Pierre Bien-Aimé
Appearances
WSJ What’s News
DOGE’s Next Target: Government Office Space
And does this have any effect on the bottom line when online purchase versus one done in store?
WSJ What’s News
DOGE’s Next Target: Government Office Space
How many retirees have been affected by this kind of lapse, and how much money are we talking about?
WSJ What’s News
U.S. Stocks Tumble as Trump Delays Tariffs on Canada, Mexico
How is it that the lack of permanent disposal ends up costing taxpayers more than it otherwise would?
WSJ What’s News
U.S. Stocks Tumble as Trump Delays Tariffs on Canada, Mexico
Why is it so difficult to figure out permanent disposal?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Falkender will now run the Internal Revenue Service, becoming the fifth person to hold that job so far this year. He replaces Gary Shapley, the former IRS criminal investigator who had criticized the government's investigation of Hunter Biden. The move furthers upheaval at the agency.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
The managers overseeing tax enforcement, human resources, finances, communications, privacy, risk, information technology, and legal counsel have all left this year or are leaving soon. As we've discussed many times on the show, consumer sentiment has fallen to near historic lows in the U.S., but higher-income consumers still seem to be spending with a bit of an adjustment.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Consumers on the wealthier side are now spending at chains that typically cater to more budget-conscious shoppers. Jennifer Williams is a reporter on The Wall Street Journal's CFO Journal team, and she joins me now. Jennifer, where are these wealthier shoppers going exactly? Is it just dollar stores?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
And a wealthier clientele, is that good news for some of the retailers out there?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
What are these stores doing to cater to these new kinds of customers they've attracted?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
and how some U.S. businesses are passing tariff costs on to customers. It's Friday, April 18th. I'm Pierre Bien-Aimé for The Wall Street Journal, filling in for Alice Osola. This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that moved the world today.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
President Trump is replacing the acting IRS commissioner he appointed just three days ago. Plus, for lower-income shoppers, dollar store prices aren't as attractive as they used to be.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Jennifer Williams covers corporate finance for The Wall Street Journal. Jennifer, thanks so much.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Coming up, some businesses are labeling surcharges with names like Trump tariff to show who's responsible. That's after the break.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Over the coming weeks, we're going to be taking a look at how companies are responding to Trump's tariffs and the tactics and strategies they're using to react to, survive, or even take advantage of the new trade war. Have you noticed anything different on your shopping bills recently? An extra fee, maybe.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
You may see them labeled Trump tariff surcharge or something like that, as businesses want to make one thing clear. These tariffs weren't our idea. Natasha Kahn covers business for The Wall Street Journal, and she joins me now. Natasha, what kinds of businesses are making this move, adding a charge that's specifically chalked up to the effects of tariffs?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
We exclusively report that the Trump administration is pressing Harvard University to turn over records on the money it receives from foreign sources going back a decade. It's the latest move in the White House's growing pressure campaign against the country's most prominent university.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
We're in the midst of a 90-day pause on many tariffs and a whole bunch of uncertainty regarding what happens after that or maybe even sooner. Do the executives say that these charges could change if and when tariff rates do?
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
That was WSJ business reporter Natasha Khan. The U.S. has accused China of helping Yemen's Houthi militants target their attacks on American interests, a sign of Beijing and Moscow's increased support for the rebel group. A State Department spokesperson said yesterday that a Chinese company has been providing the group with satellite imagery even after the U.S.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement that the request is meant to, quote, "...ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by or doing the bidding of foreign entities." An education department letter to the school presented no evidence that that was occurring.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
had pressed China to stop the support. President Trump began a campaign of airstrikes against the Iran-backed militants last month, bringing a second aircraft carrier into the region in an effort to stop attacks that have snarled key commercial routes through the Red Sea. China said it has worked to reduce tensions in the Red Sea since the situation escalated, implying that the U.S.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
was making them worse. Marketers are getting more comfortable with using artificial intelligence to speak for their brands. In fact, the industry is getting closer to the day when proponents of AI say the technology will develop, produce, and even approve entire campaigns with little or no human intervention.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
But as Patrick Coffey, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal's CMO Today, told our Tech News Briefing podcast, brands aren't waiting for perfection.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
You can hear Patrick's full interview on today's episode of Tech News Briefing. And that's what's news for this week. Tomorrow, you can look out for our weekly markets wrap-up, What's News in Markets. Then on Sunday, we'll be looking at how the Trump administration's moves could force U.S. universities to recalculate their bottom lines. That's in What's News Sunday.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
And we'll be back with our regular show on Monday morning. Today's show was produced by Anthony Bansi with supervising producer Michael Kosmides. Michael LaValle wrote our theme music. Aisha Al-Muslim is our development producer. Scott Salloway and Chris Zinsley are our deputy editors. And Falana Patterson is The Wall Street Journal's head of news audio. I'm Pierre Bien-Aimé. Thanks for listening.
