WSJ What’s News – January 2, 2025
Episode: New Orleans Attack Shows Renewed Risk of Terrorism Inside U.S.
On January 2, 2025, The Wall Street Journal's "What's News" podcast delved into a concerning resurgence of terrorism risks within the United States, spurred by recent attacks and geopolitical tensions. Hosted by Alex Osola, the episode provided an in-depth analysis of the New Orleans attack, its implications, and the broader economic landscape as the country steps into the new year.
1. New Orleans Terrorist Attack
Incident Overview: The podcast opened with a report on the tragic events that unfolded in New Orleans, where Shamsuddin Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, drove a pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in multiple casualties. The FBI has concluded that Jabbar acted alone, inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).
Investigation Findings: Christopher Rea, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, stated at a news briefing:
“We do not assess at this point that anyone else involved in this attack is involved in this attack except for Shamsuddin Jabbar.” ([00:29]).
Rea further clarified that there is no connection between the New Orleans attack and a recent explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas, which was perpetrated by another service member, Matthew Allen Livelsberger.
Symbolism and Motivation: Authorities noted that Jabbar displayed an Islamic State flag on his vehicle, underscoring the ideological motivation behind the attack. This incident underscores the lingering threat of Islamist terrorism within the U.S., an issue that experts have been monitoring closely.
2. Renewed Terrorism Risks and Expert Insights
Alan Cullison’s Analysis: Wall Street Journal reporter Alan Cullison provided expert commentary on the resurgence of militant activity:
“There’s been quite a bit of propaganda out there encouraging what we call lone wolf actors to go after targets in the West.” ([02:30]).
Cullison highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by ISIS affiliates, especially following recent conflicts involving Israel and Hamas, which have fueled extremist propaganda encouraging isolated individuals to carry out attacks. The focus remains on isolated "lone wolf" attackers, as most terrorist cells have been dismantled by law enforcement efforts over the past decade.
Future Threats: Cullison emphasized the difficulty in preventing lone wolf attacks, as these individuals often operate without direct communication or affiliation, making detection and intervention challenging. The podcast highlighted the necessity for community vigilance and proactive reporting by family members or community members to mitigate potential threats.
3. Economic Outlook for 2025
Current Economic Status: Transitioning to economic discussions, Alex Osola introduced insights from White House economic policy reporter Brian Schwartz and economics reporter Rachel Wolf. The economy is cautiously optimistic, but uncertainties loom with the incoming Trump administration.
Brian Schwartz on Policy Impacts: Schwartz remarked:
“There are questions about the Fed and what they’re gonna do with cutting interest rates... How are Donald Trump's policies gonna impact the economy?” ([05:19]).
He highlighted concerns regarding potential tariffs on Chinese imports and the implications for trade with Canada and Mexico. These policy decisions are critical factors that economists are closely monitoring as they could significantly influence economic stability and growth.
Rachel Wolf on Consumer Behavior: Wolf provided an analysis of consumer spending trends:
“Consumers are still spending. There are some indications that spending could slow down in the spring.” ([05:49]).
She noted that consumer spending has remained robust, even contributing to a slight uptick in inflation. This resilience is partly due to anticipatory stockpiling ahead of anticipated tariffs. However, Wolf cautioned that sustained economic pressures could temper spending in the coming months.
Inflation and Policy Measures: Addressing inflation, Schwartz questioned President Trump's strategies to curb rising prices:
“He’s been running around the country saying he is going to bring grocery prices to death...” ([06:24]).
Schwartz expressed skepticism about the administration's concrete plans to mitigate inflation, emphasizing the complexity of factors influencing price levels. The interplay between proposed tariffs and inflation remains a critical area of focus.
Consumer Spending Dynamics: Wolf explored the paradox of continued consumer spending amidst inflationary pressures:
“Consumers can be a study in contradictions... People are definitely looking to see what Trump does as far as prices are concerned.” ([07:40]).
She suggested that while initial spending may have been driven by pandemic-related savings, future expenditures will likely be influenced by the administration’s economic policies and their effect on price stability.
4. Market and Business News
Stock Market Movements: The podcast provided a snapshot of the stock markets as of January 2, 2025:
- S&P 500 and Nasdaq: Both indexes dipped by 0.2%.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: Fell by 0.4%.
Tesla’s Performance: In business news, Tesla experienced a downturn:
“Tesla’s annual vehicle deliveries fell in 2024 for the first time in more than a decade.” ([09:00]).
The company reported a slight 2% increase in Q4 deliveries, heavily reliant on promotional strategies like interest-free financing and free supercharging. However, overall deliveries for the year declined by 1% to 1.79 million units. Tesla’s stock closed down approximately 6%, with the company set to report earnings later in the month.
Apple’s Legal Settlement: Apple faced legal challenges regarding its Siri voice assistant:
“Apple has agreed to pay $95 million in cash to resolve a class action lawsuit.” ([09:00]).
The lawsuit alleged that Siri was unintentionally activated, leading to the sharing of confidential conversations. The settlement mandates Apple to permanently delete individual Siri recordings obtained before October 2019 and to provide users with clear options to opt-in for improving Siri. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and has not yet responded to further comments.
5. Conclusion
The episode concluded with acknowledgments to the production team and a reminder of the ongoing updates scheduled for the following days. As the U.S. grapples with internal security threats and economic uncertainties, the Wall Street Journal remains a crucial source of information and analysis.
Production Credits: Produced by Pierre Bienname and Anthony Banci, with supervising producer Michael Kosmides.
Host: Alex Osola emphasizes the continuous commitment to delivering top headlines and business stories that influence global markets.
Key Takeaways:
- The New Orleans attack by Shamsuddin Jabbar underscores the persistent threat of lone wolf terrorism inspired by ISIS within the U.S.
- Economic forecasts for 2025 are tinged with optimism but shadowed by potential policy shifts under the Trump administration, particularly concerning tariffs and inflation control.
- Consumer behavior shows resilience amidst inflation, but future spending may be influenced by economic policies and price stability measures.
- Major corporations like Tesla and Apple are navigating significant challenges, impacting their market performance and legal standings.
Notable Quotes:
- Christopher Rea on the New Orleans attack: “We do not assess at this point that anyone else involved in this attack is involved in this attack except for Shamsuddin Jabbar.” ([00:29])
- Alan Cullison on militant activity: “There’s been quite a bit of propaganda out there encouraging what we call lone wolf actors to go after targets in the West.” ([02:30])
- Brian Schwartz on economic policies: “How are Donald Trump's policies gonna impact the economy?” ([05:19])
- Rachel Wolf on consumer spending: “Consumers are definitely looking to see what Trump does as far as prices are concerned.” ([07:40])
By synthesizing these developments, WSJ What’s News offers listeners a comprehensive overview of the critical issues shaping the nation’s security and economic landscape as 2025 unfolds.