Curtis seeks Trump Jr. probe after disclosure of Kremlin-linked wedding payment
The Wall Street Journal’s “What’s News” newsletter distributed Tuesday reported that rapid adoption of the Facebook parent’s AI agent app sent Meta shares soaring in the prior trading session in their biggest one-day percentage gain in more than a year. The other Magnificent Seven companies also finished in the green that day, the newsletter said. In a subsequent session, fears that AI will disrupt the financial-services industry contributed to a selloff in wealth managers, brokerages and even big banks, the WSJ reported; the S&P 500’s financial sector fell 2 percent, and shares of Charles Schwab, LPL Financial, Raymond James, JPMorgan and Bank of America sank. The S&P 500 closed at 7,764.70 on Tuesday.
In congressional news, the newsletter reported that Sen. John Curtis (R., Utah) called for an investigation of the president’s son following a disclosure that a Russian businessman connected to the Kremlin paid for his grand private-island wedding afterparty. Curtis sent a letter to the heads of the Judiciary Committee requesting a probe, the WSJ said. A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr. didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
On policy, the WSJ reported that a JD Vance-led antifraud task force is removing allegedly fraudulent enrollees from Affordable Care Act exchanges. The enforcement action represents one of the largest administrative purges targeting individual insurance exchanges since the Trump administration’s crackdown on fraud began last year, according to the newsletter.
On foreign affairs, the newsletter reported that the likely absence of a Chinese corporate delegation has dampened expectations for major business deals between the world’s two biggest economies. Some industry officials had anticipated Chinese executives would attend a state dinner alongside American tech and AI CEOs; preparations for the Chinese president’s visit were ongoing, and plans could change, officials said.
The newsletter also reported that President Trump used a significant portion of his 35-minute speech to the U.N. General Assembly to defend the U.S. war with Iran, now in its seventh month. Though the president spoke in front of foreign leaders and dignitaries, the real audience was the American public, which has grown weary of the conflict, according to the WSJ. The newsletter previewed “five big takeaways” from the address and directed readers to its full coverage.
The WSJ also reported that higher education is “at a crossroads,” citing a 200-plus-page report that lays out ways schools can adapt, including project-based learning and a greater emphasis on human-centered judgment. Venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is investing $35 million in an unaccredited two-year college alternative, the newsletter noted.
In a lifestyle item, the WSJ reported that trendy direct-to-consumer brands are disrupting the luxury caviar market by offering discounts, value packs, free shipping and promo codes. Building on recent trends that paired caviar with chicken nuggets and hot dogs, these startups are bringing high-end roe to everyday shoppers, and the phenomenon is resulting in an identity crisis for one of humanity’s most indulgent foods, according to the newsletter.
The newsletter also published three reader responses from its prior week’s question about what kind of shopping readers would let AI take over. Terrel Morris of Tennessee said: “I cannot think of a single thing I’d let an AI agent purchase for me. Between hallucinations and companies trying to maximize profits at all costs, how could one trust an electronic entity to work only and solely for one’s best interest?” Robyn Berger of North Carolina said: “I’d be comfortable letting AI make purchases when I’ve already decided what I want and set clear parameters. For example, automatically book a flight when it drops below my target price, buy a clothing item when my size restocks, or purchase something I’ve been watching when it hits my sale-price threshold. I make the decision, and AI handles the monitoring and timing.” Vivian Strader of West Virginia said: “I’m skeptical of putting my bills on autopay, why on earth would I trust a bot with my money? I’d rather know where my money goes and choose what to buy.” The WSJ said the responses were condensed and edited.
In cultural news, the newsletter reported that bestselling thriller novelist Lucy Foley is writing a new Agatha Christie Miss Marple novel — the first new Miss Marple novel since 1976. Her book, “Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,” is set at a ski resort in the 1950s. The WSJ spoke with Foley about her influences, how she approached the project, and what it was like to get the signoff from Christie’s estate.
The newsletter was curated by Will Flannigan and Liz Webber.