WSJ What’s News Podcast Summary

Episode: Drones Close Denmark’s Airspace for Second Time
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Caitlin McCabe, The Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

This episode covers a range of breaking stories affecting global business, security, and politics. Key segments include Denmark’s unprecedented drone incursions and possible NATO consequences, escalating U.S. government shutdown threats, heightened scrutiny on big tech H1B visa practices, criminal charges sought against James Comey, Delta’s response to toxic fume events on aircraft, Apple versus the EU’s Digital Markets Act, China’s updated climate targets, and a surge in ratings for Jimmy Kimmel’s show after a controversial suspension.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Danish Airspace Closed After Hybrid Drone Attacks

[01:02 - 02:55]

• Incident Details:

  • Drones flew over various Danish airports, including a critical military base housing F16 and F35 fighter jets.
  • This is Denmark’s second major airspace disruption in a week.
  • The attack follows recent Russian airspace violations in Estonia and Poland.

• Official Response:

  • Denmark’s Defense Minister called it a professional, likely foreign, operation, but said “no evidence links the activity to Russia.”
  • The incident is viewed as a “danger to freedom and safety.”
  • Denmark is considering invoking NATO Article 4 for security consultations.

2. U.S. Government Shutdown and Permanent Layoff Threats

[02:55 - 03:17]

• Current Status:

  • Lawmakers have until October 1st to avoid a government shutdown.
  • The White House’s budget office has instructed agencies to prepare “permanent mass firings” for programs not aligned with the president’s priorities.
  • This raises pressure on Senate Democrats to negotiate over healthcare spending cuts.

• Political Quotes:

  • Hakeem Jeffries (Democratic House Minority Leader) [02:55]:

    “Democrats do not support the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the health care of the American people. Republicans have launched an all out assault on the health care of everyday Americans. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history.”

• Context:

  • GOP’s seven-week stopgap bill is the only offer; President Trump canceled talks with Democrats.
  • Shutdown deadline is 12:01am ET, October 1.

3. Congress Investigates Big Tech’s H1B Visa Usage

[03:17 - 05:18]

• New Scrutiny:

  • Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin sent letters to major H1B users (Amazon, Apple, JPMorgan Chase).
  • They seek explanations for ongoing H1B hiring “while also cutting other jobs.”

• Policy Backdrop:

  • Comes after a Trump administration overhaul of the visa system aimed at prioritizing U.S. workers.
  • Companies are asked for detailed data about H1B employees and impacts on American workers.

4. Justice Department Moves to Indict Former FBI Director Comey

[05:18 - 05:45]

• Charges Sought:

  • DOJ wants to indict James Comey for allegedly lying to Congress about the Russia-Trump probe.
  • Effort is pressed as the statute of limitations nears expiry.

• White House Quote:

  • Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary) [05:18]:

    “The president is fulfilling his promise to restore a Department of Justice that demands accountability, and it is not weaponizing the Department of Justice to demand accountability for those who weaponized the Department of Justice... We are not going to tolerate gaslighting...”

5. Delta Replaces Engines Amid Toxic Fume Events on Airbus A320s

[05:45 - 07:39]

• Problem Overview:

  • Multiple toxic fume events reported in Delta’s A320 fleet—linked to the auxiliary power unit (APU).
  • Investigation finds oil leaks, vaporizing into neurotoxins breathed by passengers and crew.

• Expert Insight – Ben Katz, Aviation Reporter [06:11]:

  “A fume event happens when oil leaks into an engine and vaporizes, releasing an unknown quantity of neurotoxins and other chemicals into the air that we then end up breathing inside the aircraft... On occasion the effects can be longer lasting and more severe... crew who have reported brain injuries or even developed cancer.”

• Delta’s Response:

  • Upgraded 90% of APUs on over 300 Airbus jets.
  • Full solution remains elusive, as fume events are rooted in aircraft design.

• Further Context – Ben Katz [07:16]:

  “There’s only one modern commercial plane that isn’t affected by fume events, and that’s the Boeing 787, but every other aircraft is... there’s also a fundamental issue with the design of the aircraft that Airbus has still yet to address.”

