The Journal.

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In 2019, influencer Tai Lopez made a pitch to his social media followers: by buying up distressed retail brands like Radio Shack and Pier 1 out of bankruptcy, they could all get rich. But as WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner reports, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Lopez of running a “Ponzi-like scheme” through his company, Retail Ecommerce Ventures. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening/Viewing:

- Influencer Arielle Charnas’s Fashion Fail

- How a Miami Couple Used Empty Mansions to Pocket Millions

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The automotive industry is facing a shortage of mechanics. Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley has said his company’s dealerships have 5,000 open jobs – positions he says can pay up to $120,000 a year. WSJ’s Christopher Otts explains why more people aren’t taking him up on it. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager’s Six-Figure Salary

- The Repo Man Is Busier Than Ever

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The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz means millions of barrels of oil are still trapped in the Persian Gulf. As countries around the world begin to feel the impact of that energy shock, new inflation numbers are signalling that the U.S. economy is being impacted too. WSJ’s David Uberti explains how the stock market and consumers are processing what could be the worst oil crisis ever. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Strait of Hormuz Showdown

- In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

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Get your tickets to our L.A. live show here!The Trump administration has shrunk the IRS. WSJ’s Richard Rubin reports on how the federal government has scaled back tax enforcement, leaving fewer federal employees to audit returns and collect unpaid tax debts. The cutbacks could lead to more Americans skirting the tax law. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Do You Refund $166 Billion?

- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the GovernmentSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

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President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. military would blockade the Strait of Hormuz sets up a risky showdown to control the strategic chokepoint. WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen explains what the blockade could look like, explores the global economic damage caused by the conflict and discusses what could come next in the war. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening: - In Iran, an Uneasy Calm Amid a Cease-Fire

- Will the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Hold?

- Israel Wants "Decisive Victory" in Iran. Is It Succeeding?

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