employees. Further Reading: -Netflix’s Extraordinary Parental Leave Was Part of Its Culture. That’s Over.  -Netflix Is Rethinking Employee Freedom, a Core Tenet of Its Vaunted Culture  Further Listening: -Netflix Turns to Ads  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After decades of manufacturing in the United States moving overseas, there are calls to bring it back. But doing that is not straightforward. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner and the founder of American Giant explain how that company produced inexpensive T-shirts in the U.S. Further Reading: -How a $12.98 T-Shirt Is Made in America—at a Profit   Further Listening: -How One Business Owner Is Getting Ahead of Trump's Tariffs  -China, an Alabama Business and a 20-Year Battle  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gunmen of the Gulf Clan, a drug-trafficking militia in Colombia, are seizing tunnels inside one of the largest gold motherlodes in Latin America. The mine belongs to Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese company, which says it has surrendered nearly two-thirds of its tunnels and lost an estimated $200 million worth of gold in 2023. WSJ's Juan Forero reports. This episode has been updated to include comment from the Gulf Clan. Further Reading: -A Drug Gang Stole 3 Tons of Gold in a Scam So Perfect It’s Still Going  Further Listening: -Smuggling Migrants Toward the U.S. Is a Booming Business  -Why Black Lung Is Rising in Coal Country  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, suddenly disappeared. Qin was a rising star in Chinese politics and a protegé of China’s strongman leader, Xi Jinping. In the first episode of our three-part investigation, we chart Qin’s rise and begin to untangle the mystery of his disappearance. This series was originally published in October. Further Listening:- Episode 2: The Affair - Apple | Spotify - Episode 3: The Downfall - Apple | Spotify We'll be back with something new on January 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mariah Carey released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994 to moderate success. Today, the song is a megahit and Christmas playlist staple. What happened? WSJ's John Jurgensen called up the "Queen of Christmas" to find out. This episode was originally published on December 11, 2020.We'll return with something new on January 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Bond is one of Hollywood's most famous characters. So when Amazon bought the rights to distribute Bond, executives had big plans for the brand’s intellectual property. But so far, Amazon hasn't made a single Bond movie. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel takes us inside the feud that’s tying up the franchise.  Further Reading: -Where Is James Bond? Trapped in an Ugly Stalemate With Amazon  Further Listening: -Why Hollywood Is Betting Big on 'Wicked' -Why 'Yellowstone' Is One of TV's Most Expensive Shows  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The killing of a top health insurance executive outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel this month triggered an outpouring of public anger at private health insurance companies. WSJ’s Julie Wernau reports that many doctors are among the aggrieved. And two doctors explain how dealing with health insurers is getting worse. Further Listening: - The Suspect in the UnitedHealth Killing  Further Reading: - Doctors Say Dealing With Health Insurers Is Only Getting Worse  - Clues Left by a Killer Echo Widespread Anger at Health Insurers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Further Listening: -The Rise of the Tween Shopper  -Inside One Publisher’s Fight Against Book Bans  -Scholastic's Succession Drama  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly a decade and $10 billion in development, General Motors is ending its robotaxi program. WSJ’s Christopher Otts explains why Cruise wasn’t working for the legacy car company. Further Reading: -General Motors Scraps Cruise Robotaxi Program  -GM’s Self-Driving Car Unit Skids Off Course  Further Listening: -How Waymo Won Over San Francisco  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intel—the company whose chips were “inside” your ‘90s desktops—has fallen behind in recent years. Now, the CEO hired to turn things around is suddenly out. WSJ’s Asa Fitch explains how the once-dominant chip brand lost its edge. Further Reading: - He Was Going to Save Intel. He Destroyed $150 Billion of Value Instead.  - Intel Co-CEOs Outline Strategy Following Pat Gelsinger’s Ouster  Further Listening: - America’s Answer to the Chip Shortage  - Why Washington Went to Wall Street to Revive the Chips Industry  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices