Camp Swamp Road Ep. 3: A Friend in the Shadows

Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X with such a big burden. And one Gen Xer talks about the impact student debt has had on his life. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening:  - For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay - Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt  Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Government funding lapsed early Wednesday morning after the White House and lawmakers failed to reach a spending deal, triggering a shutdown that is expected to halt some federal services and put hundreds of thousands of federal workers on furlough.​​ WSJ’s Natalie Andrews takes us inside the contentious dispute and explains why the gulf between Democrats and Republicans is wider than ever. Ryan Knutson hosts.Further Listening: - Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy- DOGE: The Plan to Downsize the GovernmentSign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, President Donald Trump warned that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a potential cause of autism. Many medical professionals say the relationship between acetaminophen and autism is inconclusive, and Trump's comments went beyond what his own administration officials recommend. Still, the press conference caused a crisis at the company that makes Tylenol, Kenvue. WSJ’s Peter Loftus on Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry’s attempts to manage the Trump Administration and the new corporate crisis. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The FDA Commissioner on Vaccines and Public Trust - Why Coke Isn’t Getting Rid of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After former FBI director James Comey was indicted last week, Trump said that there may be more indictments coming. WSJ’s Sadie Gurman takes us inside the President’s push to prosecute the people he views as enemies and what this may mean for the future of the Justice Department. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - The Federal Reserve Under Siege - Trump’s Letter to Jeffrey Epstein - Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Super Bowl Sunday, Jennifer Foley opened a police file and discovered 90 recorded phone calls from her brother’s killer. To Jennifer, what she heard completely undermined Weldon Boyd’s self-defense claims. But the calls also revealed that Boyd had a powerful friend. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports. Read the Reporting: Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In Follow the Story: Camp Swamp Road Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the forests of Tanzania to the halls of power, Jane Goodall has spent her life fighting to protect wildlife. But as the planet warms and some governments retreat from environmentalism, is her mission slipping out of reach? Ryan Knutson interviews the renowned conservationist. Further Listening The Head of the EPA on the Future of the Agency How the U.S. Fell Behind China on Climate Diplomacy Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's officially harvest season in the American heartland. But sixth-generation Iowa farmer Scott Dierickx says he won’t be making a profit on soybeans this year. WSJ’s Patrick Thomas explains how China is using soybeans as a weapon in the trade war with the United States. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  Can a Farming Community Resist a Development Boom? Why Farmers Are Breaking Eggs and Dumping Milk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump Administration recently announced a new $100,000 annual fee for the coveted H-1B visa. Then the White House walked that back, saying that the charge would only apply to new visa applicants, one-time only. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar reports on how the changes set off a wave of anxiety and confusion, especially in Silicon Valley where many H-1B visa holders work. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening:- The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities- Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fumes are often described as smelling like “dirty socks ” – and they’re seeping into airplane air, sickening some passengers and crew. So-called “fume events” have been a known problem in the airline industry for decades. But a new WSJ analysis shows they’re becoming more common, and their health effects can be severe. WSJ’s Benjamin Katz details his team’s investigation into fume events, which have led to emergency landings and affected pilots’ vision midflight. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening:  - Southwest Changed Flying. Can It Change Itself? - The Love Triangle Over Spirit Airlines Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Florida Highway Patrol has taken up the Trump administration’s call for state and local law enforcement to play a bigger role in its immigration crackdown. Virtually all its officers have been trained to participate in a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that deputizes police to perform some of the duties of federal immigration officers. WSJ’s Arian Campo-Flores takes us along for a ride with some officers in the program. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  Further Listening: - Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz- The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities- "I'm Thinking I'm 100% Legal." Then ICE Raided His Company.Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices