What’s News
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Race Remains Tight for Control of U.S. Congress
A.M. Edition for Nov. 9. With several key races still to be decided, Republicans are favored to take control of the U.S. House, while control of the Senate remains up for grabs. Wall Street Journal politics reporter Eliza Collins discusses the political landscape based on early national results, and WSJ national legal affairs reporter Laura Kusisto discusses the outcome of the several closely-watched ballot measures on abortion. Visit the Journal’s live blog for election results and analysis throughout the day. Luke Vargas hosts.
Read transcriptU.S. Voters to Decide Key Congressional Races
P.M. Edition for Nov. 8. Across the country, voters headed to the polls on Tuesday. We check in on key races in Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia, with reporters Scott Calvert, Alicia Caldwell, Daniella Cheslow and Cameron McWhirter. Annmarie Fertoli hosts.
Read transcriptU.S. Voters Head to Polls With Control of Congress at Stake
A.M. Edition for Nov. 8. Americans are likely to reshape the leadership of a divided nation in today’s midterm elections, with Republicans favored to win a majority in the House of Representatives while the Senate remains a tossup. WSJ reporter and editor Aaron Zitner breaks down the dynamics to watch in races across the country. Visit the Journal’s midterm election live blog for updates throughout the day. Luke Vargas hosts.
Read transcriptWhy the North Carolina Senate Race Is One to Watch
P.M. Edition for Nov. 7. Control of the Senate will come down to just a handful of key races across the country. And while much of the attention is going to battlegrounds like Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania -- another state with high-stakes contests is North Carolina. WSJ audio reporter Daniella Cheslow joins host Annmarie Fertoli to discuss one of the tightest Senate races in the country, and what it may tell us about the national picture.
Read transcriptU.N. Climate Talks Open in Shadow of Global Economic Concerns
A.M. Edition for Nov. 7. World leaders have begun gathering for COP27 climate talks in Egypt. But WSJ reporter Matthew Dalton says the war in Ukraine and energy market turmoil have upended prospects for accelerating emissions cuts. Luke Vargas hosts.
U.S. Employers Added 261,000 Jobs in October
P.M. Edition for Nov. 4. The U.S. labor market is still going strong, with employers adding 261,000 jobs in October, according to the Labor Department. But what does that mean for the Federal Reserve, as it works to cool the economy? Economic reporter David Harrison joins host Annmarie Fertoli to discuss.
Read transcriptEurope Seeks Exemption From U.S. Rules on EV Tax Breaks
A.M. Edition for Nov. 4. U.S. and EU officials are set to hold an urgent meeting today to defuse rising tensions that threaten to upset a trade relationship that leaders had pledged to rebuild. WSJ reporter Kim Mackrael explains why U.S. clean-technology subsidies have EU officials and business leaders on edge. Luke Vargas hosts.
Read transcriptElection Officials Brace for Intimidation of Poll Workers, Voters
P.M. Edition for Nov. 3. With less than a week to go before the midterm elections, officials across the country are bracing for potential problems including intimidation and threats to voters and poll workers. WSJ legal affairs reporter Jan Wolfe joins host Annmarie Fertoli to discuss.
Read transcriptGermany’s Leader Heads to Beijing Despite Rising Geopolitical Tensions
A.M. Edition for Nov. 3. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to travel to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, becoming the first G-7 leader to visit China since the start of the pandemic. WSJ Germany correspondent Bojan Pancevski explains that the visit will be a key test for Scholz as he attempts to balance responding to China’s diplomatic support for Russia with preserving economic ties as Germany teeters on the brink of a recession. Luke Vargas hosts.
Read transcriptAnother Rate Hike: What Does It Mean For Your Personal Finances?
P.M. Edition for Nov. 2. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points today, for the fourth time in a row this year. Personal finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host Annmarie Fertoli to talk about the hikes’ cumulative effect on Americans’ wallets and financial planning, from credit card debt to savings and whether to hold off on a down payment for a home.
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HOSTED BY
Host, Senior Producer, WSJ Podcasts, The Wall Street Journal
Annmarie Fertoli hosts the PM edition of the What's News podcast. She joined The Wall Street Journal in 2017 after more than a decade in public radio: first with WFUV at her alma mater, Fordham University, then at WNYC, where she worked as a news host, reporter and producer for All Things Considered. Annmarie has also worked as a reporter and arts and entertainment editor for weekly newspapers on Long Island and in Queens. Her first print story for the WSJ focused on how the popular video game “Animal Crossing” became a form of therapy during the coronavirus pandemic—for her and many others.
Host, WSJ Podcasts, The Wall Street Journal
Luke Vargas is the AM host of the What’s News podcast. He joined the WSJ in 2021 from the Skimm, where he was the senior producer of Skimm This. He previously spent seven years as a U.N.-based correspondent, hosting The World in 2:00 radio newscast and reporting from more than 35 countries for a consortium of local and regional AM/FM radio stations. Luke is a published poet and an avid permaculture landscaper, and designs detailed video game maps in his spare time.