WSJ What’s News
The Businesses Adding an Extra Charge With Trump’s Name On It
In a written statement, Harvard said it has filed such reports for decades, quote, as part of its ongoing compliance with the law. Federal law requires universities to report donations from foreign sources of more than $250,000. President Trump is replacing the acting IRS commissioner he appointed just three days ago. That's according to people familiar with the matter.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Respondents said they expect prices to surge 7.3% over the next year, compared with expectations in April for a 6.5% increase. The survey also noted that longer-run inflation expectations rose too, reflecting an especially big monthly jump among Republicans. Wall Street Journal economics reporter Zhao Deng.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Major U.S. indexes rose today, led by the Dow, which added 332 points, or 0.8%. The S&P rose 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.5%. And for the week, the S&P 500 finished up 5.3%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 7.2%, while the Dow gained 3.4%. Charter Communications has reached a deal to buy Cox Communications for $21.9 billion. The combined company will change its name to Cox Communications.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The merger will bring together two of the biggest broadband and cable operators in the U.S. at a time when cable giants are being squeezed from all sides, given tough competition from wireless carriers, frozen government subsidies for a Biden-era broadband construction program, and the decline of cable TV. And Boeing won't be prosecuted over violating an earlier criminal settlement.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
A tentative deal with President Trump's Justice Department would allow the aerospace company to avoid being labeled a felon. According to people familiar with the matter, Boeing would receive a non-prosecution agreement instead of having to plead guilty, which it had agreed to do toward the end of the Biden administration.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The case stems from Boeing's admission that former employees deceived air safety regulators before two deadly crashes of 737 MAX jets in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. The lawyers for the families are expected to formally object to a non-prosecution agreement. The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
House Republican spending hawks blocked the party's giant tax and spending bill today, delivering President Trump a setback over disagreements on Medicaid, clean energy tax breaks, and budget deficits. The holdouts stopped the Budget Committee from advancing the legislation.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The delay throws at least a temporary wrench in House GOP leaders' hopes to keep dissent in the party at bay, ahead of a self-imposed deadline of May 26th or Memorial Day. Meanwhile, Binance's billionaire founder Chengpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, is pushing for a pardon from President Trump.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
We exclusively report that three top Democratic senators are asking the administration to detail its interactions with the crypto exchange's founder. Zhao served four months in prison last year after pleading guilty to violating anti-money laundering requirements.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Consumer sentiment in the U.S. falls for a fifth straight month as inflation worries rise. Plus, universities are feeling the financial strain from President Trump's funding cuts.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Wall Street Journal reporter Amrith Ramkumar told our tech news briefing podcast that the letter is the latest inquiry into potential conflicts of interest in the crypto industry, given the first family's financial ties to Binance.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The White House has said there are no conflicts of interest. For more from Amrith, listen to today's episode of Tech News Briefing. Coming up, the Trump administration's funding cuts to universities are already starting to bite. That's after the break.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
President Trump's funding cuts are hitting home for universities from the Ivy League to state schools. Trump has pulled or threatened to pull billions of federal research dollars. He signed an executive order cracking down on foreign funding. And his fellow Republicans in Congress are considering higher taxes on endowment funds.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Here to tell us about the effects of all that is Sarah Randazzo, who covers higher education for the journal. Sarah, what kind of hit have universities taken from this so far?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
And you write that the financial hit goes beyond what President Trump has pulled specifically. How is that?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
What have you been hearing from some of the people in charge?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
And how a tentative deal with the Justice Department could spare Boeing from a guilty plea over 737 MAX charges. It's Friday, May 16th. I'm Pierre Bien-Aimé for The Wall Street Journal, filling in for Alex Osola. This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that moved the world today. Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has fallen to the second lowest number on record.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
That was Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Randazzo. Thanks, Sarah.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The private credit industry will roughly double in size over the next three years to $3 trillion. That's according to an estimate by Moody's. At the center of it are titans of private equity, Blackstone, Apollo Global Management and KKR, firms best known for buying and selling companies. They're now major lenders to businesses, and they compete head-on with traditional banks.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Miriam Gottfried covers private equity and private markets for The Wall Street Journal, and she joins me now. Miriam, how is the private equity industry going about this expansion into lending?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
You write that private credit operates mostly outside the reach of regulators. What are the risks here?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
What are banks doing about this growing competition?
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Wall Street Journal reporter Miriam Gottfried. Miriam, thanks so much.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
And the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Kareem Khan, has decided to take leave until the completion of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against him by a female aide. Khan has denied any sexual misconduct.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the aide testified to United Nations investigators that Khan had forcible sexual intercourse with her on multiple occasions. And that's what's news for this week. Tomorrow, you can look out for our weekly markets wrap-up, What's News in Markets.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Then on Sunday, we're having a special two-part series looking at Target and how a boycott against the retailer's rollback of DEI policies may impact its business and the Black entrepreneurs relying on sales from Target's shelves. That's in What's News Sunday. And we'll be back with our regular show on Monday morning.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
Today's show was produced by Anthony Bansi with supervising producer Michael Kosmides. Michael LaValle wrote our theme music. Aisha Al-Muslim is our development producer. Scott Salloway and Chris Zinsley are our deputy editors. And Falana Patterson is The Wall Street Journal's head of news audio. I'm Pierre Bien-Aimé. Thanks for listening.
WSJ What’s News
Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month
The University of Michigan said its preliminary index of consumer sentiment for May fell to 50.8, a roughly 3 percent drop from April. American households felt worse about the economy, with sweeping tariffs raising the prospect of higher prices. Tariffs were spontaneously mentioned by nearly three-quarters of consumers, up from almost 60 percent in April.