WSJ What’s News: Meta Defeats Government Antitrust Case

Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Alex Osola, The Wall Street Journal
Featured Guest: Megan Bobrovski (WSJ), David Uberti (WSJ), Samantha Pearson (WSJ)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the day's most pressing business and political stories, with a primary focus on the major court victory for Meta (formerly Facebook) as a federal judge dismisses the FTC’s long-standing antitrust case. The episode also covers President Trump’s White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and its implications, a pivotal House vote on Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, action in the financial markets, significant AI investments, a rise of right-wing sentiment in Latin America, and recent cyberattacks and aviation safety efforts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meta Wins Antitrust Case (00:56–03:17)

• Background:

  • The FTC’s suit against Meta (filed in 2020) accused the company of maintaining a monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp and claimed Meta’s apps do not genuinely compete with TikTok and YouTube.

• Court Ruling:

  • A federal judge dismissed the case, marking a significant defeat for government antitrust efforts against Big Tech.

• Meta’s Position and Implications:

  • Megan Bobrovski (WSJ reporter):

    “This is basically the best case scenario for Meta. There are no restrictions. They don’t have to do anything or change anything. They can just keep operating as normal. … They can continue to pursue their huge AI buildout without any restrictions coming from this litigation.” (01:53)

  • The tech landscape has shifted since the case began, with Meta arguing—and the judge agreeing—that today’s marketplace features more competition, particularly from TikTok and YouTube.

  • Notably, Meta even argued in court that people don’t mainly use its platforms for connecting with friends and family anymore—a marked change in strategy:

    “They were actually making the argument in court that people don't connect with their friends and family on its apps, which is kind of different from an argument they might have been making five years ago.” (02:42)

  • The judge found the FTC had not proven current monopoly conditions.

2. Trump on Khashoggi and U.S.–Saudi Relations (03:22–03:56)

• White House Visit:

  • President Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Trump publicly stated that MBS "knew nothing about" the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite past CIA conclusions.

• Trump’s Memorable Quote:

  • “You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial…Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it.” (03:45)

• MBS’s Statement:

  • MBS called the Khashoggi case "really painful" and stated Saudi Arabia had conducted an investigation to prevent such incidents.

• Broader Context:

  • Khashoggi’s murder led to bipartisan outrage in Washington and calls to reevaluate US-Saudi ties. During the visit, MBS announced plans for $1 trillion in US investments. Trump deflected questions about his business ties to Saudi Arabia.

3. House Moves on Epstein Files (03:56–04:40)

• Legislation:

  • The House passed a nearly unanimous bill to compel the release of government files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Only one House member opposed the bill.

• Political Dynamics:

  • Trump initially opposed the bill, labeling it a “Democratic driven campaign to embarrass Republicans,” but supported it once Republican support became clear:

    “He said he supported the passage of the bill and would sign it into law if it got to his desk. While continuing to call it a hoax.” (04:29)

4. Texas Congressional Map Blocked (04:40–05:28)

• Judicial Ruling:
  • A federal court blocked Texas’ latest congressional map designed to benefit Republicans, ordering use of 2021 districts for upcoming elections.
  • Texas Governor Abbott plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

5. Market Update and AI Investment (06:29–08:52)

• Market Movements:

  • Dow (-1.1%) and S&P 500 (-0.8%) fell; Home Depot dragged down the Dow after weak earnings; NASDAQ dropped (-1.2%).

  • Home Depot’s weak profit and cut outlook signaled pressure from economic uncertainty and housing market stagnation.

  • David Uberti (WSJ Markets Reporter):

    “It’s continued trepidation among investors that the AI boom that has propelled markets and to some extent the US Economy this year is potentially running out of steam…” (07:07)

• AI Sector Jitters:

  • Anticipation over Nvidia’s earnings fuels market anxiety. Nvidia is viewed as a “linchpin for the entire AI boom.” (07:30)
  • Chip stocks fell into correction territory; investors are parsing “winners and losers” in AI. (08:11)

• Big Tech News:

  • Nvidia and Microsoft will invest up to $15B in Anthropic (an OpenAI rival); Anthropic to buy $30B in Azure computing capacity (powered by Nvidia hardware). (08:52)

6. Geopolitical Developments: Poland Rail Sabotage & Aviation Safety (08:52–10:08)

• Poland Rail Attack:

  • Polish officials blame Russia for a rail network explosion; two Ukrainians allegedly collaborated with Russian security services.

• Aviation:

  • Airlines/jet engine makers are increasing measures to curb toxic cabin fumes, following a surge in such incidents.

7. Latin America’s Right Turn & Global Implications (10:08–12:45)

• Rise of the Right:

  • Conservative candidates are gaining in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.

  • Main concerns: crime, street violence, migration, and weak economies.

  • Samantha Pearson (WSJ):

    “The number one driver of this right wing sentiment across the region... is crime, street violence. We've seen the rise of organized crime generally over South America.” (10:22)

    “People are fed up with all the Venezuelan immigrants arriving across the region. The economy is an important topic as well. After many years of recession or poor economic growth, a lot of voters are ready to vote for a more business friendly candidate.” (10:38)

• US Relationship Opportunities:

  “For the past 20 years or so, people here would say that Washington has more or less ignored South America... We've seen unprecedented interest from Trump specifically. He's made it clear that he's going to be very active in the region... so really cultivating friendly governments in the region is key for the future of the U.S. economy and efforts to modernize these minerals…” (11:01)

• China’s Influence:

  “There's a joke in South America that the Americans come to give lectures and sermon, then the Chinese come to build.” (11:55)

  • China has built strong economic ties—trade, investment, and finance—making it hard for US efforts to displace Chinese influence, but future projects could be more US-friendly.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Meta’s legal strategy shift:

  • “They were actually making the argument in court that people don't connect with their friends and family on its apps, which is kind of different from an argument they might have been making five years ago.” — Megan Bobrovski (02:42)

• On Khashoggi & MBS:

  • “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it.” — President Trump (03:45)

• On reasons for Latin America’s political shift:

  • “The number one driver of this right wing sentiment across the region... is crime, street violence.” — Samantha Pearson (10:22)

• On China–Latin America relations:

  • “The Americans come to give lectures and sermon, then the Chinese come to build.” — Samantha Pearson (11:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Meta Antitrust Case Dismissal – 00:56–03:17
• Trump & MBS on Khashoggi – 03:22–03:56
• House Vote on Epstein Files – 03:56–04:40
• Texas Congressional Map Blocked – 04:40–05:28
• Stock Market & AI Investment Update (w/ David Uberti) – 06:29–08:52
• Rail Attack in Poland & Aviation Safety – 08:52–10:08
• Latin America’s Right-Ward Shift (w/ Samantha Pearson) – 10:08–12:45

Conclusion

This WSJ What's News PM edition provides packed coverage of a major legal victory for Meta, developments in US–Saudi and congressional politics, financial market turbulence, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The episode is rich with context, pithy quotes, and expert insight, illustrating how court decisions, political calculations, and international trends shape today's news and tomorrow's headlines.