WSJ Tech News Briefing: Tech Minute
Episode Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Julie Chang
Overview
In this concise Tech Minute, host Julie Chang covers three of the day's top stories in tech:
- ICE targeting workers at a Meta data center construction site in Louisiana
- Amazon Web Services’ copper deal for its AI data centers
- Spotify’s latest premium subscription price hike in the US
Each segment provides exclusive reporting, industry context, and notable statistics related to broader tech trends.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. ICE Targets Meta Construction Workers ([00:16])
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Federal immigration agents (ICE) conducted traffic stops targeting construction workers en route to the Meta Platforms data center under construction in northeast Louisiana.
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Local law enforcement reported that two drivers—citizens of Guatemala and Honduras—were arrested due to their immigration status.
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The $27 billion data center project is a joint venture between Meta and Blue Owl Capital.
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Both Meta and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the arrests.
Quote:
“Federal immigration agents targeted construction workers traveling to the site of a Meta Platforms data center being built in Louisiana.”
— Julie Chang [00:20]
Insight:
This is a rare intersection of immigration enforcement and tech infrastructure, highlighting workforce vulnerabilities related to large construction projects in rural America.
2. Amazon Web Services Copper Deal ([01:04])
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Exclusive WSJ reporting: Amazon Web Services signed a two-year supply pact for copper with Rio Tinto’s Arizona mine—“the first new source of US copper in more than a decade.”
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Tech companies are in a “rush” to secure materials like copper, indispensable for building and operating AI data centers.
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The copper from this deal will meet only a fraction of AWS’s needs, signaling the enormous scale of material demand in the sector.
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S&P Global study (published last week) projects a 50% increase in copper demand for AI by 2040, with potential for a 25% supply shortfall.
Quote:
“The biggest data centers each require tens of thousands of metric tons of copper for all the wires, circuit boards, and other electrical components housed there.”
— Julie Chang [01:44]
Insight:
Material supply is rapidly becoming a bottleneck for Big Tech’s AI ambitions as infrastructure and raw resource needs soar.
3. Spotify Premium Price Hike in the US ([02:03])
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Spotify announced a $1 increase to its US Premium subscription, bringing the total to nearly $13/month effective next month.
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The company stated the price hike is to “continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists.”
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This marks the third consecutive annual price increase after similar hikes in 2023 and 2024.
Quote:
“A spokesperson said updates to pricing enables it to, quote, ‘continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists.’”
— Julie Chang [02:08]
Insight:
Frequent price increases suggest ongoing cost pressures and investment needs for major tech-enabled streaming platforms—often justified as benefiting both users and creators.
Notable Quotes & Moments
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“Tech companies are rushing to secure the power and critical materials necessary to build and operate AI data centers.”
— Julie Chang [01:31] -
“The copper from Rio Tinto will satisfy only a sliver of Amazon's needs.”
— Julie Chang [01:39]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- ICE and Meta Data Center Construction Arrests — [00:16]
- Amazon Web Services Copper Deal & Raw Materials Crunch — [01:04]
- Spotify US Subscription Price Hike — [02:03]
Tone and Closing
- The tone is brisk, factual, and focused on providing actionable, exclusive news.
- No direct opinions or emotional commentary are offered—just clear, well-sourced reporting.
This Tech Minute provides a succinct update on how global tech projects intersect with U.S. labor enforcement, raw materials sourcing, and shifting consumer costs in the streaming economy.