6. Apple Pushes Back Against EU’s Digital Markets Act

[07:39 - 08:43]

• Apple’s Argument:

  • Urges the European Commission to repeal or ease DMA obligations, claiming it stifles business and innovation in Europe.
  • DMA compels Apple to open iPhones to rival app stores and display browser choice screens.

• Regulatory Context:

  • EU has fined Apple nearly $600 million for non-compliance since the law took effect.

7. China’s New Climate Goals and U.S. Response

[09:02 - 12:40]

• Xi Jinping’s UN Address [09:02]:

  • Announces plan to reduce China’s greenhouse gas emissions “7 to 10% from their peak by 2035.”
  • Asserts the “green and low carbon transition [is] the trend of our time,” contrasting Trump’s UN remarks dismissing climate action.

• Expert Insight – Matthew Dalton, WSJ Climate Reporter [09:53]:

  • China is “both the largest emitter of greenhouse gases... and the dominant manufacturer of clean energy tech.”
  • Analysts are disappointed as China didn’t specify an exact emissions peak, leaving ambiguity about actual emission cuts.
  • China’s recent surge in renewables could lead them to exceed the announced reduction target, but uncertainty persists.

• Quote – Matthew Dalton [10:23]:

  “She said that China will aim to cut its overall Greenhouse gas emissions 7 to 10% from their peak by 2035... a lot of disappointment... because she didn’t say what the peak would be... leaves open the possibility that China could increase its greenhouse gas emissions by quite a bit before starting to reduce them.”

• Big Picture:

  • China’s emissions path is crucial to global efforts toward the Paris Accord’s 1.5°C target.

8. Jimmy Kimmel’s Return Sparks Ratings Surge

[12:45 - 13:51]

• Viewership Spike:
  • Nearly 6.3 million viewers watched Kimmel’s return after suspension for remarks on conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing.
  • Noteworthy, as the show was unavailable in 20%+ of the country—some major cities still not airing it.

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On the Danish Drone Attack:

  • “The drones were observed over multiple airports late Wednesday, including a military airbase housing most of the country’s F16 and F35 fighter jets.” – Caitlin McCabe [01:07]

• On Permanent Layoffs:

  • “The memo instructs agencies to design layoff plans for employees who work for programs that are, quote, not consistent with the president’s priorities.” – Caitlin McCabe [02:55]

• Bipartisan Tensions over Health Care:

  • “Democrats do not support the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the health care of the American people...” – Hakeem Jeffries [02:55]

• On Toxic Fume Events:

  • “There’s only one modern commercial plane that isn’t affected by fume events, and that’s the Boeing 787...” – Ben Katz [07:16]

• On China’s Climate Commitment:

  • “China is both the largest emitter of greenhouse gases... and it is also the dominant manufacturer of all kinds of clean energy technologies...” – Matthew Dalton [09:53]

Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Start Time | |------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Denmark Drone Incident | 01:02 | | U.S. Shutdown & Layoff Threats | 02:55 | | Hakeem Jeffries Quoted | 02:55 | | Big Tech H1B Visa Scrutiny | 03:17 | | Comey Indictment Sought | 05:18 | | Toxic Fume Events on Delta Planes | 05:45 | | Delta’s Response & Aviation Design Flaws | 06:44 | | Apple vs. EU Digital Markets Act | 07:39 | | Xi Jinping’s Climate Pledge & U.S. Reaction | 09:02 | | Matthew Dalton on China’s Emissions | 09:53 | | Jimmy Kimmel Ratings Surge | 12:45 |

Memorable Moment

• International Tension: Denmark weighing NATO Article 4 consultations after major drone incursions—a rare and serious step highlighting increasing hybrid threats in Europe.
• Sharp Domestic Policy Divide: Massive, permanent federal layoffs loom as shutdown politics escalate, with pointed remarks from congressional leadership on both sides.
• Delta’s Aircraft Challenge: The surprising scale of fume events on modern passenger jets and the difficulty of fully solving them.
• Geopolitical Drama at the UN: China and the U.S. offering dueling visions on climate change—underscoring deep divides on the global stage.

This episode delivers a fast-paced but thorough breakdown of urgent cross-sector developments—from European security and U.S. political gridlock to aviation safety, big tech policy, and global climate leadership.