The Journal‪.‬ The Wall Street Journal

Over the course of 19 days, U.S. officials raced to contain escalating tensions between Israel and Iran amid a series of attacks. WSJ’s Michael R. Gordon on what was going on behind the scenes as the White House worked to prevent a bigger conflict.



Further Reading:

-Inside the White House’s Frenetic Scramble to Avert a Full-Blown Middle East War 

-How the U.S. Forged a Fragile Middle Eastern Alliance to Repel Iran’s Israel Attack 



Further Listening:

-A Deadly Strike on Aid Workers in Gaza 

-A Deadly Drone Attack and Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance'

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Former President Donald Trump is expected to spend the next six weeks in a Manhattan courtroom, defending himself against accusations he covered up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. WSJ’s Corinne Ramey was in the courtroom for opening statements and WSJ’s Molly Ball unpacks what this trial could mean for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. 



Further Reading:

-Trump’s Hush-Money Trial: What to Know as the Case Begins 

-Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal 



Further Listening:

-Donald Trump Is Charged on 34 Felony Counts 

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Reports of freight fraud are on the rise, vexing trucking companies and regulators. And victims say that they aren’t getting any real help from law enforcement. WSJ’s Inti Pacheco unpacks one form of this fraud, called double brokering, and a trucking executive explains his personal efforts to stop the scammers.



Further Reading:

- A Brazen Yogurt Heist Shows How Cyber Gangs Are Hijacking U.S. Goods 

- Growing Freight Fraud is Peeling Millions From the U.S. Shipping Market 



Further Listening:

- Nike’s Sneaky Sneaker Thieves 



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It’s not just the cost of buying a home that’s going up. It’s also the hidden costs — like taxes, maintenance and insurance — that are going through the roof. WSJ’s Nicole Friedman explains why these prices are rising so fast, and what it means for the housing market.



Further Listening:

-'It's on Fire': Why the Housing Market Is Booming 



Further Reading:

-The Hidden Costs of Homeownership Are Skyrocketing 

-Home Buyers Are Ready to Buy. But Sellers Aren’t Selling. 

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Yesterday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell called into question whether the Fed will be able to lower interest rates this year as hoped. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos on how the Fed’s outlook on the economy has changed. 



Further Reading:

- Powell Dials Back Expectations on Rate Cuts 

- Fed Rate Cuts Are Now a Matter of If, Not Just When 



Further Listening:

- Janet Yellen on Inflation and the U.S. Economy 

- Inflation Is Down. Unemployment Is Low. Is This a Soft Landing? 

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Cities such as San Francisco and Chicago are trying to save their downtown office districts from spiraling into a doom loop. St. Louis is already trapped in one, with abandoned buildings, vacant offices and shuttered shops and restaurants. WSJ’s Konrad Putzier unpacks the lessons from downtown St. Louis’s doom loop.



Further Reading:

-The Real Estate Nightmare Unfolding in Downtown St. Louis 

-Commercial Real-Estate Woes Run Deeper Than in Past Downturns 

-Can San Francisco Save Itself From the Doom Loop? 



Further Listening:

-The Downfall of a Real Estate Empire 

-What’s Keeping Zombie Malls Alive? 

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