WSJ What’s News: ICE Protests Spread to San Francisco
Released on June 10, 2025
1. Escalation of ICE Protests in San Francisco
The episode opens with a pressing focus on the widespread protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Francisco, echoing the unrest previously seen in Los Angeles. Host Luke Vargas outlines the severity of the situation:
"After days of unrest in Los Angeles over President Trump's immigration policies, protests are spreading to San Francisco." [00:50]
San Francisco's police department reported approximately 150 arrests on Sunday, necessitating the declaration of an unlawful assembly following intense demonstrations. The catalyst for these protests is rooted in a May meeting led by Stephen Miller, a key architect of President Trump's immigration strategy. According to insiders, Miller directed ICE to abandon the traditional method of creating target lists of suspected illegal immigrants. Instead, he advocated for a more aggressive approach:
"Miller told top officials at the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to drop the long-standing practice of developing target lists of immigrants suspected of being in the US illegally and instead told them to just go out there and arrest illegal aliens." [01:05]
This directive led to aggressive tactics, including warrantless arrests at locations like Home Depot and 7-Eleven stores, where day laborers often seek employment. The heavy-handed approach has ignited significant backlash, with ICE agents' actions at an LA Home Depot sparking weekend protests. Despite mounting criticism, the administration remains steadfast. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, defended ICE's actions on MSNBC's "Morning Joe":
"People have to stop calling ICE terrorists and criminals and racists because you're there enforcing the laws enacted by Congress, signed by a president. And that's exactly what ICE is doing. They're enforcing the law. They're not making this up." [02:45]
2. Health Secretary's Radical Move on Vaccine Committee
In a surprising development, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of a crucial vaccine advisory committee. This panel was responsible for recommending vaccine protocols for adults and children. Kennedy justified the drastic change by stating:
"The committee will no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas." [02:58]
He argued that this move is intended to restore public trust in scientific recommendations. However, this decision has been met with strong criticism from public health leaders and Democrats, who view it as undermining vaccine oversight. The panel is scheduled to reconvene at the end of June, pending the appointment of new members by Kennedy.
3. Economic Indicators and Market Movements
The episode transitions to economic updates, highlighting a mixed performance in Asian markets amid cautious investor sentiment. The focus is on the high-stakes ongoing trade talks between China and the U.S. in London:
"Asian markets showed mixed signals today as wary investors size up high-stakes China-US Trade talks, which are entering a second day in London following Monday's session." [04:00]
U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett expressed optimism about the negotiations:
"Beijing could soon greenlight rare earth exports while Washington could help to ease China's semiconductor squeeze." [04:10]
These comments provided a boost to chip stocks and lifted major stock indices. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled new software at its Worldwide Developers Conference, introducing live translation features and enhancing group chats. Despite these updates, the absence of significant AI advancements disappointed investors:
"The upgraded voice assistant wasn't yet available... Siri was mentioned just twice." [04:30]
Journal Senior Personal Tech columnist Joanna Stern critiqued Apple's subdued AI presence, noting that Apple seemed reluctant to delve into the highly anticipated AI enhancements.
4. World Bank Considers Funding Shift Towards Nuclear Energy
A significant policy shift is under consideration by the World Bank's board, which is contemplating lifting the ban on funding nuclear energy projects. This proposal is backed by World Bank President Ajay Banga and aligns with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's advocacy for investment in gas and fossil fuels earlier in the year. Ed Ballard, a Wall Street Journal reporter, provides context:
"What's Banga has said he wants is an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which would include nuclear as well as renewable energy... that's also about competition for geopolitical influence. Russia is involved in nuclear projects and so is China." [05:25]
The potential inclusion of nuclear funding is not only a strategic energy decision but also a move to maintain geopolitical competitiveness, especially in regions like Africa where countries are seeking to build nuclear infrastructure.
5. Europe's Tech Sector Under the Microscope: An Interview with Markus Villig of Bolt
A substantial portion of the episode delves into the challenges faced by Europe's tech industry. Highlighting Europe's lag behind the U.S. and China in creating unicorn companies and attracting venture capital, host Luke Vargas introduces an insightful interview with Markus Villig, CEO of Bolt, a prominent European ride-sharing and food delivery platform.
Bolt, based in Estonia, has successfully positioned itself as a formidable competitor to Uber across 50 European markets. Villig attributes their success to a contrarian approach and deep localization:
"We think that this is an industry where you need to localize very well. So it doesn't matter how many cars you have in New York. What matters is how many cars you have available right then in Prague or in Nairobi or whatever other city you operate." [07:58]
He emphasizes the importance of cost efficiency and prioritizing driver satisfaction, drawing parallels to Amazon's success through superior merchant relations:
"Why do drivers enjoy our platform more than others? Because they make more money per hour driving with Bolt." [08:33]
Looking ahead, Villig discusses the future of autonomous vehicles and robotics in logistics, projecting significant growth in self-driving technology:
"When we think about the next 10 years, then the most important thing for this whole sector is going to be self-driving." [09:16]
Addressing concerns about the impact on current drivers, Villig reassures that human drivers will remain integral during a transitional hybrid period:
"The demand of this industry is so vast and we're still talking about only 1 or 2% of trips in every city. So we think there's plenty of room for us to grow significantly." [10:09]
Villig also touches on geopolitical aspects of the automotive industry, stressing Bolt's unique position as a European company amid global competition:
"We think Bolt is very uniquely positioned because unlike most other technology, this actually has massive national security implications." [10:50]
He critiques Europe's approach to fostering a robust tech ecosystem, contrasting it with China's protectionist strategies that have yielded powerful local champions. Villig advocates for reduced bureaucracy and increased support for local businesses to nurture homegrown tech giants:
"Europe needs to take some lessons in how do you actually enable some type of support to your local businesses so you can actually build the likes of Facebook and Google and so on, which Europe is lacking." [12:35]
Villig also highlights the disparity in funding, noting that over 80% of Bolt's investments come from the U.S., underscoring the need for more robust European venture capital to support local startups.
Conclusion
This episode of WSJ What’s News provides a comprehensive overview of critical developments ranging from immigration-related protests and health policy shifts to economic indicators and the evolving landscape of global technology competition. The in-depth interview with Markus Villig of Bolt offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within Europe's tech sector, emphasizing the necessity for strategic support and localization to compete on the global stage. Overall, the episode underscores the interconnectedness of policy decisions, economic strategies, and technological advancements in shaping today's dynamic world.